All signs show that the War with Iran is escalating.  If we were to invade Kharg Island, that would be a very serious worsening, but there appears to be another front opening up regarding the Bab el-Mandeb Strait . This is that other choke point ( 20 miles wide ) through which 7% of all oil passes, that connects the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea, leading to the Suez Canal and into the Mediterranean Sea. About 1240 miles southwest of the Strait of Hormuz. Control divided among Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa.  Yemen dominates with 43 million people, Eritrea 3.7 million and Djibouti 1.2 million.  However, this strait is so important that the U.S., China, France and other countries maintain heavy naval and military presence in Djibouti. Keep in  mind that the 12-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) holds 80% of the world's proven crude oil reserves. Bab means gate , while Mandeb means grief .  ...

But before Bocelli, first, Elon Musk vs Donald Trump.  This  public squabble between them seems to be escalating, mostly spurred by Musk .    A day after using his vast social media reach to brand the bill a “disgusting abomination,” he posted more than two dozen messages on X on Wednesday attacking the legislation, as well as urging his followers to call Congress and “KILL the BILL. ” All of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office studies support Musk.  Said Senator Rand Paul: “I think Congress is sort of like a bad behaving teenager when it comes to spending,” Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, one of the Republicans threatening to vote against the bill, told TIME on Wednesday. “If you had a teenager that you were giving $100 a week and they wasted all of it on gambling or on booze, would you give them $200?” What seems to be bothering Musk is the effect some of these Trump cuts will have on his solar and battery enterprises.  This feud is also affecting Tes...

We have been at-sea heading for Southampton, UK,since leaving Miami on Sunday.  Before bringing you up to day on our cruise, one item regarding Donald Trump.  His re-election as president   will definitely change our relationship with the world.    His stance has always been America first. With Europe. The Ukraine War will be probably be settled, with Russia gaining some territory.  Interesting that Vladimir Putin has not yet congratulated Trump. His view about NATO is clear.  He wants every member to pay their share. His "pal," Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, will hold a summit of 50 European leaders today in Budapest, which will be our final European Christmas River Cruise stop. He identifies well with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and has had good relations with Saudi Arabia.  Iran has tried to assassinate Trump, so there is a problem there. China will also see some added tariffs, and there is that Taiwan matter.  ...