OT, but relevant

Nexis said:

NO GAS...On May 15, 2007

....

Quoted message said:

Here in San Diego, gas is over $3.50 in some places. It cost me $79 to fill
the other day. Meanwhile, Exxon is posting hundreds of billions of dollars in
profits...yet claims they have to cut production because the profit margins
have gotten too low?

Take a look at the following summary of the boycott idea on snopes.com:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/nogas.asp

The problem is a one day event won't do a damn thing, in spite of that mythical
boycott in April 1997. People have to change their habits long term, and so far
there seems to be very little inclination to do that. Gas probably will have to
get to $4/gallon for people to make any effort.

Some of the things people could do are unbelievably simple, but they can't be
bothered. Maybe if they were only speeding by 5 mph over the limit instead of 10
mph over. Maybe if they bought the bread and picked up the dry cleaning on the
same outing. But it's easier to blame the oil companies, the Arabs, the
government... just about anyone other than themselves.

I find the current situation almost humorous, after living through the gas
crises of 1974 and 1979. People just don't know what sacrifice is anymore.

--
wff_ng_7 (at) verizon (dot) net

Nexis said:

Don't pump gas on MAY 15Th

Wouldn't the real solution be "Don't drive your car on May 15th"?

So you fill up the day before or day after. WTF difference would
that make in the weeks' profits/sales? Zilch.

Duh. What an asinine proposal. Who's the group(s) that came up
with this brilliant idea?

-sw

wff_ng_7 said:

Take a look at the following summary of the boycott idea on
snopes.com:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/nogas.asp

The problem is a one day event won't do a damn thing, in spite of that
mythical boycott in April 1997. People have to change their habits
long term, and so far there seems to be very little inclination to do
that. Gas probably will have to get to $4/gallon for people to make
any effort.

We could probably find that being said not so long ago about two- and
three-buck gas. I suspect that shows that the Effort Threshhold
is always going to be just far enough out of reach that by the time
prices reach it a higher one will have replaced it. Paradoxically but
inaccurately, let's blame Zeno. 🙂

--
Blinky RLU 297263
Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html

"Blinky the Shark" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

wff_ng_7 said:

Take a look at the following summary of the boycott idea on
snopes.com:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/nogas.asp

The problem is a one day event won't do a damn thing, in spite of that
mythical boycott in April 1997. People have to change their habits
long term, and so far there seems to be very little inclination to do
that. Gas probably will have to get to $4/gallon for people to make
any effort.

We could probably find that being said not so long ago about two- and
three-buck gas. I suspect that shows that the Effort Threshhold
is always going to be just far enough out of reach that by the time
prices reach it a higher one will have replaced it. Paradoxically but
inaccurately, let's blame Zeno. 🙂

I definitely remember it being said that $2 gas and $3 gas would result in a
change. People only change their habits if the increase happens real fast so
that it is a shock... a real shock to their finances. Less than that, and the
only response is whining.

During the 1970s gas crises, habits did change fairly dramatically. It's hard to
say how much was motivated by the price and how much was motivated by the
shortages. If you literally have to park the car because of no gas stations
open, you tend to take some real action.

--
wff_ng_7 (at) verizon (dot) net

"Steve Wertz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Nexis said:

Don't pump gas on MAY 15Th

Wouldn't the real solution be "Don't drive your car on May 15th"?

So you fill up the day before or day after. WTF difference would
that make in the weeks' profits/sales? Zilch.

Duh. What an asinine proposal. Who's the group(s) that came up
with this brilliant idea?

-sw

a.f.f-f. ;-)

wff_ng_7 said:

"Blinky the Shark" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

wff_ng_7 said:

Take a look at the following summary of the boycott idea on
snopes.com:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/nogas.asp

The problem is a one day event won't do a damn thing, in spite of that
mythical boycott in April 1997. People have to change their habits
long term, and so far there seems to be very little inclination to do
that. Gas probably will have to get to $4/gallon for people to make
any effort.

We could probably find that being said not so long ago about two- and
three-buck gas. I suspect that shows that the Effort Threshhold
is always going to be just far enough out of reach that by the time
prices reach it a higher one will have replaced it. Paradoxically but
inaccurately, let's blame Zeno. 🙂

I definitely remember it being said that $2 gas and $3 gas would result in a
change. People only change their habits if the increase happens real fast so
that it is a shock... a real shock to their finances. Less than that, and the
only response is whining.

