suntimes.com— If you think all this flirting with $3-a-gallon gas is already a pain in the pocketbook, brace yourself.Oil expert Craig Smith predicts gas prices will skyrocket next year, jumping to five bucks a gallon.
Aug 17, 2005View in Crawl 4
Dear Republicans,Thanks for ruining our economy!Does anyone remember the 90s? Booming economy, low gas prices. Clinton was president.Uh-huh Yeah, let's drill in Alaska... that will give us a whomping 1 1/2 years worth of oil! Problem solved... Yeeeehawww Go Dubya! Sure, thats a great solution. Keep driving your Hummers and large SUVs republicans, and while your at it, keep promote Intelligent Design in our schools to garuntee our children don't grow up wanting to become scientist and bio chemist, lets here it for setting back our country another 8 years!
137 comments on this story so far, one hundred and thirty seven, and only 2 or 3 posts mentioning alternatives to oil; a quick side note about a hydrogen plant in a backyard, and a short discussion on converting corn to ethanol. This is the REAL issue; we are so oil-centric, everything revolves around the gas pump, we cannot see the long-term harm and expense of staying on oil. We are going to have to bite the bullet and demand that the government fund some research into making hydrogen or ethanol (or even Mr. Fusion) a reality, and soon. It won't be an easy transition, nor will it be cheap in the short run, but in the long run it will pay off. The ability to capture local renewable energy sources to power our mobile lifestyle and fuel our economy will force the Big Oil companies to fund more research. If we all have the ability to put a collector array or windmill in our backyard and get enough hydrogen out of it to drive to work everyday, the oil companies would be out of business, unless they are the ones selling the hydrogen generators. More research usually results in cheaper, more efficient equipment, good for everyone.And for those wondering, yes, I own an SUV. I bought it during the late 90's, since I camp, kayak, and love to go off-road (yes, I actually USE it for what it was designed for). For the past few years, however, I have reformed, and have realized I am contributing to killing our planet. I bought a motorcycle that gets around 65mpg. I have written my senators encouraging more funding into alternative energy research. I keep on top of the latest news looking for even more planet-friendly vehicles than what I drive now. I am usually very shy and quiet and won't talk to people unless I have to, but now days, I keep getting questions at the gas pump about my bike's MPG, so I stop and take the time to inform them about the savings I get, and why they should do the same (or at least get rid of their Excursion or Hummer that never have more than 2 people in it). My SUV sits in my driveway for weeks at a time; I only drive it to keep the tires from dry-rotting. Where I live, the area has plenty of hydro electric generators. However, they are not capable of producing all of the area's energy needs. I found out they also run coal fired plants to pick up the slack. So, the changes I made also extend to my lifestyle at home. I no longer use air conditioning at home, just a ceiling fan. I switched to a laptop for my daily computing, only using my desktop when I get a urge to play Doom3 (damn P4 3.6 GHz and ATI 800XT generates a LOT of heat). I switched all my lights to compact fluorescent, and use them sparingly (no need to light the whole house when you can light just your task area that your using at the time). I watch TV on the laptop via a USB TV tuner, instead of running my 52" projection TV all the time. I have noticed a dramatic savings on my light bill as well, its less than half of what it normally is for this time of year. Just doing those things means I am using less than half the energy I used to. If everyone in the area did that, the coal plants would not have to run at all.
I like SUV's but I wouldn't buy because of the enviorment. My father has one, and the back room does come in handy. What I hate is those people who just buy one for no reason. Just cause it makes them feel powerful or safe. I wish we had those super small european cars over here.
Yeah... growth, from the previous quarter or year. Its easy to have that kind of growth AFTER all of those jobs were lost.Thats like saying... well I was a millionaire, lost my job and went backrupt, but then after 6 months or being homeless I got a job working at a fast food joint.. my income growht from being homeless is 100%!!!!Have you ever noticed that republicans get in office in office primarly because of cultural issues? Meanwhile, none of these issues are ever solved and the economy (what really matters) goes downhill.someone said this:Republicans have not ruined the economy you retards. The GDP has grown 3.4% in the second quarter of 2005 (doesn't happen in a ruined economy) personal income has gone up .5% and home ownership is at an all time high.
