Friday, September 13
Thursday, September 12
Mrytle Beach: Day Five
In The NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Mauricio Pochettino, former manager of Chelsea and Tottenham, named coach of US men's national soccer team; former coach Gregg Berhalter was fired in June after leading Team USA for nearly six years (More)
> Sean "Diddy" Combs ordered to pay $100M over alleged sexual assault at a 1997 party (More) | NFL reviewing allegations of sexual assault against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, which were filed in a civil lawsuit Monday (More)
> Tiger Woods and PGA Tour officials meet with members of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund over potential $1B investment from the PIF (More)
Science & Technology
> NASA greenlights launch of mission to search for signs of life on Jupiter's moon Europa; the largest spacecraft ever built for a planetary mission, the Europa Clipper could launch as early as Oct. 10 (More) | NASA 101 (More, w/video)
> Microsoft demonstrates logical operations using the highest number of error-corrected quantum computing bits to date (More) | How quantum computing works (More, w/video)
> Researchers discover multiple species of fungi, bacteria, and viruses floating in the air at altitudes close to 10,000 feet; may represent a new pathway for the regional spread of pathogens (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 +0.5%, Dow -0.2%, Nasdaq +0.8%) (More) | Oil prices drop more than 3% to lowest levels since 2021 following OPEC monthly report lowering growth forecast for 2024, 2025 (More) | What is OPEC? (More)
> Federal Reserve proposes rules reducing by about half the amount of extra capital banks will be required to have on hand following threat of litigation; updated rules will be finalized in coming months, were developed in response to 2008 financial crisis (More) | EU's highest court upholds 2016 tax fines for Apple, Google (More)
> Southwest Airlines chairman, six board directors to exit following pressure from Elliott Investment Management, which holds 10% stake; Elliott blames board for stock dropping over 50% in three years (More) | FAA investigates Delta Air Lines ground collision in Atlanta; no injuries reported (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> Tropical Storm Francine turns into Category 1 hurricane, expected to strike Louisiana today as Category 2 hurricane; storm surge warnings also in effect for Texas (More) | See live updates (More)
> Israeli airstrikes hit humanitarian zone in Gaza, killing at least 19 people and wounding at least 60 others, per Hamas-run Health Ministry; Israel says it targeted senior militants culpable in Oct. 7 attacks (More) | Ukraine targets inland Russia, including Moscow with 140 drones, killing one woman and sparking building fires in largest attack of its kind (More)
> Artillery attack in southeastern Sudan market kills 21 people, wounds over 70 others, per doctors' union; attack comes after US- and Saudi-brokered peace talks fail to end civil war, government rejects international peacekeeping force (More)
Oil & Natural Gas
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Oil and natural gas are an integral part of our everyday lives, and it’s not only the gasoline we put in our cars or the natural gas that heats our homes or businesses. Oil and natural gas are used in everyday products such as lipstick and deodorant and life-saving medical devices, such as MRI machines and pacemakers.
Byproducts from oil refining is used to produce plastics, as well as lubricants, waxes, tars and even asphalt for our roads. Nylon, polyester, and many types of fabrics we use that allow us to camp, recreate, and enjoy the outdoors are all made possible by oil and natural gas. In fact, all forms of transportation including the manufacturing of planes, trains, cars, boats, bikes, scooters, skateboards, and even electric cars require oil and natural gas products and components. SOURCE: COGA
So, why are the Democrats wanting to END Oil and Natural Gas?
ANSWER: Climate Change
That's all fine and good but most of the WORLD has no desire to stop CLIMATE CHANGE because it is TOO EXPENSIVE...
Makes the USA not just look foolish in the eyes of the rest of the world but as we move in that direction, that movement slows down our economy, which in the short run HURTS AMERICANS.
Plus...
pressure is being put of car manufacturers to produce electric and hybrid vehicles... BUT the public (both democrats and republicans) are refusing to buy them. That puts car manufacturers between a rock and a hard place.
Since we no longer produce enough refined oil for gasoline, we have to buy oil from other countries. Prior to 2020, we were producing more than enough oil where we could see our excess to other countries... which helped our economy.
It just does not make any sense to do what we are doing and have been doing these last four years.
