The gas crunch is real and it is taking its toll on all of us.  That being said, there are some legitimate ways to make your fuel stretch and help your car get better mileage, such as keeping your tires inflated to the right pressure, keeping your car tuned up and your air filter and fuel filter clean, changing your oil as recommended and driving at the suggested speed limit.

The sad thing about the fuel crises is that – as often happens during difficult times – fakes and frauds are coming out of the woodwork to take advantage of people, and often, the people who are being taken advantage of are the people who can afford it the least. 

If you look anywhere on the internet you will find ads claiming that you can use water to supplement your fuel, turn it into hydrogen or oxyhydrogen and get incredible mileage.  The automobile club, AAA, says that there is absolutely no truth to this claim and that the kits on various sites – that are little more than a water jug with a hose attached, and cost anywhere from $150 to $1500 – are a waste of money.

Then there are other fake fixes, such as the offer to either lock your fuel price in at a certain amount (usually $2.49 to $2.99) or send you a free fuel card worth $1000 in fuel.  The real deal with these fake deals is that these are little more than spam sites who are trying to get your information so that they can bombard you with emails and phone calls to sell you everything from insurance to dental kits. 

The Better Business Bureau says not to fall for these scams and don’t give out your personal information.  You will be asked for phone numbers, addresses, birth dates and more.  In addition, you might be asked for your Social Security number, Driver’s License number and other numbers, such as bank and credit card account numbers.  Do not give this information out unless you have thoroughly checked out the site and the product and are able to verify that everything is legitimate.

In fact, there is a Norton Utilities program that will help you determine whether a site is a spam site or not.

With fuel prices that are already too high, this is no time to be tricked into spending even more money – especially on fraudulent items.  Be careful when you are looking for answers and make sure that they are real.  Report suspicious offers and sites.  Don’t be fooled by fake fuel fixes.

The high cost of fuel is no secret these days.  No matter where you are around the world, fuel prices are a tremendous issue.  Whether you are earning an average or above average income, the increased cost of fuel is having an effect on the way you live.  People are buying smaller, more economical vehicles and driving less.  They are carpooling more and many are changing jobs, opting for a lower salary closer to home so they can save fuel costs. 

When fuel started inching toward $3 per gallon, people were getting worried and upset.  Now that the price per gallon is over $4 per gallon, people are besides themselves worrying about how to make the dollars stretch.

The question is: What pushes the cost of fuel up so high?  The answer, in part, is subsidies.  The way subsidies work is that various countries such as Mexico, India and China subsidize their motor fuel.  What this does is encourage consumption of fuel and make the prices rise while the governments of those countries make up for the deficit at the pump for their consumers.  Research indicates that countries with subsidies accounted for over 95% of the increase in oil use around the world in 2007.  Because of this, prices rose to alarming levels, and in some countries like the United States, demand for oil fell because prices were allowed to rise.

Subsidies are a big factor in creating an imbalance between supply and demand of fuel, therefore pushing oil prices up and making it hard for consumers to afford it.  As a result, other parts of the energy and economic equation are affected, such as automobile sales – especially luxury cars and SUV’s.  These high-ticket items were often acquired by consumers who leased them from the automakers on long-term leases.  As the fuel crisis has deepened and the economy has changed automakers have taken huge losses due to these leases.  So deep, in fact, that Chrysler will no longer offer leases. 

In addition, individuals who have purchased these vehicles that consume a great deal of fuel have taken losses personally, as well, adding further to the economic problems resulting from the fuel crisis.   Adding all these factors together has created a situation that is creating a strain on individuals, families and entire countries.

While economists search for a solution, one thing is clear: fuel prices will not be going down in the near future and it is essential to continue looking for alternative sources of energy to replace or supplement subsidies.  We need to find ways to deal with the fuel crisis head on, eliminating or adjusting artificial fixes and developing real solutions now.

Last year was a cold winter in some areas of the country.  There are, of course, the normal areas of cold throughout the United States, but, as we know, many of the colds have gotten colder and the warms have gotten warmer due to weather changes, but we won’t even go there.

The problem with the extreme cold in winter is that it takes more fuel – especially heating oil – to keep people and their homes warm enough to get through.  Last year, as we said, was quite cold, and people paid a lot for fuel to heat their homes.  This year is predicted to be worse – not because it will necessarily take a larger amount of fuel, but because the fuel has gotten so much more expensive.

