Gas help

[pops-shop]

Didn't know where to put this one so I'll put it here.

Found a new web site that y'all might be interested to see (being the high prices of fuel these days).

http://www.gasbuddy.com/

I am not affiliated with this site, nor do I advertise for this site. I submit the site mearly for your information. -- fred

To quote the site:
"GasBuddy.com can help you find cheap gas prices in your city. It is a network of more than 173+ gas price information web sites that helps you find low gasoline prices. All web sites are operated by GasBuddy and has the most comprehensive listings of gas prices anywhere."

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Thanks Fred I think we all need the help but unfortunately the real people that can help us are sitting on their hands. I do not recall a presidency that has so many things going against him as this sitting president. The thing is whenever I see that sly, cunnining, unsincere smiling face on TV I want to throw something through it. We have a Governor here that is in office 100 days and already people want to hang him. He is another one of those big CEO's that bought the seat on his way to the precidency. Here is his idiotic proposals. He wants to lower the speed from 65 to 55. It was not that long ago we put it up to that. You know how much money it would cost to change the signs again? Not thinking!! He also thinks we can save money at the pumps if we switch to self serve gas pumps. We are one of two states to still have full service. We did a study of this a few years ago and the savings would be 2cents. yes 2 cents. How much did the oil companies make in profits the first quarter?? Was that with a "M" No that is a "B" He will give people $100 month to form a car pool. Then they can ride in the HOV lanes but can only go 55 with troopers stationed all over so they can write more tickets. This was tried many years ago and it was proven it is not feasible in NJ because we are so rural and spread out. We spent so much money on all these studys it would make your head spin. He is going to show us because he wants to trade his Suv for a smaller one.

I won't even go into the increase in sales tax and property tax proposals. This country is being slowly sold off right before our eyes.

[ctrotter]

Crawford's village idiot is "doin' a fine job!"

[GrayBeard Phil]

OK, Free-For-All about Gas Ideas:

Have you ever been to an airport, and seen those small shuttle buses that the Car Rental people have? They look like a big pickup truck frame with a bus like body on top; maybe 15 people max inside.

Today, almost all cities have a massive public run bus service that is slow, uncomfortable, and takes forever to get anywhere. Between WW II and the Korean conflict many major cities had several bus companies, some of these independent bus companies just served as local service to the suburbs. Some just ran buses in the suburbs from neighborhoods to the local train station for a ride into Major City, or at least to the express bus downtown.

So, let's pretend that we invent a modified public transportation mode and call it 'Private Commuter Limousine Services' or PCLS, which can be pronounced "PICKLES". Out of work people somehow get financial backing to purchase one of those shuttle buses things which can be fitted out in several different packages, from super luxury to basic seating. These shuttle buses are licensed as 'PICKLES' and the operator gets to make contracts with customers to provide door to door pick up and delivery. Morning to work, and evening back home.

Some operators will charge more per month and have large captain chairs with lots of leg room, computer outlets, and Hot coffee for a fee. Other operators charge economy class for ....well economy class seating. Object here is saving money and time. Private Enterprise getting helping hand to get started. (yes, a few will fail because of just plain lazy operators.) If a two SUV family can cut down to one SUV, big savings all around.

So many people live so far outside the cities; some spend as much as 65 minutes driving one way to work. Some of that time just waiting in stalled traffic. A car pool of 3 won't work. Private Limo service for 10 could be profitable even with only 8 active contracts.

All of us know that car pooling don't work, and never will. This is not car pooling, this is a straight forward business deal. If there is a problem, don't renew the contract.

This will not be for everyone, and this idea needs an advertisement agency as "PICKLES" will have everyone thinking about being stuffed like pickles in a jar on the way to work. And just think of the busy body gov't agencies that get to issue big thick books on rates, insurance, or even paint jobs for these pickle buses. And then the employment for all the repair shops, and safety inspectors for the buses. Big employment boost.

Trust me, this idea needs lots of improvements, and most likely would never pass muster by voters.

Phil

[pops-shop]

I, personally, have the perfect job. My morning commute varies depending on weather. Great days I saunder down to the shop - on rainy days, the umbrella goes up and I go a little faster - an really bad days, I speed up even more. Bad days takes about 1 minute - good days can take aupwards to 3 minutes.

Don't have to worry about car pools, train or bus schedules. It's great to be retired :eek:

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Rub it in Fred go ahead. Hey you worked for it so enjoy and continue to put out those beautiful projects. :)

[William Young]

Good one Fred;
Retirement does has its advantages apart from the aches and pains of the golden years .
I have a regular habit of meeting about a dozen musicians and woodworkers for coffee in town almost every day at 10.00 AM like clockwork.. It's ten kilometers each way from home but I could be doing worse and doesn't cost all that much with a little Hyundai Accent with a rated 46 mpg although I have never got more than 42 mpg out of it.

I seldom go in my shop before lunch but we do a lot of kidding at the coffee shop and say we have to get back to work and maybe put in some double time and a half overtime. Overtime means anything over two hours. :D
W.Y.