During the 1970s gas crises, habits did change fairly dramatically. It's hard to
say how much was motivated by the price and how much was motivated by the
shortages. If you literally have to park the car because of no gas stations
open, you tend to take some real action.

I'd say that the price increases were maddening and the shortages were
scary.

--
Blinky RLU 297263
Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html

Flounder said:

"Steve Wertz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Nexis said:

Don't pump gas on MAY 15Th

Wouldn't the real solution be "Don't drive your car on May 15th"?

So you fill up the day before or day after. WTF difference would
that make in the weeks' profits/sales? Zilch.

Duh. What an asinine proposal. Who's the group(s) that came up
with this brilliant idea?

-sw

a.f.f-f. ;-)

Ah! alt.functionless.fuel-foolishness

--
Blinky RLU 297263
Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html

Flounder said:

"Steve Wertz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Nexis said:

Don't pump gas on MAY 15Th

Wouldn't the real solution be "Don't drive your car on May 15th"?

So you fill up the day before or day after. WTF difference would
that make in the weeks' profits/sales? Zilch.

Duh. What an asinine proposal. Who's the group(s) that came up
with this brilliant idea?

a.f.f-f. ;-)

Trying to save the foolish, one french fry at a time.

-w

Nexis said:

Passing on this notice from a friend in Reno. Might be worth a try.

------------------

It was announced on the radio this morning that this summer gas prices are expected
to exceed $4.00 per gallon.
________________________________

NO GAS...On May 15, 2007

Don't pump gas on MAY 15Th

In April 1997, there was a "gas out" conducted nationwide in protest of gas prices.
Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon overnight.

On May 15Th 2007, all Internet users are urged to not go to a gas station in protest
of high gas prices. Gas is now over $3.00 a gallon in most places.

There are 73,000,000+ American members currently on the Internet network, and the
average car takes about 30 to 50 dollars to fill up.

If all users did not go to the pump on the 15Th, it would take $2,292,000,000 (that's
almost 3 BILLION) out of the oil companies' pockets for just one day, so please do
not go to the gas station on May 15Th and let's try to put a dent in the Middle
Eastern oil industry for at least one day.

If you agree, resend this to your contact list. ''Don't pump gas on May 15Th".

======================

Here in San Diego, gas is over $3.50 in some places. It cost me $79 to fill the other
day. Meanwhile, Exxon is posting hundreds of billions of dollars in profits...yet
claims they have to cut production because the profit margins have gotten too low?

kimberly

Don't think this will work at all, one thing to help with the gas
prices is to build more refinerys. We have had no new ones in many
years, the ones we have are often shut down at least partially to keep
up with the laws that different states have in effect.

Why are there no new ones under construction ? ( they take years to
build) No one wants a refinery in their back yard. Don't blame them I
don't either.
This is one of many things that can be done to help with the gas
prices, but it won't happen.

Rosie

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

Passing on this notice from a friend in Reno. Might be worth a try.

The intention is good but it's a dumb idea. If people don't buy their
gas that day they will just buy it some other day.

--
Peter Aitken

Peter A said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

Passing on this notice from a friend in Reno. Might be worth a try.

The intention is good but it's a dumb idea. If people don't buy their
gas that day they will just buy it some other day.

Sad, but true...

FWIW, we are paying the equivalent of USD1.00 per *liter* here in SA as
I type this. That's about $4.00 per gallon...
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

Passing on this notice from a friend in Reno. Might be worth a try.

The intention is good but it's a dumb idea. If people don't buy their
gas that day they will just buy it some other day.

Sad, but true...

FWIW, we are paying the equivalent of USD1.00 per *liter* here in SA as
I type this. That's about $4.00 per gallon...

Also worth considering - in the US we pay lower gas prices than any
other industrialized nation. This is because taxes on gas are so low
here and do not cover most of the indirect costs of high gasoline usage,
such as pollution, dependence on foreign oil, etc. Americans seem to
think that low gas prices are a right and don't realize that they are,
in effect, being subsidized.

I like my big, powerful, not-too-efficient car as much as anyone, but
would welcome a change in government policy to tax gas in a manner that
accurately reflects its costs to society.

People complaining about $4 gas get no sympathy from me.

--
Peter Aitken

Peter A said:

Also worth considering - in the US we pay lower gas prices than any
other industrialized nation. This is because taxes on gas are so low
here and do not cover most of the indirect costs of high gasoline usage,
such as pollution, dependence on foreign oil, etc. Americans seem to
think that low gas prices are a right and don't realize that they are,
in effect, being subsidized.

