Friday, May 30, 2008
10 Myths about save money on Gas
1. Products claiming to increase gas mileage
The Federal Trade Commission has tested more than 100 devices that claim to save gas -- some up to 25% -- and found not one that significantly improves gas mileage as claimed.
2. Turn off the AC
According to a Consumer Reports test, there is very little difference between driving with your windows down or with the air conditioner on at 65 mph on the highway.
3. Buy gas on Wednesday
The theory is that if you buy gas on Wednesday, prices have come down from the weekend, when many gas stations elevate their prices in hopes of making a bit more profit from more people traveling. While a general rule would be to avoid buying on weekends, there are too many factors that come into play to rely on the Wednesday strategy.
4. Idle away
At one time, this may have been true, but with modern fuel-injection technology, it's no longer the case. Just as there is no longer a need to spend 10 minutes warming up your car on a cold morning, if you are going to be sitting for more than a half minute, you will save more gas by turning the engine off than letting it continue to run.
5. Sticker stats
The rating that automakers provide for gas mileage should be taken with a grain of salt. Beginning with 2008 vehicle models, the Environmental Protection Agency required fuel efficiency standards to be reported based on new test methods that better reflect actual driving conditions. Older models, however, may have derived their ratings via outdated or inaccurate methods.
6. Up your octane
A higher grade of gas is not necessarily better for your car. Some higher-performance car engines need a higher octane level, which refers simply to how much the fuel can be compressed before it ignites. It's a myth that higher-octane fuel burns hotter and cleaner, and it will not improve an ordinary car's gas mileage. Your driver's manual will list the recommended level of octane, which will usually be the lowest.
7. Gas rebate cards save money
This is one of those areas where you need to be very careful. On the face of things, getting a 3% to 5% rebate each time you purchase gas looks like a no-brainer, but this is not always the case. If you don't pay off the card in full each month, any savings on gas will immediately be taken away with interest charges. Some gas cards may come with yearly fees that can negate any savings. There also may be less expensive gas in your area that doesn't allow a credit card to be used. Run the numbers before assuming that a gas credit card will save money.
8. Buy a fuel-efficient car
Many people believe that the best way to save gas is to purchase a fuel efficient car. While this will help, the truth is that the best way to save money on gas is to change your driving habits. Making basic changes to your driving habits will save you a lot more money than changing to a fuel efficient car without changing your habits.
9. Gas up in the morning
This myth is based on the science that gas is denser when it is cool out than in the heat of the day. The logic goes that purchasing gas in the morning, when it is cool, will mean you get more in your tank than if you buy it in the heat of the afternoon, because gas pumps measure volume and not density of the fuel. The problem is that the gas is stored in underground tanks, so the heat of the day has little effect on the gas temperature, meaning you can purchase gas at any time and get virtually the same amount.
But there is one reason you might want to buy gas in the morning. If you believe gas prices are going to be rising, most gas stations don't change their daily price until 8 a.m. or so, meaning you still can get the previous day's price in the early morning.
10. Overinflated tires will save gas
The logic is that if underinflated tires waste gas and properly inflated tires get better mileage because of less tread contact on the road, over inflated tires would have even less tread contact, which would increase mileage. Popular Mechanics tested this theory and found that it didn't provide any added benefit and that it was dangerous.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Hey You in the Left Hand Lane!
Yes you. You think after I passed you on the right you would get the hint. You are moving to slow! Get out of the left hand lane unless you are actively passing someone!
You almost caused an accident this morning as I had to move to the middle lane to get around you and a car from the right hand lane didn't see me approaching and almost sideswiped me. Thanks for that little morning adrenaline rush. It really woke me up.
You know why people tail gate you? You are going at or below the speed limit with space for you in lane to your right. MOVE OVER!
It's just flat out rude to block the passing lane.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Electricity from the Ocean?
A floating station uses wave motion to drive a piston that pumps water through an exhaust pipe. That water is collected and then passed through standard turbines to make electricity when needed, returning the water to its source.
The company last week said that Texas A&M University at Galveston's Marine Engineering Technology Department had evaluated a demonstration machine in the Gulf of Mexico. The university found that the Seadog Pump was able to convert 22 percent of ocean wave energy into usable energy.
