[CADude12]

"Image has been resized.." I'm on a Mac with Safari... no problem seeing the image at all. And it doesn't take up a whole browser page either.

[Couriant]

can someone do a screen shot then?

[Wino]

Anyone heard the 'peak oil' ruse lately??

$2.40-$2.48 locally. No shortages, just higher prices.

[lotuseclat79]

Originally Posted by Couriant

no yellow header for me... and i used both IE and FF... weird.

Hi Couriant,

I use NoScript with Firefox (3.0.11), and I have Java (jre1.6.0_07) installed.

My Firefox preferences are setup with enable JavaScript with the Content tab.

Suggest you investigate your preferences and what versions of software you are running.

-- Tom

[lexmarks567]

$2.67 when i filled up.

[Stoner]

Yesterday....Shell reg $2.68/gal

[Stoner]

Originally Posted by Couriant

can someone do a screen shot then?

No yellow border here, I don't have javascript turned on at this site.......but it would be appreciated if you guys that post large images would cut them down to a more normal size for those that are security conscious and don't run javascript where it isn't needed.

[lotuseclat79]

What's fueling high gas prices?.

Drivers are shelling out far more to fill their tanks this summer than last winter, despite the severe economic downturn. And there's likely more pain to come at the pump.

Gasoline prices have risen sharply in the past month. This week, the average price for a gallon rose to $2.67, according to automotive group AAA. That's up more than 35% since December 2008.

To be sure, gas prices are still far less than consumers paid last summer. Oil prices hit a record high of $147 per barrel on July 11, 2008, pushing the average price of regular gasoline to $4.11. But the price of crude has soared in recent weeks. Prices jumped past $72 a barrel late last week, though they fell slightly on Monday as the dollar strengthened. (A stronger dollar reduces the desire to buy commodities as a hedge against inflation.)

-- Tom

[lotuseclat79]

10 things gas stations won't tell you.

They share your pain when gas prices soar but not your nostalgia for service bays. And although they accept debit cards, using one might cost more than you think.

-- Tom

[CADude12]

Originally Posted by lotuseclat79

10 things gas stations won't tell you.

They share your pain when gas prices soar but not your nostalgia for service bays. And although they accept debit cards, using one might cost more than you think.

-- Tom

This is one of those generational glitches: What nostalgia?

[lotuseclat79]

Originally Posted by CADude12

This is one of those generational glitches: What nostalgia?

Hi CADude,

It is no generational glitch to get ripped off, or may you didn't read the part about using the debit card which because of its use does not know how much the total will be at the start of pumping the gas, so the scheme reserves more than you pay (an arbitrary amount) at the pump which restricts any amount for another purchase afterward - a deceptive practice at best. Hardly nostalgic!

-- Tom

[CADude12]

Originally Posted by lotuseclat79

Hi CADude,

It is no generational glitch to get ripped off, or may you didn't read the part about using the debit card which because of its use does not know how much the total will be at the start of pumping the gas, so the scheme reserves more than you pay (an arbitrary amount) at the pump which restricts any amount for another purchase afterward - a deceptive practice at best. Hardly nostalgic!

-- Tom

Hi Tom,

Yea, I was referring to the "service bays", of course. I can't have any nostalgia for them because we usually get gasoline at the convenience store (7-11, Mobil, etc.), and not a "service station". I don't use my debit card anywhere but the bank or a legit ATM. I use my Discover card, almost exclusively for gas, and pay off the balance every month. I normally don't use a lot of gas, so it's not a big burden.

[acameron]

Originally Posted by lotuseclat79

Hi CADude,

It is no generational glitch to get ripped off, or may you didn't read the part about using the debit card which because of its use does not know how much the total will be at the start of pumping the gas, so the scheme reserves more than you pay (an arbitrary amount) at the pump which restricts any amount for another purchase afterward - a deceptive practice at best. Hardly nostalgic!

-- Tom

This practice by the gas station can cause many issues for people.

My brother lives in a smll town and they only have one gas station. Until recently when paying at the pump with a bank card the machine would charge one (1) Dollar to make sure the card was active and had funds. They would then charge the card for the full amount purchased minus one (1) dollar.

So a $20.00 purchase would show as $1.00 billed from Shell Service station # 999 on 11/11/09 and then $19.00 billed from Shell Service station #999 on 11/11/09.

Now if you swipe your card at the pump at this same gas station they put a hold on $100.00 even and this amount stays on hold for as many as 3 days until the transaction clears their bank and yours. then the amount of gas you purchased is biiled to your acount (say $20.00 to keep it easy) and the rest ($80.00) is released back into your account.

My brother found this out the hard way when checks started bouncing after he purchased $10.00 worth of gas. He had enough money to cover the $10.00 and other checks / purchases he had out but the gas station putting $100.00 on hold threw him over his limit.

It is a lousy practice and, in my opinion, should not be allowed. At the very least, the gas stations should be forced to post this info so that their customers are at least aware of the practice.

Now when making gasoline purchases I pre-pay inside to avoid these issues. But it is PITA.

acameron

[lighthouse]

Something I found alarming - if indeed it isn't a made up Story - is how an Oil Pipeline is being constructed from Turkey - through the Balkans - to Austria, the Idea being to reduce Europes Dependence on Russian Oil. Although many might say - "Phew - we're no longer at any behest of Moscow" - but this is to ignore some very crucial Issues.

1) Just exactly whose Oil will this transport? If it is Iraqi then won't this further diminish any potential negotiations with Iran (remember that Moscow almost has a Monopoly on developed World relations with Tehran).

2) Even though Russian Oil is a fact of life (and Seizmology) Russian Politicians aren't insane enough to force the World into making the M.A.D Doctrine a Reality by literally shutting down its supply to Europe, and the Pipeline that supplies it is also a Conduit for Trade and Negotiation. This is something the new US President (hopefully) realises when or if he engages in talks with the Kremlin, and further reduces the scope for any C.W2 Conflict. What it means is a Spirit of Cooperation rather than Conflict and Polarity.

3) While all this goes on in the Worlds of Poltics and Economics don't forget that a Conduit still exists with Israel via religious means and this is going to be more associated with Athens than Ankara. Subsequently this should be ensured and not antagonised.

4)I've got a CD of Russian Folk Music compiled and released by an Israeli Record Company. Knowing that how to do this involves all sorts of Licensing Agreements (Copyright etc) somewhere in all of this a Relationship with Moscow and Jerusalem exists.

[lotuseclat79]

Getting More out of Crude.

An improved catalyst could help oil refineries get more gasoline out of a barrel of crude petroleum.

This might help the profit margin of the oil companies whom refine the crude, but I somehow doubt that the benefit would trickle down to the paying gasoline customer, but it would be interesting if the industry adopts this catalyst to see what the increase is regarding how it affects (decreases) the imported level of oil overall, i.e. to what percentage level does it have an impact.

-- Tom