the DON JONES INDEX…

 

GAINS POSTED in GREEN

LOSSES POSTED in RED

 

  11/25/24...     14,825.86

  11/18/24...     14,815.40

     6/27/13…    15,000.00

 

(THE DOW JONES INDEX:  11/25/24... 44,221.96; 11/25/24... 43,444.99; 6/27/13… 15,000.00)

 

LESSON for NOVEMBER TWENTY FIFTH, 2024

“THANKS, for the… TANKS?”

 

 

Thursday is Thanksgiving Day and, as is our custom, the DJI turns its face away from the foul weather, the insolent foreign dictators and domestic white and blue-collar criminals, the comedy and the tragedy of the election (for partisans) to happier thoughts... noble achievements, heroic deeds and rescues, popular arts and leisure – and the comedy of said election’s outcome, already manifesting.

Let us be thankful that asteroids, volcanoes and escalating wars failed to destroy the planet, that vaccines were, and are being, developed to combat deadly diseases and most Jones are taking them (this year, at least), that the m-pox (monkeypox) is under control, that authorities in South Carolina have captured most of the mystery lab monkeys and that President-Elect Trump has not replaced Matt Gaetz with King Kong (or MTG).

Trump, of course, is thankful for his mandate and its consequences... the dismissal of two of the four pending criminal cases (Mar-a-Lago doc and the One Six).  Capitol Police are happy they won’t be facing another kill-or-be-killed insurrection and Israelies for foul terrorists like Yahya Sinwa ascending to the Islamist Paradise.  A ways north and east, Ukraine is thankful for American tanks... thirty one Abrams vehicles so far.  Putin is thankful (or, at least, hopeful) that President Trump will pull the U.S. out of NATO.  China will be happy enough just sitting back and watching both Russia and America descend into chaos and a faith that any tariff troubles will go away as soon as higher prices threaten Djonald’s regime.

The billionaires are happy for a stock market skyrocketing because the greatest dangers to prosperty... uncertainty and volatility... are off the table, thanks to the election and Congressional decision not to shut down the government until, at least, after Christmas.  Working Americans are grateful for Their Man’s victory and, if things don’t turn out as expected – well, it’s the immigrants’ fault.

The Pew Research Company has conducted surveys of Turkey Day tactics among divided families, communities and the nation, find that 91% will celebrate, one way or another; that most travelers (89%) will drive as opposed to flying (only 2%) and more Republicans (36%) than Democrats (24%) will talk about the election.

Pew did not ask whether or not turkey trotters would be carrying firearms to the festivities.  (See more as Attachment One)

 

Trump is reportedly preparing to gobble turkey, probably fried, with the family at Mar-a-Lago.  The Palm Beach Post (Attachment Two) had not been able to confirm details for 2024, but noted that past Thanksgivings have featured the usual groaning board with, occasionally, “a more Florida feel” as might include stone crabs, seafood and duck prosciutto.

Trump diverted from his record of celebrating Thanksgiving Day at his estate twice during his presidency — first in 2019. While he spent some of Thanksgiving week at Mar-a-Lago that year, he traveled on Thanksgiving Day to make a surprise visit to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, where he spoke to service members, served Thanksgiving dinner and sat to eat with members of the military, according to news reports at that time.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and on the heels of his loss to Joe Biden in 2020, Trump opted to remain at the White House for Thanksgiving. That year, he began his Thanksgiving Day by playing golf at his Virginia club and then calling members of the military serving overseas.

Following his departure from the White House, Trump returned to his Thanksgiving tradition of spending the week at Mar-a-Lago. In the past, he has been joined by his children and grandchildren.

 

Soon-to-be-Ex-President Biden will be spending the holiday on Nantucket with Jill and assorted family and friends, as well as Hunter (out on bail but facing 17 years in the slammer) and memories of Beau.  (The Nantucket Inquirer, 11/18, Attachment Three)

First, however, he’ll be pardoning two big birds (40 and 41 lbs.) as would otherwise end up on his or somebody else’s table.  (CNN, 11/20, Attachment Four)

 

Most Americans, MAGA-red or depressed donkey blue, may be thankful that, at least, the elections are over.  (And, more recently, Democrats and Republicans seem to be agreeing that scratching Matt Gaetz from the post of Attorney General was a good thing... a very good thing.

 

 

A few partisan posts even crept into the traditionally family-only Readers’ Digest “70 Reasons Why” tracking Americans’ gratitude for November niceties like turkey (#11), football (#19), the Macy’s Parade (#40), pumpkins and their variants (#8, #10, #25 and #41) and chocolate (#66),  (Sep. 26th, Attachment Five)

There are even a few controversial suggestions like freedom of speech (#52) or (vaccines (#59) wherein the Digest opined: “Thanks to the COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, the flu vaccine and the newest RSV vaccine, many people continue to be able to enjoy a holiday meal with their loved ones. But don’t forget all the other vaccines that keep us safe and healthy.”  Does that make them a Directorate of Damned Democrats (or just a Bobby buster)?

Checking in at 70th and last of the Digest’s roster of things to be grateful for is... gratitude.

 

So, we reiterate, as is our custom, let’s look backwards through 2024 – to occasions of joy, mirth or merriment that sprung up, like weeds, in the rear-view mirror the deathscape of December, the coming winter and 2025 have in store for us.

 

JANUARY

Big profits for many and wage increases for some like a lucky Michigan gambler copping $800M Powerball jackpot.  MegaMAGA cheers for GOP as Trump sweeps Iowa caucuses, New Hampshire  “Succession” tops Emmy’s and previews November.  Hulk Hogan rescues teenage girl from car crash. Firefighter saves Bob the Dog while Ruby the Dog saves her master.  Gumment shutdown averted and stock market soars.  Student debtors get $5B forgiveness.

4 year old Phenix rescued in the woods.  Air Force fighter pilot wins Miss America.  “Oppenheimer” wins at Oscars, Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice.  Rhinologists celebrate successful embryo transfer in rare white rhino.  Camels and zebras escape Indiana truck crash.

 

FEBRUARY

King Charles and Princess Kate leave the hospital in U.K.  Elon Musk purges porn from “X” and invents computer chip “Neuralink” that can be put in the brains of troublexome people.  The Fed is happy, so the anti-inflationeers are happy, too.  60th anniversary of first Beatles’ concerts in America motivate Sir Paul to share old photos, Chinese Year of the Dragons begins – chasing of Year of the Wolf.

Grammies are a big night for women.  Chase Manhattan to open 500 new banks for them to put their paychecks into.  Superbowl weekend parties include Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Chinese New Year’s replaces year of the rabbit with the Dragon.  Women celebrate the scoring records set by Caitlin Clark and give mixed greetings to Beyonce’s country album, later turning positive.  60 years after the Beatles arrive in America, Sir Paul gets back his long ago stolen guitar.   Longest snake ever found in the Amazon is 26 feet long, Chinese presumed “dragon” fossil dug up... only 16”.  Rain finally comes to California, turning Death Valley into Death Lake.

 

MARCH

Wealthy widow Dr. Ruth Gottesman donates a cool Billion to pay the tuition of ecstatic students at the Einstein Medical College in Gotham. Marianne Williamson scores upset win in Michigan primary (after President Joe is kicked off the ballot).  Her fifteen minutes of glory!  First responders rescue freezing kids from woods, toasty Texans from wildfires, and pull numerous stranded drivers from cars in California.  Hero cop is acclaimed for saving driver of dangling big rig.  Florida deputy saves little Lola from car crash fire.

“Oppenheimer” out-oppies “Barbie” to win Oscar best picture.  USA wins soccer’s Gold Cup.   Space X sends four astronauts up to the ISS.  Jeff Bezos out-moneys Elon Musk 200 to 198B but Musk invents a neuralink to let paralyzed people move things with their minds.  President Joe’s “State of the Union” adjudged “feisty”.  Midnight deal averts gumment shutdown; TV docs advise kids to play with puppies.  Jersey Mike’s and Subway compete to raise money for charity.

 

APRIL

Off to prison goes whiny crypto crook Sam Bankrupt-Fried while a 1938 Superman #1 Action Komik sells for $6M and a lucky lotto winner rakes in a billion. (TV-con-mystics say that Americans spend more on lotteries than on books, music and movies combined – and the loot (usually) goes to worth endeavors like education, not the mafia.)   Vintage rockers stagger up for their last tours... Pete Tornsend, the Stones, Sir Elton, Billy Joel, the Boss.  Taylor’s tortured pulpy poet drops in and then... a surprise... it’s a double album. 

Eclipse comes and goes without ending the world, per usual.  (Lotsa merch sold.)  Castaways on a desert isle (think Tom Hanks or Gilligan) rescued after making a HELP ME sign on beach with palm fronds.  UConn and USCarolina win men’s and women’s hoops tourneys.  101 lb. catfish reeled in by teenager in Ohio.  Wildflowers bloom in still-soaked Death Valley.  For Earth Day, CBS tells Don Jones to stop hating on sharks because they kill fish that would damage the endangered coral reefs and President Joe celebrates by allocating $7B to solar power. Donors desert George Santos, who drops his re-election campaign. Carnival Cruise sailors rescue shipwrecked and drowning Cuban refugees.  Library of Congress inducts Perry Como as a “Master of Music”. 

