Sky High Gasoline

“"You better tell me tomorrow that gas went down to $1.99 or else I am coming up there and stealing your gas!

As I approached the gas station, I had the price you posted in my head. When I saw it, I said, "Damn that birch!" Ha Ha, I guess you had to be there.”
wounded knee
11:08:51 PM
8/16/05
ignore this user"


HA! We can't even steal our gas WK! When the power went out over the Eastern US, a few years ago, we had a generater and several tanks of fuel. Gave away one and a half tanks to a family member who's car tank was empty, thinking we could syphine gas out of our cars. Do you know how hard it is to syphine gas out of a car nowadays?! Just about imposible.”

“I just depressed myself. If gas prices stay constant, I’ll be making $540 less this year than last year, just from driving to and from work.”

“Be thankful for it, you ungrateful bassturd! You could be in another country, where they don't have it so good. It's written in the Bible!

And, another thing. If you don't like it, then stop buying bottled water. It's more expensive, and that's where all your money is going. Damn libs!”

“Bottled water? I have a well. 8D”

“I'll send you a get well card!”

“lumberzac, you should bottle and sell it.”

“I wanna know what we're going to do about the Natural Light prces? $52 a galon is just stupid crazy! I mean, damnit! It takes a real man $104 just to do two beer bongs before heading off to church!”

“I can't believe anyone drinks that crap anyway”

“Wow! Light taste!

heavy prices!”

“I hear it goes wonderful with the communion waffers.”

“I have talked to my wife about the gas thing. We have always owned our cars, never financed them. They are investments and we will drive them into the ground and get every last dime out of them. So I haven't really owned a lot of vehicles. That said, the set we have now is one fairly new truck and one fairly not new van (130K miles but going strong). We are talking about starting to save to replace the van. I pointed out that this may be the last time since fossil fuels may bottom out or at least become unrealistic to use (from a cost perspective) within the next decade or two. The next van may be the last one for us ... we need to rethink the way we approach transportation and in particular what is reasonable to say we "need". So, for example, do we really need two cars or is that something we are imposing on ourselves? Do I really need a truck (I use mine all the time) or can I rent a truck when I need one and have this be more cost effective? Would moving change the way we use transportation and are we at a point in our lives where we need to change not only how we live but where we live?

I am not saying this is for everyone, I just think that it's interesting to me that gas prices triggered this discussion (with my wife) and that this "event" will probably happen in my lifetime.

We sure aren't waiting on the auto makers to solve it for us. I think it takes a change in overall attitude about what is reasonable to "expect", a baseline. What I am saying is that we (that is the personal "we" as in my family) have it pretty good, perhaps too good. We may have everything we need, but do we need everything we have?
last edited: 8/17/05 8:53:18 AM”

“NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - While Wal-Mart Stores blamed higher gas prices for cutting into its sales in the second quarter, CEO Lee Scott said Tuesday he's concerned that the worst may be yet to come.

"I do feel good about the economy, but I worry about the effect of higher oil prices," Scott said during the pre-recorded call that was monitored by telephone in New York. "Wal-Mart will continue to face a challenge as the year progresses."

Wal-Mart (Research) stock was down over three percent on the New York Stock Exchange.

Tom Schoewe, Wal-Mart's chief financial officer, chimed in during the call, adding that Wal-Mart was hit with a double-whammy because of the escalating price of fuel.

On one hand, higher gas prices will continue to cut into the pocketbooks of Wal-Mart's predominantly low-to-mid-income customers.

"That will impact our operating income," Schoewe said.

Wal-Mart maintains that it averages about 100 million customers a week to its stores, making the retailer a good barometer of the mood of the consumer.

At the same time, Schoewe said more expensive fuel was costing Wal-Mart more on the back end of the business, primarily to use its vast trucking fleet to move freight around the country to its stores.

"This impacted our operating profit by $30 million and our total utility expense rose by $100 million in the quarter," Schoewe said.

more...”

“Pitts!

I've been thinking along some of the same lines. K and I have three cars - K's Malibu (decent mileage), my 162K Buick (bad mileage) and my 130K Aerostar minivan (bad mileage).

I think that the hybrid vehicle thing is pretty much hype at this point. We buy used cars and I can't justify buying a hybrid because it is not cost effective - even with $3 gas. Also, I am not at all sure whether buying a new car is better for the environment than running a used car into the ground - given the plant emissions, used car waste and all the things that go into it.

I'm thinking that the best thing I can do from a cost/environmental standpoint is to drive my current Buick into the ground, use the Aerostar only for big loads and buy a small, fuel-efficient, gas-powered, used car to replace the Buick when it dies.

All I can say is I should have taken better care of my Ford Festiva. That was a great little car.”

“I feel the same way about my 1987 Diesel Lynx!”

“Complaining about gas prices is a mortal sin. I read it in the Bible. It's in chapter 279.9 in the book of Texacoticus and again in Chapter 11 verse 300.9 in the book of Shells...”

“Also in Chapter 298.9 of the book of ExxonValdez as told to a mutant sea otter.”

“You get free plenary indulgences with the purchase of a Slurpee and Slim Jim in the Kwiki Mart.

