Passenger traffic at Mobile Regional Airport fell nearly 15 percent in June compared with the same month in 2007 and is off 7.5 percent for the first six months of the year, a much steeper decline than nationwide or at neighboring airports.

The drop came as airlines added more flights and larger planes in June, meaning some carriers saw their Mobile-bound planes only half-full on average. Airlines have announced that they will cut three weekday round-trips to Mobile after Labor Day, but officials warned Monday at a Mobile Airport Authority meeting that at least one more daily round-trip could be in jeopardy.

"Fuel prices increased, fares increased and passengers are really looking for the best value," Aviation Director Thomas Hughes said.

Traffic has fallen much less at Pensacola Regional Airport, 0.4 percent so far this year, while the number of fliers to and from Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport has risen 18.6 percent in the first six months of 2008.

Worldwide, passengers on U.S. airlines rose 0.4 percent in the first five months of 2008, the Air Transport Association said, thanks to a 5.4 percent growth of international travelers. Domestic traffic fell 0.3 percent.

May I suggest the the Mobile area needs to find away to stop the decline in population and visitation.  Instead of spending revenue on fruitless BS, maybe it would be better spent in suring up the area.

If gasoline were selling for $2 a gallon today, President Bush's decision to lift the ban on oil drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts most likely would have caused an uproar. But with gasoline at more than $4 a gallon, and seemingly rising every day, the response to Mr. Bush's directive has been muted at best. At worst, it is drawing support from various circles, including Congress, as lawmakers react to the growing public alarm over energy costs.

But this is a time for responsible leadership, and Congress must rise to the occasion. It's one thing for Mr. Bush to seize an opportunity to open more acreage to the oil companies. He's been pro-exploration from the moment he entered the Oval Office. But it's quite another for responsible members of Congress to start wavering on the issue of offshore drilling out of fear of voter backlash at home. They need to stand firm.

Increasing the supply of domestic oil is, at best, a feeble solution to a global energy crisis. Under Mr. Bush's plan, oil companies would be able to drill for an estimated 10 billion barrels of oil pinpointed in areas now off limits to drilling. But even if such a rich source materialized and were tapped, there is no guarantee the oil would flow to the U.S. market. Instead, it would become part of the global oil supply and subject to the price fluctuations of global demand. Assuming there is no let-up in demand by China and India, the impact on prices would be minimal at best. Meanwhile, the U.S. coastal landscape would be degraded.

If only some lawmakers would talk bluntly about this issue. If only some of them would dare to say that even though $4-a-gallon gasoline is a burden on most family budgets, it is, in its own way, a blessing as well. The higher cost of fuel has made Americans more conservation conscious. It has all but driven the gas-guzzling SUV into extinction. It has increased ridership on mass transit systems. It has made cities more attractive for workers to live in, and the suburbs, along with their daily commutes, less attractive. If that trend continues, suburban and ex-urban sprawl may at last be curbed.

Then there are the health benefits. If Americans drive less and burn less fuel, the air will be cleaner and there will be fewer respiratory ailments. And there are economic benefits. Fewer cars means less wear and tear on the infrastructure, and thus less cost for maintenance and repair.

Congress can make these points, and more, by refusing to go along with Mr. Bush and lift the drilling moratorium. That is to say, Congress must act responsibly even if Mr. Bush refuses to do so.

Program would save Taxpayer Dollars, Lessen Traffic on Highways

House Republicans today underscored their support for more flexible work weeks for state employees by promoting their own office plan to allow for telecommuting, a policy aimed at saving taxpayer dollars, making workers more productive and getting commuters off clogged highways.

"We want to make Connecticut and its government ‘Leaner and Greener' with a test program to  allow staff to work from home one day a week,'' said House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr. of Norwalk. Four-day work weeks should also be considered, he said.

To highlight the telecommuting initiative, Cafero was joined at a Capitol press conference by staff member Lisa Roy and other Brookfield state Rep. David Scribner from their homes via telephone hook up. In order to implement the policy legislative leaders must agree to offer the telecommuting option, and Republicans are awaiting approval from Democrats on the trial program.

