(And clearly I have no idea what day it is)
Last week, Litre teed up a question to me, which is exactly how I predicted these alternating Thursdays would go, and they absolutely haven’t.
“As you know I live in the political equivalent to Florida. It was floated about this week that the provincial government may tax EVs because they hurt the economy or some shit. The link is to one of the whackadoodle RW rags in this province. Whaddaya think of that BfC????”
I have thoughts. First of all, fuck Florida and it’s false flag fathead of a governor, Rhonda Santis.
Secondly, the logic around EV taxes is based on the fact that errybody (north and south of the border) uses gasoline taxes to fund highway projects. So the argument is “well EVs use the highways, they should pay their fair share rabble rabble.”
Heres where that argument falls apart —
1) Honestly, it’s a dumb way to fund transportation projects. The highway trust fund shouldn’t fluctuate based on vehicle miles traveled. And it’s typically regressive.
2) Virtually every state has an EV “registration fee” and you’ll be SHOCKED to hear that red states have tended to set very high EV registration fees, and there’s a new wave of state legislatures adding taxes per kWh dispensed. It’s not about making EVs pay, it’s an explicit attempt to discourage EV purchases/leases by adding to the upfront cost of a vehicle whose main financial benefits come in lifetime total cost of ownership savings.
3) And if we’re talking rationality (not a thing anymore), then internalizing the externality of tailpipe emissions and quantifying the other benefits of EVs….then they should be incented rather than taxed. Oh, and the only way they “hurt” the economy is if the only part of the economy you care about is oil production. It’s especially dumb when gas taxes are being cut at the same time because you’re almost acknowledging point one but then very clearly making it about point two.
Now normally, I’d be linking to articles up the wazoo for you all, but I’m actually roaming around New England this week and if all is going to plan, I’m completely offline today (having prewritten and scheduled a briefer than usual post, you’re welcome). I am sure that I will make up for it with grandiose verbosity in my next open thread post.
In the meantime, thanks for the question, Litre. What non-oenophile professional topic would you want to get into on the site?
What’s on TV tonight?
GWS had a bye week last week, which I found annoying. YMMV. Geelong and Sydney will play in the witching hour (or thereabouts) and then GWS takes on Melbourne late Saturday night in what will be a very challenging match for them.
In North American sports, I guess baseball (check your local listings or watch a movie)? If the NFL hands out its hypocritical response to players gambling between now and when this posts, that should be an entertaining topic. Possibly boxing, golf, and errata, but I’m not digging into that shit.
To the comments!
I know it’s basically morning in NA and this thread is probably dead for the night, but a lot of suthern states in the US are getting into EV manufacture, and are convinced that alternative fuel cars (not necessarily all electric, hydrogen and such as well) are the economic future. They’re far more open to a economic argument than a climate one, which duh, I could have told you that years ago and probably did, so no idea why a large chunk of the left continues to push on an argument that’s never going to fly instead of getting 90% of what they want by changing their language. But I guess they do the same thing on pretty much every issue so I shouldn’t be surprised. Competent people don’t pass ideological purity tests.
Politicians would not need to push incentives or legislation as much if they did the same. Bottom line is everyone wants the same thing, clean efficient and affordable energy and transportation. Some would argue you can only get 2 of those 3 things. That may be true now but it should not be our long view.
The only 2 out of 3 thing I agree with is the fast, cheap, high quality one. Sounds like we agree, and what we’re giving up is ‘fast’ which is okay with me!
Re: the start of today’s post. I don’t have numbers, but I’ve read that gasoline taxes don’t cover the cost of road maintenance anyway.
I think the EV hate is part oil industry driven and partly the notion that all the EV owners are arugula-eating lie-bruls, and anything that puts the stick in a liberal’s spoke is a good thing.
There are signs on the farms out where I live, “No solar power.” It’s fuckin’ Ohio, not Arizona. Besides, I thought we were all about Freedom™. If I want to put solar panels on my back forty and you don’t like it, tough shit.
Guys, Great Falls, isn’t that great.
Wait till you sample the local meth!
The falls leave a lot to be desired. Go to the Sip and Dip!
The not so Great Falls
I could have told you that 25 years ago. At least then there were a bunch of active missile silos.
If any of the dozen or so places called Great Falls were actually that great there wouldn’t be so many of them
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/yellow-is-a-zombie-company-its-time-to-let-it-go/amp
Because, honestly, these are careers that only automation can please both sides.
Just a guess, but I think the author of the article doesn’t care much for unions.
That was ridiculous. When the revolution comes, that mofo needs to be one of the first to go.
Hey, Alec Burleson isn’t much of an OF. Maybe we should see if he can pitch?
Narrator: Alec Burleson could NOT pitch.
hypnotic
I think if I saw that in real life my brain would just short out.
Something would definitely come out.
Nobody would know. It’s like a mushroom growing in a cornfield.
