Ten Tuesday Afternoon Links
1. The "Van Indicator" Signals Economic Recovery - "How can we tell how small businesses are feeling? Find out how many vans they’re buying (90% of vans are purchased by businesses). Van sales were up 32% in July over last year, a greater increase than every other vehicle type except sports cars."
2. Average sales at U.S. car dealerships are expected to rise to an all-time high of 805 vehicles this year, as the number of U.S. dealers remained flat the first half of 2012. The
average sales are on pace to top the previous record set in 2005.
3. The number of U.S. craft breweries increased this year to the highest count in 125 years. It's the fastest growth rate since Prohibition ended, almost one new brewery every day.
4. Update on NYC's pizza wars in today's WSJ. Cutthroat competition brings prices down to as low as 75 cents per slice. Can't we get a similar pizza war in DC?
5. The oil and gas boom brings scarcity of workers in small towns in Oklahoma, Texas, North Dakota as many businesses and government agencies now struggle to find enough
workers. Reason? Most able-bodied people can double or triple their income in
the oil patch.
6. The Costco in Bellingham, Washington, has become exceedingly popular with
Canadian shoppers to the dismay of locals who are claiming "gridlock" in
the aisles.
7. 419 Economists, including 5 Nobel laureates, Sign Statement in Support of Romney's Economic Plan to Create Jobs and Restore Economic Growth.
8. Report: 46% Of U.S. Bank Account Holders Will Use Mobile Banking By 2017.
10. Shale Gas to the Climate Rescue: Development of global shale gas could be the best way to achieve cuts in CO2 emissions.
45 Comments:
"Van indicator?" Interesting...
So Mark is an Economist for Romney...
"So Mark is an Economist for Romney..."
Nah, I didn't see anything U of M on that list. I Don't think they would allow that of their staff.
"419 Economists sign statement in Support of Romney's Economic Plan"
________________
I have no doubt that Obama could find four hundred and TWENTY economists to support HIS plan.
Myron Scholes, the Nobel laureate, was a principal in the blow up of Long Term Capital Management, which was just the precursor for Lehman. I'll take a pass on his signature.
Romney must just love Ryan. Ryan's budget plan reduces Romney's 2010 effective tax rate to 0.82%.
As they say in NASCAR, "have at it boys".
We are rescuing nothing by reducing CO2. Increasing CO2 is actually beneficial in a number of ways.. namely agriculture production.
I will be thrilled when this AGW scam is finally sent off to the ash heap of history.
"Ryan's budget plan reduces Romney's 2010 effective tax rate to 0.82%."
Good, Obama would just piss Romney's cap gains away on his freeloader constituents. Mitt would either invest it wisely, or give it to charity.
"I have no doubt that Obama could find four hundred and TWENTY economists to support HIS plan."
Yeah, but Romney's economists demonstrate how Obama routinely lies through his teeth when he claims "every economist" agrees with whatever swindle he's blustering about at the time.
Hmmm, what is the Obama economic plan? Can't seem to find one.
Myron Scholes, the Nobel laureate, was a principal in the blow up of Long Term Capital Management, which was just the precursor for Lehman.
The only thing this sentence tells us is that Marmico doesn't know what happened at LTCM, has no idea what happened at Lehman and is in no way deterred from proudly displaying his ignorance at every opportunity.
Hmmm, what is the Obama economic plan? Can't seem to find one.
He's borrowing his from Castro, Lenin and Hollande.
Speaking of which, the compassionate Socialists in France are doing a little ethnic cleansing by kicking out Gypsies.
Yeah, Romney will put it to good use - that Cayman Islands account ain't half full, yet.
I do realize facts are often ignored when they are inconvenient, but both Romney's and Obama's tax plans increase the tax burden on the highest income earners. All this hubub about Romney's plan being good only for the high income is spouted by people who have no idea what they are talking about. Lazy analysis.
Can we please move on from this rather than perpetuate a falsity?
There are almost as many craft breweries as there are counties. Expect a shakeout.
The problem with extreme positions is that a single contrary example blows the theory.
What evidence have we that mitts choices for his excess money are better than Obama's choices? Once it becomes tax money, it is no longer Romney's money, so ownership isn't the issue. The issue is how do we decIde what is ultimately a better use for what we apparently agree is excess money.
Co2 won't help agricultural production that is stunted by excess heat and lack of water.
"Hmmm, what is the Obama economic plan? Can't seem to find one"...
Well hanke I think its called, "Blame Bush"...
rufus whines: "Yeah, Romney will put it to good use - that Cayman Islands account ain't half full, yet"...
Ooh! Ooh! Is that really you Peggy Joseph?
There are almost as many craft breweries as there are counties. Expect a shakeout.
Not necessarily. the majority of these guys are microbrews. they serve a very small niche market (in some cases, only one bar sells the stuff).
"What evidence have we that mitts choices for his excess money are better than Obama's choices? Once it becomes tax money, it is no longer Romney's money, so ownership isn't the issue. The issue is how do we decIde what is ultimately a better use for what we apparently agree is excess money."