"Other states have turned thousands of lost commuting hours into productive work, saved workers millions in gas bills and reduced pollution and congestion,'' Cafero said. "Not only will this not cost taxpayers a dime, it will save them in the long run through workplace efficiencies.''

Cafero noted that other states and at least seven towns and cities in Connecticut have also gone to four-day work weeks to save money which could be another option for the state. He said the flexible schedules will not work for all state agencies, but Connecticut needs to be creative. He  outlined the pilot telecommuting program he hopes to test out over the next few months and evaluated:

• House Republican staff members could telecommute one day per week, ensuring that all their legislative responsibilities are covered;
• Staff would use laptop computers that are already available to communicate easily with the Legislative Office Building;
• Because the telecommuting would be staggered throughout the office, no disruption of service for constituents or anyone else who contacts the offices would take place;
• Similar programs have been tried in other states such as Arizona where state workers have converted 181,000 hours of commuting time into productive working hours and reduced air pollution by 175,000 pounds; 
• A 2007 national study by the Consumer Electronics Association estimated that telecommuting saves enough energy in the traditional workplace to power one million households for a year. The same study determined that 3.9 million telecommuters saved 840 million gallons of gas.
• Telecommute Connecticut estimates that employees who telecommute save an estimated $1,200 annually on gasoline.

Cafero noted that Connecticut is one of 13 states that already allows for telecommuting for state workers when it is proved to be "cost effective.'' Only 140 state workers participated last year.

 "The state of Connecticut encourages private sector companies to allow their employees to telecommute. We need to take this initiative ourselves and make government more efficient and in the process, cut down on air pollution,'' Cafero said.  "We have the technology and the ability to make this a seamless transition that works for the state and the taxpayer. We hope this House Republican initiative will become the first step toward can become the model for state government,'' Cafero said.

People of all ages are escaping the city heat and traffic, and are heading north to the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains to recharge and rejuvenate. The North Georgia Mountains are increasingly becoming a more popular local summer vacation destination offering a wide variety of recreational activities ranging from: whitewater rafting, fishing, rafting, tubing, canoeing, boating, jet skiing, hiking, golfing, horse back riding, ATVing, and more! For the less active folks there are also many things to do such as taking a ride on the Blue Ridge scenic railway, visiting local water falls, orchard farms, quaint downtown main street shops, local dining, gem mining for emeralds and ruby’s, or even panning for gold! You can also take a scenic drive to Brasstown Bald. At 4,750 feet, it is the highest mountain top in Georgia! Or if you just feel like doing nothing, you can soak in the hot tub, sit in front of the sizzling fire around the outdoor fire pit, sit back in a rocking chair and enjoy the outdoor gas log fireplace, put your feet up, listen & watch the songbirds while relaxing and enjoying the beautiful mountain views. CabinsPlusMore.com, Georgia Mountain Cabin Rentals, are only 5 minutes from Tennessee and 20 minutes from North Carolina. You can also experience beautiful fall colors and winter snows! It’s easy to see why Blue Ridge Georgia is becoming local vacationers best kept secret!

CabinsPlusMore.com, Georgia Cabin Rentals, offer many amenities such as Rustic Gas Log Fire Places, Camp Fire Pit, Private 6-Person Hot Tubs, Game rooms with Pool table – Foosball - Air Hockey, Xbox and Game Cube systems, High Speed Internet, Satellite TV, Extensive DVD Movie Libraries, Picnic Tables, and Rocking Chairs. We even supply laundry detergent, hand soaps, shower soap, dish soap, dishwasher detergent, shampoo, toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, garbage bags & hairdryers to make your vacation complete. Our Blue Ridge Cabin Rentals are Fully Equipped, Clean & Affordable!

Because of the increased interest in the Blue Ridge, North Georgia area, CabinsPlusMore.com suggests vacationer’s book their Georgia Mountain Cabins as soon as possible.

Visit: http://www.CabinsPlusMore.com today and spend your hard earned money on your Georgia Vacation, not the fuel to get you there. You’ll soon come to find out why the CabinsPlusMore.com motto is “Where Mountain Memories are made”. To find referrals & reviews on North Georgia Resources & Businesses, visit: http://www.NorthGeorgiaOnDemand.com

On my way home from work last night, I heard on the radio how the price of gas was about to skyrocket again so, I pulled into the first gas station I saw and said some words I rarely ever say anymore.

