As I am self employed, the current fuel costs are hurting me bad. I have just filled my little 1.6 Diesel Van up with £40 pound of fuel. Only got 3 quarters of a tank.
Diesel was £1.29 per litre.
With 3.78541178 litres to a US Gallon and £1.29 equal to 2.52 USD (according to Google).
That means I just paid 9.54USD for a US gallon.
If we break down the fuel cost at £1.29 per litre this is what we get:
V.A.T. at 17.5% = 19.21pence
Fuel tax = 50.35pence
So the total tax on the fuel at that price is 69.56 pence per litre, so around 54% of the cost goes to the government!
So I may feel hard done by, but the real villain in the UK is the Governments excessive tax on fuel.
:-(
My wife just learned that our 1.5 year old $44,000 Jeep is worth $12,000 thanks to the gas crunch.
I officially owe more on the vehicle than I could possibly sell it for.
In fact, I would probably make off better if I dismantled it and sold the parts and pieces individually on ebay...
That sucks, big time!
I think I am going to sideline the discussion again, but on the previous page you said you were considering taking the chevy gas deal thingie.
How will chevrolet pay for all that? Or in other words where is the profit? Doesn't chevrolet, and other american car makers, have really bad sale records? And now that are paying you to buy their car?
Secondly, the above just means that more and more people will live on credit.
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That sucks, big time!
I think I am going to sideline the discussion again, but on the previous page you said you were considering taking the chevy gas deal thingie.
How will chevrolet pay for all that? Or in other words where is the profit? Doesn't chevrolet, and other american car makers, have really bad sale records? And now that are paying you to buy their car?
Secondly, the above just means that more and more people will live on credit.
It does suck! I've not been in a position where I owe more than I can sell since I graduated college! And you're right, Chevy and Chrysler aren't doing as well as they'd like right now.
At any rate, I have recently read that the Oil market is expected to bust soon (as in the next few months), and barrels should return to the $90-100 range. I fully expect that when a gallon in the US returns to under $3, we'll go right back to our H2s and Escalades.
As far as the gas gimmicks a couple of the companies are offering, I can't help but think they're relying on the market dropping and restabilizing to pre '05 prices, which averaged under that 'guaranteed $2.99' deal.
As for me, I'm not as worried about my family budget as I was before the DoD included the fuel stipend in next year's budget.
If Congress OKs the '09 budget, then instead of moving to a company I've never before considered (Chevy), we'll buy a Mercedes Bluetec diesel and sell the Jeep at a loss. My wife drives an R320 now (thanks to the DoD New Car Purchase Program)--it's not Bluetec with the urine-infuser, but it gets as much as three times the mileage of my smaller Grand Cherokee.
As for me, I'm not as worried about my family budget as I was before the DoD included the fuel stipend in next year's budget.
If Congress OKs the '09 budget, then instead of moving to a company I've never before considered (Chevy), we'll buy a Mercedes Bluetec diesel and sell the Jeep at a loss. My wife drives an R320 now (thanks to the DoD New Car Purchase Program)--it's not Bluetec with the urine-infuser, but it gets as much as three times the mileage of my smaller Grand Cherokee.
OK, good for you.
And remember, buy European! ;->
(Higher Euro means cheaper gaming products for me ;-> )
You can't go wrong with a German-engineered car!...And remember, buy European! ;->
(Higher Euro means cheaper gaming products for me ;-> )
I'd say that's debatable in some cases. ;-)
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I'd say that's debatable in some cases. ;-)You can't go wrong with a German-engineered car!...And remember, buy European! ;->
(Higher Euro means cheaper gaming products for me ;-> )
Awesome!! I guess I could always try to find one of those three-wheel cars Mr. Bean's nemesis drives...
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My boss just bought a diesel VW Beetle and that thing gets awesome gas mileage. We laugh at him sometimes, but then he just says, "45mpg, man."
When I drive to Anchorage there's this one hill, it's something like 40% grade, no curves, downhill for almost a mile--the hemi kicks in, all but two cylinders shut down, the Jeep's going 72MPH, and my readout indicates something like 127MPG... then I get to the bottom and it's like the warp bubble destabilizes, the field shuts down, realspace intrudes and I'm back to 24MPG...
