Locator: 49743MUSK.
A musical interlude: link here. This was posted only four months ago.
Now, the crazy guy.
Friday, December 19, 2025
X-Files -- December 19, 2025
Locator: 49742ARCHIVES.
AI prompt: Friday night. Time for some music.
Is it just me or is there a lot of similarity between "I'd Rather Go Blind" (Etta James) and "Tennessee Whiskey" (Chris Stapleton)? When you know the history, this was pure genius.
Trump:
- last week the opposition tried to stick the "sleepy Joe" moniker on Trump -- that did not age well.
- the "would-be" meme lasted five days at best.
- Hegseth didn't wait around to take out Isis in Syria; Obama would have been drawing lines in the sand.
- after all, Syria was the 57th state.
- Venezuela all of a sudden, we've gone from shooting boats out of the water, to keeping boats out of the water.
- I wonder what Maduro would prefer; an occasional lost boat or complete isolation?
- marijuana: finally. Period. Dot. Why didn't Biden get this done?
- young adults living in their parents' basements wondering why it took so long?
- Epstein files. Finally. Why didn't Biden get this done?
- Medicare drug prices = European drug prices. Why didn't Biden get this done?
- a penny for your thoughts. That's what Biden's were worth. With change back.
- border security: haven't heard much about this lately.
- removed taxes on social security. Why didn't Biden get this done?
- inflation: drops unexpectedly. NYT says it's an anomaly. 9% under Biden; 3% under Trump.
- all of a sudden the opposition has changed the jargon; it's no longer inflation; it's affordability.
- Starbucks and $9 lattes seem affordable to teenagers if not their parents.
- Brown University: investigation "saved" by Trump's FBI. Period. Dot.
A musical interlude -- link here.
Copper:
Reiner double-murder: son needs to make a plea deal -- crime of passion. In exchange, the Reiner son should be offered no further prison time; no restitution; no inheritance from parents; and, probation for twenty years.
Brown University / MIT shooter: relieved that killer was trapped; killed himself. By the end of the month, this story will be forgotten.
Oracle: owns a piece of TikTok. Oracle up $12 today; up almost 7%. See blog's disclaimer.
MMFs: another big week for money market funds. Link here.
Flu: 2025 - 2026 season is tracked last season's flu season exactly.
Syria / ISIS: US strikes back -- link here.
Hope springs eternal: the Dems keeping hoping the Epstein files will be incriminating ... in fact, there's no there there. Most relieved? Bill Clinton.
A Brand New World -- December 19, 2025
Locator: 49741B.
AI prompt: Idle chatter. Investing.
It seems that in the old days, last year (LOL) one-billion-dollar IPOs and $10 billion for OxyChem (Berkshire Hathaway and Warren Buffett) were big stories. Now, headlines every day, AI companies throwing $100 billion around for deals and IPOs upwards of $850 billion or even $1.5 trillion (SpaceX -- Musk). Is it just my imagination or have we stepped into a new financial world? LOL.
Reply: the first line was quite remarkable. Something I first thought about some years ago.
One day after posting the above: "Google Cloud lands deal with Palo Alto Networks, $10 billion.
- it appears $10 billion is the new $1 billion.
**************************
Back to the Bakken
WTI: $56.66.
No new permits.
Active rigs: 31.
Five DUCs reported as completed:
- 28515, 921 (was PNC), CLR, Berlain 4-30HSL, Patent Gate, McKenzie County;
- 39741, 5,337, Devon Energy, Darlene 13-24F, Westberg, McKenzie County; 45,648 bbls over 11 days extrapolates to 125K bbls over 30 days;
| Pool | Date | Days | BBLS Oil | Runs | BBLS Water | MCF Prod | MCF Sold | Vent/Flare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAKKEN | 10-2025 | 31 | 61312 | 61511 | 47936 | 177048 | 164392 | 12656 |
| BAKKEN | 9-2025 | 11 | 45648 | 45094 | 40197 | 117059 | 51240 | 65819 |
- 40822, 1,856, CLR, Bjarne 4-29H, Patent Gate, npd;
- 41024, 2,274, CLR, Bjarne 6-30H, Patent Gate, npd;
- 41793, 806 , CLR, Wallace 5-11H, West Capa, npd,
Wells of interest:
- 39740, drl/dA, Devon Energy, Darlene 13-24F XW 1TFH, Westberg; 39,413 bbls over 14 days extrapolates to 85K bbls over 30 days;
| Pool | Date | Days | BBLS Oil | Runs | BBLS Water | MCF Prod | MCF Sold | Vent/Flare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAKKEN | 10-2025 | 31 | 80848 | 80702 | 69737 | 162071 | 153774 | 8177 |
| BAKKEN | 9-2025 | 14 | 39413 | 39126 | 38488 | 119367 | 29547 | 89764 |
- 39741, drl/dA, Devon Energy, Darlene 13-24F 4H, Westberg; 39,413 bbls over 14 days extrapolates to 125KK bbls over 30 days;
| Pool | Date | Days | BBLS Oil | Runs | BBLS Water | MCF Prod | MCF Sold | Vent/Flare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAKKEN | 10-2025 | 31 | 61312 | 61511 | 47936 | 177048 | 164392 | 12656 |
| BAKKEN | 9-2025 | 11 | 45648 | 45094 | 40197 | 117059 | 51240 | 65819 |
- 39742, drl/drl, Devon Energy, Darlene 13-24F 5TFH, Westberg; 15,897 bbls over 7 days extrapolates to 68K bbls over 30 days;
|
- 39743, conf, Devon Energy, Darlene 13-24F 6TFH, Westberg,
| Date | Oil Runs | MCF Sold |
|---|---|---|
| 10-2025 | 35679 | 88141 |
| 9-2025 | 18611 | 29634 |
- 39744, conf, Devon Energy, Darlene Federal 152-97-13-24-7H, Westberg,
Allison’s Quick Connects — December 19, 2025
Locator: 49740B.
