A disgusting vat of filth that no self-respecting intelligent person would wade into.

[Cletus Miller]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
But that doesn't change the fundamental problem--it takes more energy to turn the corn into ethanol than the resulting product contains. You're taking 100000 BTUs of energy (electricity, coal, whatever) to generate only 80000 BTUs of ethanol.

Unless those plants are inefficiently using energy, then the economies of scale or increased demand are irrelevant.

Yes, my understanding is that the plants themselves are not tremendously expensive compared to the energy and corn used to produce the ethanol. So, the fixed costs are not as large a portion of the costs of operation as one might think.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Well, no fear, New englanders. Even if global warming harms the syrup harvest, there won't be as many waffles to pour it on.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Cletus Miller
Yes, my understanding is that the plants themselves are not tremendously expensive compared to the energy and corn used to produce the ethanol. So, the fixed costs are not as large a portion of the costs of operation as one might think.

There was a thing on NPR a few days ago about a major tortilla price increase due to a corn shortage. Growing demand for yellow corn for ethanol in the US was cited as one reason for the increase in Mexican white corn price increases.

Coupled with last year's tomato shortage, I'd worry a little more (than usual) about an uprising in Mexico.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Well, no fear, New englanders. Even if global warming harms the syrup harvest, there won't be as many waffles to pour it on.

You didn't see that Romney is running?

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by taxwonk
This is just one of many reasons I voted against Blagojevich. The man is an idiot. His cronies are idiots. The only bigger idiots are the ones the Republicans keep throwing up for office. God, I wish Jim Edgar would run again.

Why not sell the lottery? It's regulated and will provide tax dollars and a windfall from the original "lease/sale." I imagine it costs much more to administer thru the state due to the cost of govt employees and people winning. Why not give it to a 3d party, such taxes off it and let that company pay the costs of adminstering the thing?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
Why not sell the lottery? It's regulated and will provide tax dollars and a windfall from the original "lease/sale." I imagine it costs much more to administer thru the state due to the cost of govt employees and people winning. Why not give it to a 3d party, such taxes off it and let that company pay the costs of adminstering the thing?

(1) If you sell it and later decide that it's bad public policy, can you still kill it?

(2) Politicians are not to be trusted with large one-time sums, so if you're going to sell it, better to do so for an ongoing cut instead of a one-time sum.

Odd to me that Burger is stressing the first over the second.

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
(A) Why do you enjoy this so much?

(B) Why do you seem to go in cycles of quietude followed by comparatively loony posting? I'm not trying to lure you into anything outable, but manic depression can be treated nowadays.

S_A_M

a. If you saw a building burning would you call 911 or just keep walking?

2. Cite please?

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by sgtclub
According to David Freedman, who is representing Nifong in the ethics hearing, the Durham district attorney stepped down from the case in early January because the pending ethics charges created a conflict of interest.

The amended charges could lead to Nifong's removal from the State Bar.

Yep. His early comments, while stupid and unethical, I think reflected the response of someone new to the prosecutorial role and responding poorly to the pressure of publicity.

Witholding the DNA evidence, and his later statements about the completeness of his Brady disclosure, was absolutely inexcusable. It would be a sanctionable discovery violation in a civil case, and prosecutors must be held to an even higher standard. And he was the CHIEF prosecutor, for God's sake.

S_A_M

[Adder]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
(1) If you sell it and later decide that it's bad public policy, can you still kill it?

(2) Politicians are not to be trusted with large one-time sums, so if you're going to sell it, better to do so for an ongoing cut instead of a one-time sum.

Odd to me that Burger is stressing the first over the second.

As to 1, probably not. That is part of what you are selling. But I think you are kidding yourself if you think it is likely that any state is going to kill its lottery in the next 75 years. It is the one tax that people actually like (not that they should).

As to 2, you are probably right that politicians aren't to be trusted with money. Unfortunately, they are the ones making the decision.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
But that doesn't change the fundamental problem--it takes more energy to turn the corn into ethanol than the resulting product contains. You're taking 100000 BTUs of energy (electricity, coal, whatever) to generate only 80000 BTUs of ethanol.

Unless those plants are inefficiently using energy, then the economies of scale or increased demand are irrelevant.

Wait, ethanol is about energy?

I thought it was just a pure cash for votes scheme in Iowa. Votes to the highest bidder. Game gets played twice during the primaries with the final collection in the general election.

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Cletus Miller
Are you implying that a government agency in Illinois can participate in a $10 billion transaction (of even a $10,000 one) without it involving a crime or, at least, a subversion of the public interest for private gain? Do you actually know anything about Illinois?

That should be their goal, but in Illinois the goal is as much graft corruption and personal monetary gain to the politicians and Daley family and their posse as possible.

Yes, I know Cook County is rotten with corruptuon, from judges who still (or did to the last of my knowledge) sit on the bench who sold verdicts and were not busted in Greylord to daily Daley graft, to institutionalised mob involvement and profiteering from government projects, to rampant racism and abuse of authority by the cops. I also know that generally the Demo-heavy populace of that County accepts and even celebrates this as the way Chicago does business and to me, that is fucked up in America in 2007. The poor people of the inner city of Chicago have my blessing to take up arms and run up on dem crackas in da Daley Center.

[outable]Also, I am a member of the IL bar. [/ouytable]

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
a. If you saw a building burning would you call 911 or just keep walking?

2. Cite please?

(a) I would call 911. I would not stick my head into a nearby bar and babble incoherently.

(b) See Account, Penske, Collected Posts 1999-2006 (Regnery Press 2006).

S_A_M

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
(1) If you sell it and later decide that it's bad public policy, can you still kill it?

(2) Politicians are not to be trusted with large one-time sums, so if you're going to sell it, better to do so for an ongoing cut instead of a one-time sum.

Odd to me that Burger is stressing the first over the second.

2 is implicit. If I trusted the politicians with the money, then I would trust they would keep the nut around to buy out the franchise if necessary, or pay the court-ordered takings damages.

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Penske self-medicates with boxed wine. When he runs out, you get the comparatively loony posting.

You know the DMS V is coming out in 2011. Bookmark that.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
(1) If you sell it and later decide that it's bad public policy, can you still kill it?

(2) Politicians are not to be trusted with large one-time sums, so if you're going to sell it, better to do so for an ongoing cut instead of a one-time sum.

Odd to me that Burger is stressing the first over the second.

2) is the bitch that the oil companies have over the threat of the rescending of subsidies granted by Congress for drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.