Friday, October 2, 2026

Daily Activity Report -- Three New Permits -- October 2, 2026

Locator: 51863B.

Dividend watch:

  • McDonald's: from $1.86 to $1.93, record date, December 1, 2026; payable, December 16, 2026.
  • Microsoft: from $0.91 to $0.98, record date, November 19, 2026; payable, December 10, 2026.

Where did Jane Nielsen go? Link here. Link: https://share.google/aimode/AEGhXncypy5sINrQc. 

The blog: link here. Link: https://share.google/aimode/giRhTgY6L08DhNwLB. 

Flashback, the boom is here to stay: all the way back to July 18, 2014 -- link here. 

Flashback, Saudi Arabia vs shale: all the way back to June 30, 2012 -- link here. 

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The Daily Activity Report 

WTI: $91.26.

Active rigs: 34.

Three new permits, #43365 - #43367, inclusive:

  • Operator: Formentera Operations
  • Field: Baukol Noonan, Divide County;
  • Comments:
    • Formentera Operations has permits for three Laguna Loma wells, SESW 14-162-96; 
      • to be sited 660 FSL and 2236 / 2306 FWL.

Change of operator for about 150 wells:

  • SOGC, Inc., to SOGC, LLC. 

Alison's Top Bakken Stories - Friday, October 2, 2026

Locator: 51862TOPSTORIES.

Alison's quick connects:

• Phoenix Energy is making its mark in the Bakken and doing it in a hurry -- InForum
• $1.2 billion proposed Uganda pipeline could aid North Dakota businesses -- KX News
• North Dakota consumer group weighs in on MDU electric rate case -- North Dakota Monitor
• North Dakota insurance commissioner issues order against AI company -- Minot Daily News
• Tech industry leaders warn about artificial intelligence; local professor talks current state of AI -- KFYR-TV
• DAPL highway shutdown lawsuit shifts to appeals court, ten years after protest -- Bismarck Tribune
• North Dakota attempts to play catch-up to a nationwide data center development boom -- Dickinson Press
• 2nd planned Fargo-area data center would use double the power of Harwood site -- North Dakota Monitor
• North Dakota farmers will get a break on surging diesel prices as harvest ramps up -- North Dakota Monitor
• McKenzie County solidifies position as ND's premier energy powerhouse in July -- McKenzie County Farmer
• Power boom in eastern South Dakota raises questions about what comes next -- South Dakota Searchlight
• Problem with North Dakota Development Fund controversy is 35 years of little review -- Williston Herald
• The "Speeding Slows You Down" initiative leads to 5,400 citations in North Dakota -- Williston Herald
• Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr coming to North Dakota -- Valley News Live
• Ag commissioner challenger has been most vocal about controversial data centers -- North Dakota Monitor
• Issue spotlight: North Dakota US House candidates differ on solutions to affordability -- North Dakota Monitor
• GOP suing state's top election official over inconsistent enforcement of election rules -- North Dakota Monitor
• US Department of the Interior agrees to overhaul wetland rules on North Dakota farmland -- KFYR-TV
• Property Tax Reform and Relief Committee meets to hear update on property tax relief programs -- KFYR-TV
• Ethics Commission reports record caseload, seeks more staff and resources -- The Center Republican
• Changes to federal funding could gut local K-12 technology budgets in North Dakota -- Williston Herald
• Minot teachers and district administrators evaluate student, implement new strategies -- Minot Daily News
• Firearm found on Alexander School grounds; sheriff says investigation active -- McKenzie County Farmer
• Dickinson Public Schools hosts career day for elementary students, local organizations -- Dickinson Press
• SWCTE architecture and construction programs build confidence among students -- Dickinson Press
• North Dakota Children's Cabinet to gather input with 'road show' stops in 11 cities -- Office of the Governor
• Tribal colleges and universities are delivering strong returns for their communities -- Minot Daily News
• Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library to open photography exhibition on October 2 -- Dickinson Press
• Greater North Dakota Chamber awards Dickinson business and state representative -- Dickinson Press
• Rare 1963 crop sprayer built in Alexander brought back to life in western North Dakota -- KFYR-TV
• Gov. Armstrong appoints Minot attorney Reierson to fill seat in North Central Judicial District -- KX News
• Ray City Commission appoints new commissioner, upgrades city employee health plan -- The Journal
• North Dakota Housing Finance Agency hosts Community Housing Needs Forum -- Dickinson Press
• Minot residents take the opportunity to learn about state government accountability -- Minot Daily News
• Clean up is underway in Minot following the derailment of 19 BNSF Railway cars -- Minot Daily News
• Roosevelt's conservation efforts now aiding the preservation of endangered rhinos -- KFYR-TV
• North Dakota turning to outside 'anchor partners' to manage Rural Health grants -- North Dakota Monitor
• New rural hospital network helping North Dakota's rural hospitals survive, thrive -- Bowman County Pioneer
• Williston residents spot moose on the loose within city limits Thursday morning -- KFYR-TV
• GRID Power Act advances; would fast-track new baseload projects, strengthen reliability -- John Hoeven
• Transportation Dept. finalizes lower fuel economy standards in boost for gas-powered vehicles -- Reuters
• Crude oil exports from the Middle East rebound in September as Saudi Arabia boosts shipments -- Reuters
• Oil stocks in US strategic petroleum reserve fall to 283.8M barrels, the lowest level since 1982 -- Reuters
• US to loan energy companies up to 40 million barrels of oil from SPR, last batch from global deal -- Reuters
• Spain, Portugal, and Luxembourg urge European Union to set renewable energy targets for 2040 -- Oil Price
• Middle East conflict reshaping global energy landscape far beyond high gas prices -- RealClearEnergy
• Canadian oil sands production expected to average record 3.5 MMbpd in 2026, up 3% from 2025 -- World Oil
• EU nations seek energy alternatives after spending over $113 billion extra since Iran war began -- AP News
• Energy Department will spend $2 billion to squeeze more electricity from the aging power grid -- AP News
• OPEC+ oil producers set to keep output targets steady at Sunday meeting, sources say -- Reuters
• The diesel export ban is a trap, US lacks means of transporting it around the country -- RealClearEnergy
• Oil prices rise by about $1 per barrel on stalled US-Iran talks and tighting fuel markets -- Reuters
• Facing potential liability for climate change harms, Big Oil again turns to US Supreme Court -- Reuters
• Measures to weed out speculative projects taking shape amid public backlash to data centers -- Utility Dive
• US oil and gas production increased among firms in Q3 despite extreme oil price volatility -- Oil Price
• Canada to fast track approval process for oil pipeline designed to diversify economy away from US -- Reuters
• Venezuela's oil exports down almost 9% in September amid high freight rates, data shows -- Reuters
• Multiple states call for gas tax suspensions grow as Americans struggle with high prices -- The Hill
• Three oil tankers have been hit by unknown projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz -- Oil Price
• With an executive order, Trump could solve energy affordability once and for all -- Empowerment Alliance
• Coal's real value is optionality, and new plants are now being planned in the U.S. -- RealClearEnergy
• US unshackles its power plants from emission rules, poor nations must do the same -- American Greatness
• We came to climate week in New York looking for eco-activists, but found communists instead -- CFACT
• Trump rolls back Biden fuel-efficiency standards, $1,300 average savings for cars -- Washington Examiner
• Associated Press fumes at Trump for repealing Biden's ridiculous fuel economy regulations -- Newsbusters

