Gas prices, dog food and other musings

tysonthebulldogissocute · 7:22 PM, 04/02/05

Gas prices, dog food and other musings

Erica · MAD DOG!

I think greed is to blame. Everyone is so money hungry now it makes me sick!

Julie · 7:56 PM, 04/02/05

And your point is???

StormyWinter · Moderator

Gas prices are the way they are cause they are predicting the price of a barrel of oil to rise yet is has not. That I blame on someone but I will not get into poltics in here. Unfortuanlly when gas prices go up so does everything else. Trucks have to deliver these things and when gas goes up so does the price of things trying to make up for their loss.

-- Edited by StormyWinter at 20:03, 2005-04-02

tysonthebulldogissocute · 8:27 PM, 04/02/05

quote:
Originally posted by: Julie
"And your point is???"

LOL!

Dallasgoldens · MAD DOG!

ford makes a hybrid suv. the ford escape. this would work maybe. I still think when car buying you should load up all the pets/kids and take them to test drive, and make sure everyone fits.

sorry this on was for the other thread about buying a car

-- Edited by Dallasgoldens at 17:05, 2005-04-03

Paige · ~Grand Champion~ Gold Medal Poster!

I know exactly what you mean. Right now I am paying 2.04 a gallon. What is the gas where y'all live? I am in N. TX.

huronbreeze · MAD DOG!

Hello...In Michigan the gas is 227 to 237...we always use midgrade...its a bumber...but we all need the gasoline to do any thing...They have us over a barrel...no pun intended...

ltlgto · 11:38 AM, 04/03/05

Do you care what countries you support when you buy your gas for your car ? This more fuel for thought than fuel for your car. Numbers from the DOE website! Some of these companies I've heard of , and some I haven't. We aren't dependent on heating oil here in the Northwest and some of these companies are involved in home heating fuel.

JANUARY - DECEMBER 2004
(Thousand Barrels)

Totals:
3,674,058
876,558
24%

Company
Total
Persian Gulf
% Persian Gulf

VALERO MKTG & SUPPLY CO
322,393
126,838
39%

EXXONMOBIL CO USA
292,516
130,906
45%

CHEVRON CORP
280,661
111,266
40%

SUNOCO INC
261,586

PHILLIPS 66 CO
251,664
26,675
11%

MOTIVA ENTERPRISES LLC
226,531
182,271
80%

EXXONMOBIL OIL CORP
204,806
16,506
8%

BP PRODTS N AMER INC
201,439
44,990
22%

MARATHON ASHLAND PETRO LLC
189,550
88,905
47%

CITGO PETRO CORP
146,328
5,976
4%

FLINT HILLS RESOURCES LP
142,778
12,285
9%

SHELL OIL CO
114,564

PREMCOR REFG GROUP INC THE
99,480
20,904
21%

LYONDELL CITGO REFG LP
97,443
1,400
1%

PHILLIPS PETRO CO
92,644
14,850
16%

CONOCO INC
91,499
2,306
3%

SHELL US TRADG CO
59,175
1,772
3%

BP WEST COAST PRODTS LLC
58,535
38,523
66%

ATOFINA PETROCHEMICALS INC
56,440
23,026
41%

PORT ARTHUR COKER CO
55,586

PDV MIDWEST REFG LLC
50,641

TESORO PETRO CORP
42,016
2,432
6%

MURPHY OIL USA INC
38,780
978
3%

CHALMETTE REFG LLC
37,091

CITGO ASPH REFG CO
29,439

UNITED REFG CO
22,973

TESORO HAWAII CORP
22,626
3,433
15%

ASTRA OIL CO INC
21,571

SHELL CHEM LP
20,256

GIANT YORKTOWN INC
17,991

CHS INC
17,243

SINCLAIR OIL CORP
13,677

TOTAL PETROCHEM USA INC
11,577
4,251
37%

HUNT CRUDE OIL SUPPLY CO
10,941
5,422
50%

FRONTIER OIL & REFG
9,434

LION OIL CO
8,718
8,718
100%

KOCH SUPPLY & TRDG CO
7,558
1,925
25%

ERGON REFG INC
6,555

TRIGEANT LTD
6,013

SUNCOR ENERGY (USA) INC
5,100

ATLANTIC TRDG & MKTG INC
4,807

CROWN CENTRAL PETRO CORP
4,704

VITOL S A INC
3,231

EDGINGTON OIL CO INC
2,310

SHELL OIL PRODTS US
2,304

MONTANA REFG CO
2,221

NCRA
2,175

FLYING J PETRO INC
2,103

STATOIL MKTG & TRDG (US) INC
1,373

EQUISTAR CHEMICALS LP
1,039

SEMPRA ENERGY TRADING CORP
513

WESTPORT PETRO INC
477

GLENCORE LTD
370

EL PASO MERCHANT ENERGY PETRO
278

PARAMOUNT PETRO CORP
214

US OIL & REFG CO
121

Persian Gulf includes = Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates

Kittys Mom · ~Best In Show~ Senior Board Member!

