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mneme
I like the 'apathy rules, ko'd' mneme. I know what you mean about 'here.' I was surprised last week when a man I've come to know in Canada mentioned 'back home,' meaning the UK. It bugged me slightly so two days later I asked him when he had come to Canada - "1964," he replied. And to think the Canadian anthem states 'our home and native land.' Most odd.
posted by
johnmacnab
on May 16, 2007 at 7:50 PM
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johnmacnab
That's true, food and petrol.. I'm talking about Australia when I say "here" (unless I am home visiting the UK.. it gets confusing). I wonder if that lady notices her $20 gets her around less and less, but then, apathy rules, ko'd ... I read that in a graffiti collection once.
posted by
mneme
on May 16, 2007 at 5:40 PM
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mneme
When I remember, mneme, before I left the UK the stores were also selling gas. In this part of Canada, and probably in the rest of the world, the gougers put their prices up on Friday and the nearest city has a website detailing the cheapest places to fill up.
I think apathy, or ignorance, rules when it comes to protesting, like the woman who said. 'It doesn't have any effect on me when the price of gas goes up. I buy $20.00 at a time.'
posted by
johnmacnab
on May 16, 2007 at 11:40 AM
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johnmacnab
I'd have to do some homework to see how many different gas companies we have... some of them are sneaky and have merged with supermarkets, and you get a few cents off a litre with your groceries, so I'd have to boycott the kitchen too. Others automatically put their prices up for the weekend (seriously) - best to fill up on a weekday, if I remember. People call in to radio stations to report who's selling petrol at the lowest price... Help..! I never realised how conditioned we all are.
posted by
mneme
on May 16, 2007 at 4:52 AM
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Whacky
LOL, Is it safe to smell the Bo watered roses, Whacky? I say we do a Swedish Boycott - Every driver boycotts one particular company one day per week until they bring their exorbitant prices down.
posted by
johnmacnab
on May 13, 2007 at 4:20 AM
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The smoke coming out of your ears was a dead givaway!
I say boycott them all! At least drive less walk or take a bus more!
Two roses from Bo. Well, he waters them! (at least he thinks he does)
posted by
Whacky
on May 12, 2007 at 8:54 PM
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TAPS.
But then their profits might go down, TAPS! Used to be in the UK that the only way you knew a car was knew was by the number plate. Each year had a different prefix. (The registration mark belonged to the vehicle over there, and not to the driver)
Now each car has a year, like the BMW '08 and such like. In a previous life, I used to buy a new car every two years because of the mileage I did, but the next model was like the previous model only with a different number.
At the moment, I am driving a 1993 Ford Topaz that I bought for $400 at an auction. The farmer who owned it refused to update his car, according to his wife, and after driving it, I understand why. It was the top of the range then and it drives like a dream. Why would he, or me for that matter, trade in something just so it looks more modern?
posted by
johnmacnab
on May 12, 2007 at 5:45 AM
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In the '70s we had a sudden spike in gas prices...
that's when small Japanese cars began to outsell the big three, which were making only big honking gas hogs. There were maintenance issues, too - the imports ran better longer and cost less to maintain. It's not just the gasoline that's costing us - it's slow thinking on the part of auto makers.
They could stop investing in flashy advertising and built-in obsolescence and go for practicality. If our 2007 model continues to work in 2010, and the 2010 model looks pretty much the same -- costs involved in making bigger better newer would evaporate. Unit cost would go down. This is especially true of parts that are "invisible" - the things that regulate gas/air mix and combustion. If car makers and buyers focused on more efficient operation instead of exterior style, the lowered demand for gas would force the price down...
posted by
Pat_B
on May 11, 2007 at 6:34 AM
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TAPS
It was the same when I was young, TAPS. I think the smaller gas companies were all gobbled up. I know when I was young, I used to work in a company that retorted oil from shale. We used to make petrol, oil and fertiliser. We were taken over by British Petroleum (BP) and shut down. The gas companies are now stronger than some countries and can do what they like.
The price wars nowadays are in store prices, as far as I can see.
posted by
johnmacnab
on May 11, 2007 at 5:53 AM
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Johnmacnab
When I was young there were always gas wars and all you had to do to get it cheaper was drive to another gas station. What happened to the gas wars? Can't we get them back?
posted by
TAPS.
on May 10, 2007 at 8:48 PM
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afzal
You are correct, afzal.
posted by
johnmacnab
on May 10, 2007 at 8:03 PM
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You are angry over the rising price.
posted by
afzal50
on May 10, 2007 at 6:12 PM
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