Friday, April 21, 2006

Just another night

I had a decent shift tonight but there are no great stories to tell. People seem to be behaving these days. So since I don't really have much to write, I will try to illustrate my shift with photos:

I was not pleased when I saw this sign posted at the garage:

$3.15 a gallon? What the hell? Is there another hurricane somewhere driving gas prices up again? It's back to Katrina levels but this time it's for no good reason. At least none that I know about. I spent $40 on gas tonight, and that sucks shit, but supposedly it's only gonna get worse. (UPDATED to say that was only for half a tank, NOT a full tank.)



These two knuckleheads were just waiting to bother me when I showed up this afternoon. That's Merrill on the left and Abe on the right. They're a couple a wise-asses, but I like them anyway. When Merrill gets called over the loudspeaker, John the crazy Romanian dispatcher always calls him "Merrill Salami."



I had a nice late afternoon ride through Central Park when I took an opera singer to the Upper West Side.



There's a huge ad in Times Square picturing that kid Teddy Geiger. He was in my cab once.



Later, I saw a Prius taxi for the first time. It looked small.



At the end of the night, a young drunk guy passed out in the back on the way to Ocean Parkway. He didn't puke, and he tipped well.


Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the very drunk girls who gave me the finger as I was stopped next to them at a red light on my way home. I wasn't even in my cab. One of the girls rolled down her window and stuck half her body out, giving me the finger (for no reason, mind you), while her friends tried to pull her back inside and apologized to me, explaining that she was drunk. The driver looked perplexed. I was just happy I was on my way home and not driving that cab. I'd rather have a dead drunk than a dumb drunk in my cab any day.

109 comments:

Sicilian said...

I love the pictures of time square especially at night. I look forward to your posts. . . . hey gas in Texas is 2.79 and we're unhappy.
Any news on the book. . . haven't read any updates on the blog about it.

luke said...

Damb! Was looking forward to being the first person with a comment, but I'm to slow.
Love the pictures.
Check out my blog if you have some time:
naturalenigma.blogspot.com
Ciao.

jin said...

Looks like Abe didn't want you taking his photo...LOL!!!

Joann said...

The price of gas is killing me and it does not look as though anyone down at city hall is worried about the lowly cabbie.

I do not see how I could make it if my taxi was a Prius. I have an eight passenger van cab and sometimes it seems cramped.

I took a different route this afternoon and met Governor Schwarzenegger. One high point of this job is the wide variety of people we come in contact with. Makes it interesting.

squire said...

The "finger from nowhere" always get to me. If I screw up ( as we all do from time to time ), I try to let it go.

Anonymous said...

I always thought i will sometime see you in the streets of Manhattan. So i saw you making you turn on E79st between park and madison. You were going east on 79st empty and then you made a you turn to pick up the Man and his son going to west side. Boy you looked nervous or agitated. Perhaps you should relax even when you are trying to make a you turn

Anonymous said...

Hi! Down under in New South Wales Australia we are paying $1.36 per litre. Thats about $6.00 a gallon.

Love your Blog.

Ipshi said...

hey .. i guess petrol is another one of those universal problems .. im in india and its driving us crazy too !! the fotos were really awesome ... the fact the writin was awesome doesnt really need to be said huh? u shud write to ur "fans" sometime ya know :) *hint hint*

Guðrún K. said...

I love your site, It is so refreshing to logg on your site and read something that happens far away from me, still a place I once were at, and I miss dearly. Thank you for the pictures.
regards
Guðrún from Iceland

Anonymous said...

I FOUND THIS OTHER SITE.ITS A NY CABBIE WHO TAKES PHOTOS WITH A CAMERA PHONE CHECK IT OUT WWW.NYCTAXISHOTS.COM

Anonymous said...

Denmark this morning: 6.73 pr. gallon.

The reason for the high prices is probably the fear of unstable deliverances from Iran due to their nuclear programme.

Speaking in gasoline terms Iran stopping the export of oil or an embargo from the US would be so much worse than Katrina.