Quick connects:
• State-owned minerals projected to generate $8.4B in future royalties -- North Dakota Monitor
• North Dakota's oil and gas tax revenue $20 million ahead of forecast so far -- KFYR-TV
• North Dakota's delicate electricity price balance facing new challenges -- Dickinson Press
• Pipeline leak causes oil field wastewater to spill south of Medora -- Bismarck Tribune
• Feds recommend that Dakota Access Pipeline stay in the ground -- Bismarck Tribune
• Dakota Access Pipeline is finally vindicated nearly ten years after being villainized -- RealClearEnergy
• UND CONNECT awards support five new community-engaged projects across North Dakota -- UND Today
• Fedorchak: Restoring a proven plan for the state's energy future, repeal of Biden resource plan -- InForum
• GOP lawmakers Sen. Judy Lee, Reps. Jonas and Schauer announce bid for reelection -- Dickinson Press
• Theodore Roosevelt library fundraiser links group to GOP donor tied to ethics controversy -- Dickinson Press
• Attorney general voids Ethics Commission opinion, says agency lacked authority -- North Dakota Monitor
• State Water Commission approves more than $30.4 million for North Dakota water projects -- KX News
• North Dakota leaders appoint Mandan's Jared Huibregtse to the Ethics Commission -- North Dakota Monitor
• Twelve people have applied to be North Dakota's next Supreme Court justice -- North Dakota Monitor
• Blizzard pummels North Dakota with near hurricane-force winds then largely fizzles out -- Bismarck Tribune
• Williams County Commissioners ok matching funds for cities seeking Commerce grant -- Williston Herald
• Bill to protect wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park approved by Senate ENR -- Dickinson Press
• Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation awarded $1M grant for public transit system -- Bismarck Tribune
• City of Tioga Commissioners approve $400,000 toward grant opportunity -- Williston Herald
• Williston Economic Development reaccredited by international development council -- Williston Herald
• Newly constructed daycare facility opens in Alexander to address childcare shortage -- Minot Daily News
• Budget shortfall will reduce North Dakota child care assistance for some families -- North Dakota Monitor
• North Dakota Teachers' Fund for Retirement earns national recognition for 9th year in a row -- KNOX Radio
• NDSCS, VCSU sign new agreement creating pathway for careers in elementary education -- NewsDakota
• Higher Ed board considers reduced credit degrees from 120 to 90; NDSU exploring idea -- Dickinson Press
• How Rolette Public School District is able to offer free school meals to all of its students -- KFYR-TV
• Concern for Divide reading, math scores; schools aim to 'find solutions' for lagging proficiency -- The Journal
• Beulah's Amber Davison one of eight finalists nominated for NDAESP principal of year -- The Beacon
• Dickinson High School junior designs and codes AI-powered computer medical program -- KX News
• Baesler: North Dakota school services, money not affected by federal moves -- The Center Republican
• Energy Secretary Wright expresses optimism that electricity prices will eventually come down -- The Hill
• Ford Motor retreats from EVs, takes $19.5 billion writedown as Trump policies grip auto industry -- Reuters
• Paying the price for closing coal: Europe continues to shovel deeper and deeper. -- RealClearEnergy
• Trump admin planning surge in federal tech talent to maintain edge on artificial intelligence -- E&E News
• White House plans more 'historic deals' in minerals; top official says Trump just getting started -- E&E News
• Energy Department orders 730-MW TransAlta coal plant in Washington state to keep running -- Utility Dive
• Prices in biggest US power grid auction hit new record, signaling higher utility bills ahead -- Reuters
• Permian Basin may hit its all-time production high this month; fewer rigs delivering more oil -- Oil Price
• Global coal demand is on track to hit record high and rise by 0.5% this year as policy shifts -- Oil Price
• Permitting reform will empower economy, get heavy hand of bureaucracy out of the way -- RealClearEnergy
• Hardliners warn SPEED Act could undermine Trump's ability to block offshore wind projects -- Daily Caller
• Ford is finally pulling the plug on its F-150 Lightning, rethinking electric pickup strategy -- American Thinker
• Trump moving to dismantle Center for Atmospheric Research, source of climate alarmism -- PJ Media
From The X-Files -- Genesis Mission -- December 19, 2025
Locator: 49738AI.
