Random thoughts that are pointless and too dumb to say anywhere else thread ~ 2022 ~

[AKCheesehead]

How is it better for the environment? Everything I read says adding ethanol results in less emissions.

It also costs more, so does it really give you a net better fuel economy?

 

Yes the burning of ethanol does produce less emissions. But that doesn't account for all the emissions that have to occur in order to produce ethanol, nor the greater environmental impacts such as deforestation, erosion, pollution and water use that come with the inflated corn or cane production.

 

As for economy, there are a couple of things to consider. Ethanol gas costs less, but also gives you 3-4% worse fuel economy. The place I gas up when I'm down visiting my folks is $2.92 right now, so that's about $.07/gallon more expensive. Completely worth it already. Then there's the time and money savings down the road on longer life of my vehicle, not needing to replace fuel filters so often, better performance. I only buy ethanol gas if I have no choice.

[LouisEly]

How is it better for the environment? Everything I read says adding ethanol results in less emissions.

It also costs more, so does it really give you a net better fuel economy?

 

Yes the burning of ethanol does produce less emissions. But that doesn't account for all the emissions that have to occur in order to produce ethanol, nor the greater environmental impacts such as deforestation, erosion, pollution and water use that come with the inflated corn or cane production.

Has that been compared to the emissions/pollution and environmental impact of drilling and transporting oil?

 

Corn and cane can grow a lot more places than what produces usable oil, so there are less transportation costs (economic and environmental). Plus, if a truck full of corn overturns there is minimal if any environmental impact. An oil spill... not so much.

[MrTPlush]

As far as gas goes, I buy ethanol-free as much as possible. Better fuel economy, better for your vehicle, and better for the environment.

 

Hate to break it to you, but in almost all cars, ethanol free does nothing for fuel economy. Unless you own a sports car or a turbo engine anything over 87 (or the equivalent wherever one lives) has absolutely no benefit for fuel economy.

 

A manufacturer tunes a vehicle to a specific grade level, almost always your standard 87. Putting in premium grade will not make your engine run any different or any more efficient. Could it MAYBE make your engine last longer due to build up? I mean, maybe, but 99% of consumers probably don’t own their car to ever care. And even then, calculate how much more you are spending over 150k+ miles. You could probably buy two new engines for your car.

[AKCheesehead]

As far as gas goes, I buy ethanol-free as much as possible. Better fuel economy, better for your vehicle, and better for the environment.

 

Hate to break it to you, but in almost all cars, ethanol free does nothing for fuel economy. Unless you own a sports car or a turbo engine anything over 87 (or the equivalent wherever one lives) has absolutely no benefit for fuel economy.

 

A manufacturer tunes a vehicle to a specific grade level, almost always your standard 87. Putting in premium grade will not make your engine run any different or any more efficient. Could it MAYBE make your engine last longer due to build up? I mean, maybe, but 99% of consumers probably don’t own their car to ever care. And even then, calculate how much more you are spending over 150k+ miles. You could probably buy two new engines for your car.

 

Plush you are mistaken. Gas with ethanol added absolutely gives worse fuel economy. That is a fact, it contains less energy and you get less output from it. Don’t take my word for it, check for yourself. I believe you are confusing ethanol free with premium (much of which does happen to be ethanol free.)

 

I’m not talking about buying premium grade I’m talking about buying ethanol free. Higher octane doesn’t equal more mileage that’s true. Octane refers to the fuel’s volatility, higher octane resists premature detonation under higher compression. Certain high compression engines need premium but none of mine do so I don’t waste my money on it.

 

As for the economics you stated, nope. Ethanol free regular gas costs me about a dollar more, sometimes $1.50 more, for a 15 gallon top off and will get me a bit over 1 more mile per gallon. I still come out ahead.

[GAME05]

My last park had to ditch the E15 even though it was cheaper. Absolutely ruined all the small equipment we were using.

[Thurston Fluff]

https://www.powerequipmentdirect.com/stories/1691-The-best-fuel-type-and-octane-rating-for-small-engines.html

[LouisEly]

I think this is more relevant to the discussion:

 

https://marcnelsonoil.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-non-ethanol-gas/

[AKCheesehead]

Those links both detail a lot of what I mentioned upthread.

