72 Comments:
Maybe now something will get done about government forms that are almost indecipherable.
I'm not holding my breath.
For our righty tighty readers: Priusgate, the True North edition.
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 9:49 AM on May 9
That thing is awesome.
I want that plug-in hybrid!!!!
Someone sell this please!!
I thought Rybek biked to work? Whatever happened to that.
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 9:51 AM on May 9
Also, a proper Plug-in Hybrid like Ryback's would be the way to go for environmentally friendly cars.
Not the catastrophe that is corn ethanol that Bob promotes.
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 9:57 AM on May 9
I posted this, too. While watching the video on last nights' news, my jaw was on the ground when, after being asked if he knew he was driving on a suspended license, he said "I dont know, let me think about that for a second." If this had been an SNL skit, I would've thought it was detached from reality. How horrifying (and FUN-NAY) to know this is, like, for real, dude.
This isn't even a liberal-conservative thang. This is an incredibly stupid politician who can't think on his feet.
I don't think he does it everyday.
Still, as lulz as he can be sometimes, at least Rybak is no Daley.
»» Submitted by wayno at 9:57 AM on May 9
(does it everyday -> bikes to work)
»» Submitted by wayno at 9:57 AM on May 9
wow what a bright mayor. I am glad he makes policy decisions. No wonder they can't balance their budget.
»» Submitted by swandog at 10:08 AM on May 9
Not the catastrophe that is corn ethanol that Bob promotes.
I was doing my promoting down in Norwalk, Iowa this week, vlad. The catastrophic results, via the Des Moines Register.
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 10:10 AM on May 9
bob, that was 4 hour promotional stunt. the jig is up on ethanol.
FWIW, my license was suspended a couple years ago for the exact same reason as RT. i think they're being shady on purpose to collect the extra fees.
»» Submitted by cubbie at 10:16 AM on May 9
How does one "underpay" a ticket? Don't you have to call the number on the ticket, they tell you how much the ticket is, and you send in the money?
»» Submitted by »»» joyride at 10:20 AM on May 9
To answer that question, we would need to see a copy of an Olmsted County speeding ticket, to see if the fine was clear or not.
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 10:24 AM on May 9
If you call to find out how much you owe, but you pay it after the "due" date, they tack on all of these late fees. And if you don't pay the fees, then they suspend your license.
Not that it's ever happened to me.
»» Submitted by CatNotASpeeder...AllOfTheTime at 10:25 AM on May 9
It's actually pretty easy to drive with a suspended liscense and not know it. 2 of my friends did and weren't aware until they were pulled over for speeding or updating thier address. One gal had it suspended initially for having a diabetic reaction that caused an accident, then the doctor screwed up her paperwork and she wasn't notified of that fact by the DMV.
bob, that was 4 hour promotional stunt. (yes, and a pretty effective one, too) the jig is up on ethanol (the ethanol jig, aka The Moonshine Dance).
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 10:30 AM on May 9
yes, let's make sure we can keep fucking driving, nevermind the people fighting over staple foods now in short supply because we just have to have our moonshine fuel. they can starve to death to make sure we can keep our unsustainable lifestyle going.
USA!
USA!
USA!
»» Submitted by just sayihn' at 10:33 AM on May 9
Bob, how much does ADM pay you, anyway?
»» Submitted by wayno at 10:33 AM on May 9
It's actually pretty easy to drive with a suspended liscense and not know it. 2 of my friends did and weren't aware until they were pulled over for speeding or updating thier address.
Rybak's proper response should've been: "Yeah, I probably have been driving with a suspended license but that won't happen again."
Instead, he says "I dont know, let me think about that for a second." The Fox 9 video is brutal.
Huh?
That event was just blocks from my brother's house! I have a couple of family members who live there. Yay Norwalk!
That huh isn't directed at you, Nood.
I'm not totally clear on what happened here:
Rybak said he learned of the suspension from a staff member at the Minneapolis Police Department. That staff member had discovered the suspension and informed Rybak about 4:30 p.m. He said he was between budget meetings and put it aside until he was confronted by a local news crew in the parking lot outside City Hall. He then left his car on the street and rode the bus home.
