1. Day 74 of Gulf Oil Spill: Very approximately, about 500,000 gallons/day are being captured, of which more than half is flared. This is about equal to what escapes into the ocean. (These percentages are very gross, as they still don't know if the leak is 1.5 million or 3 million gallons per day.) While Hurricane Alex is gone, oh oh, something approaching from the East (see below).
2. Unemployment: Confusing, but 125,000 jobs were lost last month, but the unemployment rate dropped to 9.5%. The Hawaii rate is now at 5.2%, and the economy is hurting. The three lowest U.S. cities are Bismark (3.1%), Fargo (3.5%) and Grand Forks (3.8%). They are all in North Dakota. The worst cities are almost all in California, with El Centro at #372 with 27.5% and Las Vegas (Nevada) #358 at 14.1%.
3. U.S. Congress: General David Petraeus was confirmed, 99-0, by the U.S. Senate to head the Afghanistan War. Elena Kagan will be confirmed sometime soon to sit on the Supreme Court. However, legislation on jobless benefits and Wall Street seem stalled because certain members want to gain some concession out of these votes. All should pass this month.
4. There is something about marine paleonthology that intrigues me. I thought about becoming a dinosaur hunter when very young, then later realized this meant living in the desert and no showers for weeks. But there will soon be adventurers at the seabottom using the latest electronics to make interesting finds. The skull of this giant whale, which lived 13 million years ago, was found on land in Peru, and is named Herman Melville.
5. Want to hear "Go For Broke," a yet to be released Jake Shimabukuro single? Try:
July 1, 2010
Go For Broke - Free Single Download
Inspired by their loyalty and dedication to our country, Shimabukuro produced “Go For Broke” to remember the courageous contributions and sacrifices made by this most highly-decorated U.S. unit in military history. “Go For Broke” was the motto selected by the nisei (a person born to parents who emigrated from Japan) soldiers to express the determination by the men to give it their all and risk everything in honor of their country despite the many challenges they faced.
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The Dow Jones Industrials sank a further 46 to 9686. It is now down 7% this year. Maybe I will buy at minus 10%. Most world markets were up, but the Hong Kong Hang Seng settled 224 to 19,905. Gold increased $9/toz to $1212 and crude oil is at $72/barrel.
A potential storm just formed south of the Florida Panhandle, and seems headed towards the oil spill area.
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