Permits:
2020: 74 permits in October;
So that I don't forget, these are the stories or data points I'm most interested in now:
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Another Apple
I won't be able to find it but I once posted that the drummer is the most important individual in a rock band. First among equals.
I will come back to this later today. This is a big story. A lot of data points.
I have to re-test for Covid-19. I wasn't sure I was able to smell my Bloody Mary earlier this morning, but now I'm smelling bacon cooking in the kitchen.
Later, 3:18 p.m. CDT: a reader was kind enough to send me the link ... see first comment at this post --
Medora... population 112 and potentially about to be decimated, according to this article!
https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/mask-resistant-north-dakota-town-battles-pandemic-spike.
It was such a ridiculous story I had to have at least two readers interested in it before I would post it. LOL. Fortunately, a second reader was kind enough to oblige. LOL. I just love this blog -- LOL. I never know what I'm going to find on it. This made my day.
Original Post
I didn't post the link, and I won't unless a reader sends to me again, but yesterday, the national media posted a story on the devastating effect Covid-19 is having on Medora, ND. I can't make this stuff up. Don't they close down the city nine months out of the year?
Oh, my goodness, I bet they weren't wearing masks,
The lede:
The question everyone is asking: is it safe to go swimming?
The good news: the WHO anticipates zero "seasonal flu" cases this year. That disease appears to have been eradicated. Just like that.
Tracking "influenza-like-illnesses" in the USA today -- traditionally tracked by the CDC and reported weekly in MMWR will be very, very interesting this year.
"Influenza-like-illnesses" (ILI) will include both Chinese flu and "seasonal flu" this year. Then, look at this:
Why is the CDC recommending the flu vaccine -- it's only 45% effective, at best -- and "the mask" seems to be the easier, better alternative based on what is being reported by mainstream media and Joe Biden. Just saying. By they way, speaking of Joe Biden, I haven't seen him getting his "seasonal flu" shot, but I see him every day, with Jill, wearing his mask.
Quick: what virus is being targeted this year for "seasonal flu"? Yes, that's what I thought.
This will be re-posted later.
Off the net for awhile.
I'm going to go get tested. I feel great but one can't be too careful these days. You know, had this been last year, Trevor Lawrence would have played right through this with his mild symptoms. And no one would have even noticed.
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I'm Back
More graphics.
Is the world going nuts? Is it just me, or ... can you imagine --- using an analogy --- drilling 25,000 oil wells and only ten of them actually produce oil ....
Now, back to that question I asked earlier:
Heaven forbid you get the Yamagata strain. That vaccine won't do you any good. The good news? You are unlikely to get the Colorado strain. Okay to go skiing again.
Striking graphs this morning. Where do we begin?
Saudi Arabia's foreign exchange reserves: drop again. I believe this converts to about $453 billion.
US crude oil imports from Saudi Arabia: huge plunge, not since the 1980s have we seen numbers this low.
From the "milliondollarway" archives:
This might be good time to re-read this interesting story in Foreign Policy, May 5, 2020; still not behind a paywall; the writer of that article: Jason Bordoff, a former senior director on the staff of the US National Security Council and special assistant to President Barack Obama ... I first linked this article in September, 2020. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
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Most Under-Reported International Story: Turkey
Turkish lira hits yet another record low, pushing as 8 lira to the dollar -- CNBC;
Earlier in October, again CNBC: the Turkish lira is getting smoked; will crash to new lows;
As if that weren't bad enough, Saudi is now calling for boycott of "everything Turkish." Not yet official policy but one would think political statements coming out of Saudi Arabia are tightly controlled, sanctioned.
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The Only Thing Red, Mr Putin, Is Your Ruble
Earlier this month, Vladimir Putin, when asked about the Bakken, simply stated that the color of water in North Dakota was the color of the red wine in the glass he was holding. I have no idea what he meant by that. Lost in translation.
On the other hand, not lost in translation: the Russian ruble had a painful week, ended the week in the red. I doubt the ruble felt anything at all. Perhaps Russian investors and bankers felt something, but I doubt the ruble actually felt anything.
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The US Has Its Mayo Clinic, The Mideast Has Hadassah
Link here. The article is there; it may be a bit hard to find initially with the large ad asking for donations, etc., but if you actually stick it out and get to the article, it's very interesting. My hunch: it's only news to those living outside the Mideast.
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Geo-Politics
Let's assume Joe Biden wins the presidency.
I think I read recently that President Trump is the only American president, or maybe the only American president in modern times, that has not gotten the US into another war.
It sounds accurate to me.
If accurate, one has to ask why?
Generally, the US gets into a war in reaction to something else.
To not get into a new war, one might suggest there has been no conflict overseas that grew big enough for attention by the US.
But think about it. Not one major military operation by this president. No wonder his "past" generals did not support him. [Yes, I saw the political commercials on television. No matter how hard I try to avoid these things they invariably show up, generally during NFL football games.]
But I digress.
One has to ask why there have been no conflicts that grew big enough for attention by the US. Why didn't China and Taiwan become a bigger story? What happened to North Korea? What happened to Syria and Iran? What happened to Yemen? Israel, Palestine?
One answer: the US president is predictably unpredictable. Similar to Ronald Reagan.
Now, let's assume Joe Biden wins the presidency.
Unlike President Trump, Joe Biden:
After surfing through the international news today and imagining Joe Biden as president, the only question I have: will the first military conflict involving a major US response occur in late 2021, or 2022?
The Mideast is a huge powder keg and I think the regimes are waiting for the outcome of the US presidential election before taking their next step.
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Let Me Guess
But we end on this note. Something tells me the world won't miss him.
Prince Azim of Brunei dead at age 38. Cause of death unknown.
Only details we know:
My hunch: Jeffrey Epstein was not directly involved.