 

MAY 

Stoners light one up for President Joe who downgrades the feloniousness of the wicked weed over the objections of the Church Police who also take a stand opposing menstruation.  Halle Barry defies them, says she supports it (as if she had a choice).  Chinese loan two (fertile?) pandas to the San Diego Zoo.  Tik Tok agrees to label posts that could be Chinese deep fakes.  Trump trials seek merching money... Stormy peddles candles and comic books, Djonald holds up his Bible.  Foodies suggest that Americans eat cicadas.

NYC Mayor Adams will convene a Rat Summit in the fall but Gotham named only “third rattiest” American city (Chicago takes Number One).  “Sage” the Poodle wins Best in Show at Westminster over “Nimble”, an ordinary mutt who sets a speed record over the obstacle course.  Bark Air offers First Class flights for dogs – at $6-8,000 per trip.  The Dow crashes the forty thousand ceiling and unemployment is down.  Tiny miracle baby gets double lung transplant while a Taco Bell manager saves other dying baby with CPR. 

Egg prices dropping (briefly) and damaged container ship Dali finally removed from wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.  Assorted awards go to Asher “The Voice” HaVon, Lauryn Hill, Dolly Parton, George Lucas.

 

JUNE

Aging WWII veterans and world leaders gather at Normandy on 80th anniversary of D-Day.  MLB agrees to recognize Negro Leagues records by the likes of Josh Gibson.  USA upsets Pakistan in World Cricket Cup.  Gay Pride weekend comes and goes with lots of pride and little violence as Thailand legalizes gay marriage.  Rupert Murdoch, 93, thankful for marrying his fifth wife (and living to 93).  Two women will face runoff in election for President of Mexico while Israel rescues four 10/7 hostages.

Colleges and universities give graduation ceremonies and include reminisces of classes past.  Gladys Knight and Patty LaBelle celebrate Juneteenth.  In Oregon, Blue, the dog, races four miles to find and mobilize rescuers to save his master after the car falls down an embankment.  “Wild Thing” wins title of World’s Ugliest Dog. Successful pig to human kidney transplant as Miss Piggy turns 50; NBC calls present times a “Golden Age of Comedy”.  Comedians fight back against cancel culture, as Whoopi Goldberg and Chris Rock visit the Pope.

For those who like heat... it’s hot.

 

JULY

Former and wannabe President Trump thankful for awful performance by President Joe in their first (and as it turns out, only) debate as FDA greenlights a new Alzheimers drug. Sick or not, Biden will attend G-7 summit as more global incumbents are being dis-elected by the world’s angry voters.  Convicted Wikileaker Julian Assange gives thanks for the deal he cut to get out of a British prison after five years and scoot back to Australia while 2,000 veterans dishonorably discharged for being gay are pardoned.  Florida hockey team wins its first Stanley Cup and Bronny James joins dad in NBA draft.  Doctors working on titanium hearts and pioneeting voice box transplant that enables the (medically) dumb to speak.  Michael J. Fox defies Parkinson’s to play guitar at Glastonbury rockfest. 

   Assassin in Butler, PA shoots Trump in the ear and he turns it into a show of strength – and fundraising.  The nominee hustles off to Milwaukee, receives congratulations from friends and foes, and selects Ohio book writer and Senator J. D. Vance as Vice nominee.  The Dow, relieved, tops 40,000 as landlords across America thank the politicians for new laws that enable them to evict more rabble and raise rents on replacements.  Sailors grateful for dozens nautical rescues after shipwrecks and hurricanes while Michigan researchers investigate 1893 shipwreck.

   Under intense pressure, President Joe drops his campaign and tells everyone to nominate Kamala Harris.  Happy – pro- and anti-Harris Democrats.  Not happy – Republicans.  The Paris Olympics begin and Snoop Dogg is one of the torch bearers.  Fragrant torch!  70 year old man, lost in the woods, survives five days by eating berries.  Oops: El Chapo’s nephew takes a wrong turn, winds up in Texas and is arrested.

 

AUGUST

Gold bugs celebrate American medalists in Paris... thanks to gymnasts Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles and Noah Lyles plus swimmer Katie Ledecky, who thrilled the domestic and international billions with a series of wholly unique performances. Noah Lyles takes 100 meters in photo finish, women’s soccer and football teams take golds.  The Games wrap with Tom Cruise skydiving into the void.

Smiles all around for Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovic and other hostages in swap with Russia.  For Ukraine as they launch their invasion of Russia, for Netanyahu as Israelis take out top Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists, for Hong Kong as Ying Ying the panda gives birth to twins and for Minnesotan Tim Walz, selected by Veep Kamala as the Veep’s choice for Veep.  Chicago DemCon ends without violence, despite rich liberals demonstrating against Israel and for Hamas.  Swifties flock to her concerts in the U.K.

Drugmakers say weight loss pills like Zepbound cure heart disease and inhibit smoking, other docs developing other drugs to cure cancer and dementia.  Minnesota 8 year old clobbers robber with a baseball bat.  Heroic rescues of 14 month old who fell down a pipe shaft and lost 7 year old saved by fisherman,

 

SEPTEMBER

The Teamsters’ Sean O’Brien checks UAW’s Sean Fain by not endorsing President Joe... foreshadowing the resultant scenario where union bosses backed Biden, while workers backed Trump, making both factions happy – for a while.  Neighbors in Chesapeake VA catch a thief robbing a child’s lemonade stand, then protect him from hanging by vigilantes.  Twenty-one year old Karsen Kitchen becomes youngest spacewalker.

And then the Great Debate transpires – with both sides happy, convinced that their candidate won.  The participants even shake hands!  Once it’s over, everybody goes to Ground Zero to memorialize 9/11 and give speeches.  Two days later, a second Trump assassin also fails and Djonald trumpets, triumphantly.  A government shutdown is averted, and the Fed cuts interest rates by half, not a quarter point, causing stocks to rise – a dropoff in crime and illegal immigration boost Harris, but Trump counters - citing several grisly murders.  Nice cops deliver meals after arresting Door Dash driver and jump onto moving truck with a sick driver at the wheel.   Good girl rescues 7 siblings from house fire.  Burned bear rescued from wildfire.  Six year old kidnapped in 1951 finds real family through Ancestry.   Small asteroid passes, but misses Earth.

B-52s headline early tribute (not memorial, yet) concert for President Jimmy Carter’s 100th on 10/1.  Carter gets a Congressional Gold Medal, along with Billy Jean King and NASA’s “hidden figures”, and says his bucket list is to live long enough to vote for Harris.  (He does.) 

 

OCTOBER

Churches, charities and blood drives dive in action after Hurricane Helene.  Dolly Partin donates a million dollars in aid as she sings “Helene” to the strains of “Jolene”.  Pink Floyd sells its songs to Sony for $400M.  Next, Milton rumbles ashore and aid efforts pivot.  Dramatic Miltonian rescues include a sailor who survived 19 hours in stormy seas clinging to an ice chest, triplets and cat from countertop in Fairview, NC. 

Dockworkers and truckers agree to suspend their strike until Jan. 15, saving Christmas.  Interim deal is a 62% raise (workers wanted 70%, company 50%) raises average wage to $131,000/yr.  And the new jobs report finds 251,000 added (before Amazon’s 250,000 Xmas hirings), unemployment dropping a tenth of a point.  Mexico’s first female President Claudia Sheinbaum takes office.  Jews celebrate three holidays, military experts say Israel has gravely weakened Hamas (but not Hezbollah, nor Iran) even though Hezbollah’s terrorist-in-chief Hassan Nasrallah is killed by the IDF. (They have a lot more jihadists.)  Days later Israeli soldiers find and kill Hamas leader and 10/7 mastermind Yahya Sinwa. DJI proposes three state solution. Pandaplomacy prevails as two beasts from China arrive at the DC National Zoo

Space X grasping arms device successful.  Awards season begins... “Shogun” and “The Bear” grasping Emmys, Miranda Lambert and Shaboozey win People’s Choice CMA awards; Broadcast/Cable Hall of fame inducts George Stephanopolous.  Caitlin Clark wins WNBA rookie-of-the-year award and narrowly misses a hole in one.  WNBA season over with record profits (but chintzy pay – soon to be corrected). Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts legends like Cher, Dionne Warwick and Big Mama Thornton, madmen like Ozzy and the MC5 and corporate rockers like Peter Frampton.  Brooklyn (OK, L.A.) Dodgers rally from five runs down to spank the bumbling and stumbling Yanks in five games, as Freddy Freeman goes on a home run binge.  Beyonce garners record Grammies on what is called a women’s night.  One exception: a nomination for best spoken word goes to 100 year old Jimmy Carter.

 

NOVEMBER

Daylight Savings begins. The bells of Notre Dame cathedral began ringing for the first time since the catastrophic fire five years ago, but fail to wake Don Joneses in America who enjoy their extra hour’s sleep as Halloween child abduction ghouls and candy poisoners fail to materialize – except for one hapless Florida pervert who tries to kidnap a 13 year old girl who beats him up.