Gas must go up! Must must must! Don't drill more, use less, drilling more will just make it so prices go down, then people are less efficient, then when they run out, there is less than demand left, and your screwed!I don't want to be the kind to say "Don't drive! But I need MY car", so please hear me out, I don't have an answer, I just wan't to be clear on the question, it's "what to do", not "what to do to lower gas price".I have comments on all these fuels:Gas:Prices must go up, its the only way we can make it so company's actually bother on more fuel efficient cars.They would only do so if it were profitable, and it won't be until people start wanting it!In Venezuela, gas costs $0.12 a gallon, so people there don't need fuel efficient cars, if they had 1mpg, that's only 12 bucks for 100 miles, so they wouldn't care! (Though the median income is lower, but even for them that's low)Ethanol:Not sure yet whether its good or bad, will check in to it more...Hydrogen:Hydrogen fanatics are idiots, its like saying electricity is an energy source.How hydrogen is made is electrolysis, where you break down water in to hydrogen and oxygen.Now if we call the electricity used to make one pound of hydrogen, one bluh,that hydrogen make exactly one bluh of energy when its used.Exactly the same, due to the Conservation of Energy, so its just an energy storage method.Same with electricity, one bluh of electricity can be made by burning some amount of coalin a power plant, and that electricity will power the same driving, as the gas in the first place.No loss, no gain (execpt the fact that humans can't collect all the energy, so we lose a bit)Hydrogen is just an energy conversion.
OK, I checked in to Ethanol, here's what I learned:In the US, its a very slight energy profit, not much, but a bit.In other climates, its a huge energy profit, for example, in Brazil, where you can make corn for less energy input, because I think its just warmer there.Ethanol seems like a better fuel than hydrogen (see previous post by me, hydrogen sucks),but still not optimal. What I think is needed is high gas tax (Raise cost to at least $5 a gallon) and thenmore efficient public transportation. (Hard in US, but must be done)Also less plane travel, did anyone look at the acid rain levels and pollution after 911?PPM of CO2 dropped tons n the one week of grounded planes. (Parts Per Million, now around 500, I think, and that's a LOT. Used to be around 150 I think, in fact that's so much, that trees use less water, because they can get there CO2 more easily(Because they don't have to open there stomates as long))Boycotting Mobile, it won't work, if you don't get that gas today, you will tomorrow, or from somewhere else.Not flying, but taking a train somewhere, now THAT is good, just the one week of missed US flightsknocked back pollution a lot (Was it 75 PPM, or something? 52 of those, one year, now that would set back global warming a lot!)!Acid rain:acidity is measured in PH, 7 is neutral, lower is more acidic (sulfuric acid around 1) it is a logarithmic scale, so 5 PH is very close to 7, in fact the difference between 4 and 7, is less than the difference between 4 and 2.Normal rain has some carbon dioxide dissolve in it, forming carbonic acid (This is around 5 PH, and is what makes fizzy drinks, I think)But when other chemicals, usually from combustion, like NO, and SO, dissolve in water, they from, sulfuric acid, and sometimes sulfurus acid (the SO, that is, the NO doesn't form either of those). These can drop the PH to 2 or 3, low enough to do damage to ponds and buildings. I once got pure sulfuric acid on my hand, and let me tell you, it hurt, even though this acid may be only point zero zero one molar (A unit of concentration, and I don't actually know, but its not much), it slowly destroys stuff, and rivers and lakes.Combustion of coal releases SO3 making sulfuric acid, (H2SO4), and SO2 making sulfurus acid (H2SO3), and other burning processes release these and others as well.There may be numeric errors in my post, please inform me if there are.
So sorry Anth, meant to press the thumbs up, pressed the thumbs down! sorry, add 2 to its diggs in your mind every one. (The one that said "I could fuel my car on all the bulls**t in these posts")
Well, as we close out 2006, I figured I may as well close out my first submitted Digg story of all time. We never even hinted at $5.00/gallon. The experts can suck it.
brewerAug 17, 2005
oh man. i don't want to pay $125 to fill my tank.
permanent4Aug 17, 2005
Once we get past $3.50/gallon, that heavy oil up in Canada will start to look like a bit of a bargain...<a class="user" href="http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.07/oil_pr.html">http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.07/oil_pr.html</a>
dimplemonkeyAug 18, 2005
So you folks still don't want to drill in Alaska?
