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Post by socal on May 7, 2008 10:34:06 GMT -6
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Post by Chuck Storm on May 7, 2008 11:22:46 GMT -6
While I think that's a good idea anyway, color me skeptical as to the $7.50 gas.
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Post by Master Blaster on May 7, 2008 11:43:10 GMT -6
It'll be interesting to see how everyone adjusts to the higher prices. I won't want to spend 150 bucks to fill my truck though. Looks like it is time to ride the bicycle to work....
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Post by 101 on May 7, 2008 11:54:07 GMT -6
If consumers don't cut back on their gas purchases, why the hell wouldn't it continue to increase?
It's called supply and demand and until such time as consumers do something about the demand, it's going to continue to push skyward.
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Post by Gumbyhawk on May 7, 2008 12:00:55 GMT -6
Sure would be nice if more businesses allowed telecommuting.
Really, there is little reason why this isn't done more often anyway.
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Post by The Bluzmn on May 7, 2008 12:16:20 GMT -6
It'll be interesting to see how everyone adjusts to the higher prices. I won't want to spend 150 bucks to fill my truck though. Looks like it is time to ride the bicycle to work.... I ran my truck up to $100 yesterday and it wasn't full. I quit instead of swiping the card again.
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Post by Hawkeyes1982 on May 7, 2008 12:49:22 GMT -6
my refund check i'm going to invest in a nice bike to take around. Only drive when necessary.
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Post by NotMyKid on May 7, 2008 12:53:21 GMT -6
If consumers don't cut back on their gas purchases, why the hell wouldn't it continue to increase? It's called supply and demand and until such time as consumers do something about the demand, it's going to continue to push skyward. Very true now if you could just tell everyone in China (and everyone else in the world for that matter) the same thing maybe prices would be a little lower.
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Post by thunderhawk on May 7, 2008 13:08:26 GMT -6
All trends end, and usually before their extrapolated zenith.
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Post by MoHawk on May 7, 2008 13:14:21 GMT -6
I read a report a couple weeks ago where an economist was predicting $200 a barrel oil and $10 a gallon gas in the next 5 years.
With China and India now drinking from the same oil goblet as the U-S now, the demand isn't going down anytime soon. Alternative energy sources not named ethanol...particularly for vehicles...is what we must do to lower energy costs for the everyday consumer. I personally like the idea of fuel cell technology. It's fairly expensive right now, and limited to Southern California currently, but that's how everything starts.
In the meantime, I'm seriously considering a vespa. No joke. Just to get me around town...I'd still use my car for highway driving.
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Post by hawkeyedug on May 7, 2008 13:32:12 GMT -6
Skip the Vespa and get a Kawasaki Ninja 250. MSRP is about the same $3499 for the '08, you can still find some '07s around and can probably get it for sub $3000. But the Ninja is a motorcycle. I get 50+ mpg, and am usually at a higher RPM and speed. If your just riding around town you could get better at lower RPM. I've heard of people getting just shy of 80 mpg, with most reporting in the 55-65 mpg range. I have this bike and love it, sure some of the bigger sport bike riders will think your a sissy because your riding a 250, but they are mostly idiots and douches anyhow and need a big bike to make up for other things, they don't bother me.
Sorry about the commercial.
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Post by NotMyKid on May 7, 2008 13:48:00 GMT -6
Skip the Vespa and get a Kawasaki Ninja 250. MSRP is about the same $3499 for the '08, you can still find some '07s around and can probably get it for sub $3000. But the Ninja is a motorcycle. I get 50+ mpg, and am usually at a higher RPM and speed. If your just riding around town you could get better at lower RPM. I've heard of people getting just shy of 80 mpg, with most reporting in the 55-65 mpg range. I have this bike and love it, sure some of the bigger sport bike riders will think your a sissy because your riding a 250, but they are mostly idiots and douches anyhow and need a big bike to make up for other things, they don't bother me. Sorry about the commercial. Or you could be a real man and get a Harley. ;D
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Post by hawkeyedug on May 7, 2008 13:50:43 GMT -6
Or you could be a real man and get a Harley. ;D Like I said..... I am a real man because I ride what I do and don't give a damn what you think. Plus....Back hair.
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Post by NOTTHOR on May 7, 2008 14:06:15 GMT -6
I was unaware of this rule of thumb:
"and the rule of thumb that, for every $1 increase in crude oil, the pump price rises 5 cents a gallon"
I remember when crude was $12 a barrel and gas cost about 80 cents a gallon 10 years ago. Applying that rule of thumb, gas must now be $6.30 a gallon (110X.05+.80). Yikes.
A mass media scare piece. I'm shocked and very scared. I wonder how many crude futures Goldman's pump and dump desk, err trading desk, is long. I also wonder how many fairness opinions Goldman signed 10 years ago telling the second tier major oil companies to sell out. I'll just go back to reading my 1999 articles about QCOM hitting $500 and preparing my Y2K shelter.
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Post by MoHawk on May 7, 2008 14:15:12 GMT -6
I'm no economist...all I know is that a year ago, I was paying less than 2.50 a gallon. As of today, I'm paying 3.59. That's a 100% increase in 365 days. Oil has doubled in the past year. Chalk some of that up to demand in India and China. I'm not sure if oil companies are price gouging...I highly doubt they are. At the same time, I'm beginning to think we'll be staring down the barrel of a depression, or at the very least a hard recession, if the price of fuel continues to skyrocket.
