Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
On the idea of Axion selling PbC's to a retail audience...
I use AGM batteries all the time in my art business (outdoor festivals often don't offer electricity, and the better ones also ban generators). The "portable power" units currently sold share the usual drawbacks, dreadfully slow recharge times and a short service life for the way we customers use them. A typical day in the field means that I will exhaust even the larger available units down to a very low state of charge, and they will need all night to recapture a useable charge (at which point we will once again run them to death). As we have seen with the SS numbers, using batteries (other than the PbC) like this is a formula for high costs, poor service, and short battery lifespans.
These things are also quite heavy, and the weight advantage for the PbC appeals to tired old artists having to schlep them over hill and dale every weekend.
These portable power units (Sears makes truckloads of them under their DieHard brand, and Black and Decker sells them in all sizes) represent a potential retail market, but probably the mass market would be accessible only after the technology is thoroughly commercialized and the economies of scale realized.
BUT small businessmen like myself who simply need a battery that can quickly recharge and last for a long life under the abuse of deep discharges might be a good market that scales well to an Axion-sized company.
rbf: Unless something has radically changed, durable goods (which would include things like cars, trucks, houses, etc.) would be taxed at sale when new, but not thereafter. The obvious impact on the sale of new items would doubtless do much to lift the value of "used" items... One positive aspect which might flow from this change would be the strong likelihood that durable goods would become more "durable", since the purchaser would insist on a long life in order to get the full benefit of the purchase. We can hope that this would tend to mitigate some of the worst abuses of a disposable culture.
I believe that treatment for "land" could be an interesting study. For instance, I suspect that some more clever pols will, at some point after introduction of a federal Fair Tax, encounter problems with the local and State versions which will often follow (though of course they are not a requirement). The temptation to treat a change in zoning as somehow creating "new" land which can then be taxed once again will be overwhelming for some areas. Subdividing land parcels... probably the same sort of danger.
Much as I have long supported the concept of a NRST to replace our moronic Federal income tax system, I have also privately believed that it can only succeed if first we toss out the Demican/Republicrat duo from power. The FairTax proposal has strong Libertarian props (though it contains elements taken from the Leftward end of the political spectrum as well), and would probably be most trustworthy if installed in tandem with a new Libertarian administration.
LOL, and given the astronomical odds that will every happen, it truly is a desultory conversation on a level with things like the weather and the local college's softball team.
The operative phrase in those quotes is "proposed projects". In this sort of environment, where government makes it clear they are open to funding requests, the projects spring out of every crook and granny...
Before we get alarmed at the prospect of creating NG shortages due to shipping half our supply elsewhere, it might be wise to remember that most of the proposals will die, and many of the few survivors will be merged together or greatly downsized. This is particularly likely since many of them involve novel or experimental technology, and will (if implemented at all) be preceded by a lengthy series of R&D experiments and small pilot plants. Those that are most likely to actually get the nod medium term will be the ones based upon existing, commercialized technology. If doing an analysis of this topic, I would start with the list of proposed projects, (and see if the author can back up his claim that there is another list which is at least as large and known to him as real, but he somehow didn't feel like including that data in his article).
I have invested in NG years ago, but have been out of it over the past few years (essentially since the advent of the new drilling tech and the subsequent drop in pricing). I believe the LNG "threat" is something to track, but not yet present in the scale needed to dramatically alter the NG landscape in the US.
I believe the political dimension (NIMBY movements, predatory tax schemes, and the opening salvos in the usual protection racket interaction between a successful industry and corrupt politicians) is just starting to settle out, and is much more likely to impact production than LNG shipping infrastructure (still largely absent in the US).
Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Then management purposely kept this under a bushel basket while the share price sank during the averaging period leading up to this round of funding? I guess HTL has confirmation for his complaint.
"ALL" goods sold at retail. Everyone knows that this also includes larger capital goods like automobiles, trucks, appliances, etc, not just "short lived goods and immediately consumed services".
Perhaps the confusion comes with the term "retail". For instance, we often refer here to "retail investors". In that case, would the FairTax include a tax on the purchase of stocks, bonds and options on the various exchanges? IMO, the answer would be "yes". Defining what would and would not be a taxable trade (and depending on the definition, wouldn't THAT put a large hole in the HFT quantmonkey garbage scow?) would be one of the all-time wild debates in Congress, though. I would come down for equal treatment for ALL traders, big and small, with trading desks at banks viewed as "retail" every bit as much as the smallest account for individual investors. Would manipulative option actions such as the long time JPM (and friends) silver trades be considered "retail"? I hope so, for if the premise of paper PMs and PM ETFs and ETNs are to be believed, ALL such trades are the same as buying and selling the physical metal (OK, I really DON'T believe that, but one has to smile anyway)...