So apparently one person in the MPD told the Mayor and another called KMSP, who staked out his car in the parking lot?
»» Submitted by mike s at 10:37 AM on May 9
Minnesota law requires that the state send a letter notifying the driver his license has been suspended. State officials, however, couldn't determine late Thursday night whether a letter was sent to Rybak.
It wouldn't surprise me one bit if that letter was never sent.
I drove on a suspended license for almost a year without knowing it. Mailed a ticket to the MI dmv for an expired tabs ticket, didn't know there was an additional fine because my license was still from MN and never got a notice. When I found out I immediately mailed a check and confirmed that was all I needed to do. Imagine my surprise 3 months later when I got pulled over and escorted to the back of a squad car for 30 mins...
»» Submitted by mb@work at 11:28 AM on May 9
I'm glad someone else here knew where Norwalk is, Douglas. It was a big media circus -- every newsie in Greater Des Moines showed up.
Bob, how much does ADM pay you, anyway?
Not nearly what I'm worth, wayne. Honestly, ALAMN doesn't get a dime from Achers Daniel Midland and never has, to best of my knowledge. ADM is big nationally, but they are small potatoes in the overall MN ethanol industry. They own one plant here -- a former farmer owned co-op -- its buyout was very controversal, as I recall.
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 11:30 AM on May 9
I've been driving on suspended disbelief for 2 decades.
»» Submitted by grote at 11:37 AM on May 9
hm.
well you've got some shady bedfellows in the ethonol camp, bob.
and the food shortages breaking out don't really paint it in a good light.
»» Submitted by wayno at 11:41 AM on May 9
It looked to me like you were flying, grote.
»» Submitted by »»» teucer at 11:45 AM on May 9
BTW...I might have an outstanding speeding ticket in Wyoming from 1993. I might have been doing 100 in a 65 MPH zone. Haven't been back since. It's probably punishable by death if they catch me.
»» Submitted by grote at 11:47 AM on May 9
If they catch up with you, just take refuge in the magical land of Narnia until the heat is off.
»» Submitted by »»» teucer at 11:49 AM on May 9
well you've got some shady bedfellows in the ethonol camp, bob.
Yes, I never trusted the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities program.
and the food shortages breaking out don't really paint it in a good light.
The sad thing is, wayne, there is lots of food avaialble around the world. It's just not getting to where it is desperately needed, like here.
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 11:56 AM on May 9
ethanol is only a part of the food shortage problem.
Proud Parent Moment:
Cat is twenty-threeish, get's speeding ticket in Iowa, never paid it. 4 years later comes back to the midwest, get's pulled over in SLP for speeding ticket, gets arrested because Iowa has a warrant issued on her, but doesn't say what it's for. Cops can't imagine what it's for - apparently I don't look like a crackhead scofflaw, but their hands are tied because it's a warrant and Iowa ain't backin' down and the warrant says: "arrest her."
They don't or didn't take females at the SLP jail so they were going to ship me to Hennepin County - No freakin' way. Cops felt sorry for me so they let me go with a "you must take care of this crap by x date".
Called the Iowa county where the speeding ticket was issued and the warrant was issued because I had not paid...
...$36.00 WTF? (and that included late fees)
And that's my Iowa Speeding Ticket Story for Friday, May, 9, 2008
»» Submitted by Cat_ at 12:10 PM on May 9
Yeah, Iowa is totally awesome. Having recently driven through it, I have to marvel at the monoculture fields flowing in pesticide.
I am sure ADM and Cargill (with their plants in Cedar Rapids) were excited to see you promoting ethanol.
The only nice thing I saw was some free range beef and lots of wind-turbines.
Regardless of their behavior, it is surprising for me to see a level-headed man like you Bob, delude himself in this ethanol mess. Perhaps you can elucidate your thought process since it doesn't seem to be too far off from the CEOs of coal and oil companies.
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 12:11 PM on May 9
yes, but ethanol is not helping matters. a lot of places that used to grow rice are switching to crops that can be converted into ethanol because it's a bigger money market. this will just drive the price of food up until it's more profitable to grow it again, but of course poor people in poor countries don't exactly have a lot of spare money in their budget for rising food prices.
