KLG: The Engineering Ideal in Biology and Its Utility or Disutility
How the engineering ideal in biology, already taken further than is realistic, has become a foundation for the quest for eternal life.
Read more...Category Archives: Guest Post
Chaos Theory: Assessing the Legal Validity of Trump’s Tariffs
A look at the legality of Trump tariffs. Sadly, another proof that international law does not count for much in practice.
Read more...Mr. Treasury Market Tells Fed It Is Even More Worried About Inflation
The Fed vigorously backpedaled on further cuts, pivoting to wait-and-see, due to long-term rates signaling inflation concerns.
Read more...2:00PM Water Cooler 2/11/2025
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, syndemics ~
Read more...Imperialism (Still) Rules
Many in the West now deny imperialism. But even the Economist now sees Trump’s revival of this US legacy.
Read more...Is Washington Setting Its Sights on Mexico’s Former President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador?
“There is a legal and judicial offensive under way in Washington to accuse the former president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, of having made pacts with drug traffickers.”
Read more...KLG: “If the Overhead Cuts to NIH and NSF Grants Go Through Without Changes, Academic Biomedical and Other Research in the US Will Crumble into Dust”
Why the Musk attack on NIH and NSF funding formulas will eviscerate US medical research.
Read more...2:00PM Water Cooler 2/10/2025
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, syndemics; A typical day in the Trump White House, per the NY Post; Elon on political economy (with handy diagram); Stoller on Trump gutting the CFPB; The 1918 Influenza Pandemic and the Rise of Italian Fascism ~
Climate Minsky Moments: Why They May Matter Less Than Expected
“Climate Minsky moments” do not warrant delaying ambitious climate policy.
Read more...Paradise Is a Police State: Examining the Techno-Optimism of Billionaire Silicon Valley Investor (And Unofficial Trump Administration Adviser) Marc Andreessen
The unlimited AI and energy now being unleashed is supposed to usher in a new utopia centered around low wages and prices. So why are Andreessen and friends so intent on a police state as part of the grand experiment we’re all being enlisted in?
Read more...‘So Much for Lowering Costs’: Fury Over Musk’s Death Wish for CFPB That Returned Over $20 Billion to Consumers
Revealingly, Musk makes closing an agency that keeps billionaires like him from cheating ordinary citizens a top priority.
Read more...Links 2/9/2025
Medicaid Work Requirements Could Boot 36 Million People Off Their Health Coverage: Report
“Work requirements are simply another way to cut Medicaid.”
Read more...It’s Going to be Torture as the Path to Starmer’s Inevitable Demise Is Rolled Out
A Starmer death watch sighting.
Read more...2:00PM Water Cooler 2/7/2025
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, syndemics; Possible Democrat strategies against DOGE; The notion of “racial capitalism” decried; Gallery: Hole punches ~
Read more...