Are Amazon insiders trying to defraud customers? It’s hard to come up with another explanation for a recent attempt.
Saturday, September 13, 2025
Inflation Re-Accelerates Despite Plunging Gasoline Prices as “Core Services” PCE Price Index Hits 7-Month High
Core services inflation is the biggie and going the wrong way. The Fed is already talking down the pace of rate cuts.
Can Desalination Quench Agriculture’s Thirst?
Small decentralized desalination plants hold the promise of low enough cost to use on brackish agricultural water.
2:00PM Water Cooler 11/27/2024
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, syndemics; Blame cannons thunder after Kamala campaign team podcast; Investigation into attempts to assassinate Trump seem curiously silent; Boeing delivery, layoff woes ~
Israel Agrees to Ceasefire in Lebanon After Ground Invasion Fails
An initial look at the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
EU Nears Finish Line on Trade Deal With South American Bloc in an Effort to Deal Blow to China
It’s unlikely to do much vis-à-vis China, but will be bad news for the environment and majority of Europeans already reeling from Ursula’s other strategic “victories.”
How Trump Attorney General Pick Pam Bondi Did Favors for Donors and Gift-Givers in Florida
Another deep dive into Pam Bondi’s impressive record of corporate cronyism.
Monetary Policy in Response to Tariff Shocks
If the Trump tariff scheme weakens the economy enough, the Fed would do better to ease rather than tighten even if inflation increases.
Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule
Have a happy Turkey Day! We will be kicking back a bit over the holiday weekend in light of (hopefully) lower news flow.
2:00PM Water Cooler 11/26/2024
~ Today’s Water Cooler: Politics, syndemics; “Joy” at Bluesky; Trump team drags feet on signing ethics and transparency agreements; “Everyone is taking their skim” (of Democrat campaigns); Boeing 737 DHL plane crashes. In Lithuania. ~
Taxpayers Spend 22% More Per Patient to Support Medicare Advantage – The Private Alternative to Medicare That Promised to Cost Less
How Medicare Advantage, with less coverage than traditional Medicare via gatekeeping and thin networks, is a bad deal for taxpayers too.
Trump’s Inflation-Stoking 25% Mexico and Canada Tariff Scheme
Trump’s latest tariff threat is quickly getting a lot of well-warranted criticism.
