Originally Posted By bobbelee9 <<<I used to always pay my oil company credit card in full when it came in. That stopped about 18 months ago. I now owe them $800. That's a direct result of the price of gas, nothing else.>>> And you're willing to pay interest?? Last November my new boss informed me I wouldn't be getting a raise because I wasn't worth what I was getting. Last week he gave me a 26% raise and extra hours, so I'm now working 45 hours a week. Wonder what I did in 6 months to make him suddenly realize how valuable I am?? Oh that's right, I didn't do anything different, he just smartened up. Oh well, now I may get back to WDW sooner than expected!
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 ^^^Thanks, I just keep plugging along, trying to do my job the best I can. Of course my plan was to buy a puppy when we got back from vacation. But now with extra hours instead of a couple days off each week during summer, I don't think it would be fair to leave a puppy home alone all day.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 I'm sure she's a very smart woman who knows what she's doing.... afterall, she married you.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORDDU: Hmmmm....perhaps it's high time you traded her in for another and better witch, MPierce, ducking!.....I'll be waiting....
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I'm sure she's a very smart woman who knows what she's doing.... afterall, she married you. << I showed her this, and she's still laughing. I don't understand why though.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 ^^Apparently she also has a fine sense of humor. But don't worry, most males lack one.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<While it's true that the Valdez wouldn't have been in that region if oil didn't need to be transported, I don't think it's fair to blame one thing on the other. That's like saying the Challenger blew up, so we shouldn't be involved with space exploration. >> I don't see the analogy here. One thing definitely led to another in Alaska. I suppose you're saying that if we never had manned space exploration, no one would die in pursuit of that ... and that opens up a whole other can of worms that I, as a space-loving Spirit, can rip the government and NASA for the politics that have us just attempting to get back on the moon by 2015 (never will happen, btw) when we were there in 1969. The space shuttle program was a boondoggle of amazing proportions ... funny thing is what is going down with NASA now on Aries. But ... that really digressed. <<I feel that areas that we've considered off limits to drilling are just going to have to face the fact that the needs of the populace are now outweighing the benefits of a beautiful view.>> I think that's very simplistic. We're not talking about a nice view. We're talking about disturbing, damaging and possibly destroying pristine environments that simply can't be replaced. I'm sorry, but I think we can come up with better solutions. If (to go back to your space analogy) President Kennedy could get us to the moon in six years in the 1960s, I think if there is a mandate from the White House we can seriously cut our oil addiction in the 21st century and beyond. Again, that's not what the current President wants. And, sadly, on this subject he is only slightly worse than his predecessors because his family has crude in its blood. I don't know if Obama has it in him, but I know McCain doesn't. <<It's sad, and it was completely avoidable, and research and development needs to continue into alternatives.>> Agreed.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Once the panic sets in, possibly induced by rationing, we will be drilling everywhere we can. Of course, unless we pass laws forbidding the export of petroleum its entirely possible that any incremental US production would get gobbled up by the global market.>> You can bet, just like the oil in the Alaskan fields going to Asia, that ours would go to the highest bidder. Because in the USA we don't place controls on the free market ... even if it hurts our people and damages our economy and quality of life.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<That's true, I do tend to lean more to the philosophical side of life.>> Yep ... you and Socrates. ;-)