MAGA gives thanks to Donald Trump for his victory and America gives thanks that the race was a blowout... thus eliminating the potential for election steal scandals.  Harris just concedes and goes away.  Djonald starts handing out jobs - campaign staffer Susie Wiles will be the first female Chief of Staff as record thirteen women take Governors’ office and Capt. Lacy Hester becomes first woman to get Silver Star for shooting down Iranian drones over Israel.  Elon Musk’s pledge to give a million dollars a day to the lucky lotto winners who signed his Trumpetty pledge (to only uphold the First and Second Amendments) rewards fifteen, but critics say they were pre-chosen and the contest was rigged.  Most foreign leaders, nonetheless, congratulate the winner.

The Bidens celebrate Labor Day as Boeing jet and Philly transit strikes are settled, and Veterans’ Day memorials in Arlington and Normandy.  Worker rescued after falling into a hole in Louisville and being buried under tons of rubble while  Disney cruise ship rescues 4 from sinking catamaran off Bermuda. 

And as of today, President Trump is grateful (and Democrats are not) because Prosecutor Jack Smith drops two of the four indictments against him... the Mar-a-Lago documents theft and the big one, the One Six insurrection in which a protester and five policemen were killed and then-VP Mike Pence barely escaped being hanged by the mob.

Trump, the talking heads agree, had gambled that the law would uphold the Constitutional provision that that a sitting President cannot be tried for such criminal offenses (and if his own Supremes had ruled against him, he would just have pardoned himself).  The scheme worked, and the criminal charges are down to Stormygate, which has been pushed back and back and seems likely to take another back seat while more substantive matters (like the Chinese tariffs, now extended to potential enemies Canada and Mexico) and the threat of nuclear war, if Djonald UnBravely can convince President Zelenskyy to seurrender to Mad Vlad.

Seems like everybody but the media are grateful that Election 2024 is over and that Matt Gaetz, more of an embarrassment to Republicans than a danger to law and order, has been sent packing.  Of Trump’s dozens of announced and presumed appointments, that leaves the Terrible Trio (Hegseth, Gabbard, RFK) awaiting the dangers of confirmation, hoping for a successful recess appointment and featured players of next week’s Lesson.

 

 

Our Lesson: November Eighteenth through Twenty Fourth, 2024

 

Monday, November 18, 2024

Dow:  43,389.60

President-Elect Trump starts applying pressure to Congress to confirm accused rapists Gaetz and Hegsteth (with his Nazi tattoos).  Elon and Vivek promise to slash government programs, perhaps including Medicare and Medicaid, and terminate others – like public television (No more cookies for Monsters!) while Education czrina Linda McMahon will give them old rasslin’ footage of Umberto Mercado and Barry Horowitz to fill their time after banning Tik Tok.  IntSec Burgum and Chris (“There is no climate crisis!) Wright will tell Don Jones to get used to North Dakota winters and Death Valley summers, while RFK Junior welcomes The Measles and SEComedian Richard Bessert implements Project 2025.

   Masked Neo-Nazis march and shoot in Columbus, Ohio, madman stabs and kills three in Gotham while another mass shooter takes down 13, killing two in New Orleans, but America can also point otherwheres as to the crime problem after masked home invaders storm and loot Windsor Castle while terrorized Princess Kate and the kids hide in their safe room. 

   Grim antics at Grimmway Farms where carrots infused with E-Coli kill consumers and have to be recalled.  (No more carrots for Bugs Bunny!)

 

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Dow:  43,268.94

Two feral emus escaped from insurance commercials join the six mystery lab monkeys still running wild and transmitting whatever they have to transmit in South Carolina.

   Djonald UnChained appoints a minder to watch over RFK and the worms in his mind... quack medicine salesman and failed Senatorial candidate Dr. Oz.  More appointees include Howard Lutnick as ComSec and Matt Whitaker for NATO ambassador.  He mocks experts who say mass deportations will cost $88B and make it hard for farmers and other low-pay employers to find workers and goes, instead, to Texas with Elon to watch Space X veer off course, crash into the ocean and explode.

   As Florida lawyer Jeff (not Def) Leppard’s two Gaetz rape clients tell their story, Congress refuses to release the hearings some say prove Matt’s bad behavior.  The inevitable happens... a leaker gets ahold of the docs and starts leaking to the media while more shysters swarm – eager to cash in on the toxic carrot case and make Bugs a rich bunny.

   Patriots in Alabama protest a real estate speculator who buys land and cuts down the trees, including those with bald eagle nests.  Gumment latecomers promise more investigations.

 

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Dow:  43,408.47

America sends its best and beasts to President Joe’s 82nd birthday, whereupon he vacations in Brazil, wanders off into the Amazon as incumbent DefSec Austin quickly gifts Ukraine with longer range missiles and land mines to plant and blow off children’s legs in years to come.

   Red and pink elephants lining up to cheer on or express caution about conforming Joe’s replacement’s team as Venmo cites 27 payments to Gaetz “girlfriends” and party drug pushers that, say supporters, make him just a pedophile pimp, not a rapist.  Loyal Stephen Miller promises Trump will seek recess appointments if Speaker Johnson can’t force Congress to kiss his... something... while several dirty doctors allege that Dr. Oz was, and remains, a quack.

   Some old friends return to the West Coast... bomb cyclones in Seattle blow down trees on houses, killing a woman taking a shower, render much of the Northwest powerless and drench it with a dozen inches of rain.  And the Atmospheric River comes back to California, finally ending the drought and wildfire danger.  (Rain is also predicted for the dry and gasping BosWash corridor.

 

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Dow:  43,870.35

With one week to Thanksgiving, TV-con-mystics say some holiday dishes are more expensive than last year (milk, eggs and, due to recall, butter) while others (canned and frozen, not fresh vegetables and store brand pumpkin pies) are cheaper.  Consumers are storming retailers in advance of Black Friday to stock up on their cheap Chinese stuff before Trump takes office, raises tariffs and the cost is passed along to Don Jones.

   While climatologists hail the rain (and hail and snow) returns, primatologists say there are now only four runaway monkeys at large.  Asked what happened to the other two, MAGAnauts say the hungry Haitians told them they don’t know.

   Crime and punishment have their out across America as home invaders storm and loot Windsor Castle (the royals hide in their panic rooms and survive), South American gangs jam security devices to rob athletes’ homes while they’re playing (cops recommend dogs), Minnesota goof arrested in plot to blow up the New York stock exchange and angry Mom turns in NYC stabber.  In the courts, Venezualan killer Jose Ibarra, whose murder of a jogger on the U. of Georgia campus probably elected Trump, gets life without, Baby drowning Susan Smith denied parole, Idaho killer Kohberger gets death (if the jury agrees), Jussie Smollett’s fake lynching conviction overturned on a technicality (the disgusted D.A. says he’s still guilty) and a bi-genocidal International Criminal Court’s war crimes tribunal indicts both Israel’s Netanyahu and the leader of Hamas, whomever he might be at the moment.

 

Friday, November 22, 2024

Dow:  44,221.96

As red and pink elephants line up for or against Matt Gaetz, the creepy Congressman counts confirmation votes (five against where he could only lose three) and withdraws as Trump’s AyGee.  The Republicans who loathed him now call him a hero, brave and noble (for saving them from having to vote).  Beady little eyes now turn to fellow rapist Pete Hegseth.

   Holiday travel season begins with traffic jams on the roads and chaos in the skies.  At the airport, TSA screeners crack down on line jumpers while, on foreign grounds, six tourists die after drinking toxic alcohol in Laos.

   Sports fans hail unanimous selections of Shohei Ohtami (NL) and Aaron Judge (AL) as MVPs and express curiosity as Jason Kelce cuts a Christmas album with Stevie Nicks.  Movie fans look forwards to a showdown between “Gladiator” and “Wicked” (already being called “Glickid”). 

 

Saturday, November 23, 2024

Dow:  Closed

Djonald UnHarried quickly appoints his old impeachment lawyer and lobbyist for Qatar, Pam Bondi, and continues filling his cabinet with former employees, old cronies like three other civil and criminal lawyers plus breaker/fixer Sebastian Gorka and losing 2022 candidates... Dr. Oz, Kelly Loeffler,

   The Dow, relieved at both the shutdown of the gumment shutdown and removal of Gaetz embarrassment, re-visits the 44K mark while the S&P cracks 20K.  BlueSky accuses X of Trumpishness and gains converts as a sanctuary for despairing donkeys and META purges 2M subscribers (or bots) accused of promoting romantic “pig butchering” scams. 

   Florida legislators follow Elon and Vivek by moving to remove fluoride from water... critics call it a “war on dentists”.  Texas commands schools, on pain of defunding, to teach public school students Biblical lore, law and legendry – teachers begin quitting to pursue other careers, in other places.

 

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Dow: Closed

COP29 (see last week’s lesson) ends with payoffs to poor nations who say that the $300B are not enough and look back in anger while looking forward in fear to Trump and Belem.   Djonald UnRuffled chooses moderate Burgum as climate czar.

   It’s Talkshow Sunday, and, with Jon Karl hosting “The Week”, New 47’s “flurry” of cabinet appointments mark him a man in a hurry to select a cabinet of comedians, billionaires, reformed Democrats and even a few capable administrators (more next week) minus the FBI vetting and, perhaps, via recess appointments if others (RT’s Christie fingers Hegseth, Tulsi and RFK Junior as most likely to face the fate of Gaetz).

   Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tn) praises Trump’s “energy” and the voters who gave him his mandate don’t care about FBI niggledepicketting about vaxgrounds or spookstuff or even that there has been only one black cabinaut (out of dozens so far) and maybe a Latina LaboSec (unless Republicans abandon her).

   Responding from Canada, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Mn) denies she is emigrating, calls recess appointments dangerous (Pam Bondi, Gaetz’s replacement, is calling for Bidenists to be fired, investigated and locked up).

   Among other Round Tablers, former RNC Chair Reince Priebus called 2016 a simpler campaign when Trump seemed afraid of the power he now relishes and let Bush-era RINOs muddy his mandate.  Former DNC chair Donna Brazile recalls her own strenuous vetting and says if the Restoration Prez really wanted in-your-face picks, he should have appointed Hulk Hogan or maybe Vince instead of Linda McMahon.

   Rep. Jasmine Crockett (R-Tx) asks whether alleged pro-labor Lori Chavez-Deremer is for union workers or union bosses.  Christie’s advice to Dems is to focus on just one of the most controversial picks (above), de-confirm him or her, then go to sleep for two years and wait for America to implode.

   On “Face the Nation”, trans- (gender, not portation) Congressthing-elect Sarah McBride (D-De)weeps and whines, decrying Djonald Trump’s attack on “vulnerable people” like sexual, racial and citizenly minorities, doing the same championship of victims and failures as caused Americans (outside of Delaware) to vote for him.  President Joe is to be commended for pardoning the turkeys, but most flu-free birds of the season... wild or domestic... are prey – and wind up either on the table or in the bellies of the wolves among us.

 

 

Another slow post-election pre-holiday week is livelied up by Trump’s margin of victory as shoved the potentiality of recounts and accusations of pilfered and/or plundered ballots off the Thanksgiving table.  Kamala Harris has said she concedes and will undergo the humiliation of having to confirm Djonald’s restoration and the stock market... seeing all the radical Republicans swept into office... soared.  There might be a reckoning if proposed tariffs on China and the rest of the world kill the e-con-me next year, but, for the present, Don Jones and the family are as happy as Peach and Blossom – pardoned and headed to a life of ease.

 

 

 

THE DON JONES INDEX

 

CHART of CATEGORIES w/VALUE ADDED to EQUAL BASELINE of 15,000

(REFLECTING… approximately… DOW JONES INDEX of June 27, 2013)

 

Gains in indices as improved are noted in GREEN.  Negative/harmful indices in RED as are their designation.  (Note – some of the indices where the total went up created a realm where their value went down... and vice versa.) See a further explanation of categories here…

 

ECONOMIC INDICES 

 

(60%)

 

CATEGORY

VALUE

BASE

RESULTS by PERCENTAGE

SCORE

OUR SOURCES and COMMENTS

 

INCOME

(24%)

6/17/13 revised 1/1/22

LAST

CHANGE

NEXT

LAST WEEK

THIS WEEK

THE WEEK’S CLOSING STATS...

 

Wages (hrly. Per cap)

9%

1350 points

10/21/24

    +0.49%

12/24

1,545.00

1,545.00

https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/wages   30.48

 

Median Inc. (yearly)

4%

600

11/11/24

  +0.028%

11/25/24

675.80

675.99

http://www.usdebtclock.org/   39,804 815

 

Unempl. (BLS – in mi)

4%

600

9/24

    -2.44%

11/24

556.38

556.38

http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000/    4.1 nc

 

Official (DC – in mi)

2%

300

11/11/24

    -0.14%

11/25/24

233.67

233.33

http://www.usdebtclock.org/      6,900 910

 

Unofficl. (DC – in mi)

2%

300

11/11/24

    -0.24%

11/25/24

255.53

254.92

http://www.usdebtclock.org/      12,529 559

 

Workforce Participation

   Number

   Percent

2%

300

11/11/24

 

   +0.0037%

   +0.0112%  

11/25/24

300.33

300.30

In 161,908 914 Out 100,499 516 Total: 262,407 430

61.70109  .69416

 

WP %  (ycharts)*

1%

150

11/11/24

    -0.16%

12/24

151.19

151.19

https://ycharts.com/indicators/labor_force_participation_rate  62.60

 

OUTGO

(15%)

 

Total Inflation

7%

1050

10/24

   +0.2%

12/24

952.88

952.88

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm     +0.2

 

Food

2%

300

10/24

   +0.2%

12/24

270.53

270.53

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm     +0.2

 

Gasoline

2%

300

10/24

    -0.9%

12/24

251.55

251.55

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm      -0.9

 

Medical Costs

2%

300

10/24

    +0.4%

12/24

285.19

285.19

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm     +0.4

 

Shelter

2%

300

10/24

   +0.4%

12/24

258.18

258.18

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm     +0.4

 

WEALTH

 

Dow Jones Index

2%

300

11/11/24

  +1.79%

11/25/24

350.17

356.43

https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/index/  44,221.96

 

Home (Sales)

(Valuation)

1%

1%

150

150

10/21/24

+3.125%

 +0.67%

11/24

124.43

284.61

128.32

286,52

https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics

Sales (M):  3.84 3.96 Valuations (K):  404.5 07.2

 

Debt (Personal)

2%

300

11/11/24

  -0.028%

11/25/24

263.88

263.81

http://www.usdebtclock.org/    76,052 073

 

GOVERNMENT

(10%)

 

Revenue (trilns.)

2%

300

11/11/24

  +0.22%

11/25/24

428.61                                      

430.68                                      

debtclock.org/       5,042 053 053

 

Expenditures (tr.)

2%

300

11/11/24

  +0.23%

11/25/24

291.56

290.90

debtclock.org/       7,084 100 100

 

National Debt tr.)

3%

450

11/11/24

  +0.056%

11/25/24

373.66

373.45

http://www.usdebtclock.org/    36,007 027

 

Aggregate Debt (tr.)

3%

450

11/11/24

  +0.078%

11/25/24

385.98

385.68

http://www.usdebtclock.org/    102,654 734

 

 

TRADE

(5%)

 

Foreign Debt (tr.)

2%

300

11/11/24

  +0.17%

11/25/24

280.46

279.97

http://www.usdebtclock.org/    8,627 642

 

Exports (in billions)

1%

150

11/11/24

   -1.43%

12/24

167.67

167.67

https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html  267.9

 

Imports (in billions))

1%

150

11/11/24

  +2.87% 

12/24

154.79

154.79

https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html  352.3

 

Trade Surplus/Deficit (blns.)

1%

150

11/11/24

  -16.59% 

12/24

250.05

250.05

https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html    84.4

 

 

 

SOCIAL INDICES 

 

(40%)

 

ACTS of MAN

(12%)

 

 

World Affairs

3%

450

11/11/24

    -0.1%

11/25/24

453.31

452.86

Bribery prosecutions in Brazil collapse.  Six tourists killed by tainted alcohol in Laos.  New Guinea faces post-Halloween wicked witch hunts and accusations of sorcery.  Georgians (the country) debate dependence on Russia,

 

War and terrorism

2%

300

11/11/24

       -0.3%

11/25/24

290.61

289.83

Bad Vlad ups NoKo mercenary count from 10 to 100K and bombs new civilian targets as Ukraine welcomes better American munitions and Putin, as usual, threatens nuclear war while Russia is blamed for the sabotage of Atlantic AI cables.  45 democracy activists jailed in Hong Kong crackdown.

 

Politics

3%

450

11/11/24

          nc

11/25/24

480.90

480.90

The 2024 campaign is done in a Trump sweep, now it’s on to cabinet confirmations (see next week’s Lesson) after alleged rapist Matt Gaetz “nobly” sacrifices himself for his master.  Thankful for validation by the election, masked neo-Nazis march in Columbus, Ohio.

 

Economics

3%

450

11/11/24

          +0.3%

11/25/24

439.69

441.01

Hedge fund wiseguy Scott Bessent appointed SecTreas – he’ll eventually take over Fed’s propose breakup of Google/Chrome monopoly.  Survey shows “cheap” store credit cards gouge, Big Lots rate hits 36%.  Experts say mass deportations will cost $88B and raise food prices due to lack of low-pay agricultural workers.  Dow re-cracks 44K, S&P tops 20K.  Thanksgiving finds turkey prices down, experts recommending canned or frozen vegetables over fresh while egg prices soaring due to Bird Flu.

 

Crime

1%

150

11/11/24

      -0.2%

11/25/24

222.34

221.90

Mad stabber kills three in NYC, turned in by his mother.  Dad arrested after infant found dead in Safe Home Baby Box.  Mass shooter hits 13, kills two in New Orleans.  Interpol hunts Wisconsin kayaker who faked drowning to escape his wife and run off to a Communist girl (just like Trump - twice!).  As holiday travel begins, airlines crack down on... line jumping?

 

ACTS of GOD

(6%)

 

 

Environment/Weather

3%

450

11/11/24

      -0.3%

11/25/24

372.58

371.46

Coastal flooding rains hit California and New York; NJ (20 inches) tops Sonoma (only 17”).  Blizzards pound Scranton while a dead whale washes up on Alaska beach. Environmental Czar nominee Chris Wright says “there is no climate crisis” and adds that it’s all just a liberal plot.

