Category: Business

Those Damn Data Centers

As you may well know there is a bitch of a situation around all those data centers that the tech bros want to build and there is amazing pushback by the locals in each case.

Here in Mississippi there is a proposed center to be built in the central part of the state and a MAGA sycophant the governor is pushing hard to appease Donny on the building of this center.

Bezos and Amazon is filling Mississippians’ (not the sharpest pencils in the box) heads with a bunch of crap to get this built….

As Amazon Web Services prepares to invest more than $20 billion in Mississippi data centers, the head of the cloud computing giant is pushing back against growing criticism of the industry’s rapid expansion, arguing that the facilities are essential to America’s economic future, artificial intelligence leadership and national security.

In an op-ed that was released Friday morning, Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services, compares today’s AI-driven data center construction boom to the creation of the Interstate Highway System, calling it the largest infrastructure buildout in the United States since the highways transformed the nation’s economy after World War II.

“The choices we make today will determine that outcome,” Garman wrote. “A lapse in our nation’s focus or resolve could put us behind, and potentially irreparably so.”

https://www.clarionledger.com/story/business/2026/10/02/amazon-says-mississippi-is-proof-data-centers-are-worth-it/92044987007/

A typical defense in saying that America will not be number one and that works great here in an ignorant Red State.

There is some work that refute what the governor and Amazon spread….

Hours after the Jackson City Council voted to pause data center development for six months, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves took to social media to mock people who support data center moratoriums as “idiots” who are surrendering America’s technological future to China.

That response tells Mississippians almost everything they need to know about the problem.

Jackson residents did not demand that the city abandon technology. They asked their elected officials to take six months to study what these enormous facilities could mean for their neighborhoods, utility bills, water supply, health and property values. They asked for answers before construction began.

Instead of respecting those concerns, Reeves attacked them.

Opinion | Mississippi Is Tired of Being Kept in the Dark on Data Centers

Reeves response was directly from Donny’s playbook….that must have been an interesting phone call….Donny telling the micro brain Reeves what to counter the accusations…..

This is the picture Donny painted for those that oppose these environment killers….

President Donald Trump is doubling down on his criticism of Americans who oppose the construction of data centers.

In a Thursday, Oct. 1, interview with Time, the president, 80, was presented with data that said over half of Americans oppose data centers, according to a Gallup poll conducted in March. Critics of the facilities have pointed to environmental concerns and the related disruptions of construction compared with the tax and job benefits.

Trump was asked, “71% of Americans oppose building data centers. 57% say AI or SI, as you call it, will do more harm than good. Are these Americans wrong?”

https://people.com/trump-says-americans-opposing-ai-data-centers-want-to-live-in-crime-infested-squalor-12151347

Donny employed one of the GOP’s favorite tactic….fear mongering.

After many years of promising jobs and lower taxes for the wealth of corporation that have come to the state none of the promises have been met….the corporations get lower taxes and that is about it.

I hope the people of my state win their battle with Amazon and especially Donny but I will not hold my breath….corruption runs deep and politicians can be bought.

Any thoughts?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Making Corruption Easier

Donny and his DC Gang of Idiots are known to be as corrupt as they come….sadly we cannot eliminate the Dems from that assertion either…..and now Donny’s SEC (not the football conference) is trying to make it even easier.

The Trump administration is moving to strip a rule barring private equity officials from engaging in “pay-to-play” schemes with government officials.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is planning to revoke Rule 206(4)-5 under the Investment Advisers Act, arguing that it chills employees’ political speech. The regulation, known as the “Pay-to-Play” Rule, bars investment advisers from getting paid to advise government clients for two years after making a political contribution to certain officials and candidates.

In the 16 years since the rule was implemented, it has only resulted in a handful of penalties. The proposed change comes after private equity spending increased in 2024, and flipped toward Republicans.

SEC Commissioner Mark T. Uyeda released a statement last week arguing that the “blanket ban” had functionally undermined advisers’ constitutional rights. “Many investment advisers found it easier to simply prohibit all political contributions by their employees, thereby chilling speech and conduct otherwise protected by the First Amendment,” Uyeda said.

But the rule was intentionally written to be broad in order to address the difficulties state and local prosecutors had in proving quid pro quo deals, Axios reported Tuesday.

SEC Chairman Paul Atkins also released a statement last week supporting the proposal, claiming that the rule “discourages full participation in the electoral process through contributions to candidates.

“People should not have to choose between their political-speech rights and a job in a particular industry,” he said.