“Fill’er up.” I told the attendant.

Eighty-three dollars and several tears (and expletives) later, I was on my way.

As I drove off, I thought back to the early 1960’s when my Dad would pull into our friendly neighbourhood station and say, “Fill’er up, or five dollars, whichever comes first.”

For those of you who’ve never visited the sixties, back then, a gas station attendant, fearing an overflow, would be cautious when asked to put five dollars worth of gas into a tank.

True. Even though my father drove a total gas pig of a car, five dollars could easily buy a week’s worth of driving in the family boat. Of course, we never went anywhere, but that’s beside the point.

Anyway, as expected, the next morning the price of gas jumped 3 cents to 134.9 cents a litre - or approximately $5.65 per gallon. Remember that old cliché “Taken to the cleaners?” I think it needs to be rewritten to read, Taken to the gas pumps.

Now, if you expect your government to do anything about rising fuel costs, forget it. Sure, they’ll try to pacify us by promising to look into the matter. But the sad truth is, other than getting all the usual gas-bags and political blowhards together and forming a seriously gaseous committee to look in to the matter, our leaders have proven time and again to be woefully impotent when it comes to doing battle with the big oil corporations.

Many people believe the price of gas could be easily reduced if the government merely dropped a portion of the taxes. But, according to this one government spokesperson talking-head I heard on a radio interview last night, this is not the case. According to this guy, our government is doing everything possible to keep the price of fuel low because they truly feel for you and me, the gas buying public. But alas, he explained, decreasing taxes will not help lower the price.

“How do you figure that?” I yelled aloud at my radio.

NOTE: Before I go any further on how lowering gas taxes has no effect on the price, to fully understand the convoluted logic of the political mind, you must first bang your head repeatedly against a concrete wall. This will properly prepare your brain to absorb the information. Come back when you’re done. I’ll still be here.

Back so soon?

Feeling a little woozy?

Good, it should help.

Now, as I heard it explained on the radio, lowering taxes will have no effect on the price of gas; rather, it will only serve as a signal to oil producers to raise prices even further, because the public is already acclimatized to paying the higher price anyway. Sadly, according to the brightest minds in government, our politicians are powerless to do anything about the situation except, of course, rake-in millions more in tax dollars.

For a brief moment, I started to buy into this weird, crazy explanation, but then, the truth suddenly hit me like an unquenchable gas-guzzling Hummer. It was the only logical explanation left. Yup, our leaders in have been taken over by those evil, half man/half machine Borg aliens from Star Trek and we are all about to be assimilated one gas tank at a time.

Think about it. First they encourage us to support the economy by buying these large, expensive, gas-thirsty vehicles. Then, they slowly jack-up the price of gas until we are spending more on fuel than food. Finally, they’ve got us where they’ve always wanted us - by the pistons. And that’s when, like in Star Trek, they assimilate you. Resistance is futile. You are now Borg (and part of the gasoline addicted collective).

It’s amazing, but somehow “big oil” has managed to turn the entire car driving public into passive pushovers. We’ve become a bunch of spineless, whimpering, pusillanimous gasoline junkies who have forgotten about natural human locomotion.

C’mon people, think about it! There is only one way to do battle with the greedy gas titans and the battle cry is “WE WILL WALK - or at least ride our bikes!”

That’s right. For our collective health and wealth, we must start walking more and using our vehicles only when absolutely necessary.

Sure, we may be losing (getting our asses kicked) the battle now, but the war has just begun. If the world’s oil producers suddenly see hundreds of millions of people walking and riding their bikes to work, they’ll quake with fear and lower their gasoline prices immediately.

Trust me, I’ve watched a lot of Star Trek. I know how to handle the Borg. [End]

Tim Cerantola is a mentally deficient writer with delusions of grandeur. (He also watched too much Star Trek as a young lad).