I'm all for captialism, but at some point, with oil and gas, the cost of doing business tips in the favor of negative profits. The question is...where is that tipping point.
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Post by NOTTHOR on May 7, 2008 14:19:15 GMT -6
I'm no economist...all I know is that a year ago, I was paying less than 2.50 a gallon. As of today, I'm paying 3.59. That's a 100% increase in 365 days. I suspect you're not a mathematician, either.
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Post by The Bluzmn on May 7, 2008 14:32:40 GMT -6
Skip the Vespa and get a Kawasaki Ninja 250. MSRP is about the same $3499 for the '08, you can still find some '07s around and can probably get it for sub $3000. But the Ninja is a motorcycle. I get 50+ mpg, and am usually at a higher RPM and speed. If your just riding around town you could get better at lower RPM. I've heard of people getting just shy of 80 mpg, with most reporting in the 55-65 mpg range. I have this bike and love it, sure some of the bigger sport bike riders will think your a sissy because your riding a 250, but they are mostly idiots and douches anyhow and need a big bike to make up for other things, they don't bother me. Sorry about the commercial. Or you could be a real man and get a Harley. ;D Exactly. Or two. Just kiddin' you, Dug. How's the riding going?
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Post by MoHawk on May 7, 2008 14:36:23 GMT -6
I'm no economist...all I know is that a year ago, I was paying less than 2.50 a gallon. As of today, I'm paying 3.59. That's a 100% increase in 365 days. I suspect you're not a mathematician, either. True. A full dollar increase. Seriously though Ralph, do you not believe energy prices are a problem for people in this country? I mean, despite my shitty math, is my logic flawed? I suspect you'll think so, but how about contributing something here.
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Post by TBELL on May 7, 2008 14:46:06 GMT -6
I have a car...a damn car, and it cost me $50 to fill it up. I know some of you spend much more filling up a truck. And that's why I got rid of my truck. I'm thinking seriously about buying a cheap motorcycle or something to give me a break in the pocket book.
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Post by socal on May 7, 2008 14:55:32 GMT -6
I signed myself up on a "Scooter" message board, trying to glean some info before I purchase.... mentioned it to my little brother & he offered me his other cycle for free... It's a POS, but it's free & it's undoubtedly more economical than my car. MoHawk... Haven't you learned? Don't listen to the "conservatives"... They live in the world of: Dow 20,000 and "W" - the Competent Leader. Where no corporation would ever do anything nefarious for profit....
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Post by NOTTHOR on May 7, 2008 15:11:08 GMT -6
I suspect you're not a mathematician, either. True. A full dollar increase. Seriously though Ralph, do you not believe energy prices are a problem for people in this country? I mean, despite my shitty math, is my logic flawed? I suspect you'll think so, but how about contributing something here. We're not on the brink of a depression. I have a great deal of confidence in American consumers ability to adapt to rising energy prices. We'll pull through. You'll live. I promise.
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Post by NOTTHOR on May 7, 2008 15:12:40 GMT -6
I signed myself up on a "Scooter" message board, trying to glean some info before I purchase.... mentioned it to my little brother & he offered me his other cycle for free... It's a POS, but it's free & it's undoubtedly more economical than my car. MoHawk... Haven't you learned? Don't listen to the "conservatives"... They live in the world of: Dow 20,000 and "W" - the Competent Leader. Where no corporation would ever do anything nefarious for profit.... To call W competent is a stretch, he is, however, far less incompetent than you give him credit for being.
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Post by socal on May 7, 2008 15:17:59 GMT -6
True. A full dollar increase. Seriously though Ralph, do you not believe energy prices are a problem for people in this country? I mean, despite my shitty math, is my logic flawed? I suspect you'll think so, but how about contributing something here. We're not on the brink of a depression. I have a great deal of confidence in American consumers ability to adapt to rising energy prices. We'll pull through. You'll live. I promise. Yes. The magical gas fairies will wave their wands to fill up everyone's gas tanks... and then their cousins, the grocery goblins will sprinkle their magical "lower prices" dust - prompting the mortgage monsters to stop eating all the ethereal home equity... www.irvinehousingblog.com/blog/comments/the-ultimate-post/#more
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Post by Chuck Storm on May 7, 2008 15:19:28 GMT -6
We're not on the brink of a depression. I have a great deal of confidence in American consumers ability to adapt to rising energy prices. We'll pull through. You'll live. I promise. Yes. The magical gas fairies will wave their wands to fill up everyone's gas tanks... and then their cousins, the grocery goblins will sprinkle their magical "lower prices" dust - prompting the mortgage monsters to stop eating all the home ethereal equity... www.irvinehousingblog.com/blog/comments/the-ultimate-post/#moreIf you can explain to me what gas prices and food costs have to do with home equity, I'll give you a cookie.
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Post by MoHawk on May 7, 2008 15:29:36 GMT -6
Here's what I know. Thanks to gas and food prices, there is far less money in my bank account, which admittedly puts me in the "unwashed poors" category to begin with, to help fix the economy with.
I'll stand by my assessment that we're going to reach a tipping point for a lot of businesses, sometime in the near future, that the cost of doing business becomes more than they can bear. Oil is the lifeblood of the economy...and it's getting too expensive.
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