Rising Gas Prices and lowering blood pressure A little weekend fun

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers around rising gas prices, with one user expressing frustration after filling their tank for $40. They received humorous images related to gas prices from a co-worker, which lightened their mood. The conversation shifts to alternative transportation solutions, such as public transit and carpooling, as practical responses to high fuel costs. Users share personal anecdotes about their vehicle choices and the impact of gas prices on their daily lives. The topic of alternative fuels, particularly hemp, is introduced, highlighting its potential as a sustainable energy source. The conversation also touches on the complexities of hydrogen production and the need for innovative solutions in the face of rising fuel costs. Overall, the thread blends humor with serious considerations about transportation and energy sustainability.
SOS2008
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Yesterday I filled my tank and it cost $40. I walked back into the office grumpy about this only to find one of my co-workers had emailed these to me:

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/8493/pic002485kp.th.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/1736/pic006114xo.th.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/959/pic039420gk.th.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/1436/pic054024vc.th.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/5752/pic080774ws.th.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/1343/pic086994pe.th.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/6831/pic097594mp.th.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/9193/pic158797xk.th.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/4109/pic208750ef.th.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/4681/pic275132uy.th.jpg

So it helped lower my blood pressure, at least until the next time I go to the pump...
 
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Most of those are illegible to me.
 
BicycleTree said:
Most of those are illegible to me.
Dang -- I thought you could click on these to make larger... Hmm...I need to sharpen my skills further...
 
SOS2008 said:
Dang -- I thought you could click on these to make larger... Hmm...I need to sharpen my skills further...
Oh well, the 3 or 4 that I could read are pretty good. And I still don't know how to post a picture at all.
 
Maybe we should make a thread so other PF members can teach things like this, and I'd like to learn how to alter images too... Of course, in the wrong hands...
 
http://img236.exs.cx/img236/8493/pic002485kp.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/1736/pic006114xo.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/959/pic039420gk.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/1436/pic054024vc.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/5752/pic080774ws.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/1343/pic086994pe.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/6831/pic097594mp.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/9193/pic158797xk.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/4109/pic208750ef.jpg

http://img236.exs.cx/img236/4681/pic275132uy.jpg


There :smile:

I will post comments in a second :smile:


Pretty funny, but also sadly true. The thing you do not hear people talking about, yet!, is using public transportation or car pooling: This is the only realistic solution!


edit... also this is what you are supposed to do. Note: I just took out the ".th" on your images to make the images the regular size.

This is the usual way.

[ url = url to full size image ] [ img ] url of thumbnail [ /img ] [ /url ]

Without the spaces.
 
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I like the one with sheep. I've considered it, believe me I've considered it. Free fertilizer too. :biggrin:

:smile:

mattmns, I know if I worked more regular hours, I'd be carpooling! It's more difficult for those of us who don't have fixed hours.
 
mattmns said:
There :smile:

I will post comments in a second :smile:

Pretty funny, but also sadly true. The thing you do not hear people talking about, yet!, is using public transportation or car pooling: This is the only realistic solution!

edit... also this is what you are supposed to do. Note: I just took out the ".th" on your images to make the images the regular size.

This is the usual way.

[ url = url to full size image ] [ img ] url of thumbnail [ /img ] [ /url ]

Without the spaces.
mattmns Thanks! :!) I have to drive to meet with clients throughout the day, so I can't take a bus or car pool... :frown:

Another question - does anyone know how to "refresh" the posts so as to update who's just posted?
 
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I'm just glad I drive a really small car, 18 dollars filled my tank, and it will last me 10 to 14 days.
 
  • #10
Ah, $15.14 Per Gallon:

http://www.commondreams.org/pressreleases/Nov%2098/111698e.htm
 
  • #11
SOS2008 said:
Yesterday I filled my tank and it cost $40.
Cry me a river, girl. The last time I filled my car was over a year ago and it cost $85. Canuk money, I admit, but still...

Moonbear said:
I like the one with sheep. I've considered it, believe me I've considered it. Free fertilizer too. :biggrin:
It's just as well that you decided on the new mower. You'd never get Brewnog and Artman out of your yard, and they'd probably be fighting over the same sheep. :biggrin:
 
  • #12
hypatia said:
I'm just glad I drive a really small car, 18 dollars filled my tank, and it will last me 10 to 14 days.
Yeh, I'm working on this. I still need to load things into my vehicle (for trade show booths, etc.), and like to go camping, etc., but I'm starting to look at vehicles along the line of the Ford Escape. Hey--Any PF suggestions are welcome!
 
  • #14
SOS2008 said:
Any PF suggestions are welcome!
So what became of the wheelchair? :confused:
 
  • #15
BicycleTree said:
In more detail: http://www.distributiondrive.com/Article4.html
I was thinking how nice public transportation is, not just because of gas, but making a car payment, then insurance, then license plate tabs, etc.--I'd rather pay the real cost at the pump. And I agree that Americans not only moved back toward larger vehicles after the last price hike/shortages, but went to mammoth vehicles--it's ridiculous.
 
