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turtle777 · Aug 31, 2005, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by SimeyTheLimey

Reminder: gas prices are still lower than they were in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Remember to adjust for inflation, people. You always have to compare prices in constant dollars.

Very interesting. I'm having a hard time believing it, but I don't see a flaw in this argument. Maybe I'm just being tricked by statistics again...

-t

typoon · Aug 31, 2005, 10:50 AM

Anyone still think Drilling in ANWR is still a bad idea? What about the states lowering or getting rid of the Gas tax during this time. I know wishful thinking. Never gonna happen.

Kevin · Aug 31, 2005, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by turtle777

With A/C cranked to the max ? Yeah, it's using lots of gas !

-t

Well then they have the car on too keep cool. I myself have done this recently at my old lady's family reunion. I get over-heated easily in the sun. I had to go, turn my car on and sit in it with the A/C on to cool myself off.

I didn't see it as a waste of gas.

Shaddim · Aug 31, 2005, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by ambush

yes, but most salaries were not "inflated".

yes, they were. I don't know of anyone who makes 3.35 /hr, like many did in the 80's (including myself). Hell, around here people make 9-$10 /hr at McD's.

Kevin · Aug 31, 2005, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak

Absolutely. However, it wouldn't surprise me to learn that some stations which "ran out of regular" really hadn't.

Actually this would not benefit them. I know if I go to a station that didn't have my gas grade, I would go to the next.

They would LOSE money.

dillerX · Aug 31, 2005, 11:02 AM

Alexandria, MN - 87 Octane

$2.56 Sunday
$2.69 Monday
$2.79 Tuesday

This morning (Wednesday), two stations in town were now $2.99.

turtle777 · Aug 31, 2005, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by Kevin

I didn't see it as a waste of gas.

You're not alone, my friend. Millions of Americans are with you

-t

Railroader · Aug 31, 2005, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by ambush

yes, but most salaries were not "inflated".

Here's a tip for the kiddies: ALWAYS insist on a COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) in your contracts when negotiating a job.

turtle777 · Aug 31, 2005, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by Railroader

Here's a tip for the kiddies: ALWAYS insist on a COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) in your contracts when negotiating a job.

Here's a another tip for the kiddies: try to get a job that's NOT employment-at-will. Good luck.

-t

nredman · Aug 31, 2005, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by dillerX

Alexandria, MN - 87 Octane

$2.56 Sunday
$2.69 Monday
$2.79 Tuesday

This morning (Wednesday), two stations in town were now $2.99.

that is more of a gradual increase then here -

Unleaded - St. Cloud, MN

Tuesday AM - $2.51
Tuesday PM - $2.71
Wednesday AM - $2.99

i guess we got to the same point though

baw · Aug 31, 2005, 05:18 PM

Cincinnati, Ohio.

SimeyTheLimey · 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

Here's a another tip for the kiddies: try to get a job that's NOT employment-at-will. Good luck.

-t

Even so, there is an employment market and wages nudge upwards to adjust for the cost of living. It's not a matter of individual contracts. It's just a function of the marketplace. As the cost of living has increased, wages have kept more or less pace. This is why comparisons of trends like this one always use constant Dollars. You cannot make any kind of cost comparison across decades without taking inflation into account.

You can check the official US Government figures to back this up. In 1979, the median family income was $19,660. US Census. In 2004 it was $44,389. US Census. People are paid more Dollars, adjusting for the effects of inflation of things that they have to buy. Things such as gasoline.

So again, you have to compare the prices at the pump in adjusted Dollars, and the fact is those prices in real terms are still below the prices in 1979. You also might like to look at this (from Nov. 2004) article comparing gasoline prices to hourly incomes. Link. It examines gasoline affordability relative to wages, which is what really matters. The sticker price at the pump is irrelevant except for the psychological shock at seeing a number higher than we are used to.

Railroader · Aug 31, 2005, 05:52 PM

Just went for a drive.

$3.39 for 87 octane.

Mid-Michigan.

baw · Aug 31, 2005, 06:15 PM

Just saw video on tv of a station in Atlanta charging $6.07 per gallon.

Kerrigan · Aug 31, 2005, 06:24 PM

This is not looking good. I am in South Carolina right now, and I have to fly home to UK soon. Right now in the town where I'm staying, the whole place has run out of gas. Maybe it will be back to normal tomorrow, we can but hope.

baw · Aug 31, 2005, 06:30 PM

Some gas stations here in Cincinnati are starting to close. Out of gas.

Kerrigan · Aug 31, 2005, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by baw

Some gas stations here in Cincinnati are starting to close. Out of gas.

Same here. The gas is gone, and apparently there won't be anymore for 3-4 days. I can't imagine how bad this is for the state economy.