If approved, the change will unleash a flood of bribes to public officials, and even invite private equity to pay tithes to President Trump himself.

(newrepublic.com)

Oh great….just what we need to make it even easier from politicians to line their pockets while fucking up the system completely.

I guess the old saying is wildly correct….”The US, the best government money can buy”.

At what point does anyone tackle this corruption?

I do not see the Dems coming even close to a solution for they are just as addicted to corruption as the GOP.

Will we hear anything about corruption in the next general election?

My thought is….probably not.

You thoughts?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Donny, What Does This Mean?

Everyone of us has had sticker shock when we go to the grocery store….prices just keep making it harder and harder to have descent meals.

Most of us would like to know just what the government, as much as we can actually call it a ‘government’, would do to help us struggling fools.

Well wait no longer….Donny has announced his new plan….

President Trump announced Friday he would move to allow American farmers and ranchers to process their own food, hitting back against what he called the “monopoly” created by large processors.

Trump noted in a post on Truth Social that farmers and ranchers “have always been a number one priority” for him, adding that he has heard they have had an issue with big processors.

The president wrote, “There are, essentially, 4 of them, a very non competitive number, and they make life miserable for our wonderful Farmers and Ranchers, and I can’t let that happen, can I?”

“So, in order to break this powerful monopoly, with much of its ownership based outside of the U.S., I am authorizing legal documents to be drawn in order to allow Farmers and Ranchers to be given the right to PROCESS THEIR OWN FOOD. This should move quickly,” he continued.

The move comes as Trump has faced backlash from ranchers as well as a number of congressional Republicans after his administration rolled out a plan to import 300,000 metric tons of tariff-free foreign ground beef over 90 days.

The critics argue that selling beef at a 25 percent discount puts downward pressure on what domestic ranches are able to charge. Additionally, industry experts say that savings from the move may not reach shoppers because of large packers and retailers getting the margin.

(thehill.com)

First the US just recalled 30K pounds of Argentine beef for improper inspection….what makes us think that the new beef will be any less unsafe?

Second, I am not a farmer or a rancher so my information and knowledge is very limited….but what does this mean?  What does process their own food actually mean?

I guess the next question will be just how will that bring down food prices?

Cutting out the ‘middle man’ all that significant?

Please will someone explain this to me and my readers that are not privy to the industry.

To say that I am not too positive about this so-called plan would be an understatement….but if there is a silver lining I would like to know where.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Looking For A Career Change?

In these unsettling days of employment flux many are looking for ways to make more money….I mean AI is taking jobs right and left…..college degrees are worthless and there has got to be a better way to earn a good living.

Well Bubba there is……the uber rich are concerned with their safety….the society seems to be getting more hostile to the Robber Barons with each passing week….

America’s richest are jittery, and a growing group of “meat shields” is cashing in. That’s the term one bodyguard-in-training uses in Grayson Schaffer’s deep dive into the industry for GQ. For the record, bodyguards use the term “protector,” though the leader of a team is usually the BG, or bodyguard. Whatever the term, more aspirants are flocking to executive-protection courses like the one run by Elijah Shaw, a former protector for 50 Cent and Usher who now trains others to keep billionaires, tech titans, celebrities, and politicians safe. Schaffer drops into Shaw’s weeklong Las Vegas class, where students practice pulling “principals” off the X, or point of attack, and learn that the job is more about advance work than gunplay.

The story zooms out to explain why business is booming: high-profile killings and attacks on CEOs, governors, figures such as Charlie Kirk, and even the president—all part of rising political violence as tracked by Princeton’s Bridging Divides Initiative. This trend of “stochastic terrorism” has corporate security budgets swelling. Shaw and his peers say the real work happens long before an attack, in mapping exits, anticipating threats, and swallowing ego. Trainees are reminded—repeatedly—that running away with the client beats winning a fight. The job, as one trainee puts it, is being a literal human buffer—an “oversized butler” with a plan.

Read the full story.

There you have it….you too can become a ‘meat shield” for the ultra wealthy….stand between them and a society that is slowly letting the hatred boil to a roar.

It is coming.  Do you want to stand between a fucker that cares little for your safety as long as he can make it to the bank on time.

I am too old but if I were not then they could kiss my ass….my advice learn to defend yourself you pampered twats

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Goodwill Hunting

My daughter and I use to enjoy a day of hitting the retro places especially those that were non-profits trying to find the amazing ‘old’ stuff….one of our favorites was Goodwill that had some amazing stuff and at reasonable prices.