  • #16
Danger said:
So what became of the wheelchair? :confused:
It's not street legal. I was pulled over and had to pay a ticket!
 
  • #17
SOS2008 said:
went to mammoth vehicles--it's ridiculous.
I think that, in fact, a mammoth would be quite practical. Bigger cargo capacity than an elephant, and bigger feet for traction. Just remember to plug it in during the ice age.
 
  • #18
So many good reasons to use a bike.
 
  • #19
SOS2008 said:
I was pulled over and had to pay a ticket!
I thought that's what you packed those melons around with you for. :wink:
 
  • #20
http://www.scion.com/
My son just bought one of these, he also needs good cargo room. I was impressed, good handling...great on gas.
 
  • #21
hypatia said:
http://www.scion.com/
My son just bought one of these, he also needs good cargo room. I was impressed, good handling...great on gas.
Excellent, ooooh the XB! Shhhh...it's a Toyota...?
 
  • #22
Danger said:
I thought that's what you packed those melons around with you for. :wink:
Hmm, maybe another reason she gave me a ticket... :rolleyes:
 
  • #23
SOS2008 said:
Hmm, maybe another reason she gave me a ticket... :rolleyes:
:smile: :biggrin:
 
  • #24
yes it is, and a darn good price and warranty. He has the XB, it even has a little cooler built into the floorboards, so he can pack cold food for camping.
 
  • #25
hypatia said:
has a little cooler built into the floorboards, so he can pack cold food for camping.
He'd waste a perfectly good beer fridge on food? How'd you raise this kid, anyhow?
 
  • #26
Moonbear said:
I like the one with sheep. I've considered it, believe me I've considered it. Free fertilizer too. :biggrin:.

That's what we hoped for when we got the goats. Turns out that goats know exactly what you want them to eat, so they eat everything else instead.
 
  • #27
Danger said:
I think that, in fact, a mammoth would be quite practical. Bigger cargo capacity than an elephant, and bigger feet for traction. Just remember to plug it in during the ice age.
Wow, I got a visual of Bedrock going here...
hypatia said:
yes it is, and a darn good price and warranty. He has the XB, it even has a little cooler built into the floorboards, so he can pack cold food for camping.
Right on! Another problem I have is keeping a beverage cool during the rounds in summer here (though I don't know if the floorboards would be very convenient for this). I really appreciate information from someone who has actually driven the vehicle, and other than a salesperson! :biggrin:
 
  • #28
Ivan Seeking said:
That's what we hoped for when we got the goats. Turns out that goats know exactly what you want them to eat, so they eat everything else instead.

:smile: Goats are good if you have a problem with a lot of broad-leaf weeds. They prefer those much more than grass. Of course if there aren't any tasty broad-leaf weeds, tasty tulips and daffodils and maple trees and whatever else you're growing with tender leaves will do. :biggrin: :smile: Sheep are better at lawn mowing. And if you have a whole field of grass and weeds that you need to clear, get both goats and sheep. :approve:
 
  • #29
Ivan Seeking said:
That's what we hoped for when we got the goats. Turns out that goats know exactly what you want them to eat, so they eat everything else instead.
I think the old wars between the cattlemen and sheep hearders were because the sheep eat the grass to the root and destroy it unless constantly herded to rotating ranges...? Our neighbors had a goat when I was a kid, and it ate my brother's homework (on a bet--he didn't think it would). The teacher thought he was lying--poor guy.

I forgot to add that with all the crazy stuff that goes on at Ivan's, I don't know that he should add goats...
 
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  • #30
Moonbear said:
both goats and sheep. :approve:
I can't believe that the way you're throwing bait around, Artman hasn't shown up yet. He must be sick or something. (In the medical sense, I mean, as opposed to his 'normal sick' self.) :biggrin:
 
  • #31
SOS2008 said:
I think the old wars between the cattlemen and sheep hearders was because the sheep eat the grass to the root and destroy it unless constantly herded to rotating ranges...? Our neighbors had a goat when I was a kid, and it ate my brother's homework (on a bet--he didn't think it would). The teacher thought he was lying--poor guy.