Oneota · Aug 31, 2005, 08:51 PM

Yikes; hope the out-of-gas phenomenon doesn't reach IA! Just filled up today for $2.89/gal. Paid close to $40 to fill my 300M (not long ago it took $20...gah!).

JoshuaZ · Aug 31, 2005, 08:55 PM

I feel bad for you guys with SUVs. Seriously. I can only wonder how my parents are holding up in Wisconsin.

iLikebeer · Aug 31, 2005, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by typoon

Anyone still think Drilling in ANWR is still a bad idea? What about the states lowering or getting rid of the Gas tax during this time. I know wishful thinking. Never gonna happen.

Don't know if that's a good or bad idea, but it wouldn't replace the refinery capacity that is shut down in the affected areas. Last I read, we have about 1,000,000,000 barrels of crude oil in the strategic oil reserve, which could supply the entire country for 1-2 months, if all the refineries were running business as usual. We get to see the results of relying on the refineries to run at 98% capacity all the time and hope nothing goes wrong.

This just shows how messed up the oil system is. Gas demand might exceed supply, but that should mean there's an increase in oil supply as we don't have any excess capacity to refine the oil still coming in, even with the loss of oil production in the gulf. Which should increase gas prices and decrease oil prices, if supply and demand were at work. Right? Are the oil companies just that greedy, or am I missing something?

I'm just gonna sit at home and use the internet or walk to the park down the road after school, my car uses too much gas.

Kerrigan · Aug 31, 2005, 09:59 PM

Latest from the south:

Orlando is rationing gas. Gas lines have formed over the evening.

Miami is running out very quickly.

So is Tampa.

MacNNers living down there, (CODY DAWG?) would you care to confirm this?

JoshuaZ · Aug 31, 2005, 10:00 PM

Darn! Time to invade Canada.

SimeyTheLimey · Aug 31, 2005, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

Latest from the south:

Orlando is rationing gas. Gas lines have formed over the evening.

Miami is running out very quickly.

So is Tampa.

MacNNers living down there, (CODY DAWG?) would you care to confirm this?

Why not just google it?

Orlando Sentinel (Associated Press)

Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings said Tuesday that the state has enough petroleum in storage now, but warned that some stations may not be able to easily get more if they run out soon. Jennings urged people to use gas carefully.

"For the next couple of weeks we need to think about where we go, we don't need to make idle trips," Jennings said. "Please plan your next week carefully."

Meanwhile, rumors of the possibility of gas rationing - always a problem after major hurricanes - were knocked down by state officials.

"There are no plans to ration fuel," said Deena Wells, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, which monitors fuel availability.

It stands to reason that supplies could be disrupted if roads are impassible to tankers, etc. But in general, I'd be skeptical of rumors and reports based on anecdotes. They have a tendency to get wilder and wilder in these kinds of situations. That's how panics start.

Tenacious Dyl · Aug 31, 2005, 10:31 PM

$3.19 here in Michigan. I went to fill up 3 days ago, when it was $2.79, and the first TWO stations were out, the third had some left still though.

Not a THE SKY IS FALLING situation.... but a noticable problem.

Kerrigan · Aug 31, 2005, 10:46 PM

Sadly the best thing to do in a panic is to try and get gasoline before everyone else. There's no way round it.

Person Man · Aug 31, 2005, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

Sadly the best thing to do in a panic is to try and get gasoline before everyone else. There's no way round it.

I saw this coming the night before Katrina hit. I went and filled up on Sunday. I won't need any more gasoline for a month.

Ganesha · Aug 31, 2005, 11:02 PM

jcadam · Aug 31, 2005, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by Person Man

I saw this coming the night before Katrina hit. I went and filled up on Sunday. I won't need any more gasoline for a month.

I hope you have a garage to park your vehicle in. Don't be surprised to wake up one morning to find that some jackass has siphoned most of the gas out of your tank.

DeathToWindows · Aug 31, 2005, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by JoshuaZ

Time to invade Canada. They gots oil I think.

Yeah... alberta has so much that their provincial government is projecting being 14 Billion in the black for 2005

jcadam · Aug 31, 2005, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by tracemhunter

um... this is just beginning of rising prices. i am sure at least some of you have heard of "peak oil". this is cheap compared to what it is going to be in the next couple of years. here is an article about it. it is a bit sensationalized but it gets the point across.
http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/

I read the whole dang thing.

The author is basically saying that when oil ceases to be plentiful and cheap, it will cause a global economic collapse (that will happen QUICKLY) followed by a second Dark Age™ from which there may be no recovery. And that it will happen in the next 1-5 years. It also suggests that the US occupation of Iraq is really just the beginning of a series of 'resource wars' in which the industrialized countries will start killing each other over the remaining oil.

