Search Results for 'what is an associate'

[UtahFanSir]

This is not politics, but here is the latest missive from economist Paul Kasriel: US Economy In 2017…

As I’ve posted before, I think Paul Kasriel is one of the best, if not the best modern day macro economist. I’ve posted his articles here many times. I’ve followed Mr. Kasriel since his Northern Trust days, some 12 years or so. His methods do not change and they took me awhile to understand and appreciate. They are what they are and being able to ferret out what is happening is part, a large part, of his unique skill. So when he says something I think is important, I take stock.

Here he talks again about an issue he raised on December, and I posted that article then. That piece dealt with a concept know as creation of money “out of thin air”. It is done in two ways, commercial bank credit and from the Fed. As Mr. Kasriel says, “If history is any guide, this weakening in bank credit growth excluding C&I loans is cause for concern with regard to the pace of economic activity.” Later he adds, “…a surge in inventories and C&I loans often is associated with a slowdown in the growth of final demand for goods and services. Hence, bank C&I loan growth often tends (sic) to lag growth in final demand for goods and services. That is, the behavior of bank C&I loan growth provides more information as to where the overall economy has been rather than where it is headed.”

For your edification, read the rest.

[UteThunder]

The joke here is the idea that spreading the homeless population around the valley is going to somehow help the homeless.

This plan seems to be nothing more than an effort to reduce crime in downtown SLC by reducing the homeless population residing in downtown SLC. In other words, they want to spread the crime around the valley, which sounds great for SLC, not so great for the rest of the county.

People who are against having a homeless shelter built in their neighborhood aren’t necessarily against helping the homeless, they are against the accompanying crime associated with having them in their area. And there is nothing wrong with that.

[UtahFanSir]

I’m putting this note in politics, but its really information that we all need to know. Kinda like facts, but also projections that are reasonable.

A good friend of mine is a research director for NextEra Energy Insight. I used to work for him when we were both at CERA, Cambridge Energy Research Associates, now part of IHS. He just released an extensive piece on coal-natural gas competition in power generation. Here are his key insights:

1. Coal-fired power generation output in the U.S. slipped to a four-decade low in 2016 and, from a plant utilization rate basis, registered its worst year in modern history. Low gas prices are mostly to blame, as cheaper gas-fired generation has been displacing coal.

2. The recovery in natural gas prices in 2H16 and into 2017 has allowed coal to recapture market share. Based on historical relationships, coal could grab more than 3 percent of total U.S. power generation back from gas–or the equivalent of just over 3 Bcf/d of foregone gas use in the power sector –if gas prices were to rally from recent levels and average $3.50/MMBtu in 2017.

3. But this upswing in coal output could prove ephemeral. A wave of new pipeline capacity from the Marcellus/Utica regions, plus growing gas production from oil wells, appears to be on track to cause gas production to again outpace demand growth as early as 2018, pushing gas prices lower and idling coal once more.

Coal is struggling for a host of reasons. The POTUS can only slow its decline in importance in energy contribution to the US. I actually think it better for the country to invest in the next thing. But pandering for votes is what politicians do. Here is my take…

When I worked for an oil company, I was for a time around a decade ago an industry advisor on a National Petroleum Council’s major report on the future of natural gas fundamentals. The work is done at the behest of and for the office of the president of the US. On that work, I met a guy who was a coal expert for a major Eastern US power utility grounded in coal power generation. He told me then that coal costs were rising quickly because the cheap and easy deposits in the Consuming East were gone, stripping ratios were rising quickly, and machinery technology to strip overburden had reached it maximum size. In the meantime, natural gas prices were breaking new records and that fielded a massive boom in gas development from shale.

Beginning in the early-1990s (and for the next decade), I also did power development, in effect selling our company gas as electricity in some markets around the globe, including in the US. About that time, GE, Westinghouse, Siemens, etc. were perfecting the aero-derivative gas turbine for power generation. Laws/regulations that prevented or limited the use of natural gas in power generation were removed, and changes to the public utilities regulator act allowed for market-based generation to be sold to utilities at avoided costs and for self generation. These developments were critical in the beginning of coal and natural gas fuel competition. For one, utilities now were under competition, and deregulating. But the biggest development was the economy  of scale for a power plant moved from 600 MW installed central power plants to 60 MW. As combined cycle gas-fired power generation matured over just a few years, the heat rate (read thermal efficiency) were nearly double that of coal, emissions were half (more than actually), installed costs were 40% that of coal, and as high spot natural gas prices did their work, supply began to explode.

At the same time as all of these developments, the coal generation fleet in the US was aging and moving toward what is called ‘useful life’. In 2013, more than half—51%—of the US’s electricity generating capacity was built before 1980. About 74% of all coal-fired power plants are at least 30 years old, and the average life of such plants is just 40 years, according to the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Given EPA emissions regulations–that I think are appropriate–it’s likely the coal plants will be replaced with natural gas when they’re mothballed. As a side note, the American Clean Skies Foundation was formed in 2007 (as natural gas supply was rocketing) and during its initial years, the foundation was chaired by the late Aubrey McClendon, the former CEO and chairman of Chesapeake Energy, which provided funding. Chesapeake was one of the most aggressive developers of natural gas from shale. Anyway, this foundation advocated for a cleaner, low-carbon environment through the expanded use of alternative energy sources and energy efficiency. Specifically, the promotional materials by this foundation at that time were decidedly anti-coal. Natural gas versus coal competition.

