oldfolkdancer

Robert Reich: What Industrial Policy Should Be

People are not going to give up their cars. I depended on buses as a teenager, subways as an adult. I learned how to drive at age 36 and it is my preferred mode of transport. I'd rather drive for 2 days on Interstate 80 than depend on airline travel to get me from the east coast to America's Heartland.

Oil Refiners Grab a Stake in the Ethanol Business

The irony of ethanol enhanced gasoline is that a vehicle get less MPG using it.

Wall Street Breakfast: Must-Know News

All the cars on Planet Earth together cause the most pollution. Once someone has a car, they don't want to be without one. For that reason, the environmentalist keep fighting to have cars as non-polluting as possible.


On May 19 09:59 AM bobbobwhite wrote:

> Re auto pollution standards: All the concern is with cars. What about
> unregulated pollution from other sources that is never calculated
> into the auto figures or as a defined, specified contributor to overall
> CO2 pollution? These are construction machines, mining machines,
> buses, all sizes of cargo trucks, NASCAR, drag racers, sprint racers,
> all modified competition vehicles such as demolition derby participants
> and monster trucks, motorcycles, lawn mowers, gas trimmers and blowers,
> ATV's, outboard and inboard boat engines, gas generators, gas compressors,
> and much more. Everywhere you look there are many of these working
> every day, obviously adding greatly to the problem but never directly
> included in gov't studies.
>
> I have never read anything anywhere where the effects of the above
> machines were calculated into the overall air pollution figures.
> I truly would like to know the amount of CO2 they produce and add
> to the problem in comparison to that produced only by cars.

Is VALE Now an Oil Company?

Vale competitor BHP is in oil. I don't see what the problem is. It's not like they are in the consortium alone. They have very experienced partners in this venture. Vale is probably providing cash in return for a certain amount of oil which they need for the core business of mining and refining. Seems like a wise move.

The Perfect Storm: Three Forces to Undo the Recovery

The present administration is changing existing rules to suit itself. I'm surprised it hasn't said "we have to be flexible" or "extraordinary times demand extraordinary methods" or "our desired end DOES justify our means" More and more our situation reminds me of George Orwell's "Animal Farm"

Valero Energy Q1 2009 Earnings Call Transcript

Valero transcript shows management working hard for shareholders. Studying existing and proposed government regulations and modifying business operations accordingly.
An important quote: "You are not going to hear from Valero that the golden age of refining is around the corner again. We're down to the business as we as a management team know it and that is to slug it out. And that's what we are doing, but we will provide a good opportunity, things happen, we'll have some better years, and we'll have sone years that aren't quite as good.
......................... [gasoline]does give you an opportunity to get around. So, our business adds value [and] as long as we add value we're part of the society here. " Bill Kesse

Geithner Was the Right Choice, But He Should Go

In this BIG COUNTRY couldn't someone other than Timmy Tax Cheat been found to handle this critical post? He is such a blotch in this Administration. I guess this is another example of people preferring to deal with a KNOWN quantity despite his imperfections rather than taking a chance on a lesser known or an unknown.

Americans Name Their Necessities

This list corresponds to mine somewhat. I would add a toaster oven, which I use more and more as the years go by. The drop in value for the microwave is puzzling. That is another device I've become more dependent on.

Brazilian Optimism: Proceed with Caution

A Canadian woman of Chinese descent who works for a Brazilian firm told me the relationship between Brazil and China is excellent. If this is true Brazil will continue to benefit from China's need for natural resources.

Americans Blame Ad Agencies, Media for Current Crisis

And when she was questioned as to why she told Adam to eat from the tree of knowledge, Eve said the serpent made her do it. So Adam and Eve were thrown out of Paradise and the serpent was condemned to crawling on his belly for the rest of his life. But he still manages to get people into trouble doesn't he? :)

Industrial Metals Are Bouncing

ValeInco is closing Sudbury Ontario nickel mines for two months this summer. No sense mining nickel that can't be sold.

A Few Thoughts on the Paying of Taxes

Taxing the rich never brings in enough revenue. The working stiffs in the middle get hit by the taxes on utilities, sales taxes, higher prices on goods to offset taxes on corporations as well as payroll taxes. It wouldn't be so bad if there was good value received but there isn't.

Thoughts on Active Trading vs. Buy and Hold

You have to find an investment program you are comfortable with. Buy and hold. Trade Trade Trade. Annuity. Mutual funds. Or ..... buy clothes, jewelry, BMW's, cruises, enjoy them and die broke :)

U.S. Oil Consumption: Not Quite So Bad

We in the US will be using less oil but we will be paying more for what we do use because of the greater cost in extracting, refining, transporting. Also there will be more and more customers for oil elsewhere.

Upside in Emerging Markets: Brazil is Bouncing

Brazil and the Brazilians remind me of the USA in the 1950's.