Okay, I've Warned Y'all Before...

[dr_phil_physics]

Don't Do This!

Two days ago a comment was in the news that gasoline prices would be around $3.50/gal for Memorial Day. One day ago, gasoline reserves were listed as low, but in the words of the gasoline industry, this is nothing to worry about. On the TV news, a majority of people expected gas at $3.50/gal for Memorial Day.

Folks, I've warned you about even breathing about these things, because no one knows why gasoline prices go up (and sometimes down), but saying anything triggers a rise, because...

Eep!

Today gasoline in Allendale MI jumped thirty cents a gallon to $3.25.9 , $3.34.9 and $3.43.9 a gallon across the three grades. WTF? I'll be paying in excess of $3.50/gal for premium by next week, if not sooner, I'm sure. After all, gas prices mysteriously go up just before the weekend during the summer months...

Sigh. This probably more than wipes out any rewards from my short story sale to ASIM announced earlier. Which won't happen for a year anyway.

What? You guys think I'm writing for free? I'm already teaching Physics essentially for free!

Dr. Phil

Comments

gas prices

[(Anonymous)]

I having been thinking a lot about the price of gas lately. Especially with the talk of boycotting the gas stations on May 15th. The boycott plan is flawed. Even if we don't buy gas on May 15th the oil companies will make their money either the days leading to it or the days after-they really don't lose. However, my thought is: Why don't we get everyone we know to start purchasing all their gas from one station like BP. This would hurt the other oil companies and force them to lower their prices in an effort to get customers. Which will in turn force BP to lower its prices to keep its customers. The end result a drop in the price of gas! However, we will have to do this for one month and remain vigilant. When the prices start going up again, we will have to do it again for another month. Let's all stand together and make this happen. Please pass this email to everyone you know and let's start this on May 15th instead-It's time to teach the big oil companies a lesson in consumer economics!!!!!

Re: gas prices

[dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com]

Boycotts don't work so well when you are getting fuel every two days. For me, it is better to gas up at the start of a trip than at the end, which means there's a good chance of having to fill up on Tuesday 15 May 2007. But even if I didn't have to get gas that day, I'll still be burning the same amount of gas.

One would have to do something "different" such as having a "gas flu" -- everyone calling in sick for three days one way. No driving, just sitting at home. That would hit businesses hard and besides firing some of the scumbag employees (you know they would), business might complain to their elected representatives, and they hate getting complaints from business types.

Concerted activity like that just doesn't float well in this country, so we're not likely to easily bring Big Oil to its knees. Still, the price jumps have been rapid and big this year, and more than one politician is getting nervous. With Campaign 2008 already in gear for months at the national level, pesky things like Really Annoying Gas Prices could unseat some politicians who can't come up with a good answer.

Or else apathy will reign and none of it will matter. (double-grin)

"Please pass this email to everyone you know" -- This is hard to take seriously when you post Anonymously and don't even sign your name. As far as I know, you could be a shill for BP. (grin)

Dr. Phil