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Author Topic: Gasoline Madness;When to Stop  (Read 351169 times)
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Bill, KD0HG
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304-TH - Workin' it


« Reply #575 on: August 13, 2008, 01:16:47 AM »

Derb, I understand your point and it's a good one. Without modern 20th Century medicine I would have been dead at 8 years old, 20, and then again 10 years ago.

Nevertheless, I am suggesting that progress comes with a price. Part of the price is that we're designed to chase bears out of our caves once a month, not deal with them every day.
Know what I'm saying?
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WA1GFZ
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« Reply #576 on: August 13, 2008, 08:57:36 AM »

Jared,
I'm not worried, I don't think she can find Enfield. I hear she wants to change her name to Sgt. Schultz. (I know nothing...Today we have a surplus but it will be gone by the weekend)  BTW, Joe Courtney is a great guy. I have regular emails with him.
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W1RKW
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« Reply #577 on: August 13, 2008, 03:53:19 PM »

So why is it so evil to make a profit?  That's what people in business do, work hard to earn profits.  Instead of complaining, buy stock in OIL Co's - I wish I had done that long ago... 

I did that several years ago and I'm glad I did it.  It offset some costs.

You may just as well blame the automotive industry for selling us cars.  If it wasn't for the American Love affair with the automobile, we'd be a lot better off energy wise.  Unfortunately the Automobile and the image it provides has become so engrained in our culture that we won't easily give it up.  We are a society of commuters/suburbia dwellers.  In order to make mass transit effective we would have to make some indepth changes to our way of THINKING, and how we live/work.

I agree that the auto is ingrained because of status but is it really a status symbol?  I mean after all we all have the same boring looking autos. They all look the same to some extent.

That is a classic socialist redistrubution of wealth.  Everyone likes that idea, until its time to redistribute YOUR wealth. 

It's always different when its someone elses money.
 
Couldn't agree more.
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Bob
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Ed/KB1HYS
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« Reply #578 on: August 13, 2008, 06:04:35 PM »

I agree that the auto is ingrained because of status but is it really a status symbol?  I mean after all we all have the same boring looking autos. They all look the same to some extent.

the styling has become more mundane, but why do people buy huge 4x4 SUV's in an almost totally urban environment?  Because a huge-assed SUV says something. Like I really need to jump in the Escalade or Hummer to run to the store for a gallon of milk?Huh

The need for the auto was manufactured. Now we are stuck with it because we have developled our communities into suburbs with no common links to where people work/live as well as great distances to go to get even basic requirements like food. (can you walk to your local grocer?) 

Pre automobile, people would live in the same town they worked in at least. Each town would have the neccesities available like groceries, hardware, a doctor(maybe) etc. You would know your neighbor because you probably worked with him, and maybe sat next to him in church on sunday.   If people had to go to the City or somewhere Else, the would probably have ridden a train. (still one of the most efficient methodes of moving people or freight per ton/mile).   

We will probably not be able to get people to adopt a greener-less automobile required society in GENERATIONS, if ever, unless they were forced.   Americans are notorious for coming to believe that Luxury items are absolute necessities after a while...


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73 de Ed/KB1HYS
Happiness is Hot Tubes, Cold 807's, and warm room filling AM Sound.
 "I've spent three quarters of my life trying to figure out how to do a $50 job for $.50, the rest I spent trying to come up with the $0.50" - D. Gingery
W8EJO
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« Reply #579 on: August 13, 2008, 08:31:20 PM »


the styling has become more mundane, but why do people buy huge 4x4 SUV's .........................

We will probably not be able to get people to adopt a greener-less automobile required society in GENERATIONS, if ever, unless they were forced.   Americans are notorious for coming to believe that Luxury items are absolute necessities after a while...

The SUV was a market response to government control of the marketplace. Before the late 70's families bough STATION WAGONS to hall their kids & groceries around but the gov't mandates of the CAFE standards made station wagons impossible to build. The demand was still there so the auto makers used the truck chassis instead of the auto chassis to satisfy the demand (trucks wre exempt from CAFE), hence the SUV.

In general, most Americans love freedom including the freedom to move from place to place when, where & by what means they desire (the very essence of liberty as in life, liberty & the pursuit etc...) and I pray they never loose their love of freedom.



 
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Terry, W8EJO

Freedom and liberty - extremist ideas since 1776.
k4kyv
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Don
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« Reply #580 on: August 13, 2008, 09:07:48 PM »

A mini-van is a far better alternative to the station wagon than a SUV.  The fuel economy is better, although not tremendously.  But the van is more comfortable and has more passenger room inside.
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Don, K4KYV                                       AMI#5
Licensed since 1959 and not happy to be back on AM...    Never got off AM in the first place.