So there really is a good reason and it can get much worse.

ellopez said...

you may not think you have "great" stories, but your details of your everyday activities are so different and removed from what goes on here, that every entry of yours is fun to read and think about. Gas is 3.09 here in the jungles of florida... keep writing, it works...
brl

Truckmann said...

Diesel is about £3.80 a gallon here ($6.50ish)most of that goes to the government, greedy bastards.

Anonymous said...

I love the photos of your "everyday", it's all an adventure for us! Gas in CT is $3.07, it cost me $42 to gas up yesterday. It wouldn't be so bad if they would drop the lease a few bucks to help us out but they don't. Keep writing!

Anonymous said...

Ah the price of fossil fuel! I think somebody got a hangnail in the middle east or maybe stubbed a toe in Nigeria and it seems to have that ripple effect. You can't be to careful these days! I'm wondering if the price of garden hose will go up soon? Supply and demand as they say and a little suction goes a long way.

Anonymous said...

dead drunk indeed

dpaste said...

Even your dull posts are fascinating. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Gas will be 3.15 in Houston by middle of next week. I have not been able to afford more than $30 at a time.

I think everyone is being robbed at the pumps. (Iran or not). Chavez in Venezuela has enough Oil for it to be $30/barrel for the next 50 yrs (1.3 Trillion barrels reserves) but the media wants to keep that a secret. It is funny that the guys who profit from the high gas prices drive gas guzzling SUVs and V8 landboats.

Keep up the good work. It really helps me not think about how much I have to pay for gas.

Houston Bill

Anonymous said...

Seriously, what is up with the gas prices? Our parents used to pay like 15 cents a gallon when they were kids. Our grandkids are probably going to pay around 14 or 15 dollars a gallon!

Anonymous said...

in Alabama they have a monument to an insect called the boll weevil. It killed the cotton crops in the land where "Cotton is King". They praised that which caused them to diversify. (peanuts and soybeans were some of the replacements)
I think our boll weevil is here- I wish I didn't need gas.

Oh, Miss! said...

you mean you don't want a DUMB ASS in your cab. LOOOOOOOOOOVE our site.

Patrick said...

This site is like crack...

I can't get enough of it!

Anonymous said...

Remember when gas used to be less than $1/gallon? This post was enertaining even with you having "no great stories to tell". That's awesome that Teddy Geiger was in your cab once. I love him and his music a lot!

Anonymous said...

The wise guys of cabbies, I love it. GAS PRICES SUCK!!!!! I know it could be worse paying 6.00 and so on...but come on!!!! I would have licked my lips and winked at the girl who was flipping me off...that angers them more and its fun to watch a drunk to go into a fit of alcoholic rage with no depth perception or with any range of control over their body!!

Ha! Take care,
steph

Jenna said...

Everytime I go into a cab now, i hope that it's you driving!

Anonymous said...

Yay for Prius cabs! They are quite comfortable and with gas prices as they are, isn't it time the whole fleet switch over? City driving is the worst for carbon emmisions...

Anonymous said...

I look forward to your posts!!! I am addicted to you!
Please don't ever stop! You are the best!
NY Native

Anonymous said...

$3.15 a gallon! That still about half what we pay in the UK.

Anonymous said...

Blame the president for increasing gas prices. 40 dollars a tank?! thats a dream here. I pay 70 pounds a fillup!!!

Roboclerk said...

You don't really want to know what a simple liter of gasoline costs in Germany. About 1.35€

Anonymous said...

roses are red, violets are blue... have a great Shabbos---- don't let nuckleheads bother you..


from just another brick in the wall, black car driver.

p.s. i drive for a friggin jersey fleet (alpine limousine) and i am a brooklyndude. so put jersey and brooklyn together and you know what you get? Another brick in the wall........... peace. out.

Anonymous said...

btw....jersey ain't so bad, as long as you have a beer and drive with ur eyes shut... lol come work with us... we'll treat you royally. i think u'd be a great asset to us.and i can't tell you the accounts; but, u'd really benefit from it...

ThomG said...

is your garage in LIC? from your photo it looks exactly like the garage I drove out of in the 1980's. but now I'm old and can't remember. god, I wish I could get all those dead brain cells back, now when i need them.