As it is, people have to choose between necessities like prescriptions and other necessities like fuel.  Individuals that are considered working poor, families that are barely getting by, and even families that are living on a slim margin are in for a tremendous shock this winter.  It is estimated, for example, that the average family in Maine will have to pay $4,000 to $4,500 this winter to keep warm.

This is a lot of money for families that have little money to spare.  Part of the problem is that many of these families living on limited funds make just enough money so that they cannot qualify for heat assistance, leaving them to face a cold, harsh winter.

There are some ideas on the table such as having individuals with extra trees or fallen trees cut them and give families cords of wood to help offset the lack of oil for heat.  Of course, that will only work for homes with fireplaces.  An alternative is using space or room heaters – especially the sealed ones that have oil inside and use less energy than fan, forced air or other types of room heaters.  This can help keep areas of the house warm, but will also use more electric power, costing homeowners to pay more money in power bills, but maybe not as much as the cost of fuel. 

It is critical that during the coming months before extreme cold weather arrives, some sort of solutions are created – at leat so that people will not be left in the freezing cold for the winter.  With some creative thinking and some financial assistance and supplements more families will stay warmer – or at least, not be freezing – and get through the coming winter months.

T. Boone Pickens, longtime oil man and entrepreneur unveiled his proposed energy plan two days ago.  With Congressmen such as Joseph Lieberman supporting him, Pickens stated that it was essential and critical that the United States break away from the stranglehold that dependence on foreign oil has on the country.

Pickens stated that if the United States does not create change immediately, the country will be getting 80% of its oil from countries who hate us.  As it is, the U.S. is getting over 40% of its oil from foreign countries, and many of those countries find it in their best interests to keep prices high and quantities under strict control so they can control both the fuel – and indirectly, the economy – of the United States and other “western” countries.

Pickens has suggested a plan that includes using wind power for electricity and possibly using natural gas for transportation.  He would also entertain drilling in the Alaskan and Arctic wilderness.  All of this would be in an effort to drastically reduce U.S. dependence upon foreign controlled oil.

Opponents of the plan feel that natural gas is not a workable solution for many reasons, the main one being that Russia and other countries who are not United States supporters control the lion’s share of the world’s natural gas and, as a result, the U.S. could very well be trading dependence upon one type of foreign controlled fuel for another type of foreign controlled fuel, which could lead to a similar crisis in the near future.

Regardless of what path is taken or what combination of steps can be used, most people are in agreement with Pickens that something needs to be done now to reverse this country’s dependence on foreign oil. 

Pickens’ plan may be right for the country or it may need some changes.  Those ideas can be and will be hashed out over the coming weeks and months.  The main point, however, which can be agreed upon by most of us who are tired of being held hostage to foreign oil companies, is that we need a solution to this problem and we need to act now.

The fuel crisis is out of control.  We are hearing all sorts of theories about what needs to be done to fix it.  One minute we hear that we need alternative energy sources.  Then we hear that there is plenty of fuel right now.  Then we hear that there is a need for more drilling.  And we keep hearing that one.

Drilling may be part of the solution to the problem, but is it enough?  Some people are saying that it is. 

We are being told that drilling would be enough if it was done smartly and efficiently.  We are also being told that with the right agreements with the right countries, the United States and other countries would not be dependent upon oil that is being held hostage by countries who would benefit from seeing prices continue to rise worldwide and seeing the “free word” have to scramble for oil.

The solution, some say, is to drill more ourselves.  Perhaps that is true, but it will take time to find out.  For instance, it is important that tests be done in advance of drilling.  With many of the computer programs and models available today, “virtual drilling” on a computer program is possible.  Not only are these programs able to pinpoint where oil is thought to be available, but also to determine how far under the ground it is and what type of drilling is needed to gain access to it.  These programs can also tell researchers the best way to approach the drill is and what the approximate results would be. 

Even with all this information, there are questions as to whether drilling will be enough.  Can the oil be processed fast enough to be converted to fuel?  Can it be marketed fast enough to avert a further shortage or market collapse?  Can all this be done in a way that is financially prudent?

These are questions that are still being researched and will need to be answered.  In the meantime, we are already in the middle of a fuel and economic crunch now. 

