Gas Prices

So you got tapped in the rear in Ithica? Man, that sucks. Reminds me of
a trip to San Fransisco many, many years ago. I was sitting at a bar for
a few hours. When I got up to leave, some guy asked if he could push my
stool in for me

On a more serious note, I got hit just below my gas tank on "Black
Friday" this past November. This guy in a PU truck let me merge in front
of him in a construction zone with the right lane closed. Then I guess
he put down his cell phone and got pissed off that he let me in (mind
you, I signalled and merged respectfully....he even waived me on), went
over the double-yellow line to "get even" with me, and with traffic
starting to come in the other direction, he hit my car with his bumper
while trying to pull back into my lane behind me.

Unfortunately, it took about an hour for the police to arrive, and by
then he had fabricated a nice story about how I pushed my way in front of
him and that I actually clipped HIS bumper.

Anyway, the cop bought his story over mine.

Sucks big time.

Eric

 

Excellent!

Here's the one I was talking about:

"I speak truth, not so much as I would, but as much
as I dare; and I dare a little more as I grow older."

 

Ha. Ha. That's perfect for an old fart like me!!! It's the truth. I think
that's why they were glad to see me retire. I told the CEO of the company
to never ask me a question unless he REALLY expected to hear the truth and
not what he necessarily wanted to hear.

 

Ya, if you get the boss mad, what's he going to do, make us get old and
retire?

 

Yes, that is unfortunate. In my case, the other driver was so drunk
that when the police arrived it was pretty clear who had done what to whom.


Matt

 

Well, if they took people my age, I might consider it. However, since I
have 23 years with my current (and only employer), it makes little sense
to start another career at this time until I get to 55/30 to lock in my
full pension.

Matt

 

Yes, just another thing he is wrong about. His assessment skills seem
to match his physics skills.

I agree that being back in high school wouldn't be all bad. However,
since my 30 year class reunion isn't far away, I'll be able to compare
notes with my class mates.


Matt

 

Yes, you were "lucky" I guess. The thing that bothers me the most is
that at least 5 (probably more like 10) other people witnessed my
accident and not one bothered to stop and act like a witness. It
doesn't surprise me, just bothers me.

Eric

 

I'm admittedly shocked that you've been out of school for 30 years and still
haven't learned how to treat and interface with people properly. I wonder
how many job changes you've had in those 30 years because of your attitude.

 

I've had zero job changes. I'm with the same employer I started with
out of college.

What is wrong with stating the obvious? When someone posts incorrect
information, what is wrong with pointing that out? Where I work, it is
important that we get things right, and spirited discussion towards that
end isn't considered to "be not treating people right." Designing a
piece of equipment incorrectly and causing harm to someone or causing
economic loss is considered to be bad, not challenging someone's
assumptions, data or conclusions.

I'm sorry you are so thin-skinned, but that is your problem, not mine.


Matt

 

When you tell a total stranger that you know more than they do, it points
out a serious personality flaw that usually goes away after adolescence.
That's why I thought you were younger. My mistake......
Good luck....

 

I REALLY wanted to stay out of this side of the discussion. Just let me
add that there is no way to tell a personality from an email/post. You
could read someone for years and meet them in person and they are totally
different.

Eric

 

I only responded to blatantly incorrect information that was published.
If you consider that a personality flaw, then please don't ever work
in any business where your errors might cause loss of life or serious
economic loss. I do such work, and avoiding errors is much more
important than avoiding offending someone's sensibilities.


Matt

 

Just get everyone to quit buying gas guzzlers and just buy the best fuel
misers available. Once the manufacturers realize that only efficiency
sells, then they'll compete to corner the market. Unfortunately, that
won't happen until filling the gas tank hurts the wallet a lot more than
it does now.

John

 

Simple? And how does one propose to "just get everyone to quite buying gas
guzzlers"? What is a gas guzzler? What is efficiency? Should everyone
drive around in an under powered 4 cylinder that uncomfortably seats two
people, but has seating for four crammed into it? Forget about cargo
capacity? Forget about power? Simple seeming answers seldom are.

 

A gas guzzler is a vehicle that is a substitute for male confidence
and/or a small penis. Typically, a white caucasian male will purchase
an SUV getting 15 MPG or less to substitute for his cuckold lifestyle.

WTF not? The American way of life that has been touted since WWII is
over. Live with that fact. We cannot continue to sleep with the enemy
(read: Iran, Saudi Arabia, et al). That is over. Besides, peak oil
will guarantee few new roads be built and new gas guzzlers from coming
online. The signs are there already: no one wants to touch a new SUV
(GM sales down tremendously and Toyota is gobbling up market share).
The military can only do so much to secure the remaining oil in the
world.

That's right...forget about cargo. If you don't own a business that
needs to haul this shit, why do you need an SUV? A fuel-efficient
pickup will do just fine.

Power? Another penis substitute for a cuckold's lifestyle?

Yours In Christ,
John

 

That's funny.

The SUV craze may well be over (no great loss), but not everyone is in the
position that they can't afford to drive a nicer vehicle that gets mid
twenties around town, and still has some power and ride. So... in careful
review - you never did answer the question.

Fixated with SUV's aren't you? Lots of people who don't own their own
business have a real need for those vehicles that are less fuel efficient.
The world really is a bigger place than your life. If your needs are met
by a small car with a four cylinder, then that's great, but it's certainly
not true for all. Nor is it true for all that one of those "fuel efficient"
pickups will do the job.

Have you ever plowed snow? Hauled loads? Pulled trailers? Didn't think
so.

That's funny too.

 

The truth is funny sometimes. That's why satirical cartoons such as
Family Guy and Simpsons have been such a bit hit.

Sell SUV, buy Corolla.

Europe gets by on mostly 4 cylinders. SUV penetration should in
reality be something like 10-15% as opposed to the 30-50% nowadays.
Only people who actually go offroading or haul shit need it. AWD
Wagons do almost everything an SUV does, and has superior handling.

That's all there for. The rest are cuckold small penis showboaters.

Yours In Christ,
John the militant vegetarian

 

I'd be happy to see 1/2 of the SUV's off the road. Too many of them are
driven by soccer mom's who shouldn't be in anything bigger than a mini-van.
But - I don't see SUV's as the big gas guzzlers. Typical Chevy Blazer gets
around 16-18 around town which for a truck isn't that bad. Not great
mileage, but not what I'd consider a real guzzler. My Silverado should do
so well. But then again, my Silverado isn't a daily driver and it serves a
utilitarian purpose.

This is a common observation (Euoprean cars), but it has been pointed out
many times that this is not Europe. Our travel distances are much greater,
our climate demands much different, and unfortunately, our mass transit
infrastructure is far different. That owes largely to our geography, but it
is a very real difference. I agree with you that the SUV is too prevelant
but I'm not sure what the utilitarian percentage would really be.

 

Just like the above claim is made by those with small brains.

Matt