»» Submitted by wayno at 1:04 PM on May 9
Wayne, I cut you a lot of slack 'cause I like you, you're young, and you're harmless. However, when you say...
...a lot of places that used to grow rice are switching to crops that can be converted into ethanol because it's a bigger money market.
I just got to call your bluff. Please name ONE place in the United States where corn is being grown in a former rice paddy to make ethanol.
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 1:13 PM on May 9
let me dig up some sources
I've got a meeting in a few but I'll try to post something before the day is out.
and I wasn't talking about the US. it's international food supplies that are running tight.
»» Submitted by wayno at 1:17 PM on May 9
did someone say rice paddy?
»» Submitted by grote at 1:18 PM on May 9
Is it still sweeps?
This kind of ambush is another example of douchebag journalism.
Sure, the Mayor's response in the FOX video is cagey and embarassing. (I've driven on a suspended license without knowing it, too.) I'm way more disgusted with the way they handled the story.
Whenever you see local news running after someone with cameras rolling, it's probably going to be a douchemag journalism story - good enough for the trash bin. If dwindling ad dollars encourages this kind of downward spiral, we're in trouble.
»» Submitted by »»» chuck at 1:30 PM on May 9
and I wasn't talking about the US. it's international food supplies that are running tight
Well, then go complain to the United Nations, not me, wayne.
My work in promoting biofuels is contained to Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. All are producing biofuels, feeding livestock, producing food for direct human consumption and exporting grain to athe rest of the world.
Note also that because of the weak US dollar, other nations can afford to buy more Midwestern grain than ever before.
No one is starving overseas because a farmer in Rochester, MN sold part of his corn crop to a local ethanol plant.
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 1:41 PM on May 9
I just came from City Hall. Tom Lyden was hanging out in front of the building, with a cameraman. I'm assuming it's for this. Sadly, when I came out they were gone. Lyden's the best at tacky shame-on-you chases.
»» Submitted by yepnope at 1:43 PM on May 9
No one is starving overseas because a farmer in Rochester, MN sold part of his corn crop to a local ethanol plant.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm that's right Bob.
»» Submitted by Lies,Lies,Lies at 1:45 PM on May 9
Not sure that Prius could get over 55mph?
At least his socks matched.
Crazy Mayor guy!
»» Submitted by bud jr at 1:48 PM on May 9
I cannot believe they're swiftboating ethanol. So much for farmers being the base of the Republican party...
I get a guilty pleasure watching the ferret-faced Lyden's eyes gleam when he smells blood. As long as he's not coming after me, that is...
Love the shot on his MySpace page.
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 1:50 PM on May 9
So much for farmers being the base of the Republican party...
Tim Walz already figured that out.
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 1:52 PM on May 9
Bob,
Let me get this straight:
You don't believe that growing corn for ethanol affects food prices?
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 2:30 PM on May 9
That's not what I said. I said making ethanol in Minnesota is not starving people overseas.
"Of course, it's impossible to divert nearly one-quarter of the corn crop to fuel without causing prices to rise. Corn is now around $5.50 per bushel, more than double its price in 2005. But this has had a relatively small impact on the broader runup in global food prices. Higher corn costs add 2 cents to a box of corn flakes, or 11 cents to a gallon of milk from corn-fed cows. Corn prices have little to do with the increases in rice and wheat, and only a small connection to soybean price jumps. "Biofuels are a very, very small factor" in rising food costs, says David Morris, vice-president of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a nonprofit group that tries to strengthen communities politically and economically around the world.
Absent corn ethanol, food prices would still be up dramatically because of soaring global demand, fast-rising prices for oil and natural gas used to make fertilizer, and climatic factors such as Australia's drought. It's also worth noting that these high crop prices save taxpayers billions of dollars in reduced subsidies to farmersfar more than is spent to subsidize ethanol.