heyyrobAug 18, 2005
anyone who says they can predict gas prices a year from now is a liar and a fraud
jackingtonAug 18, 2005
I fit hits five bucks a gallon... I'll stab someone.
animefxAug 19, 2005
Dear Republicans,Thanks for ruining our economy!Does anyone remember the 90s? Booming economy, low gas prices. Clinton was president.Uh-huh Yeah, let's drill in Alaska... that will give us a whomping 1 1/2 years worth of oil! Problem solved... Yeeeehawww Go Dubya! Sure, thats a great solution. Keep driving your Hummers and large SUVs republicans, and while your at it, keep promote Intelligent Design in our schools to garuntee our children don't grow up wanting to become scientist and bio chemist, lets here it for setting back our country another 8 years!
dwatchAug 19, 2005
137 comments on this story so far, one hundred and thirty seven, and only 2 or 3 posts mentioning alternatives to oil; a quick side note about a hydrogen plant in a backyard, and a short discussion on converting corn to ethanol. This is the REAL issue; we are so oil-centric, everything revolves around the gas pump, we cannot see the long-term harm and expense of staying on oil. We are going to have to bite the bullet and demand that the government fund some research into making hydrogen or ethanol (or even Mr. Fusion) a reality, and soon. It won't be an easy transition, nor will it be cheap in the short run, but in the long run it will pay off. The ability to capture local renewable energy sources to power our mobile lifestyle and fuel our economy will force the Big Oil companies to fund more research. If we all have the ability to put a collector array or windmill in our backyard and get enough hydrogen out of it to drive to work everyday, the oil companies would be out of business, unless they are the ones selling the hydrogen generators. More research usually results in cheaper, more efficient equipment, good for everyone.And for those wondering, yes, I own an SUV. I bought it during the late 90's, since I camp, kayak, and love to go off-road (yes, I actually USE it for what it was designed for). For the past few years, however, I have reformed, and have realized I am contributing to killing our planet. I bought a motorcycle that gets around 65mpg. I have written my senators encouraging more funding into alternative energy research. I keep on top of the latest news looking for even more planet-friendly vehicles than what I drive now. I am usually very shy and quiet and won't talk to people unless I have to, but now days, I keep getting questions at the gas pump about my bike's MPG, so I stop and take the time to inform them about the savings I get, and why they should do the same (or at least get rid of their Excursion or Hummer that never have more than 2 people in it). My SUV sits in my driveway for weeks at a time; I only drive it to keep the tires from dry-rotting. Where I live, the area has plenty of hydro electric generators. However, they are not capable of producing all of the area's energy needs. I found out they also run coal fired plants to pick up the slack. So, the changes I made also extend to my lifestyle at home. I no longer use air conditioning at home, just a ceiling fan. I switched to a laptop for my daily computing, only using my desktop when I get a urge to play Doom3 (damn P4 3.6 GHz and ATI 800XT generates a LOT of heat). I switched all my lights to compact fluorescent, and use them sparingly (no need to light the whole house when you can light just your task area that your using at the time). I watch TV on the laptop via a USB TV tuner, instead of running my 52" projection TV all the time. I have noticed a dramatic savings on my light bill as well, its less than half of what it normally is for this time of year. Just doing those things means I am using less than half the energy I used to. If everyone in the area did that, the coal plants would not have to run at all.
silentspyderAug 19, 2005
I like SUV's but I wouldn't buy because of the enviorment. My father has one, and the back room does come in handy. What I hate is those people who just buy one for no reason. Just cause it makes them feel powerful or safe. I wish we had those super small european cars over here.
animefxAug 21, 2005
Yeah... growth, from the previous quarter or year. Its easy to have that kind of growth AFTER all of those jobs were lost.Thats like saying... well I was a millionaire, lost my job and went backrupt, but then after 6 months or being homeless I got a job working at a fast food joint.. my income growht from being homeless is 100%!!!!Have you ever noticed that republicans get in office in office primarly because of cultural issues? Meanwhile, none of these issues are ever solved and the economy (what really matters) goes downhill.someone said this:Republicans have not ruined the economy you retards. The GDP has grown 3.4% in the second quarter of 2005 (doesn't happen in a ruined economy) personal income has gone up .5% and home ownership is at an all time high.