 

One other thing I’ll mention is that straight gas, particularly 87, can be a little tough to find especially if you are traveling. Pure gas.org is really helpful and they have an app. The app has room for improvement but it is definitely useful.

[Thurston Fluff]

After my dad told me he had to walk to school uphill both ways I asked my dad how that happened. He said they went uphill in the morning and by the afternoon the Earth rotated enough to make the walk home uphill too. I asked why that doesn't work now and he said science was different back then. Hard to argue with that.

[CheezWizHed]

After my dad told me he had to walk to school uphill both ways I asked my dad how that happened. He said they went uphill in the morning and by the afternoon the Earth rotated enough to make the walk home uphill too. I asked why that doesn't work now and he said science was different back then. Hard to argue with that.

 

If I ever meet your Dad, I'll know not to debate him!

[Thurston Fluff]

Got to give hte Appleton PD and Fox credit union a big thank you. On January 2nd my wife wrote a check for a little under a $1000 for some work a person did for us then sent it in the mail. He came in on Sunday to ask if we sent it yet. I thought that was strange so I checked with the bank and it was cashed. Used the interweb to see the cancelled check and it was cashed with a different name on it. Pretty obviously forged. We called the bank and left a message and the police to report it. The officer showed up at 8:30 Monday morning. The bank called us at 9 am and let us know the officer was there and they were working on it. Dude was totally on point. He knew the teller, which location it was at, who cashed it and when it was cashed. By 10ish they had the video evidence of him cashing the check and found out he was on probation and a warrant was out for his arrest. By about 11 he was in jail. We were amazed at how fast it happened but the officer said it wasn't him. Dude had been arrested on Saturday for some unrelated thing. By noon he admitted to forging and cashing the check. By early afternoon we had our money back.

So big thanks to APD and FCCU. You all are a credit to your professions.

What I don't get is how someone can be so stupid as to think they can get away with forging their real name and cashing the check in person. Not even the drive through but in the bank lobby. Does he not understand video surveillance? And why risk incarceration for a grand? It's not chump change but it isn't life altering money. Guess that was why he was on probation to begin with.

[LouisEly]

Got to give hte Appleton PD and Fox credit union a big thank you. On January 2nd my wife wrote a check for a little under a $1000 for some work a person did for us then sent it in the mail. He came in on Sunday to ask if we sent it yet. I thought that was strange so I checked with the bank and it was cashed. Used the interweb to see the cancelled check and it was cashed with a different name on it. Pretty obviously forged. We called the bank and left a message and the police to report it. The officer showed up at 8:30 Monday morning. The bank called us at 9 am and let us know the officer was there and they were working on it. Dude was totally on point. He knew the teller, which location it was at, who cashed it and when it was cashed. By 10ish they had the video evidence of him cashing the check and found out he was on probation and a warrant was out for his arrest. By about 11 he was in jail. We were amazed at how fast it happened but the officer said it wasn't him. Dude had been arrested on Saturday for some unrelated thing. By noon he admitted to forging and cashing the check. By early afternoon we had our money back.

So big thanks to APD and FCCU. You all are a credit to your professions.

What I don't get is how someone can be so stupid as to think they can get away with forging their real name and cashing the check in person. Not even the drive through but in the bank lobby. Does he not understand video surveillance? And why risk incarceration for a grand? It's not chump change but it isn't life altering money. Guess that was why he was on probation to begin with.

I'm curious as to where and how the guy intercepted it in the mail. I've seen several reports on the local news about this happening in some of the Chicago suburbs.

 

I had a new credit card mailed to me that the Post Office scanned in (I signed up for a USPS account that sends me images of mail when they scan it it, usually a day or two before I receive it) but I never received it and I have a locked mailbox - only I and the postal delivery person have a key.

[homer]

Got to give hte Appleton PD and Fox credit union a big thank you. On January 2nd my wife wrote a check for a little under a $1000 for some work a person did for us then sent it in the mail. He came in on Sunday to ask if we sent it yet. I thought that was strange so I checked with the bank and it was cashed. Used the interweb to see the cancelled check and it was cashed with a different name on it. Pretty obviously forged. We called the bank and left a message and the police to report it. The officer showed up at 8:30 Monday morning. The bank called us at 9 am and let us know the officer was there and they were working on it. Dude was totally on point. He knew the teller, which location it was at, who cashed it and when it was cashed. By 10ish they had the video evidence of him cashing the check and found out he was on probation and a warrant was out for his arrest. By about 11 he was in jail. We were amazed at how fast it happened but the officer said it wasn't him. Dude had been arrested on Saturday for some unrelated thing. By noon he admitted to forging and cashing the check. By early afternoon we had our money back.