... demand for short haul European flights remains strong despite economic downturn hitting the holiday and leisure industries.:"Last month's load factor (proportion of seats sold per flight), compared with the same downturn-free period last year, was up slightly at 86.9%"

InBev add some legacy to their latest bid for Bud:"Adolphus Busch IV - the great-grandson of the founder of Anheuser-Busch and uncle of the current CEO" to be brought in as a new director under the bid proposal.

The oil dependent economy is grinding to a halt - time Govts to release the strategic oil reserves?:"if they did so, the price of oil would fall like a stone"

Economists tussle over whether hedge funds are to blame for the high cost of commodities.:"speculation in commodity futures has increased 20 times in the past five years - from $13bn (£6.5bn) to $260bn - and during that time the price of a basket of commodities has risen by 183%"

Global campaign against climate change put to the side as countries focus on digging their own economies out of rut.:"the threat of unemployment makes tackling climate change something that can be put off for another day"

An Ohio mechanic said he has created a car that gets more than 110 miles per gallon.

Doug Pelmear said he has perfected an engine developed by his grandfather 60 years ago. As gas prices continue to rise across the country, Pelmear said his engine gives his 1987 Ford Mustang 110 mpg.

"My grandfather had the idea back in the (1940s) that he (could) make a difference then," Pelmear said. "There was quite a need at that time also, with the war going on and everything."Pelmear, a mechanic in Napoleon, has been tweaking the engine for the past 10 years, squeezing out the maximum amount of power for a minimum amount of gas."This will bring back the automotive industry," he said. "They can sell trucks and (sport utility vehicles) and the models that are almost dead at this time."Pelmear said the engine is 400 horsepower and goes from zero to 60 mph in three seconds.Some seemed more excited by the car's power than its thrifty use of gas."Even those of us who grew up in the muscle car age, this will pretty much blow your muscle car away," said developer Mark Schnitkey.Pelmear wouldn't allow anyone to take a detailed look under the car's hood -- some of his gizmos are still awaiting patents, he said.But Pelmear said the secret lies in making the engine more efficient. And with a little more work, developers believe they'll be getting 500 miles to the gallon and revolutionizing the auto industry.

Is this real?  I have the problem with the 0-60 in 3 seconds...I cannot think of a car that can do that...but I guess it is possible.  If this is true then it will be a boon to drivers and the bane of the oil industry, who will do all they can to prevent this from hitting the market.

The high cost of fuel has an affect on everyone.  For some of us, we are taking vacations closer to home, not taking "joy rides" and planning our fuel usage better.  For others, we are looking at trading in our low mileage SUVs and trucks for smaller cars and hybrids that get better gas mileage.

 Here are some common sense tips that will help improve your gas mileage and stretch our dollars more!

• Don't fill the gas tank past full--too much will just slosh or seep out
• Buy the lowest grade (octane) of gasoline your car can use--check your owner's manual for this information
• Drive slower, within the speed limit--the faster you drive, the more gas you use
• Make one trip for all your errands and plan the most efficient route
• Keep tires properly inflated and regularly check alignment and balance
• Get regular tune-ups
• Empty the trunk--a weighted-down car uses more fuel
• Buy a fuel-efficient car

We have toyed with the idea of ditching television in the past. Unfortunately, what spurred us to do it now is rising fuel and food costs. We're not in financial trouble, yet. But if we don't start containing costs, we could start to fall behind. I wish I could say that we embarked on this experiment due to nobler motives. Oh, well.

What's interesting so far is that we really aren't missing TV that much. We're actually interacting more as a family. Instead of vegging in front of the tube after dinner, we're taking walks together. This may turn out to be a more pleasant than expected experience for us.

Over the next four years, we are likely to witness the greatest mass exodus of vehicles off America’s highways in history. By 2012, there should be some 10 million fewer vehicles on American roadways than there are today—a decline that dwarfs all previous adjustments including those during the two OPEC oil shocks.

Oil Shock: Analyst Predicts $7 Gas, “Mass Exodus” of U.S. Cars

Oil at $135? That was just the opening skirmish in the “peak oil” wars. The latest smart money? $200 oil in 2010, with gasoline at $7 a gallon. And that is going to turn Americans into car-shunning Europeans once and for all—poor Americans, at least.

