Locator: 48651B.
US passenger railroad expansion: we'll never see it but folks are spending a fair amount of money to "press the issue."
This route would follow existing passenger rail from Chicago to Fargo, but then take the "southern route" across North Dakota (Jamestown, Bismarck, Dickinson) and the the "southern route" across Montana before joining existing passenger track west of Montana. I assume no new track would have to be laid, but simply brought up to standard for passenger traffic. The northern route is fairly empty -- Minot, Williston, Great Falls -- whereas the southern route connects more cities and larger cities and services a huge tourism demand. Of note: the stop at St Regis. Wow.
AI: the amount of money exchanging hands is simply incredible. As just one example, compare the amount of money Sam Altman just handed Jony Ive and the budget of the US Department of Interior, 2024: less than $20 billion. NASA's budget was $25 billion.
OpenAI: link here. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Apple wunderkind Jony Ive partner with AI on io. OpenAI's acquisition of io is subject to regulatory approval and is
expected to be completed this summer. It is OpenAI's biggest acquisition
to date, with the company paying $6.5 billion for io.
Themes: I track "themes for 2025" here. Mostly related to tech but occasionally commentary on politics or other things.
Added May 21, 2025:
- the one issue that lost the election for Joe Biden / Kamala Harris: the Southern Surge;
- the likely single issue that will define the next election (November 2028): saving women's sports;
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End-Of-Day Report -- The Bakken
WTI: $61.57.
Active rigs: 33.
Five new permits, #41941 - #31945, inclusive:
- Operators: Phoenix Operating (4); XTO
- Fields: Big Stone (Williams); Grinnell (Williams)
- Comments:
- XTO has a permit for a GBU Zeus well, SWSE 8-154-95,
- to be sited 1120 FSL and 2225 FEL;
- Phoenix Operating has permits for four Goodnight wells, SWSW 22-159-98,
- to be sited 489 FSL and 1068 / 1188 FWL.
Four producing wells (DUCs) reported as completed:
- 40675, 1,446, CLR, Carpenter 7-13HSL, Williams County;
- 40752, 1,418, CLR, Taney 4-23H, Dunn County;
- 40845, 1,651, CLR, Catron 5-26H, Dunn County;
- 40854, 1,282, CLR, Taney. 6-23H, Dunn County;
