how in the heck are we supposed to live these days

[BuckeyeDave]

Pat,
I think we will have to agree to disagree on this one. Man never watched a single animal use magnetics or electric to it’s advantage, does that mean it didn’t exist? Man did have birds to mimic and it still took them thousands of years to become airborne. Mag Lev trains, amusement park rides and anything more than a basic understanding of magnetism are in their infancy, does that mean that it could not be done before that point, no; it means a human finally figured it out. With the development of stronger permanent and electro magnets generating magnetic attraction and repulsion, the future of self sufficiency and power generation will soon be realized.

http://www.lutec.com.au/index.htm
http://www.lutec.com.au/lea-system.htm
http://www.lutec.com.au/other/lutec0711.pdf

Peace,
Dave

 

[BirdBrain]

Quote:
I only made it to page #3 in this thread, but let me tell you the other side of the story. I hear people complaining ALL the time about the oil companies and saying that they could do something about it but instead are enjoying record profits at the expense of poor people. As is all stories, there are 2 sides. Most people don't realize that US oil companies buy, at a minimum, 70% of their oil on the spot market...that means that it is being sold on the open market from foreign governments and we are competing with developing nations for oil. This drives up the prices.

Oil companies MUST make a profit so they can turn it back into development of new fields. Ever hear the term "peak oil"? That means the level at which you can't produce any more than what you are producing. We are there!! And still developing nations are demanding more and more as they develop. I don't begrudge them that. They want what we have and we have too much already. We as a nation are very wasteful and think we can continue our live styles the way we want with impunity. Something has to change.

Most of America is not aware that we are in a war. Oh, pardon me, I meant to say that most of America lives like there is no war going on. We want to continue our life style and not be inconvenienced by a little matter of war. During WW2 there WAS rationing. People were encouraged to have victory gardens, and chickens (wouldn't the animal control people freak out if we did this now.)

Prices of fuel are rising due to factors beyond our control. Prices are raised in some instances as a conservation method. It is better to voluntarily conserve than to face shortages and not have any choice if we buy gas or not.

If our government decides to slap on a windfall profits tax on oil companies, there will be no money to put back into development. Our US oil companies will go foreign...like Haliburton did a few years ago...to avoid the heavy taxes. THEN we will really be in a world of hurt, with no supply.

My DH has a good job...for now. That can always change and I always feel the pain at the pump. We need to all pray for this up coming hurricane season to be a non-event. If any of our refining capabilities are knocked out then we will be up a creek with no paddle.

Can you feel my frustration over people always complaining? I am speaking VERY generally here. I am not talking about anyone here on the forum specifically and am even tired of my kids complaining.

Rikkitikki58 is right that the job market will look very different with $7 or higher gas. However, blaming the oil companies is not the right answer.

Speaking generally again, we have to look to what we can do to improve our situation and those around us. We can't expect change to come from anywhere else if we are unwilling to change. I'm looking in the mirror as I say this...and the suburban stays parked in the garage. We will adapt. We are resourceful people and I bet that our family and yours can find a ton of ways to conserve. It is just good stewardship.

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

this was on my news stations home page this afternoon.

""What's a penny worth? When it comes to the price of gasoline, it's another record.

AAA's daily Fuel Gauge report put the nationwide average price of regular at $3.96 a gallon Friday morning. That's a penny more than Thursday.

The average for premium is also up a penny, to $4.36 a gallon.

The continued runup comes even as the price of crude oil continues a decline that began with a $4.41-a-barrel retreat Thursday.

Analysts said a stronger dollar and falling demand outweighed an unexpected drop in U.S. stocks of crude.

Analysts said an investigation of U.S. oil markets, with a focus on possible price manipulation may also have contributed to oil's declines.""

So. Price gouging/manipulation is alive and well and Congress knows this.(Of course) The dollar is supposedly strengthening. YAY! which will then cause oil/gas prices to drop. In theory.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Quote:
I'm with Crunchie. The only way to succeed at this is to make changes not just temporary blips in the way we generally go about things.

I forget who said it here that the choice of a new president won't change anything (tho it might help!) . . . . and there is truth to that. But, I love the question/joke, "How can you determine which person walking down the street in Washington, D.C. is the politician?" "They're the ones with the wet finger thrust into the air to see which way the wind is blowing."

