Comments on Crunchy Chicken: A bout of bad gas

Hey crunch.
Glad to hear the car could be fixed...

2009-01-16T19:21:00.000-08:00

Hey crunch.
Glad to hear the car could be fixed up. Usually when a car gets "totalled out" you don't get nearly what it's worth in value or in what it will cost to replace it.

And, hope that question didn't sound snarky. I was thinking you'd get a hybrid replacement - and just was wondering what your thoughts were, if you had a reason not to get one I'd have liked to hear it because I know you don't do those type of decisions lightly. So, okay. That's cleared up. Thanks.

And you never commented on the cow fart tax. I'm serious. It's not a joke. What do you think about it? Enquiring minds want to know.

Gas should be priced at no less than $5 per gallon...

2009-01-16T17:59:00.000-08:00

Gas should be priced at no less than $5 per gallon. I actually think $10 would be better. It is not going to kill anyone and it will force people to conserve and change their ways.

Unfortunately, those wimpy politicians don't have the guts to do something sensible for the environment. Higher prices are the only proven way to force people to conserve energy.

Rosa,

Thanks for that clarification. I (u...

2009-01-16T11:23:00.000-08:00

Rosa,

Thanks for that clarification. I (used to know that gas tax was a flat tax, not percentage), heh, that shows how important it is for me not to do any public writing when I am in a deep brain fog!

Ruchi over at Arduous just linked to a great mass transit system implemeted in Bogota, Columbia (a city of 7 million people). Awesome example of what can be done to make a city more liveable, safer and democratic. I recommend taking a look at the video.

Texan Mama - Our 2000 Honda Civic HX is the same o...

2009-01-15T22:01:00.000-08:00

Texan Mama - Our 2000 Honda Civic HX is the same one that was in the wreck in November. The insurance company decided to spackle and tape it back together again rather than total it.

I was happy since it has less than 30,000 miles on it.

Young Snowbird, where do you live?

In Minne...

2009-01-15T20:22:00.000-08:00

Young Snowbird, where do you live?

In Minnesota, the gas tax is not a percentage, it's a per-gallon charge. So the state has funding issues for the things the gas tax specifically funds (roads & some other stuff) when the price goes *up*, because people buy fewer gallons.

When I found that out last summer I was really surprised. Why should every other sales tax be a percentage and the gas tax be a flat fee? That seems like it favors the gas retailers, who don't pay more taxes when gas prices rise.

I'm not completely against extra profits for the really big gas companies, if it goes with reducing greenhouse gases - they're not stupid, they see the writing on the wall. Some of the biggest players in alternative energy are oil & electric companies - they are in the energy market already and they have the capital. I'd rather it was done with public spending instead of in corporate interest, but the public's not spending much.

Bev,

Your link's not working. I'll be happ...

2009-01-15T16:28:00.000-08:00

Bev,

Your link's not working. I'll be happy to give anyone who wants it a recipe for no-knead bread.

Hey Crunch, just a couple of questions:
Is that...

2009-01-14T22:42:00.000-08:00

Hey Crunch, just a couple of questions:
Is that Honda Civic the car that replaced the one you wrecked in your auto accident late in 2008? And I would've thought you'd end up buying a hybrid. Why didn't you?

Also, what is your opinion on the tax that will be charged to farmers for each head of cattle they own, with environmental peeps claiming that "cow farts" add to global warming? If you think I'm kidding, I'm not. Google it. (personally I think it's CRAP - pun intended - but I'm interested to hear your thoughts.) I think at some point we all have to draw the line and say, "Okay, yes this is not an ideal situation, but the alternative is worse. So, we'll live with it." Cow fart tax will lead to higher priced dairy products, passed on to the consumers. Next thing you know, Dairy Farmers will need a bailout too.

I am not a fan of gas prices rising as they did la...

2009-01-14T21:23:00.000-08:00

I am not a fan of gas prices rising as they did last summer, but having them so low also has limited the amount of money taken in from taxes that are supposed to keep up the transportation infrastructure.
There needs to be a way to stablize the prices so we can all be sure of how much to budget and how much road work can be done each year without having our states go in the red.

If we look at the cities in the US that have great public transportation, light rail/subways, etc. they are the cities that were built before the invention of the automobile. Since the arrival of the auto, every city built has been built with the car in mind.
It will take a conserted effort in every city to plan the future development with mass transit in mind. No more ex-urbs, acre lots for each household, sidewalkless streets, etc.

The Phoenix metropolitan area encompasses 512 square miles. And it keeps growing.
There is no mass transit system in the world that can cover all that area, and serve over 3,000,000 people to satisfy the particular needs of each person. Urban planning, and controlled growth are needed in cities across the US and needs to be a player in the quest for solutions about peak oil, and sustainablity.

Spice, could you share the no-knead bread info?
2009-01-14T20:40:00.000-08:00
Spice, could you share the no-knead bread info? Email me without the spam part. Thanks!

That's off, because our petrol prices are on the w...