Hopefully it ain't that bad.

Person Man · Aug 31, 2005, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by jcadam

I hope you have a garage to park your vehicle in. Don't be surprised to wake up one morning to find that some jackass has siphoned most of the gas out of your tank.

I've got a locking gas cap, too.

Person Man · Aug 31, 2005, 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by jcadam

I read the whole dang thing.

The author is basically saying that when oil ceases to be plentiful and cheap, it will cause a global economic collapse (that will happen QUICKLY) followed by a second Dark Age™ from which there may be no recovery. And that it will happen in the next 1-5 years. It also suggests that the US occupation of Iraq is really just the beginning of a series of 'resource wars' in which the industrialized countries will start killing each other over the remaining oil.

Hopefully it ain't that bad.

I seriously hope nobody takes that too seriously. I mean, come on...

IFLY2HIGH · Sep 1, 2005, 12:35 AM

Down here around Asheville, NC, I drive by 9 gas stations. Today on the way into work, I work nights, 4 of them were 3.09-3.11 for regular, and all had lines out the rear, and the other 5 were closed up. Reports from other employee's don't look so good around here, as some have said that the gas stations won't get gas again untill Monday. Evidently this is really affecting us as the gas line from the gulf into the US are broken and no way to get gas on this side of the US right now.

FulcrumPilot · Sep 1, 2005, 01:09 AM

Time to buy some horses and mules.

baw · Sep 1, 2005, 01:53 AM

IFLY2HIGH · Sep 1, 2005, 05:13 AM

Originally Posted by baw

Must be down in Atlanta, we'll probbly have those prices today and you'll be twice as much again.

baw · Sep 1, 2005, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by IFLY2HIGH

Must be down in Atlanta, we'll probbly have those prices today and you'll be twice as much again.

I like how the number "8" is upside down.

villalobos · Sep 1, 2005, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by Kevin

If it's idle, it isn't using much gas at all. You do know it takes a lot more gas to start up a car shut it down, and start up again, than keeping it running for a few minutes right?

Well you should infiorm Toyota and Honda of your 'research' findings, be cause their hybrids are just doing that... to save gas...... You know, just in case it is not just total BS....

Sky Captain · Sep 1, 2005, 07:53 AM

I filled up 5 5 gallon gas cans Tuesday.
I'm ready for the weekend.

I bought 4 fuel containers, 200 pistol rounds and 100 rifle cartridges wile at Wally World. Just in case.

And quite a few of the stations here are out of fuel to sell. Even at $4-5.

BoomStick · Sep 1, 2005, 08:02 AM

I bought 90 gallons yesterday and filled the tanks of the plane with AVgas in Dawson, GA.

The plane holds another 54 gallons.

My ammo supplies are pitiful.

85- 9mm

45- 30-06

20- 12 guage

75- 22cal

Heading to the gun store at lunch to stock up.

baw · Sep 1, 2005, 08:08 AM

I'm stocked up on gas and ammo as well. 500 rounds of .40 cal and another 752 9mm.

Troll · Sep 1, 2005, 08:12 AM

I saw Hugo Chavez is offering free gasoline to America's poor.

Sky Captain · Sep 1, 2005, 08:16 AM

My Cessna was topped off Tuesday morning as well.

Troll · Sep 1, 2005, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

My Cessna was topped off Tuesday morning as well.

And your Gulfstream?

BoomStick · Sep 1, 2005, 08:41 AM

A Gulfstream uses Jet-A, a kerosene type fuel.

Useless in a car.

We filled our wing tanks to store the fuel if needed for the cars.

Sky Captain · Sep 1, 2005, 09:06 AM

I think he was being sarcastic.

I fly an Embraer, not a Gulfstream.

Troll · Sep 1, 2005, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by BoomStick

A Gulfstream uses Jet-A, a kerosene type fuel.

F**k, you could have told me that BEFORE I filled the Veyron from the Gulfstream's tanks.

jcadam · Sep 1, 2005, 10:14 AM

Americans will b!tch, moan, and ultimately just shell out and pay for more expensive gasoline. What Americans will have a really hard time understanding is when gas (or anything else they desire, for that matter) isn't available at ANY price.

"WTF, How can you be out of gasoline, don't you want to make money!??!?!?!! This is America we don't run out of sheat!!!"

"Sir, I just run the cash register....."

BoomStick · Sep 1, 2005, 10:15 AM

You really are stupid if you think that.

turtle777 · Sep 1, 2005, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by BoomStick

You really are stupid if you think that.

Being stupid and American is NOT mutually exclusive

-t