Scholar of the Week: A New Politics Forum Tradition, This Week: Volinbham

#101
#101
tidwell said:
Would you like to see ChampCar and IRL reunified and in your opinion what would it take for that to happen?
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I couldn't resist another comment about this.

ChampCar has some great venues locked up (apparently) but they are a non-issue for the American racing audience - they need to give it up. Tony George won -- it was a bloody battle that potentially resulted in no winners. But when Penske, Ganassi, and Andretti went IRL the writing was on the wall. Nobody gives a crap about Servia. When your best American driver (Almendinger) goes to NASCAR and can hardly qualify for a race --- well you are just irrelevant. I pay more attention to the Grand American Racing series than ChampCar. Bobby Rahal Jr. should bolt from ChampCar to anything else.
 
#102
#102
volinbham said:
I am teaching at a 4 year school (UAB). I love it. My job is 40% teaching; 40% research and 20% service/administration.

If he wants to teach at the university level - he should definitely get his PhD. The pay differential between Masters and PhD is huge (typically double or more depending on field of study). He should only do so however if he is inclined to do at least some academic research. Publish or perish exists at various levels but at a school like MTSU, he would have a similar split to mine.

I'd be glad to talk with him about it.
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Thanks! I'll let him know.
 
#103
#103
volinbham said:
I don't know that commercial energy companies have skyrocketing profits while coops and municipalities are naturally low cost but...

Energy as a product naturally favors a model of limited suppliers due to the high fixed cost nature of the business. I don't see any predetermined distinction between government run vs. private run approach to such a market situation. I can see theoretically why a govt. run version would be a lower cost situation but my experience locally (Birmingham Water Works) shows an example of more inefficiency than any for-profit entity could dream of.

Profit is a red herring. Look at total cost to the citizenry served and I'd bet you'll see a lower total cost on average for privatized public services compared to government run public services.
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This message brought to you by Chevron, Amoco, and OPEC, reminding you that our obscene record profits of the last two years are a product of reduced refinery capacity caused by Mother Nature.
 
#104
#104
volinbham said:
If NASCAR fans actually watched a few IRL races they way they watch NASCAR races, I think they would be diehard IRL rans too.
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I agree completely. Unfortunately, your average NASCAR fan doesn't really understand "racing" since they've been watching the "show" that the France family puts on for so long now. I still watch because I have a rooting interest, but my breath of fresh air is when I watch F1, IRL, or any other racing series not involved with NASCAR.

volinbham said:
I couldn't resist another comment about this.

ChampCar has some great venues locked up (apparently) but they are a non-issue for the American racing audience - they need to give it up. Tony George won -- it was a bloody battle that potentially resulted in no winners. But when Penske, Ganassi, and Andretti went IRL the writing was on the wall. Nobody gives a crap about Servia. When your best American driver (Almendinger) goes to NASCAR and can hardly qualify for a race --- well you are just irrelevant. I pay more attention to the Grand American Racing series than ChampCar. Bobby Rahal Jr. should bolt from ChampCar to anything else.
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Robin Miller was reporting that once Bourdais moves to F1 (if it happens) that Scott Speed might come over and run in ChampCar. Another possible move he reported was Marco Andretti moving to ChampCar, in hopes that that would bolster his chances of some day making it to F1. I can't see Michael letting that happen, but we'll see...

Also, not sure if you're aware of it or not, but the IRL will be running at Mid Ohio this year.
 
#107
#107
lawgator1 said:
This message brought to you by Chevron, Amoco, and OPEC, reminding you that our obscene record profits of the last two years are a product of reduced refinery capacity caused by Mother Nature.
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Can profit not be driven by obscene volume of sales and very astute hedging strategy over the past several years?

Surely your firm charges what it can for its legal services rather than looking to the general public for its opinion about the fairness of the firm's pricing. Those that try to make people happy with pricing make less money, do huge volume or go broke. Take your pick.
 
#108
#108
volinbham said:
Yes - still are including me.

I'm also a Pitt fan. Pretty hard to be a Pirates fan these days though.

Overall, I'm pro Pittsburgh
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I work with several Pitt graduates, and they are always trying to get me to convert to a Panther fan, cant go there. I do like the pirates though they aren't good, PNC park is great ballpark.
If you could leave Alabama tomorrow where would you choose to live?
 
#109
#109
volsgal03 said:
If you could leave Alabama tomorrow where would you choose to live?
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I have relatives in San Diego -- I could live there (if I could afford it!)

Other choices would include Charlotte, Nashville, Denver and Seattle.

I would need some place with a city of decent size (at least 1/2 million).
 
#110
#110
volinbham said:
I have relatives in San Diego -- I could live there (if I could afford it!)

Other choices would include Charlotte, Nashville, Denver and Seattle.

I would need some place with a city of decent size (at least 1/2 million).
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Atlanta is good. If you can get past all the thugs and UGA idiots.
 
#111
#111
BigPapaVol said:
Can profit not be driven by obscene volume of sales and very astute hedging strategy over the past several years?

Surely your firm charges what it can for its legal services rather than looking to the general public for its opinion about the fairness of the firm's pricing. Those that try to make people happy with pricing make less money, do huge volume or go broke. Take your pick.
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Most companies when they increase their sales volumes ARE ABLE TO REDUCE THE PRICE BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED PROFIT FROM THE INCREASED VOLUME. Oil companies do both, increased price with increased volume of sales. Obviously, they are not to worried about reduced demand from increasing the price. IMO thats the reason the free market model doesn't result in the best value for the consumer with comodities people have to have.
 
#114
#114
oklavol said:
Most companies when they increase their sales volumes ARE ABLE TO REDUCE THE PRICE BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED PROFIT FROM THE INCREASED VOLUME. Oil companies do both, increased price with increased volume of sales. Obviously, they are not to worried about reduced demand from increasing the price. IMO thats the reason the free market model doesn't result in the best value for the consumer with comodities people have to have.
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I thought your original question was about utilities (water, electric, home gas) etc.
 
#117
#117
volinbham said:
I thought your original question was about utilities (water, electric, home gas) etc.
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It was. But he was defending their profits, by stating they are the results of increased volume of sales.

I made the arguement, when the volume of sales increased why did they not lower the price? Most companies can lower the price when the sales volume increases. Obviously they feel no market pressure to do so.

The sell the same volume of gas whether the price goes up or down. I think cooperative utilities providing services such as water, electricity, gas, is a better model for the consumer.
 
#119
#119
oklavol said:
I made the arguement, when the volume of sales increased why did they not lower the price? Most companies can lower the price when the sales volume increases. Obviously they feel no market pressure to do so.

The sell the same volume of gas whether the price goes up or down. I think cooperative utilities providing services such as water, electricity, gas, is a better model for the consumer.
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Companies can lower their prices inconjunction with increases in sales volume when their costs go down.

I don't have a problem with cooperatives but would be hesitant to say they are the best solution across the board for utilities. Again, profit is one part of "cost" to the consumer. Frequently, for profit entities can deliver utilities at a lower total cost to the consumer (or a better level of service at the same cost). Ultimately, what matters is the cost to the consumer.
 
#123
#123
OrangeEmpire said:
How bad or good of an idea is credit card relief through an attorney based company?
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I don't know much about this. If bankruptcy filing is involved I'd say it's generally bad. There also seems to be quite a bit of scam action in this industry but there are likely legit solutions too. Tread carefully.
 
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