It is important to look at all the options available.  Drilling is one of them.  Time will tell if drilling will be enough to stop the crisis.  Additional drilling might be enough to at least help. 

We keep hearing about the solutions to the fuel crisis.  Everything from hydrogen powered cars to bio-fuels from corn to solar power is being touted as the best way to go. 

In addition, Congress has come up with an idea of its own.  Why not drill for more oil?  One issue with drilling is that it has people quite divided and very vocal.  People can’t agree on how to drill, where to drill, how much to drill, etc. 

There are no easy answers.  Critics of drilling point out that it is too expensive, there is not enough oil and if we start drilling now, it won’t help the current crisis.  Others feel that drilling will hurt the environment, plus there is the problem of continuing to depend on fossil fuels.  Others still don’t know what to think or feel about the situation.

While people have been thinking this situation through, Congress has determined that it is a good idea to drill offshore once again.  This hasn’t been done since the 70’s, when drilling was banned for several reasons, mainly environmental.  At that time, there was no fuel crisis.

We have been warned, however, during the past two decades, that we need to conserve, we need to look at alternative fuels and we need to be aware of eliminating our dependence on foreign oil.

Some people have conserved, but all the SUV’s that are almost being given away these days, tells us that a large number of people did not conserve.  Some people and organizations have been working feverishly on alternative fuel sources, and are moving forward in that area.

Congress is saying that they think drilling should be allowed again.  As a result, they are approving drilling offshore, and in certain wilderness areas of Alaska.  The question is repeatedly being asked as to why – if Congress wants to drill – they don’t drill in areas that re already approved for drilling, such as Utah and Wyoming, rather than the Alaskan wilderness.  Most people seem to feel that would make the most sense.

Questions will continue and remain regarding drilling for oil and other solutions to the fuel crisis.  One question to think about is: Why take drilling for one endangered area and several rare species and trade it for a different endangered commodity?  Will we trade pristine Alaskan wilderness and the living things that belong there for oil? Hopefully, there will be a viable alternative.

We are being told by Congress, the news, the President, politicians, the oil companies and others that there are solutions to the fuel crisis.  However, every entity has a different opinion as to what the most appropriate solutions are.

There are ideas about alternative fuel, alternative energy, traditional fuel, fossil fuels, solar power, hydrogen power, water power and more. 

All of these seem to have their place and it seems as though, since the world is in such a crunch for energy, there might just be a place for most types of energy to keep the world running.

Since all of the various energy sources are available – some in more limited quantities than others – why not do what we can to use them all in the most efficient ways possible? 

Wind power can provide for the energy needs that electricity provides for.  Solar power can create electric energy plus energy to run cars and fill other energy needs.  Hydrogen and water can run vehicles and they can provide for other energy needs, as well. 

There is water power – hydro-electricity, which has been around for decades.  There is also nuclear power – which is often a “nasty” word, but in times like these even some of the ideas we don’t like become less distasteful if we can find positive uses for them – especially in saving the planet, creating energy and saving money, not to mention, making the country “fuel independent.”

When we look at all the types of fuel available, it is good to know that there are choices, alternatives and combinations of energy that we can use to address the energy needs now and in the future.

We have seen the effects of the fuel crisis on the airlines when they have been reducing services, charging extra for luggage – on a graduated scale by the bag.
Ticket prices are high and getting higher, and there seems to be no end in sight at this point.

If that was not enough, recently various airlines have talked about cutting costs by cutting employee rolls.  So, in addition to all the changes taking place to bring in more revenue, there are more changes by eliminating employees that could help with those suitcases that you are paying extra for.

More important than the luggage, though, is the fact that thousands of people will be losing their jobs.  The airlines are reeling because of the extreme rise in fuel costs coupled with the fact that people can’t afford to travel because of the expense involved.  As a result of these costs and others, jobs are being cut because of the crisis.

To demonstrate the severity of the fuel crisis, it is important to know that since the economy of one country affects another.  The airlines in the United States are having their difficulties and having to raise prices and cut some employees,

Sometimes it is important to put these issues into some sort of perspective, especially a global perspective.  Quantas Airlines, the largest airline in Australia, has announced that 100,000 employees very will be laid off.  This large of a number should help people see that this fuel crunch is serious.  It should show lawmakers and the public that it is absolutely time to come up with some viable solutions. 

