Fuel Tangent from RULES FOR RECS

[Pinchy]

Reel mowers have been "hot sellers"...

You can find them for free on craigslist.com. Look in the "free stuff" sections, or at yard sales/flea markets they are cheap if not free.

[crabbygramps]

Dog all you need is our wonderful politicians (take your pick) to start letting us dig in our own backyard. Still plenty of oil here, can't drill off the coast, but let Mexico or Cuba do it. Can't drill in Alaska, yeah a few thousand acres of Caribou. No refineries built in 30 years, all these blends of gas to satisfy the EPA which greatly increases the production costs. I have an 8 cyl that runs fine on 87 to spec. It's like your Collossal, Jumbo, Humongous, Extra Large, Large, Medium, Small, Female etc, crab sizes. Hey 1, 2, 3 no problem. All these issues went through Carter, Regan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush and will go through the next administration unresolved. Seems like its the only thing these parties can agree on doing nothing. They are all crooks.  take your pick. Meanwhile they complain about the oil companies profits (rightfully so) but don't say a word about all the extra income their taxes are generating on them hefty profits. It's like after 911 up in NY, the city asks the unions to take a 10% cut and the city counselman vote themselves a $20K a year raise with noone to question it. Only worried about their own pockets. Same for the car industry neither administration did anything, they all  . Now I feel better.

Ahh yes...the American way " GREED" and "MONEY"...When gas finally gets to $5.00 a gallon, see which oil companies "discover" enough money to build a new refinery...

[crabbinmofo]

Ahh yes...the American way " GREED" and "MONEY"...When gas finally gets to $5.00 a gallon, see which oil companies "discover" enough money to build a new refinery...

gramps,

Oil companies don't build refineries because the EPA won't allow them to.  Having enough money is not the problem, unless you mean having contributed enough money to enough politicians to get them to initiate and/or back legislation to overturn environmental restrictions.  And don't forget that environmental groups also contribute money to the same politicians to get them to keep the restrictions in place and create even more restrictions.

C-mofo

[kcullip2006]

I will just say that we have to get away from fossil fuels altogether.  It could have been done half a century ago.  Whether it's "a few thousand caribou", or a vast desert, all oil recovery, production, use, and disposal is DISASTOROUS for the planet.  I would like to think that everyone on this forum has made the connection between positive environmental stewardship and the perpetuation of all living species, including our beloved crabs.  The notion that, "as long as its not in my backyard, let 'em drill", is a misnomer, because in reality, its all our backyard. Just my humble opinion.

[ohiocrab]

don't cry about 4$ gas if you don't want to drill or have refineries here. You can't snap your fingers and come up with a new source that will be CHEAPER . As a country we chose not to use are own resources so we will pay thru the nose for many years to come . This will only get worse as the oil runs out while we are sitting on huge reserves here. Being eco friendly is great but it doesen't run my car or heat my house . 

[Domino]

It even takes diesel to get your gas to the gas station......I have a diesel.  It's been parked for a few months now.  I can't see paying $4.50+ for fuel.  I am lucky enough to have a third vehicle that only needs the $3.49 grade...

I've been shoehorning myself into a 97 honda civic everyday for the last month and a half...the cummins truck is sitting with my boat hitched up ready to go play. 

[Crabbyd]

I've been shoehorning myself into a 97 honda civic everyday for the last month and a half...the cummins truck is sitting with my boat hitched up ready to go play. 

I understand and am with you Merrill.  Driving a '99 Isuzu.....   Cummins sitting in the yard also.

[kcullip2006]

don't cry about 4$ gas if you don't want to drill or have refineries here. You can't snap your fingers and come up with a new source that will be CHEAPER . As a country we chose not to use are own resources so we will pay thru the nose for many years to come . This will only get worse as the oil runs out while we are sitting on huge reserves here. Being eco friendly is great but it doesen't run my car or heat my house . 

I'm sure there are many people who feel as you do, and I respect your opinion.  However, if you believe gas at the pump would be even one cent cheaper than it is now if we relied soley on our own oil reserves, you have been sorely misled.  The reason gas is $4.00 a gallon is because t h e y  c a n..  Oil and gas companies from BGE to Exxon Mobil are making record-breaking profits in the billions.  They are not struggling to get by and "have to do this or else" they would go out of business.  They do this because  they can..  If they drilled right under your feet in your own living room, they would still be charging you $4.00 a gallon because they can.