All that has changed last visit to a Goodwill store found there were few bargains and the feel of the store was that of a corporate profit chasing entity.

Then I read an article that I want to share….especially if you think you are doing good work by supporting this business.

Donating used items to Goodwill is a common practice for those looking to declutter while helping others. However, there are several reasons to reconsider this donation choice. Here are ten reasons why you might want to stop giving your used items to Goodwill and explore other options instead.

1. Questionable Business Practices

Goodwill is often perceived as a charity dedicated to helping those in need, but its business practices have come under scrutiny. Despite its nonprofit status, Goodwill operates more like a for-profit business. Executives at some Goodwill organizations earn very high six-figure salaries. For example in 2024, the Chief Executive Officers of the 12 largest Goodwill organizations were compensated between $405,215 – $960,943 annually.  The average was $670,000.

There have been reports of the organization historically paying workers with disabilities significantly less than minimum wage under the special exemption of the Fair Labor Standards Act (per CNBC).  While many states are phasing out this loophole, understanding where your donations go can prompt you to consider alternatives that better align with your values.

2. Low Direct Impact on Local Communities

While Goodwill does provide job training and employment opportunities, the direct impact on local communities can be limited. According to the Seattle Times, donations to Goodwill are often sold in bulk or shipped overseas, where they may not benefit your local area.

Donating to smaller, community-focused organizations or shelters can ensure your items directly support those in need within your neighborhood.

2. Low Direct Impact on Local Communities

While Goodwill does provide job training and employment opportunities, the direct impact on local communities can be limited. According to the Seattle Times, donations to Goodwill are often sold in bulk or shipped overseas, where they may not benefit your local area.

Donating to smaller, community-focused organizations or shelters can ensure your items directly support those in need within your neighborhood.

Please read on….especially if you visit Goodwill stores)

https://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2026/03/07/10139410_rethinking-donations-to-goodwill.html

Another ‘charity’ has fallen to the profit god.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Consumers Need To Bend Over

HAPPY MARDI GRAS!

This is just an FYI in case few are paying attention.

With Christmas behind us I have heard some say that it was not as expensive as predicted which was a good thing but now is the time to bend over for price hikes are coming.

Shoppers who enjoyed a brief pause in price hikes may want to brace themselves. After several months of relative calm—and holiday discounts—companies are again bumping up prices on everything from jeans to spices to software, the Wall Street Journal reports. The increases, often in the high-single-digit range, appear steeper than a typical January reset in prices, particularly for electronics, appliances, and other durable goods, economists say.

Levi Strauss, Columbia Sportswear, McCormick, and a host of smaller firms report they’re paying more for tariffs, wages, health insurance, materials, and shipping—and passing at least some of that along. Online data tracked by Harvard’s Alberto Cavallo and Adobe show the largest monthly jump in web prices in more than a decade, led by big-ticket categories.

Small businesses, facing thinner margins, are raising prices across the board or cutting products they don’t think customers will pay more for. A recent Vistage survey found more than half of small-business leaders plan near-term price increases, mostly in the 4% to 10% range, even as they worry higher tags could scare off buyers. Last week, economists at JPMorgan predicted that “inflation will re-accelerate for a time this year,” citing tariff-related costs being passed on to consumers and the “potential pass-through of the sustained weakening of the trade-weighted US dollar over the past year,” reports Reuters.

The president of Structural Systems Repair Group, a Cincinnati-based construction company, tells the Journal that tariffs pushed up steel prices 10% last year and healthcare costs for employees increased by around the same amount. “It’s not sustainable for us to tolerate that kind of increase without some sort of concession from our customers,” Bryan Erickson says.

Be prepared for the increases and think of ways to end this nightmare.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

“The Rich Get Richer”

How many times have you heard that in your lifetime?

As much as one may not like this slogan it is true….in the past year billionaires fortunes have shot up 81%….last year alone they shot up 16%….and it ain’t over yet.

Billionaires are entering 2026 wealthier and more numerous than ever, even as global poverty progress stalls, according to a new Oxfam report timed to the World Economic Forum in Davos. The charity says billionaire wealth hit a record $18.3 trillion last year, climbing 16% or $2.5 trillion, with more than 3,000 individuals in the club, per CNBC. Since 2020, their fortunes have grown 81%, or $8.2 trillion—enough to eliminate global poverty 26 times—while overall poverty levels have remained roughly where they stood in 2019, per the Guardian. The report, titled “Resisting the Rule of the Rich: Protecting Freedom from Billionaire Power,” argues that concentrated wealth increasingly translates into political and media influence.

