OT: Gas Prices

[Renegade 13]

Nuclear power. I was reading about a 'new' type of reactor that will actually utilize the waste materials from conventional nuclear reactors, and would also be much more efficient. The waste generated would still be radioactive and thus toxic, but the half life is something like 100 or 150 years rather than the current 10,000 or so.

But with general public opinion being extremely anti-nuclear power, any chance of the newer, better reactors being built isn't likely. Me, I'm all for nuclear reactors...just not in my backyard!

Nuclear is the way to go though. That'll cut dependence on oil by a lot, and also make coal-burning electricity plants (of which the US has a LOT) obsolete.

[Azselendor]

Natural causes of global warming is only a small percentage of the problem - and one that we can't really do much about. What we can do something about is cleaning up the way we live.

The problem is money, however. To clean up the world would most likely bankrupt every nation in the world five times over.

[rdouglass]

Yes, I think the oil companies are ripping us off and doing it because they can.

I vote for archologies (at least IIRC that's what they're called). There are places currently that are trying them small scale and they are meeting with mixed results.

Today, I drive to work and back 35 miles round trip and burn approx 2 1/2 gal gasoline to do it. 200 years ago I would have climbed down my stairs from my upstairs living quarters to my street level shop.

The new(!?) idea is to go back to these community environments where you can do all your daily tasks (work, shop, etc.) without having to drive a vehicle. What is an archology except one of these communities on steroids.

I've seen recent Discovery Channel (and other) shows on floating cities, gigantic city skyscrapers and other such constructs. Didn't notice a car road in any of them. And I don't think there are too many that would disagree that if we eliminated automobiles, gas would be cheaper and the earth would be a little cooler. No we would not stop any normal climactic changes, but we would induce them less.

[Renegade 13]

KlvinoHRGA said:
Natural causes of global warming is only a small percentage of the problem - and one that we can't really do much about. What we can do something about is cleaning up the way we live.

The problem is money, however. To clean up the world would most likely bankrupt every nation in the world five times over.

All it'd take is one or two large volcanic eruptions to emit gigatons of greenhouse gases, and make any human effort to stop greenhouse gas emissions futile.

[Phoenix-D]

Rollo said:
Just for reference, gas currently costs about $6.00 per gallon where I live.

What is your complaint about US gas prices exactly?

And how much of that is taxes?

Also, we have states bigger than your entire *country*. Things are a liiiitle bit more spread out here, which leads to longer drives.

I'm moving cross country later this year, and the resulting drive is 1000 miles. You driving that far would probably take you all the way to Portugal, going through several other countries..

[Azselendor]

Pheonix, distance is not a factor in oil prices. If I remember right, Europe is getting much of thier oil out of former soviet bloc countries and I wouldn't be surprised there is some bad blood there.

Wasn't there a thing in the news a few months ago with Russia and Ukraine squabbling over oil access and that was threatening to raise oil prices in europe as a whole?

[Phoenix-D]

No, it isn't. It is a factor in how much gas prices hurt, though.

[Renegade 13]

There is evidence pointing to ocean levels that were 6 meters higher than today's levels. This evidence includes oceanic wear on rocks far above today's high-tide levels on cliffs in Alaska, and old coral reefs that are high and dry above current sea levels.

This shows ocean levels have been much higher in the past and thus the average worldwide temperature must have been much higher. Life adapted, or died out. That's life for you. Attempting to stop climate change is a futile battle, it will happen whether or not you want it to. The rate can be altered, but not forever.

Like I mentioned before, when the Earth heats too much we plunge into another ice age. The Earth is a self-stabilizing system, it will adapt. Perhaps scientists have not surmised the mechanism yet, but it has historically happened, and there's no real reason to believe it will not happen again.

I'm not saying we need another ice age! Though actually, I would like it. I love winter! Maybe you southern people would learn what it's like living in the cold...Floridians would learn 20C isn't cold enough to turn the furnace on!!

[Suicide Junkie]

Sure, there are feedback mechanisms.
But its not a good idea to turn the furnace on when its already hot out.

[Atrocities]

not all of global warming is because of the US and our gas guzzeling wasteful way of erogant living. What about volcano eruptions, forest fires, natural warming trends, tbe changes in the megnetic poles, etc. Don't blame it all on the US.