 

Disasters

3%

450

11/11/24

      -0.1%

11/25/24

416.57

416.15

Trump and Musk go to Texas to watch Space X Starship launch which veers off course, falls into the ocean and explodes.  Bad hospital in India kills ten newborns.  Thanks given by SF man, rescued after falling off an Oceanside cliff, Floridian who falls 30 feet after attack by bees while trimming trees.

 

LIFESTYLE/JUSTICE INDEX

(15%)

 

 

Science, Tech, Education

4%

600

11/11/24

         -0.1%

11/25/24

624.54

623.92

Texas greenights conservative Biblical theocracy in schools... it’s not mandatory (yet) but participants get $40 per convert while teachers are quitting or moving elsewhere.  Liberals deserting “X” after election and turning to new host BlueSky to waste time.

 

Equality (econ/social)

4%

600

11/11/24

         +0.4%

11/25/24

657.86

660.49

SecLabor Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Or) a threefer... a woman, Latina and closet Democrat whose confirmation Senate Republicans vow to kill.  Female cop saves Ohio man from burning truck.  2022 losers get sweet consolations: Kelli Loeffler (female – GA) considered (not yet chosen) AgSec, Dr. Oz (Turkish - PA) as Medicaid and Medicare Czar. 

 

Health

4%

600

11/11/24

       -0.3%

11/25/24

446.12

444.78

A grim week for grocers as Grimmway Farms carrots are poisoning Bugs Bunny, ground beef (not the onions) from Wolverine clawing at the stomachs of burger eaters, frozen Chinese dinners and resurgent winter diseases like whooping cough arise and KILL. Kia and Hyundai recall 200K powerless electric powered vehicles and Drunk Elephant recalls toxic skin care products..

 

Freedom and Justice

3%

450

11/11/24

       -0.1%

11/25/24

481.54

481.06

Man sues Netflix for poor reception on Tyson/Paul fight.  Why?  Florida moves to remove fluoride from drinking water, prompting NY liberals to call it “a war on Dentists.”  (What would Vermin Supreme say?)

 

CULTURAL and MISCELLANEOUS INCIDENTS

(6%)

 

Cultural incidents

3%

450

11/11/24

      +0.1%

11/25/24

541.56

542.10

“Red One” flops as moviegoers await “Glickid” with “Wicked” winning in US, but “Gladiator” internationally.  Buffalo ends KC win streak at 15, saddening Swifties; Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge win NL and AL MVP awards.  UConn’s Gino Auriemna becomes winningest NCAA hoops coach ever.   CMA winners include Chris Stapleton, Megan Moroney, Cody Johnson.  Musk and Vivek targets now include Public TV, so “no more cookies for you, Sesame Street!”  Liam Payne funeral in in the town of Amersham, northwest of London draws the boys. 

   RIP: Sen. “Big Red” Fred Harris, the last real Democrat in Oklahoma; Herelda Stenhouse, at 113; actor Paul Teal (“One Tree Hill”); gameshow host Chuck Woolery; Vic Flick (“James Bond music composer”).

   R(etire)IP tennis legend Rafael Nadal, the Blue Man Group.  Adele ends her residency in Vegas.

 

Misc. incidents

4%

450

11/11/24

          nc

11/25/24

530.80

530.80

Two of six escaped SC monkeys caught, but they’re joined by two feral escaped emus from insurance commercials.  Alabama patriots protest real estate speculator’s cutting down of tree with bald eagle nest.  Man arrested at Peruvian airport with 320 tarantulas strapped to his body.

 

 

 

The Don Jones Index for the week of November 18, 2024 through 24 was UP 10.46 points

 

The Don Jones Index is sponsored by the Coalition for a New Consensus: retired Congressman and Independent Presidential candidate Jack “Catfish” Parnell, Chairman; Brian Doohan, Administrator.  The CNC denies, emphatically, allegations that the organization, as well as any of its officers (including former Congressman Parnell, environmentalist/America-Firster Austin Tillerman and cosmetics CEO Rayna Finch) and references to Parnell’s works, “Entropy and Renaissance” and “The Coming Kill-Off” are fictitious or, at best, mere pawns in the web-serial “Black Helicopters” – and promise swift, effective legal action against parties promulgating this and/or other such slanders.

Comments, complaints, donations (especially SUPERPAC donations) always welcome at feedme@generisis.com or: speak@donjonesindex.com.

 

 

 

ATTACHMENT ONE – FROM PEW RESEARCH

THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING, BUT THEIR TRADITIONS AND ACTIVITIES VARY WIDELY

By John Gramlich, Michael Rotolo and Laura Silver

See HERE for charts and graphs

 

Just a few weeks after a divisive presidential election, millions of Americans will break bread together for Thanksgiving. A new Pew Research Center survey shows how Americans plan to spend the holiday this year – and which Turkey Day traditions and activities are more common than others.

How we did this

Here are the main takeaways from the survey, conducted Nov. 12-17, 2024, among 9,609 U.S. adults:

Around nine-in-ten Americans (91%) celebrate Thanksgiving. Large majorities in all major demographic groups observe the holiday, though some people are more likely than others to do so. For example, 96% of Americans ages 65 and older celebrate Thanksgiving, compared with somewhat smaller shares of younger adults.

Immigration status also plays a role. While 93% of adults born in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving, the same is true of 88% of immigrants who have been in the country for more than 20 years, 76% of immigrants who have been in the country 11 to 20 years, and 74% of immigrants who have been in the country for a decade or less.

Most Americans (74%) plan to have Thanksgiving dinner with other people this year. Another 5% plan to have Thanksgiving dinner alone, 2% don’t plan to have Thanksgiving dinner – whether it’s because they are working or traveling or for some other reason – and 10% didn’t know their plans yet at the time of the survey. The rest don’t celebrate Thanksgiving.

For some Americans, Thanksgiving dinner includes lots of other people. Around a quarter (26%) expect to have Thanksgiving dinner with more than 10 other people this year, including 7% who expect to have it with more than 20 others.

Smaller get-togethers are more common: 26% of Americans plan to have dinner with six to 10 other people, 15% with three to five other people, and 4% with one to two other people. The remaining Americans plan to have Thanksgiving dinner alone, don’t plan to have Thanksgiving dinner, didn’t know their plans yet or don’t celebrate Thanksgiving.

Around a third of Americans (34%) plan to have Thanksgiving dinner at their own home this year, whether hosting others or dining alone. Another 39% plan to go to someone else’s home, while 3% plan to go to a restaurant, hotel or other public place. The rest plan not to have Thanksgiving dinner, didn’t know their plans yet or don’t celebrate the holiday.

Older adults are more likely than younger people to have Thanksgiving dinner at their own home: 40% of Americans ages 50 and older plan to do so this year, compared with 29% of adults under 50.

Afternoon is the most popular time for Thanksgiving dinner, but there’s no consensus on early versus late afternoon. Some 36% of Americans prefer to have Thanksgiving dinner in the early afternoon (that is, between noon and 3 p.m.), while 38% prefer to have it in the late afternoon (between 3 and 6 p.m.). Only 11% of Americans prefer to have Thanksgiving dinner in the evening (after 6), and just 1% prefer to have it in the morning (before noon). Another 5% have no preference.

Dinnertime preferences follow a regional pattern. Americans who live in the Midwest and South are more likely to prefer Thanksgiving dinner in the early afternoon than the late afternoon. But people in the Northeast and West are more likely to prefer the late afternoon than the early afternoon.

There are also differences by age. Americans 65 and older are more likely to prefer Thanksgiving dinner earlier in the afternoon than later. Meanwhile, adults under 30 are more likely to prefer late afternoon over early afternoon.

It’s common for Americans to say grace or express gratitude at Thanksgiving dinner. Around two-thirds of U.S. adults say someone at their dinner typically says a prayer or blessing (65%) or says things they are thankful for (69%). And a majority of Americans (56%) say someone at their Thanksgiving dinner typically does both of these things.

Saying grace at Thanksgiving is especially common among certain religious groups. For example, 91% of White evangelical Protestants say someone at their Thanksgiving dinner typically says a prayer or blessing. The same is true for 88% of Black Protestants, 74% of Catholics and 72% of White nonevangelical Protestants. Prayer is much less common among those who say their religion is “nothing in particular” (45%), agnostics (39%), atheists (22%) and Jewish adults (22%).

Majorities across religious groups also say someone at their Thanksgiving dinner typically expresses gratitude. Many religiously unaffiliated Americans say this, too: 59% of those whose religion is “nothing in particular,” along with 61% of agnostics and 48% of atheists, say someone at their dinner typically says things they are thankful for.

Driving and Thanksgiving go hand in hand. The vast majority of Americans who plan to have Thanksgiving dinner away from home this year (89%) say driving is the main way they’ll get there. This works out to 38% of U.S. adults overall who expect to drive to their destination.

Only 2% of Americans overall expect to fly, while even fewer expect to take some other form of transportation, such as local or regional transit.

Most Thanksgiving travel takes less than an hour. A majority of those who plan to have Thanksgiving dinner away from home this year (69%) expect their trip to take less than an hour. That may have to do with the proximity of their family members: In a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, 55% of Americans said they live within an hour’s drive of at least some of their extended family.

Looking at adults overall, 29% expect their Thanksgiving travel to take less than an hour. Another 13% expect it to take longer than that, including 6% who expect it to take three hours or more.