Source: Business Week
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 2:47 PM on May 9
here's one article, just a start
money shot:
The scale of the change is boggling. The Indian government says it wants to plant 35m acres (140,000 sq km) of biofuel crops, Brazil as much as 300m acres (1.2m sq km). Southern Africa is being touted as the future Middle East of biofuels, with as much as 1bn acres (4m sq km) of land ready to be converted to crops such as Jatropha curcas (physic nut), a tough shrub that can be grown on poor land. Indonesia has said it intends to overtake Malaysia and increase its palm oil production from 16m acres (64,000 sq km) now to 65m acres (260,000 sq km) in 2025.
While this may be marginally better for carbon emissions and energy security, it is proving horrendous for food prices and anyone who stands in the way of a rampant new industry. A year or two ago, almost all the land where maize is now being grown to make ethanol in the US was being farmed for human or animal food. And because America exports most of the world's maize, its price has doubled in 10 months, and wheat has risen about 50%.
»» Submitted by wayno at 2:48 PM on May 9
also
In Mexico, a "tequila crisis" looms, as land now in the agave, the cactus source for the distillateis converted to corn for ethanol. Fully one-quarter of all agave acreage might be shifted into corn during 2007.
The same kind of displacement process is hitting other crops around the globe. For example, Indonesia, and Malaysia are in the throes of a mad, cartel-led rush to supply palm-oil biodiesel to Europe. In recent years, these two countries accounted for 85% of the world's supply of crude palm oila key part of which met the edible oil component of the Asian diet. But now, there is a diversion to biodiesel.
Malaysia has undergone so much deforestation for new palm oil plantations, that the nation is considered to have reached its land area limit for cultivated palm. So much new land in Indonesia is going into oil palms, or other biofuel related crops (sugar cane, jatropha), and so much of that is peatland, that gigantic clouds of smoke are created as the land is cleared and burned in preparation for palm planting.
»» Submitted by wayno at 2:54 PM on May 9
That's not what I said. I said making ethanol in Minnesota is not starving people overseas.
Interesting. To me that sounds similar to:
Driving cars in MN and emitting CO2 is not causing ice caps to melt?
Surely as a state with a lot of farming and ethanol production, we have a role to play in this situation....?
I hope the ethanol subsidies are cut ASAP. That will allow this miraculous fuel to fail on its own, without the help of taxpayers.
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 2:58 PM on May 9
All of this is true, in part, Wayne. Drought, low crop yields, and emerging economies play a huge role in all of this as well.
You mentioned rice earlier. It's not that there is less rice being produced and replaced with other crops, it's that there is a growing asian population who can now afford to buy rice.
»» Submitted by Cat_ at 2:59 PM on May 9
Wayne, I think Bob is trying to save himself by saying he is not responsible for the problems caused by bio-fuels globally.
He only is responsible for the midwest.
I suppose valid, but lame argument.
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 3:01 PM on May 9
What I'd like to know is if we are reaching the era of Malthusian economics?
Seems that expensive food will starve the third world and expensive oil the first.
»» Submitted by »»» vlado4 at 3:03 PM on May 9
it's that there is a growing asian population who can now afford to buy rice.
uh, rice is a staple food in asia. the poorest people subsist on it because it's typically dirt cheap. they're not just now becoming able to buy rice, the poorest are now becoming unable to buy it because of rising prices.
I can't find a source yet, but I read something about china replacing a lot of rice fields with crops that can be used for biofuels. I'm still looking for it.
»» Submitted by wayno at 3:08 PM on May 9
Whoah, whoa, wayne. Are you sure you want to cite a Lyndon LaRouche publication?
»» Submitted by »»» mnblrmkr at 3:10 PM on May 9
I understand bob's take, because he works for a single-issue organization. For clean air, sure, biofuels are a step in the right direction.
It's just the consequences outside of the realm of clean air are bad bad bad.
»» Submitted by wayno at 3:10 PM on May 9
We will solve the promlems of the world another day, wayne. I'll address only that portion that deals with US corn production you put in bold.
First, it's just plain wrong. The US ethanol industry did not spring from the ground in just a "a year or two." It has been growing here for 20 years. Here's a national overview on the corn crop:
"Last year, American farmers grew a record 13.1 billion bushels of corn on 85 million acres. Of that, 22% went to make about 7 billion gallons of ethanol. That still left enough corn to supply the domestic market, increase exports to record levels, and stockpile a 10% surplus."