Yep, once your money is stolen from you it belongs to the thief.
"Co2 won't help agricultural production that is stunted by excess heat and lack of water."
Annd do you think there is likely to be a problem with excess heat and lack of water?
Actually higher levels of CO2 appear to help plants cope with higher temps and lower levels of moisture, among other benefits.
I would think you would know that, being a farmer and all.
It's kind of technical, but the referenced article explains it pretty well.
"Yeah, Romney will put it to good use - that Cayman Islands account ain't half full, yet."
What exactly is your problem with Romney's Cayman Islands account?
Umm, maybe because he wants to new president but cannot find anything worthwhile to invest in here?
Nonsense. Even if it helps there is the matter of degree. The rate of the competing effects is important. This years pumpkin contests are running half the size of previous years. Inspire of share and plenty of irrigation chest stunted the growth. Dame with irrigated soybeans: the plants look ok but the beans are half normal size.
Besides which, you cannot very will claim that co2 is not a problem, has no effect on warming, and the say it helps in other areas.
No, the issue is how his excess money is spent. The fact that it is excess is a given, since he would give it away in any case.
If the issue is how it should be best spent then the issue of by whom is moot.
In that case, don't expect big Money too be made.
I know of one brewery that would like to expand but cannot get a bank loan. Too much competition.
If you meant to put your money where your mouth is, I will get you an address.
Don't think the lavender is to carry passengers. But if we need to bomb London in an hour, then it might be useful someday.
It is not an ROI I would expect private enterprise to invest in.
"This years pumpkin contests are running half the size of previous years. Inspire of share and plenty of irrigation chest stunted the growth. Dame with irrigated soybeans: the plants look ok but the beans are half normal size."
Not sure what this anecdote is meant to convey because of the many inapplicable words you have used. Is it a response to a comment of mine?
"Besides which, you cannot very will claim that co2 is not a problem, has no effect on warming, and the say it helps in other areas."
I didn't say that, but I could have. It's pretty well known that higher CO2 levels are beneficial to plants. Read the reference I gave you. Why do you suppose some greenhouses are operated with CO2 levels as high as 1000ppm?
There is no argument that CO2 is a so called greenhouse gas, but it seems pretty certain that it isn't an important influence on global temperatures. In fact you could as easily conclude that rising temperatures cause an increase in atmospheric CO2.
Your original statement about CO2 and warm, dry plants was baseless.
I know of one brewery that would like to expand but cannot get a bank loan. Too much competition.
If you meant to put your money where your mouth is, I will get you an address.
Nah, I believe you
"If the issue is how it should be best spent then the issue of by whom is moot."
Let's take your "excess" money and see if you think the issue is moot.
"Umm, maybe because he wants to new president but cannot find anything worthwhile to invest in here?"
Umm, did you missing all the pants-sh*tting over Romney's cap gains returns? It's called diversification.
And Obama is the one who can't find anything worthwhile to invest in here. Difference is he uses our money instead of his own to fund his worthless "investments."
"If the issue is how it should be best spent then the issue of by whom is moot."
Only liberals think "by who" and "how best" are entirely unrelated. But not with their own money, of course.
...both Romney's and Obama's tax plans increase the tax burden on the highest income earners.
Because the way to get wealthier is to rob people and provide every disincentive for creating wealth. At least taxable wealth. In this country.
(Jon, the above is not a shot at you but at the Grand Plans).
HILN:
"I will be thrilled when this AGW scam is finally sent off to the ash heap of history"
It already has been, but not everybody knows it yet.
juandos,
Hey, that was a good one
(Peggy Joseph comment)
7. 419 Economists, including 5 Nobel laureates, Sign Statement in Support of Romney's Economic Plan to Create Jobs and Restore Economic Growth.
Who cares? These are the same idiots who told us that the Iraqi war would not cost too much, that there was no tech bubble, and that house prices could not go down. Most economists do no better than monkeys flipping coins and have no clue about reality or no desire to tell the truth. In either case their support is meaningless.
The fact is that there is still very little difference between Romeny and Obama. Both are in favour of big government, government/business partnerships, war, the reduction of civil liberties, and the reduction of economic liberty for individuals.
10. Shale Gas to the Climate Rescue: Development of global shale gas could be the best way to achieve cuts in CO2 emissions.
Why would we want to cut CO2 emissions? Higher CO2 means higher agricultural productivity and lower food prices.
Sorry guys, the new droid speller is even worse than th last one. I will try to get control of this beast. I actually do know how to spell, even if my disabilities affect my typing.
The point is that any farmer can tell you that excessive heat affects the crops - even if you have row covers, misters, and plenty of irrigation, which many do not have.
I am not saying anything about AGW one way or another. I am just asking how many times we would have to repeat record setting summers ike this one before people start considering that it might be a possibility.
If you had five record setting summers in a row? 20 in a row? What would it take to begin to nudge the AGW naysayers in a little different direction?
. It's pretty well known that higher CO2 levels are beneficial to plants. Read the reference I gave you. Why do you suppose some greenhouses are operated with CO2 levels as high as 1000ppm?
