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Budget fever

Eddie Mair | 10:25 UK time, Wednesday, 21 March 2007

is sweeping the nation. Children are chattering about it. Mothers are comparing notes over coffee. In workplaces, offices, factories and homes across the land, there is only one topic of conversation. And tonight we're going to turn that Budget Buzz into rip-roaring radio.

In the meantime, and only a day late, here are some more lovely snaps from Nils' travels - he brought us another piece last night. This first pic is corn trading at the Chicago Board of Trade.

nilsa.JPG

Nils says: "The noise and energy of the trading in the 'corn pits' of the Chicago Board of Trade have to be seen - and heard - to be believed. And over the last the year the price of corn has doubled because of demand from ethanol refineries. The ethanol is mixed with petroleum and used in cars.

This second pic

nilsb.JPG

is of the traders' colourful jackets. "The traders wear jackets of astonishing garishness. Many of the designs would give hippies from the 1960s real doubts about whether they were going a bit over the top. Apparently the point is that a jacket needs to be distinctive so that you know who you are doing a deal with, even if you are making the bargain via hand signals across a crowded trading pit."

And finally a more tranquil scene: Sam Martin - talking to Nils amid his 19,000 acres of farmland

nilsc.JPG

"For corn farmers like Sam Martin business is booming. But he admits that the price of food is going up. Ethanol based fuels produce slightly lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels. But it may mean higher prices for basic foodstuffs."

Comments

  1. At 12:26 PM on 21 Mar 2007, Susan Orty-Boyden wrote:

    It's Budget Day.

    Eddie - another opportunity for you to say "bastard" on the air. Go on.

  2. At 12:34 PM on 21 Mar 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    Presumably, then, the one trader in the plain suit will stand out like a penguin in a beehive.

  3. At 12:38 PM on 21 Mar 2007, Carl wrote:

    We're keeping our fingers crossed for a PM budget on a budget.. Less is more don't forget!
    As for the glass box, I think Nils and Hugh were great last night. Nil's piece was very entertaining, and Hugh was very insightful. As for Eddie.. well getting 'The Penis' and 'I want candy' in juxtaposition was inspired!
    Remember budget = boring = switch off!!
    Yours 'Poorer of Ipswich'.

  4. At 12:54 PM on 21 Mar 2007, The Stainless Steel Cat wrote:

    1st picture caption:
    "Another busy day at the deodorant testing centre."

    2nd picture caption:
    "You know, I'm really looking forward to 'Formal Friday' this week."

    3rd picture caption:
    "Yes, when I were a lad, this were all buildings..."

  5. At 12:55 PM on 21 Mar 2007, Chrissie the Trekkie wrote:

    Yes, of course, the Yanks will try to corner the world markets in anything they can fuel their gas guzzlers with, and sod everyone else. Like the Mexicans who are seeing their basic food prices rocket.


    And on gas guzzlers....
    Our 4x4 does 38 mpg, average run.
    Next doors family saloon does 25mpg.
    Which one is the gas guzzler that deserves to be hit hard with extra tax by the Chancellor?

  6. At 02:11 PM on 21 Mar 2007, Jordan Mandelberg wrote:

    There is a typo which I cut and paste below: From Paragraph 2, under the picture


    And over the last the year the price of corn has doubled because of demand from ethanol

  7. At 02:15 PM on 21 Mar 2007, The Stainless Steel Cat wrote:

    Chris the Trekkie:

    mpg: I'm staggered. My brother's early model Ford Capri in the mid 70's got about 25mpg. How on Earth can a modern saloon get the same mileage as a sports model from 30 years ago?

    I'm all for gas guzzlers being hit hard, but any tax has to be based on individual fuel consumption & pollution: surely it can be calculated at a car's MOT?

  8. At 03:23 PM on 21 Mar 2007, wrote:

    SSC (7) yes I wondered about that too - tax your car based on engine economy & miles driven per year. If you sell your car you then pay for the miles driven in that part year when you exchange ownership details. Would it work??!

  9. At 03:33 PM on 21 Mar 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    SSCat (4) Tee hee!

  10. At 05:05 PM on 21 Mar 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    Hey! Where's my Haha to SScat's no. 4???

  11. At 05:12 PM on 21 Mar 2007, Chrissie the Trekkie wrote:

    The Stainless Steel Cat

    Well, it is a 'classic' ie old, car. His pride and joy. Nasty smelly object.

    While ours is shiny new and lowest emission technology available.

    Life ain't fair sometimes.

  12. At 07:23 PM on 21 Mar 2007, wrote:

    Why must radio interviewers wear headphones?

  13. At 07:40 PM on 21 Mar 2007, Humph wrote:

    Appy (10) [in pantomime audience voice] "It's above you!" Although it was more of a Tee Hee!

    H.

  14. At 08:03 PM on 21 Mar 2007, The Stainless Steel Cat wrote:

    Jason (12):

    Because they'd look silly wearing kneephones.

  15. At 08:08 PM on 21 Mar 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    Humph (13), you are quite right -- see how the memory plays tricks? What was I on about? What does this button do???

    Jason (12), Wait -- I've heard this one before... no, no just can't remember; or maybe I'm getting mixed up with "How many radio interviewers does it take to change a lightbulb?"... Oh I give in -- why must radio interviewers wear headphones?

  16. At 08:31 PM on 21 Mar 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    SSCat (14) What? Nee phones at arl? (Sorry, dialect joke...)

  17. At 01:59 PM on 22 Mar 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    It seems that everything I posted last night is in need of a little shove today.

    Perhaps the moderators are trying to tell me that I should spend less time frogging and more time getting on with Things That Need To Be Done. Fair point.

  18. At 03:09 PM on 22 Mar 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    PUSH!

  19. At 07:40 PM on 22 Mar 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    PUSH!!

  20. At 09:08 PM on 22 Mar 2007, nikki noodle wrote:

    ...to keep their ears warm...?!

    (hang on, wheat a minute, that's just too corny !!)

    n-n
    xx

  21. At 09:24 PM on 22 Mar 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    Why is nothing appearing here, even with a push?

  22. At 09:54 PM on 22 Mar 2007, RJD wrote:

    Ap - What ARE you complaining about? You have 5 out of the last 6 posts here. What are you trying to push out?

    "Nee phones at arl" V good!

  23. At 11:21 PM on 22 Mar 2007, Val P wrote:

    Ap - is that Alston dialect then?

  24. At 12:02 AM on 23 Mar 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    RJD (21),

    But only number 15 was showing when I posted number 20!

    Valery (22),

    I don't think so, but then I have never been to Alston.

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