Sunday, March 29, 2026

Trump War of Whimsy threatens to exacerbate worldwide food insecurity

 
Headline:  New York Times, 3/27/2026

Ana Swanson reports:
One of the biggest economic casualties of the U.S.-led war in Iran has been the global fertilizer supply
Shipments of it have piled up on the wrong side of the Strait of Hormuz. In India, Algeria and Slovakia, fertilizer plants have shut down or slowed their output because of rising natural gas prices. China has restricted fertilizer exports. Australian wheat farmers are planting less, and corn and soy farmers in the United States are begging President Trump for relief
Much of the concern about economic disruptions stemming from the Iran conflict has centered on the higher price of oil and natural gas. But the cascading effects of the conflict on fertilizer supplies are growing worse by the day, raising prices for farmers globally and threatening to lead to food insecurity in some parts of the world[emphasis added] 
Most fertilizer is made using natural gas. So the energy-rich Middle East has become a key global producer of the commodity, second only to Russia.
Related posts:
March 16-31, 2026

March 11-15, 2026

Steven Rock Jr. (1941-2026) Warren High School class of 1960

 
1960 Dragon yearbook


1967 Warren City Directory

  • Rock Steve (Julia M) Rock's Riverside Hotel  412 Conewango Avenue
  • Rock Steven Jr bartender Rock's Riverside Hotel 412 Conewango Avenue
1983 Warren City Directory


The popularity of Steven is graphed here.  Let's take a look at Harper.
 

Harper debuted in 2004, shot up into the top 100 by 2011, and reached the top 10 for the first time in 2015.  She's been a steady performer since then, but it will be interesting to track how much staying power she has. 


Other members of the class of 1965 (42):
2026

David Engle.  (7/16)
Robert Hubert.  (5/2)
2024
Daryl Mong.  (8/28)

2023
Linda Jacobson.  (4.30)

2022
Ronald Engle.  (7/19)
John Laurence.  (1/16)

2021
Charles Brant. (12/14/)

2020


Marie Petersen Gustafson (1930-2026) Warren High School class of 1948

 
1948 Dragon yearbook



Marie's high-school activities:
  • Stenographers' CLub (4), Leaders' Club (2, 3), Assembly Program (3), Carnival (2), Commencement Usher (3).

1967 Warren City Directory
1983 Warren City Directory 

The popularity of Marie as a baby name was previously graphed in 2017, when it ranked #647.  Let's take another look. 

One of the most popular baby names for girls during the early decades of the 20th century, Marie spent 58 years in the top 100, peaking at #7 in 1901, 1903, and 1904.  After 1990, her popularity went into a steep decline, although she's currently treading water in the 600s.


Other class of '48 graduates (48):
2025
Louie Rieg.  (2/18)
Harry Glotz.  (2/2)

2024

2023
Curtis Sorenson.  (9/13)
James Miller.  (6/6)
Phillip Colvin.  (1/12)

2022
Ronald Massa.  (11/17)
Jean Dyke Krieg.  (10/12/2022)
Douglas Rudolph.  (9/17)

2021
Richard Betts.  (10/31)
James Stearns.  (10/4)
Wyllis Mead, (8/16)

2020
James Suppa.  (12/23)

2019
Helen Yarzabek.  (11/7)
Betty Fitzgerald Bearfield.  (10/29)
Georgia Ann Valentine Kargle.  (7/26)
Shirlie Jean Kauffman.  (5/22)
Joanne Swanson Massa.  (2/23)

2018
Joanne Chester.  (11/13)
Betty Burke Dickinson.  (9/1)
Stephen Cosmano.  (8/29)
Beulah Fox Boll.  (3/16)

2017
Phyllis Miller Maze. (12/27)
Dorothy Anderson Turner.  (9/27)
Margaret Mathyer Conroy.  (4/26)

2016
Ruth Figliuzzi.  (11/5)
Donna Mack Schuler.  (3/19)

2015
Carol Jean Niver Hampson.  (10/22)
Frank Marlett.  (9/13)
John Giltinan.  (7/6)
Lela Nichols Akeley.  (6/24) 

2014
Ella Atwell Blum.  (12/24) 
Betty Carlson Johnson.  (10/26)
H. Kent Peterson.  (10/1)
Kenneth Lundahl.  (9/21)

2013 
Carl Leave.  (12/26)