That’s the latest gloomy forecast from Jeff Rubin at Canadian brokerage CIBC World Markets, who just a few months ago figured $200 oil would be a thing of the distant future—like 2012. <CONTINUED>

Seeking to reduce state energy costs, Utah Governor Jon Huntsman announced Thursday that the state would close administrative offices on Fridays, while extending hours on Monday through Thursday.

The idea is to work longer during the week and reduce the amount of trips to and from work.

Following suit just in time for soaring summer gas prices is New York’s Suffolk County Legislator Wayne Horsley. His plan: Let employees work four 10-hour days from July 1 through Sept. 30.

And with no gas respite in sight, the concept is spreading to states such as California, West Virginia, Minnesota and Georgia.

<READ MORE>

While it's true that as many as 4.6 billion barrels of oil and 9.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas may lie off Cuba's coast, no country, including China, is drilling for a drop of it. But on June 11, in a speech to the board of directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Vice President Dick Cheney claimed, citing columnist George Will, that the Chinese were drilling 60 miles off the coast of Florida:

Cheney: As for other locations, George Will pointed out in his column the other day that oil is being drilled right now 60 miles off the coast of Florida. But we're not doing it, the Chinese are, in cooperation with the Cuban government. Even the communists have figured out that a good answer to high prices is more supply.

Cheney was right about one thing: George Will wrote in his June 5 column that "[d]rilling is underway 60 miles off Florida. The drilling is being done by China, in cooperation with Cuba, which is drilling closer to South Florida than U.S. companies are." But the substance of Cheney's and Will's claim is false, according to independent experts, diplomats in the region and elected officials whose states could potentially have been affected by such a deal.

Cuba has leased exploration blocks to foreign companies for areas as close as 60 miles off Florida's southern coast. A 2006 New York Times article said China was one of the countries that had negotiated an offshore lease. But experts quoted recently by The Associated Press say none of the companies involved are Chinese and all are only allowed to explore for now, not drill in the region. Another exploration deal was announced between Brazil's state oil company, Petrobras, and Cuba. The deal would allow Petrobras to explore in Cuba's offshore territories in the Gulf of Mexico, with a potential drilling start-date in two years.

On June 11, the McClatchy Washington bureau reported that China has entered into a deal with Cuba for potential onshore drilling west of Havana. McClatchy also reported that Florida Republican Sen. Mel Martinez said a deal between China and Cuba for offshore drilling is "akin to urban legend."

In my little neck of the woods, gas is currently almost $4.00 a gallon.  I am well aware this is not the highest price in the nation.  I know there are issues within issues around even more issues surrounded by reasons on why it's high and how high it's going to get.  This, courtesy of every news station, talk show and man on the street screaming to me about all of this, and more.

All I know is that when I fill up my car, it is expensive.  And everyone I know has helpful tips on how to reduce consumption.

This all goes out the window, unfortunately, when baby Greek goddess is out of her mind because she needs a nap and the only thing that will calm her into peaceful dreams is a car ride.  I digress.

According to the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council Of Government, your gas cap could be leaking regardless of the age of your car.  And if it is three years old or older, the odds of it leaking are even higher.  Every leaking gas cap equals 199 pounds of pollution every year and costs you at least two tanks of gas per year.  Wow!

An estimated 17 percent of all vehicles on US highways, according to Kansas City's Unified Government Offices website, have either misused or missing gas caps.  This is causing 147,000,000 gallons of gas per year to vaporize into the atmosphere.  WOW! 

A lot of cities hold free gas cap testing during the summer so check with your local government and get your gas cap checked!  Remember, a tight gas cap keeps a lid on leakage.

First, I looked to see what cars come as hybrids. I knew there was not alot but I was suprised how few. Here is what I found when I looked at the  "hybrid cars" section on MSN Autos on msn.com.

