Observations

 1.  After a brief internal conversation within the Pentagon, they decided that giving the Gitmo prisoners a priority on the Covid-19 vaccinations...ahead of vets....probably wasn't that wise of an idea.  So they were moved back down to the regular status (they won't say when but it probably won't happen before summer).

2.  United Airlines suggests that come spring....up to 14,000 folks will be furloughed (not much is said over how long).  This would be the big indicator to say that regular air travel in the next six months simply won't happen.  

3.  Iowa passed a law that schools MUST reopen by 15 Feb.  Odds of this happening?  Teacher union will probably seek some delay or perhaps go via a strike.  

4.  This whole GameStop stock manipulation discussion by the SEC?  Mostly (99-percent) bogus.  There's not a single insider or GameStop employee that can say they are involved.  Normally, in all past manipulations (going back a hundred years)....some insider played a key role.  

Oh, I agree....both the SEC and Congress will investigate this....like they did the 2008 mortgage crisis and bank failures, but if you remember....nothing much happened in 2009/2010, and that's the way this is lining up.  Add to it....if you quizzed all 435 House members and 100 Senators....only around ten of them could answer a simple basic quiz on 'shorts'.  I would even add that most ex-bankers or people claiming vast experience in financial affairs that are politicians....know really know next to nothing about the 'shorts' business.  

5.  A study was done on the top ten most dangerous neighborhoods in America (NO-GO zones).  

Seven of them are in California (four in L A, three in SF).  Portland got on the list.  Kansas City rated for two of them.  Oddly, neither Chicago or Detroit made the list. As bad as some folks in Memphis think they have it.....they also didn't make the list. 

6.  Russian population decline?  Well....in the past twelve months, Russia will readily admit that 500k people have packed up and left.  Some of this is based on economics.....some based on people with real wealth just figuring out that life is better beyond the border.  The odds that this will lessen in 2021?  I wouldn't be betting on it settling or halting.....it'll probably be near the same number who exit in 2021.

7.  Some ranking member of the Iranian political establishment (remember, it's 99-percent influenced by the religious business) admitted in a conversation that various members had consulted 'genies' (commonly referred to in Iran as 'Jinns').

I should state this as a fact.....Jinns are viewed in Iran as good or evil.  It's simply a spirit.  

Yes, they are admitting that the Jinns have guided them in some way....so if they failed or succeed....the credit or blame would go to the Jinn.  Maybe the House Democrats in the US should ask about this Jinn business....to get the blame dumped off their back.

8.  The WHO team visiting the Wuhan market for the first time since the virus outbreak thirteen months ago?  Well.....yeah.  It was a staged visit this past week.....probably a fairly cleaned up affair and only a minor demonstration of what was there before.  

One gets the impression that the WHO keeps a dog-and-pony show team around....just to make appearances like this.