Nice to be home after our 5-week trip.  Here was our sunset view in Honolulu last night from where I am composing this posting. This morning. And towards Punchbowl Crater. Meanwhile, the price of oil jumped today . Adding to investors’ worries, a meeting set for today between Iran and Gulf countries regarding Hormuz was postponed “in the interests of consensus,” Oman’s foreign minister wrote on X. The international oil benchmark, Brent crude, rose as high as $108, while U.S. crude oil touched $103 per barrel. The bad news about Tropical Storm Norbert still at 40 MPH is that he is not turning more southward, once on a path taking him south of the Big Island.  Now, Norbert is heading straight for the middle of the Hawaiian Islands.  However, environmental conditions are such that the system is expected to degenerate into a post-tropical remnant low tomorrow, then dissipate by Wednesday.  It should be rainy and not so windy on Thursday. We in Hawaii are now paranoid ...

Day started as usual, a buffet lunch. Dinner was special.  Instead of the buffet or ala carte restaurant, everything occurred around the pool area, with barbeque grills and crepe frying.  Unfortunately, it was cold, somewhat windy and threatening.  So much so that the final two shows were re-schedule for the Cabaret Lounge, our theater.   But the meal itself remained outside. Entertainment was provided by a local group, the Saguenay Lac-St. Jean Grand'Danse, playing French traditional music. Went to pick up our meal. My dinner, Desserts. Food was fine, but it was cold and uncomfortable.  We then moved downstairs for the White Night Party. Celebration of the crew Then to The Living Room for dancing with the Shore Things. Thus, our evening ended.   Dinner the next day in the Destination restaurant. Dessert. I  noticed the moon outside, but it was also raining. So I later went to the 10th deck to take this photo of the moon and Quebec city at night. ...

    To begin my posting today, I asked Google AI, what is the status of the U.S.'s war with Iran: The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has entered a new phase of intense economic warfare after a 60-day diplomatic window expired with no final peace deal . Following initial large-scale military operations launched on February 28, 2026, the conflict is now centered on a U.S. push for crushing financial sanctions, retaliatory maritime threats in the Strait of Hormuz, and persistent regional flashpoints. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ] Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted and meager. Cost of this war? Pentagon Tally: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reported direct military spending has reached $37.5 billion, driven heavily by high burn-rates for expensive precision interceptors countering cheaper Iranian drones and missiles. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ] Consumer Energy Burden: According to energy cost trackers from Brown University cited in the Center for American Progres...