double U teee EFFF?!!?!?

[jemz]

So I was driving by my local gas station, my eyes automatically taking note of the gas prices when I had to do a double take.


The cost of regular unleaded is $3.22.

O_O

When yesterday morning it was $3.11 and the day before that it was $3.02. I understand about the situation in Iran affecting the gas prices but dammit, 20 cents in less than 38 hours? And there are rumors stating that oil companies are reporting a record high of earnings.

How much are gas prices in your area? I know I'm fairly California-centric but it always seems to me that California and New York get the highest prices simply for having the most amount of consumers.

Now I have to go dig up my MicroEconomics books to figure out a way to explain this to myself. Something about supply and demand but shouldn't it be that people who demand it more pay a lesser rate than those who do not consume at such a quick pace? Or am I just smoking crack and need to use that $3.22 to buy myself a cup of coffee to get lucid and do some more research on it?


Geeez. Living here is getting damn expensive! >:-[

Here are some articles for you to take a gander at.

*The Governator taking some initiative on the issue

*Some fun article looking at prices elsewhere in the nation and beyond. <~ I don't feel as bad in paying fairly high prices but the public transportation system in the bay area isn't as nifty as it is in NYC or London.

* Driving speed limit may be more energy efficient?

*That SF Chronicle article that article number 2(above) was referring to.

hmph. Time to take another look at that Toyota Hybrid I was checking out last year.



Ohhhh. And another interesting article that made me think of bluebyyou and her man's house in the ghetto EPA. Of course, if you know anything about real estate, you'll realize that zip codes are really, really important when buying a home in California. Zip codes help determine the value of the home as well as what sort of education system your future kids will go to.

Most expensive zip codes?

y0 cousin, that half mile between your house and the other side saved you a couple hundred thousand bucks. >:-]

Comments

[kiana.livejournal.com]

Yeah, gas was at 3.15 here yesterday, and I'm horrified to see what it is today. :P

[swtjemz.livejournal.com]

*nods*

I so feel you. It sucks to see gas prices rise but it is a limited resource and the only really good thing I see coming out of this is that people are taking a proactive stance and are a)creating vehicles that are more gas efficient, b) developing alternative energy resources, and c) being more vocal in social politics.

but dayam. Think prices will hit $4 this summer?

[thistlefinch.livejournal.com]

Gas is anywhere from 3.29 to 3.50 in San Diego right now.

[swtjemz.livejournal.com]

:-(

That sucks. Gas in SF is $3.49

*snuggles*

I say we all get together and just lounge about on the beach and talk smutty.

[thistlefinch.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan.

[anoneknewmoose.livejournal.com]

Ours jumped up about a week or two ago; it's been holding steady at $2.84 for a few days now.

I've been hearing for years that 55 is the most efficient speed for most vehicles. Sigh. *vows to slow down* Unfortunately the majority of my driving is city, so, blah. Have got to start taking the bus.

[swtjemz.livejournal.com]

Seee, most Californians would love to pay your price after experiencing this record high gas prices. For us, it's 65 mph and the public transportation isn't as great. Demands too much time waiting at the bus stop and not enough doing things I want to do.

;_;

[anoneknewmoose.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Our speed limit is 70; most people go 80-85. And Houston virtually has no public transportation to speak of. I mean, College Station sort of does--the University has a pretty good bus system that also goes to the mall and the grocery stores, but it's very slow and crowded. Houston has Metro buses and the new LightRail, but hardly anyone uses the Metro. Texans are too independent to want to depend on public transportation for getting to work...and, too, a lot of people live REALLY far from where they need to go. Like, 60-90 miles between home and job isn't uncommon.

And then too, there's the giant trucks everywhere that yeah some people need...most don't.

[swtjemz.livejournal.com]

Maybe I should consider moving back to Texas. <_< Besides gas prices and stuff, homes in Texas are waaaaaaaaaay cheaper than homes where I live. *is looking at half million dollar homes*

[bluebyyou.livejournal.com]

Gas prices does not result from the Iraq war. It's more a product of supply and demand.

China and India are needing more of the oil now since their industries are growing.

People are blaming Bush for all their problems, but this is NOT an overnight thing. The democrats (clinton) vetoed a bill that was proposed 10 years ago which would allow the US to drill in Alaska and other areas in the US. If you leave the country to the Democrats, this place is going to be left in ruins.

In 2004, United States refineries produced over 90 percent of the gasoline used in the United States. Although the United States is the world’s third largest crude oil producer, less than 40 percent of the crude oil used by U.S. refineries was produced in the United States. Net petroleum imports (imports minus exports) account for 58 percent of our total petroleum consumption. About 50 percent of our petroleum imports are from countries in the Western Hemisphere, with 19 percent from the Persian Gulf, and 18 percent from Africa and 13 percent from other regions.

[swtjemz.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm. Interesting. But I would think that there are other factors affecting the prices. I don't the war on Iraq would have an effect but more if the situation in Iran and the nuclear weapons thing became more tense. It's seems so sticky and that no one's hands are clean when it comes to politics and oil.


But still, I mourn for my wallet. *has a nice funeral*


So cuz! When can we come over for another dinner/wine evening? :-]

[rightsock.livejournal.com]

That's correct, because the US crude is high in sulfur. it stinks and generally is harder to use, so we export it to places that don't care as much about pollutino and for use in other processes that don't care/need the low sulfur that you get from the saudi crude.

that's why we don't use much of our own oil.