Current Hybrids
		Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
		Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid
		Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
		Ford Escape Hybrid
		GMC Sierra Hybrid
		GMC Yukon Hybrid
		Honda Accord Hybrid
		Honda Civic Hybrid
		Lexus GS 450h
		Lexus LS 600h
		Lexus RX 400h
		Mazda Tribute Hybrid
		Mercury Mariner Hybrid
		Nissan Altima Hybrid
		Saturn Aura Green Line Hybrid
		Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid
		Toyota Camry Hybrid
		Toyota Highlander Hybrid
		Toyota Prius

Not a huge selection right.  So we looked at the list and decided which ones we thought we liked. Here are the ones we are considering:

1. Honda Civic
2. Ford Escape
3. Toyota Highlander
4. Tried to talk him into a Prius, he said no way and since he drives ALOT more than I do...

So the Highlander gets 27 mpg and is priced $35,000-$40,000 which is more than we wanted to spend since we are looking to save money because of fuel costs 27 mpgs are not worth our while. So it is basically down to the Ford Escape and Honda Civic.

I called the Honda dealership that I bought my last car from and asked them how long the wait was (I knew there was no way they had any for sale) and they said they would have a shipment in September. He then proceeded to try to talk me out of it. He said that based on average use (I do not know what that means to him but lets assume the national average of 12,000 miles per year) the extra cost of a hybrid Civic from an average Civic is about $5,000.  He said if gas stayed at $4.00 a gallon (which it already is not in most of the country) it would take 8 years to pay off the difference. Is he right? Kinda here is the math

Gas cost on a regular Civic per year: (12000 miles/35 mpg X 4.00) $1371.42

Gas cost on a Hybrid Civic per year: (12000 miles/45 mpg X 4.00) $1066.67

Annual savings of about $304... So yes he is about right it takes a long time to make your money back.

Same scenario more miles and higher gas price:

Gas cost on a regular Civic per year: (16000 miles/35 mpg X 5.50) $2514.28

Gas cost on a Hybrid Civic per year: (16000 miles/45 mpg X 5.50) $1955.56

Annual savings of about $589 and if gas prices soar at the same rate they have been $5.50 could be a very low estimate.

Of course the comparison here is between an already extremely fuel efficient car and hybrid so the difference in minimal.

While the dealer is probably right if you drive 12,000 miles or less and you need a new car anyway a regular Civic is not a bad choice. However, if you want to take into consideration the fact the gas prices can continue to soar the balance of savings starts to diminish.  

I will keep you updated on the research that I do and the comparisons.

• For the first time solar power is beginning to reach cost parity with conventional energy sources. As solar prices decline and the capital and fuel costs for coal, natural gas, and nuclear plants rise, the U.S. will reach a crossover point by around 2015.
• Installed solar PV prices are projected to decline from an average $5.50-$7.00 peak watt (15-32 cents kWh) today to $3.02-$3.82 peak watt (8-18 cents kWh) in 2015 to $1.43-$1.82 peak watt (4-8 cents kWh) by 2025
• Solar power offers a number of advantages over conventional energy sources. Among them, the ability to deliver energy at or near the point of use, zero fuel costs, minimal maintenance requirements and zero carbon-based source emissions.
• The investment to arrive at 10% solar in the U.S. is not small, reaching $450 billion to $560 billion between now and 2025, an average of $26 billion to $33 billion per year. However, given utilities' existing capital costs such an investment is not prohibitive. To put the investment in perspective: Utilities spent an estimated $70 billion on new power plants and transmission and distribution systems in 2007 alone.

The study, based on interviews with more than 30 solar, utility, financial, and policy experts, gives a comprehensive roadmap for utilities, solar companies, and regulators to reach 10 percent of electricity from solar sources by 2025 --- a $26 billion to $33 billion-per-year investment. For the first time, solar power is beginning to reach cost parity with conventional energy sources, says the study. As solar prices decline and the capital and fuel costs for coal, natural gas, and nuclear plants rise, the U.S. will reach a crossover point by around 2015.  A summary of the report is at: http://www.cleanedge.com/reports/reports-solarUSA2008.php.

According to today's New York Times, Americans are finally beginning to conserve energy in the face of higher fuel costs:

“U.S. gasoline demand will likely decline in 2008 for the first time in more than 17 years,” says the report to be released Thursday. “For the first time since the 1970s and early 1980s the number of miles driven by Americans has clearly begun trending downward.”

