Gasoline Madness;When to Stop

[K3ZS]

When I worked at Penn State, you got a pension.    In later years you were stuck there and put up with a lot of crap because they knew you would not leave with only a few more years left.  What a relief it was to finally retire from that sort of situation.    People now have much more freedom to change jobs and make their lives better with the portable and self managed retirement opportunities like 401 and 403 plans.    If we get universal health care, you won't be stuck with an employer if you have a chronic health condition, providing even more employment freedom.

[W1ATR]

I don't know if this made the headlines, but locally a smart dude had one of those big pick-um-up trucks with duals and the "fifth wheel" hauling a huge box van. He would pull up over the fill ports of a gas station and siphon out thousands of dollars worth of Deisel fuel. I think they caught up with him from the station's showing the video from the security cam and the ever watchful public gave police a tip.

Fred

Thats kinda funny ... unless its your gas station.   

http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=90551&catid=3

Yeah, this was my personal favorite. Pretty slick using the diesel engine to suck a vacuum on the storage tank in the trailer. No loud pumps whining, or other noise to attract attention. I had a piece of equipment with a diesel that started to runaway from engine oil bypassing the turbo bearing seal. I ripped off the air cleaner and the only thing handy was a chunk of cardboard so I stuck it over the air inlet to the plenum and the engine crinkled it up and sucked it in all is less than a second. It got jammed in front of the turbo and finally stopped the engine before it grenaded. Never saw anyting like it.

[k3zrf]

Not a single wild honeybee to be seen around the farm this year. There are a few solitary and bumblebees, though. Result: Six marble-sized green apples between our two large trees this year.

I am not surprised by your observation. The past two years here on the east coast (PA, NJ, DE, MD) produced less than normal counts on our sometimes pesky honey bees, however, this year (2008) I have seen much greater numbers in PA and NJ. One theory to the hive collapse(s) was a virus contracted from 'bee farms' internationally imported here. If so it certainly took a noticeable toll in the east but a rebound in numbers appears to be on its way.

[N1ESE]

In 2008 with gas at $4.00/gal I have to work 1.68 minutes to buy a gallon.

DILLIGAF?

Your salary is no where close to the average Americans salary.  It's nice when one can sit in their ivory tower and look down on the little people until the day you become the little people.

[W1ATR]

OUCH, tough crowd. It looks like he's a geologist, so that's probably inline for his type of work. I say congrats. Good thing he's not one of us sexy HVAC pro's, you guys would really be tearing him up. We wouldn't get out of bed for 143 bux an hour. $169/hr 1st hour PLUS parts and tax and fuel surcharge, yes, we are on our way.

If it makes anyone feel better, Joe Walsh (forgot his call) has to work 3.75 seconds to earn a gallon of gas. 

Yes, if O gets in, we're all going to get it. So get in line and drop your drawers, because NOBODY is going to be exempt from a tax raping come April.

(I modified it, so you don't have to delete the post hidden post sniper, I saw that, lol.)

[k4kyv]

Ross Perot always was fond of charts.

Suicial Spending

[ka3zlr]

Well, in 1980 a price of a gallon was what, and your salary was what, Today..? and I don't even want to discuss medical..at this point anything 12 dollars and under makes Welfare look mighty equitable, and more so depending on children.

Again yesterday in the paper somebody got punctured while sitting at their home...imagine getting up for work and being defeated before you start...

[K6JEK]

Ross Perot always was fond of charts.

Suicial Spending

I remember hearing someplace that at the time Social Security was started,  the average life expectancy was 65, the age it kicked in.  It was a thin safety net for the few who lived longer and was supported by the many who were younger.  It's not that now.

[ka3zlr]

Well the whole thing is a Mockery, and deregulation was demanded...wait till the electric is opened up..we're just seeing the beginning here.

Now if you happen to be on the supply side...hey life is good..business never been better...Demand is high.

[Ed/KB1HYS]

Social Security was a big mistake on the part of the Gov, and the people for two reasons.

First, you just CAN"T TRUST the Governement with money, period, it doesn't matter what party is in control. (Something Trillion dollar DEFICIT???) (this is also what scares the HELL out of me about the Socialist Medical policies that some people seem to favor...)

Second,  You can't absolve a person of their responsibility to take care of themselves. Unless your desire is to have the populace become dependant upon said Government for more and more, which does make it easier to control the populace.

A better plan would have been one that encouraged savings with incentives (taxes etc) and provided education in financial managment.  Anyone with a full time job should be able to put some cash away.  It would not be easy, but it can be done. People would have to not have certain luxury items that Americans in general are just convinced that they can't live without. For example, Do you REALLY need Cable TV? (NO, but peer pressure says you do). Average Cable bill ~$100/month x 12 months = 1200/yr savings.  Don't even get me started on Cell phones... I hear some of the girls at work complain about how they have "no money" but have just spent X on a new cell with plan with phones for all the kids etc, or IPOD etc.  They HAD money, they just CHOSE to spend it on something they didn't really need instead of saving it and investing for their OWN future.