Also, if we started drilling today in Alaska, the Chesapeake Bay, or even the "It's a small world" ride at Disneyland, it would be 10 YEARS before a single drop of that oil would come out of a gas pump at your local WAWA.  Maybe in that time, we can "come up with a new source that will be cheaper."  This country can do anything it puts its mind to if we are committed.  We sent a man to the moon.  We eliminated aerosols that were creating a hole in the ozone.  We invented suntan lotion to prevent skin cancer.  WE CAN DO THIS!
 
Unfortunately, when a small minority of individuals control the vast majority of wealth and power as they do, they will do anything to maintain that status.  War, bribery, extortion, murder, genocide - you name it.  We have to be committed to change our thinking.  Pain equals change.  Now that we are feeling the pain, we WILL change.
"A little revolution now and again is a good thing." 

Lastly, I realize being eco-friendly is inconvenient sometimes.  You can't haul a yard of dirt in a Prius.  You can't haul a boat with a moped. (although I'd like to see somebody try!  )  But here's the thing; not only can each of us make small sacrifices and changes to make this world a better place for our kids to live in, we can make ourselves better too.  And in the end, isn't that what you want the people who loved you to remember you by?  That you tried to make a difference, that you cared enough about your kids and your grandkids to say, "Hey, wait a minute... we can fix this.  We can do it."  Then maybe, just maybe, they won't have to send their loved ones off to die in some distant land, under some unknown language, for a problem we could have fixed.... but didn't.

[madcrabber1113]

My truck is being parked and my Honda Civic is being called up for duty 

[kcullip2006]

My truck is being parked and my Honda Civic is being called up for duty 

You're the MAN, madcrab!!!

[crabbygramps]

 Not gonna buy a Honda ..but I will be putting in a couple more hours a week so I can gas boat and "chebby" ...Might have to dip into the Viagra jar for road trips to the Chessie.

[madcrabber1113]

I have also been researching solar power for our house and geo thermal heating.I would have to spend some serious coin but I for one am sick of giving my money to nations that want to kill us! 

[madcrabber1113]

Not gonna buy a Honda ..but I will be putting in a couple more hours a week so I can gas boat and "chebby" ...Might have to dip into the Viagra jar for road trips to the Chessie.

[kcullip2006]

I have also been researching solar power for house and geo thermal heating.I would have to spend some serious coin but I for one am sick of giving my money to nations that want to kill us!  

I think you just summed up what I was saying in two sentences!!!

[horsefly]

I have also been researching solar power for our house and geo thermal heating.I would have to spend some serious coin but I for one am sick of giving my money to nations that want to kill us! 

It think had a post about that last year. Not complaining, it is a very good topic, one that we all should be looking into. Remember we just left  winter, next seasons winter is gonna be even tougher if heating with oil, NG, or LP.....even corn pellets will be up. What folks need is to be better informed of these new ideas and methods, especially if considering new home building. IMHO

[kcullip2006]

It think had a post about that last year. Not complaining, it is a very good topic, one that we all should be looking into. Remember we just left  winter, next seasons winter is gonna be even tougher if heating with oil, NG, or LP.....even corn pellets will be up. What folks need is to be better informed of these new ideas and methods, especially if considering new home building. IMHO

Absolutely.  Knowledge is power.  I used to work for a guy that moved here from Alaska.  He built a home in White Marsh with 2x6 walls for the extra insulation, like everyone does in Alaska.  He told me his gas and electric is dirt cheap!  He couldn't understand why no one down here used 2x6s.  The price difference is a pittance on a new house, and the thicker insulations costs were recouped in the first year!!!
Another acquaintence worked for Kefauver Lumber, but bought his 2x6s from Jarretsville Lumber for cheaper than he could get 2x4s with his employee discount at K.L. !!!!  Now that's a deal!  His reasoning was the same; Thicker insulation= lower fuel bills summer and winter.

[jack1747]

this topic should be split... I would love to debate about building a new home, we just did it... we looked at all the options.... lets go inside since it really doesnt have anything to do with the topic or crabbing..  it is crabbing season, public forum should be about crabs. 

[kcullip2006]

this topic should be split... I would love to debate about building a new home, we just did it... we looked at all the options.... lets go inside since it really doesnt have anything to do with the topic or crabbing..  it is crabbing season, public forum should be about crabs. 

I think it does in the sense that we're all trying to figure ways to afford to put gas in our boats to catch crabs this summer!!!!

[long green crabber]

i used to build a ton of decks and many tear downs in the process. most deck surfaces are 2 by 6`s  straight as a arrow and treated as a bonus. these i used to build my place. can`t beat free. 6 inch insulation is about 33 percent better.      lgc

[jack1747]

The house we built is 2x6 outter walls and 2x12 for floors and attic.  Everything is insulated even between floors.  Cost, in a 30 year mortgage to build with the bigger lumber, a couple dollars a month more.