They only do that if you overgraze them on a field (like if you're trying to feed them on a pasture the cattle have already been through). Goats love paper! They used to steal my observation sheets when I worked with them. As annoying as it was, I also used to purposely leave my shirt tails hanging out when I worked with goats, because they'd happily munch the shirt instead of my hair, or whatever else I brought into their pen (I'd go into collect blood samples, and they'd steal the vials right out of my pockets). Darn kleptomaniacs! But I miss them. :frown:
 
  • #32
Moonbear said:
They only do that if you overgraze them on a field (like if you're trying to feed them on a pasture the cattle have already been through). Goats love paper! They used to steal my observation sheets when I worked with them. As annoying as it was, I also used to purposely leave my shirt tails hanging out when I worked with goats, because they'd happily munch the shirt instead of my hair, or whatever else I brought into their pen (I'd go into collect blood samples, and they'd steal the vials right out of my pockets). Darn kleptomaniacs! But I miss them. :frown:
Sounds like some of the weird food PF members eat. And the kleptomania, well that sounds more like the work of Danger than Artman...or maybe both!
 
  • #33
Moonbear said:
:smile: Goats are good if you have a problem with a lot of broad-leaf weeds. They prefer those much more than grass. Of course if there aren't any tasty broad-leaf weeds, tasty tulips and daffodils and maple trees and whatever else you're growing with tender leaves will do. :biggrin: :smile: Sheep are better at lawn mowing. And if you have a whole field of grass and weeds that you need to clear, get both goats and sheep. :approve:

:smile: Whoops! I should have said that they were supposed to eat the berry bushes, not the grass. I'm really not that LA anymore, but if you really want to laugh at me, let me calculate how much we spent on dog food for the goats. It was only after the goats were gone that I realized that they were living primarily on dog food. They are soooooo tricky.

And you haven't lived until you've chased three stubborn, escaped goats, all over the property at 3AM. :devil:

As for the topic of the thread, on the plus side, this will help to hurry along alternative technologies. Go Hydrogen!
 
  • #34
Moonbear said:
they'd happily munch the shirt instead of my hair,
Hmmmm... I just might have to build a goat costume.
 
  • #35
but will you put the butting gears on the head or the tail?
 
  • #36
Ivan Seeking said:
And you haven't lived until you've chased three stubborn, escaped goats, all over the property at 3AM. :devil:
See--I was right. It's crazy at Ivan's place.
Ivan Seeking said:
:As for the topic of the thread, on the plus side, this will help to hurry along alternative technologies. Go Hydrogen!
I thought everyone in another thread on Peak Oil came to the conclusion that it would be too difficult to produce hydrogen in large enough quantities (there's another, new thread on the topic too, I haven't checked out...). In the program I was watching about spy planes, I understand they use hydrogen to keep the planes cooled when traveling at such fast speeds--interesting indeed.
Danger said:
Hmmmm... I just might have to build a goat costume.
Did I just observe this as well?
 
  • #37
Ivan Seeking said:
And you haven't lived until you've chased three stubborn, escaped goats, all over the property at 3AM. :devil:

I guess you didn't consider just putting food out and waiting for them to return on their own? :smile: Goats are too smart for our own good. :biggrin:

They had another escaped cow in the city a week or two ago...well, actually, from the photos, I think it was a steer, not a cow, but they kept calling it a cow. Anyway, everytime something like that happens, I find myself glued to the TV laughing at the city slicker cops trying to play cowboy chasing a cow. At least this time they got someone into dart it. Last time a cow was a fugitive for about a week in one of the city parks. :smile: I keep thinking I should give them a call and offer some help about how to herd cattle (it is harder when there's just one, but shouldn't take a week to accomplish), but it's just more fun watching cops being outsmarted by cattle. Though, I could tell this last time that half the problem is the darn news helicopters. I was watching that steer as the chopper was taking aerial shots and it became pretty obvious the steer was getting freaked out by the choppers. I have to admit, I love living in a place where escaped cattle in the city can provide entertainment at least once a year. :biggrin:
 
  • #38
hypatia said:
but will you put the butting gears on the head or the tail?
Heh! :biggrin:
 
  • #39
Was at the San Francisco Zoo earlier today (no-shows on the chimps and gorillas, I was very disappointed) and the cheapest gas we could find was $2.75 a gallon. This is almost getting European. I'm glad as hell I don't drive anymore.
 
  • #40
Moonbear said:
I guess you didn't consider just putting food out and waiting for them to return on their own? :smile: Goats are too smart for our own good. :biggrin:

Nope, it doesn't work that way here. Once they're free they will do anything to avoid capture. There are about five million acres of food out there.

They had another escaped cow in the city a week or two ago...well, actually, from the photos, I think it was a steer, not a cow, but they kept calling it a cow. Anyway, everytime something like that happens, I find myself glued to the TV laughing at the city slicker cops trying to play cowboy chasing a cow. At least this time they got someone into dart it. Last time a cow was a fugitive for about a week in one of the city parks. :smile: I keep thinking I should give them a call and offer some help about how to herd cattle (it is harder when there's just one, but shouldn't take a week to accomplish), but it's just more fun watching cops being outsmarted by cattle. Though, I could tell this last time that half the problem is the darn news helicopters. I was watching that steer as the chopper was taking aerial shots and it became pretty obvious the steer was getting freaked out by the choppers. I have to admit, I love living in a place where escaped cattle in the city can provide entertainment at least once a year. :biggrin:

The biggest concern is liability. If your animal gets out on the road on causes an accident, you're liable. We had a horse get out once. When I realized how easily one can get into legal problems [and when I learned about some tax issues but that's a whole story in its own], that was the end of the horse.
 
