Republicans braying on about passing a balanced budget amendment while the president threatens to put the country into default and hold up Social Security checks reminds me of a bunch of puffed-up, town politicians milling around the scene of a building fire, getting in the way of firefighters, giving press interviews amongst the ladders and hoses, demanding stricter fire codes to make future fires impossible.

FORBES: It's Time For The Republicans To Play Budgetary Small Ball

Studio Roc offers up its robots, computer controlled milling machines that can do the same amount of work in a matter of hours.

ENGADGET: Robotic sculptor

The company said sales in its commercial foods segment were up by 16%, as higher flour milling prices boosted revenue.

FORBES: General Mills, ConAgra Fighting Food Inflation

In the wheat market, Nissin Flour Milling, the industry leader, has been buying up smaller firms and is taking an axe to its cost base before import controls are dismantled.

ECONOMIST: Japan��s food industry

High precision "dual use" items such as milling machines, electron beam welders, and high strength aluminum all turned up missing.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: El-Baradei's nuclear policy

That fuel economy comes from sophisticated electronic fuel and spark controls, and computerized automatic transmissions teamed up with a very sophisticated engine that was designed using computer-automated design, machined using CNC milling, and assembled by robots.

FORBES: New Cars: Semiconductors and an Engine