Gas prices

[dc38]

Worrying. You know that's not going to help. Right?

greedy corporations eyeing the panic factor while sinisterly clasping their hands..."Oh yes it will, young man, yes, it, will."

 

[Candleometry]

Worrying. You know that's not going to help. Right?

You are right, worrying alone doesn’t help ourselves or others. I am doing my part by volunteering at a food pantry once a week and assisting in opening a thrift store that raises money for the less fortunate.

 

[Chauncey Gardener]

You are right, worrying alone doesn’t help ourselves or others. I am doing my part by volunteering at a food pantry once a week and assisting in opening a thrift store that raises money for the less fortunate.

You're a better man than I am.

 

[nfetterly]

Under $4 at Costco on Saturday ($3.69) - Southern Ohio.

Ohio is "MidWest" (moved here +20 years ago), it looks more like the "MidEast" on a map. Also, county seat (Warren County) is Lebannon.

 

[jtr1962]

There is an upside though - doesn't sound like it at first, but let me explain.
Of those 11.7 USD, the government takes roughly 60 % in taxes (including road tax, C02-tax and a 25 % consumption tax on top of all of that). But most of those taxes goes back into our healthcare system.

And public transit. If you can take transit instead of driving for some trips you may save more than you pay in taxes. If you can avoid owning a car entirely then even better.

 

[Candleometry]

You're a better man than I am.

I doubt that. We all come from different situations that steer us to where we are.
After working in healthcare for 30 years I knew I couldn’t just stop caring. This is my post-profession service. It’s no different than offering a smile to someone who looks down or a dollar to someone who appears in need. None are higher than the other. I bet you give back more than you admit.

 

[PaladinNO]

And public transit. If you can take transit instead of driving for some trips you may save more than you pay in taxes. If you can avoid owning a car entirely then even better.

If you were thinking of me specifically, then no, I can't do that. That's the issue with living in the countryside - you NEED a car, preferably one car per person in the household, if you want the freedom to go anywhere whenever you want to.

A basic grocery store is walking distance, if you want to, that's 1,3 Km away. A doctor's office or dentist is 10 Km away. Same with a railroad station. A larger town? That's 27 Km away. Airport? 48 Km away.

Only bus that goes near the house - i.e. within walking distance - and to my workplace is the school bus for parts of the trip, then go on another bus for the rest. But it arrives an hour late for my work schedule.

No, I use my car too much - what if I want to bring or buy something large? I guess I could pay for delivery, it certainly would be cheaper in the long run, but a having a car is much more convenient overall.

 

[Candleometry]

If you were thinking of me specifically, then no, I can't do that. That's the issue with living in the countryside - you NEED a car, preferably one car per person in the household, if you want the freedom to go anywhere whenever you want to.

A basic grocery store is walking distance, if you want to, that's 1,3 Km away. A doctor's office or dentist is 10 Km away. Same with a railroad station. A larger town? That's 27 Km away. Airport? 48 Km away.

Only bus that goes near the house - i.e. within walking distance - and to my workplace is the school bus for parts of the trip, then go on another bus for the rest. But it arrives an hour late for my work schedule.

No, I use my car too much - what if I want to bring or buy something large? I guess I could pay for delivery, it certainly would be cheaper in the long run, but a having a car is much more convenient overall.

We have certainly painted ourselves into a corner with the need for independence in transportation. Some cities/areas provide exceptional public transportation that gives everyone, within range, sufficient options. Where I live it would be buses. I remember my grandmother telling me how she would take the bus downtown to do shopping. Could I do that? Sure but I value independence and that, unfortunately, costs more. We may all not be as independent as we think.

 

[AZPops]

expect an Aluminum shortage soon, and a Nitrogen/Urea fertilizer shortage as well.
The effects of those are going to push prices up on a lot of widely used products and food, taken w/ the cost of transport going up the future keeps looking more and more expensive.

Ma's friend figured she'd beat the cost to fly. So she figured she'd buy her ticket early (two, two and a half weeks ago). The price already went up a hundred plus bucks.

However, she now has other worries, re. traveling / flying.

 

[Galane]

Under $4 at Costco on Saturday ($3.69) - Southern Ohio.

Ohio is "MidWest" (moved here +20 years ago), it looks more like the "MidEast" on a map. Also, county seat (Warren County) is Lebannon.

Yes indeed. There needs to be a national campaign for correcting misleading or inappropriate geographical terms. The "Midwest" States are quite clearly not in the middle of the west. The true midwest States are Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.

If we can rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, applying the name of these two continents to it instead of a single country, why can we not quit calling a chunk of this country "west" when it's actually east?