Dealing with this issue as effectively and efficiently as possible is essential.  If we think globally and realize, as stated before, that the economies of one country or one industry are connected, we need to move forward now.  Ticket prices on airlines have gone up 21 times since winter.

With the cuts that Quantas plans, it is important to think about what companies in the United States will do.  For starters, by November 1st higher ticked prices will be issued again – about $100 higher per major flight.  It is expected that there will be about 10 more rate hikes this year.

It may be time for some local vacationing that includes hiking and biking. 

There are a host of solutions proposed for the fuel crisis depending upon who you are.  If you are congress, drilling is an issue on the table.  In fact, there is a lot of talk about Congress and offshore drilling, as well as the idea to drill in the Alaskan and Arctic wilderness.  There is a lot of reaction to that one, much of it quite negative.

Another solution that has been proposed is that of converting individual’ cars into hydrogen based and hydrogen run vehicles, thus eliminating the need for and dependence upon fossil fuels, and eliminating pollution, helping the environment and helping the ecosystems.  The barrier at this point is that the conversion of cars can be costly, and may not save as much money in gas – at least for the first few years – as the conversion costs.

This is much the same as electric or solar powered cars.  People talk about this regularly and would be willing to five it a try if there was not an extremely high initial cost.  There are various estimates as to what the actual cost would be to do the conversions, however, most of them differ.  Many of them run in the thousands of dollars, averaging at around $3,000. 

These are all good ideas and can be workable over time, however, in an economy that is already strained, it would be hard for most people to make the changes to their vehicles (or buy vehicles) that would eliminate the need for fossil fuels.  There have been ideas promoted that involve incentives for consumers that would make that step and create the conversion in their cars.

Whatever lawmakers and citizens decide upon, it is evident that fuel is in short supply, it is expensive and changes will need to be made.  Hopefully there will be some reasonable ways to enlist the solutions to this problem soon.

With the fuel crisis looming large and causing problems and disruptions in families, businesses and industries around the world, there are many questions floating in the air.  Many questions are being asked about whether we will be able to turn the situation around.

Some experts say that it can turn around, but it will take a few years.  Others say that things can be better, but not totally turned around without an infusion of money, drilling and more.  Still other experts say that the situation can be turned around only if we approach things in a totally different way, not looking to fossil fuels to save us, but looking for viable, effective and efficient alternatives that are environmentally friendly, affordable and will actually work.

As if we don’t have enough to think of and deal with, the question has repeatedly been raised about what might happen to natural gas.  Yet more experts are talking about types of alternative fuels, with the main possibilities being natural gas, coal and nuclear energy.  As with anything in life, each of these energy sources has  a number of advantages along with some problems.

Environmentalists and conservationists are encouraging as much solar and wind power as possible, however, it would take more of those types of power than is possible from those sources to be able to supply the massive amounts of power needed to maintain power demand of cities, counties, states and the majority of the country.

So what is the problem and the worry with natural gas?  It would actually be an ideal fuel for many situations, except for the fact that it is also non-renewable, meaning that once it is gone, it is gone.  The great part about natural gas is that it is versatile and it is used in making everything from plastics and chemicals to fertilizers, and even to manufacturer and process hydrogen – a fuel source that many countries are looking at as an alternative to gasoline.

Natural gas burns cleaner than fossil fuels, however, it is hard to transport and extremely explosive – often responsible for catastrophic explosions that took days, weeks or months to contain.  One more point in favor of using natural gas is that 95% of the natural gas that the U.S. uses is gathered from right here in the U.S.  One of the problems, as mentioned earlier, is that natural gas will eventually run out, most likely sooner than we think (just as this fuel crisis has shown), and we need to find a fuel that will be sustainable and renewable.

There are sill many questions to be asked and ideas to be explored to solve the fuel crisis for the long term.  In the meantime, we can all do our part to conserve the fuel that we do have now and deal with sensible alternatives today and for the future.

Even the biggest airlines are not immune to the fuel crisis.  The fuel crisis is hitting average, every day drivers.  It is creating problems for the trucking industry.  Then there are the problems caused by those problems.  Transportation is costing more.  Food is costing more.  Life, in general, is costing more – a lot more. 

