Taylor Swift Already Back In The Continental USA -- Whoo-Hoo!

Locator: 46776SWIFTIES.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WUTangKids/status/1756356766974013898. 

Right now, local time:

• Tokyo: Sunday, 8:59 a.m.
• Los Angeles: Saturday, 3:59 p.m.
• Las Vegas: Saturday, 3:59 p.m.

The game: 25 hours from now. My hunch: if she wants, Taylor Swift can get from LA to LV by kick-off tomorrow.

Taylor's jet: Dassault 7X.  But apparently she did not take her private jet; there are reports she returned by a jet-for-hire.

Track her flight here.

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Superbowl 58

Wow, wow, wow -- when they bring up this author .....

... before we go there --

• today, all day, have been Superbowl vignettes on television
• Mahomes, a beginning of a dynasty?
• or a win by Mr Irrelevant?
  
• the game is being held in Las Vegas for the first time
• the billion-dollar singer Taylor Swift is getting endless attention
• a possible wedding proposal?
  
• half-time entertainment: "Usher"
• and, Apple, Inc, is sponsoring the half-time show -- could it get any bigger?

I thought not ... until someone "dredged" up this author: Hunter S Thompson -- perhaps my favorite personality at one time. Link here.

But the best part: Jerry Jones is nowhere to be found and I haven't heard the name Dak in weeks. 

As for me, I'm burned out. I'm not sure I'll even watch the game.

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Inflation Watch

Nachos: #1 on our homemade snack list for NFL games. [#2, a close second, home made buffalo wings.]

Today at Tom Thumb:

• Calidad Tortilla chips, regularly $2.99, only $0.99.
• Frito Lay bean dip, regularly $3.99; same price.
• French Onion Dip, regularly $2.00, only $0.99
• Pace Picante, regularly, $3.79, only $3.29. A 15% savings.
  

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Inflation Watch

Apple Air Tags: regularly four for $100.

They sometimes go on sale. My order arrived today, four for $79, Amazon. One of the best deals out there. About 20% off. $85 at Walmart.

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Barron's

Does the 4% withdrawal Rule for retirees still make sense? Link here.

Dividend stocks make sense now. Here are more than 20 to consider. Link here. Comments on social media, as usual, better than the story.

• ETFs (boring)
• CVX
• BP
• Morgan Stanley
• Citigroup
• PepsiCo
• Brixmor Property Group
• a number of energy and utility stocks
• a number of financial stocks
• social media comments
• first mentioned: EPD, ENB
• others: MPO, 
• but mostly just the usual suspects; must have been a slow news day.
  

Week 6: February 5, 2024 -- February 11, 2024

Locator: 46775TOPSTORIES.

Top, top story

• US economy on fire; 
• the US stock market continues to hit new highs;
  
• S&P 500 closes above 5000 for first time ever
  

Top story: 

• regional "wars" everywhere: Gaza, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Ukraine
• all are in somewhat of a "steady state" situation
• although Mideast heating up
  

Top international non-energy story:

• Israel getting ready to clear out last "urban area" -- no signs of letting up
• Rafah
• it appears Israel has all its diplomatic ducks in order to begin operations
  
• global shipping still avoids the Red Sea (Suez Canal)
  

Top international energy story:

• 
  
• 
  

Top national non-energy story:

• US Congress fails to pass southern border security bill.
  
• Taylor Swift first woman to win four Grammys in same category
• special counsel concludes "investigation" of President Biden over handling of classified information from his vice-presidential days; special counsel said they were interviewing an old man with a poor memory;
  

Top national energy story:

• Diamondback to acquire Endeavor
  
• Devon to acquire Enerplus
• California Resources to double oil output in $2.1B Aera deal

Focus on fracking: link here.

Top North Dakota non-energy story:

Top North Dakota energy story:

• 
  

Geoff Simon's quick connects: link here.

Bakken economy:

Commentary: 

Devon Energy Offers To Acquire Enerplus -- February 9, 2024

Locator: 46774DEVON.

Updates

February 21, 2024: Chord Energy to merge with Enerplus. 

Original Note

Devon Energy offers to acquire Enerplus, including its Bakken assets -- NS Energy

Reuters.

Yahoo!Finance.

Neptune Operating With One New Permit -- February 9, 2024

Locator: 46773B.

Devon Energy offers to acquire Enerplus, including its Bakken assets -- NS Energy. Later: Chord Energy acquires Enerplus, making Chord the dominant producer in North Dakota. posted July 7, 2024.

Active rigs : 38

WTI: $76.84

One new permit, #40513:

• Operator: Neptune Operating
• Field: Briar Creek (Williams)
• Comments: 
• Neptune Operating has a permit for a Foster well, lot 3, section 4-152-104, 
• to be sited 441 FNL and 1789 FWL

One permit was renewed:

• 34575, loc, Enerplus, Tegu 151-94-17A-20H-TF-LL, Sanish-Antelope,
  

Immigration -- Economy -- February 9, 2024

Locator: 46772ECON.

Link here.

This is one of several reasons why the "southern surge doesn't bother me as much as it might.

Another reason: as long as DC politicians don't seem particularly concerned, why should I?

Then, this past week, despite a "clean bill," the border security bill was voted down in the US House. Apparently that bill took a lot of time to write and had strong bipartisan upport, but apparently not enough support to overcome partisan politics. I assume no politico hhad read the entire bill. Tells me all I need to know about this issue.

 As long as immigration pretty much matches birth rate, I think the country will manage.

Link here. Pew Research Center (a bit dated, but helpful).

Later, February 26, 2024: I can't recall if I've mentioned this before or not -- the southern surge will be a huge economic win for Texas. The Feds are pouring money into the state even as they suggest they don't want to stop illegal immigration. This is a huge story.