Anonymous said...

The time of cheap fuel is over...
In Latvia price for gas increases by 1.5..2.5% every day...

Rockenheimer said...

You know what YOU need, taxi person: you need people to leave comments on your posts!

Joe C said...

While I haven't taken the time to read the other posts, the price of concrete is on the rise now too.

Of course you say, that's a dumb thing to point out...

...but not when China is hauling ass on building expressways. And what goes on expressways? Gas powered vehicles.

Get the inferrence? :-)

But who knows? Maybe auto accidents will thin out the population... (Yes, I am an ass.)

Anonymous said...

International retail Gas Prices according to the US dept of engergy:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/international/gas1.html

Nice bookmark for massochistic Europeans...

EverJack1 said...

It would have been fun to stick the camera in her face and say... "Smile! You're on the New York Hack website!

Enjoyed the pics, MP.

EverJack1

Anonymous said...

$3.15 a gal? That's cheap, the price just went up again after your shift. Chalk it up to the MTBE to corn-based ethanol change.

Teddy Geiger of "Love Monkey" fame (now on VH-1)? If it is the same, he sounded good.

If you had a drunk fare that did that and hit by a passing vehicle, you would be swamped with paperwork and questioning by police. And of course, they won't let you keep the meter running.

Anonymous said...

you may read this and say: what dose this person know>? she knows no hardships.. but ihave read many of your entries.. ihave a q for you.. is it THAT bad when you dont get tips? please answer me honestly.. i want to know because i work $3/hour in retail at a shoestore in singapore.. there are no unions, there are no tips.. i worked $5/hour wattressing... mind you, labour laws are different but i want to know your view on something... dont uagree with hume... we take advantage of right- we overestimate our benefits.. which i believe "tipping" is a questionable convention which is where hume falls off the planet and mill comes in.. dissenting opinions are good.. Tipping should not be an expectation.. yes back home we had service charge but did it go to us? no.. i didnt get the tips even though i wiped the tables and bent down to customers to tend to their feet as i had to fit every foot with the correct shoe size..
I do not say this in a condescending way.. but i question the practice of tipping- not taht we should obliterate the whole convention, but maybe we should respect those that do not tip.
i have been ton yc a few times, and i tip out of fear not because of satisfaction. out of fear because it has become such a convention people overestimate their rights as i have mentioned locke's weakeness.....
you may wonder, why the hell is she talking about dead white philosphers?..... because this is where we went wrong.. this is our foundation sadly
well bye now
Oot chan on xanga.

Anonymous said...

let ME be the first to say, what the hell is that chick from singapore talking about?

Oot chang my wanker.

Anonymous said...

guess is up because there is a war going on...

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear you have uneventfull days! Gas in Arizona is at 2.84 a gallon -- wouldn't be so bad, but our Valley of the Sun just sprawls on and on and on ...

Anonymous said...

Hey, let's have a little patience with foreigners! Do you know how difficult English is to learn to speak much less write! I bet "Oot-Chan" knows more English than you know whatever Chinese dialect she speaks. "Xanga" is a community of online diaries. So I guess she can't yank your Xanga!

Norman said...

Wow!! $40 for HALF a tank?? How big are the tanks on cabs anyway? Do they give cabs a larger tank? Just curious. i never thought about it before...

Anonymous said...

GAS PRICES SUCK!!! It is a conspiracy!! Who do we have to call? I love your shit girl. Thank you for letting us in :) I am going to start to taking the train because i can't afford it any longer! You make me feel like i know a little about NY.
Peace

feather said...

The heartland of the midwest here, aka the farming belt. Gas here tonight was $2.89 a gallon. We dont know how we're going to afford getting the crops planted w/ the fuel prices. I heard some truckers tonight say they were going to shut it down, meaning no longer running their big rigs, cant afford to! At the farmers co-op they men were saying , no fuel, no crops, ppl will go hungry. Hope someone fixes this gas pricing ordeal. Love your blog!

Greyhound Girl said...

Love Teddy Geiger and your blog! Hate gas prices...