It points to Elon Musk’s role in the US administration, Jeff Bezos’ ownership of the Washington Post, and French billionaire Vincent Bolloré’s control of the news outlet CNews as examples. “The outsized influence that the super-rich have over our politicians, economies and media has deepened inequality and led us far off track on tackling poverty,” said Oxfam Executive Director Amitabh Behar. Oxfam also highlights President Trump’s 2025 tax package, which it says delivered notable breaks for high earners, including an estimated 3% income boost for those making more than $1 million, while many Americans struggle to cover basic needs; about 10% lived in poverty in 2024, while a 2023 study found most can no longer afford a “minimal quality of life.”

Beyond the US, Oxfam connects economic strain to social unrest, referencing more than 140 significant anti-government protests across 68 countries last year. The organization urges governments to adopt national inequality-reduction plans, increase taxes on the ultra-wealthy, strengthen barriers between money and politics, and protect free expression. Without such moves—and with rich nations cutting foreign aid “further and faster than before,” including the shuttering of USAID—Oxfam warns that as many as 14 million additional people could die by 2030. “Being economically poor creates hunger. Being politically poor creates anger,” Behar said.

You work, right?…did your income grow by 81% in the last 5 years?  Or for that matter did it grow by 16% last year?

Look at the timeline…..the past 5 years includes Biden as well as Donny….so matters not which party sits in the WH….they are all responsible.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

The Real Cost Of Trump Tariffs

Donny brags about how much money he has made off of these tariffs and that it will pay for so many things…..but there is a real cost of all this silliness.

President Trump’s policies aren’t just affecting affordability ot everyday items for shoppers, but even businesses are feeling the heat. While some names, including Costco, have sued the administration for tariff refunds, more than 700 US businesses filed for bankruptcy in 2025, the highest number since 2010 and a 14% increase from the previous year. Tight credit, high interest rates, persistent cost pressures, and growing import costs as a result of Trump’s chaotic trade tariffs are a few of the reasons for this spike. In contrast to earlier patterns that were dominated by retail bankruptcies, this year’s impacted industries were primarily industrial, such as manufacturing and transportation, while consumer-focused companies, such as fashion, suffered large losses as inflation forced them to prioritize necessities.

Notably, the first half of the year saw 17 significant bankruptcies involving businesses with assets over $1 billion. Chapter 7 liquidations and Chapter 11 reorganizations made up the total number of filings. Along with other significant firms like Rite Aid, high-profile filings included 23andMe, Hooters, Nikola, Spirit Airlines, and Party City, The Washington Post reported. The figures were calculated according to a recent survey by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Despite Trump’s ‘Made in America’ proposals, which gave momentum to tariffs favoring local production, federal data showcased that the manufacturing sector shed more than 70,000 jobs in November. According to economists, businesses that rely heavily on imports are finding it difficult to control the increased expenses brought on by Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. As Americans cut back on non-essential spending due to inflation, consumer-facing businesses, especially those that sell discretionary goods, are seeing an uptick in bankruptcy filings.

“These companies are acutely aware of the affordability crisis confronting the average American,” Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a professor at Yale’s School of Management, stated. “Those with pricing power will pass on the costs over time. Others will fold,” he added. Manufacturers and suppliers have been severely impacted by tariffs on steel and energy-related equipment, especially in the renewable energy sector. Increased tariffs on imported solar equipment and the loss of government clean-energy incentives caused PosiGen, a solar installer located in Louisiana, to file for Chapter 11 in November.

https://marketrealist.com/why-did-700-bu/

Looks like the first year of the Uncle Donny tour was just peachy….the only people that will make out from this is Donny’s billionaire buddies that are helping eliminate any competition….so much to that elusive ‘free market’….

Not to worry it will only get worse.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

What If Billionaires Paid Taxes?

I know a fanciful idea that probably will go nowhere….as much as I dislike AI the author of this piece asked AI that very question and here is what it responded…

The tax system feels upside down sometimes. You work a regular job, and a big chunk of your paycheck goes to taxes. Meanwhile, you hear stories about billionaires paying almost nothing. So, I asked ChatGPT: What would actually happen if the ultra-wealthy paid the same tax rates as everyone else?

It turns out, at least according to ChatGPT, the current system isn’t just unfair. More than that, the country could be getting hundreds of billions of dollars every year if things changed.