[W1ATR]

I agree. People seem to have lost all ability to manage money. Everyone's heard the saying, "Chicken today, feathers tomorrow."

I place some of the blame on the advertising that's stuffed into everyone's face every minute of every day, but that's only part of the problem. Credit cards have completely killed the savings account. People used to have to save money for a period of time to purchase a specific item they desire, now they just whip out the plastic, and carry they're new "un-necessity" out the door, and repeat the same ritual at another store, for a different item.

My personal experience with this is sorta amusing to me at least. Being an HVAC service company, I work on what's literally, "THE MOST EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT IN ALMOST ANY HOUSE", bar none. Forget the electrical, forget the plumbing and the lawn, and etc.... When the heating or cooling equipment goes down, this crap is expensive to fix. With expensive parts and labor, a small repair averages between 300-500 dollars and can go from there to the sky.

Now on to the example: I'll receive a call for a "no cooling" lets say. I'll get them scheduled, explain the cost's involved with a service visit, and they all set to go. I'll get there, they'll show me to the equipment, I'll troubleshoot it, and usually within a few minutes, I can give them a final cost to get the problem/failure fixed. (Here's the part that really gets me going.) First response, OMG, it's going to cost how much, I don't have any money, blah blah blah. Sometimes they'll say," Let me call my wife/husband", then they'll whip out a $600 apple iPhone or something like that.

I don't know if it's just me getting tired of hearing the same old broken record about being broke and so forth, yet, they have two brand new cars in the driveway, a monster TV, and all sorts of electronics, the latest cell phone, etc.., all the while, the heating/cooling equip is running with absolutely NO MAINTENANCE since new, and everyone's suddenly surprised when it digs it's own hole and crawls in.

I'm the kinda person that likes to help people. In the winter, if I get there, and I can clearly see they're just managing to get along, I'll do whatever it takes just to get the heat back on. I'm not the kinda jerk that'll walk away from a customer in need just because of a few bucks. I have more parts in my shop than most wholesalers and we can always manage to get something running, even if only temporary. We did a boiler a few years back for an old lady up the road from me. Her boiler crapped itself, she had no family around, and barely enough money on SSI to make it every month. I talked it over with another buddy of mine that's also bandaided this specific customers boiler a few times in the past. She was (passed away now) always so nice to us, never ever had a bad thing to say, so we decided to split the cost on a cheap boiler and go put it in. We showed up after working call all day at 8pm and she was there with electric heaters and a blanket. We left at 4am with the heat running and the house coming up to temp. True story. 

 

[Opcom]

they always used to whine and moan about the money at the TV shop too.

[ka3zlr]

Not to Change the subject, but where the hell's the savings bonds, man i had a slue of those at one time now you really don't hear much about em...Invest in the country man i always did that...then they hired some guru who knows everything and my company dismissed them...that really bummed me out...

[Ed/KB1HYS]

I agree. People seem to have lost all ability to manage money. Everyone's heard the saying, "Chicken today, feathers tomorrow."

BIG SNIP

 so we decided to split the cost on a cheap boiler and go put it in. We showed up after working call all day at 8pm and she was there with electric heaters and a blanket. We left at 4am with the heat running and the house coming up to temp. True story. 

Thats a great story.  I wish we could hear more of those than the crap that get's force fed about so called Celebrety ShizHeads...  Might actually inspire other people act humane to eachother for a change.

Not to Change the subject, but where the hell's the savings bonds, man i had a slue of those at one time now you really don't hear much about em...Invest in the country man i always did that...then they hired some guru who knows everything and my company dismissed them...that really bummed me out...

Unfortunately, savings bonds just don't pay enough anymore to attract a lot of attention. They are pretty safe (for now) but I think the HUGE deficit is scaring people away from investing in the country (Read that as paying more money to the guys in WASHINGTON who can't balance the checkbook). I used to buy them automatically when I was a young GI. cashed them in at the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston to help pay for the new Baby way back when...

[W1ATR]

Here's a vid a buddy sent me.

Your oil dollars hard at work. (pause button works if the reading is too fast for ya.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyMDnJEX5wQ

[ka3zlr]

Fantastic Video, Capitalism at it's finest... ....look at that growth....

[WB2RJR]

Looks good Jack......but what are they MAKING.

Nothing.

When their oil runs out they will be back in the Middle Ages.

Try and name one product the people of Dubai make or Arabs in general.

If you thought oil, American geologists and petroleum engineers have been producing that for them for many years. For all of history and today there are more rigs drilling for oil and gas in the U.S. than in the entire rest of the world.

America has more reservers in oil, coal, natural gas and uranium then all the "piss..ants" in the Middle East could ever imagine.

All we need to do is get to work, and develop it.

73, Marty

P.S. Bill KD0HG

Send me, by PM, the section, township and range of your property.
I'll check out all the data at the Oil and Gas Commission next week and let you know if I see anything that could be promising.