Originally from cnet.com
Now the real question we have to ask is how will a farm of these effect wildlife and the ocean currents. We already have a very fragile environment (look to droughts in the west and melting ice caps). We need to make sure our alternative energy sources will not just make other situations worse for us. Everyone has hyped up ethanol as a great fuel alternative but that has had the side effect of driving up the cost of corn and thus the prices of many other foods that depend on cheap corn.
Alternative fuel is exciting and definitely a direction we need to head but we need to not rush into the hot new fuel ideas without considering the true costs. We need to be careful to not rob Peter to pay Paul
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
American Idol Winner
David Cook won. Who cares, they both blow. I am a bit surprised but honestly I just don't care enough.
Labels: American Idol
Monday, May 19, 2008
Ridiculous Lawsuit against Bat Company
The family of a boy who suffered brain damage after being struck in the chest by a line drive off a metal bat while playing baseball filed a lawsuit Monday morning against the manufacturer of the bat, the store that sold it, and against Little League Baseball for giving the bat its seal of approval.
Who else should this family sue? How about the maker of the ball that hit the child. Also I would sue MLB, ESPN, and the baseball Hall of Fame since they are clearly promoting the PLAYING of baseball. Had they not made the sport popular this child probably would not have been playing.
Seriously though, where does this end? Why can't people just face facts that accidents happen and they don't need to try to get money for every single incident that happens. It is not as if the bat malfunctioned. The bat was used as intended and using the bat you accept the terms and conditions that hitting a thrown ball with the bat may create an unsafe result.
Litigation will be the downfall of our civilization.
found on espn.com
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Don't sit straight!
Scottish and Canadian researchers used a new form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to show it places an unnecessary strain on your back.
They told the Radiological Society of North America that the best position in which to sit at your desk is leaning back, at about 135 degrees.
Originally from bbc.co.uk
Friday, May 16, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Crowds at Rock Shows
You will probably need to click on photo to enlarge.
http://www.viruscomix.com/sympathiestotheband.jpgAmerican Idol - Results Show
David Cook must hate these result shows because of the songs he is forced to sing. David Archuleta is just dumb enough to not know what is going on and Syesha Mercado was kind of the star of tonight's number.
And Fantasia gets a fast forward since I am not into drag queens.
Man those utah girls are crazy for David who cries and gosh's his way through it all. LAME!
He's kind of a yokel. Anyways he will probably be safe so I the delay is lame ...
Now it is Syesha's montage time. These are boring me. lots of forwarding. Ha ha, she has some flat topped asian body guard. Pretty funny! Her dad drops the drug card. He's loving the "natural high" of this. Oh man, the old woman mayor does a hand stand! Top humor. We are now 2 for 2 on major crying.
My only interest left is whether David Cook cries or not. A good story where he blames his brother for even trying out. I liked that, it was neat.
He still has a lame beard ... but we need to wrap this thing up. Odds are it is still Syesha that goes home.
Ryan makes us wait for yet another commercial break. Bastards! Trying to make money off of us!
The lights are dimmed ... Ryan's voice carries the weight of a ton of elephants. David Archuleta is first passed into the finals. The tension (sarcasm) is killing me ... David Cook is the other finalist. Not a real shocker as Syesha Mercado is headed home.
Oh well. At least next week will be lame.
Labels: American Idol
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Songs inspired from tonight's American Idol
Gia Farell- Hit me up (from the happy feet soundtrack I guess)
Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis
And another song I was reminded of while looking for the Leona Lewis song:
"Mercy" by Welsh singer Duffy.
Labels: American Idol
American Idol - Final 3
Tonight we get three songs apiece. One picked by a judge, one picked by the contestants themselves and finally one picked by the producers (who actually get to pick the songs each week anyways ... yup I am told the contestants pick 3 songs and the producers get final say).
David Archuleta leads off with "And So it Goes" by Billy Joel. A typical boring David Archuleta ballad. Randy liked it. Paula continues to love him. Said it was pure and stunning. Simon thought it was very good but a bit predictable.