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Pete, WA2CWA
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« Reply #581 on: August 13, 2008, 09:21:51 PM »

A mini-van is a far better alternative to the station wagon than a SUV.  The fuel economy is better, although not tremendously.  But the van is more comfortable and has more passenger room inside.

Plus, you can stow the seats in some and/or take them out, to make a true van with some class. I've been driving mini-vans since 94. Love those things. Great for flea markets.
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Pete, WA2CWA - "A Cluttered Desk is a Sign of Genius"
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« Reply #582 on: August 13, 2008, 09:26:13 PM »

I prefer an extended cap pick up. Seats 4, flip the seat up and store stuff inside locked. 6 1/2 foot bed will easily carry 4 by 8 sheet of plywood with the gate down. It has a real frame under it.
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W1ATR
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« Reply #583 on: August 13, 2008, 09:58:46 PM »

Yeah, but 'cha can't do this with a minivan. Grin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2VHSbI2eR0
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Jared W1ATR


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Pete, WA2CWA
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« Reply #584 on: August 13, 2008, 11:45:53 PM »

I prefer an extended cap pick up. Seats 4, flip the seat up and store stuff inside locked. 6 1/2 foot bed will easily carry 4 by 8 sheet of plywood with the gate down. It has a real frame under it.

Yep, the mini-van here can carry 4 by 8 sheets of plywood even with all 5 seats behind the driver and passenger sheets still in place (with 2 folded over and 3 tucked into the floor and the hatchback closed. With the two folded over seats removed, total cargo volume is about 149 cubic feet. And it has a very peppy V6.

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Pete, WA2CWA - "A Cluttered Desk is a Sign of Genius"
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« Reply #585 on: August 14, 2008, 10:56:25 AM »

I got a PC Cruiser.  - call it a mini-mini van. Believe it or not by taking out one rear seat, I got a 52" plasma HDTV (in the box) home in it - rear gate completey closed.

Four x eight plywood does have to lie at an angle and the rear gate is up but tied down, but I can haul it.  Eight foot aluminum antenna tubing is placed between the front seats extending to the rear and the rear gate can be closed.

My only complaint is that the milage isn't as hot as a comparable Japanese OHV 4 cylinder engine but at 25 mpg isn't too bad.

Sue and I even slept in it at the last Howard County fester with a 6'8" by 5' wide blow-up mattress. Had to take out rear seats (simple latches) and running the front seats up to the stop. Uh, with two big people, not super comfortable but that wasn't the cars fault.  Grin
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RICK  *W3RSW*
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« Reply #586 on: August 14, 2008, 11:44:22 AM »

I have a small SUV.    I got it to pull my camper and to get around in the snow, things my Honda Accord won't do.   What i don't get, why people in Florida by 4WD vehicles unless they plan on driving around on sand or in mud.
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W9GT
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« Reply #587 on: August 14, 2008, 12:21:25 PM »

A mini-van is a far better alternative to the station wagon than a SUV.  The fuel economy is better, although not tremendously.  But the van is more comfortable and has more passenger room inside.

Plus, you can stow the seats in some and/or take them out, to make a true van with some class. I've been driving mini-vans since 94. Love those things. Great for flea markets.

Yeah Pete, gotta agree with that!  We have been driving Grand Caravans (One was a Voyager) since '86.  We love them even though they are considered "un cool" by some of the younger set.  I get 25 MPG on the highway with our '05 (3.8L V-6) and that is not bad for a van, however, my '92 got over 30 MPG on the highway.  It had a smaller V-6.  We have had an '86, a '92, a '99 and presently an '05.  The only one that we had problems with was the '86 that had a Mitsubishi 4 cyl engine.  Those things self-destructed after about 60-70K miles.  Seems that the overhead cam would not get oiled properly and would eventually freeze up, destroying the head, if not the whole engine.  Ironically, the 4 cyl didn't get any better mileage than the V-6.  Anyway, the minivan is really nice for trips and going to hamfests, etc.  Lots of room for passengers and cargo and rides comfortably.  Wonder if they will come out with a hybrid version?

73,  Jack, W9GT

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73, Jack, W9GT
Pete, WA2CWA
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« Reply #588 on: August 14, 2008, 01:51:47 PM »

I remember several years ago WA1SSJ sold me a 30 foot, 3 section, aluminum tower at a hamfest. Besides bringing home what I didn't sell, boxes, widgets, and other loose stuff, the 3 sections fit in the mini-van, and I was able to close the rear hatch. The V6 gets great mileage. I could consider upgrading to a hybrid version if cargo space and performance was just as good.
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Pete, WA2CWA - "A Cluttered Desk is a Sign of Genius"
k4kyv
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Don
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« Reply #589 on: August 14, 2008, 11:41:58 PM »

Scientists are genetically engineering bacteria to produce an oil alternative.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/08/12/bug.diesel/
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Don, K4KYV                                       AMI#5
Licensed since 1959 and not happy to be back on AM...    Never got off AM in the first place.

