waveshaper

WTI trading in the mid $2 range (last day of May futures contract/June starts tomorrow). It might even go negative before COB? https://www.macrotrends.net/2566/crude-oil-prices-today-live-chart

Updated Travel Ban info from today/18 April: "Military Travel Ban Extended Until June 30; Some Restrictions Eased" https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/04/18/military-travel-ban-extended-until-june-30-some-restrictions-eased.html

Gas will probably be getting cheaper than dirt in the coming days/weeks? Current WTI futures this AM = the upper $17 range.

The Theodore Roosevelt might be a good "Case" study on this subject. Here's the latest stats; "Of the 585 cases on Roosevelt, about 400 were found to be asymptomatic." “What we’ve learned, certainly in the Navy, is that with regard to COVID-19, we’re learning that stealth in the form of asymptomatic transmission is this adversary’s secret power,” Rear Adm. Bruce Gillingham, the surgeon general of the Navy" - stated. https://news.usni.org/2020/04/14/950-sailors-now-have-covid-19-2nd-uss-theodore-roosevelt-sailor-in-intensive-care#more-75435

Here's some new PCS/COVID-19 protocols that were just released:<) "Face Coverings, Health Questions Now Required for Military Moves" https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/04/15/face-coverings-health-questions-now-required-military-moves.html

"A sailor who tested positive for Covid-19 on the USS Theodore Roosevelt has died of the coronavirus, the US Navy said Monday": RIP.

There seems to be some new info leaking out this PM about some of the details leading up to the firing of the TR Capt. 1. "Sailors running nuclear reactors were first to catch coronavirus on aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt" "The first US Navy sailors to fall ill aboard the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt were those running the nuclear reactors." "The Navy first announced that three crew members aboard the aircraft carrier had tested positive for the coronavirus on March 24, and that initial outbreak reportedly started in the reactor department." "While details are limited, an outbreak among the reactor crew could easily be considered a worst-case scenario, as losses in the reactor department could put the ship out of commission because it would fail to have the required number of technicians or operators to safely run both reactors at sea." https://www.businessinsider.com/aircraft-carrier-coronavirus-outbreak-hit-reactor-crew-first-2020-4 2. "Modly was not the only Navy official vexed by the circumstances. Adm. Robert Burke, the vice chief of naval operations, reportedly told the ship's senior medical officer that they failed as a leader, two crew members told The Times." https://www.businessinsider.com/modly-angry-at-capt-brett-crozier-send-off-videos-online-2020-4 3. "Navy officers on a coronavirus-hit aircraft carrier wanted to sign a dire letter about the outbreak, but the ship's captain wouldn't let them" "Senior officers aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier reeling from a coronavirus outbreak offered to sign a revealing letter about the dire situation, only to be denied by the ship's commander, Capt. Brett Crozier." "Crozier feared for their careers and denied their request, according to The New York Times." https://www.businessinsider.com/navy-officers-brett-crozier-wanted-to-sign-letter-2020-4

This style mask should fix folks safe distance problems in most places they shop. TBD if it will work in South Texas?

Yep. Obviously, Captain Crozier didn't make this decision (in a vacuum) for the USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Bunker Hill to visit this potential coronavirus hotspot (????) in early March. Here's a couple more co-conspirators that were involved in this Da Nang port call, I'm sure there's a few more, etc. "USS Theodore Roosevelt arrives in Vietnam, becoming second US carrier to visit since the 1970s"; The USS Theodore Roosevelt arrived Thursday in Vietnam, becoming only the second U.S. aircraft carrier to make a port call there since the fall of Saigon in 1975. "The carrier, accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, steamed into Danang, where they were met by Vietnamese and U.S. government and military officials, according to a 7th Fleet news release. Waiting to greet the vessels were Adm. John C. Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink. The port call by the Roosevelt and its strike group, a total of 6,500 military personnel, marks 25 years since the two former foes normalized their diplomatic relations. Adm. Phil Davidson, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, announced Tuesday that the Roosevelt would stop in Vietnam." https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/uss-theodore-roosevelt-arrives-in-vietnam-becoming-second-us-carrier-to-visit-since-the-1970s-1.621313

A few more details/????; Also, see Air Force Gen. John Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff "Comments"; "Roosevelt Sailor with COVID-19 Found Unresponsive in Guam " https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/04/09/roosevelt-sailor-covid-19-found-unresponsive-guam.html

Here's my go-to COVID-69 mask - it's cheap, works, and manufactured in massive quantities in the PRC/USA. I expect we will see the stockpile vanish in short order, similar to the recent run/hoarding of toilet paper:<)

"Pentagon to announce new face mask guidance: Esper"; ???? "The Pentagon will soon announce a new policy requiring face masks for military personnel, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Sunday on ABC's "This Week." “We will have a directive coming up on that today,” Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos. “Now we're going to move towards face covering.” https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pentagon-announce-face-mask-guidance-esper/story?id=69980787

IMHO, the main strategic asset on aircraft carriers are its aircraft: Can US Aircraft Carriers still launch aircraft (particularly fixed wing jets) while sitting idle - pierside/minus 75/% of its crew? If not - then maybe they should've launched all their aircraft while the carrier was still at sea/underway (to relocate these assets to a useful location/airfield) before the carrier docked and the crew was overrun by COVID-19. Latest photo/USS Theodore Roosevelt docked in Guam;