If there is, we will need to talk about possible options.

Could be nothing, or it could be good enough that because of what we have to do, you will learn everything about putting your own oil and gas drilling deal together.

Could make you money now, or teach you how to make money later.

73,

Marty, WB2RJR

[WA1GFZ]

Marty the problem is these XXXXXX are here buying up everything they can including the electric co. I get my juice from. So yes they will live in the stone age but rule here.

[K6JEK]

Another way to end the gasoline madness:  Print your power plant

New Thin Film Solar Cell Coater Reaches 1 GW Annual Output.

The San Jose-based company calls the machine a “milestone in solar technology” and while usually such language is standard PR hyperbole, considering that 10-30MW in annual production through other methods is usual, the 1 gigawatt annual throughput of this coater really is a cut above.

Nanosolar says the way in which it can achieve such high levels of production is through its proprietary nanoparticle ink, which allows them to simply print their highly efficient (up to 14.5%) solar cells at rates up to 100 feet per minute.

The cost of the coater is $1.65 million, which is significantly less expensive that vacuum process tools, as well as being much faster in operation.

Nanosolar began shipping its first panels last December.

Cool video:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9972306-54.html

longer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDPdBdFHTSM

Batteries. We need better batteries then sayonara to this whole internal combustion business.  Dubai can keep their damned oil, Putin too, and the Saudis.

[Bill, KD0HG]

Marty, I've sent the info to you via PM...Look for  it...

HG

[WA1GFZ]

What we need to do is build nuke plants and save liquid fuel for cars and trucks. Or go after the frozen gas off the coast. Everyone went for oil in the middle east because it was easy to find and the idiots in charge were even easier to bribe.
We need to stop sending our cash outside this country and balance trade or we will become surfs in time
It is finally nice to see all the wind and solar stuff taking off but we need to make sure they are not owned by the same sleeze balls screwing us now.
Wait till the pinch off supply- create demand gang has all the water rights.

[K6JEK]

What we need to do is build nuke plants and save liquid fuel for cars and trucks. Or go after the frozen gas off the coast. Everyone went for oil in the middle east because it was easy to find and the idiots in charge were even easier to bribe.
We need to stop sending our cash outside this country and balance trade or we will become surfs in time
It is finally nice to see all the wind and solar stuff taking off but we need to make sure they are not owned by the same sleeze balls screwing us now.
Wait till the pinch off supply- create demand gang has all the water rights.

You're never going to own a nuclear power plant. They'll be owned by the usual suspects.  But you can own PV panels on your roof.  If you had an electric car you wouldn't need to tank it up at Exxon-Mobil or from your friendly local utility.  Good PV panels are here now.   Cheaper ones are on the way. All we need is better batteries for cars & trucks.  Leave the liquid fuels for planes.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

But the "usual suspects" will still build the cars and the batteries. You'll never be free.

The immediate answer is to buy a used car that gets good gas mileage.

Pound for pound, making a Prius contributes more carbon to the atmosphere than making a Hummer, largely due to the environmental cost of the 30 pounds of nickel in the hybrid’s battery. Of course, the hybrid quickly erases that carbon deficit on the road, thanks to its vastly superior fuel economy. Still, the comparison suggests a more sensible question. If a new Prius were placed head-to-head with a used car, would the Prius win? Don’t bet on it. Making a Prius consumes 113 million BTUs, according to sustainability engineer Pablo Päster. A single gallon of gas contains about 113,000 Btus, so Toyota’s green wonder guzzles the equivalent of 1,000 gallons before it clocks its first mile. A used car, on the other hand, starts with a significant advantage: The first owner has already paid off its carbon debt. Buy a decade-old Toyota Tercel, which gets a respectable 35 mpg, and the Prius will have to drive 100,000 miles to catch up.

What we need to do is build nuke plants and save liquid fuel for cars and trucks. Or go after the frozen gas off the coast. Everyone went for oil in the middle east because it was easy to find and the idiots in charge were even easier to bribe.
We need to stop sending our cash outside this country and balance trade or we will become surfs in time
It is finally nice to see all the wind and solar stuff taking off but we need to make sure they are not owned by the same sleeze balls screwing us now.
Wait till the pinch off supply- create demand gang has all the water rights.

You're never going to own a nuclear power plant. They'll be owned by the usual suspects.  But you can own PV panels on your roof.  If you had an electric car you wouldn't need to tank it up at Exxon-Mobil or from your friendly local utility.  Good PV panels are here now.   Cheaper ones are on the way. All we need is better batteries for cars & trucks.  Leave the liquid fuels for planes.

[WA1GFZ]

Tom Friedman summed it up very well on NBC this morning on how the pushers keep the junkies hooked. (for the past 30 years)

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Yup. No one used oil before 30 years ago. Friedman is an idiot.

Tom Friedman summed it up very well on NBC this morning on how the pushers keep the junkies hooked. (for the past 30 years)