ChatGPT started with some shocking numbers about current tax rates. According to research from the National Bureau of Economic Research, the top 400 wealthiest Americans paid an effective tax rate of about 23.8% between 2018 and 2020.

Meanwhile, the average American paid around 30%, and high earners who mostly rely on wages paid closer to 45%. In some years, the richest 400 families actually paid less than the bottom 50% of households.

The most extreme example ChatGPT cited was from Oxfam, which found that in 2021, the wealthiest 400 families paid just 8.2% in federal individual income tax compared to a national average of 13%.

So, the people with the most money are paying the lowest rates. ChatGPT explained this happens because of capital gains preferences, tax loopholes and sophisticated tax planning that regular people can’t access.

When I asked ChatGPT to run the numbers on what equalizing tax rates could raise, the amounts were, quite frankly, staggering.

The most conservative estimate suggested that making billionaires pay taxes at the same rate as working-class Americans could generate $500 billion to $1 trillion per year in additional revenue.

Other scenarios were even more dramatic. If the top 1% paid just 10 percentage points more in taxes, that could raise $300 billion annually or $3 trillion over 10 years.

A more aggressive approach like raising billionaire tax rates by 25 percentage points could yield $800 billion or more per year. Yes, you read that number correctly.

ChatGPT also looked at specific policy proposals. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s wealth tax could generate $113 billion annually, while Sen. Ron Wyden’s billionaire income tax might add $56 billion per year.

https://www.gobankingrates.com/taxes/tax-laws/asked-chatgpt-what-would-happen-if-billionaires-paid-taxes-at-same-rate-as-working-class

A fascinating answer…..

Personally I think that everyone should pay the same taxes regardless….since corporations are considered humans now they too should pay the same tax as we on all income.

Any thoughts?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

 

“Buy Bigger Tractors”

My state of Mississippi is dependent on the sell of our major crop, soybeans, and thanx to Donny’s massive tariffs on China our framers are in pain and searching for alternatives….

Members of the state Senate Agriculture Committee were informed Wednesday that the struggles faced by Mississippi farmers are worsening, affecting not only vegetables but also beef.

Agriculture, the state’s largest industry that directly or indirectly employs over 11 percent of the state workforce, has been gut-punched by high inflation, falling prices, drought, and declining exports. Now, many farmers are watching what Washington D.C., especially the White House, will do next concerning tariffs as well as President Donald Trump’s recent plan to import more beef from Argentina.

“Agriculture faces extreme, extreme risk every day,” said State Senator Neil Whaley (R), committee chairman. “When you look at the market volatility and the prices that are returned, the cost of reduction is through the roof. If we do not find ways and avenues to utilize our crops locally and domestically, we are going to lose these family farms, therefore losing independent food. And that is a big problem for us.”

Soybeans, a powerhouse crop in Mississippi, are witnessing a massive drop in sales, largely due to China’s purchase of soybeans from South America, said Duane Dunlap, president of DNS Commodities. Prior to China switching suppliers, Mississippi’s soybeans were a major part of the state’s export, and the Delta was dependent on those foreign orders.

(magnoliatribune.com)

Then the magic of Donny has come to the rescue of farmers…..and they are told to buy bigger tractors(?)….

China has agreed to purchase at least 25 million metric tons of US soybeans annually, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday. Bessent said China will start by purchasing 12 million metric tons of soybeans from the US between now and January, the AP reports. “So you know, our great soybean farmers, who the Chinese used as political pawns, that’s off the table, and they should prosper in the years to come,” Bessent said in an interview on Fox Business Network’s Mornings with Maria. He said the agreement lasts for three years.

he soybean agreement was part of the deal President Trump reached with Xi Jinping at their South Korea meeting, reports the Wall Street Journal. “I was extremely honored by the fact that President Xi authorized China to begin the purchase of massive amounts of Soybeans, Sorghum, and other Farm products,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “Our Farmers will be very happy! In fact, as I said once before during my first Administration, Farmers should immediately go out and buy more land and larger tractors.” Last month, for the first time in almost seven years, China bought no soybeans from the US. The country switched to suppliers in Brazil and Argentina, the latter of which annoyed administration officials by removing its export tariffs after receiving a financial lifeline from the US.

This is great news for our farmers…..but I ask what about the deals China has already made elsewhere since Donny and his magic Sharpie?

Will this be a lasting deal?  Or will Donny get his panties in a twist and nullify it down the road?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”