I'd say that's debatable in some cases. ;-)You can't go wrong with a German-engineered car!...And remember, buy European! ;->
(Higher Euro means cheaper gaming products for me ;-> )
Commi cars don't cut it!
Director of Narrative
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My boss just bought a diesel VW Beetle and that thing gets awesome gas mileage. We laugh at him sometimes, but then he just says, "45mpg, man."When I drive to Anchorage there's this one hill, it's something like 40% grade, no curves, downhill for almost a mile--the hemi kicks in, all but two cylinders shut down, the Jeep's going 72MPH, and my readout indicates something like 127MPG... then I get to the bottom and it's like the warp bubble destabilizes, the field shuts down, realspace intrudes and I'm back to 24MPG...
** spoiler omitted **
Now if you could find a way to only drive downhill...
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Being US military, living on post, it hasn't been a concern to me. I'm all of two minutes from the workplace, which is balanced by the fact that we usually move from the motorpool to the company office and back multiple times daily, which is about the same distance from my quarters.
I do plan on getting a decent bicycle now that I'm married, so my wife can use the truck while I'm at work. It'll be good for me, and cut back what gas I do use. I fill up once a week for the most part, and most of my driving is personal. The only exception being when we have to make the hour drive to Ft. Stewart.
Being that I'm going to training next year, at Ft. Gordon two hours away, I'm going to start looking for a new car with good mileage. I know I'll be driving down every weekend, so that will be quite a bit of gas there. Anyone have recommendations? Thinking about a Camry, but I really should do a little research first.
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Now if you could find a way to only drive downhill...My boss just bought a diesel VW Beetle and that thing gets awesome gas mileage. We laugh at him sometimes, but then he just says, "45mpg, man."When I drive to Anchorage there's this one hill, it's something like 40% grade, no curves, downhill for almost a mile--the hemi kicks in, all but two cylinders shut down, the Jeep's going 72MPH, and my readout indicates something like 127MPG... then I get to the bottom and it's like the warp bubble destabilizes, the field shuts down, realspace intrudes and I'm back to 24MPG...
** spoiler omitted **
Oh, I'm sure there's some obscure, quantum mechanics method...in fact...
I summon...
Yellow Dingo!!!
Well, if there's an answer, however incomprehensible, we should get it soon...
Commi cars don't cut it!I'd say that's debatable in some cases. ;-)You can't go wrong with a German-engineered car!...And remember, buy European! ;->
(Higher Euro means cheaper gaming products for me ;-> )
Except when they're bought by Volkswagen.
Except when they're bought by Volkswagen.Commi cars don't cut it!I'd say that's debatable in some cases. ;-)You can't go wrong with a German-engineered car!...And remember, buy European! ;->
(Higher Euro means cheaper gaming products for me ;-> )
But then it is no longer a commi car ;>
Skoda's are pretty good cars though, friend of mine has the fabia and that one is fine.
I already stopped driving - moved to the town where my job is at the end of last year and use a bike every morning (and lost about 10 pounds since than - as I do have enough of them, I really don't miss them :)
Driving here in germany (yes, Gas is getting more and more expensive here too) is very stressful and fast, so I don't really miss it
My boss just bought a diesel VW Beetle and that thing gets awesome gas mileage. We laugh at him sometimes, but then he just says, "45mpg, man."
I do have a beetle diesel too - good car, great motor, extremely reliable, incredible stereo :) And it is black :)
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Here's a thought exercise:
Suppose Gasoline is OUTLAWED. In order for someone to get that new refrigerator from the Home Depot they hire you to bring it to them. It's 20 miles from Home Depot to their house. How much would you charge them to move that refrigerator to their house? Break it down. If you rent a dolly, include that. If you rent a horse and a cart include that. If you already own a dolly or a horse and cart, kudo's.