This is a huge story.
Incredibly interesting.
Biden administration: spent huge amounts of money and fought progress at every stage. Much of the money spent simply evaporated after distribution.
Trump administration: spending even larger amounts of money but being invested. Think DOD and DOE.
DOE.
Genesis Mission.
Link here. Previously mentioned. First mentioned, November 29, 2025. I'm still amazed how I picked up on that back in November. Now an update at this link.
Is this the Manhattan Project on steroids?
The United States Department of Energy announced a bunch of companies that are a part of the Genesis Mission "National Mission to Accelerate Science Through Artificial Intelligence.”
The initiative includes:
- NVIDIA
- xAI
- OpenAI
- Amazon Web Services
- Microsoft
- Palantir
- AMD
- Oracle
- Intel
- Anthropic
- IBM
- Accenture
- Armada
- Cerebras
- CoreWeave
- Dell
- DrivenData
- Groq
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Periodic Labs
- Project Prometheus
- Radical AI
- XPRIZE
Goal: "Genesis Mission will develop an integrated platform that connects the world's best supercomputers, experimental facilities, AI systems, and unique datasets across every major scientific domain to double the productivity and impact of American research and innovation within a decade."
1969 Moon Shot. Within a decade. JFK.
How will it be "managed"?
By DOE Under Secretary for Science, currently Dr Dario Gil.
In the early 1990s, DarÃo Gil spent his last high school year at Los Altos High near Palo Alto, California. He never returned to Spain.
Gil went on to get a PhD in electrical engineering and nanostructures at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After graduating in 2003 he joined IBM and now, at the age of 43, he has been appointed director of the company’s vast research division, IBM Research, where he has 3,000 scientists working for him in 21 locations.
Again, Palo Alto. I am absolutely fascinated by the story of Palo Alto (Stanford, Silicon Valley). I'm currently reading the history of Palo Alto by Malcolm Harris, c. 2023.
Across the nation's 17 national laboratories. There is a very, very close association between the national laboratories and the US Navy. The US Navy's DNA is inside the national laboratories and vice versa.
I'm blocking on it now but I first came across the evolution of the national laboratories talking to my son-in-law and then picking up the subject coincidentally when talking with AI about the similarity between AI, the Manhattan Project, and the Apollo program.
If one had to come up with one concept that changed the US after WWII: the national-laboratory concept.
Dr Dario Gil: previously IBM's senior VP and Director of Research, leading their quantum and AI efforts, including making quantum computers cloud-accessible.
********************
AI Wrong Again
Direct quote from Jim Cramer, 8:43 a.m. CT, December 19, 2025, on CNBC:
"Pat Davis lost China."
From AI:
As fast as AI is, it is not tracking live media in real time. I find this quite amazing. Low-hanging fruit.
I have no idea about whom Jim Cramer was talking but it had/has to do with Nike shares plummeting due to Chinese sales plummeting. Nike is also struggling in the US. Nike HQ in Portland, OR.
*************************
CMCSA
CMCSA
NASDAQ leader of the week.
************************
Micron
Micron
Christmas Gifts Idea -- For Extended Family Members -- December 19, 2025
Locator: 49736GIFTS.
Best stores for shopping:
- Home Goods
- Belk
- Walmart
Subscriptions:
- Readers Digest, WSJ, NYT
- Amazon Prime -- for young adults -- only $69 / year and all the benefits of Amazon Prime;
- regular Amazon Prime: $139 and an incredible bargain!
- college students: $69 (50% off) -- only requirement is an ".edu" in one's e-mail address
Apple AirTags:
- down to about $16 / AirTag -- incredible offer
Specialty jams: small little jars for a couple of bucks.
Lego: every price range; every age group.
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