Sorry for not reporting in last week folks. Too much to do and so little time. That, and my wireless shorted out on me.
So, two questions from the eight this week: What have I changed about my life, and what can't I do anymore?
1. I haven't seen much of a shock over here in Jersey just yet, but I'm sure we will get something soon. When New York City feels it, so will we. Prices have gone up a little, but we stocked up on staples before any of this business came about. Refills might not be as much of an option, so we are trying to use everything that can expire, and freezing all the leftovers for later. Edible scraps go to the pets, but we still need a way to use the rest of the food. Perhaps compost is the way to go.
Meanwhile, I'm trying to be a little more conscious about recycling my daily newspapers and soda cans. The way I see it, less trash means less in landfills, which means less that will have to be incinerated later on. I'm practicing good habits and reducing the impact of pollution by a little bit. I really ought to encourage my family to be a little more conscious as well. We don't even have a regular recycling can at home, so I have to stick a label on a regular can! Point is, I'm not going to be able to help the environment by myself. I believe recycling has untapped potential that could be of a lot of use in the coming weeks...but that is another story.
2. The real problem with the oil prices and my time comes from not being able to travel as much as we did. My family and I usually eat at home now or order out, but even delivery is becoming more expensive with each week. If we want to see our relatives, we have to relegate our trips to once a month now due to their distance from home and the route we take to get there (the New Jersey Turnpike).
Despite all of this, my dad still comes to see us every week despite the driving back and forth. He is a real trooper, but it can't be good for his wallet to constantly drive like that. He has a decent job ,but he shouldn't have to drive a half-hour for our sakes. He's usually pretty laid back if faced with a problem, but I feel like I should offer him some cash so he doesn't have to pay for it all by himself. Part of me feels like I would be giving back for all that he has done for me and all he has sacrificed, but I'm still unsure. What do you folks think I ought to do about it?
Showing posts with label gas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gas. Show all posts
Friday, May 4, 2007
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Freewrite: Taming the Iron Bull
Besides my response to the questions posed by the 8TSOC, I will offer up my own opinions on problems connected to our oil production. I will cover a variety of subjects, each which has some connection to the growth and decline of oil.
With all the talk of buying fuel to prepare for a shortage, it is important for us to realize and evaluate where all that fuel is going. Through rational analysis, perhaps we might realize how our fuel might be better spent, and where it is being used efficiently. I will start with the simplest target of evaluation, the mighty SUV. Despite pushing for cleaner fuels with one hand, companies like Ford or GM push large vehicles with another. I am not coming down as hard on trucks or jeeps for a reason; some people actually do need the space to carry around large materials or to travel over rough terrain due to the demands of their job or lifestyle. With such trucks out there, I see little need for things like Hummers.
Why are people so compelled to buy such vehicles, even though they might easily be aware of problems with fuel? Why feel the need to use such vehicles in a fuel shortage like the one we are having now? Perhaps we might turn to the media for a response.
A number of ads are already out on the market touting Ford's newest "super-duty" trucks or the new Silverado from Chevy (just examples, not endorsements). The images associated with such vehicles are those of ruggedness or power. Hell, Ford's latest slogan for their F-Series is "Built Tough". I sincerely doubt women are going to be the ones lining up to buy their trucks.
This is but one example of such advertising. The general concept to take from this is how advertising tries to associate a certain product (trucks) with a certain image (classic manliness). For another example, consider what you think about when you see a person driving a BMW. Most of you might think that the person who owns it is rich, or at least likes the finer things in life. For SUVs, it might indicate the person likes things big. That, or they feel inadequate in more ways than one.
Ego jokes aside, it is important to realize how advertising and the marketing of certain images to a given audience can affect the way consumers think. With advertising budgets at a high and the GDP on the rise, I see no reason that this will stop anytime soon. The fuel shortage will continue regardless, but at least we can make things a little easier by putting the "iron bull" in its pen and letting our own opinions take root instead of what s pushed by advertising. The less SUVs using less fuel, the more there is for the practical people who drive cleaner cars, and the truckers who actually make use of big vehicles for something other than showing off.
With all the talk of buying fuel to prepare for a shortage, it is important for us to realize and evaluate where all that fuel is going. Through rational analysis, perhaps we might realize how our fuel might be better spent, and where it is being used efficiently. I will start with the simplest target of evaluation, the mighty SUV. Despite pushing for cleaner fuels with one hand, companies like Ford or GM push large vehicles with another. I am not coming down as hard on trucks or jeeps for a reason; some people actually do need the space to carry around large materials or to travel over rough terrain due to the demands of their job or lifestyle. With such trucks out there, I see little need for things like Hummers.
Why are people so compelled to buy such vehicles, even though they might easily be aware of problems with fuel? Why feel the need to use such vehicles in a fuel shortage like the one we are having now? Perhaps we might turn to the media for a response.
A number of ads are already out on the market touting Ford's newest "super-duty" trucks or the new Silverado from Chevy (just examples, not endorsements). The images associated with such vehicles are those of ruggedness or power. Hell, Ford's latest slogan for their F-Series is "Built Tough". I sincerely doubt women are going to be the ones lining up to buy their trucks.
This is but one example of such advertising. The general concept to take from this is how advertising tries to associate a certain product (trucks) with a certain image (classic manliness). For another example, consider what you think about when you see a person driving a BMW. Most of you might think that the person who owns it is rich, or at least likes the finer things in life. For SUVs, it might indicate the person likes things big. That, or they feel inadequate in more ways than one.
Ego jokes aside, it is important to realize how advertising and the marketing of certain images to a given audience can affect the way consumers think. With advertising budgets at a high and the GDP on the rise, I see no reason that this will stop anytime soon. The fuel shortage will continue regardless, but at least we can make things a little easier by putting the "iron bull" in its pen and letting our own opinions take root instead of what s pushed by advertising. The less SUVs using less fuel, the more there is for the practical people who drive cleaner cars, and the truckers who actually make use of big vehicles for something other than showing off.
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