Five Observations

 1.  The way things are going in Saudi Arabia (past five days)....this Houthi 'war' is developing and requiring a lot of attention.  Saudis were expecting the Americans would 'help', and this has not been the case.  So they are looking around....expecting Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan to help.  

All of this puts pressure on oil/gas prices.  Then the natural gas sales of the region....are at risk.  

Quietly, the US/Venezuela situation really comes across right now as a brilliant development. 

2.  Mid-terms chatter.  We are about 8 weeks away from election day.  

Senate shocks?  Georgia: Ossoff appears to be on shaky ground....Republican might win.  Michigan: Republican win more than likely.  New Hampshire likely flips over to a Republican.  

House?  Based on various polls....Republicans end up with a ten-plus situation (minimum).

3.  This whole discussion about Chinese-car-makers assembling their cars in the US.....will turn a China-made car from $8k to $12k (made/assembled in China, before tariff action)......into a $25k deal (with tariffs).  If made/produced/assembled in the US by Americans?  I would likely push the price up to $35k....with zero tariff action.

The China disgruntlement?  Less employed Chinese....some public frustration about being forced into a deal.

Would I buy such a car (either Chinese-made, or China-design-but-assembled-by-Americans)?  I'm not sure about this.  

It was this way in the 1990s....where South Korean cars were imported into the US, and were marginally up-to-par.  Eventually, they were great designs and quality cars.  Maybe Chinese car go the same way.

4.  About every week, I see a discussion over truck prices and guys admitting there's WAY too much crap being put onto a truck...pushing the price from $40k....on up to $75,000.  Some folks are now admitting....they'd be willing to buy a bare-bones 1980-type F-150....with nothing special other than AM/FM radio and AC. If some Venezuelan 'Elon' was smart....he'd work up a Ford/Trump deal....build the old Ford F-150 design and ship it into the US for $18,000.

5.  Ric Flair....age 77.....says he's on a return path to the WWE wrestling events.

To be honest....I'd probably pay up to $75 for a ringside seat for such event.