California, that bastion of sometimes forward thinking people, apparently started the trend years ago:

The Cambridge Energy report cites some fundamental shifts in consumer behavior that suggest the beginning of an enduring trend. The report noted that in California, where gasoline prices have historically led the rest of the country, gasoline consumption has declined for two consecutive years and hybrid vehicle sales are rising.

Americans spent about 4.5 percent of their after-tax income on transportation fuels in 1981, according to Global Insight, a forecasting firm. As gasoline prices dropped and family incomes rose, that percentage dropped to 1.9 percent in 1998. Today, it is back to 4 percent or more.

The national price for unleaded gasoline would need to average $4.23 a gallon “to create the same economic pain as in 1981,” the Cambridge Energy report said. “Once unthinkable, such a level is now within view.” On Wednesday, gasoline averaged nearly $4.08 a gallon.

It would take a sizable decline in consumption to get back to the levels of gasoline use only a generation ago.

National gasoline consumption has grown over the last 25 years by 40 percent because of the growing popularity of sport utility vehicles and minivans as well as longer commutes to work from the suburbs. Low gasoline prices made the growth relatively painless, until the last three years or so.

Fundamentally, the habits of Americas are beginning to be altered by high fuel costs. While I do not enjoy paying high fuel costs, I think this change cannot be described as anything but a good thing in the long term. Shifts towards more fuel efficient vehicles and more conscious driving practices not only help Americans in their pocketbooks, but help the environment. Consumption still has a long way to fall in my book

There are people in this country who will riot over ‘racial’ profiling.  There are groups that will picket our Embassy or representative federal government building because they feel their “rights” are being infringed.  Entire nations will shut down newspapers or other publications because of a freaking comic. 

The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after twelve editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 2005-09-30. The newspaper announced that this publication was an attempt to contribute to the debate regarding criticism of Islam and self-censorship. Danish Muslim organizations, who objected to the depictions, responded by holding public protests attempting to raise awareness of Jyllands-Posten's publication.

But the world lies quiet when Islamic women are abused.

In the United States we demand separation of church and state (As if anyone alive today descended from the founding families has a clue what that really means.) and we turn a blind eye to the abuses of businessmen and women in developing nations.

The authorities usually launch crackdowns before the hot summer months when women like to wear lighter clothing such as calf-length pants and brightly colored scarves pushed back to expose plenty of hair.

But enforcement of strict moral codes governing women's dress became more strict since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad swept to power in 2005 with the backing of conservative clerics and the Basij religious forces who condemn such "un-Islamic" practices.

The citizens of this country have NO CLUE what it means to live in a theocracy.

We have it good in this country.  Our poor have better meals than the poor of any other nation.  Could it improve? Yes.  Is our government perfect? No. 

We spend hours each day whining about the cost of fuel.  “Why, $5 per gallon gasoline may mean I can’t go to the beach for vacation!”  Like vacation is some constitutionally given right.  It honestly hasn’t been that long ago that our grandparents didn’t take vacations.  “Gosh! I can’t eat at restaurants as much now.  I actually have to … COOK!” [GASP!] “My bills are so high!  I just can’t afford this!”  Hmmmm how much are you paying in credit card bills?  Yes, you owe that money, you have to pay it.  But it’s a sign that you have been living beyond your means and now you have to deal with it.

Lest I give the impression that I’m holier-than-thou, please rest assured, I’m struggling also.  But I’m cutting back.  I’m shutting things off when I’m not using them.  I’m using my [GASP!] clothes line, instead of my dryer.  I’m cooking on the grill to keep the heat down in the kitchen.  I traded some furniture for a 1997 model car with a thrown rod, getting a replacement engine from a salvage yard and will be getting in excess of 30 m.p.g. within a week or so. That is 10 m.p.g. better than my 2005 small truck.  Plus, I ride my motorcycle [bought for $800 two years ago] when possible, getting 65 m.p.g.

But, the masses cry that the government should do something about gas prices.  The more government involvement you demand the closer you are to living like the people of Iran.  When the government can shut your company down because it doesn’t like what you do, you have given away your rights.