Roughly speaking it would take 1 gallon of gas to move that refrigerator 20 miles and it would take about 20 minutes. If gas was $20 a gallon I think that would be money well spent. Maybe even at $100 it would be worth it given the above scenario: With gasoline outlawed, the cost of transporting the refrigerator to the Home depot is reflected in its price. I may very well be spending $2k-$4k on a refrigerator. Whats $100 to get it home? Heck, right now most delivery charges are on the order of $50.
I don't think "Stop Driving" is even an issue. I will never "stop driving". Perhaps "At what point would you start making cut backs in Driving?" Is a better question.
Clearly, that point is now at about $4 a gallon.
As a side note: I keep track of all my expenditures via Quicken. I spent $1538 at Starbucks last year and $1632 at gas stations (I do buy an occasional slim jim and soda, or a car wash). Gasoline purchases are a HUGE benefit to me. Starbucks has no reedeming value whatsoever. Rather than cut back my driving, maybe I should cut back my latte's. ;)
I drive a scooter. Used to cost me 3.50 to fill up my gas tank. Now it costs me 4.75... Boo-hoo!
Seriously though, to get around in the city, NOTHING beats a scooter. Low-gas costs, hardly spent anything on repaire (like 250.00 in nine years), no parking troubles... And leaves me plenty of room in the garage for a D&D room. Of course, I take the bus from december to march when the snow comes.
Ultradan
Ultradan! *squees, runs over, glomps*
Ultradan! *squees, runs over, glomps*
Well, hello to you too Lilith!!
(kisses you on both cheeks)Ultradan
It's been hell at work (it's where I usually posted from) for the past nine months cause of a new accounting system we've implanted. That and the fact that I haven't DMed a game of D&D for a whole year now (weddings, funerals, second job, etc...). So I didn't have much to contribute to the discussions.
I just finished reading the first Rise of the Runelords (that's how far back I am, lol).
We plan to play soon though.
Ultradan
My boss just bought a diesel VW Beetle and that thing gets awesome gas mileage. We laugh at him sometimes, but then he just says, "45mpg, man."
There's a funny Cosby skit I heard years ago on VW Beetle drivers that dealt with the 45 mpg aspect (and why all other drivers hate VW Beetle drivers).
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I just heard on BBC 1 that, if I were in the UK, I would be considered in 'Fuel Poverty,' or someone who spends 10% or more of their income on fuel and electricity.
My heating oil bill (more than average, because it's Interior Alaska) $333 each month (budget pay program) for 10 months of the year; and this year I owe Sourdough Heating and Oil an additional $792.32. (keep in mind, I also get a 15% military discount that the other civilians don't get)
My Gas/Petrol bill is roughly $71 a week now, or roughly $225-280 a month (and that's just driving one car now, instead of two, like we were less than one year ago).
My electric is roughly $145 each month.
Looking at my ledger, heating oil cost me $177 each month back in 2004; my monthly gas bill (2 cars) was around $170-200 each month; and my electric bill was about $85 (except for January- $144 thanks to Xmas lights!).
You know, what really got me was the gas bill for the two cars: according to my wife's ledger (she keeps the receipts for everything) we were paying $1.84 a gallon for Premium back in August 2004. This next one is really awesome: A Fred Meyer receipt from March 14, 2004: 1 gallon of 2% milk, local dairy (Northern Lights), $2.76. A gallon of milk at West Fairbanks FM's last Thursday, 29 May 2008: $5.41.
This is sad, and it's why my wife manages our finances (besides the fact that she does a better job than me): it's just too depressing.
Lately, as I drive around, I find myself watching my fuel gauge very closely. I'll see where it is when I start and where it is when I end, and think to myself, "That trip cost me $X in gas."
Certainly helps me keep in perspective what a particular trip anywhere is worth to me.
Lots of depressing things about his energy expenditures.
Andrew, are there wood pellet stoves available up there? Would that be feasible for your situation?
Back home, my dad installed one when I was a wee lad. Essentially just fit right into the normal fireplace. Each fall, we got a shipment of about a ton of pellets (for Alaska, you would probably want two or three tons) and that easily lasted us through the winter.