"Military Raises Health Protection Level Globally, Halts Deployments" - "The Defense Department raised its Health Protection Condition level at every military installation globally to the second highest level as the new coronavirus outbreak spreads and more personnel test positive for the COVID-19 virus." - "The Pentagon also ordered all U.S. troops abroad to freeze movements for 60 days, meaning those currently deployed or at home preparing to deploy will stay in their current positions for the duration of the order." - Etc, etc, etc. https://www.airforcemag.com/military-raises-health-protection-level-globally-halts-deployments/

The US Army is upping their game in response to the CORVID-19 threat. Will the USAF respond in a similar fashion, particularly our Contingency Response Forces? "Army goes to HPCON Charlie across all bases, Delta for contingency forces;" https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=&oq=upping+their+game&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS459US459&q=upping+their+game&gs_l=hp..0.0l2j0i22i30l3.0.0.0.396085...........0.W4sR2s7CNso#spf=1585152117028

A few things to ponder when you or your significant other is going shopping. I recommend taking your own basket/bag, decon before you go, use self-checkout, decon when you get home, decon food/products purchased , etc; There are 3 new COVID-19 cases on Gulfport Navy Base and one case pending test results (Keesler AFB is involved in the testing/medical treatment of some of these folks). - COVID-19 positive case #1 = Navy Trainee. - COVID-19 positive case #2 = Commissary Bagger. - COVID-19 positive case #3 = On Base Retail Worker. - COVID -19 pending test results #4? = ON Base CDC Worker. https://www.stripes.com/news/navy/sailor-trainee-is-third-at-gulfport-navy-base-to-test-positive-for-coronavirus-1.623510

Well it seems the Army is taking CORVID-19 serious, moving in a logical direction, and starting to ramp their response up a wee bit. - "Army Shutters Recruiting Stations as 6 Recruits Show COVID-19 Symptoms at Basic Training :" "We have reduced the numbers; we are running about 50 percent," McConville said. "We just ran a test of that." "The Army typically sends about 1,200 recruits per week to Basic Combat Training, TRADOC spokesman Col. Richard McNorton told Military.com, adding that the reduction would mean that about 600 recruits per week are being sent to initial entry training." https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/03/20/army-shutters-recruiting-stations-6-recruits-show-covid-19-symptoms-basic-training.html - "Army Orders All Medical Units to Prepare for Possible Response to Virus Outbreak:" "The Army gave two combat support hospitals (CSH) -- one at Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington, and the other at Fort Campbell, Kentucky -- a "prepare to deploy order" as the U.S. government wrestles with how best to help communities if the spread of COVID-19 intensifies, Gen. James McConville told reporters at the Pentagon." "He said the Army has also given a "warning order to all our Role 3 hospitals," facilities staffed and equipped to provide care to all categories of patients, to include resuscitation, initial wound surgery, specialty surgery and post-operative care." https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/03/20/army-orders-all-medical-units-prepare-possible-response-virus-outbreak.html

The AETC War on COVID-19 versus the response to COVID-19 in a real war. It seems someone is out of step. US Pauses Afghanistan Deployments, Isolates Arrivals There; https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/03/19/us-pauses-afghanistan-deployments-isolates-arrivals-there.html

A CORVID-19 induced "STOP-LOSS" might due the trick :<)

Most USAF bases are currently in DoD HPCON Level Alpha (I think?) and only a couple of USAF base are in HPCON Bravo (Maxwell AFB/Altus AFB/Travis AFB/March AFB/Barksdale AFB/Whiteman AFB/there could be more?). IMHO, these classes will probably CNX if we go to HPCON Charlie or Delta. DoD HPCON Levels for CORVID-19; https://www.whs.mil/Portals/75/Coronavirus/ANNEX L-HPCON Levels - Review3.pdf?ver=2020-03-09-165325-583

A little legal history/background/court battles/etc of USAF personnel trying to win the right to wear religious headgear/beards/etc in the USAF (involves the civilian courts/congress/etc - looooong). S. SIMCHA GOLDMAN, PETITIONER V. CASPAR W. WEINBERGER, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, ET AL. No. 84-1097 In the Supreme Court of the United States October Term, 1985 On Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Brief for the Respondents PARTIES TO THE PROCEEDING In addition to the parties listed in the caption of this case, the Secretary of the Air Force was named as a defendant in the district court and is a respondent in this Court. https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/osg/briefs/1985/01/01/sg850109.txt

https://code7700.com/1979_fix-to-fix.htm

"Satellite images of bases in Iraq before and after Iranian missile attack": Click on white circle in center of image/move mouse left or right, etc. https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/2020/01/08/see-satellite-images-of-iraq-bases-before-and-after-iranian-missile-attack/2848890001/

"#Breaking First footage of the Ukrainian airplane while on fire falling near #Tehran"

This stampede stuff is normal pregame prep for the Hajj. IMHO, Iran will field a team that's going to be hard to outdo during the upcoming 2020 Hajj - main stampede event A.K.A. "The Stoning of the Devil".