Reading harold_maude's journal

Oh, I didn't want to spoil the fun for you. In most, if not all European countries you'll find many places where (according to your own preferences) live is beautiful. You need lots of highways and big buildings around you, you move to the city. You want to see the stars at night, there's a rural area somewhere near you. What I was trying to say is that I don't think this is exclusive to Europe. :-)

The trouble is the stuff that is important is being run over by people in a hot damn hurry to get to the next stop light so they can wait and get as close as they can to your bumper.

Always remember, they may have the faster or more intimidating car, but as long as they can't overtake you're still the one who sets the pace. (And if they do overtake you won't have to mind them anymore anyway.)

I really wish I could be on an island somewhere

Does that island come with hi-speed internet, good cellphone coverage, a DIY store and a DVD rental? If it does, count me in.

"God is dead." - Nietzsche, 1882 "Nietzsche is dead." - God, 1900

Of all the travel shows I've seen on Europe I've noticed something that seems to be very common there, alternative travel. Trains, people touring by bike and lots and lots of people walking.
I've seen some cars, but they don't seem to be the main way to travel.
Am I seeing this right?

We just pay more for the gallon, everyone drives like an asshole and there is no parking space anywhere. While all that might make it less fun, many people still drive everywhere. In any case it's very possible to survive without a car.

'Yeah, That's what Jesus would do. Jesus would bomb Afghanistan. Yeah.' - snowlion

This post was edited by Jaz on Sep 01, 2005.

I agree, it is very possible to live with out a car, here they have communities of people who live and work together in a communal setting, and everyone has a hand in making things work.
I've read some about them, but I haven't found any of them to be the place where I'd like to be.

everyone drives like an asshole and there is no parking space anywhere.

You live in the wrong place, my friend. When I'm forced to slow down to less than 20km/h during rush hour, I already consider that a traffic jam. :-)

"God is dead." - Nietzsche, 1882 "Nietzsche is dead." - God, 1900

PS, gas is between 5 and 6 dollars per gallon in Europe.

To calculate this yourself:

a) 1 US gallon = 3.7854118 litres (according to Google)
b) 1 Euro = 1.23410 US Dollar (according to Classic Currency Converter)
c) 1 liter of fuel = 139 Cent (Euro cent!) = 1.39 EUR (according to my local Aral site)

So the price for 1 gallon of fuel would be: 5.23 Euros = 6.398382 U.S. dollar

Another one: Diesel is always cheaper, so it'll cost you only 1,16 EUR per liter, which would be 4,3732 Euros = 5,35017288 U.S. dollar ;)

And you poor folks are whining about some 2.89 USD? Are you nuts or what!?!

cu, w0lf.

Fuck off the 30 seconds posting limit!

This post was edited by ginsterbusch on Sep 02, 2005.

And you poor folks are whining about some 2.89 USD? Are you nuts or what!?!

Our society is not setup to deal with this kind of increase in fuel costs. It's not that we are whinning per se, it's the fact that our budgets, our monthly pay, our transit system is not built to support these high costs.

I cannot jump on a bus or train or subway and go to work. I have to drive. I don't live near any of my coworkers so I cannot car pool. It's 20 miles one way to my job, it's not possible to ride a bicycle or walk and it's not possible to car pool.

Millions of Americans are in the same boat. We have lived with low fuel cost and our society is built around it. We simply cannot sustain this society with rates as high as other countries. Things will definitely have to change but calling us whiners is pretty damn silly in my book. We have every right to whine at least until things get fixed and other more managable and effecient ways to get to work are developed.

Yep, I have to agree. I was going to save up and buy a car, but now cars are officially on my shitlist. If i can walk or bum a ride there, it isn't worth going.

I should be ashamed of myself.

The problem is it's going up so fast there is no time to adjust.

1 liter of fuel = 139 Cent (Euro cent!) = 1.39 EUR

Wow, I know that gas is more expensive in neighboring countries, but 1.39, are they nuts?

Yesterday lead-free 95 (95 octane obviously) cost CHF 1.63/l in my part of Switzerland, which would currently translate to about USD 4.92 per gallon.

Diesel is actually more expensive in Switzerland than regular gas (CHF 1.71/l), but since current diesel engines are more economical (buy a VW Lupo TDI to get 80mpg) it's still way cheaper to drive a diesel car.


So if any of you USAians would like to join the next NAO meeting, bring gas! :-)

"God is dead." - Nietzsche, 1882 "Nietzsche is dead." - God, 1900

I don't care what anybody says, when I have to pay over $20 to fill the mouse-hole sized tank in my car, there is a 'cowboy' somewhere who needs to be "grilled" on the range...maybe I'll throw some broccoli on his Dad's lawn too. They can use it for the shish-kebab today...on Labor Day, when a lot of Americans will be working, and...driving in towns with no public transportation to speak of...

Yeah, I soooo wanna take the MetroLink to the East Side. That sounds like skads of fun. Maybe I'll just bring along the bathroom plunger and the brick that will be used to murder me...

But in all seriousness, and half-assed sarcasm aside: This has to top off somewhere. If not, I am moving to Canada, where I distinctly remember feeling safe on the subway. Oh, and wait, there actually was a subway...unlike here in lovely St. Louis where nobody gives a patootie about public transport...yet. There's a bench for the bus right around the corner from me, but that is just suicide if I get on it. I don't wanna die just trying to get to work. I wish I could be a cartoon and just blast myself out of a cannon on the top of my apartment building, straight to work.

I guess the honest truth is...my optimism doesn't extend to feeling safe on the bus or the MetroLink. Hey, pretty soon it will be cheaper to take a 'cab' than to fill my tank; but I really hope not. In fact I am going to consciously envision a gas station with the numbers $1.10 for regular! on their billboard. The other two bucks I'll spend on chocolate. Yay!!!!

My mind is made up...not like my bed, which is a mess.

This post was edited by rosyxxx on Sep 05, 2005.