Things have gotten so expensive with the fuel crisis that people can’t get to work. Vacations are being cancelled because people can’t afford the gas and really can’t afford the plane tickets.  In London, bus lines are being deleted.  CNN and MSNBC have even reported that the price of beer is going up, no doubt due to the cost of fuel.  Countries that have rarely had issues in the past two or more decades are talking about rationing fuel.   

There is talk of drilling everywhere – onshore (all of the shores), off shore and in states from Utah to Alaska to Montana.  Then there are the oil reserves, which Congress keeps asking about using to get prices down at least a little.  This has become a real political situation as well as and economic and environmental one.

The latest issue is the airlines.  We know that there are huge fuel costs to fly planes.  The airlines are now reacting to the crunch.  They have already started charging for luggage and doing other things to offset their costs by charging passengers, but now the biggest airline in the United States is taking a huge step by creating a furlough for 200 or more pilots beginning in October.  Other airlines have greatly reduced the amount of backup fuel that they are carrying to save costs.  The problem with this tactic is that many say it puts passengers in danger.

The fuel crisis has affected every part of the economy, airlines included.  With the circumstances continuing to get more difficult, even affecting the largest airlines, we will all be watching continuously to see where this crisis hits next.

In the UK this week, there was a successful testing of a Ford Focus that was converted to run on hydrogen instead of traditional fuel.  There is now a refueling station for hydrogen cars in the UK, and using hydrogen is an idea whose time has come for many reasons, two of which are that this eliminates traditional fuel costs while eliminating CO2 emissions.

The company who created the hydrogen conversion has also created a home hydrogen refueling station which can create hydrogen from electricity and water.  This successful conversion is a landmark invention.  Success in this area will not only save fuel and eliminate emissions, but its uses can also be expanded to be used in various ways for homes and businesses.

Scientists worldwide have been trying to find ways to create an alternative source of converting hydrogen to fuel.   Before the success of this invention, it was very expensive to convert hydrogen, partially because platinum had to be used as part of the process.  The new process to manufacture hydrogen – a process that was successfully developed by ITM Power – uses a specialized polymer which ends up costing only 1%  of what the old process using platinum used to cost.  This fact, alone, will keep the cost of using the fuel lower and more affordable.

ITM Power used the Ford Focus because it is one of the most widely used cars in Europe.  The converted car has the capability to transfer back to traditional fuel as a backup if the supply of hydrogen runs out.  More tests are in process to see how the conversion can work on vans and trucks.

This successful invention and test gives hope for help in this most difficult fuel crisis.

The fuel crisis is creating a lot of issues that are quite difficult to deal with, especially for the average individual or family.  Things are getting more expensive.  In some cases gasoline is unaffordable – even for necessities like getting to and from work.  People who were on a tight budget before are in dire straits now.  And citizens have no control over very much of it.

On the other hand, some citizens are trying to make some changes that make things better for their families and for the larger community and even the global community.

Some of the changes that are taking places are in the area of conservation.  People are giving up their larger cars for smaller more fuel-efficient ones.  They are walking, when possible, rather than driving their car short distances.  Even curtailing a little bit of driving can save money and save fuel, not to mention, help save the environment.

People who never thought of carpooling in the past – in fact, who thought of carpooling as a dirty word – are now, not only doing it, but promoting it wholeheartedly.  Many have taken jobs closer to home – even taking pay cuts (after all, you off set the pay cut with the gas cost savings).  Others have sold their homes and moved closer to where they work.

Some employers are helping too.  Where possible, they are encouraging telecommuting or having employees come in for less days with longer hours.  Not only does this eliminate a day or more of driving, but it also curtails driving during rush hour in many cases, which saves gas by eliminating the stop and go of the crowded rush hour highways.

The fuel crisis is not an easy situation, but in the midst of it all, it’s nice to see some positive side effects and results mixed in with all the negative news and tough choices.

OK.  We have all been watching the news and reading the paper, digging through the internet and checking for any information we can regarding how to deal with the fuel crisis and how hard it is hitting individuals, families, businesses, industries and entire countries – in fact, actually, the entire planet.