Syesha Mercado is doing "If I ain't got you" by Alicia Keyes. I like this song and hopefully Syesha can burn this song up. So it was good. Nothing extraordinary like I hoped but she served the song well. Very similar to Alicia which is a good thing. Randy say her heart beaming. Likes that she is peaking at the right time. Paula says she looks stunning. Simon said she was good and said he wishes she changed it up a bit more. Said she looked gorgeous. But I agree with Simon in that she did it too much like Alicia Keyes and didn't change it up enough to be her own.
Ryan asks if she's been holding back so that she can turn it up at this point in the competition. That's not such a bad idea if you can stay in the middle of the pack and then explode at the end when you need it.
David Cook is chosen to "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack. I have no idea who she is. Simon explains himself by calling it one of THE great songs of all time. He wants David to have the chance to show some originality. I paused the show here so that I could listen to the actual song ... While youtubing it, I noticed that Leona Lewis did a version of this song. She is of course the winner of "The X Factor" which is a UK version of American Idol that Simon is also involved with. I am done listening to the song and it is very ballady so I can see why this would be a challenge for David and for once I am excited to see what he does with it.
He handled it well. He didn't turn it too rocky like I thought (and hoped) he would. It wasn't bad though.
Randy liked it but wanted him to rock more. Paula calls Randy and Simon out for making the song choices about themselves, which she was right about. She goes on to say she liked it. Simon called it one of his best performances to date (although he admitted a bias).
Next up is the contestant's picks.
David Archuleta picked "With you" by Chris Brown. He wanted to try something new.
Ahh now I recognize this song. The "I need you boo" told me what it was exactly. Sounds like he might have gotten a bit lost on the words there. He looks very stiff up there. His little bob dance is hilarious. He has some good moments in the song, but looking at him singing it is pretty funny. His voice is still weird to me, nasally maybe?
Randy liked that he tried something new and young. He found it a bit odd too, especially the "boo" part. Paula thought it was perfect. I have to disagree with her and agree with Randy. Simon applauded him for reaching out but he compared him to a chihuahua trying to be a tiger. He called it awkward and not quite him. Agreed, now moving on.
Syesha Mercado chose "Fever" by Peggy Lee. At this point I want to mention that after wishing she would do something different with her hair now I want to see the old loose blow out again. Oh well. I really do think she is kicking it up a notch now. Was this song too sexy for middle America? It was pretty good. I am interested to hear what the judges say though.
Randy said it was an interesting song choice and she sang it very well. Paula was surprised that she picked that song. I wonder if they are both talking about the sultriness of the song that I mentioned? Simon says she might regret picking this song and she missed a chance to demonstrate that she could do a contemporary performance.
David Cook picked "Dare you to move" by Switchfoot. Shocking that he would pick an Alt Rock song/group. It was ok and as to be expected. Nothing special for me. Randy name dropped on the producer and didn't think it was his best. Paula thought he just ran out of time to really give the full performance. Simon thought it was just ok.
Now we get the producer's choices.
David Archuleta is given "Longer" by Dan Fogelberg. It is a ballad so he should do well with it. It's also a song that I like. It seems like it's right down his alley. He doesn't sparkle with the song, just ok for me. Randy again drops the "you could sing the phonebook". He has said it at least twice tonight. He ends by calling the performance hot. What Randy, no dog tonight?? Paula thought it was lovely. Simon thought he sang the song very well. He hated the song though, thought it was gooey. Gooey? I like that term.
Wow, Justin Guarini had time in his busy schedule to go sit in the Idol audience? You don't say! I can't believe his young Michael Jackson look didn't send him up to the stratosphere!
Anyways, Syesha Mercado is assigned "Hit me up" by Gia Farrell. She has changed into jeans and out of her dress from earlier. Pretty good performance. She belts out some parts well. I still think she has got a load of potential for success. Randy said it was just ok but could see her doing a song like that. Paula says the song was from "Little feet". Shes not sure if it's good enough to get into the finals. Simon liked it better than the 2nd song. He thought she was at her best last week with the Sam Cooke song.
Ending the show is David Cook being forced to sing "I don't want to miss a thing". This should be in his wheelhouse and if he can't nail this song then he shouldn't be the next idol. He did ok with it. Still not as good as I thought though. Oh well.