Beyond Hydrogen and EVs
This grand vision reflects Sweden’s dense interest in decarbonizing the transport sector and puts the country on the cutting edge of green technology advancement. As Volvo pushes the boundaries of what is possible, Sweden is gaining recognition as a pioneer in environmentally friendly transportation.
Thus, not a single segment of the Volvo Group is passive in developing and using hydrogen fuel cell technology. FCEVs store hydrogen gas in tanks and generate electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen. This operation is fast and clean, except for water vapor, which is the only discharge given out. Some advantages of FCEVs over BEVs are refueling times and a more extended driving range. READ MORE...
Wednesday, September 11
Myrtle Beach: Day 4
For some it was a beautiful day but for others like my wife and I, it was a HORRIBLY COLD DAY...
Only one person got into the water and that was a young boy maybe 12-13 years old, and his chubby little body kept getting knocked over by the waves.
While the wind was not blowing as strongly as it had been on Monday, the temperatures were cooler which made the entire day feel like it was in the high 50s or low 60s.
Aside from an early morning walk along the shoreline and a trip back up to the room on the 6th floor for lunch, the day was spent sitting in a chair, listening to iHeart radio, an audiobook, or writing in my journal.
Instead of leaving at 4/4:30 when the lifeguard collects the chairs and umbrellas, we left at 3:00pm as we both were chilly and uncomfortable.
9/11 ANNIVERSARY
I am a Vietnam Era Veteran, serving from 1969 through 1974... and I was amazed that this country, THE USA, was so arrogant and egotistical that they allowed terrorists into this country and consequently allowed THE TWIN TOWERS in NYC to be completely destroyed.
NOW...
for the last 4 years we have allowed millions of illegal immigrants into this country, many of which are MUSLIM TERRORISTS, and no doubt will start implementing terrorist activities once the election in November 2024.
WHAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST IS...
the American people, after 20+ years, have completely forgotten that the USA was attacked over 20 years ago.
Out of sight... Out of mind...
Americans get emotionally alarmed only when an event is happening or has happened and then a FEW YEARS later, we are completely over it and go about our business as if it never happened...
And while there is some merit to that approach, it negates the fact that we should maintain an awareness it may happen again.
Now from 2020-2024, millions of illegal immigrants have come into this country, many seek a better life but there are also many who are criminals and/or terrorists...
QUESTION: Why have the alleged terrorists not taken action so far, if they are really here?
The answer is very simple, these terrorists, in my opinion, are waiting to see who wins the election in November. If Kamala Harris wins, then they will go into action because these terrorists and their sponsors don't see Harris as a strong leader who will take any kind of aggressive action.
DUMB ASSED AMERICANS have to wait until it actually happens again before they get upset and ask our government to PROTECT THEM...
STATES that have gun carry permits will initiate action immediately and start protecting themselves and their families.
Unless you believe that your LGBQT+ will protect you... then you might have to screw up your courage and start protecting yourself.
In The NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Catherine, Princess of Wales, announces she has completed her chemotherapy to treat an unspecified form of cancer (More)
> Fashion mogul Peter Nygard sentenced to 11 years in prison in Canada after being found guilty in November to four charges of sexual assault (More) | Harvey Weinstein to undergo emergency heart surgery (More)
> FX's "Shogun" hauls in a record 14 wins at the 2024 Creative Arts Emmys with FX leading all distributors with 27 awards; Primetime Emmys are set for this Sunday (8 pm ET, ABC) (More)
Science & Technology
> Astronomers discover a pair of supermassive black holes with the closest separation between the two—roughly 300 light-years—observed to date (More) | How black holes work (More, w/video)
> Scientists capture footage of young Japanese eels escaping after being eaten by a predatory fish via the animal's digestive tract and gills; marks the first known observation of the behavior in nature (More)
> Follow-up study on the first partial face transplant to include an eye shows no signs of rejection by the patient; vision has not been restored in donor eye, but has achieved blood flow (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close higher (S&P 500 +1.2%, Dow +1.2%, Nasdaq +1.2%) (More) | Terns Pharmaceuticals shares jump as much as 26% on weight-loss drug trial results (More) | Palantir shares close up 14% on news it will join the S&P 500 Sept. 23, along with Dell Technologies and Erie Indemnity (More)
> Google begins federal antitrust trial related to its ad-tech business; trial comes after a federal judge in a separate case last month said the tech giant violated laws by illegally holding a monopoly on online search and text advertising (More)
> Discount retailer Big Lots initiates Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, will sell its business to private equity firm Nexus Capital (More) | Chapter 11 overview (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump to face off in their first presidential debate tonight in Philadelphia, hosted by ABC at 9 pm ET (More) | See latest national polls (More)
> Death toll from Typhoon Yagi rises to at least 49 people in northern Vietnam, with at least 22 people missing, hundreds injured, and millions without power; Yagi is the most powerful storm to hit Asia this year (More) | Tropical Storm Francine forms in Gulf of Mexico, forecast to strike parts of Louisiana tomorrow as a hurricane (More)
> Germany tightens land borders temporarily to curb what it considers to be irregular migration and to protect the country from extremist threats (More)
Our Generation
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Alexandria, Virginia, eight miles south of Washington DC was where I grew up until high school. High School was spent in Cairo, Egypt graduating in 1966, afterwards I attended college in North Carolina.