Why is oil so expensive? It's simple:
1)The environmentalists won't let us find any more oil deposits or build new refineries. There hasn't been a new refinery built in 30 years, and there has been no new oil drilling in almost as long, even though we know where several large deposits can be found. The Chinese are harvesting oil right off the Florida coast, and yet American drillers can't drill within 200 miles. Go figure. By the way, environmentalists also won't let us build any new nuclear plants, even though new technology has virtually eliminated the dangers most people fear. With the new designs, half-a-dozen plants could supply all the energy needs of the country for a century and your monthly electrical bill would be only about 10% of what it is now.
2) Simple supply and demand. The OPEC nations aren't willing to increase production because of turmoil in the region (and no, I'm not talking about Iraq) and because they're trying to exert political influence. Meanwhile, countries like India and especially China are increasing their need for oil several-fold. (And for those of you who like to whine about global warming, pollution, oil consumption, etc., China is now the world's biggest polluter and consumer of oil - go over there to do your whining, please.)
3) The U.S. government is unwilling to loosen up on its taxation policies. For example, everyone's whining about how much money the oil companies are making. FYI, Exxon makes roughly 9% on its products across the board, which is about half of the average profit for most industries. Meanwhile, the federal government makes an average of about 54% on that same gallon of gas. That's what we call "confiscatory taxation". And, you may be interested to know, this is the main reason that oil companies and car manufacturers aren't working harder to produce more environmentally friendly and energy efficient products - the budget simply isn't there.
4) State governments are unwilling to loosen up on their foolish environmentalist policies regarding the...
Its because the oil companies and speculators are currently unregulated by the US Government. The oil companies are not competing against each other. When was the last time BP or Exxon had a gasoline sale? This is price fixing.
Our current president and vice-president are former, oil company executives, and when they leave office they will get their million $$$ pay-off by sitting on some corporate board. Blaming the environmentalists and state governments is idiotic. The oil companies have no interest in making more refineries. Why would they spend billions in making a refinery that would lower the price of gasoline? The oil companies are making huge profits, so they are probably thanking the environmentals right now.
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Lots of depressing things about his energy expenditures.Andrew, are there wood pellet stoves available up there? Would that be feasible for your situation?
Back home, my dad installed one when I was a wee lad. Essentially just fit right into the normal fireplace. Each fall, we got a shipment of about a ton of pellets (for Alaska, you would probably want two or three tons) and that easily lasted us through the winter.
We have a woodstove in the den. and it really, really warms the den, but not anywhere else (the house is pretty big). All our windows are triple pane, all the house doors have arctic entries, we replaced our boiler three years ago, all the insulation is less than six years old, and the house itself is only 25. With all that, my heating bill is pretty much on par with everyone else in a maintained, newer house in Fairbanks (or in my neighborhood, for example)--but it can get as cold as -55 Fahrenheit on a deep winter night, and that's ground temperature. The boiler's real job is to keep the pipes from freezing. I can lower the thermostats to 60 (Alaska is an arctic desert, so 60 F is a lot warmer in Fairbanks than Seattle), close the doors to rooms not in use, and crank up the woodstove, and we did that last year--and saved about $500 for the whole winter (which came back in the form of a nice rebate from the oil company in June), but this year the price per gallon was almost as much as premium gas, and on an average day (-35 F) we go through 7-9 gallons; but on those -45 January and February days, we might go through 15 gallons in a day.
But the future is just around the corner, and Alaska Natural Gas is contracted to pipe to every city street (and I am just at the city limits) by 2010. I could refit my house now for natural gas, and have a tank filled once a month, and while the heating bill would be reduced by 75% (gas is super-cheap in AK), it would cost upwards of $18K to refit the house. I'm better off selling the house at cost and moving on up to Chena Ridge, where all the houses are brand new and already built for natural gas.
