THE ROLLING STONES KEEP ROLLING ALONG

Nothing much, but here is what is happening around the world today:

• The U.S. is sending a third aircraft carrier fleet to the Middle East.  Not a good sign for peace before the mid-term elections.
• The national unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2%.
• The U.S. Supreme Court has begun a new term.
• From USA Today:

'Perfect storm': El Niño goes off the charts

A record-high ocean temperature has been measured in a key El Niño region of the Pacific Ocean, and scientists say it likely hasn't reached its peak.

• 
  Rachel became a hurricane on September 30, with a path towards Hawaii.
• Quickly strengthened into a Category 3 at 120 MPH yesterday, but dropped today to 110.
• All projections show continued weakening, while maintaining hurricane strength for the next few days.
• Still headed for Hawaii, but the extreme danger quotient looks low.

• In the West Pacific, Choi-Wan became a typhoon today south of Japan.
• Projections indicate a strengthening to Category 3 status, heading straight for Honshu.
• However, models show that the eye of Choi-Wan on October 5 will begin to turn more northernly, and eventually on a path to keep it sufficiently far enough away from Japan, unlike Typhoon Dujuan which earlier this month caused major damage and nine deaths. 

• Remember Hurricane Nolo? She threatened Hawaii a few days ago.
• On September 26, she was moving westward as a Category 2 south of Honolulu, causing little damage.
• Weakened to 90 MPH on September 27.
• Then became a super hurricane on September 28 at 155 MPH.
• Moving west, Nolo dropped to 45 MPH yesterday.
• However, today re-strengthened to 70 MPH.
• Will again become a hurricane tomorrow, and strengthen to a Category 2 the day after, still moving west.
• At that point, Hurricane Nolo will be well north of Guam and the Northern Marianas, but with a path towards Kyushu, Japan!

• There are no signs of any forming hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin and Gulf of Mexico.  If these regions get none in 2026, this will be the first time in 129 years.

It's amazing that the Rolling Stones have been so active for so long.

• They formed in London in 1962 when I was still in college, and 64 years later, remain relevant.
• They were supposed to tour in 2026, but cancelled.  Keith Richard said he was already too old.

• 
  They did release an album this year, Foreign Tongues,  and Mick Jagger is anxious to have one more tour next year.  While he hopes for the usual city after city standard, there are indications that, at their age, perhaps a "residency" final round might make more sense.  Fewer cities, staying in one spot for a bit longer.
• How old are they?
• Mick Jagger is 83.
• Keith Richards, 82
• Ronnie Wood, 79
• Drummer Charlie Watts passed away in 2021 at the age of 80.
• 
  Drummer now is Steve Jordan, an American who is 69 years old.  
• The remaining three are from England.
• Jordan has won Emmys, and has played with many:  Blues Brothers, Bee Gees, George Benson, Beyoncé, Booker T & the MGs, Eric Clapton, Kelly Clarkson, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Debbie Gibson, Vince Gill, Josh Groban....I'm only up to the letter G.

• 
  Some history, from Wikipedia.  Never saw this before, but their coverage is so long that there is a warning from this site.
• Started as the Blues Boys in March 1962.
• The Rolling Stones became so in July of 1962, with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Billy Wyman and Charlie Watts.  Led by Jones, who named the group.

• 
  Rooted in blues and early rock and roll, playing cover versions.
• Signed Andrew Oldham as their manager in 1963.  He was then only 19, and his mother had to co-sign the contract.  Oldham's previous clients?  The Beatles. He was the one who made the Stones animalistic and undesirable, compared to The Beatles.  It worked.
• At the forefront of the British Invasion of 1964.

• 
  Now famous, they began to play their own compositions like Satisfaction,(you gotta watch this...a really young Mick), Get Off of My Cloud and Paint it Black.  In 1966, their Aftermath album was all their original material.
• Need to play Jumping Jack Flash.  Only a 33/58 rating from Rotten Tomatoes.  Now 40 years old, but was led by Whoopie Goldberg, and a cast before they became famous:  Carol Kane, Jonathan Pryce, John Lovitz, Phil Hartman, Tracey Ullman and Jim Belushi.
• There were problems with Brian Jones, and he left the band a few weeks before his death in 1969, and was replaced by Mick Taylor.
• Formed their own record label in 1970, starting with Stick Fingers in 1971, for which that tongue and lips logo was created.  Seven more albums were released, all reaching #1 on Billboard.

• 
  Taylor left in 1974, and was replaced by Ronnie Wood.  That group of Jagger, Richards, Watts and Woods survived for almost 50 years until Watts died in 2021.  That year, they were the highest-earning live act.
• Mick Jagger was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2003.  Only member so honored.
• Have sold more than 250 million albums, winning four Grammys and a lifetime achievement award.

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