TheWayfarer said...

$3.15/gal.
Seems inline with the Bush energy strategery: $5/gal. by 2008. Why should he care...He's got his $quarter-mil/year permanent ride on the taxpayers secured.
Impeachment is MUCH too lenient!

Anonymous said...

Had a thought about the Prius, its a good idea. I was an owner-driver for about 4 years in a Southern City with a military base attached and one of the drivers had a Dodge Colt. She made a small fortune working town calls, not only in the savings on gasoline, but she never got the calls to pick up the fat ladies with 4 kids and 6 sacks of groceries at the store and cary them less than a mile to their home, where they'd expect a male driver to carry the bags into the house, after which he'd be busy for the next ten minutes getting the junior-sized footprints off the back seat of his Oldsmobile wagon. They'd bitch when we'd start punching the extras button for the kids and groceries ("You're not gonna charge for the chillun, are you?") and tie us up for half an hour for a $1.40 mileage fare and about $2.50 in extras. Meanwhile, Debbie was motoring along with her one and two-passenger calls; she'd drop and pick up again 3 times while us guys with the big cars were tied up on grocery runs.

Retired now, after driving, dispaching and managing for 4 years and repairing and installing taximeters for about 10 more; the personal car is a ex-cop Crown Vic which gets better mileage than any cab I ever drove.

I expect gas here in the sunny South to hit $3 bux by the end of next week; gonna build me one of those wood-fired gas generators that boils off the flammable gas like they used in Europe in WWII and mount it on my farm tractor. No tag (license plates to y'all Yankees), no insurance, no motor fuel tax, and we got LOTSA firewood...

Anonymous said...

Post a pic of John the crazy Romanian. I was adopted and just found out I am Romanian so I wanna see as many of them as possible.

Anonymous said...

As far as everybody crying mamma about the price of gas, be prepared to bend over. Only the beginning.

BAF said...

Gteat pics thanks. Cental Park looks great.Re the fuel price... here in Auckland NZ price is 1.68 per litre for 91oct unleaded, 1.73 per litre 95oct unleaded and 1.23 per litre for diesel. These are NZ Dollars. There are 3.6litres per US gallon and our dollar is worth .63US cents.
That is a challenge for you to equate :-) needless to say we are hurting big time. PLUS our Govt takes 48% in tax.
Keep up the great site - thanks
Have fun

El Mas Chingón said...

Gas is $3.15 (if not more) in San Diego County. There's no hurricane. It's good ol' fashioned price grouging.

The only difference is that the rest of the country is experiencing what San Diegans have for years.

Anonymous said...

The license plate reminds me of one of my favorite shows. Gordon Shumway rocks. Gas prices suck.

Anonymous said...

Joe Lion asked about fueling your cab. I'd like to know, too. Do you pick it up with a full tank and have to return it with a full tank, like a rented car? Are you and your fellow hacks required to fill up at the taxi lot for some reason?

Kat: I bet that a Prius driven like a typical NYC taxi is driven (flooring the accelerator, sudden stops) wouldn't get anywhere near 48 mpg, although it would probably still be a lot better than a Crown Vic.

Anonymous in New South Wales wrote:
we are paying $1.36 per litre. Thats about $6.00 a gallon. Maybe that's an imperial gallon. I just looked it up online, and one U.S. gallon is equivalent to 3.785 liters.

Houston Bill wrote:
Chavez in Venezuela has enough Oil for it to be $30/barrel for the next 50 yrs (1.3 Trillion barrels reserves) but the media wants to keep that a secret.
Your numbers aside, why would the media want to keep that a secret? Because they're liberal and they want gas to be priced high? :rolls eyes: Whatever, Chávez hates the U.S. and isn't going to want to sell us Yanquis cheap oil. By the way, Citgo is owned by Venezuela's national oil company, so you may want to boycott them. (I already boycott them because I'm a Yankee fan and they have that big illuminated sign just outside Fenway Park. :)

Lady Hope wrote:
BTW, is there really song called "Impeach The President", Who is this brave singer?!!!!!
I read something recently that said Neil Young's upcoming album will include a song like that.