paperclip000May 10, 2006
Gas must go up! Must must must! Don't drill more, use less, drilling more will just make it so prices go down, then people are less efficient, then when they run out, there is less than demand left, and your screwed!I don't want to be the kind to say "Don't drive! But I need MY car", so please hear me out, I don't have an answer, I just wan't to be clear on the question, it's "what to do", not "what to do to lower gas price".I have comments on all these fuels:Gas:Prices must go up, its the only way we can make it so company's actually bother on more fuel efficient cars.They would only do so if it were profitable, and it won't be until people start wanting it!In Venezuela, gas costs $0.12 a gallon, so people there don't need fuel efficient cars, if they had 1mpg, that's only 12 bucks for 100 miles, so they wouldn't care! (Though the median income is lower, but even for them that's low)Ethanol:Not sure yet whether its good or bad, will check in to it more...Hydrogen:Hydrogen fanatics are idiots, its like saying electricity is an energy source.How hydrogen is made is electrolysis, where you break down water in to hydrogen and oxygen.Now if we call the electricity used to make one pound of hydrogen, one bluh,that hydrogen make exactly one bluh of energy when its used.Exactly the same, due to the Conservation of Energy, so its just an energy storage method.Same with electricity, one bluh of electricity can be made by burning some amount of coalin a power plant, and that electricity will power the same driving, as the gas in the first place.No loss, no gain (execpt the fact that humans can't collect all the energy, so we lose a bit)Hydrogen is just an energy conversion.
paperclip000May 11, 2006
OK, I checked in to Ethanol, here's what I learned:In the US, its a very slight energy profit, not much, but a bit.In other climates, its a huge energy profit, for example, in Brazil, where you can make corn for less energy input, because I think its just warmer there.Ethanol seems like a better fuel than hydrogen (see previous post by me, hydrogen sucks),but still not optimal. What I think is needed is high gas tax (Raise cost to at least $5 a gallon) and thenmore efficient public transportation. (Hard in US, but must be done)Also less plane travel, did anyone look at the acid rain levels and pollution after 911?PPM of CO2 dropped tons n the one week of grounded planes. (Parts Per Million, now around 500, I think, and that's a LOT. Used to be around 150 I think, in fact that's so much, that trees use less water, because they can get there CO2 more easily(Because they don't have to open there stomates as long))Boycotting Mobile, it won't work, if you don't get that gas today, you will tomorrow, or from somewhere else.Not flying, but taking a train somewhere, now THAT is good, just the one week of missed US flightsknocked back pollution a lot (Was it 75 PPM, or something? 52 of those, one year, now that would set back global warming a lot!)!Acid rain:acidity is measured in PH, 7 is neutral, lower is more acidic (sulfuric acid around 1) it is a logarithmic scale, so 5 PH is very close to 7, in fact the difference between 4 and 7, is less than the difference between 4 and 2.Normal rain has some carbon dioxide dissolve in it, forming carbonic acid (This is around 5 PH, and is what makes fizzy drinks, I think)But when other chemicals, usually from combustion, like NO, and SO, dissolve in water, they from, sulfuric acid, and sometimes sulfurus acid (the SO, that is, the NO doesn't form either of those). These can drop the PH to 2 or 3, low enough to do damage to ponds and buildings. I once got pure sulfuric acid on my hand, and let me tell you, it hurt, even though this acid may be only point zero zero one molar (A unit of concentration, and I don't actually know, but its not much), it slowly destroys stuff, and rivers and lakes.Combustion of coal releases SO3 making sulfuric acid, (H2SO4), and SO2 making sulfurus acid (H2SO3), and other burning processes release these and others as well.There may be numeric errors in my post, please inform me if there are.
paperclip000May 11, 2006
So sorry Anth, meant to press the thumbs up, pressed the thumbs down! sorry, add 2 to its diggs in your mind every one. (The one that said "I could fuel my car on all the bulls**t in these posts")
minindayDec 19, 2006Submitter
Well, as we close out 2006, I figured I may as well close out my first submitted Digg story of all time. We never even hinted at $5.00/gallon. The experts can suck it.