Rivian's Biggest Nightmare -- October 2, 2026

Locator: 51861RIVIAN.
Locator: 51862EVS.

My views on pure EVs have not changed. However, I am sold on hybrids. 

Wall Street and Rivian today:


Cramer said the Chinese BYD looked like a $60,000 car.

AI: 

President Trump And Gravitas -- October 2, 2026

Locator: 51860TRUMP.

How overwhelming is President Trump? How much gravitas does President Trump have? Can gravitas be measured? If so, how would one measure gravitas? What would be a unit of gravita?

My answer:

I would argue that the best unit of "gravitas" would be the "Raymond Burr/Perry Mason unit of gravitas." RB/PM would have a gravitas unit of one (1) -- the highest allotted. All other individuals would be a fraction of "one gravitas" or one RB/PM. Jack Nicholson might be worthy of a 0.8 RB/PM; James Dean 0.5; Marlon Brandon, 0.99.  

Trump has been in office (his second term) for two years now? I honestly forgot -- for a moment there -- who his predecessor was.  

Answers to the above question with regard to the unit of gravitas. 

Link here. 

Link: https://chatgpt.com/s/t_6ac010d3c42081918009ef04a78e705d. 

 
Link here.

Link: https://chatgpt.com/s/t_6ac00fff11808191963ac7eba24bd328.  

By the rule, President Trump would be docked at least 0.25 gravirtas units. 

Back to Raymond Burr / Perry Mason: link here. Link: https://share.google/aimode/HVGNIqZjaFV9VKbZi.

Diesel Shortage? We've Been Here Before -- Back In 2022 When Joe Biden Was President -- October 2, 2026

Locator: 51859DIESEL.