SHORTAGE 101:

A lot of folks can't understand
how we came to have
an oil shortage here in our country.
~~~
Well, there's a very simple answer.
~~~
Nobody bothered to check the oil.
~~~
We just didn't know we were getting low.
~~~
The reason for that is purely geographical.
~~~
Our OIL is located in
~~~
Alaska
~~~
California
~~~
Oklahoma

&

TEXAS
~~~
~~~
Our
DIPSTICKS
are located in
Washington DC

Erica · MAD DOG!

he he kitty that was pretty funny!

Ansy · Site Admin

Gas is $2.11 here for the low grade.....$2.31/gallon for premium. Prices are rising and nothing is being done........some stand to lose of changes are made. Thats why I voted for the other guy. To think that we still have nearly 4 years under the current guy is dis-heartning to me. Where will things be by then? My light at the end of the tunnel is knowing that after yet another 4 years of crap like these gas prices, our country will not let in another Republican president. I know I touched some feather there, but thats just how I feel. I realize others feel differently. I just hope the Democrats have someone half way worthy of running in 2008. Maybe Kerry will run again.

Do any of you know what the Haliburton crisis is? Thats a HUGE reason your gas is so high. People wanted to fill their pockets at our expense.......and they are doing just that. Yes, the President is, will, and does protect our country......but he is gonna protect his own interests as well. He makes a salary of $200,000 per year. Far less than a surgeon, banker, or lawyer makes. He has to make his money somewhere........even if at the expense of the American people. It's a shame that no one told him about stocks and bonds.

Paige · ~Grand Champion~ Gold Medal Poster!

Wow! Seems like I pay the less for my gas. And as for car makes I really go for looks not where they are made. And Kitty that was real cute. I know where I live there are tons of oil derricks up and running.

tysonthebulldogissocute · 5:09 PM, 04/03/05

quote:
Originally posted by: Ansy
"Gas is $2.11 here for the low grade.....$2.31/gallon for premium. Prices are rising and nothing is being done........some stand to lose of changes are made. Thats why I voted for the other guy. To think that we still have nearly 4 years under the current guy is dis-heartning to me. Where will things be by then? My light at the end of the tunnel is knowing that after yet another 4 years of crap like these gas prices, our country will not let in another Republican president. I know I touched some feather there, but thats just how I feel. I realize others feel differently. I just hope the Democrats have someone half way worthy of running in 2008. Maybe Kerry will run again. Do any of you know what the Haliburton crisis is? Thats a HUGE reason your gas is so high. People wanted to fill their pockets at our expense.......and they are doing just that. Yes, the President is, will, and does protect our country......but he is gonna protect his own interests as well. He makes a salary of $200,000 per year. Far less than a surgeon, banker, or lawyer makes. He has to make his money somewhere........even if at the expense of the American people. It's a shame that no one told him about stocks and bonds."

Ansy:

Actually the Bush family is independently wealthy. $200,000 is converts to $2.00 G. Bush. Additionally, the Bush family have a bed like relationship with the Bin Ladens, Saudia Arabia etc. Which may explain all countries bordering Saudia Arabia are being attacked but Saudia Arabia which actually has the most oil. But anyway.... I voted last election. Last time I will too until they correct the situation. To much $ and not enough discussion of the real issues. Never see the candidates until it is time for election anyway. Lot of the personal stuff I just could do without. Noone is perfect can we just stick to facts and real solutions. I never get what I want.

Further, I read on to many independent blogs the voting machine companies are supporters of Republican orgs. Some laugh at the indie blogs but it is where I find out the truth. I refuse to listen to news anymore. It is so jaded either conservative or liberal if you want to use those terms. I just want facts without the adlib. I also look at bbc.com for U.S. news. No one else knows whats going on in the U.S. like other countries.

Anyway, I just feel the election is something that should NOT be controlled by $. Money pretty much influences our society. Everything is for sale even the vote.