Originally Posted By danyoung >I don't see the analogy here. One thing definitely led to another in Alaska.< The analogy is exactly the same, as you stated in your next sentence - "I suppose you're saying that if we never had manned space exploration, no one would die in pursuit of that.." >I think that's very simplistic.< I'm a simplistic guy. >We're not talking about a nice view. We're talking about disturbing, damaging and possibly destroying pristine environments that simply can't be replaced.< I understand that. I also think that we're in such a crunch right now that the need outweigh the risk. We're past the point where we can keep pristine lands untouched. >I think if there is a mandate from the White House we can seriously cut our oil addiction in the 21st century and beyond.< I agree that the possibilities are there. I don't see Bush doing anything - we'll see if Obama can do better.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <,Every single one of those homes had mortgages fall through and they've been sitting ... some since 2006 ... built and ready and empty. The shopping center up the street is 2/3rds empty. The public areas are struggling to be maintained. As I left, I said to the saleswoman what would happen if I could give her $300,000 cash for a home she was asking $479,000 for and originally went for $860,000 ... she ran to make a telephone call. Didn't even hear me say I was kidding. yeah, but things are just fine ...>> You are assuming that because the real estate market sucks in Florida it sucks everywhere. That is not the case. Homes in the middle class suburb where I live are only down 1.75% in the last year and foreclosures are virtually unheard of. There are currently 23 homes/condos in foreclosure out of 14,042 households. Florida (along with Las Vegas and southern California) is taking the biggest hit because they had the biggest run-up in prices over the past 5 years. It is not that bad all over the country.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip It is good to see that the Spirit is done panicking about home prices and has moved on to gas prices. Of course he is over-reacting there too. It is about 3,000 miles round trip from Minneapolis to Orlando. A typical car gets about 23 highway miles to the gallon. That means a round trip to WDW would use about 130 gallons. If gas now costs $1 more per gallon than it did last year that means the cost of my transportation to WDW has increased by $130. Big deal. Compared to the total cost of a WDW vacation that is nothing.
Originally Posted By Socrates Since my name was mentioned, I have to ask: Spirit, why do you think the Space Shuttle was a boondoggle? Socrates "The unexamined life is not worth living."
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I used to always pay my oil company credit card in full when it came in. That stopped about 18 months ago. I now owe them $800. That's a direct result of the price of gas, nothing else.< ain't that the truth - try it with 3 drivers ( soon to be 4 ) on that card. None of the cards gets paid in full any more - which is wrong and I know it. But since my company has decided not onto freeze pensions, but salary also - and with my oldest on a $500/month COBRA plan for health ins while shefinishes school - that 5% here and 10% there increase on everything else is killing people.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <It is about 3,000 miles round trip from Minneapolis to Orlando. A typical car gets about 23 highway miles to the gallon. That means a round trip to WDW would use about 130 gallons. If gas now costs $1 more per gallon than it did last year that means the cost of my transportation to WDW has increased by $130.< Minneapolis gasmust be cheaper than Chicago's. paying avg $4.40 here for reg ( was around $2.75 last year ) - $4.70 for premium for my car. We always rent a minvan when we travel to WDW ( comfort for 4-5 people and luggage) - and that 160 or so HP dog usually clocks in around 17-18 mphwith the A/C on. Our RT is always right around 3000 miles since it includes Vero. 3000/ 17 = 176 x $1.65= $290 yes still small potatoes but add that $1.65 a gallon to the 3 cars in the house total of about 40,000 per year miles andthat's a little more. then add all the % increases being passed along on everything from groceries to clothes for gas hikes retailers are paying -- yes gas prices are crippling the economy IMHO. And a state like mine that charges taxes out the wazoo based on the price per gallon making windfall monies - going into politicians pockets here - we're famous for it.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 < Homes in the middle class suburb where I live are only down 1.75% in the last year and foreclosures are virtually unheard of. There are currently 23 homes/condos in foreclosure out of 14,042 households. < same here - median home price actually rose YTY here - $464,000 w/ 182 homes in foreclosure ( city is 160,000 people ) of course we never saw the run up others areas ofthe country have. My home is a little more than double what I paid for it 18 years ago. My best friend inIrvine CA on the otherhand paid $560k for his home 8 years ago - today $1.3M. Wedidn't get that kindof increase/time. Florida market went nuts. I know as I looked to buy property near Vero 6-7 years ago and build on it within a 10 year timeframe. Since it was in a gated community they wouldn'tallow more than 5 years so Ipassed. Even today the lot isworthmore today than I would have paid for the lot and house then