We hear about the skyrocketing cost of fuel affecting the trucking industry, commuters trying to get to and from work, bus lines in other countries and more.  One of the latest industries that has been hit hard and is in need of help is the fishing industry.  This does not apply in the United States, yet, however in the UK and other countries, it is taking the equivalent of millions U.S. dollars to help these industries overcome the burden that the fuel crisis has caused.

The cost of regular gas is not the only fuel that has gotten more expensive.  The cost of diesel has gone up exponentially more than the cost of regular fuel.  Both types of fuel have gone up astronomically and are causing major upsets and disruptions in every corner and aspect of life.

It is logical that the fishing industry has been hit hard and it is interesting that many of us had not really thought about that particular industry. When you think about the situation, there are many things that depend on the fishing industry.  Besides being a large part of the economy of many countries, the fishing industry yields products that contribute to health care products such as vitamins.  This may sound “fishy” but the vitamin industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and fish oils are some of the biggest sellers these days because of the newest information regarding the benefits of the oils and vitamins that are direct products of fish.

When we look at how far reaching this crisis is, it is important to take note that it has touch every industry in some way.  With countries having to cut back services while helping support – and even bail out businesses, and entire industries – it is essential that we take note and pay attention that even industries that we mistakenly perceive as less mainstream than others are critical to the world’s economy. 

It is just as we have heard from all sides of many issues for years: everything on this planet is connected – including counties and industries and people. Hopefully we will all work together through those connections to help solve this crisis for the good of everyone.

During the fuel crisis in the 1970’s things were pretty difficult.  There were lines for fuel every day.  People parked their cars the night before.  Some days were for even numbered ending license plates, others for odd.  People who normally were somewhat mild mannered got into arguments, shouting matches and altercations.  And the prices were only between $1 and $1.50per gallon.

Move forward to the eighties and nineties when we were being warned over and over to conserve fuel.  We were told to buy and drive smaller cars.  We were also in a situation where automakers were basically told that they had to make more fuel efficient cars to ease the fuel crunch and to give us alternatives to gas guzzling land yachts.

One of the situations that came out of the woodwork at that time was a slew of gadgets and liquids and other offerings that were supposed to conserve fuel and keep out cars running better, longer, and on less fuel.  Most of these were hoaxes and did nothing to help our cars.  In fact, some of them totally ruined our cars after helping us to consume even more fuel.

Fast forward to today.  Here we are in a similar situation.  We are not sitting in line over night at gas stations waiting for rations to even or odd license place, but we are being warned that this could be coming down the pike.  Then there are those gas guzzling super sized SUV’s that we were warned about in the 70s and 80s and 90s and the past decade, too.  Just a couple of years ago they were selling for $20 to $50 thousand  – and that was without all the bells and whistles.  Now, with the fuel crisis, it is hard for dealers to even give them away, and companies like General Motors have taken big hits in profit – even whispering about possible bankruptcies, while laying off thousands of employees.

And, of course, the snake oil salesmen are back again with new additives and gimmicks to help our cars run better on less fuel for longer.  The problem is that if you have a giant SUV that gets 12 to 15 miles per gallon, even if the snake oil works, you are still going to use a lot of fuel.

If you are thinking of buying some of the items touted to conserve fuel and help improve the way your vehicle performs, don’t just take someone’s word for it.  Do some research.  Check to see what these items are made of and what they actually do.  Check with companies like Consumer Reports or your personal mechanic (or a mechanic that you trust) and get some opinions before you stick anything in your car engine or your gas tank.

Snake oil salespeople will always be around and always jump on any crisis.  The best way to avoid falling for phonies and keep your car running well is to take it in for regular service and make sure the products you buy are genuine and credible.

In the United States, the average fuel price is up quite a bit over $4.00.  It has gotten bad and doesn’t seem to be getting better, in fact, with some of the political issues driving the fuel crisis, there seems to be no end in sight, and the current administration which is about to end in a few months is turning a blind eye on the whole issue.

As they say, things are tough all over.  To put things into perspective, fuel prices are even worse in other countries such as Britain.  The cost of fuel per liter – which is much less than a gallon – is approximately $6 to $7.  This is quite a lot to take, in fact, things are so bad that Britain has had to cut bus services in many areas.