THIS GUY U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR IRAN ROBERT MALLEY I CALL HIM XI JINPING BECAUSE HE IS TOO EASILY DISTRACTED BY HONEYPOTS.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-special-envoy-iran-rob-malley-is-on-leave-state-dept-2023-06-29/
This is what happens.
Did you say distracted by honey pots?
I’m browsing through Steam’s summer sale. Anybody got any game recommendations? I’m eyeing up Old World — Civ has gotten stale for me, and I couldn’t get in to Humankind, so I’ve been looking for a turn-based 4X type game.
Does it have additional downloadable content?
.
The greatest game ever, no one denies this!!! We were interacting with our tv’s it was The Future!
I started Hearts of Iron IV. It’s like Civ, but boiled down into 1939-1960.
Also Ready or Not is fun as a tactical shooter. Still in early access though.
I played one of the earlier Hearts of Iron games — I forget which one. It’s a little too granular and detailed for my taste. I don’t really want to have to decide which Lt. Col. to assign to each minor theatre of war!
Thats what’s turning me off of it right now to be honest. It’s fun but crazy in depth. I feel like I waste too much time trying to figure it out and not actually playing.
I’ve been kind of sucking with my video game picks lately.
Age of Empires IV kind of sucked. I’d go to build a village, and think I had a handle on it. Them a giant blob of bad guys would show up and it was gg.
Warhammer 40K: Gladius was a kind of bush-league Civ, but buying it was no big deal because it was $4. It was okay.
Cities: Skylines had a try before you buy weekend a few weeks ago. I downloaded it, and it showed me how to build a road. At that point I was bored already and shut it off.
Stuff I have in my library that isn’t too terrible in the 4X genre. Good news and bad news is that none of this stuff is all that new, so you can probably get it for cheap.
Stellaris – it’s a Paradox game…in Space!.
Endless Space 2 – a less-complicated take on Stellaris.
Total War: Shogun 2 – build your empire in feudal Japan. The problem you might have with it is that you have to be your own general in the battles that are going to happen, unless you don’t care about casualties and victories. And big battles can take 30 minutes or so. If tactical-ish combat is your thing, I think it’s better than a lot of the other Total War games.
ETA: Forgot about Railway Empires. It’s trains. But I like trains, so I got my money’s worth out of it.
Stellaris did nothing for me. Endless Space seemed a little better, but it was a little too unintuitive — I think the space setting messes me up because I have no idea what I’m supposed to value.
I forget what the in-game terminology was in Stellaris, but at a certain point in the game where you’re doing okay and have a ton of systems the game gets pissed off at you and drops some nasty event on the galaxy. Elder races get pissed at you for some reason or no reason, Space Mongols, fleet of planet eaters, whatever. If you can survive that, you ‘win’?
Another suggestion – join en.boardgamearena.com and come kick my ass at Ark Nova. Everybody else is.
Oh dear, Waino. Oh dear indeed.
Shoulda joined Yadier.
Poor Waino is BY FAR the nicest guy of the “Big Three” so of course he gets the shittiest ending.
“Shittiest ending” is what Bob Kraft gets when his credit card is declined.
I thought it was when Bob Kraft goes to a German massage parlor.
Rabble Rabble? Well, Robble Robble to you!
Ruh-roh, looks like the Hamburglar is outnumbered!
Jesus, there really is a Simpson’s gif for every occasion. And it’s amazing that you guys remember all of them. Figure out a way to monetize that, you’ll be zillionaires in no time. Just don’t turn into asshole zillionaires, we will mock you mercilessly.
I better see some likes here. This shit doesn’t make itself.
https://vimeo.com/840693051?share=copy
This is how music videos are made, kids.
“Shop” “Relax”
I feel like I just put on those glasses from They Live.
YES!
The one guy keeping up with the cart was kinda impressive.
I wanted to kick him. He was in the way!
Those airport golf cart drivers are maniacs.
This is one of six rides I made during my five hour layover in MPL. I had a pretty good time, but then I always do.
Wow. What a gifted driver!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2eUopy9sd8
…or in this case, Deja Lu.
Here’s a reference none of yinz will get.
I completely get it. Hot Tub Time Machine!!
Also, NEEDS MOAR SMILEY FACE NIPPLE!
Time traveling post has finally arrived!
BfC next week I will be talking about my trip to Montana and North Dakota under the heading, why the fuck would you live in Jordan, MT?
I would you like to give me your bourbon distillery power rankings if money was an object so nothing like Uncle Sniffleballs Old Yella #2.
Scotchy’s Sens are about to trade away their best player for the
thirdfourthfifth time tonight during the NHL draft and it dont even get a mention?We don’t advocate self-harm.
That’s why every year we release a public service announcement discouraging Jets fans from watching the draft.
Just the season in general, really.
We don’t have one these ‘best players’ you mentioned. So there.