Why Do Higher Gas Prices Anger You?

the sport-utility market has become more of a woman's market than ever before. In fact, the rapid growth of truck and SUV sales in the U.S is due in large part to the increased number of women purchasing SUV's.

Multiplication, division, and modern arithmetics in general were invented in Arabia in the 8th century. We're supposed to believe that with all the advancement in mathematics for some reason we just can't come up with anything better than the 8th century. Bullsh*t. There is a reason why these advancements have not been used.

Thomas wrote:

Multiplication, division, and modern arithmetics in general were invented in Arabia in the 8th century. We're supposed to believe that with all the advancement in mathematics for some reason we just can't come up with anything better than the 8th century. Bullsh*t. There is a reason why these advancements have not been used.

Math is not an invention it's a law.

Its like flashy watches. How much better is the time from a £6000 rolex?

We have imo to return to appreciation of function as opposed to fashion.

Steve (as 41oo) wrote:

Its like flashy watches. How much better is the time from a £6000 rolex?

We have imo to return to appreciation of function as opposed to fashion.

I don't think there ever has been a time in which human vanity and the desire for art, embellishment, and distinction have not been strong, dominant factors in the behavior of individuals and the societies they create. Moreover the generally transient cases of austerity and culturally imposed "simplicity" , when they do occur, are usually accpmpanied by organized cruelty and oppression.

There is nothing to which we can return in this area. I'll take the Rolex.

There are, of course, a few exceptions - notably the Amish people of southern Pennsylvania - and others. Tourists are captivated (and non Amish locals enraged) by the sight of their black horse drawn carriages moving slowly down the highways. A closer examination does reveal a certain simplicity ion their lives. However it also shows that their rejection of comfort and decoration is highly selective, focusing mostly on visible modern conveniences. Most are quite prosperous, shrewd businessmen and lead very comfortable lives,

I think you are wrong on two counts, first stones were never consumed. Second (although I like the analogy to foundation stone) stone age "civilisation" was actually built on muscle power and their primitive machines (levers rollers etc) to translate that power into useful work. It was not actually built on stones!

David Friedman may know something about the futures market but he never mentions oil in the context of thermodynamics or geology. I think he's one of those "flat earth economists" as Dr Colin Campbell describes them.

If oil was just a resource like any other I might agree, but its not. Oil is energy and energy is not a material.

seems to me that the Amish get the best of both worlds. Compliance with their own austere standards, yet quite willing to take advantage of modernity should necessity dictate. Is that why local non Amish are enraged, or is it the traffic queues ?

Oil is just another material from which we can extract energy. If it gets too expensive we'll simply extract our energy from some other material.

The Amish are distant, a bit skeptical of "the English" as they style all of us..

Anybody have a million bucks? Toyota or Honda developed a hydrogen car that doesn't use gasoline.

georgeob1 wrote:

The Amish are distant, a bit skeptical of "the English" as they style all of us..

Thats perfectly understandable. I would be too.

Where do they hail from?

Thomas wrote:

Oil is just another material from which we can extract energy. If it gets too expensive we'll simply extract our energy from some other material.

such as....?

THERE'S nothing like an energy squeeze to buoy the spirits of Internet merchants.

Online shopping sites, already on a roll, are getting help from the high price of gasoline, which is prompting untold numbers of consumers to boot up their PC's instead of driving their S.U.V.'s to the mall.

And while oil prices have fallen from their summer peak, prices at the pump remain at more than $3 a gallon in much of the country, with tight supplies likely to keep them high through the holiday season.

"There's going to be a lot of talk about Christmas shopping being hammered because of higher fuel prices, but we're saying, 'On the contrary,' " said Shmuel Gniwisch, chief executive of the online jewelry store Ice.com. "Our sales will increase."

However one minor point. Please dont classify me as just part of the environmentalist lobby. ["your side lost"]. I'm not a tree hugger. I like trees dont get me wrong, but in a purely functional and indeed platonic sense.