Looking at the effects of the fuel crisis, it’s a trickle-down situation.  First the cost of a barrel of oil goes up beyond reason and the prices trickle down to consumers.  Then the price of fuel for all types of private, public and commercial transportation goes up at the pump, making things hard for consumers.  This brings the price of food and other necessities up, so people are paying more for both food and fuel.  Add to that the latest crunch in Britain – downsizing or completely eliminating numerous bus routes because the cost of fuel is too high to support the routes.

This will effectively leave thousands of workers in a situation that makes it difficult, if not impossible, for them to get to and from their workplace, simply adding to the economic woes in that country.

To add insult to injury, the bus lines will have to eliminate employees, as well.  Not only will this affect Britain, but their economy affects other economies and so does the economy of the U.S.  It’s similar to that old commercial that said “you tell two friends and they’ll tell two friends…”  Exponentially, the T.V. screen fills up with little squares containing people’s faces until the screen is full.

That is what is happening with the fuel crisis.  It hits one industry, which affects another industry.  Then it hits more and more consumers, raises their essential expenses and often creates a situation where they lose their jobs.  The global supply of fuel and global economy is being held hostage by those who control the fuel and the fuel prices.  It is not possible to say who these individuals or companies are, and we all have our own ideas.  One main idea that we share across borders and around the globe is that if the fuel crisis isn’t managed better very soon, the world economy may take decades to turn around and many day to day people and their families will be tragically impacted.

With the fuel crisis in full gear, we are all being hit one way or the other.  We are also doing everything to conserve fuel and keep our expenses down as best we can.

Aside from not being able to control the cost of gasoline at the pump or groceries at the market (which are higher prices due to fuel costs for truck drivers that deliver them to the market place), we are now at the mercy of energy companies when it comes to heating and cooling our homes, as well as cooking, having hot water, doing laundry and dishes, and just cleaning in general.

Natural gas prices have risen over 120% in many areas just since last year.  In Mississippi, electric prices have risen 28% during the past year.  Residents are paying an average of around $1 per day extra due to the increase.

Companies are looking for ways to operate as efficiently as possible and many companies are looking for alternatives to traditional fuels.  Unfortunately, converting to alternative types of fuel takes time and money to initiate. 

We have been warned over and over for quite some time that we could not continue on the path we were on without ending up with a fuel crisis.  We were told that there should be research and implementation of alternatives.  We have been told for decades.  Those of us who remember the long lines and the rationing of gasoline during the 70’s know how uncomfortable things can get.  In fact, at this time, things could actually get worse because it is a much different world than it was back then.

That is little comfort for those of us feeling the crunch.  It is critical that Congress put aside their differences and work together to bring relief to average Americans.  The people that are being hit hardest are the ones who can’t afford it.  People are losing jobs – either because of layoffs or because they can’t afford the gas to get to work.

It is time to look at the situation and come up with a long-term solution to the fuel crisis.  Americans are doing their part as best they can.  It is time for Congress to collaborate with average, every day Americans to find a solution to the fuel crisis, which will help bring relief to the American people and to the economy as well.

OK, so we are all trying to do our part to conserve fuel. Many of us are doing it because we want to do the right thing.  Many of us are also doing it because at over $4 per gallon and rising for a gallon of gasoline in the United States, we simply have no choice.  So we are planning out our errands and doing them all at once.  We are carpooling where possible.  We are driving less often and not as far.  We are not leaving our cars idling, not leaving the air conditioning on for long periods of time.  We are keeping our tires inflated to the right amount, getting lubes and oil changes and tune ups, as well as cleaning out our fuel injectors, driving the speed limit and using additives to make a tank of gas take us further.
As we hear about more things to try we are willing to try them to save money and to save fuel.

Many of us have not taken vacations because of high fuel prices.  We haven’t even taken vacations with semi-short drives because the gas is too expensive.  We are getting to be more careful when we shop because prices of food and other essentials are rising due to the fact that it costs more to transport everything to the grocery store.

Now there is yet another casualty of the fuel crisis.  In addition to airlines raising fares, canceling the number of flights, firing thousands of employees and charging for luggage (who is going to fly across the country without a change of clothes and other personal items?),  we are now at an all time low.  Several airlines have eliminated in flight entertainment.  That’s right.  No movies.  If you want to keep little Johnny or Jane occupied during a long flight, you had better bring a laptop, a portable DVD player or a portable game system.  You could bring crayons and books, to, at least as a backup. 