The upside? The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, also known as "You can have my oil and state-manage it, if you'll give me and every Alaska resident, including our infants, an annual kickback based on the total oil revenue." Last year we got $4700 for the whole family, which covered our oil bill.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Well, I've been more conscious of driving the speed limit in mini-me (Donna's Versa). Since I've dropped to the speed limit it's added a few minutes to my jump, and 3-5 miles to the gallon. As soon as we move into the condo, I go from 26 miles to work to about 5. If I could ride a bike I'd go that route.
it's about 80 miles both ways when we game on the weekend. That's a pain, even in Mini-me.
Any truth to the news bulletin I just read that US truck drivers have problems with people stealing their gas e.g. when they're at lunch? Also, supposedly, truck drivers steal gas from other truck drivers.
All because of the higher gas prices.
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Any truth to the news bulletin I just read that US truck drivers have problems with people stealing their gas e.g. when they're at lunch? Also, supposedly, truck drivers steal gas from other truck drivers.
All because of the higher gas prices.
I would guess a few truckers might do this but not most of them. And since trucks use diesel, I can't see why anyone but truckers in the main would be interested.
On the other hand diesel is more expensive than gas right now. And there was that story on Paul Harvey last week about police looking for the thieves who have been parking some kind of trailer over the diesel covers at gas stations. Using an apparent trap door in the floor of their trailer they have been siphoning up diesel straight from the tanks in the ground. In broad daylight. Concealed within their trailer.
I own three cars. If I add the average miles per gallon of all three cars together I end up around 30 mpgs. Up until last year I drove a 37 year old car to work 40 miles each way. I guess I'm part of the problem. But what is the problem? Someone sneezes near a pipeline in Nigeria and oil goes up a dollar a barrel. I think a month ago an unidentified boat approached a U.S. ship in the Persian Gulf and it caused oil prices to surge or soar or sky rocket or whatever inflammatory descriptive yahoo news is using at the moment. I think "spike" is the new explative. Were these regions ever stable? What kills me about the whole situation is....I keep hearing "we've hit peak oil!!!" Yet in 2005 they did a study and found that there is more oil under Utah then there exists in the Middle East. Most of this oil is on government land....problem is its trapped in shale. Three years ago oil company scientists said it would cost about 25 dollars a barrel more to harvest that oil vs regular liquid in the ground crude so it wouldn't be cost effective. Oil was 66 dollars a barrel then....so why isn't it cost effective now? Now a days the scapegoat for everything is .....well due to increased demand in India and China.... I want to be in demand in India and China. I deserve a raise.
Any truth to the news bulletin I just read that US truck drivers have problems with people stealing their gas e.g. when they're at lunch?
This happened in the 70s, people siphoned gas out of cars because of the OPEC crunch. And yeah, I've had gas siphoned out of my tank pretty recently. Very annoying. For what it's worth, locking gas caps only cost about $20 or so, so you can replace a standard gas cap fairly inexpensively. Less expensive than losing a bunch of fuel. :P
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I drive 55+ miles to work one way... I get 30mpg so I am filling up every 3 days. I spend $450+ on gas.
The jobs near me pay half (or less) an hour. So I drive and I drive.
I have been thinking of changing careers lately but not because of the gas costs but because of the commuting time involved. (Usually 2.5-3.5 hrs each day.) I want to be home with the family.