Actually, Ansy I am for sale I just can't find anyone that wants to pay. Everyone wants to use a coupon!

LOL!

protodog · Forum Moderator

at the coupon.

Not Kerry--he already lost once, and really, he lost the race as soon as he went windsurfing. I could've boxed his ears for that move. The Democrats need to run someone with umph--someone with Biden's toughness and Obama's / Edwards' inspirational speaking ability.

tysonthebulldogissocute · 6:28 PM, 04/03/05

quote:
Originally posted by: protodog
" at the coupon. Not Kerry--he already lost once, and really, he lost the race as soon as he went windsurfing. I could've boxed his ears for that move. The Democrats need to run someone with umph--someone with Biden's toughness and Obama's / Edwards' inspirational speaking ability."

Proto:

I liked Kerry well enough he just wasn't nasty/aggressive. I have read a couple of campaign strategist books: his personality is VERY laid back and he just didn't see the point of discussing issues he thought were silly like the Swifty Boat debacle. Never mind it turned out to be all hogwash...the point is the matter needed to be addressed. They begged him to and he refused said it was silly blah blah. I think he may have felt he could get by on charm similar to what he may have felt Pres. Clinton did. O.k. earth to John Kerry times have changed. America has been attacked since Clinton and the economy specifically the U.S. Dollar is tanking...

Also it didn't help Kerry he could not get a grasp of the media...they were really knocking him with the Swift Boat story and with the Dan Rather drama when it was over...he simply did not have the ammo to compete against Bush's "there may be a repeat of 9/11 if I am not elected" tactics, or Bush's "the gays are coming" or Bush's "Jesus is upset because babies are being aborted"....I mean people voted for morality and because they felt safer with Bush. Better to know an old devil than a new one.

I truly think there is a large population that believe President Bush can wave a magic wand and stop people from being gay and stop women from having abortions. They also like his recovering substance abuser-I love the Lord routine. I can't say I blame Bush..Karl Rove is his boy wonder and these strategies are proven. I mean they work! I spent thousands on a college education and a man who dropped out of college is the Presidents ace in the hole. Rush Limbaugh, Demi Moore Jim Carey...all are either high school drop outs and/or college dropouts. My life! WAAAHHHHHHHH!

Finally, President Bush's self deprecating humor is well it is rather charming.

He laughs at himself quite often even when is jokes flop. And that accent. The good ol boy charm school works well.

My predictions:

*interest rates are getting ready to sky rocket-the housing bubble is going to burst

*gas prices will be $3.25 by August

*Due to the severe factions and divisions within our nation their will be some sort of cultural war/clash/upheaval within the U.S. (i.e. xenophobia, racial, morality)

*Alan Greenspan will continue to be treated like idolatry but we still will have no idea what the man is talking about AND

finally *Condoleeza Rice will not cut that horrid hair but will become the next Baseball Commissioner

Proto: your thoughs? Ansy?

-- Edited by tysonthebulldogissocute at 19:30, 2005-04-03

Ansy · Site Admin

Well.....I must say, I do agree with your predictions....lol......and even thought I voted for Kerry, I agree with what you said about him. You and proto are right, he didn't have enough "Umph" to him, but to me he was better than what we had in there. My first choice was Richard Dean, but Kerry beat him out. I'm not sure who I'd like to see run come next election.

They are wanting Condoleeza Rice to run. It would be a waste of her time. First of all, this country isn't ready for a woman president. Second of all, she is black. I don't necessarily agree with all that, but realistically speaking - she would never make it. Too many battles in front of her and the country as a whole would never vote in a woman, let alone a black woman. Hell, they haven't even voted in a black man yet.

Please don't take my words out of context here (for anyone who may). I am not saying that I personally would not vote for a black person or a woman, I am saying the country as a whole wouldn't (meaning there would not be enough votes to even consider her running). Personally, I would vote for whoever was most qualified - man, woman, black, white or other, but thats just me and I am in the minority when it comes to that (compared to the millions of voters we have).

I think the woman with the best shot at the White House would be Hillary Clinton. I would vote for her. She has a strong backing in this country, but there is also a strong backing for those who oppose her. That would be an interesting race. A woman in the White House would open up so many new doors in this country.

