My ten o’clock consultation today was Dr. Batroun Ibn Himaar, an econometrician at the World Bank. For about an hour and ten minutes, things went pretty much as I expected while we discussed the probabilistic projections of international currency exchange rates based on a stochastic optimization model of petroleum prices. But at the conclusion of… Continue reading Crusader Babbitt – Obama Develops Foot-in-Mouth Disease
Category: Economics and Finance
Heaven is Some Real Malarkey
It being the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the work schedule for Gretchen and myself was somewhat lighter than a typical Monday. This was good, because not only did it mean there was time for me to meet with my brother-in-law, Hank Palikowski, and his sister-in-law, Shannon, it also meant there were fewer regular… Continue reading Heaven is Some Real Malarkey
North Korea vs. Sony Pictures – Interview in a Quagmire
Despite the impending holidays, I still manged to get overbooked this week, which lead to Gretchen and me having to work nine and one half hours on a Saturday. The increasing urgency of various matters around the planet have made it nearly impossible for me to work a decent five day week anymore, but in… Continue reading North Korea vs. Sony Pictures – Interview in a Quagmire
Welcome to Washington, Congressional Fresh Meat Serving No. 114
The calls started late on Tuesday, November 4. I received five of them before midnight. They have continued unabated since. It’s an assured ritual that occurs like clockwork every two years – new members of Congress calling me for the sort of advice and information not found in the traditional freshman briefings offered on Capitol… Continue reading Welcome to Washington, Congressional Fresh Meat Serving No. 114
Scots Discover There is No Such Uncertainty as Independence
Bright and early on Wednesday morning, I welcomed Dr. Angus MacFergus McTavish Dundee Ph.D., President of the American Scottish Independence Society, to my office for a policy consultation. “Congratulations,” I said as he seated himself primly on the chair immediately in front of my desk, “it looks like the upcoming independence referendum in Scotland next… Continue reading Scots Discover There is No Such Uncertainty as Independence