Something else I recently read was a news article about Iran's hardline president statements about oil. He said that developed nations actually benefit from higher oil prices because of the prices of products made from oil. The article quoted one oil analyst who said that the petrol that is produced from one barrel of oil retails for the equivalent of $150 in London. I can't imagine that the difference between that and the cost of the oil is entirely due to production and distribution costs and taxes.

Anonymous said...

Greg, what I was implying...was to just invade Venezuela and own their oil resources with a quick war. This will serve as deterrent to all the other punk countries that think they have a "negociating" position in the world when they don't. We shouldn't harbor an imperialist strategy but we can't help to look around to see what foreign threats are knocking at our borders and threatening our children's future. If our political leaders weren't such pussies, they would actually run a traditional war to gain more resources for this country. But enough politics, the hack does not need to be bothered with this unfruitful rhetoric.

Maria said...

Hi M.P.

I love your blog, it's my first website stop everyday!

I drive 120 miles to work EVERYDAY, and in LA traffic at that, everybody thinks it's crazy or something - am used to it by now... But yeah! the gas prices are killing me...

again - I LOVE YOUR BLOG, YOUR PICTURES and I hope you'll tell us what the book is called so we can all rush to buy it.

m.e.

MJ06 said...

Whats up with the Toyota cabs?

I know Ford has a test fleet of higbread escapes in New York.

I dont like the Preuous how could they use it, it does not look big enough for New York city cab use.

Anonymous said...

Your photos speak volumes- love them!

Anonymous said...

I enjoy reading your blog-keep on expressing yourself!
As much as gas prices are rising in the US, in Zimbabwe, it's almost impossible to get gas- you have to wait in a line for hours and pay crazy black market prices-bad times there though- 300% inflation rate and whatnot...

Dr. Strangelove said...

Maria,

You say you drive 120 miles to work every day. Which means, if one understands the statement, that you do a 240 mile round trip every 24 hrs. Assuming you work only five days a week, this means, of course, that you drive 1200 miles over that period; and 4800 over a month. This, not working (as in being a cabbie), but only to GET to work. I admire your effort.

On another issue: as an alternative to driving a taxi (from the perspective of earning cash), one might recommend driving a limo. This will depend, of course, on how the limo business works in NYC. I did this in San Francisco in the early 90s. Worked 2.5 days a week (Friday, Saturday, and usually a half a day on Sundays). Each weekend I would pick up around 300-500 bucks (wages and tips combined). Not bad for 1993. And we didn't have to pay for gas. I think cab drivers hated us for some reason. But, like them, we were just earning a living and making due with our jobs. Oh, the other days of the week were spent going to college. It was tough. But the limo biz helped to pay my way. ... Just a thought.

Anonymous said...

dr strangelove there are some things money can t buy

Jesse Astle said...

I heard on the news that some American's were hocking their jewelry to pay for their gas. I have no simpathy for people who hock their stuff so they can fill their SUV's.
I have some for cab drivers though...

Dr. Strangelove said...

Dear Anonymous,

True. But there are things that the lack of money can't buy either.

a u g u s t i n e said...

dropping in from singapore. love the posts!

silhouetteserenade.blogspot.com

do pop by!

Anonymous said...

I don't know about that last line. It seems to me you can always throw the dumb drunk out your cab, and that would be the end of it. But wouldn't a dead drunk involve a never ending pile of paperwork?

Miss A said...

The other day as I'm watching MTV and this music video comes on (I was a shocked as you; MTV had a music video on). I'm quickly scanning my brain tying to figure out why this guy looks familiar. THEN IT HITS ME :BAM: The picture you took from him a while ago when he was in you cab. It was a 'moment' for me. Maybe someday we'll see YOU on a billboard :) Best of luck and safe driving adventures!

Anonymous said...

dr strangelove all i am saying is i drove a limo and a cab in nyc of course and found even though i made more money driving the limo for doing less work i would rather drive the cab i felt i had a little more freedom of who i am driving a cab and that to me is priceless

Dr. Strangelove said...

