Yes, very likely!
The Romans, including both the Western and Eastern Roman Empires, had very likely created not only Christianity, as we know it today (e.g., New Testament), but also Islam, the original version!
*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index increased 0.9 of a point in July to 91.9, marking the 19th consecutive month below the 49-year average of 98. Twenty-one percent of owners reported that inflation was their single most important problem in operating their business, down three points from June. NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg stated:
With small business owners’ views about future sales growth and business conditions dismal, owners want to hire and make money now from solid consumer spending. Inflation has eased slightly on Main Street, but difficulty hiring remains a top business concern.
June 2023 inflation-adjusted exports were up 7.7% year-over-year, imports were down 1.7% year-over-year, and the trade deficit continues to improve. The decrease in imports was widespread as was the increase in exports.
June 2023 sales of merchant wholesalers are down 6.7% from June 2022 (green line on the graph below). While sales are falling, inventories grew 1.3% year-over-year – so the inventory-to-sales ratio worsened from 1.30 a year ago to 1.41 (blue line on the graph below). Normally this is a sign of a slowing economy but there are many factors in play that clouds the interpretation of this data set.
Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.
Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Valid 00Z Tue Aug 08 2023 – 00Z Thu Aug 10 2023…Very active east coast weather late afternoon into early evening Monday
with severe weather, heavy rains and flash flooding possible from the
Mid-Atlantic into the Southeast……Heavy rains and a flash flood threat for eastern New York State into
New England Monday evening into Tuesday……Heavy rains and a flash flooding threat also from Monday night into
Wednesday across portions of the Central to Southern Plains, Middle to
Lower Mississippi Valley, Lower Ohio and Lower Tennessee Valleys……Record heat to continue from the Southern Plains, along the Gulf Coast
and into Florida……Elevated fire weather risks to continue for portions of the Great
Basin, Southwest and Southern Plains……Cooler than average temperatures expected from the Northern Rockies,
through portions of the Plains, Mid Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley and
Northeast…
*Stock data, cryptocurrency, and commodity prices at the market closing.
Click on the “Read More” below to access these, other headlines, and the associated news summaries moving the markets today.
Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Mon Aug 07 2023Valid 00Z Tue Aug 08 2023 – 00Z Thu Aug 10 2023
…Very active east coast weather late afternoon into early evening Monday
with severe weather, heavy rains and flash flooding possible from the
Mid-Atlantic into the Southeast……Heavy rains and a flash flood threat for eastern New York State into
New England Monday evening into Tuesday……Heavy rains and a flash flooding threat also from Monday night into
Wednesday across portions of the Central to Southern Plains, Middle to
Lower Mississippi Valley, Lower Ohio and Lower Tennessee Valleys……Record heat to continue from the Southern Plains, along the Gulf Coast
and into Florida……Elevated fire weather risks to continue for portions of the Great
Basin, Southwest and Southern Plains……Cooler than average temperatures expected from the Northern Rockies,
through portions of the Plains, Mid Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley and
Northeast…
Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Sat Aug 05 2023Valid 12Z Sat Aug 05 2023 – 12Z Mon Aug 07 2023
…Dangerous heat will continue for the Desert Southwest, Southern Plains
and Lower Mississippi Valley but relief for some is coming beginning on
Sunday……Potential for severe thunderstorms and/or flash flooding from the
central/northern Plains into parts of the Midwest…
We hear much about the cancellation of student debt. While a worthy effort, not much thought has been given to its implications. And I do not mean economic implications alone. Let us start with a brief examination of a few social implications.
Is Global Warming impacting the ENSO Cycle? A friend of mine posted an interesting post on this on Climate.Gov and I think it is worth discussing. But we really do not have the ability at this point in time to know if this is happening and if so why.
This introduces the ENSO BLOG post on Climate.gov. Here is the link to the full post.
He provides two pieces of evidence. This is the one that resonated with me.
| Presumably, we see higher highs (El Nino) and lower lows (La Nina) since 1960. We do not seem to see higher highs and higher lows which one might expect with warmer oceans but all the values are anomalies that complicate things a lot. Actually, I am not 100% sure of exactly what this data represents. Presumably, it is the 5-month running mean minus the 1981- 2010 climatology. That is slightly different than the usual calculation of the value of the Nino 3.4 Index but it is challenging to compare current values to historical values as the temperature of the ocean surface increases. I will copy Mike McPhaden and ask him if I have described the above correctly – stay tuned. Trying to understand the impact of Global Warming is not simple. |
The Footnotes to the post provide useful information
Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
Sat Aug 05 2023Valid 12Z Sat Aug 05 2023 – 12Z Mon Aug 07 2023
…Dangerous heat will continue for the Desert Southwest, Southern Plains
and Lower Mississippi Valley but relief for some is coming beginning on
Sunday……Potential for severe thunderstorms and/or flash flooding from the
central/northern Plains into parts of the Midwest…
What is the difference between a reality show and the reality?
For ballroom dancing, it cannot be more starkly contrasted between “Dancing Queens,” a reality TV show, and “Dancing Queens & Kings,” my forthcoming book.