NOTABLE GLOBAL GALLIMAUFRIES

What is worse:  Donald Trump as PUS (President of the United States) or nobody running Israel?  Yup, Benjamin Netenyahu (center) just won re-election and lost control of his country, for his Likud party failed to secure a majority.  Plus, King Bibi will soon be convicted of corruption, maybe three times.  The kingmaker will be Avigdor Lieberman (right), a former close aide to Netanyahu, who founded the Yisrael Beiteinu party, and will recommend to President Reuven Rivlin to choose Benny Gantz (left), head of the Kahol Lavan party, to become prime minister.  So Israel, which has not had a definite one since late in 2018, appears to be on track to finally select a prime minister.  But it hasn't happened yet.

Have you noticed that our stock market has been dangerously metastable?  In one week, we experienced our two highest one-day gains ever (+1,294 and +1,173) and greatest drops ever (-1,191), plus 4th (-1,032), 5th (-970) and 6th (-879).  This going back to the beginning of the Dow Jones Industrial Average.  The blame is squarely placed on COVID-19. The volatility index, of course, has been volatile.

Also, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has dropped to 3.29%, AN ALL-TIME LOW?  Why?  Thank COVID-19.  One problem faced by those seeking to buy is that the inventory of homes for sale hit an all-time low amid high demand.  The trigger was the Federal Reserve (chairman Jerome Powell) dropping their benchmark interest rate by 0.5% last week, leading to the 10-year Treasury interest rate easing down to 0.915%, the first time the 1% level has been breached.

Do you realize the gravity of what I've been saying about the economy?  Just this past week, the Dow hit all-time one-day highs and lows, while the home mortgage rate dropped to its lowest ever.  The VIX is way up and the 10-year treasury rate is at an all-time low.  The major recession of 2008 was caused by the subprime mortgage crisis, meaning those with poor credit histories buying homes probably were the primary cause.

Compound all that by jittery investors worried about China.  Just Wuhan reporting an increase in new coronavirus cases yesterday (139 versus 119 on Wednesday) sunk the Dow close to a 1000 points, again.  If Beijing, or anywhere else in that country, suddenly becomes another South Korea or Iran or Italy or nursing home in the State of Washington, there will be a collapse of the market. But I'll continue to avoid wearing a face mask because I still don't think much will happen.  The peak is yet to come, but by the late spring, almost for sure.

Totaling switching subjects, results of the largest technical cheese competition (also butter and yogurt) held in Madison, Wisconsin was just announced.  After thousands of entries from the world over in more than 132 categories (did you know that there are this many types of cheese?), the winnah!    A Gruyere from Switzerland.  Same cheese won in 2008.  The reason?  The grass!

Runner-up was also from Switzerland:  a hard cheese made from cow's milk, Gallus Grand CRU made by Hardegger Kase AG.  Third, a Gouda made by Royal FrieslandCampina-Export of the Netherlands.  But Wisconsin did not totally lose out.  The state won 45 #1s in 45 of those 132 categories, sweeping the top three places in 13 of them.

However, does this mean you will go out and buy those Swiss cheeses?  Well, Amazon.com does not mention the Gourmino Le Gruyere AOP.  But in time it will no doubt eventually become widely available.  In the 2018 biannual competition, a hard sheep's milk cheese called Esquirrou made in France at Mauleon Fromagerie won top honors.  Today, iGourmet sells 7.5 ounces for $15.99.  Add $13.99 for shipping.  Amazon sells 7.5 ounces of Esquirrou for $16, plus $30 shipping.

But I like butter best.  According to a 2018 report, Lurpak from Denmark scored 99.8 out of 100, beating off 30 other leading butters. On Amazon, 8 ounces costs $19.35, plus $5.49 shipping.  But why?  Butter costs around $4/pound (16 ounces) in your local market.

I know I'm overdoing this, but, from Amazon:

Note: 

Not eligible for Amazon Prime.

• Ships expedited in an insulated package to ensure freshness
• A very popular butter from the clean pastures of Denmark
• Excellent on corn or melted over popcorn
• Unsalted variety perfect for those with high blood pressure

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