You and I have all the power in the world if we make the right choices. If we stand together and demand change, change will happen. But, politicians and corporate bigwigs know that we have an extremely short attention span. Right now, gas is a big issue, but toss 3 other big issues our direction and we forget all about it if gas were to go down to, say $3.50 a gallon instead of $4.00, when a year ago we were paying less than the $3.50.

On another thought, I heard something really interesting on the radio today. For all of my wishing for a solar panel and a plug-in hybrid prius, there are some countries who're using just that, but when you pull into a "gas" station, you simply pay and switch out your batteries, which are then recharged and sold to the next guy. Pretty ingenious if you ask me!

 

[blessedchickenmama7]

Bird Brain,

Well said. I am "peak oil aware" and it's one more reason people sometimes think I'm a little different... But until others understand what's happening, complaining is natural because they think something is being done "to" them. It's only when people understand that our lifestyle is not sustainable and that most everyone in the US is or has been a part of this unsustainable way of life that things will change. It's about admitting that we are part of the problem.

My fear is that instead of being resourceful other folks will want to take advantage of those of us who planned ahead as best we could. Chicken thieves used to be common, you know, back in the day. One way or another, things will change. I am hoping and praying that this brings out the best in all of us. I think we're probably already too late to mitigate many of the effects of oil depletion/prices and the best we can do is prepare for the consequences.

Sonia

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Quote:
I can't live without my phone, literally... I don't have a home phone, only my cell, it's pay as you go, I'm VERY attentive when I drive, and I often drive and talk, and have NEVER been in an accident, and I'm 19

I need my phone for school, work, and well...everything since I don't have a home phone.

 

[Reinbeau]

My cell phone has become very important, it's my work line, bouncing between studios and gyms I'm not home to take client calls....but as I said before, nothing but eating, breathing and housing are essential. I often joke with my friends what did we do before cell phones? But civilization did just fine back then

 

[Oblio13]

Quote:
Chill, dude. It's okay with me if you believe in a perpetual motion machine. And my offer to buy one from you is even still good.

 

[Stella1964]

Quote:
Hi Blessed, I couldn't agree more with your comment that the best we can do is prepare for the consequences. Always be prepared for the worst (and hope for the best). Always consider the consequences and not stick your head in the sand waiting for someone else to fix it. I have great difficulty is spreading the word about self reliance, holistic treatments, organics, renewable energies etc., and it astounds me how many people still either have never heard of any of it (cave dwellers to be sure) or pshaw it all as nonsense. I have to remind myself that people tend to go through phases of reason, like coping with grieving, yet as Gore explained too many people go from absolute denial of the problem to utter despair without pausing in the middle to think of ways to try to fix it. The majority of people I know are like this. I have two neighbours who love it that we started a very small backyard chicken "op". People across the road think we're deluding ourselves and say it costs more to raise the chickens than it does to just buy the eggs at the grocery store. Clearly that point of it all escapes them

Regardless, I will keep trying. I will continuing buying organic foods where possible, and I will never stop reading to educate myself and gain perspective on all 3 sides of the coin. I will continue to teach myself how to be a good gardener to grow my own food (not too much success there yet but I'm in mad pursuit), and I will not giving up in attempting to influence the people I work with, my friends, and family (children and elders alike) about what we all need to do to make a collective difference. The more I sound off, eventually bits and pieces will sink in with some. If I affect just one or two, then I will feel victorious enough and hope those one or two will also speak out.

That's how I'm preparing, with eyes wide open, and with a serious respect for the inevitable consequences of inaction.

 

[freshegg]

almost everyone I know stopped buying oil 3-4 years ago went to wood or pellets ($300 from friend that got forclosed on) and most drive less so I think demand is way down. I saved 5000 last year by not buying oil I got 5 cords of wood for 140 delivered log length from the town (20 a cord and 40 delivery) and about 250 on pellets was way warmer than I would have been with oil. I use oil for hot water but when I run out im going electric with the oil money. also I only fill up gas tank 2 times a month so Ive almost acomplished telling oil companys I dont need it. But of course Im paying more for everything else do to high gas prices. Another way to save in a sence is I went from 6 cylinder van to 4 cyl. prelude and with what I saved in gas a month My car was free (13000 used). so go from 8 or 6 to 4 just like a free car. I got my chickens because eggs went from 1 dollar to 2 at store and it cost me 2 a week to feed chickens(8). another way to survive these times is match up coupons with sales and save lots. Good luck to everyone and I pray for everyone who has no choice but to travel to work and forced to buy oil to stay warm.