Skip to Content

Gregory Lang

Minneapolis, MN
Commenter for
5 years 19 weeks

Recent Comments

Posted on 06/04/11 at 05:16 pm in response to Who stands to gain by a near-total shutdown of the Minnesota government?

When I did the "circuit breaker" property tax refund it was for last years "domicile". It had section for renters and homeowners with refunds payable in 2011. The Republican budget might indeed eliminate or reduce the renter's credit but that is for refunds payable in 2012.

If government goes into "hard shutdown" and Gov Dayton "sticks to his guns" the mid August 2010 renter credit could be delayed. The Republicans could have a "field day" on this one if they offer to pass interim...

Posted on 06/03/11 at 05:21 am in response to If state constitution is enforced, this shutdown could be horrible

I had licence tabs that expire at the end of June. It took a week to get these renewed by mail. I have a PERA pension but this is a self-funded agency so it should not be affected. I have a large homeowners "circuit breaker" refund due in mid-October. More interesting is the "renter's credit" refunds scheduled for mid-August. A delay in that could be "interesting" but it is unknown how this would go down politically. I would guess that because this is a non-negotiable payment the...

Posted on 06/04/11 at 11:30 pm in response to If state constitution is enforced, this shutdown could be horrible

Katherine Kerstins new column.

Republicans are the ones with a sensible budget plan
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/otherviews/123137143.html

Posted on 05/31/11 at 02:15 am in response to Why climate experts are using tougher language

Where were all these "experts" when Al Gore brought out his movie "An Inconvenient Truth" and made his post Katrina predictions?

Posted on 05/25/11 at 11:06 am in response to With Muhammad Ali at her side, mother again begs Iran for son's release

Their pre-arrest blog. http://unfetteredeyes.wordpress.com/

Posted on 05/21/11 at 05:30 am in response to Northern Cheapskate: Is it time to trade in the gas guzzler?

This is the absolute worst time to get a different vehicle without a lot of research.
That farce called "cash for clunkers" messed up the low end car market.

The Japan earthquake/tsunami has affected car production even in the US basically because Japan does auto electronics well even for larger cars so US new auto production is affected. Also, smaller cars that use less fuel are in very high demand right now so prices are up.

Posted on 05/20/11 at 11:56 am in response to We're slaves to cheap gasoline

Boston has it's "big dig" but we have our "Little dig" the road and LRT "tunnel" of Hiawatha/55 near Minnehaha Park. Almost no one visits the parkland/flower garden built above this faux tunnel.

Posted on 05/20/11 at 12:12 pm in response to We're slaves to cheap gasoline

Curious! Canada exports fuel to Minnesota but has 50% higher gasoline prices. Hmm! Maybe that is why "liberals" got clobbered in the last election.

As to the immigration experience of Winnipeg, Canada tends to have a "reverse means testing" for a lot of it's immigration. Basically, if you are rich, you can immigrate to Canada. This is far different than the "Minnesota model" where a refugee immigrant group spends a generation or two on the dole before becoming productive (as a...

Posted on 05/20/11 at 12:34 pm in response to We're slaves to cheap gasoline

To reduce fuel consumption try some "strategic planning". Basically live near work and stuff you do.

Two benefits here. Fewer miles driven and with the shorter trips vehicle comfort is less important. (that said I have become hooked on air-conditioning). Also, the more compact vehicles work better in an urban setting.

If it wasn't for "gopher work" I do with my fuel efficient 2005 Ford Ranger for personal use I could go a month on a tank of gas. Maybe $50 per month gas...

Posted on 05/21/11 at 05:13 am in response to We're slaves to cheap gasoline

Gasoline is basically a bulk generic commodity. $6 for a gallon of milk? At Aldi it used to cost $2.20 and now $2.50. Hardly anyone charges more than three dollars for a gallon-gallon of milk. Again, if we go generic with shampoo Suave works out to around $5 per gallon. Orange juice costs around three dollars per gallon. The coffee and beer seem "on sale" price where you are basically paying for use of the coffeehouse or bar. It is sort of like calculating food prices via menu prices...