In 1970 until 1972, I was in the military after leaving college and was awarded a BA degree in 1974 and an MBA in 1981. After numerous employers in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky, I retired in 2015 after working for 45 years.
Our generation has been labelled the BABY BOOMERS... those who were born during WWII and just afterwards.
Our generation is the heart of ROCK and ROLL where some of the best music in the world was written, recorded, and performed.
Our generation is the generation of long hair, hippies, smoking weed (marijuana), wild clothes, and outspoken beliefs as we protested the VIETNAM WAR.
Our generation owned homes, paid off mortgages and student loans, saved for retirement, challenged all traditions, and built the strong economy that Americans were able to appreciate until COVID arrived.
Our generation taught our children how to be polite, courteous, and respectful of other people, not lie, cheat, or steal, and to earn things on their own merit without needing any help from the government or the DEI push that you see today.
Our generation believes in helping yourself rather than expecting the government to help you. Our generation does not want the government to take care of us and give us handouts. We build up our own lives with hard work, paying our dues first, determination, and discipline.
NO GENERATION HAS BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE!!!
Nuclear Power Breakthrough
The United Kingdom is leading the world in nuclear fusion energy power plant design, according to a report by The Royal Society. The special edition report details the progress achieved by the spherical tokamak for energy production (STEP).
The STEP program aims to design and build the UK’s first prototype fusion energy plant. The report presents the technology needed for the prototype and also presents the steps needed for integrating it with the power plant for producing energy from fusion.
One of the unique aspects of the program is that it also considers decommissioning as a part of the design.
STEP is scheduled to be built at the former coal-fired power station site of West Burton, Nottinghamshire. Ground and environment surveys are underway for the project and first operation is expected to begin in early 2040s.
The program aims for the formation of an integrated delivery organization based on a public-private partnership model that will deliver the prototype plant. This includes designing for cost, and at pace. READ MORE...
Tuesday, September 10
Myrtle Beach: Day Two & Three of Eight
Monday and Tuesday at Myrtle Beach, SC were pretty much more of the same.
The temps were high 70s, low 80s both days, maybe a little hotter on Tuesday but Monday was very windy...
Each day, I would walk south down the beach towards Damons Restaurant for about one-half mile and when I turned to make the trip back, the wind was so strong, I had to take my hat off. I don't mind losing a hat since for five bucks I can get a new one, but this particular hat was one of the best wearing hats I've ever worn.
Monday night, my wife and I ate at Red Lobster which is one of our go to restaurants down here. She got fish and chips while I ordered baked Salmon with a baked potato and broccoli. Any meals under $50 is a good deal for us. We order water with lemon instead of a soft drink which immediately reduces the bill by $6.
With all the space that is down here on shoreline of Myrtle Beach, it always amazes us when another family has to set up umbrellas and chairs, two feet away from our umbrella and chair.
I understand that cars have to be parked close together but down here there is all kinds of space. When they kids start to throw sand at each other, being that close can be annoying.
Recently, my wife and I have discovered that more and more people are completely disrespectful of other's people's space when out in public. They act like they are the only ones around, and don't mind walking in front of you as you are not there at all.