[pops-shop]

JT mentioned:

How much did the oil companies make in profits the first quarter?? Was that with a "M" No that is a "B"

I guess with me being a psuedo tactition, I look at it another way. Yes, "profits" were up (duh, gas prices were up)
Yes, cost per barrel of crud oil was up
Yes, cost of manufacturing was up

However - and this is what most folks don't look at

Their profit margin has remained the same (about 8%)

So it costs the producers somewhere around 1.50 to 1.65 a gallon to make, That means they make about 12-13 cents per gallon.
Tree huggers have made the producers change blends so often that I'm surprised to see that any fuel gets produced. And all of these blends lowers the average MPG that vehicles can get. Car manufacturers seem to always be playing catch up.
The retailer makes maybe 15-17 cents per gallon.
The feds make about 50-60 cents per gallon. (Depends on price per gallon)
Add the state tax and we can see who keeps the price of a gallon of gas up there.

Where is the problem and how does one fix it?????????
If I knew the answer to that one, I would be a rich man !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just my humble 2 cents of the dollar.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

Fred

This is going to be a first but I am totally going to disagree with you. The oil companies make more much more than 12 cents a gal or they would be out of business. It did not cost any more to produce the oil tody than it did in Jan. The price of a barrel is being dictated by so called supply and demand. The more demand the more the price can go up. If we stopped using oil tomorrow the price to make it did not change but the demand did so the price would have to come down. Right now we are being hijacked into believing China and others are driving the price higher in fact it is the additives we now have to use to get rid of the bad stuff is at short supply. As far as the tree huggers I would like them to put as much pressure on the oil companies as humanly possible. We have to find a cleaner fuel it is a must. This world is in deep trouble with the pollution it is spewing out. I hate to say this but this might have a positive impact at some point when the technology comes out to produce more efficient cars and ones that run on cleaner fuels. We as a world need to wake up and this might be the thing to kick our butts.

[Woodbutcher68]

When BP bought Amoco, one of the BP vice presidents stated that "Americans have been spoiled with low gas prices too long, we're going to change that.", and they stuck to their word. What does an oil company exec do that justifies a million dollar a year salary? That's over $480.00/hour! That's where a big part of the problem lies. If a refinery has a breakdown, they raise the prices, they don't pay for the repairs, we do! If they had to pay for it, they wouldn't have billions of dollars of PROFITS every quarter.

[OPA1]

:mad: :mad: :mad:
I AGREE WITH THE WOOD BUTCHER. HOW CAN THESE BIG EXECTS GET OFF WITH RAISING THE PRICE OF FUEL AND RETIRE WITH A GOLDEN PARICHUTE OF SEVEN OR EIGHT FIGURES OR MORE AND NOT CALL IT ROBBERY. WHEN MY UNION VOTES IN A CONTRACT PEOPLE SAY WE ARE ROBBING THEM BUT THESE OTHER GUYS DESERVE THEIR PERKS.THAT'S WHY I'M COUNTING THE DAYS TO FREDS COMMURTE . I HAVE HABOUT ONE AMD ONE HALF YEARS TO GO. THEN IT'S 'DO I REALLY HAVE TO GO OR NOT.'

:mad:

ED

SAWDUST THE ONLY BIODEGRADABLE WASTE PRODUCT

[Woodbutcher68]

Had a little problem at a gas station here last Friday. The clerk did something wrong and sold gas for .29/gallon for about 1.5 hours. By the time I got there, they fixed the problem. A radio station offered free gas ($20.00 limit per person) on the same day for 103.5 minutes. Missed that one too!

[pops-shop]

Butcher - ya just gotta get your timing better :rolleyes:

[navara]

Dear sirs

The above comments make very interesting reading and they are subjects that I usualy get on my soap box about both government policies and the fuel price argument.
We could go on for hours how our country is being run by a bunch of idiots and how they make life changing decisions without holding proper referrendoms and not allowing US the public who pay their wages have our say in the way we would like to live our lives.
But you should try living in England the price of a gallon of petrol is 99p a litre because we are metric now (they went metric because they can sell in smaller measures and charge more) that works out about £5 a gallon which means we are paying just over $9 agallon 80% 0f which goes to the government.
Every main road now has speed cameras on (or stealth tax cameras) and creates about 2 billion puonds a year revenue for the government.
Our imigration laws are a complete joke because we have become a part of Europe so every European has the right to enter our Country and free load as much as they like which in turn puts our taxes up.

I have been to the States about 6 times mostly west coast and I absolutely love your country, not only the veiws and the fresh air but also the people and the way you work to live and enjoy the fruites of your labour.
Where as we have to work all the hours god sends us just to survive.
I have over the last few years become so fed up with my country I am now looking into possibly emigrating and looking into moving to the states.
I am very proud to be English but we are very rapidly loosing our identity.
Any way thats enough said. ( told you I would get on my soap box )
John

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

And to think we have it bad here. I tell you this though we are heading down the same path so be ware.

[pops-shop]

I will certainly have a much better understanding of fuel costs and fuel ecomony during the next month.

Judy and I are going on our annual junket starting July 5th. This time it's Alaska. :eek:

Will probably put about 10K miles on the truck during the trip. I'm going to keep a daily blog - if anyone wants the url, just PM me.