So big thanks to APD and FCCU. You all are a credit to your professions.

What I don't get is how someone can be so stupid as to think they can get away with forging their real name and cashing the check in person. Not even the drive through but in the bank lobby. Does he not understand video surveillance? And why risk incarceration for a grand? It's not chump change but it isn't life altering money. Guess that was why he was on probation to begin with.

I'm curious as to where and how the guy intercepted it in the mail. I've seen several reports on the local news about this happening in some of the Chicago suburbs.

 

I had a new credit card mailed to me that the Post Office scanned in (I signed up for a USPS account that sends me images of mail when they scan it it, usually a day or two before I receive it) but I never received it and I have a locked mailbox - only I and the postal delivery person have a key.

 

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/seven-former-postal-service-employees-charged-federal-probe-credit-cards-stolen-mail

 

Might have been postal workers.

[Thurston Fluff]

I'm curious as to where and how the guy intercepted it in the mail. I've seen several reports on the local news about this happening in some of the Chicago suburbs.

 

I had a new credit card mailed to me that the Post Office scanned in (I signed up for a USPS account that sends me images of mail when they scan it it, usually a day or two before I receive it) but I never received it and I have a locked mailbox - only I and the postal delivery person have a key.

 

Don't know that part. The dude said he forged and cashed it but didn't steal it. It might be some time for that part to come out.

[MrTPlush]

What I don't get is how someone can be so stupid as to think they can get away with forging their real name and cashing the check in person. Not even the drive through but in the bank lobby. Does he not understand video surveillance?

 

The guy was already arrested, right? And his record probably even spans past that.

 

Most, not all, but most criminals are kinda dumb. That is why they do illegal things.

[TURBO]

We had some neighbors take a few bills out to the mailbox, put the flag up, then not 10 minutes later, a car pulled up and took them from the mailbox and drove away.

 

Car had no plates (of course) but they did get a decent description of the car.

 

They called their bank and had the checks cancelled, and 24 hours later, they police had the thieves in custody. Not sure how they caught them, guessing the idiots tried cashing the checks?

 

It's nice to see law enforcement work so efficiently.

 

As far as the criminals, they suck, and so do all people who would resort to doing this kind of thing. I'm assuming that stealing mail from a mailbox is a federal crime, but I highly doubt they will get those serious charges thrown at them.

 

Time to start dropping the hammer on all the criminal behavior in our society. It feels like things are getting out of hand.

[Thurston Fluff]

As far as the criminals, they suck, and so do all people who would resort to doing this kind of thing. I'm assuming that stealing mail from a mailbox is a federal crime, but I highly doubt they will get those serious charges thrown at them.

 

I think it is but according to the officer the biggest offense was cashing the check so either both are federal crimes or it isn't more serious than a state crime.

[jerichoholicninja]

Those Progressive commercials about new home owners turning into their parents hits way too close to home for me.

[nate82]

Just some mild indigestion.......

[Samurai Bucky]

Just some mild indigestion.......

 

The name of the place reminded me of this from Caddyshack...

 

[stalton]

Tom Morello in Hollywood was mistaken for a 'Jersey Shore Guy" and he went with it. Awesome!

[wallus]

I posted one of my rental units. (nice neighborhood but I upped the rent quite a bit) In 24ish hours, I have gotten over 100 messages on it. This is nuts.

[AKCheesehead]

The news anchor on the 10 o’clock news out of anchorage has the hiccups tonight. That’s got to be incredibly annoying although he’s done a great job of not letting on.

[LouisEly]

Why is it called "sales tax" if the buyer pays it? Isn't that really a "buying tax"? Shouldn't the seller pay "sales tax"?

[nate82]

Why is it called "sales tax" if the buyer pays it? Isn't that really a "buying tax"? Shouldn't the seller pay "sales tax"?

 

The government doesn't care how the sales tax is paid just that it is paid. The seller does pay the sales tax they just collect it from the purchaser.