Comments on: Notes From The Parking Lot

By: Dennis Gene

Dennis Gene — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 04:50:55 +0000

Sweeps You say you grew up in that area but not that you live in that area. If you still live in that area and are in favor of Hyperion you are probably in the minority but maybe not. I am almost 70 and never vote anything but democrat my whole life. I am really in the minority in this southern state. South of North Dakota of course.

By: UC Resident

UC Resident — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 02:25:14 +0000

If you care at all about the health and safety of the residents this area of SD, you would be against Hyperion. The air permit was so flawed with under-estimates and omissions of the air pollution that HEC itself had to request that it be corrected. The air permit does NOT account for additional emissions from startups, shut downs, and malfunctions which can be many, many times the amount of normal emission. In addition there is the issue of fugitive emissions (leaks from joints, etc.) that is also not accounted for in the permit. This disaster is proposed to be built over an aquifer that provides clean water for our residents. It is estimated that 25% of the pollution from a refinery goes into the water! It will also be built near two rivers, and over Brule Creek for more probable chances of water pollution. Southeastern SD has very productive farmland that does its share to contribute to the economy of SD without a refinery.

By: Sweeps

Sweeps — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:43:26 +0000

Jab, be careful about the blanket statement that “South Dakotans” don’t want Hyperion in our backyards. I’m a life long SD resident; I grew up in that area. I’m in favor of the Hyperion project.

By: jab

jab — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:45:17 +0000

Ifind it interesting that people think we should drill in th US, which i beleive should be done also, but South Dakotans do not want Hyperion to come.

By: Hank

Hank — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:44:07 +0000

These funding cuts are all bad news in their own right, but the cut to education hits home the hardest I think. I heard a couple of the Democrats reminding the legislature that by law, school funding is to increase at “X” % (I think 1.8%) or the percent of inflation, whichever is lower. That has been completely ignored for the last 2 years. Now, I have been reading that our legislators are patting themselves on the back because they might be able to reduce the 10% cut to a range of 6-8% depending on which bills get signed and instituted. To me this is like a bully that steals lunch from a kid and then gives him back the apple where the kid is first terrorized, then sad, then mad, we all need to be mad. I think the only answer will be at the polls when these legislators come back up for election. I don’t care who is in power (I am a registered Republican), but we need to have some checks and balances in Pierre. Right now you can haul all of the non-Republicans around in a short bus. The Republicans are completely responsible for creating this structural deficit and now they are in charge of fixing it? Wow! Republicans have control of every branch of governement, including the judicial, and until South Dakotans wake up and realize that this isn’t good for our state, we can expect more of the same.

By: michael

michael — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:54:56 +0000

Before the “Drill, baby, drill” people start shouting again it should be pointed out that oil companies that drill off the US shoreline are under no obligation to sell that oil to the US. They can take it to the open market and, more than likely, will sell it to the Chinese. Something Sarah Palin should think about before she opens her big mouth again.

By: JD

JD — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:54:30 +0000

This is probably a little off topic, but when you mentioned $50 for a tank of gas, it reminded me that the ratio between gas prices and the price of a replacement battery has changed dramatically in recent years. Used to be a big deal to replace the battery in your car; now, it doesn’t cost much more than a tank of gas…

By: Crawford T.

Crawford T. — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 04:54:46 +0000

El-oh-el at “snot pump”. Way to find the silver lining, Doug.

Also, while I generally don’t give a toss for celebrity gossip and wouldn’t under just about any circumstance make light of someone’s genuine mental/neurological disorders, I have to say that the entire Sheen affair along with all the resultant internet memes have become akin to the best surrealist novel of all time, unfolding right before our eyes free of charge.

By: daniel Johnson

daniel Johnson — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 04:28:36 +0000

You are right as to the speculators running up the price of oil. By clever use of financial instruments they protect themselves against price declines and profit on the increases while the public pays the freight. But there is total silence in washington .

By: grouse

grouse — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:28:17 +0000

My loving wife couldn’t agree with prairierose more! In fact, I’m starting to agree with her on this issue. Just like aspirin, Vicks (according to my wife) can cure anything. During four decades of marriage, she’s had me apply Vicks almost everywhere. Almost. But, I’m sure that day will come…and I’ll probably try it. When the time comes. Maybe. OK, I will.