Related: For Thanksgiving, 6 facts about Americans and family

Apart from eating, Americans expect to do a wide range of things this Thanksgiving. Certain long-running Thanksgiving traditions, like watching football or a parade, are still fairly popular: 35% of Americans say it’s extremely or very likely that they’ll watch sports on Thanksgiving, and 19% say the same about watching a parade. Men are more likely than women to say they’ll watch sports, while women are more likely than men to say they’ll watch a parade.

When it comes to conversation, 35% of Americans say it’s extremely or very likely that they’ll talk about work or school on Thanksgiving. And in the wake of a presidential election that saw more than 153 million Americans cast ballots, 26% expect the election to come up. A similar share (24%) expect to talk about pop culture like music or movies, though far fewer (4%) expect to go to a movie.

Thanksgiving is a time for charity for many Americans, and 19% say it’s extremely or very likely that they’ll donate food or goods, while 4% expect to volunteer somewhere.

Thanksgiving is also the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. Accordingly, 15% of Americans say it’s extremely or very likely that they’ll shop for the holidays on Thanksgiving Day this year.

Getting some exercise on Thanksgiving is a less popular idea: Only 4% of adults say it’s extremely or very likely that they’ll play sports, while 3% expect to participate in a community walk or run, like a turkey trot.

Following Donald Trump’s reelection on Nov. 5, Trump voters are more likely than Kamala Harris voters to say they’ll talk about the presidential election this Thanksgiving. Some 36% of Americans who voted for Trump say it’s extremely or very likely that they’ll talk about the election on Thanksgiving. A smaller share of Americans who voted for Harris (24%) say the same.

Trump voters who identify as conservative are the most likely to talk about the election: 39% say it’s extremely or very likely that they’ll do so on Thanksgiving, compared with 28% of Trump voters who identify as moderate or liberal. Among Harris voters, 28% of self-described liberals expect to talk about the election at Thanksgiving, compared with 20% of those who identify as conservative or moderate.

In fact, conservative Trump voters are about as likely to talk about the election this Thanksgiving as they are to talk about work or school (36%) – and much more likely to talk about it than to talk about pop culture (17%). By comparison, liberal Harris voters are more likely to talk about work or school (42%) and pop culture (38%) than the election.

Note: Here are the questions used for this analysis, the topline and the survey methodology

 

 

ATTACHMENT TWO – FROM THE PALM BEACH POST

WHERE WILL DONALD TRUMP SPEND THANKSGIVING? ODDS ARE HE'LL BE IN FLORIDA

By Kristina Webb

 

For President-elect Donald Trump, who has many options when it comes to where to spend a major holiday, there is really only one choice for Thanksgiving: his beloved Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach.

Trump has long made Mar-a-Lago his Thanksgiving destination.

Thanksgiving week traditionally marked his first extended stay at the beginning of Palm Beach's social season, though he has spent increasingly more time at Mar-a-Lago year-round since he and Melania Trump declared Palm Beach their permanent residence in 2019. Before that, their permanent residence was in Trump Tower in Manhattan.

Emails to Trump's team seeking confirmation of the president-elect's Thanksgiving plans were not returned by Tuesday morning. But all indicators point to Trump staying at Mar-a-Lago through at least this weekend.

Trump diverted from his record of celebrating Thanksgiving Day at his estate twice during his presidency — first in 2019. While he spent some of Thanksgiving week at Mar-a-Lago that year, he traveled on Thanksgiving Day to make a surprise visit to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, where he spoke to service members, served Thanksgiving dinner and sat to eat with members of the military, according to news reports at that time.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and on the heels of his loss to Joe Biden in 2020, Trump opted to remain at the White House for Thanksgiving. That year, he began his Thanksgiving Day by playing golf at his Virginia club and then calling members of the military serving overseas.

Following his departure from the White House, Trump returned to his Thanksgiving tradition of spending the week at Mar-a-Lago. In the past, he has been joined by his children and grandchildren.

What does Mar-a-Lago serve for Thanksgiving?

While it's not known exactly what Mar-a-Lago will serve for Thanksgiving dinner this year, past years can shed some light on the menu.

In 2016, press reports said that Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago included 24 dishes, with turkey and pumpkin pie alongside leg of lamb and grilled scallops.

In 2017, the Trumps' Thanksgiving Day meal included turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, baked goods, local produce and cheeses, red snapper, Florida stone crab, and desserts including cakes and pies, a White House spokesperson said at the time.

Mar-a-Lago in 2018 served a mix of traditional dishes and those with a more Florida feel: turkey, beef tenderloin, lamb, salmon, Chilean sea bass, red snapper, braised short ribs, whipped and sweet potatoes, stuffing, salad, deviled eggs, duck prosciutto, melon, Florida stone crab, oysters, jumbo shrimp and clams, news reports said.

How did Trump spend his Thanksgivings in Palm Beach?

Before his first term, those close to Trump have said he would spend part of the day at his Trump International Golf Club near Mar-a-Lago in suburban West Palm Beach, where he would play a round of golf before heading back to Mar-a-Lago for dinner and time with his family.

The three Thanksgivings Trump spent in Palm Beach as president-elect and then president also included some official business.

Trump's Thanksgiving as president-elect in 2016 included the news that Fidel Castro, the former revolutionary leader of Cuba, had died.

Trump's first Thanksgiving as president the following year included calls to U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkey, Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf. He also visited a local U.S. Coast Guard station.

During Trump's 2018 Thanksgiving visit to Mar-a-Lago, he threatened to close the U.S. border with Mexico because of the expected of arrival of a caravan of immigrants.

While his Thanksgiving Day in 2019 was spent abroad, Trump did spend time that week in Palm Beach as he faced impeachment by House Democrats who said Trump tried to extort Ukrainian officials by withholding aid in exchange for helping to undermine Biden's candidacy. Trump held a rally in Broward County that week before leaving for Afghanistan.

 

Which other holidays does Trump spend at Mar-a-Lago?

Trump is known for traveling to Mar-a-Lago to celebrate three other key holidays that fall during Palm Beach's social season: Christmas, New Year's and Easter.

How long has Trump owned Mar-a-Lago?

Trump bought Mar-a-Lago in 1985 for an estimated $10 million.

Mar-a-Lago's name means "sea to lake," representing the estate's position between the Intracoastal Waterway to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

 

Construction of the 17-acre estate was completed in 1927 by cereal heiress Marjorie Meriweather Post, who deeded the property to the National Park Service upon her death in 1973, with the intent that Mar-a-Lago be used as a retreat for presidents and visiting dignitaries.

However, the government gave Mar-a-Lago back to the Marjorie Meriweather Post Foundation in 1981, citing the costs of upkeep.

Also, the Secret Service and State Department did not want Mar-a-Lago to be used as lodging for presidents and dignitaries because the property was too large to properly secure. The agencies also said the estate's position under the flight path to Palm Beach International Airport made it vulnerable, according to news reports from that time.

Today, Mar-a-Lago is both a private club and Trump's home. He has made it the centerpiece of his real estate portfolio and maintained it as a National Historic Landmark, while expanding its facilities to allow more room to host weddings, fundraisers and galas.

 

 

 

ATTACHMENT THREE – FROM the NANTUCKET INQUIRER

President Joe Biden, first family to spend Thanksgiving on Nantucket

By Kaie Quigley    Published: Nov. 18, 2024, 4:08 p.m

 

President Joe Biden and the first family will be on Nantucket again this year for their Thanksgiving vacation, continuing a tradition dating back to the mid-1970s.

The Secret Service put in its order for 200-plus turkey dinners with Faregrounds Restaurant owners Bill and Kim Puder this week.

 “It’s an honor, and we’re privileged to do it. We’ve enjoyed serving him and his family and his details all these years,” Kim Puder said this week.

The Puders have been serving Biden and his family since long before he was president. The first time they cooked a Thanksgiving meal for him was when Biden was a senator from Delaware, 27 years ago.

Since Biden has been president, the first family has had its Thanksgiving meal prepared by a private chef, but the Puders have been feeding Secret Service agents in the president’s detail, cooking about 150 meals to go and about 60 or 70 that will be eaten by off-duty agents in the restaurant Thanksgiving Day.

It’s been more work than just feeding the Biden family for the holiday — on top of the 200-plus meals the restaurant serves to the public on the holiday — but to the Puders it means just the same.

“There’s a few more people that we’re feeding,” Kim Puder said. “But they’re very kind, and they’re very appreciative.”

This year’s visit will be Biden’s last as a sitting president as he concludes his four-year term. He has just a couple of months left in the Oval Office before president-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated in January.

The Puders don’t think this will be the last time they see Biden, however.

“He’ll still be coming after this year. He’s still our customer. An average Joe,” Bill Puder said.

Nantucket police Lt. Angus MacVicar said the White House has told him the president and his support staff are coming but he could not share when the Bidens are expected to arrive on-island. No changes are planned for this year’s visit, he said.

During his time as president and vice president under Barack Obama, Biden and his family have tended to arrive on the island the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and stay through the weekend.

“Their requests from us are no different than last year,” MacVicar said.

The first family, including the president and first lady, children Hunter and Ashley and grandson Beau, last year stayed at the waterfront Abram’s Point compound of Carlyle Group co-founder and prominent Washington, D.C. philanthropist David Rubenstein, where they are again expected to stay during their visit.