I am not a 'Womans Rights" advocate by any means. I don't think that women, gays, or lesbians (or whoever) should be treated any differently because of their gender. If you sign up for the military then you should be able to perform just as the men do - if you can't do it then you're out....plain and simple. Instead they go whining to congress and the courts about how they were mis-treated because they are a 'woman'. Bull S**! You couldn't do the job and you got ticked off and now you want to blame someone else. That really irritates me. Just as alot of other things irritate me. One of my closest friends is gay.....I have no problems with gays.......BUT they have to have their own Gay Day at Walt Disney World. Why can't we have a Non-Gay Day then? Boy wouldn't some people be getting sued over that one! Why can't we ALL just go to Disney World whenever we want and not have to worry about which days the parks are closed to us because we have a heterosexual relationship? Even my gay friend thinks this is silly. (I know the Disney decision was made by Disney Officials and not the President......I'm just referring to how the country has went down hill) We have a Ms. Black USA. Where's the all white or all hispanic Ms. USA? Why can't they just all compete in one freakin competition? We have boys wanting to get into the Girl Scouts and girls wanting to get into the Boy Scouts! What the hell is wrong with this country? The Scouts ain't about what your sexual preference is or how 'tough' of a girl you are.....it's about 'physically' if you are a boy or a girl. I'll stop now before I let this thread bring out the worst in me, but I think you see my point.....lol Just like these forums, this country will never be harmonious. Sadly though, other countries seem to pull it off somehow.

I don't think any "one" person in the WHite House can solve all these issues, but we need someone who can at least turn the country in the right direction.

-- Edited by Ansy at 20:03, 2005-04-03

protodog · Forum Moderator

Yes, Kerry would've been better than President Bush. Big Bird would've been better than President Bush. At least Big Bird could have gotten the Count to help him balance the budget. Kerry had some good policy ideas, but he made a bad "candidate."

Bill Richardson might be a good choice for the next election. He's got great experience, and by 2008, will have been a 2-term governor, and the country likes to elect former governors. Hillary can't win a national election. Too many people already hate her. I expect Howard Dean will do a good job as Chairman of the DNC and will continue his fight to put the backbone back in the Democratic party.

The problem will Allen Greenspan is that he speaks in nuance to an audience that only listens to sound bites. The guy is brilliant, but President Bush and friends don't really listen to him. They hear one line they like, and that line becomes their message, even though they've usually missed Greenspan's point.

I'll write more later.

tysonthebulldogissocute · 8:06 AM, 04/04/05

Ansy:

I am surprised you would feel this way. But here goes...:

Historically, blacks and other cultures have been excluded from participating in major events. Blacks were excluded from baseball hence the Negro Baseball League. Blacks were excluded from the military but were extremely courageous and now for example the surviving Tuskeegee Airman are lauded around the world (they recently were invited to participate in the Olympic Games).

Ansy sweetheart the reason why there is a Ms. Black America is because historically it took the Ms. America contest almost 70 odd years to acknowledge the beauty of black women or any other women. There is also a Ms. Vietnam contest, etc. I have no idea why white people find this so threatening. There has been a disproportionate amount of exclusion of blacks and other cultures from scholarships, and other opportunities. To date, companies like John Deere still refuse to have blacks as owners of their dealerships. Icould go on and on but I won't bore you with the details.

People should not feel threatened by cultural separations sadly they always are. Gay Days at Disney makes Disney bookoos of money. I have never gone because quite honestly I get sick of all the Christian moralists videotaping and posting their "findings" on the internet. I get sick of the picture taking and the "LOOK AT WHAT THEY ARE DOING!" attitude. It gets old.

Gay Days is very important because what you have described is not feasible. If gays and hetereos were to mix OPENLY at Disney it would be an uproar. Hetereos freak out if they see two men kissing on the beach...can you imagine their horror at two men kissing in front of Cinderella? People usually don't know my "sexual orientation" so I always get the hate statements about "those gays". I usually do not respond. I get them on the backend when they start talking about how they "love the Lord". I discuss the contradiction of intolerance and loving the Lord. It never goes over well.

The society you have described will never be. You were correct in your assessment that you are in the minority. Of course you are. Most people inlcuding myself have prejudices. I admit mine. I have plenty. I hate child abusers and animal abusers.