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They try not to operate tham at 110F though. They use big fans, misters and shade material to keep them reasonably cool.
Not to mention the fact that people have to work in there.
Plants take in CO2, true enough, but they do it a lot more slowly at high temepreatures, because the whole plant is under stress. You have to look at the whole system, not just one part. the rate of uptake is important. Plants do frow faster in elevated CO2 environments, but that isn;t the whole story.
Plants convert carbon dioxide into sugars using a protein called RuBisCO to capture the CO2 from the atmosphere. If carbon dioxide levels increase plants will need to produce less RuBisCO to capture the same amount of carbon dioxide. Less of this protein means a less nutritious meal. And the plant's extra resources can then be diverted in to protecting the plant. Plants do this by converting excess energy into things that are toxic or taste bad.
Your original statement about CO2 and warm, dry plants was baseless.
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I don't think so. Plants under stress from heat and lack of water do poorly. That is an observation anyone can make.
Even if they get some help from increased concentration of CO2 it isn't enough to offset the bad effect of heat and drought. This years crop reports will be coming in soon: we will see how much the invcreased CO2 offset the heat and drought.
It seems incositent to claim that CO2 increase (yes it has increased) is insufficient to cause global warming but sufficient to stimulate plant growth.
Either it is inconsequential or it isn't.
You wrote the following:
"Co2 won't help agricultural production that is stunted by excess heat and lack of water."
That is incorrect because a higher level of atmospheric CO2 will help plants cope better with warmer, drier conditions.
It may be pointless to discuss this with someone who won't read the reference provided because they think they already know everything there is to know about plant growth and CO2.
To believe what you have written requires a belief that some cooler temperature during the 20th century is the perfect temperature for most plants. Obviously that can't be true, as current temperatures are cooler than many periods during in the last 10k years, during which plants have adapted to conditions today.
"If you had five record setting summers in a row? 20 in a row? What would it take to begin to nudge the AGW naysayers in a little different direction?"
That's a worn out question that no longer gets any traction. according to NOAA the record just set for July barely eclipsed the previous record set in July in 1936. Was that CO2 causing a hot summer?
Keep in mind that these temperatures for the contiguous US only, which covers 2% of the Earth's surface. Was it hot everywhere else in the world? Any places cooler than normal? Of course you and other AGW alarmists ignore all that in your desperate, lame attempts to keep the charade going.
The sad part for you is that you likely stand to gain nothing from continuing the fraud.
Of course the claim of hottest July relies on a temperature sensor network that has error bars higher than the supposed temperature trend measured.
An interesting article at WUWT shows that using only data from the new US Climate Reference Network installed by NOAA between 2002 and 2008 to provide a reference for the disastrous state of temperature stations we have relied on until now, indicate that the average July temperature was only 75.5 deg F. - a full 2 degrees cooler than the published claim of 77.6
Try to stick with it if you can, it's a good article.
Perhaps those who claim that most warming in the 20th century was caused by adjustments to the data are correct after all.
Finally, it isn't inconsistent to claim that CO2 isn't a major driver of temperature and that feedbacks are negative, and at the same time claim that higher CO2 levels are good for plants. The 2 effects are not related.
"Plants convert carbon dioxide into sugars using a protein called RuBisCO to capture the CO2 from the atmosphere. If carbon dioxide levels increase plants will need to produce less RuBisCO to capture the same amount of carbon dioxide. Less of this protein means a less nutritious meal. And the plant's extra resources can then be diverted in to protecting the plant. Plants do this by converting excess energy into things that are toxic or taste bad."
Yeah, yeah. If you look at the pictures in the reference I gave you, you will notice that at relatively small increases of CO2 plants grow remarkably larger. What do you suppose the plant is making that extra self from?
Compared to other times in a very long view of history, atmospheric CO2 levels now are lower than at any time since the Carboniferous period 300million years ago.
Don't let that CO2 business scare you. It's all bullshit.
They try not to operate tham at 110F though. They use big fans, misters and shade material to keep them reasonably cool.
Not to mention the fact that people have to work in there.
Ever been to a tropical jungle? I can assure you that it gets very hot there. The plants don't seem to be bothered by the temperatures. And given the fact that we have seen a cooling trend for the past decade and no statistically valid warming in the 'adjusted' data in the past decade I do not detect any actual empirical evidence of 'troublesome' warming. In fact, the only material warming that I see comes from the 'adjustments' made to the actual measured temperatures. Since those only take place inside computers they can only effect the 'models' that work inside those computers, not the real world where we live.
I don't think so. Plants under stress from heat and lack of water do poorly. That is an observation anyone can make.
Actually, you have missed what the experiments have shown. Plants handle dry conditions better if CO2 concentrations are higher, which is why many of the deserts are receding after decades of expansion.
>>> 4. Update on NYC's pizza wars in today's WSJ. Cutthroat competition brings prices down to as low as 75 cents per slice. Can't we get a similar pizza war in DC?
Clearly, it's time to require pizza making badges in NYC.
How much for a city-issued "pizza medallion"?
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