Reposting: this was back from 2022 when "Sleepy Joe" was president. 

Nothing new under the sun.

Reposting: link here. 

Europe starting to run out of diesel. I guess that 25-day supply was an exaggeration. Link here.


So, I'm curious. Did anyone read the Forbes article. Probably not. 

There are four reasons for the diesel shortage this year. Two of them apply every year.

The third, relatively unimportant, unless one asks why they were unprofitable -- several unprofitable refineries closed over the past couple of years, so this third reason is also a bit overplayed.

The fourth and real reason:

But the primary reason is the cutoff of Russian imports. Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. was importing nearly 700,000 barrels per day (BPD) of petroleum and petroleum products. Most of those imports were finished products and refinery inputs that boosted distillate supplies in the U.S. 

Let's fact-check, link check.

US imports by country of origin, goose eggs from Russia:


Russian imports:

And interestingly enough, most of those Russian imports are off-loaded in New England (needs to be fact-checked) and that's where the biggest shortage has occurred.

In addition, the fastest way to get petroleum products to destination is by pipeline, and New England activists hate pipelines; they appear to prefer diesel-burning trucks on the road. Probably reminds Bernie Sanders of his days in Russia.

And, of course, Joe Biden knows something about trucks -- he started out in life as a truck driver. Or so he says.

 

Themes -- 2026 -- Mid-Day Update -- October 2, 2026

Locator: 51858ARCHIVES.

2026: year of energy.

2027: year of chatbots -- Anthropic, OpenAI

2028: year of the grid. 

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BRK-B

Never mentioned on CNBC except with Becky Quick

Today, one talking head is bullish on BRK. Considers it a defensive stock. I no longer really know what it means to say something is a "defensive stock," not the Wall Street definition but what the term means to me.  

Yesterday: A Moose Spotted Near Hagan Elementary School, Williston, North Dakota -- October 2, 2026

Locator: 51857WILLISTON.

Tag: moose Williston. 

Note: NASDAQ hits a 52-week high. 

Skydance -- Homungous -- Hugely -- Merger Complete -- October 2, 2026

Locator: 51856SKYDANCE.

Link here. Link: https://share.google/aimode/oc4W3eKsxEPvH6xyK.  

Link here. Link: https://share.google/aimode/vSEsVeA2cqo98ZvIQ. 

At the end of the day, 

  • the average "TV set" has now gone from NBC, CBS, and ABC to Comcast, Skydance, and Disney. 
  • but à la carte: Netflix, Apple, Amazon, YouTube. 
  • professional sports is being sliced and diced. 

Analysis: this Skydance - Paramount - Warner Bros combo could not have happened without the Trump regulatory environment. 

Ticker Symbol: PSKY (moving to SKYD on the NYSE starting October 6, 2026).

In "name recognition," Skydance is clearly the winner by a mile. This is truly amazing. 


 

WiFi In Commercial Airflights -- Reposting -- October 2, 2026

Locator: 50945AFLIGHT.

Previously posted: in the news today after Elon Musk gets verbal about Delta today (October 2, 2026).

Locator: 50945FLIGHT.

Of the four major airlines, the airline and your a/c wifi is determined by where you live / with whom you fly.  

Market share of each of the big four: about 18% for each.  

In general, the only airline I need to fly is American Airlines (AA). 

Wi-Fi: StarLink (Elon Musk) vs Leo (Jeff Bezos).

Elon Musk SpaceX vs Amazon Leo.

In round numbers, with complettion of sixth terminal at DFW, in progress:

  • ATL: 200 gates: 175 gates for DAL; 4 gates for AA.
  • DFW: 200 gates; 200 gates for AA; 5 gates for DAL.

WiFi:

  • AA, United, Southwest: Starlink.
  • Delta: Amazon Leo.
 
Is Amazon Leo free on Delta for flyers? 


On American Airlines, Starlink wi-fi is free if one signs into American Airlines as a AA Advantage member. 
 
So, it appears, this will be another way to get folks to become members of "airline loyalty clubs."  
 
There could be much to write about, but I think sentient beings can sort this out. 

************************************
US Airlines

Query: 
Of the four major US airlines, could one argue that Southwest is quite regional (the south and the southwest); United is very US-focused; Delta, along with US is focused on Europe; and American, along with US, is focused on Latin American (Central America and South America)? 

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Human "Rationality" Vs AI

Link here. It may take a bit of work but one can read the entire article without a password or a subscription but there will be a lot of ads. Whether it's worth the time to read the article is in the eye of the beholder.

But there are few nice points for cocktail chatter.

And some jargon along with a bit of history, otherwise to be forgotten.