There are lots of angry disenfranchised people in the U.S. There is an entire culture devoted to hating other people. People such as yourself wish there could be some magical assimilation. There can't Ansy. Although via DNA testing there is no significant different between blacks, whites and other cultures, the cultures are different in many ways. Blacks I believe may know how to "deal with" whites because they have had to and for many years (over 250) the superiority of the white culture was forced down their throats. I am unsure and have my doubts how white are comfortable with blacks. I mean if you are told something over and over at some point you and everyone else will begin to believe it. I think sadly most whites feel that black culture pretty much is summed up in these adjectives:

rap music, gang banging, fancy cars, poverty, stupidity

Most other cultures know absolutely no black people other than what they see on BET or MTV! Most don't know the CEO of AOL is black. Maybe not a good example because AOL sucks! Of course most people know Oprah. She is the majority's center piece. "Why can't they all be like Oprah".

LOL!

It is sad. I mean sad because yes poverty is a part of black culture but it is the ONLY one the media hypes on. There are hardly ever stories about the black middle and upper class which has been around for years. I have never been poor and neither have my friends. My high school mates are: professor of dentistry, pharmacist, lawyer, elementary school principal, social worker, special education teacher. All of us are college educated and come from two parent homes. There are millions like us! HAHAHA! Our society treats us as if we are an exception to some rule. It truly is silly. We never get exposure for our accomplishments but we constantly see images of blacks as being buffoonish and acting crazy/violent and basically out of control. It is tiring. Especially when you have to go to work and people see these images and want you to tell them what they mean. For example, at the reference desk recently, I received a call from a woman wanting me to put on hold "all books that will teach me how black people talk.".

I was confused. Blacks are supposed to speak standard English. Of course, I figured she meant slang. She then stated "she wants to know what they are saying in the rap songs.". I put the books on hold along with some Polish Slang, Spanish Slang, Czech slang....LOL!

Every culture has poverty but none are as examined and hyped up as the poor blacks.

I get tired of it but what can you do? I just ignore it.

-- Edited by tysonthebulldogissocute at 09:09, 2005-04-04

Ansy · Site Admin

Tyson, that was an excellent post! I have to say that I agree with most of what you said. I think you are better at putting it into words then I am. I'll try and clarify a few things I said, so that I don't give the wrong impression, which I feel I may have done.

In reference to the Ms. Black USA pageant, I totally agree that the black womans beauty was overlooked for a long time and that it should have been created. However, I thought that, as a nation, we had come far enough that we no longer need to separate the two. I base that on the world that "I" live in though. My husband writes music and works with lots of black people. He recently started dabbing into writing rap (he usually writes for forms of media) and on any given night my house is full of black rappers laying down tracks for a new song and hashing out lyrics so fast that I can't even understand them! It is because of my families own inclusion of blacks in our life that I thought we, as a nation, were past the separation thing. Sadly, I suppose the majority still isn't there yet. I hate to use the term 'blacks'. I'm only using it here to try and get my point across.

As far as Disney, you got me on that one. I never even thought about it in the perspective you mentioned it. Yes, I think families would totally freak at the thought of gay PDA and therefore, I do now agree as to the decision of having Gay Day at Disney (or other various organizations).

My most influential classes in college were my History classes. I was overwhelmed with what I learned. They don't teach you THAT in elementary school! And it's probably a good thing because children would be scared to death at how this country was founded. The European men came to this country and slaughtered the Native Americans. The Native Americans were treated worse than any other group of people in history, IMO. All they were trying to do was protect their homeland, but because the white man wanted it, the King of England allowed the killings to take place. They, in an effort to trick the NA, offered them blankets for warmth, but they never said anything about the blankets being infected with the Bubonic Plague - which ended up making thousands of Native Americans die a slow, painful death. When we (the Europeans) first came here there were over a million Native Americans here. In the end, one we finally learned how to establish ourselves and colonize, there were less than 10,000 NA's left. Anyone who has ever taken a college History course knows what I'm talking about. I find myself shameful at how this country was taken.

I guess my views on what I said were strictly based on my own beleifs that we had come so far as a nation, and not what is realistic. I am past having to segregate and thought others were too, which is why I didn't see a need to continue segregating.

Tyson, this is the very reason I enjoy conversing with you. You can debate one of the most heated topics in our country in a educated and respectful way. I love being able to share my views with someone like that, and just like what happened here, I learned some things from it. I was 'iffy' about posting that in the first place, but went on and did it. I figured I may get a scolding because I was worried I wasn't clear in what I was saying. I admire the way you responded to me. Instead of scolding, you gave an honest and intellectual answer which allowed room for me to clarify.

The world would be a much better place if more people could do just as you did and respond to issues like these with intellect rather than heated arguments. I have really enjoyed this thread. Thanks!