The airlines say that if they raise prices, charge for luggage and eliminate entertainment which adds weight to a flight and costs more in fuel, they might break even.  The question is: Don’t those laptops, portable DVD’s and other entertainment items that passengers bring on the flight weigh as much or more than the earphones and small built in screens?  

It will be interesting to see what the fuel crisis eliminates next.  Maybe it will be those overhead reading lights.  Keep abreast of what’s happening because you may need to bring flashlights on your next flight just in case you want to read!

With fuel prices at a premium and politicians warning that we could run out, or at least run short, most of us are trying to find ways to conserve this precious commodity.  There are some easy and effective things that each of us can do to conserve the amount of fuel we use in our cars and the amount of money we keep pouring into our tanks.

There are some logical things that we have heard for years, such as keeping tires inflated to the correct pressure, making sure that our cars are tuned up and observing the speed limit. 

There are many other things we can do to improve our fuel economy no matter what the type, size or age of our car is.  Some of the ways we can economize on fuel are:

• Avoid carrying excess weight in the car.  Anything that you don’t need with you shouldn’t be hauled around with you if at all possible.  The more weight the car is carrying, the more fuel it uses to carry it.
• Avoid leaving your car idling.  There are times when we just have to run in and get something and it would take as much fuel to stop and start the car again, however, leaving the car idling when you are going to be a few minutes – even just five minutes – eats up unnecessary fuel.
• Check your air and fuel filters.  If your air filter is dirty or clogged, your car will use excess fuel.  If your fuel filter isn’t checked and/or replaced at the proper time you could end up with fewer miles per gallon.
• Use your air conditioner only when necessary.  Your air conditioner uses extra fuel.  This goes for your defroster as well, since it is actually part of your air conditioning system.
• Keep engine parts clean.  Fuel injectors, throttles and other parts can increase fuel consumption when dirty or clogged and decrease fuel consumption when kept clean.
• Use cruise control and overdrive.  Overdrive helps your engine idle at a lower rate when you are going up hills and in other situations.  This conserves gasoline and helps your car run smoother.  Cruise control keeps your car run more efficiently by maintaining a steady speed, which usually saves fuel.
• Drive conservatively, not aggressively.  You don’t have to be the slowest person on the road, however, driving conservatively vs. aggressively saves gas.  Aggressive driving usually involves speeding, lurching ahead at lights and other actions that increase fuel consumption.  Calming down behind the wheel will save fuel and keep everyone, including you, safer.

There are other things that each of us can do to conserve fuel depending on our car and our circumstances.  However, if we all did just a few of the things on the list above, we would save somewhere between 2% and 4% of the fuel we use.  That could help with the fuel crisis and it would also keep our cars running better and put some extra money in our pocket.

There are some things we can be sure of, even in this world full of surprises and unexpected events.   One of these things is that the sun will rise each morning.  That’s something we all depend on and know will happen, and that’s a good thing.  It helps us know that our world is still moving the way it should, regardless of all of the things that are happening on the planet or to the planet. 

Another thing we can count on – unfortunately – is that, like the sun, gas prices will continue to rise.  They have more than topped the $4 price just about everywhere in the country.  California is at the top of the list with gas prices at over $4.40 per gallon, with other states close on its heels.  The lowest prices are in Texas and several neighboring southern states, with the cost per gallon hovering between $3.68 and $4.00 per gallon.

This gas crisis has put a huge dent into vacation plans, employment location and more.  People are limiting the amount of “luxuries” they buy in order to offset the cost of gas.  Vacations are being cancelled – or at least postponed in hopes that the gas prices will be more affordable at a later date, or that the family can save up enough money to offset the cost of the furl they will need to get to where they are going.

Gas prices are affecting everything from food prices, vacations and jobs.  They have changed the way Americans – and countries throughout the world – do business, shop, run their homes and their lives.  Gas prices are quickly becoming one of the top election issues, with the average American looking for the government to solve this crisis.

Researchers are looking for – and finding – ways to use alternative energy sources, however, making changes that affect millions of people takes time. 
Maybe as the prices continue to rise, someone will come up with a solution to the problem – or at least some relief.

Until then, we will all have to figure out a way to deal with gas prices hovering around and average of $4.20 per gallon and the changes it causes in our lives.