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

Trump Administration proposes science commissars

The Office of Management and Budget is proposing a set of new rules that would put OMB officials in charge of all federal scientific grants, allowing them to overrule peer review panels. They can also cancel grants at any time for essentially any reason. This would end the current grant review mechanism and turn it […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

Case Dismissed

It appears it finally happened. Trump looking for revenge driven justice agenda backfired on him. Mybe the right word to use here is vindictive. Trump is well known for seeking some type of revenge. He plays his desire so openly, it is difficult to be ignored. “U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw considered the defendant’s […]