[Bush2000]

Corporations and other funding agencies issue both targeted and blanket grants to research institutions, if not outright donations for facilities. And, faculty collaborate on projects more often than not, swapping out each other's grad students as needed.

The overwhelming majority of grants are targeted at specific research projects.

( Ever written a grant proposal? )

Yes, I have.

[Knitebane]

Yes, I have.

Well, why am I not surprised.

No wonder you defend Dr. Ford so vehemently. I guess pigs at the trough have to stick up for one another.

[HolgerDansk]

The overwhelming majority of grants are targeted at specific research projects.

Depends on the institution and the donor. In particular, Microsoft has been a big user of block grants, though this seems to be changing.

I think I'm going to punch out here as well, 19 years of Usenet wrangling has made me way too non-dogmatic for this kind of furball...