2009-01-14T19:16:00.000-08:00

That's off, because our petrol prices are on the way down here in New Zealand.

We're currently paying NZ$1.23 a litre. I think that works out to NZ$4.55 a gallon.

With the current exchange rate, that works out to...US $2.52 a gallon if I've done my maths right.

The highest petrol ever reached last year was NZ$2.18 a litre, which is US$ 4.47 a gallon (if I've done my maths right).

I think there must be a lot of families hurting when petrol prices go up.

Here in NZ almost everyone buys Japanese cars which are very fuel-efficient, but the fuel price hikes last year still really hurt families a lot.

Sorry, I just have to post one more time.
I'm ...

2009-01-14T17:33:00.000-08:00

Sorry, I just have to post one more time.
I'm not saying that our next vehicle won't be more fuel efficiant. Right now, our vehicle is paid for and to go out and buy something that gets better gas milage and end up with a large car payment isn't the answer.
I am glad that gas has risen, it has made people stop and think. I just don't want it to rise anymore.
I'm very happy I found this site. It's food for thought. Thanks

It's back at $2.09 at the gas station I use to wor...

2009-01-14T17:03:00.000-08:00

It's back at $2.09 at the gas station I use to work at.

I picked up on things like how the loudest complainers were always the people with Hummers and large trucks who would drive three blocks just to get a fountain soda... It irked me a bit.

Then again, I rode a bike to my job at the gas station...

I think I'm ok right now about the price, if only because we've made a lot of changes that reduces our road time significantly.

Gas never got below $2.30 here in (urban) Alaska.....

2009-01-14T16:38:00.000-08:00

Gas never got below $2.30 here in (urban) Alaska...and it's now creeping back up toward $2.50 (much higher in rural Alaska, though I haven't checked the prices much.)

I feel mostly unaffected by it though since an affiliation with the university lets me ride our really crappy bus for free. (It takes me an hour and fifteen minutes and two buses to get to my office, which is about 3 miles away-- I would walk or ride my bike, but it's winter in Alaska people!) Anyway, I digress...

We do still pay for gas, but BF only works a mile away so most of our driving is limited to the weekend...

Personally, I hope prices stay reasonable because ...

2009-01-14T16:25:00.000-08:00

Personally, I hope prices stay reasonable because my husband and I, however much we may want more economical vehicles, are in no situation to make a change. I could deal with 2.25ish - make folks think, but still not completely bar those who might struggle with more.

It's certainly a double edged sword... neither of my reasonings seem to hold water.

Hmm

--Erika

Considering higher fuel prices just put more money...

2009-01-14T14:26:00.000-08:00

Considering higher fuel prices just put more money in the pockets of big oil, I am never a fan. The last thing they need is to take more money from a suffering American economy

My partner and I are pretty much in agreement on t...

2009-01-14T12:55:00.000-08:00

My partner and I are pretty much in agreement on this one, high gas prices are a-ok with us, they are even welcome.
If anyone were really paying the true price for gas, with all the environmental and humanitarian factors accounted for, all the money in the world wouldn't buy a one gallon.

We bus/walk/carpool/carshare-Zipcar in that order. Neither of us owns a (working) car (bf has a used car he is going to sell).

People often talk about the social injustice of the effect of high gas prices on low-income folks. Is it any more socially just to have to live in the suburbs, own a car and drive everywhere? I say no. Our whole system of transportation of goods and people has to change and slow down. It's not going to be perfectly pretty, neat, tidy and infinitely fair.

Calling all loud and proud Luddites! :) I still can't get on board with costly, technology intensive, gotta-buy-the-new-hybrid solutions. When you look at the overall picture it just doesn't make sense!

Lastly: Wasn't biofuel originally dreamed up for farmers? They grow the crop, cook up some biofuel and pour it into their diesel engine farm equipment. Handy!

One of the realities we face (I'm done with my wri...

2009-01-14T12:46:00.000-08:00

One of the realities we face (I'm done with my writing, not procrastinating any more!) - is that the old dynamic between gas prices and gas guzzlers is now permanently changed.

Gas prices don't have to go back up, for drivers to HAVE to conserve gas. Nobody has any money, anymore, have you noticed?

When the Exxon Raiders just blew up their corporate profits to record levels, over 2006,7, and 8; they drained all our savings- remember? We had to dip into our reserves in order to drive to work.

Nobody has any savings left, now. Ergo all the foreclosures. That's really not going to change in the next several years.

I don't care how cheap you make the gas- I've got no money to buy it with. So. I need to squeeze every mile I can out of every gallon; and a big fat SUV is not anywhere in my future- no matter how much they pay me to take one.

Heh, Crunchy is dragging the Luddites out of the w...

2009-01-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

Heh, Crunchy is dragging the Luddites out of the woodwork again.

I don't expect gas prices to stay low, so I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

If I could have what I really want, I'd have a Vespa. That's not very practical with small children to also transport, so we're sticking with our minivan for at least the next few years.