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w4bfs
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« Reply #590 on: August 15, 2008, 08:34:00 AM »

hmmmm ... now if we could make that e-coli compatible with the e-coli in the human gut ... poop could go for $ / barrel  (appropriate emoticon) ... beefus
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Beefus

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It would from many blunders free us.         Robert Burns
kb3ouk
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« Reply #591 on: August 15, 2008, 10:57:12 AM »

we have a pt cruiser here, and when you take the seats out , you can haul a good bit of stuff in it. i see all kinds of gas hogging cars go past here every day, seeing that i live right along the pa turnpike. i ought to sit beside it some day and count the number of SUVs that go by in an hour. probably close to about 3-5 a minute, or 180-300 an hour. that's just a guess.
shelby kb3ouk
ps- i think this could be a new record:592 replies!
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WA1GFZ
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« Reply #592 on: August 15, 2008, 11:25:13 AM »

I wonder what the excuse will be for fuel oil price this winter. I suspect there is a lot around now since the demand for gas is down. I bet the oil Co.s are refining fuel oil to keep the crude inventory down to hide the lack of demand.
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Steve - WB3HUZ
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« Reply #593 on: August 15, 2008, 11:42:29 AM »

They are also hiding the alien technology from Roswell that would end all of our energy problems. But back to the real world, diesel is still in short supply, so it's unlikely refineries are needlessly making fuel oil, especially with the new ULSD regs.


I wonder what the excuse will be for fuel oil price this winter. I suspect there is a lot around now since the demand for gas is down. I bet the oil Co.s are refining fuel oil to keep the crude inventory down to hide the lack of demand.
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WA1GFZ
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« Reply #594 on: August 15, 2008, 11:53:59 AM »

Your smart looking dog knows all about alien technology and leaves a hunk or 2 of it on the lawn each day.
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W3RSW
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Rick & "Roosevelt"


« Reply #595 on: August 15, 2008, 12:07:48 PM »

Well you can put it on your tomato plants.
Personally, I and the continental Indians will use it in our plots."
 Grin
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RICK  *W3RSW*
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« Reply #596 on: August 15, 2008, 02:47:16 PM »

That dog is smart. She sleeps most of the day, gets free food and has a yard to crap in. WTF? I need a gig like that!


Well you can put it on your tomato plants.
Personally, I and the continental Indians will use it in our plots."
 Grin
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WA1GFZ
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« Reply #597 on: August 15, 2008, 02:50:17 PM »

Steve,
You might consider crapping at night
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ka3zlr
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« Reply #598 on: August 15, 2008, 09:32:57 PM »

Well I always look at it like M.I.B., people tend to "think" they got a good bead on things...

But Imagine the potential....man we could get off this rock and stop pestering ourselves...of course then we'd pester everything out there..So I'll keep the dog... Smiley
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W1ATR
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« Reply #599 on: August 15, 2008, 11:20:47 PM »

They are also hiding the alien technology from Roswell that would end all of our energy problems. But back to the real world, diesel is still in short supply, so it's unlikely refineries are needlessly making fuel oil, especially with the new ULSD regs.


I wonder what the excuse will be for fuel oil price this winter. I suspect there is a lot around now since the demand for gas is down. I bet the oil Co.s are refining fuel oil to keep the crude inventory down to hide the lack of demand.

Been experimenting with waste oil to supplement the house this year. I burn it to heat the garage/shop already and I've been thinking of cutting the oil for the house with some this year. My waste oil (about 700gallons on hand now) is mostly home heating oil already because of my job, and the rest is used motor oil, tranny fluid, hydr fluid, and anything else flammable I could find. All filtered first to 10 microns, then to 5 microns and into a water separator. Had to change the pump on the burner to a 2 stage unit to deal with the thicker oil, change the safety to a new 3 second box, and add some better filtering(16 buck 4micron water filter from wally world). Tonight's first run looked pretty good. I had to knock the nozzle down from 1.00gph to a .85 to get the flame nice and stable and clean up the smoke. Damn burnham boiler is real picky about this. Combustion checked with the testo showed the effic right at 86%, so no change at all from straight red to the wmo concoction. GPH should be down with the smaller noz however. Fun to fool around with anyway. Some people chop wood, I'll chop waste oil. One thing for certain is the residential burner is way more finicky than I thought it would be. The OL just walked by and wants to know if any of you want to take bets on how long it'll be until the guys with the red trucks show up? She has no faith.

If I get my hands on a nice centrifuge, I'll run this poison in my truck as well.
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Don't start nuthin, there won't be nuthin.

Jared W1ATR


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