The Bidens were seen downtown on multiple days during their visit last year, shopping, having lunch and taking in the festivities, including the Main Street tree-lighting.

In many ways, Biden’s annual family visit to the island was the same as it has been since the beginning of his presidency.

But the backdrop of the Israeli-Hamas hostilities in the Middle East made the visit markedly different.

Security was noticeably tighter during the president’s downtown visits, with a greater distance maintained between the public and the first family than in past years. More Secret Service agents, several of them with high-powered weapons, were noticeably visible on Main Street.

A small group of pro-Palestinian protesters unfurled banners reading “Free Palestine” and “End Apartheid” at the Main Street tree-lighting, and a larger gathering formed at the Milestone Rotary before heading downtown. A handful of pro-Israel supporters also stood across the rotary, holding American and Israeli flags.

The president also appeared to take part in his own Cold Turkey Plunge last year. He was seen wrapped in a towel on the beach at Abram’s Point in a photo posted on X by his granddaughter Naomi with the caption, “Annual Biden fam polar bear plunge.”

Biden took part in the Atheneum’s Cold Turkey Plunge fundraiser on several occasions before he became president, venturing into the water at Children’s Beach with hundreds of others on Thanksgiving morning.

Before boarding the plane to leave the island last year, the president and first lady spoke briefly with Bill and Kim Puder and their niece Sharon Leary, along with several state troopers.

MacVicar said he expects about the same level of disruption to normal island activities as years past.

 

ATTACHMENT FOUR – FROM CNN

BIDEN SET TO USE HIS PARDON POWER MONDAY FOR THANKSGIVING TURKEY TRADITION

By Betsy Klein, CNN  Published 12:00 PM EST, Wed November 20, 2024

 

With just two months until he leaves office, President Joe Biden is gearing up to utilize his presidential pardon power for fowl reasons.

Justice will be served Monday as Biden pardons the national Thanksgiving turkeys on the White House South Lawn, CNN has exclusively learned, participating in the 77th annual tradition of the turkey presentation, according to a White House official.

The president will talk turkey and make much ado about stuffing at his fourth and final Thanksgiving roast, a yearly opportunity for a cornucopia of puns and a moment to give thanks – providing some levity amid a range of global crises and the aftermath of a hectic campaign season.

Weighing in at 40 and 41 pounds, this year’s birds were hatched in July in Northfield, Minnesota, and will ride the gravy train to Washington over the weekend, according to Alex Davidson, a spokesperson for the National Turkey Federation. They’ll spend the customary night in a luxe suite at the nearby Willard Hotel, where their names will be unveiled at a press conference. They will be presented to Biden by National Turkey Federation chair John Zimmerman, who raised the turkeys on his independent farm.

Following their expected pardon, both turkeys will retreat to Farmamerica, an agricultural interpretative center in southern Minnesota, Davidson said.

Rumors of turkey pardons go back in presidential history as far as Abraham Lincoln’s administration. Folklore has it that Lincoln’s young son asked his father to spare a pet turkey that was supposed to be part of their Thanksgiving dinner.

A competitive version of the ceremony became national news in 1920, when a turkey from Texas sent to Woodrow Wilson in a White House-shaped crate battled outside the White House with a turkey from Kentucky. The Kentucky bird emerged victorious, according to the White House Historical Association.

 

ATTACHMENT FIVE – FROM READER’S DIGEST

70 REASONS TO BE THANKFUL THIS THANKSGIVING

By Charlotte Hilton Andersen  Updated on Sep. 26, 2024

 

Gratitude is good for you. There are so many things to be thankful for that this list is only the beginning!

From seasonal lattes to colorful leaves, there’s nothing quite like fall. Although we may miss the warmer weather, this season of harvest and plenty reminds us that there are so many things to be grateful for! An attitude of gratitude is a powerful mental tool to practice positivity and increase our feelings of well being, even with the daylight waning. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to remember things to be grateful for every day.

Whether those things are big or small—and whether they involve family or just a simple seasonal pleasure—they can give you a much-needed boost. Start with our suggestions and then think about your own blessings to create a personalized gratitude list. For more inspiration, check out these Thanksgiving quotes and Thanksgiving prayers, and try incorporating these meaningful Thanksgiving traditions (and even some fun ones, like breaking the turkey wishbone) into your own get-together this year.

 

1. Family

During the holidays, spending time with family can be a lot of extra work and stress. But this is also the perfect time to remember just how much of a blessing your relatives are. So even when they’re annoying, try to focus on all the things you love about your beautiful, wacky, funny, a-little-bit-crazy-but-always-loving clan.

2. Carbs

Thanks to bread, stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams and pie, Thanksgiving is basically the High Carb Holiday. Carbs get a bad rap sometimes, but they certainly have a place in your diet, and Thanksgiving is the day to enjoy them—guilt free.

3. A sense of humor

“Thank goodness we have a holiday set aside for being grateful—we’d sure hate to have to do that every day!” Jim Gaffigan’s take on Thanksgiving will have you rolling, and there’s more where that came from in YouTube’s massive holiday-comedy library.

4. Crunchy, colorful, fragrant piles of leaves

Is there anything that says “fall” more than changing foliage? The vibrant colors, satisfying crunch underfoot and woodsy smell combine to delight all the senses.

5. Pets

Whether it’s the soulful eyes of your pup (begging for turkey) or the tiny pink nose of your kitty (also begging for turkey, but in a much more sophisticated way), Thanksgiving is the perfect time to shower a little extra love on the critters that love you the most. Don’t miss this guide to celebrating the holidays with your pets.

6. Crisp apples

Apples may be available in stores all year long, but there’s something special about fall apples, with their fresh, crisp bite and tangy-sweet juice—especially if you got them while apple picking. No wonder so many favorite Thanksgiving recipes rely on apples!

7. That holiday helping spirit

The “holiday spirit” is a real thing, and we promise you, nothing will make you more grateful for what you have than sharing some of it with someone who has less.

8. New pumpkin recipes

Pumpkins are a remarkably versatile fruit, adding rich autumnal flavor to sweet treats, savory soups and everything in between. This is the best time to experiment with pumpkin recipes, whipping up all your orange-hued favorites. Or just buy premade pumpkin treats—we love Costco’s pumpkin pie, and it’s just $5.99!

9. Mums

Mums are a perennial (get it?) Thanksgiving favorite. Buy a pot for yourself, or bring one as a hostess gift.

10. Pumpkin patches

Admit it: Whoever decided that walking through a muddy field to pick an oddly shaped squash would be fun (and something people would pay money to do) was kind of a genius. And it is fun!

11. Turkey

This classic Thanksgiving totem and food doesn’t get a lot of love the rest of the year, but the humble turkey is a tasty source of filling protein—not to mention high levels of tryptophan, the chemical known for making you feel relaxed and sleepy after the big meal.

12. Tiny hand turkeys

These sweet paper cutouts will remind you how little and innocent children are. They might even conjure memories of the days when your own world was full of magic: Santa was real, and your little hands could create birds.

13. Your best friends

Friends are like family. And sometimes they’re even better than family, especially when they’re saving the day by bringing over a non-burned turkey or smuggling you a much-needed drink. Make sure to tell your friends how grateful you are for their friendship and how much better your life is because you have them. Better yet, host a Friendsgiving celebration this year and thank them in person.

14. Candy corn

The vegetable corn is great and all, but controversial opinion: Candy corn is way tastier. Mix it with peanuts for a salty-sweet Thanksgiving table decoration that everyone can pick at while waiting for the bird to be done.

15. Delicious warm drinks

Fall means cooler temps, which of course means steamy mugs of deliciousness. See you later, smoothies! It’s time for pumpkin spice lattes, hot toddies, spiced ciders, mulled wines and even hot chocolate bombs.

16. Children’s gratitude lists

Ask an adult what they’re thankful for and they’ll say something sensible like “a warm house” or “family.” Ask a kid, and you never know what answer you’ll get! For instance, the response one student gave his teacher will warm your heart.

17. Marching bands

Band geeks (aka musical geniuses) have been training for the big Thanksgiving parade all year. Appreciate the pomp and artistry of a full band by watching a parade on TV or lining up to cheer for your local high school kids.

18. Early evenings

Summer nights, with their barbecues and night games, may get all the glory, but fall nights can be just as fun. Pop some popcorn, pull out a board game or puzzle, turn on a favorite movie and enjoy the feeling of snuggling up together.

19. Football

Thanksgiving is prime time for football. Whether you’re watching a game on TV or playing a little touch football at the park with friends, you can come together over a sport that’s as much America as Thanksgiving itself.

20. A cozy kitchen

For many people, spending a day puttering around the kitchen, chatting with family and making favorite recipes is a wonderful way to enjoy Thanksgiving.

21. Scarves and mittens

With dropping temps, you need to bundle up. But nothing says you can’t do it in style! Thanksgiving is the perfect time to debut your sleek gloves, warm scarves, cute hats, tall boots and smart coats—and to be grateful for warm fingers and toes.

22. The first snow

For much of the country, the first dusting of snow comes around Thanksgiving, reminding you that winter is right around the corner. That first chill and snowfall hints at sledding, snowmen, hot chocolate and holiday parties.