"Professional" services (doctors, lawyers, indian chiefs) are not exempted from the Fair Tax UNLESS they are rendering those services to a Corporation under rules exempting them from the FairTax.
Indeed, the definition of "retail" is at the heart of the matter. The authors have a very broad concept which will include those things which we would all view as "retail", but will the actual installation be just as corrupt and idiotic as the current income tax methodology? Potentially. As recent political events have amply demonstrated, ANYTHING can happen in an election, and elections definitely have consequences... Similarly, ANYTHING political (and taxes definitely qualify) can be bastardized and create just another roadmap to evil.
I prefer to hold out hope that the original concept can be installed intact, and correctly formulated (preferably starting with the repeal of the 16th Amendment, of course). If the assumption is that venal definitions and the usual trickery enabling the current crony capitalist/socialist system will be superimposed upon the new tax system, then no further discussion is possible. We are without hope and without a future.
Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Yep, looking back, it was discussed several times. Now I wonder when BMW made the requirement official... Perhaps I missed it, but was that date stamp included in the CC? It makes a difference if this is a very new development (say, the day after the funding agreement was reached, which would go toward answering HTL's complaint), or was a known issue being addressed over the last several years (and still unfinished of course).
Stability Of The European Union (19) April 18, 2013 To [View instapost]
The BOJ hit the Chinese tripline...
Now we see whether or not China is content with their haul of Japanese corporate technology plants, or will play for time while they maintain the vacuum. Given the sitrep with REEs and other key minerals, it could go either way... Right now I believe we are near a decision point for China that will see them shift from their long time strategy to draw Western (and Japanese) technology companies into their web - to a new stance to support their new cartels (primarily the large downstream value-added manufacturing stream flowing from their domestic lockup of key raw materials). This could include a reversal of their cheap RMB/yuan policy, as well as other strategic moves (like undercutting the BOJ's strategy).
IF China decides they still need some key tech attracted into their tiger trap economy, we can expect them to fight the BOJ in the opposite direction, pushing the yen's value up to encourage Japanese corporations to relocate factories to China... But I believe this time is past, and they will follow Plan A (above).
Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Axion Power Concentrator 238: May 21: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
I use AGM batteries all the time in my art business (outdoor festivals often don't offer electricity, and the better ones also ban generators). The "portable power" units currently sold share the usual drawbacks, dreadfully slow recharge times and a short service life for the way we customers use them. A typical day in the field means that I will exhaust even the larger available units down to a very low state of charge, and they will need all night to recapture a useable charge (at which point we will once again run them to death). As we have seen with the SS numbers, using batteries (other than the PbC) like this is a formula for high costs, poor service, and short battery lifespans.
These things are also quite heavy, and the weight advantage for the PbC appeals to tired old artists having to schlep them over hill and dale every weekend.
These portable power units (Sears makes truckloads of them under their DieHard brand, and Black and Decker sells them in all sizes) represent a potential retail market, but probably the mass market would be accessible only after the technology is thoroughly commercialized and the economies of scale realized.
BUT small businessmen like myself who simply need a battery that can quickly recharge and last for a long life under the abuse of deep discharges might be a good market that scales well to an Axion-sized company.
QC #257, May 10, 2013 [View instapost]
I believe that treatment for "land" could be an interesting study. For instance, I suspect that some more clever pols will, at some point after introduction of a federal Fair Tax, encounter problems with the local and State versions which will often follow (though of course they are not a requirement). The temptation to treat a change in zoning as somehow creating "new" land which can then be taxed once again will be overwhelming for some areas. Subdividing land parcels... probably the same sort of danger.
Much as I have long supported the concept of a NRST to replace our moronic Federal income tax system, I have also privately believed that it can only succeed if first we toss out the Demican/Republicrat duo from power. The FairTax proposal has strong Libertarian props (though it contains elements taken from the Leftward end of the political spectrum as well), and would probably be most trustworthy if installed in tandem with a new Libertarian administration.