  • #41
Ivan Seeking said:
Nope, it doesn't work that way here. Once they're free they will do anything to avoid capture. There are about five million acres of food out there.

The biggest concern is liability. If your animal gets out on the road on causes an accident, you're liable.

Yeah, and that would be just like a goat too. Five million acres of food, and it would decide to stand in the middle of a paved road just in time to meet an oncoming car. :rolleyes:
 
  • #42
SOS2008 said:
See--I was right. It's crazy at Ivan's place.
I thought everyone in another thread on Peak Oil came to the conclusion that it would be too difficult to produce hydrogen in large enough quantities (there's another, new thread on the topic too, I haven't checked out...). In the program I was watching about spy planes, I understand they use hydrogen to keep the planes cooled when traveling at such fast speeds--interesting indeed.
Did I just observe this as well?

The hydrogen issue is very complex, but the fact is, its considered all but inevitable at this point. Never mind what a few PF members came up with since for one, they probably know very little about the subject. Go to sources like the DOE, various *.gov sites, The National Hydrogen Association, and other of the many sites linked in the thread above.
 
  • #43
hypatia said:
but will you put the butting gears on the head or the tail?
Despite the apparent non-sequitur, one does not butt with one's butt.

Sorry for the sporadic responses, folks. Sue Thomas and CSI Miami are both new episodes tonight and I don't have a blank tape, so I can only read and type during commercials.
 
  • #44
I never look at the price. I filled up my mom's car and I have no clue what it came up to.

I just fill it up and just swipe whatever it is.

I won't complain until it gets really high.
 
  • #45
loseyourname said:
Was at the San Francisco Zoo earlier today (no-shows on the chimps and gorillas, I was very disappointed) and the cheapest gas we could find was $2.75 a gallon. This is almost getting European. I'm glad as hell I don't drive anymore.


it's funny you bring up this point loseyourname...gas is much higher still outside of the usa, and in many places within the usa, gas is still cheaper per gallon then milk.

for the last 2 years, i had two company gas cards, never had to worry about the $30 a week i put in my car...now that i am in the office and not on the road, i am feeling the costs (i am not about to make sales calls pregnant!). thank goodness work is only 7 miles away, and my husband walks or rides his bike to work!

i think portland oregon has some of the highest gas prices alongside san fransisco. there are many more big SUV's on the car lots then there once were. honestly, i think we can learn something from having the costs of gasoline so high-learn to conserve more and use other resources.
 
  • #46
You can probably pick up an SUV reeeeeeeeaaaaallllll cheap. :biggrin:
 
  • #47
I am all for alternative fuels. Hemp (not to be confused with marijuana) is an excellent resource but often overlooked perhaps because it would not reap the profits that gasoline does.

http://www.artistictreasure.com/flier6.html
http://www.hempcar.org/biofacts.shtml

Taken from http://www.thehia.org/faqs/faq7.htm

FUEL
Hemp biomass as a source of fuel is the most under-exploited use of hemp, due to the fact that is economically unfeasible at this time. Hemp stalks can be used in the generation of energy through a process called 'chemurgy" which is a cross between chemicals and energy. The hemp stalk can be converted to a charcoal-like substance through a process called pyrolysis, and used for power generation and to produce industrial feed stocks. Auto giant Henry Ford was a pioneer in the pyrolysis process, and operated a biomass pyrolytic plant at Iron Mountain in Northern Michigan.

Hemp as an auto fuel is another potential use. Almost any biomass material can be converted to create methanol or ethanol, and these fuels burn cleanly with less carbon monoxide and higher octane. In fact, the diesel engine was invented to burn fuel from agricultural waste yet ended up burning unrefined petroleum. Hempseed oil can also be refined to produce a type of hemp biofuel. Woody Harrelson just toured with a diesel bus run on hemp biofuel, and a hempcar is touring this summer, demonstrating the environmental benefits of biofuels.

Whatever millionaire/billionaire decides to invest in mass producing this fuel with little or no modification to our present day cars not only will be richer then Bill Gates, but will change our world economy. Anyone up to the task?
 
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  • #48
Pyrolysis is a standard approach to biomass conversion for hydrogen or other fuels. A good deal of information about this is contained in the Hydrogen thread and the links therein. Also, since the hydrogen discussion is now nearly two years long, I just posted a summary of all links discussed or posted in that thread, and it's parent thread, to date.
 
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