Ralph Leighton at a restaurant in Glendale, California. Leighton was agonizing over ordering his usual favorite, or risking something new.

Feynman turned the choice into a math problem, and solved it on a piece of notebook paper. His equation showed exactly when Leighton — or any indecisive diner, for that matter — should stop taking risks and stick with what one knows is good.

Cramer's First Hour -- After Jobs Report: Equities Surge -- Some Even Saying "Santa Claus Rally" In Sight -- Oil Prices Coming Down -- Friday, October 2, 2026

Locator: 51855INVESTING.

New all-time high for NVDA: last all-time high, May, 2026. New high due to announcement of huge buyback.  

Cramer: seems outright giddy about possible "rally"; buy into the coming rally? 

  • See disclaimer. 
  • One analyst has called this the beginning of the "Santa Claus rally."

INTC (Intel): spikes 4%. This tells me everything one needs to know about the market today.

  • INTC has quietly climbed to 124.
  • this is truly amazing: Intel's (INTC) forward consensus earnings per share (EPS) is approximately $1.97 per share over the next 12 months, trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of roughly 63.29x based on a share price of $124.37 

Tesla deliveries, for September: huge. Tesla shares jumping; target raised. 

What Tesla did, China's BYD did in a month; 

  • Cramer says the BYD looks like a $60,000 car
  • appeared to have mumbled that the EU is committing suicide by allowing the BYB into EU
  • will end the automobile manufacturing market in Europe
  • Trump watching closely.

BYD:

  • founded in Shenzhen in 1994, BYD Auto surpassed Tesla to become the top-selling electric vehicle company globally
  • BYD stands for "Build Your Dreams," a backronym originally derived from its Chinese phonetic name, Biyadi
  • vertical integration: the company builds its own batteries (such as the Blade Battery) and supply chains, allowing it to offer affordable vehicles starting around $11,000 to $22,000 locally while expanding rapidly across Europe, Asia, and Latin America. 

In the tech arena: most exciting ticker -- AVGO. News yesterday is already forgotten. Link here. 

Jobs report: "Goldilocks" report viewed by most

  • unemployment ticks higher, from 4.1% to 4.2%
  • consensus: the Fed won't raise rates in October, 2026
  • equities surge. 

Oil prices coming down: but unlikely to bring prices at pump down --

  • prices coming down on rumors that EU will release reserves; this is "false" good news
  • world doesn't need more diesel fuel releases; world needs more refineries (don't take that out of context)
  • apparently majority of product released is diesel -- details to follow
    • by the way, that release of diesel was due to .... wait for it ... Trump's jawboning -- yesterday, Trump said he could very easily ban diesel exports if the EU doesn't start releasing its own diesel --- again, Trump does it with words, and mainstream media won't give him credit 
    • it looks like the "overall" price move is about 5% down -- depending on what you look at... 

Oil prices coming down: this will bring oil prices down --

  • Saudi Arabia exporting 80 - 90% of pre-war levels;
  • Iran has clearly lost the narrative;
  • on top of this, US sending more military power into the Gulf; 30% (?) increase; 
  • third carrier group; 10,000 more US military personnel.

Nvidia chips:

  • Amazon aims to offload $8 billion worth of Nvidia chips -- story breaking now
  • speaks volumes 

See disclaimer. 

********************************
Disclaimer

Briefly: 

  • I am inappropriately exuberant about the Bakken and I am often well out front of my headlights. I am often appropriately accused of hyperbole when it comes to the Bakken.
  • I am inappropriately exuberant about the US economy and the US market.
  • I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Apple.
  • See disclaimer. This is not an investment site. 
  • Disclaimer: this is not an investment site. Do not make any investment, financial, job, career, travel, or relationship decisions based on what you read here or think you may have read here. All my posts are done quickly: there will be content and typographical errors. If something appears wrong, it probably is. Feel free to fact check everything.
  • If anything on any of my posts is important to you, go to the source. If/when I find typographical / content errors, I will correct them. 
  • Reminder: I am inappropriately exuberant about the Bakken, US economy, and the US market.
  • I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Apple. 
  • And now, Nvidia, also. I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Nvidia. Nvidia is a metonym for AI and/or the sixth industrial revolution. 
  • I've now added Broadcom to the disclaimer. I am also inappropriately exuberant about all things Broadcom. Now, I've added Amazon. And QCOM. Nothing on this site should be seen as recommendations for the general public. On the other hand, I have no problem if members of my extended family "see" recommendations I might be making - but only members of my extended family, limited to my children and my grandchildren.
  • Longer version here.