Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

Changes in Funding for the IRS Will Impact Service During Filing

Is downsizing the IRS part of Trump’s goals? I would say it is. Short staffing an agency such as the IRS makes it difficult to maintain the process and also audit taxpayers. Those who take advantage of greater would welcome an IRS less capable. It, like other parts of the Federal Government, has been faced […]

Down the Tesla memory hole

To follow up on a previous post about Tesla autonomous driving vehicles: “Tesla has retroactively modified “Full Self-Driving” purchase agreements to add “supervised” language that did not exist when owners originally bought the product. In some cases, the original documents have been made entirely inaccessible. “Electrek has confirmed the issue with multiple owners. The contracts […]

April JOLTS report confirms a low-hire, low-fire, and low-quits economy

– by New Deal democrat The JOLTS report is low on my list of useful tools, but it does break down the labor market further than the jobs report, and it does have several slightly leading components, so let’s take a look at the latest report, which is for April. Below are job openings (blue), […]

Monetizing Genesis

One of the larger ongoing non-Trump grifts in America is the “Ark Encounter” in Williamstown, Kentucky. It’s been open for nearly ten years. I don’t know whether or not it’s hit its evangelistic benchmarks, but it has never met the financial benchmarks promised to Kentucky taxpayers. “When Creationist Ken Ham and his team at Answers […]

Brief Middle East News

This does not look like it is going away any time soon. Iran is striking back. Worth reading even if brief: Iranian state media reports Tehran may be suspending ceasefire talks. U.S. and Iranian strikes resume over the weekend. Nuclear talks stall as U.S. leadership continues to temporize. Qatar open to temporary Hormuz fees for mine-clearing. Aid groups warn of resource shortfall for millions displaced […]

Union Pacific and Norfolk Merger

It has been a bit since I have placed anything on Angry Bear, I felt it was time to catch up with anything going on with railroading. Apparently, there is a big push for the UP and Norfolk to merge. The merger would create the first transcontinental railroad from the East Coast to the West […]

Manufacturing expands in May; April construction expands nominally, but only data center construction in real terms

 – by New Deal democrat May data started out as usual with the ISM manufacturing index. Plus, as a bonus, official government data is finally back on schedule, only 7 months after the end of the shutdown! By which I mean to say, April construction spending was also released, on time. To cut to the chase, […]

Banking Issues

Introduction: In and around 2007 – 2009 the US economy was in or coming out of recession. Much of this was cause by lax lending in a rapidly growing economy. Bank took on risks which did not occur in the past as greatly. Little money down and loans on equity which disappeared in recession. Several […]

Sunday thought: It’s Still Capital vs. Labor, Stupid

Actually posted on Monday, Before I went on to other things in business, I used to consult with Ingersoll Engineers as the MRPII and materials control guru. The main thrust by Ingersoll was Direct Labor in manufacturing was a small portion of the total cost. Materials was the greater cost. Going after the later made […]