Something that Bugs me
The word “BUG” is sometimes used as a synonym for irritate. But, irritate is just a bit too strong in this case. What I am getting to is the current reporting in the news of “the average price of gasoline”. This just plain BUGS me. For example, the average price of gasoline here in Oregon is currently $3.78 nine. But that is just a load of crap. The local station sells at $3.89 nine. So the implication is that I can get my gas cheaper somewhere else. Again a load of crap. I would have to drive to Salem to get in on the windfall of cheap gas at $3.76 nine. A round trip of fifty miles to save $2.38 (nine?). The asinine average is even worse when considering that over on the coast they are still paying over $4.00 (nine) per gallon.
This becomes still more ludicrous when addressed at the National level. Three weeks ago I filled my tank for $3.68 nine in Minnesota. So what does the average have to do with my brother-in-law filling his tank at $4.01 nine back here in Grand Ronde? Does the traditional news media report this because it is cheaper than covering real stories? Or do they think that it is somehow germane that nation wide or state wide we are not getting ripped off as bad as we really are? What a bunch of schmucks. Them for peddling this crap and us for paying attention to it.
There was something that I did find irritating in my summer travels. While driving through Montana regular gas appeared to be cheaper. But, on closer inspection, regular gas in Montana contains only 85.5 per cent octane. Well, my vehicle and most others, I would guess, need 87 per cent octane to run efficiently. Thereby forcing me to jump to the Higher grade of gas and the higher price. This wasn't just with one station here or there but state wide. Butt heads!