Dear Anonymous,

I hear ya, and agree. I remember there was nothing worse than being stuck with a jerk (or bunch of jerks) for hours and hours and hours... Especially the ones who thought they were hot sh*t because they spent lots o' mulah on a limo and so thought they could order you around as though one were an obedient doggy.

Oh, yes, I remember... felt like driving the limo into a wall (w/passengers inside)... just fer laffers. Never could pull it off though.

Anonymous said...

The refineries do annual maintenance in the spring, so some of the capacity is reduced.

But the primary factor driving fuel prices is demand. Most of us can't completely stop driving altogether, we can make some lifestyle changes. I do my part, take the bus or walk when I can.

Sally said...

Hey, petrol down here in New Zealand has gone through the roof too. Wont put the details as our NZ$ and metric measure mean nothing. I bike to work now. The reasons are political...Iran etc.

Chuck said...

Gas in Oklahoma is avearaging about $2.65 - $2.70. My dad pitched a bitch when it went up to 32 cents per gal, and I saw an old "Waltons" and Johnboy was griping about paying 17 cents per gal, he could only afford a gallon and a half. We will continue to pay and to gripe. And what did Exxon claim last year, over 300 Billion? Keep on doin' what you do. www.chuckslodown.blogspot.com

Chuck said...

pardon the spelling...

Anonymous said...

I've heard that the gas prices are going up because the big gas companies are starting to put Ethanol into their products. The technology to do that is not so common, but I'm guessing that as time goes on, more companies will do this, and the process will get less pricey.

Or they're just greedy bastards. Either way. ;D

-- Theresa

Soulfull said...

Great photos and the gas is $3.15 here for regular! I agree this crap is ridiculous! :(

Anonymous said...

Heya, I always read your blog, but never left a comment before.
Hope you're fine, love to read your stories!
See ya around!

Karl said...

How often do they change the gas prices? And are you allowed to buy your gas elsewhere if you know of somewhere cheaper?

wrdcreater said...

Gas is out of control.

luke said...

Someone mentioned earlier Hack that gas in Sydney is equivalent to $6.00/gallon.

I saw a set by endorphin recently where a giant cut out John Howard (our PM) was mounted by a cut out George Bush. It got a great response, not only from myself.

The point he really made, and you made I think in your post: We're all suffering.

Mathieu said...

Nice photo

Rikki said...

Hey i like your blog... great stories :)

Helene said...

OMG GREAT BLOG!!!

I am headed to The Big Apple this weekend with some friends to celebrate a birthday in the crowd!! I will think of you when I get into my cab ... and I will try hard not to pass out! lmao!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I be jealous it. New york is pretty (beautiful). Stores so many. Great city. There is where in leisure exit leave go out. And rates are curious taxi too. Where it was possible in poland have such adventure. Super, That you have placed a lot photos a bit.
:)

Anonymous said...

Pink's song is Dear Mr. President.

High Power Rocketry said...

Wild times :)

R2K

DB said...

There is a solution - move to China - gas prices here mean I only pay the equivalent of $2.08 per US gal!

Mind you - taxi drivers would only be able to charge US$2.50 for a 5 mile journey and there's absolutely no tipping.

As I'm here, I have a follow-up question for Houston Bill. You said "Gas will be 3.15 in Houston by middle of next week. I have not been able to afford more than $30 at a time."

Can I ask how much more you could afford when the prices were lower?

Lady Prism said...

what a blog!....my first time here...luv it!...made me laugh!...I'll be back...

Anonymous said...

Great pics - thanks for the slice of NYC life. I check out your blog several times a week. We spent a week there right before Christmas. It's always such a great adventure!

Here is some information that explains the real reasons (believe it or not, it's not Bush's fault) that the price of oil (gas) will never be "cheap" again. You can educate people in your cab who are interested in learning the real reason that the price is high and will only keep getting higher - if they care to listen. It's long, but people really do need to educate themselves about this important topic: http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/

Anonymous said...

Gas in the US is cheap - not fair! In Alberta (Canada) it's costing us $1.06/L or $4.01/Ga!! And we are one of the biggest oil producers on the continent!! Go figure...