[underlucius.livejournal.com]

try 0.98pence a litre. that's what it is over here.

That works about about seven dollars a gallon
.

grrrr

[swtjemz.livejournal.com]

:-( That's pretty high!

But at least you have an awesome public transportation system! I had no trouble getting around London when I was visiting!

[rightsock.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I can't figure where I found the chart.

Someone showed a prius' mpg at different speeds; 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, and it was prety constant upto 55, dropped off a tiny bit to 65, and dropped off a LOT after 75-85.

Not surprising. air resistance in a car is the biggest energy drain. it's V^3. that's velocity CUBED. it's huge.

Surprisingly, the problem is fundamentally because we use wheels. If someone could invent a levitation system, we'd suddenly get many times more efficient, because the top of the tire is traveling forward at 2x your normal velocity. that's a lot of air friction.

airplanes get surprisingly good gas mileage when compared to cars. and a lot of the small 2-6 seaters actually do use regular car engines (with some modifications due to the thinner air at altitude).

however, you can't do that on the ground because two vehicles nose-to-tail doesn't work with propellers.

[swtjemz.livejournal.com]

That would be totally awesome if we get hovercars and just flit about.

[closet-bound.livejournal.com]

2.91, when i bought gas yesterday. You know, I really need to move closer to work. *sigh*

hello, by the way:) i hope life is treating you well, aside from rediculous gas prices:)

[bluebyyou.livejournal.com]

I feel ya. I regret buying my car. Most luxury cars recommend using premium gasoline. I'm paying $3.50 these days..... Commuting 1/2 hour each way to work doesn't help either! I'm NOT ashamed to admit that I've been driving like an old woman on the right lane ^_^

[closet-bound.livejournal.com]

heh. it would probably help me to do the same, but my commute is over an hour each way. i take the extra sleep over saving money.

*looks at bank account*

maybe i should rethink that...

[swtjemz.livejournal.com]

EEEK! That's pretty high. I'm fairly resigned to the fact that I'm going to pay more for a gallon of gas than I am for a gallon of juice.


Life is going well. Been busy with social functions, weddings, and classes. How have you been? I've missed you! *snuggles tight*

[closet-bound.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

i'm doing fairly well. i'm loving work, but it keeps me incredibly busy. pretty much anything non work related necessitates a lack of sleep:)

[awaywithpixie.livejournal.com]

I always smile when I see Americans complain about the price of fuel. I just did some conversions, and we've been paying about the equivalent of $3.85/us gallon in Australia for quite a while. That will likely go up to $4 very soon.

The whole economics of fuel prices is a subject in itself, suffice to say that it is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPEC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPEC) that truly controls the price of fuel, and they are currently raising the price per barrel to help Iraq service its debts and pay for the war on that side...

[swtjemz.livejournal.com]

erk. *cooooooomplains!* XD

That's interesting. I think the cost of money is just rising and my mind can't comprehend why inflation is hittin' so quick but then I have to pause and look around the world and go "Oh."

Sometimes, I wish the cost of living where I am isn't one of the highest in the nation. XD Maybe then, the gas price increase wouldn't hurt as much.

[easybeef.livejournal.com]

Here on base they had to put pieces of paper with 3 in sharpie on them on the dollar amount because gas has never gone above $3 before on base (and that's the cheap stuff). It's about 20 cents more in town. I hate to see what it is in Big Sur--last time I went down there it was about $2.50 in town but $3.75 there, 'cause there's two gas stations (right by each other) for 40 miles either way. I'll bet it's bad in Needles too, I think that's the only gas for about 100 miles on I-40.

Bah.

[bluebyyou.livejournal.com]

I'm going to stay away from Big Sur.

[swtjemz.livejournal.com]

wow!!!!!!


I don't think I'm going to go to Big Sur anytime soon!!!!




Hi. How have you been?

[easybeef.livejournal.com]

I'm okay, kind of blah today. :/

[dramedy.livejournal.com]

It's like, two seventy something here.

This is why I love my little 30mpg in the city car.

and why we now have a ford escape--HYBRID that gets 36mpg in the city. yeah.

[swtjemz.livejournal.com]

Hmmmmm. I'm looking into the hybrids!

XD

*carpools with you*

[thysanotus.livejournal.com]

I paid $1.31 Australian a litre yesterday. It was $1.38 AUD a litre today.

Am not sure what that converts to, sorry.

[swtjemz.livejournal.com]

whoa


That's like $4USD per gallon. O_O


*snuggles*

[preachelectric]

Yesterday it was $1.45 AUD per litre. The day before that it was $1.30 AUD, which was considered high. Cost my dad $90 for a tank of petrol.

[swtjemz.livejournal.com]

wow!!! Seems like the Australians and British have it pretty rough!

;_;

[etoilenoir959.livejournal.com]

Lucky, cheapest around here is $3.29 a gallon. *looks at wallet and cries*

[swtjemz.livejournal.com]

Just think, Deb, that when Fanime is here, we don't have to drive anywhere for 4 days and get other people to drive here, with food, for us! XD


Gonna be here for any of the meetings?