The Land of Ozz

It is time again to review the economics of purchasing a hybrids once again. This posting is an update to the posting I did back in June when gas prices were nearer to $2 rather than the current $3 price per gallon. Here is a current analysis of the same vehicle of the current new models of Honda Civic Hybrid and non-hybrid with the same options. While the initial cost of the non-hybrid Civic has gone up approximately $1300 the hybrid Civic has maintained it’s based price. This is quickly narrowing the gap between initial cost comparisons.

One option I would encourage you to look at is a VW Jetta TDI if you are looking to save money and still get some competitive features in a compact car. The initial price of the VW Jetta TDI is only $1000 more than a gas burning Jetta with the same options. Take this into consideration with the lower cost per gallon of diesel and the miles per gallon reaching near the efficiency of some hybrids, it seems like a no brainier purchase to buy a Jetta TDI.

I saw this out the window of the airplane as we were decending into San Antonio, TX. I found through a little searching that this is the work of a local land owner in the Austin area with a last name of Lucke. A blog called Google Sightseeing featured this image in a post that actually drew a comment form the nephew of the landowner.

Ophelia is toying with us here in Charleston. The strike probabilities basically show that there is a slightly higher chance that this hurricane will move up the coast relative to us here int he Charleston, SC area before making land fall.

Last year we rode out Gaston. It was about the same size as Ophelia. I can not say it was the most comforting weather to watch move through, but I have seen worse winds in Wyoming on a clear day. I hope Ophelia just turns out to sea and leaves us all alone. I believe we have witnessed enough hurricane activity via the TV this year to do us for a lifetime.

I have been pleasantly surprised a few times in the past couple of days at the coverage by the MSM from the Gulf Region. That said I have also become sick to my stomach at the coverage at other times. Not just because of the death, destruction, pain, and suffering, but because of the amount of coverage given to the folks wanting to point fingers and cry racism.

I can not grasp why so much energy is going into pointing fingers in a time of such need in the Gulf Region. Why don’t the news reports take some pictures of their own helicopters hauling people out or bringing food and water into the area?

I can not believe the comments of those claiming racism in regards to the people affected by this tragedy. People are going on TV claiming one race is getting a bad wrap in the news coverage of the disaster. These are all humans even if some find themselves partaking in animal-like instincts to protect and feed their families. None of us outside the affected areas can comprehend what might be going through the minds of the people carrying anything from stolen bread to a TV. My first reaction was to say shoot the looters carrying TVs in the head so you don’t have to worry about adding to the work load already on the medical professionals. I later came to realize that many of these people even the ones with TVs are probably so disoriented that they don’t even realize that a TV is going to pretty useless for the next few months in the city of New Orleans.

I have just about the same feelings towards government officials as I do about the people of New Orleans right now. I don’t know what they are thinking or what information they had to work with at the time they made their decisions in recent days relative to the forces of nature. What we must all do is work with what we do know and have right now. There will be a time later to go back and look at who could have done things better, but that will not help today.

Give to the American Red Cross or other reputable organization who is directly involved and experienced in these types of efforts. If you can not give money then give blood. If you can not give money or blood then at least pray and thank God for those who are able to give.

I have heard reports of areas where gas stations are running out of gas and prices have risen to over $5.00 per gallon. I passed at least six stations this morning on the way in to work between Goose Creek, and North Charleston, SC. None were out of gas and the highest price I saw for regular unleaded was $2.99. I paid $2.86 for regular unleaded at the station where I filled up this morning. The station I stopped at had diesel at $2.65. The station I was at had 14 pumps and only 3 were in use the whole time I was there. None of the stations I passed had lines. All you need to buy is just enough gas to get here and bring cans. It looks like Charleston is the best place to spend you holiday weekend.