I just keep in mind that the new "low" prices were...

2009-01-14T11:48:00.000-08:00

I just keep in mind that the new "low" prices were ones that had us all gasping 2 years ago. All things are relative....

BTW, because I just can't leave this one alone (and I apologize for it!): Toyota does a LOT of their manufacturing in this country. That's right -- American workers building "foreign" cars. Which means that a lot of the price of that car stays right here in the USA, feeding local workers. And the American companies end up importing a LOT of their materials. Stuff to think about.

JAM, we've been camping with our Camry for five ye...

2009-01-14T11:46:00.000-08:00

JAM, we've been camping with our Camry for five years now. My husband is 6'1, I'm 5'10", my pre-teen boys are 5'7" and 5'3". We are not small. As they get bigger, we pack less. Remember, this is CAMPING. Two coolers full of what? Egads, we pack one small one, and it's only half full. Sounds like you pack too much STUFF. "Stuff for hiking?" You're already wearing boots, someone's daypack gets used for the ten essentials and all the jackets. What more "stuff" do you need?

My point was not that a 1970 Impala was a great fuel-efficient vehicle, but that people don't need all the room most people think they do. Travel light. Only take what you can carry yourself in one trip. Much less hassle, much less mess to deal with, much more time to have fun, much smaller car.

I can't believe what people show up with when we go to campgrounds. Reminds me of the 1800s upper class idea of a picnic. Cloth tent, wooden chairs, crystal, silver, china, gloved servants?

I feel for people with large families, but they are the exception to the rule. Except for the two weeks that we get to go on vacation, what other need is there for so much space?

BTW, my mother's 1980 station wagon still gets 35 mpg.

"The freewheeling device basically automatically p...

2009-01-14T10:52:00.000-08:00

"The freewheeling device basically automatically puts the car in neutral, if the engine isn't pulling;"

oh, yeah; forgot- as soon as you step on the accelerator, it's back in gear again; easy to control.

Crunch,

I'm split about gas prices as well....

2009-01-14T10:50:00.001-08:00

Crunch,

I'm split about gas prices as well. I like the low prices for running the farm, but I'm noticing my neighbors driving their SUVs again when the prices are low. GRRR.

I'm afraid that it's endemic of the system. People don't realize that the worst is not over yet. They think that the stock markets are going to get better now. They won't we're in the eye of the storm.

Also in reply to your green confessions...

My confessions are legion right now because I've been sick for so long. Sigh!
Maybe I'll post them on the Little Blog! ;-)

For bread baking. Have you tried the no knead stuff?

GreenPa and I started making it last year due to my shoulder being damaged in an Amish almost-hit-and-run...
We love it and it's really, really, really easy to make. I've been doing about 5 loaves a week!

Ok; I'm gonna pull a "Sharon". I'm supposed to be...

2009-01-14T10:50:00.000-08:00

Ok; I'm gonna pull a "Sharon". I'm supposed to be writing something; due yesterday. And I'm procrastinating...

One real possibility; we could, like, pass LAWS that prohibit the production of cars with huge motors. Do you NEED 300 horsepower? Not on this planet. You don't actually NEED more than about 35.

Regulating personal choices is something the old Amuricans claimed was unamurican. But you know what? We already do it/did it; where cars are concerned.

We made it illegal to have a specific gas-saving device on cars. Why? So you'd have to buy more gas, of course, though they pretended it was a safety concern.

First car I ever owned was a 2-cycle Saab. It had a "freewheeling" device on it, as all Swedish made Saabs did, at the time. And - many American cars did, too; until they were outlawed.

My Saab could easily get 35 mpg, in 1960. In fact, once I got over 60 mpg. The freewheeling device basically automatically puts the car in neutral, if the engine isn't pulling; like when you're going downhill, or coasting up to a stop sign.

They were banned because the gas companies didn't like cars getting such good mileage; they claimed it was because the device could be dangerous. Right. I remember tons of stories about cars out of control because of the freewheeling thing- huge problem- (never happened).

We COULD make it illegal to build new gas guzzlers; and allow modern freewheeling devices again... but no. We'd rather fight about gas taxes, prices, and who's holier.

sigh.

My grandmother and grandfather never learned to dr...

2009-01-14T10:44:00.000-08:00

My grandmother and grandfather never learned to drive. They had EIGHT kids, lived in Jersey City, and went everywhere walking or on public transport.

I find that kind of inspiring. I wish we had that kind of public transport in more places. I think it would be worth a gas tax if it would go towards funding public transport (sensible, low-cost but comfortable systems like the ones found in Curitiba and Brazil).

I've seen the whole "consumers have short memories...

2009-01-14T10:38:00.000-08:00

I've seen the whole "consumers have short memories" line a bunch - but business planners, shipping lines, school boards, and other groups that account for most of our gasoline useage do not have that kind of short term memory. You know the spike last year is changing plans in those quarters, even if you can't see it yet - unfortunately it reduced the capital they have to put the plans into action.