I like my big, powerful, not-too-efficient car as much as anyone, but
would welcome a change in government policy to tax gas in a manner that
accurately reflects its costs to society.

People complaining about $4 gas get no sympathy from me.

I specifically bought an "economical" car - gas/petrol-wise about 5
years ago because our gas/petrol prices have been more expensive than in
the US (for at least the last 20 years)... I also "plan" my
outings/errand runs so that I can do as much as possible in one "round
trip". Sure, many people here drive "gas-guzzlers" too - but then they
can afford it - I can't.
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

Chatty Cathy said:

FWIW, we are paying the equivalent of USD1.00 per *liter* here in SA as
I type this. That's about $4.00 per gallon...

From the hints being given in news reports, we will be at $4 or more by
midsummer.

gloria p

Peter A said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

Passing on this notice from a friend in Reno. Might be worth a try.

The intention is good but it's a dumb idea. If people don't buy their
gas that day they will just buy it some other day.

Right. Now, if everyone pledged to carpool or ride public transport
every day for a week, then maybe. But probably not.

While I'm not thrilled by $3+ gas, I also realize that it's not all
that bad on an inflation-adjusted basis.

Brian

--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)

"Chatty Cathy" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Sure, many people here drive "gas-guzzlers" too - but then they can afford
it - I can't.
--

Why would anyone want to, is what I don't get, unless you have
a huge family. I dislike having to maneuver large vehicles. I love
my little car, it gets 38-40 mpg.

Default User said:

Peter A said:

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

Passing on this notice from a friend in Reno. Might be worth a try.

The intention is good but it's a dumb idea. If people don't buy their
gas that day they will just buy it some other day.

Right. Now, if everyone pledged to carpool or ride public transport
every day for a week, then maybe. But probably not.

While I'm not thrilled by $3+ gas, I also realize that it's not all
that bad on an inflation-adjusted basis.

The price of gas is right around where it was in 1981, the previous peak on an
inflation adjusted basis. I don't see all that many people clamoring for fuel
efficient cars yet, not compared to back then. Not too many people cutting their
driving miles or their speed either. There's a lot of whining, but not a lot of
actual changes in habits or purchases.

I made changes back then. Among the cars I owned were a Pinto, a Vega, an
Escort, a Topaz, and a Taurus, all 4 cylinder cars. The Taurus was the real
powerhouse of those cars, it had a whopping 90 horsepower. Today the Taurus
replacement, the Ford 500 has 203 horsepower. A comparable Nissan Altima has 175
horesepower today. Has there been some "inflation" in horsepower over the years?
And those are relatively low powered cars. A Chevy Tahoe has 295 or 320
horsepower, depending on model.

Needless to say, I don't have a whole lot of sympathy for people that are
driving big SUVs on 50 mile each way commutes. I might commiserate with a Honda
Fit driver who stays close to home though! ;-)

--
wff_ng_7 (at) verizon (dot) net

Nexis said:

Here in San Diego, gas is over $3.50 in some places. It cost me $79 to fill
the other day. Meanwhile, Exxon is posting hundreds of billions of dollars in
profits...yet claims they have to cut production because the profit margins
have gotten too low?

Something was bugging me about those numbers. So I decided to do a little math.
$79 divided by $3.50 a gallon equals 22.6 gallons. Given the price paid might
have been less than $3.50 a gallon and the vehicle's gas tank was surely a bit
bigger capacity than what went into it, I'd say the gas in this vehicle is 25
gallons or over. That means one of two things: SUV or pickup truck. There aren't
any cars with gas tanks that big... unless you're driving a Rolls Royce or
Maybach.

I guess I'll leave it for others to comment on the propriety of an SUV driver
complaining about the price of gas.

--
wff_ng_7 (at) verizon (dot) net

cybercat said:

"Chatty Cathy" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Sure, many people here drive "gas-guzzlers" too - but then they can
afford it - I can't.
--

Why would anyone want to, is what I don't get, unless you have
a huge family. I dislike having to maneuver large vehicles. I love
my little car, it gets 38-40 mpg.

I've been driving the original SUVs, full-size Blazers, Broncos, etc.
since I was kid. I like them. I also live close to work. My 1995 Bronco
has 92K miles on it, it had 50K when I bought it late in 1999.

Even with the recent surge in prices, it's still less of an impact that
when I bought the first one in 1981, when gas was over a buck.

Brian

--
If televison's a babysitter, the Internet is a drunk librarian who
won't shut up.
-- Dorothy Gambrell (http://catandgirl.com)