Melvin's blog

Nshima & Curry

Melvin's  Blog

Nshima & Curry

PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE ROAD, NOT ON THE GAS

If you're steamed about the price of gasoline, burning up
about spending your entire paycheck at the pump, it may be
time to change your driving habits. But first you need to
change your attitude about the people in the oil industry.
You need to stop thinking of them as greedy scoundrels and
start thinking of them as honest people just trying to make
a living, just trying to feed their families, clothe their
children and make the monthly payments on their yachts.
They're no different from you, really, aside from a couple
of extra zeros in their paychecks.

They would gladly lower the price of fuel, if not for a
number of uncontrollable factors. To get a better
understanding, I asked an oil company spokesman how the
price is determined and he said, "Well, it's really
complicated. We start with the supply of petroleum, how many
millions of barrels are available and at what price, then we
look at the potential demand on a particular day, then we
account for all the federal and state taxes, and finally we
factor in numerous variables, including the strength of the
economy, the consumer price index, the prime interest rate,
the amount of rainfall in Malawi and Oprah's dress size."

Instead of blaming the oil people, you need to gradually
reduce your dependence on gas. Here are a few suggestions:

---Walk. If you've never done it before, now is the time to
give it a shot. It requires a certain degree of balance and
coordination, so if you're feeling overwhelmed, you may want
to consider enrolling in a walking class. They will teach
you how to walk in three simple steps.

Step 1: Take a step.

Step 2: Take another step.

Step 3: Repeat Steps 1 and 2.

Of course, before you do any actual walking, you may want to
consult a doctor. The doctor will tell you if your body can
handle it or if you need to start with something less
challenging, such as standing on an escalator.

Once you've learned how to walk, you will enjoy a lot more
freedom. For example, you will no longer need to wait in
your car at the "drive-thru," tapping the steering wheel
impatiently and running your engine needlessly. You can
actually get out of your car, walk to the front door and
pick up your date.

Walking often provides an extra benefit: weight loss. Yes,
like Hugh Grant at a casino, the pounds will start dropping
off you. And you will find yourself using even less fuel
when you drive your car, because you won't be hauling around
such a huge load.

---Use public transportation. Buses, trains and streetcars
are great ways to travel, especially if you don't mind minor
inconveniences, such as having to sit next to people who are
different from you, people who don't have tickets to the
opera, but may just have tickets to Oprah.

The best thing about public transportation is that you can
do a lot of  reading, not just books and newspapers, but
also tattoos. You need to be somewhat discreet, of course.
Otherwise the woman sitting next to you, noticing your gaze,
will turn her book the other way.

---Carpool. Try to share a ride with a co-worker or someone
who works in the vicinity. Perhaps you can find someone who
shares your taste in music, who has a good car stereo and
doesn't mind blasting Yanni.

Many cities have carpool lanes, allowing you to travel to
and from work faster. You'll be less stressed out when you
get home. And you'll be able to smile at the gas station,
knowing that you won't have to come back soon, that you
won't have to worry about the rainfall in Malawi.

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