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An interesting article: Oil Executives Try to Educate Senate Democrats, But Democrats Appear Hopeless
2004 that identified 40 specific federal policy areas that halt, limit, delay or restrict natural gas projects. I urge you to review it. It is a long list. If I may, I offer it today if you would like to include it in the record. When many of these policies were implemented, oil was selling in the single digits, not the triple digits we see now. The cumulative effect of these policies has been to discourage U. S. investment and send U. S. companies outside the United States to produce new supplies. As a result, U. S. production has declined so much that nearly 60 percent of daily consumption comes from foreign sources. The problem of access can be solved in this country by the same government that has prohibited it. Congress could have chosen to lift some or all of the current restrictions on exportation and production of oil and gas. Congress could provide national policy to reverse the persistent decline of domestically secure natural resource development." Later in the hearing, Senator Orrin Hatch walked Hofmeister through the Democrats' latest efforts to block energy independence: HATCH: I want to get into that. In other words, we're talking about Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. It's fair to say that they're not considered part of America's $22 billion of proven reserves. HOFMEISTER: Not at all. HATCH: No, but experts agree that there's between 800 billion to almost 2 trillion barrels of oil that could be recoverable there, and that's good oil, isn't it? HOFMEISTER: That's correct. HATCH: It could be recovered at somewhere between $30 and $40 a barrel? HOFMEISTER: I think those costs are probably a bit dated now, based upon what we've seen in the inflation... HATCH: Well, somewhere in that area. HOFMEISTER: I don't know what the exact cost would be, but, you know, if there is more supply, I think inflation in the oil industry would be cracked. And we are facing severe inflation because of the limited amount of supply against the demand. HATCH: I guess what I'm saying, though, is that if we started to develop the oil shale in those three states we could do it within this framework of over $100 a barrel and make a profit. HOFMEISTER: I believe we could. HATCH: And we could help our country alleviate its oil pressures. HOFMEISTER: Yes. HATCH: But they're stopping us from doing that right here, as we sit here. We just had a hearing last week where Democrats had stopped the ability to do that, in at least Colorado. HOFMEISTER: Well, as I said in my opening statement, I think the public policy constraints on the supply side in this country are a disservice to the American consumer. The committee's Democrats attempted no response. They know that they are largely responsible for the current high price of gasoline, and they want the price to rise even further. Consequently, they have no intention of permitting the development of domestic oil and gas reserves that would both increase this country's energy independence and give consumers a break from constantly increasing energy costs. Every once in a while, Congressional hearings turn out to be informative.
My job is 30 miles away. Our Honda Ridgeline gets 15mpg, which is what I have to drive most days. We have a KIA Spectra but another member of the family drives that (26mpg). It takes 2 gallons to get to work, and two gallons to get back home pretty much. So I'm spending roughly $15.60 a day in gas, just for work (It's $3.90 a gallon here). 5 days a week, that ends up being $78 a week, or $312 a month.
Every job near us pays about $6, but at my job 30 miles away I earn $10.50. If gas doubles, or rather, is around $7.75, it won't be worth it to drive to work anymore. I'm better off getting stuck in a crappy fast food job down the street, and I'll probably still make out with more money. There's not much I can do if gas gets that high. So probably around $7.50 I'd end up quitting my job for a closer one.
The worst part is that that's just for work. Going to see my girlfriend is becoming a big hassle because of gas costs (not to mention going out to eat, or to go out and do anything), nor does that include going to school (which is also about 25 miles away). At this rate, it's better off to just spend the money I have on a small plot of land, put up a tent, and grow a garden, eating as meagerly as possible. *Shrug* It's getting insane.
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driving's too much of a necessity in our household. we'd cut back, though, on a lot of shopping trips and instead start ordering our books, cds, rpgs, etc. on-line to maximize our hybrids which would be used primarily for work and family functions. heck, may even try gaming via those virtual tables :)
An interesting article: Oil Executives Try to Educate Senate Democrats, But Democrats Appear Hopeless
*spoiler omitted*
Source and date, please. Some of the figures in that article appear...suspect, depending on when it was written.
Any truth to the news bulletin I just read that US truck drivers have problems with people stealing their gas e.g. when they're at lunch?This happened in the 70s, people siphoned gas out of cars because of the OPEC crunch. And yeah, I've had gas siphoned out of my tank pretty recently. Very annoying. For what it's worth, locking gas caps only cost about $20 or so, so you can replace a standard gas cap fairly inexpensively. Less expensive than losing a bunch of fuel. :P
It's getting bad around here. They've given up on siphoning and instead drill / punch holes in the tanks themselves. An empty tank plus a $300-500 repair job.
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Source and date, please. Some of the figures in that article appear...suspect, depending on when it was written.An interesting article: Oil Executives Try to Educate Senate Democrats, But Democrats Appear Hopeless
*spoiler omitted*
and what about the 10+ billions in profits for exxon/mobil last qtr alone...
It's not all their fault. I understand that... but they should have some kind of social responsibility.
And the Auto makers are also to blame for cars that have crappy MPG. My old Honda '79 Accord rocked! It got 45+MPG...
