The $2.00 Gasoline Threshold?

After the insanely high gas prices we've seen over the past several months, I had resigned myself to the possibility that I might never pay less than $2.00 for a gallon of gasoline again. I honestly thought that $2.00 was the new threshold.

Today at Kroger, I filled up for just $1.989 per gallon. WOW! Of course, that's because I had a ten cent per gallon discount from buying groceries inside the Kroger store, but hey, if you have to buy the groceries anyway, why not buy them some place where they'll save you money on gas, too?

WCPO-TV, the ABC affiliate in Cincinnati on channel 9, recently reported on a survey conducted in Ohio comparing the grocery prices at Walmart with those at Kroger. They purchased 150 items at each store and found that, based on regular store prices, the total grocery bill at Walmart was almost 20% less than Kroger. However, when they calculate the same 150 items at sale prices (Kroger sale prices versus Walmart regular prices, as Walmart does not have sales), Kroger was almost 20% less than Walmart.

The grocery savings on top of an extra ten cents per gallon in gasoline savings makes Kroger my grocery store/gas station combo of choice.

How much are you paying for gas today?

Joe

ABC News - Gas Prices Explained

051109moneyminute.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)

With all the hype lately over the record profits posted by the oil companies, ABC News presents an explanation of where your money goes for each gallon of gasoline. This is a good piece of information. According to ABC News, fully 77% of the cost of a gallon of gasoline goes to the oil companies and refineries, 15% to taxes, and only 8% to the company that you are actually purchasing the gasoline from.

Joe

Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day, if you haven't already read that somewhere or heard it on the radio. In honor and memory of those who serve or have served to defend the cause of Liberty throughout the history of our great nation: Thank You!

Regardless of your feelings about the war in Iraq or the current Administration, if you're an American, an immigrant to the U.S., or living a better life elsewhere because of Americans, please tell a Veteran "Thank You" today.

Joe

Oil Execs Defend Profits

CBSNews.com

Oil executives defend summer of record profits and record gas prices.

ABC News: Texas Voters Approve Ban on Gay Marriage

ABC News: Texas Voters Approve Ban on Gay Marriage:

"Texas voters Tuesday overwhelming approved a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, making their state the 19th to take that step."

Petition To The U.S. Supreme Court Concerning The Rights Of Parents

As shocking as it may seem, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that courts--not parents--have the final authority on when and what to teach children about sex education.

In their ruling, the Court determined that parents DO NOT have a fundamental right to control when, where and how their children are taught about sex. Rather, the Court ruled, that right belongs to activist judges.

I know you probably aren't believing this, so I have provided a link to an article on the recent ruling written by Kathleen Parker, a columnist for the Orlando Sentinel. Click here to read the column.

This is simply another encroachment by activist federal judges to take away the rights of parents and turn those rights over to the judges. These liberal activist judges feel they know better how to raise your children and grandchildren than you do!

It is time for parents and grandparents to tell activist judges to back off! Sign the petition. Forward the petition to your friends and family. We will forward the petitions to the U.S. Supreme Court where this case will eventually be decided. Hopefully, by then, Supreme Court nominee Justice Samuel Alito will have been confirmed and this crazy ruling by the Ninth Circuit can be overturned.

AFA - American Family Association - Petition To The U.S. Supreme Court Concerning The Rights Of Parents

Morning Sickness Stinks!

Tomorrow, my wife and I go to see her Doctor for her first check-up since becoming pregnant. I say that we both go because I have always gone to every one of my wife's appointments during pregnancy, and every one of my son's appointments since he was born. It's just one of the things I like to do to be involved in the pregnancy.

My wife has had horrible morning sickness for the past twelve years. Okay, it's really only been two months, but it sure feels like twelve years. When she was pregnant with our son, she had about a week of morning sickness with projectile vomiting and it was all over. This time, she has been non-stop sick since we found out she is expecting, but has only been sick enough to vomit one day.

Morning sickness has got to be God's revenge to women for Eve and the whole apple fiasco. I mean, it's terrible! My wife has been (understandably) unmotivated to do much of anything throughout this entire pregnancy to date. I'm not complaining (really), because I can understand that she wouldn't be up to doing much if she feels as badly as she says she feels.

It's put a huge damper on everything. We don't go anywhere, or do anything. My wife feels like throwing up every time she stands up. She only feels good when she's lying down, and even then I don't think you could describe it as "good."

It has also put a huge extra workload on me. Now hear me out on this one. I drive two hours to get to work five days a week. I work ten hours a day, then drive two hours back home. I sleep approximately six hours a night. That leaves me four hours a day. One hour is spent each morning getting ready for work, and one hour is spent each evening playing with my son after work. Add another thirty minutes for dinner, and I now have only ninety minutes left for everything else.

I love to read, but haven't been able to read much lately. In fact, that's usually how I fall asleep: lying in bed trying to do a little reading. I have two weblogs or my own to maintain, as well as a 40,000 visitor per day technology website I write for. I get a slew of email to go through on a daily basis, and I like to download some news in mp3 format to listen to during my daily commute.

With a sick, pregnant wife, I try to help out by washing dishes, doing laundry, picking up my son's toys, either buying or making dinner, and whatever else I can do. In addition, we're looking to buy our first home, which I still don't devote enough time to.

In all, I think I pack about 28-1/2 hours of activity into every day. It's hectic, and impossible, but I still think it's better than what my wife is dealing with!

Joe