 

[pnwoutdoors]

Pre-war to now, up ~$1.25/gal or so.

Reg/89 -- $2.59/gal, rising to $3.79 now
Prem/93 -- $3.49/gal, rising to $4.79 now

 

[TPA]

Prices have dropped decently this week in the Tampa Bay area. I've seen $0.30-$0.50 drops in just our usual driving without intentionally sniffing out the cheap stuff. I paid $3.63 (pre-discount) at the last fill-up.

I'm seeing multiple stations in Orlando with $3.19/gal.

Avgas (100LL) is running $4.19-$4.60 at the airports known for good value. Taco Tuesday at Arcadia anyone?

And public transit. If you can take transit instead of driving for some trips you may save more than you pay in taxes. If you can avoid owning a car entirely then even better.

Standing in 95F heat or a rainstorm dumping 6"/hr of rain waiting for a bus isn't my idea of fun. I'll take the car (or plane). For that matter, it would take longer to take the bus than a plane flight would be. Google Maps says it'd take 2+ hrs to get to the airport by bus. It's a 25 minute drive, up to 40 minutes with traffic.

 

[nfetterly]

Had enough of flashlights….

Yes indeed. There needs to be a national campaign for correcting misleading or inappropriate geographical terms. The "Midwest" States are quite clearly not in the middle of the west. The true midwest States are Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.

If we can rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, applying the name of these two continents to it instead of a single country, why can we not quit calling a chunk of this country "west" when it's actually east?

Neale's (I'm Neale) theory is that the "mid-west" became the "mid-west" waaaay back when the west wasn't explored or states. I had to look up (educated in Canada) Wyoming & Idaho were made states in 1890 and Ohio was made a state in 1803.

 

[Candleometry]

Neale's (I'm Neale) theory is that the "mid-west" became the "mid-west" waaaay back when the west wasn't explored or states. I had to look up (educated in Canada) Wyoming & Idaho were made states in 1890 and Ohio was made a state in 1803.

That makes a lot of sense. Then things stick and we don’t know why.

 

[Buff]

I took the bus or Thumb taxi when i was a freshman in high school. Biggest right of freedom is getting your drivers license and driving the family car. I still vividly remember that first solo drive in my parents new 1973 Chevy Nova. Canary Yellow with white vinyl top. Wow! Eventually you get a job and with hard work get raises and buy your first beater car you call your own while building your credit.
You start a career get married struggle have kids more struggle buy your first house extreme struggle but no rent. Yeah!!
Today kids are grown and gone and wife still working to retire hopefully this year. Drives my Dads old Cadillac when gas is low and is driving her mini while it’s a little higher.
I still love driving my yellow Porsche Carrera with the white top. But occasionally will swap for my Ferrari or Mercedes just depends on my mood.

 

[Buff]

Bahahahahahaha i have an old yellow jeep!
Really helped with the wintery roads this past winter. I drove some 924 Porches as a dealer trade driver in California from San Jose to Monterey and it was amazing as a high school senior. I think i sat in a Carrera and it would be a dream to own one.

 

[Monocrom]

You're a better man than I am.

Your mom and her renovated home would disagree.

 

[Monocrom]

Under $4 at Costco on Saturday ($3.69) - Southern Ohio.

Ohio is "MidWest" (moved here +20 years ago), it looks more like the "MidEast" on a map. Also, county seat (Warren County) is Lebannon.

Ohio = Most Eastern point in the Mid-West.
I'd say that official classification has to do with weather and storm patterns than anything else. Don't like the weather? Wait 10 minutes and it'll change to something else entirely.

 

[Monocrom]

And public transit. If you can take transit instead of driving for some trips you may save more than you pay in taxes. If you can avoid owning a car entirely then even better.

Outside of Manhattan and a few neighborhoods, NOT owning a car is unrealistic.
For most Americans, a car is a genuine NEED.
No, they don't need a luxury SUV that they honestly can't afford.
But they do need a car.

 

[dc38]

Neale's (I'm Neale) theory is that the "mid-west" became the "mid-west" waaaay back when the west wasn't explored or states. I had to look up (educated in Canada) Wyoming & Idaho were made states in 1890 and Ohio was made a state in 1803.

If in the USA there were naturally wide open plains and prairies with forests and mountains wayyyyy yonder, (like 6-10 hours by horseback) I'd consider that to be the "Midwest". Mathemagically, I'd consider the midwest to be between 25%-75% of the western half of the USA, which isn't so. Topographically, I assume it's everything past the Mississippi River but not quite the west coast...

**Alot of mapping was done along and around geographical features. The Mighty Mississippi "split" the country's land naturally