Randy thought it was ok and predictable. Paula predicts he will be in the finals. Simon says David Cook wins the night. Simple and concise. No judge tells him that his haircut and beard makes him look like a pedophile. Really someone should mention that soon.
A quick aside. I watch this show all the time and see the vote numbers come across. I have never called and never plan to but I do wonder what happens when you call. Does a message come up and say "thanks for voting" or something similar so you know your vote counted? Can anyone answer this?
Labels: American Idol
Monday, May 12, 2008
Name that TV theme song
I may lose many hours productivity thanks to this game. It plays a theme song for you and gives you 4 choices of shows. The quicker you guess the right answer the more points you score.
Play the game here
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
American Idol - Results Show
Ok, as they do their little group number it dawns on me I get it if David Cook wins. I can see his niche. I can't see this AT all with Jason Castro. I can see it to a degree with David Archuleta. Syesha Mercado is another one I can see having some success but I think she might just get lost in the shuffle. Perhaps much the like the way Kimberly Locke had a brief time of success with "eight world wonder". She'd be another nice female artist. I'm not sure she'd stand out. David could have a couple of crappy (to me) albums that the pop stations love. He'd be like daughtry whom I also do not like much.
Hey, look it is no surprise. Jason and Syesha are the bottom two. Yawn. This is too predictable.
Adam Levine from maroon 5. "You're gonna have to work alot. And then you're gonna get jaded and you're gonna say god, I hate this but you really love it so just try to remember that."
I liked when he said that.
Good to see Bo Bice is alive ... his song sucked.
Wow. Syesha made it to the top 3. Jason Castro is going home. I still wonder if he really blew it last night or if the fans just Syesha better. He definitely didn't help his cause last night that is for sure.
I guess Syesha will be heading home next week ...
Labels: American Idol
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
American Idol - The Final Four
David Archuleta, David Cook, Jason Castro and Syesha Mercado are your final four. Tonight the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened up it's catelog of songs to Idol. Each contestant gets two songs apiece.
David Cook begins with "Hungry like the wolf" by Duran Duran. This seems like something that he should be able to make sound good.
As soon as I say that he begins ... and he begins to sound like ever other song I have heard from him. Not impressed, found it boring and uninspired.
Randy says it was just ok. Paula Liked it. Simon called it a bit copy cat-ish but should be good enough for tonight.
Syesha Mercado is second. She's sporting the straightened hair again. Not bad, but I'd like to see her keep mixing it up. She is singing "Proud Mary" by Tina Turner. I like her attitude going into this. She was a bit worried about the choreography. She doesn't have Tina's legs, but who does? She starts of a bit borish but when she gets into the dancing the song picks up a bit. I think Simon may find it a bit too cabaret and may even mention a drag queen. Randy likes that she's taken it up subsequent notches these few weeks. Paula liked the performance, she babbled quite a bit. Simon of course called it a bad shrieky version and a bad impersonation of Tina Turner.
Up next is Jason Castro with "I shot the sheriff" by Bob Marley. He said it best, "Go figure". Ok we get it Jason, you are such a hip kid who likes the pot lifestyle. We all went to college with this guy. You are boring. Dreadlocks are gross, they are built from dirt. This song bores me.
Randy thought it was karaoke. Paula wasn't crazy about it which says a lot. When Paula doesn't like it you know you are screwed. Simon thought it was atrocious. When Simon tells him he doesn't know what he was thinking Jason responds with "Bob Marley!!". I hate this act, ugh. Disgusts me.
David Archuleta is singing "Stand By Me" which means the judges will be falling all over themselves with compliments for a song i just think is ok.
I personally don't really get the fuss over this kid, but he is clearly the favorite of the show. Good luck making good albums with a guy who I think is just an ok performer.
Randy likes that he hits the stage hard every time trying to win the competition. Paula loves the young boys! blah blah. Simon told him he was very well placed ... hmmm have the producers favorite go after a song they know the judges are going to rip? NOOO! Producers with a vested interest in the show AND the albums wouldn't try to play mind games with simple America would they?
End of the first half of the show. I don't really want to watch the 2nd half.
Second half begins and I have a gun to my head.