Bottom line: Utilities had a choice. Refit old coal plants with degrading coal reserves and dodgy emissions issues, or replace that rate base with new shiny, cheaper, cleaner, smaller gas turbines. Utilities spoke. Nearly 18 gigawatts (GW) of electric generating capacity was retired in 2015, a relatively high amount compared with recent years. More than 80% of the retired capacity was conventional steam coal. The retired coal-fired generating units in 2015 were older and smaller in capacity than the coal generation fleet that continues to operate.

What Donald Trump is doing is giving false hope to miners and allowing mine owners to squeeze a bit more out of their aging assets. Looking back like this will not make America Great Again.

[Utahute72]

That comment by Nunes is fairly indicative of they whole problem with politics today. Let’s look at the statement. He basically says that some Trump associates were picked up on surveillence as secondary sources. Well duh. If you are talking to people from other countries US citizens are likely to be picked up in these incidental ways, that’s why the rules against unmasking the US participant who wasn’t a target are so strict. Secondly, most of these intercept are totally benign, meaning it’s just normal business. So the fact that someone is picked up can be totally innocent. This in no way vindicates Trump’s claim of being a target of surveillence. It is also being blown completely out of proportion by the news media on both sides. Each side is trying to have an “gotcha” moment instead of doing their jobs.

It was interesting on the Sunday talk shows that CBS (I think) had a piece on just how polarized congress had become. Where there use to be some overlap in both houses over the past few years each side has withdrawn to the point that it is virtually impossible to have any kind of bipartisian agreement.

It was very interesting to hear Ezekiel Emmanuel complaining that the Republicans hadn’t brought any democrats into the process, consider how the Obama administration failed to do so in the first place.

[PorterRockwell]

@ Kiyi-ute, I carry a sidearm because for the last twenty years I’ve sent a lot of people to places they didn’t want to go. I’ve been in a lot of places that most here wouldn’t want to go. Many of those people that I sent away have made threats towards me and my life. 95% of them were just idle threats. It’s those 5% I am wary of. If you were to meet me in public you’d never know I was carrying.

When you’ve dealt with some of the crazies I used to deal with it’s prudent to take PERSEC seriously. I have five friends that are retired LEO’s as well. We all still carry because you just never know when you may run into one of these individuals or one of their associates.
Carrying a lethal weapon is not a decision to make lightly. If you carry with the mindset that you are going to prevent a crime like the theater or night club shootings you have the wrong mindset. My sidearm is my LAST resort, not my first.

[homer]

Regardless of what happened, it is possible that was Collette’s last competitive basketball game, given his history of concussions and significant headbangs. They seem to be more frequent. That would concern me if I were in his place. I prefer a normal headache free life rather than risk what for repetitive head trauma that is associated with significant long term risk.

[gnUTE]

I have been a long term lurker on UFN, now I would like to be a little more active here. Here is an article I hadn’t seen on this forum yet. Interesting notes on non-athletic benefits that also go along with PAC 12 membership:

Link

“Aside from athletics, there’s a belief within the institution that the conference connection yields benefits in the classroom too. The university is now aligned in the same region of some of the top institutions in the western U.S.

Being part of a major, Power 5 conference like the Pac-12 is an important factor in recruiting some faculty, sometimes even ones who are not personally hugely invested in athletic competitions,” University of Utah president David Pershing wrote in an email to KSL.com. “Faculty stars want to be associated with schools like Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, etc.”

[zeous]

Meh. Corporate media owned by Saudi Arabia and other oil gazillionaires with political ambitions. Explain reformers like Ayaan Hirsi Ali under constant death threat for speaking out against islam, and others like her.

And explain all the non-integrated colonies all over Europe and the associated crime and attacks. Explain the insistence on halal whatever food in schools and stores (separation of church and state, anyone?).

No thanks, Saudi Arabia can take in the refugees, they have a lot more money anyway. Or you can if you like, rent them a place next door to you with your own money. Fine by me. But if they commit crimes, it’s on you as their sponsor.

[Utebeam]

Solution to Bringing Down Costs of Homelessness

 

The above was from Malcom Gladwell, the Author of, “Tipping Point” and several other great books. He basically states that the costs of homelssness can be significantly decreased by working with the few that had been on the streets the longest. If you give them a place to stay(not in your home) and provide extra help with their needs it will dramatically decrease the costs associated with them going to the hospital due to all of the medical needs the longterm homeless seem to have. Interesting read if you have a spare 15 minutes.

[61Shasta]

I’m going to try to keep this as civil as possible. Chris’s wish was to be cremated with no funeral, viewing or ceremony other than an informal celebration of his life which is happening on Saturday. His brothers and sisters are covering the full cost of the cremation and other costs associated with his death. If you have a desire to help the family with this cost may I strongly suggest that your donation be made directly to Jenkins Mortuary in Murray or to Chris’s sisters and brothers directly rather than through any crowdfunding website that you might find a memorial fund set up?