Two important news items before sports.  First,  HOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SEALED THE GAZA CEASEFIRE DEAL : Credit Steve Witkoff, another real estate developer, now a special envoy, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law.  They've handled the bulk of the negotiations. You can read the details, but this article did not underscore the main reason why there is now peace in the Gaza Strip, with all the live hostages to be returned in 24 hours.  Very simply, President Donald Trump early this month warned   all hell, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas , if they don't agree to his Gaza Peace Plan by the deadline. While few have any pretensions that what now happening means there will be peace in the Middle East forever, what Trump has done is create a platform for Israel to work in tenuous unity with key countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and Qatar, to marshal a kind of truce for now.  A lot more work left. Nobel Peace medal from Trum...

But first, this government shutdown.  From the  New York Times  this morning: Each department identifies people critical to protecting life and property, and they keep working during a government shutdown. Think federal law enforcement officers, air traffic controllers and T.S.A. officers at airports. Not all agencies rely on appropriations for funding. That is why some government services continue uninterrupted. Mail is still delivered, and Social Security and Medicare payments continue.   Many of the people who keep the government running will be working without pay until the government reopens. Afterward, the law says, they must receive back wages . Further: Big difference about whether a federal worker is furloughed or fired ( same as layoff) . If furloughed, you WILL get back pay for those days not at work when you return.. If fired, you are fired. President Trump and Congressional members still get paid during a shutdown . This is the first stoppage since Janua...

SORRY, BUT MY POSTING ON THE LIGHTER SIDE OF ENERGY WAS MISTAKENLY NOT PUBLISHED YESTERDAY.  You can link to it HERE .  But about today, first a digression into Donald Trump, who is on such a roll.  Looks like sentencing on the New York conviction will be delayed until after he un-becomes president again, and the trials in Georgia are in trouble.   So why would he and Elon Musk want to close down the country ?  The bipartisan agreement announced yesterday to continue to fund the government was derailed by the two of them.  Maybe not such a big deal because all essential services will continue, and only the not-so important services will be stopped, like the closing of national parks.  I guess if they kept this up until the new Congress steps in on 3January2025, Democrats can't appoint any new judges, and stuff like that. I was sent the following this morning about Donald Trump.   https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3141422...