Daisy said...

Puke in your cab -- yuk! Do you spray it out with the hose?

Anonymous said...

Cool even you "dull" posts get lots of comments. Gas is $2.99 in southern VA. I am bitching about it but I am leaving for Germany next week and I know its going to be worse then. I am hoping the rental that I'll have will have goo gas milage. I'd hate to spend my money on gas versus getting all sorts of goddies.

Anonymous said...

I really liked this post. All the photos were cool.

And I like hearing about the everyday aspect of driving the cab just as much as the wild stories.

Good job.

Whozfan said...

Glad you had a good ride. I enjoyed the pics. Keep em coming. I just read where our fearless leader Bush is going to do something to curtail these crazy gas prices. Show me, dont tell me.

Big Daddy said...

Congrats on your book deal by the way. Heard about it on gawker.

Sorabh Raina said...

i really like ur blog....

completely a new thing
from a lot of blogs i have seen

Anonymous said...

Jump at the pump. Absurd.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, all the SUVs and other road hog gas guzzlers are a plot by Bush and the Republicans to keep us good Democrats down. Get a life! Don't buy'em and they won't sell'em. Urge Congress to push alternative fuel and power sources. A 21st century moon shot program for alternative fuels and energy independance. And by the way, Ted Kennedy is fighting wind turbines off shore, it spoils his view. Yeah its ok for poor folks, but not for the rich elite like a Kennedy.

January said...

Great writing and pictures! And congrats on the book deal--you give the rest of the hope. I'm a former New Yorker so your stories remind me of one of the best times in my life.

Anonymous said...

Waaa....time for an update!

Asimè Triko said...

It was a couple of weeks ago when I discovered your blog. I only can say that I like it. I live in Spain (on the northwest corner) and this summer maybe I'm going to New Jersey and, of course, to New York. I really enjoy your photos.

Well, gasoline prices here are rising and rising. Today it is € 1.20 per litre, that must be $ 1.44, but I cannot translate it into gallons, 'cos we don't use this measure.

Anonymous said...

speaking of gas prices, it is 96.2 cents a gallon here in Bahrain (Arabian Gulf)

Noor Al-Amal said...

u have interesting blog, u gave me a real look to real NYC.
I came over and over to read, but it's my first time to write a comment.
Keep going and stay safe

Anonymous said...

Hey from Sweden, like your blog. Price on gas is about 7.5 bucks a gallon here.

Anonymous said...

Sr. Nohara, I just checked finance.yahoo.com/currency, and the euro is worth almost US$1.25 now. Since there are 3.785 liters in one U.S. gallon, that means you pay the equivalent of $5.67 per gallon.

Early this morning, I spoke to my father, who lives on the Greek island of Cephalonia, which isn't far from the west coast of the Greek mainland. He said gasoline costs €1.20 per liter there, too. Perhaps Greeks on the mainland and the Peloponese pay a little less.

Let's not forget that Europeans drive cars that get significantly better gas mileage than the cars (and SUV's) we Americans drive. There are also a lot more cars that run on diesel in Europe, since diesel fuel isn't taxed as much as gasoline (because it's used by commercial trucks). Which reminds me: I'm looking forward to seeing European auto companies bring their "clean" diesel models here, once the diesel fuel sold in this country is required to have a very low sulfur content (i.e. sometime this year).

arvindh said...

Very interesting blog you have here! Great pictures too!

The Prius cab is quite a sight. It is good that the price of gas is going up. Puts some sense into people about conservation.

Anonymous said...

the reason for the 3:15 gas is called "Peak Oil". Google it.

Anonymous said...

The pictures are great! I think it's a good thing your night wasn't all drama filled - but I'm surprised gas isn't more there -- my family in Arizona says it's up to $3.03 a gallon. I hear it's up to $3.65 a gallon in Colorado -- I guess it could be worse - I'm terrified to see what it is in California! I was trying so hard to be the first to leave you a comment too! Ah well - thanks again Melissa for your entertainment & I'm so looking forward to August 28th! Peace.

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