Again, my source is Business Week, but I have seen these numbers in other reliable sources.
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 3:11 PM on May 9
touche, I didn't look that carefully. But it's still valid.
»» Submitted by wayno at 3:11 PM on May 9
Here'sa good article on the rice situation:
Australia's Drought
»» Submitted by Cat_ at 3:13 PM on May 9
And not to say that we shouldn't be concerned with crop swapping, but to blame it all on ethanol is getting a little away from the real story.
»» Submitted by Cat_ at 3:15 PM on May 9
no it's not all ethanol's fault, but it's aggrivating an already bad situation. food surpluses were already running low, droughts are exacerbating, adn then ethanol is the last kick in the balls.
»» Submitted by wayno at 3:18 PM on May 9
Boobies!
What are you all so surprised? Someone had to change the subject!
Happy Friday, everyone. Brandi, are you stll looking for that after work beer? Wayne, want to join us? Or can I buy you one at the Red Stag?
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 3:20 PM on May 9
That is, if your ethics will let you, wayne. There's ethanol in beer, you know..
;-)
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 3:21 PM on May 9
This is an incredibly complicated issue. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about agricultural markets, and I can't even pretend to understand what's happening. Consider, though, that we live in an international market where factors affecting prices and supplies include:
1) Production issues (e.g., drought)
2) Increasing cost of inputs (e.g., fertilizer, seed)
3) Increasing cost of transport
4) Changes in acreage for different crops from year to year
5) New demand for certain products (e.g., biofuels -- as long as oil is expensive and/or biofuels are subsidized) and increasing consumption of meat overseas (which requires more feed than simply eating vegetables)
6) Institutional investors have poured a lot of $$$ into commodities
7) Electronic trading has increased fluctuations in prices
This doesn't even get into how expensive the supply chains can be -- especially once you factor in the costs of getting $$$ to hedge against changes in commodities prices. I know the price of bread and eggs have been going up, but I'd be very reluctant for point my finger at a single cause.
»» Submitted by »»» mike_s at 3:38 PM on May 9
Well said, mike.
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 3:44 PM on May 9
Which is kinda where I was going, Mike. It took a lot of things to happen almost simultaneously, but one article I read talks about China and India as exploding emerging markets. Those who, one or two years ago, could not have dreamed of affording more, are doing just that.
»» Submitted by Cat_ at 3:46 PM on May 9
wakka wakka, bob. I'd love to, but I've commitments today.
( ;
»» Submitted by wayno at 3:53 PM on May 9
oh and I never blamed ethanol alone.
I'm just saying it's putting a lot of pressure on an already bad situation which will only continue to get worse. We'll have to decide soon if we'd rather drive and let people starve or find another way to attain energy independence and clean air. Considering there are plenty of other options out there, the mad rush to throw money into ethanol (thanks subsidies!) is worrisome and a bit mad to me.
»» Submitted by wayno at 3:56 PM on May 9
Unless you are the person who reads ALL of the details-instructions
and you figured out right away how much your ticket is----
or you have always renewed your license a month in advance-----
or you have never let your license tabs expire (even for one day)---
than you can judge-----
the rest of us who aren't perfect thinks it's a non-story.
(I fall under that category)
I have to go... so I can pay my speeding ticket.....
»» Submitted by Melinda Jacobs at 8:36 AM on May 10
In spite of the mayor-led crime spree in Minneapolis, Mrs. L and I are going to see A Midsummer's Night Dream Sunday at the Big G. Took myself to see "Iron Man" this afternoon. It wasn't bad.
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 7:25 PM on May 10
Hmm. Joe D. has taken some liberties with Old Bill's play. To others who have seen it: Did you enjoy Guthrie's new Midsummer's Night Dream, or did you ask yourself "WHAT THE PUCK?"
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 7:11 PM on May 11
I see in this Washington Post story that Big Oil is tired of being pushed around by the likes of me, and is fighting back with a $100 million PR blitz.
»» Submitted by »»» justpbob at 11:27 AM on May 13
»»» = registered user. click on it to see the user's profile.
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