23. Holiday songs

Listening to Christmas songs before Thanksgiving is a contentious topic. But once Thanksgiving hits, feel free to play all your favorite holiday tunes.

24. Peace and safety

The world can be a tumultuous place. But if you’re reading this, you’re likely in a place of relative safety and peace. Be grateful, and do your part to help make the world a better place in the coming year.

25. Pie

Pumpkin pie is really only the beginning when it comes to delicious Thanksgiving pies. Apple rhubarb, Dutch apple, French silk, coconut cream, and caramel pies are all excellent variations on the seasonal dessert.

26. Electricity and plumbing

Remembering what our ancestors had to endure just to stay alive is apt to make anyone grateful for modern conveniences. Just try to imagine what life would be like without tap water, indoor toilets, electric lights and the internet.

27. Comforters

Nothing caps off a wonderful Thanksgiving meal like falling into a deep sleep under a fluffy, warm comforter in a soft bed. Add a nice throw blanket on top for extra coziness.

28. Your health

If ever there was a time to be grateful for your health, it is now. And if you’ve been able to avoid contracting COVID-19, you’ve been lucky.

29. Advice columns

Thanksgiving can be a depressing time, especially if your life isn’t going quite the way you’d hoped. Reading about other people’s problems in an advice column just might make you more grateful for your own situation.

30. Baby giggles

Thanksgiving is a time for families, and while having so many different personalities in one place can be challenging, there’s always an upside: the laughter of babies and toddlers. It’s genuine, it comes straight from the gut and it happens at the best times (like when Grandpa accidentally burps).

31. Smiles from strangers

A smile from a stranger is a small thing, but it can change the trajectory of your entire day. Someone noticed you. Someone liked you enough to smile at you. It’s pretty amazing when you think about it.

32. Waiters

Many restaurants are packed on Thanksgiving. Let’s all take a moment to be grateful for the servers, hosts, managers, cooks, chefs, bussers and other workers who make it all possible. These stores are open on Thanksgiving too.

33. Mom

Whether your mother is in the next room, the next town, the next country or the next life, Thanksgiving traditions can be powerful reminders of the good times you shared together and how very much she loves you, no matter how far away.

34. Dad

Don’t forget your papa! From organizing the neighborhood football game to re-raking the leaf pile so you can jump in over and over again, dads hold a special place on Thanksgiving.

35. Corn mazes

Get in your exercise before the big meal by walking (and getting lost) in one of these clever life-size mazes.

36. Leftovers

Are there any leftovers better than Thanksgiving leftovers? No, no there are not.

37. Potpourri

Bring the spicy, earthy smell of fall indoors with an easy stovetop potpourri recipe: Put orange peels, cinnamon sticks, cloves, vanilla and nutmeg in a small pot. Cover with water and heat on low, adding water as necessary. You’ll enjoy the fragrance all day.

38. Books

What better way to spend those sleepy post-feast hours than curled up in your favorite chair with a gripping mystery or a romance novel featuring pie. (Yes, that’s a thing!) Or make it a family affair with children’s books about Thanksgiving.

39. Naps

Napping is as much a Thanksgiving tradition as football and turkey. And indulging in this custom is just as good for you as it feels.

40. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

This year will be the 95th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, making it a holiday tradition that stretches back for generations. If you can’t attend live, you can still watch it from the comfort of your home on TV or online—no crowds required.

41. Pumpkin spice everything

Pumpkin spice lattes are just the beginning of the fun you can have with this blend of allspice, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. Pumpkin spice is everywhere—from lattes, doughnuts and ravioli to body wash, hand soap, candles and air freshener.

42. Nature walks in the forest

Nature is quite the artist, and there’s no better way to admire her handiwork than by watching the colors change on the trees. A walk or drive to see changing fall foliage is the perfect complement to Thanksgiving dinner.

43. Black Friday

If shopping were a sport, it might overtake football as the premier Thanksgiving event, thanks to Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. The craziest shopping day of the year isn’t for everyone, though, so feel free to enjoy the sales from the comfort of your computer screen.

44. FaceTime, Skype and Zoom

Technology brings us so many gifts, but perhaps none are as meaningful as the ability to see our loved ones even when they can’t physically be with us. Thankfully, we have FaceTime, Skype, Zoom and other apps to bring in far-off grandparents, cousins, children and friends. Make sure your online and in-person gatherings are as pleasant as possible by avoiding these topics on Thanksgiving.

45. The roof over your head

This is one of the best things to be grateful for. Shelter is one of humankind’s primary needs, but it’s so basic that unless you don’t have it, you may take it for granted. This year, look up and be grateful for the roof that offers you warmth and protection. And support organizations that help the unhoused find roofs of their own.

46. Lip balm

Cold, dry weather means dry, cracked lips and skin. Lip balm and lotion can be lifesavers this time of year.  A small thing to be grateful for, perhaps, but an important one.

47. Streaming television

Whether you’re in the kitchen, on the couch or doing chores around the house, Thanksgiving is the perfect day to binge-watch a favorite show or get caught up on shows you might have missed.

48. Emergency service personnel

You know who never gets a day off, even on Thanksgiving? Firefighters, first responders, EMTs, doctors, nurses and many other emergency service workers. Show them your gratitude for their service 365 days a year by dropping off a little treat or making a donation to their local cause.

49. Tears

Thanksgiving tears are often of the poignant variety—saying goodbye to loved ones and remembering past holidays. And those tears serve an important purpose: We only cry when something is important to us, so those tears are a reminder of how much we love and are loved.

50. Slipper socks

Slipper socks will keep your toes toasty through the holiday festivities. They come in all kinds of styles, fun patterns and soft fabrics. Plus, they’re the perfect cover-up for imperfect toenails.

51. Cell phones

Ponder for just a second what a miracle it is to have a TV, radio, camera and computer all rolled into a single device that fits in your pocket. How else would we capture all those precious Thanksgiving moments?

52. Freedom of speech

The historical roots of Thanksgiving often get lost in the food and fun, but at its core, the holiday is about the founding of our country. One of the benefits of being American: freedom of speech.

53. Fresh air to breathe

Between the coronavirus pandemic, wildfires, storms and air pollution, we can’t take clean air for granted. Every breath in—particularly when you can see blue skies—is something to be thankful for.

54. Whipped cream

This classic pie topping is a must-have at Thanksgiving. Whoever figured out how to whip cream long enough for it to be fluffy (but not so long that it turns into butter) was brilliant. As was the person who decided to dump sugar into the mix.

55. Frosted windows

As the days get colder, you will see some of nature’s most beautiful artwork decorating your windows. Snowflakes and ice glitter more brightly than any diamond.

56. Pizza and pad thai

Not everyone likes turkey and potatoes. Thankfully, these days you have plenty of options for your feast. Get creative, go gourmet or just simplify. FYI, these chain restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving.

57. Black olives

What’s a Thanksgiving meal without a bowl of olives for kids (and adults!) to put on their fingers? Fingertip olives make a fun and tasty, albeit less than sanitary, appetizer.

58. Challenges

Counting your blessings requires you to also look at all the challenges you’ve faced lately—and how the two are connected. There is no triumph without defeat, no joy without pain.

59. Vaccines and the scientists who invented them

Thanks to the COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, the flu vaccine and the newest RSV vaccine, many people continue to be able to enjoy a holiday meal with their loved ones. But don’t forget all the other vaccines that keep us safe and healthy.

60. Streaming playlists

Classical background music during dinner? Bon Jovi while playing football? Any type of music you could ever want is available at a touch. And better yet, the chances are high that someone has already made you the perfect playlist. That includes these Thanksgiving songs that help create the perfect ambiance.

61. Old pictures

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to break out the old photo albums and stroll down memory lane with loved ones. How great is it that treasured moments of our lives are captured forever?

62. Growth

Everyone changes. Let’s be grateful that we’ve had the time to reflect on who we are and the ability to grow into the people we want to be.

63. Sweaters

One perk of cooler weather is that you can rock your favorite sweaters. Who doesn’t love looking cute and feeling cozy?

64. Holiday gifts

There’s nothing like giving and receiving holiday gifts this time of year.

65. Work

Being able to enjoy what you do while providing for yourself and your family is a blessing.

66. Chocolate

Is there anything more to be said? From the smallest of chips to the largest of bars, milk or dark or even white, always be grateful that we have chocolate.

67. Sparkling apple juice

This kids-table favorite is always a hit with adults too. Whether you want a nonalcoholic option at Thanksgiving or just like sweet drinks, nothing says fall festivities like a crisp glass of sparkling apple juice.

68. Stars

We don’t mean the kind on the red carpet, although you can be grateful for those too! With daylight fading and nights getting longer, it’s comforting to see bright stars or a full moon in the darkness. How many constellations can you name? If none come to mind, try going outside after your meal to see some—if the turkey hasn’t put you to sleep already!

69. Farmers

Our food doesn’t come from nowhere! When you’re looking at your delicious Thanksgiving spread and trying to think about what to eat first, take a moment to remember and be thankful for all the agricultural workers who made your green bean casserole possible. Then stuff as much of it in your mouth as possible. Thanks, farmers!

70. Gratitude

That’s right: We just told you to be thankful for being thankful. Practicing gratitude can ward off depression, lower blood pressure, ameliorate anxiety and even increase your life span. You’re welcome!