An Automotive Enthusiast's Nightmare

[Dina]

"Burned at the stake" that tells alot about how you feel regarding your
babies. And Im with you , I had a '69 Firebird that I adored and sunk alot of $$ into,then I had a Honda 5 speed and that was alot of fun, my last car,
a Toyota , I didnt replace yet as I am in NYC anyway. Im really not sure what is going to happen (like you) but I dont feel as if your dream is way off either, It seems to me that certain things are snowballing (not to be alarmist)and I hope that I am wrong and Lisa in
Katy is right.

 

[pamela]

The school division here has implemented a 9 day cycle. The school day is 40 minutes longer and the lunch hour is 20 minutes shorter allowing a no-school day every 32 hours of instruction. This saves electricity, bussing and wages for non-salaried employees so is, in its way, a good plan.

I drive a Mini (which gets 35+ mpg) and if the whole family needs to go anywhere we have a minivan (which gets 30+ mpg). My husband is an auto-tech so the maintenance on the vehicles is judiciously carried out. We live in a very spread out community so I try to plan for banking (that can't be done online), shopping and appointments to all take place in one trip. It stops being an outing and morphs into an expedition but the Mini doesn't seem to mind.

 

[Guest]

"Burned at the stake" that tells alot about how you feel regarding your babies.

*nods*

Yeah, it does, doesn't it?

Heh...and because of it, some people claim I don't have much of a life....hmmm....



Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve&pacemaker
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"There's things goin' on make me mad down to the core" ... Charlie Daniels ... 'Simple Man'

 

[Bonzo Dog]

Car congestion charges

Car congestion charges

Given the constant rise in gas prices, can you imagine a world in the not-too-distant future where cars are despised, abandoned, destroyed?

In a response to choking pollution and crawling traffic speeds slower than horse drawn carriages of the 1800's, London introduced congestion charging a couple of years ago. A ring of number plate recognition cameras see all cars crossing central London and automatically bill them £8 (approx $16) per day to do so. The projected revenues from this have been sold as a future and the capital is to be invested in better tube, bus and rail transport.
Car usage has dropped, habits have changed. The majority of Londoners support congestion charging in principal. The main debate surrounds the level of charge and a possible expansion of the congestion zone.

IIRC several embassies and their staff refuse to pay congestion charges, citing diplomatic immunity. The US is among them.

 

[khawkk]

You can purchase (in great shape) a used electric
street legal golf cart for under $3ooo. Brand new for under $10.

However, if you decide to golf;
for clubs
bag
balls
fees
lessons
more clubs...

Add another $388,000 ```` LOL

 

[Sherry]

Cort, what a funny post. It definitely reflects the anxiety we all feel about this crazy gas situation. I teach in a neighboring community in Northern Kentucky, and I've been carpooling with another teacher who lives in my neighborhood. There are a few others who live in our general vicinity, and we may rope them in for the upcoming school year.

Pamela, there is another KY district just south of the one in which I work, and they have implemented the four day school week, similar to what you were talking about. Saves them a bundle on gas.

 

[bvdr]

You can purchase (in great shape) a used electric
street legal golf cart for under $3ooo. Brand new for under $10.

However, if you decide to golf;
for clubs
bag
balls
fees
lessons
more clubs...

Add another $388,000 ```` LOL

Here in Pinehurst, NC we are allowed to use golf carts on many residential streets but ONLY when heading to or from one of the golf courses. I know people aren't really following the guideliness though when the carts are clubless. I personally don't mind though since I think it is a fine idea as long as they stay off the highways and are not operated by kids.

 

[Lisa in Katy]

Do you think that golf cart would work on the freeway from Katy to Houston? 22 miles? Maybe I could get a few people and we could get in the carpool lane?

 

[Guest]

Cort, what a funny post. It definitely reflects the anxiety we all feel about this crazy gas situation. I teach in a neighboring community in Northern Kentucky, and I've been carpooling with another teacher who lives in my neighborhood. There are a few others who live in our general vicinity, and we may rope them in for the upcoming school year.

I sure wish I could have a 4-day work week. Though, I suppose, I'd actually drive MORE...since then I'd have a 3-day weekend...in which to travel more . he he

As for carpooling...nobody at my work lives near me. The two that did, are no longer at the company.

*shrugs*



Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve&pacemaker
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"What can you do?" ... Mickey Gilley ... 'Full Grown Fool'

 

[Duff Man]

You know, I really wish the people in Washington would pony up and put some radical legislation together to get better energy sources like RIGHT NOW. Then you could watch how fast gas prices would fall when their biggest customer said "No thanks." We put a man on the moon like 40 years ago... WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

 

[hensylee]

THE GOOD ol American way could get it done. Where have all our geniuses gone?

That's all I can put here so that it doesn't become political and we don't get policital here.

 

[Duff Man]

Nothing wrong with a little politics...

Another example about why this is so frustrating: They constructed massive secret subdivisions for brilliant people to live in while building, designing and testing the A-bomb. They did everything in their power to make it happen as soon as possible. This is obviously an issue that's a threat to our way of life, so I don't understand why there isn't something just as radical happening now. It's not necessarily a threat to human life, but the point stands.