Or maybe that's for not buying the Harry Potter books. I haven't read my latest revised edition of "The Collected Papal Bulls."”

“You're right Tree w/ your sarcasm. Complaining about our resources in America is a good/cool thing. My mistake. Please continue ...”

“Yes, no complaints, ever! You hear! None! America is perfect and anyone who says otherwise hates their country - unless of course it's about immigration.”

“You're really from Yorkshire, aren't you ynami?”

“What? You mean that God doesn't love America more than other countries? We have the world's largest economy. That's proof that God loves us. It's because we tithe and gather in the blessings, you know.

Coca-Cola is our missionary force abroad.”

“I will, Sargie! Why should you monolpolize all the trolling fun?”

“exactly!”

“I've got my concordance right now and I'm looking for health savings accounts. It seems like it should be in Proverbs or Isaiah. Or maybe in Revelations.

It would be helpful if Bush listed the chapter and verse where he found each of his policies.

It would make it easier for everyone.

I think that every football game this year should have someone in the end zone with a sign reading Matthew 26:52.”

“At noon PDT. Oil down $2.58 barrel.”

“The Natural Light® I'm fond of only costs $9.99 for an 18-pack. Twice the water, half the taste. Mmmm mmm.”

“Buck, you could get a better buzz from my pee after I drink a bottle of German X-Lager!”

“That's $11.02 a gallon----drink gas it's cheaper.”

“How much per gallon for that used beer?”

““That's $11.02 a gallon----drink gas it's cheaper.”
salebored
4:04:16 PM
8/17/05
ignore this user

Actually it's $5.92 a gallon. There are 10.6666666667 12oz cans or bottle of beer in a gallon.”

“Considering that I have an initial investment in the X-Lager, carrying charge for processing it, and the fact that it has a higher alcohol content than domestic brews, I'm thinking $7 a gallon is not too much. Unprocessed X-Lager would be a lot more, of course. I think I can sell it that cheaply because I reap the initial buzz.”

“* BP reported profits of $10.5 billion in the first half of 2005, up 29% than the first half of 2004 (when it need to keep profits and prices lower to get GWB elected).

* Shell reported profits of $5.4 billion in the second quarter of 2005, up 34%

* Exxon reported profits of $7.64 billion, a 32% increase.


* Marathon Oil not only made big profits as well, but some of it's profits are a result of TAX STRAPPED OHIO, cutting deferred oil taxes:

"net income for the second quarter was $673 million, and included two after tax special items totaling a negative $82 million, resulting in net income adjusted for special items of $755 million. The two after tax special items were a negative $97 million related to the mark-to-market loss on our two long term U.K. gas contracts and a positive $15 million related to a deferred tax adjustment. The tax adjustment is a result of Ohio changing its tax structure from an income base to a commercial activity base, resulting in a reversal of previously booked deferred tax. Our net income adjusted for special items of $755 million was more than double the first quarter of this year and 86% greater than the second quarter of last year."

-- source Ken Matheney, VP Marathon Oil

Now I never saw a dip in gas prices in Ohio despite this huge tax break. That 15 million in deferred taxes is quarterly, which amounts to 60 million per year. $60 million could have funded a lot of schools.

Oh well, keep voting for people who allegedly cut your taxes so they can increase the thinkness of thier wallets.”

“"[profits] 86% greater than the second quarter of last year."

86% increase!

86%!!!!!!!!!!

Them boys invested well in Bush and the republican party!”

“
Clarence Cazalot Jr., CEO of Marathon Oil

In case you wanted to know was stealing your money.

Here is the company's address and phone number:

5555 San Felipe Road
Houston, TX 77056
(713) 629-6600

You'd think they could afford a toll free number!”

“Now ole' Clarence only made $4,838,873 last year, with $13,589,910 of stock options as well.

I'll bet those stock options are smokin' right now!”

“In case you want to know cry-baby's address and phone number, it's right here.”

“Sarge, that was just plain evil.”

“Hey!

It looks like Mr. & Mrs. Cazalot had a favorite presidential candidate in 2004.

Cazalot Campaign Contributions

Bush also recieved 4.8 million in campaign doantions from the Energy sector.”

“Only evil people would click the link. ; )”

“It's Area 51 day on trailtalk.”

“Yeah, facts sure are spooky!”

“$2,000 from each! Cheap bastards!”

“Poot Marathon! We need to get them a corprate tax break so they can survive!”

“Do you really think Bush is smart enough to get all those oil companies so rich BB?

Wow! This is a new side of you.”

“Karl Rove is”

“right on que”

“We could all buy oil stocks and reap all these corporate profits if we wanted. If gas goes up to $2.99/gal and you just made $5,000 this month on oil stocks, would you care? You're still way ahead of the game. There is a smart way to play in America.

Also, I would think libs would want higher gas prices to encourage market forces to speed up the delivery of alternative fuels and/or better fuel-economy cars. Dang those SUVs. This is your chance to laugh at them.”

“So, if I got this right...

If Bush succeeds, then Karl Rove did it.

If Bush fails, then Bush did it.

Is that right?”

“Buck - Check out when they started complaining on this thread.”