Big SUV's are BIG money makers for the Auto guys but they are gas hogs... along with big pick up trucks.
It's just greed on their part. (All of 'their' = 'them'.)
:bah:
/removes tinfoil hat
I routinely drive from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, PA and back. Normally I drive it at 75mph and put in 13-15 gallons in for a one way trip. Last weekend I did an out and back. I drove 65 and used about 10 gallons the whole trip. On the way back I got a flat tire and ended up driving 150 miles at 45mph after putting the spare on. I used about 8 gallons.
I'm also checking into greyhound for future trips.
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...Every job near us pays about $6, but at my job 30 miles away I earn $10.50. If gas doubles, or rather, is around $7.75, it won't be worth it to drive to work anymore. I'm better off getting stuck in a crappy fast food job down the street, and I'll probably still make out with more money...
I love this concept (not really): the highly educated university graduate who...
-- can't afford to move into the city to bike/walk/take public transport to the office;
--but also can't afford the gas money to live outside the city and drive in to work, so...
-- they end up working two minimum wage jobs close to where they can afford to live;
---don't drive at all;
-- and spend 20 years paying off student loans for their now worthless education.
I routinely drive from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, PA and back. Normally I drive it at 75mph and put in 13-15 gallons in for a one way trip. Last weekend I did an out and back. I drove 65 and used about 10 gallons the whole trip. On the way back I got a flat tire and ended up driving 150 miles at 45mph after putting the spare on. I used about 8 gallons.
I'm also checking into greyhound for future trips.
I think people should start becoming "Volunteers". That is people should start voluntarily start driving slower (let's start with 65 mph max). And gradually get down to 60 mph or even 55 mph. If we are not careful, the government might get it in its head to drop the official speed limit down to 55 mph like it was in the 70's. And then on those days when someone really needs to go 65-70 mph, they won't (legally) have that option.
They'd be volunteering to be shot at around here. :)
On the non-flippant side of things, I am growing concerned that high travel costs will create an insular society. I wonder if message boards are seeing a boost in population as people spend more time at home?
See ya later guys, gotta walk to work, now.
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The best part is that this is the first step in ushering in the new age of Virtual Living. Even now, the Governments of the world are united in developing a robot servitor race who will tend to the machines required to sustain our inert, gel-encased bodies, our very life essences recycled into the necessary power to mobilize our body attendants. From this perfect state of inaction we may continue to fight wars, murder each other, make business, build roads, and so on, but virtually! Think, The Matrix.
No need for actual cars then, eh?
I'm going to be the captain of a Battlestar in my Virtual Life!
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No matter what the reasons are and who's at fault, what sucks is that it has effected my driving habits in a big way. I rarely go anywhere anymore unless it's imperative.
Some of the ways it has effected me:
The Cons...
1-I play with one DnD group only, once a week. Sucks!
2-I do have things i need to do on nearly a daily basis, now i am finding myself delaying everything as much as possible, so as to cram all my errands into one day.
3-I have a fully-loaded Jeep Cherokee that looks nice just sitting in front of my house
4-I have a near mint condition '88 Vette sitting in my garage... collecting dust.
5-I wanted to get my Masters in Clinical Pyschology but didnt want to commit to the 4 days a week drive due to ever increasing gas prices. Therefore, i am now in an Executive MBA program, online... fully accredited.
6-Carpool with friend as much as possible whenever i need to go anywhere of any distance.
The Pros...
1-I write one novel a month (300-400 pgs), all dark and gritty fantasy, and Sci Fi.
2-I read 4 novels a month.
3-I write modules for DnD, WFRP, old Traveller and old GammaWorld. Approx. 1 for each game, a year (100+ pages, minimum, per module), depending on my mood. Including Artwork.
4-And the coolest of all: I have created my own gaming world with rules included. I even plan to write supporting novels for it. The rules are genius, logical, and easily understandable. This should be no surprise, i am a Mindflayer, after all. Who knows, maybe i will make a killing on my books and game design, one day.
Thoth-Amon