LOL, and given the astronomical odds that will every happen, it truly is a desultory conversation on a level with things like the weather and the local college's softball team.
QC #257, May 10, 2013 [View instapost]
Before we get alarmed at the prospect of creating NG shortages due to shipping half our supply elsewhere, it might be wise to remember that most of the proposals will die, and many of the few survivors will be merged together or greatly downsized. This is particularly likely since many of them involve novel or experimental technology, and will (if implemented at all) be preceded by a lengthy series of R&D experiments and small pilot plants. Those that are most likely to actually get the nod medium term will be the ones based upon existing, commercialized technology. If doing an analysis of this topic, I would start with the list of proposed projects, (and see if the author can back up his claim that there is another list which is at least as large and known to him as real, but he somehow didn't feel like including that data in his article).
I have invested in NG years ago, but have been out of it over the past few years (essentially since the advent of the new drilling tech and the subsequent drop in pricing). I believe the LNG "threat" is something to track, but not yet present in the scale needed to dramatically alter the NG landscape in the US.
I believe the political dimension (NIMBY movements, predatory tax schemes, and the opening salvos in the usual protection racket interaction between a successful industry and corrupt politicians) is just starting to settle out, and is much more likely to impact production than LNG shipping infrastructure (still largely absent in the US).
Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
QC #257, May 10, 2013 [View instapost]
Perhaps the confusion comes with the term "retail". For instance, we often refer here to "retail investors". In that case, would the FairTax include a tax on the purchase of stocks, bonds and options on the various exchanges? IMO, the answer would be "yes". Defining what would and would not be a taxable trade (and depending on the definition, wouldn't THAT put a large hole in the HFT quantmonkey garbage scow?) would be one of the all-time wild debates in Congress, though. I would come down for equal treatment for ALL traders, big and small, with trading desks at banks viewed as "retail" every bit as much as the smallest account for individual investors. Would manipulative option actions such as the long time JPM (and friends) silver trades be considered "retail"? I hope so, for if the premise of paper PMs and PM ETFs and ETNs are to be believed, ALL such trades are the same as buying and selling the physical metal (OK, I really DON'T believe that, but one has to smile anyway)...
"Professional" services (doctors, lawyers, indian chiefs) are not exempted from the Fair Tax UNLESS they are rendering those services to a Corporation under rules exempting them from the FairTax.
Indeed, the definition of "retail" is at the heart of the matter. The authors have a very broad concept which will include those things which we would all view as "retail", but will the actual installation be just as corrupt and idiotic as the current income tax methodology? Potentially. As recent political events have amply demonstrated, ANYTHING can happen in an election, and elections definitely have consequences... Similarly, ANYTHING political (and taxes definitely qualify) can be bastardized and create just another roadmap to evil.
I prefer to hold out hope that the original concept can be installed intact, and correctly formulated (preferably starting with the repeal of the 16th Amendment, of course). If the assumption is that venal definitions and the usual trickery enabling the current crony capitalist/socialist system will be superimposed upon the new tax system, then no further discussion is possible. We are without hope and without a future.
Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Hey, I RESEMBLE that remark!
Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Axion Power Concentrator 237: May 16: Axion Power Reports First Quarter Results For 2013 [View instapost]
Axion Power Concentrator 236: May 15: Axion Power Releases Quarterly Report For The First Quarter 2013 [View instapost]
Listed "Partners" are now Brant, AmLak and PowerStream.
REE/Strategic Minerals Concentrator, March 29, 2013 [View instapost]
Stability Of The European Union (19) April 18, 2013 To [View instapost]
Now we see whether or not China is content with their haul of Japanese corporate technology plants, or will play for time while they maintain the vacuum. Given the sitrep with REEs and other key minerals, it could go either way... Right now I believe we are near a decision point for China that will see them shift from their long time strategy to draw Western (and Japanese) technology companies into their web - to a new stance to support their new cartels (primarily the large downstream value-added manufacturing stream flowing from their domestic lockup of key raw materials). This could include a reversal of their cheap RMB/yuan policy, as well as other strategic moves (like undercutting the BOJ's strategy).
IF China decides they still need some key tech attracted into their tiger trap economy, we can expect them to fight the BOJ in the opposite direction, pushing the yen's value up to encourage Japanese corporations to relocate factories to China... But I believe this time is past, and they will follow Plan A (above).