David Cook chose "Baba O'Reilly" by the who. Most people think it's called "Teenage Wasteland". I like this song along and can't wait for him to butcher it.
He starts off way to slow and soft for my liking. Anyone notice his lame beard makes him look a lot like George Michaels
Paula loves watching his soul. Where does she get this stuff? I swear she has 4 brain cells. Simon and Randy loved it. Shocker.
Syesha hits us with "A change is gonna come". Wow, she just compared the civil rights movement to her time on American Idol. Yes, I can see the parallels. The "pivotal time in history" versus a "pivotal time in [your] life". Come on Syesha comparing to your time on a game show (after all that is what that is what idol is, a game show) to the plight of an ENTIRE COUNTRY? Bah. Oh ya the song was typically belted out by her as we've come to expect. Unfortunately this is not just a singing competition as Simon tries to call it. The song didn't blow me away, she'd have been better off picking a song people know.
Randy didn't like it. Paula stood and applauded and then followed it up with some gibberish. I think she liked it. Simon agreed with Paula. He liked it. I am bit surprised. Are they trying to give her a big push to get her into the finals? Oh ya, Syesha is bawling. She keeps mentioning the civil rights movement. This is a good time to point out that Syesha is black in case you didn't know.
Jason Castro is coming up. I might smash my head in. Hope he references his pot smoking again. Do you think he even smokes the dope? Or does he just have this persona? Anyways, he is "sticking with the Bobs" and doing "Mr. tambourine man" by Bob Dylan. Not surprised he would go Dylan. Ah yes "folk rock", that's why he likes it. I really might go out to Hollywood to punch him in the face. HE FORGOT THE WORDS?!?!? Is that what that the mumbles were all about? "I lost some lines in there" he says. Randy says he's not in the zone. Then some fans yell out "yes you are" and I think (I think) Paula says "no, you aren't". She definitely says "it is what it is". Simon has my favorite line, "I'd pack my suitcase". God he definitely deserves the most to go home after tonight's lackluster performances.
The golden boy ends the show. "Love me tender" which will be going out to his voters which I can only assume is the gay audience. Speaking of which do any straight men vote for this show? Is it only gay men and women? That would explain a lot of the voting actually. This song isn't actually too bad by him. However I don't get what he is trying to portrait. Who are you David Archuleta are you going to be an adult contemporary star? Not sure I see too many pop songs in his future.
The judges all love him, no surprise.
Tune in tomorrow when Syesha and Jason are the bottom two. It actually may be interesting to see who goes home. America has never supported Syesha but Jason really did lay a big fat egg.
My enthusiasm for the show is dwindling...
Labels: American Idol
Monday, May 05, 2008
Celtics Finish off the Hawks
Game 7 wasn't without its highlights (and low lights).
First it's the dirty foul on Rajon Rondo
Then it is KG laying out Zaza on what I believe is a clean pick. They called a foul which I think was more of a reaction to Zaza being sent sprawling on the floor.
Zaza never sees the pick coming because he has his head down. A teammate should've been calling out the screen but that does not seem to have been the case.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Barney's Bro Code
ARTICLE 89 "A Bro may never pursue the mom of another Bro." Be it here resolved that at no point is it permissible for one Bro to engage in carnal delicacies with another Bro's mother. It is, however, allowed and encouraged for one Bro to graphically suggest to a Bro the athletic feats, animalia, and/or machinery utilized during a fictional encounter with his mom. [[NOTA BENE: It is customary for a Bro to avoid such Brocularity if his Bro's mom is a 9 or better, for fear of Oedipal inducement.]] Should a Bro discover his Bro is in fact adopted, he is free to pursue his Bro's adoptive mother, but only after first corroborating non-biological parentage through notarized birth certificates, hospital records, or comparative dioxyribonucleic acid gel electrophoresis, whichever is easiest. Since the adopted Bro cannot legitimately claim to have shared a canal with his Bro, ARTICLE 89 expressly prohibits the adopted Bro from invoking the Sloppy Second clause in any related filings with the International Court of Bros. Though the mom of a Bro is always off limits, the step-mom of a Bro is allowed if she initiates it and/or is wearing at least one article of leopard print clothing. If she looks good in it.
Originally from How I Met Your Mother
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