These people are fools

Fed up station owner shuts off gas pumps

The basic story: a gas station owner is tired of high gas prices so he shuts down his pumps for a day in protest (getting nationwide news coverage in the process).

Choice quote:

Maria McClory, 38, drove 10 miles out of her way to buy a diet soda from Pollack's station after seeing local television coverage of the protest.

"I just wanted to support them and thank them for making a statement," said McClory, who drives about 100 miles a day for work in her sport utility vehicle.

One hundred miles a day. That's astounding. Worse though is that there is no mention of fuel standards, conservation efforts, that thing in that sandy country where people keep getting blown up -- oh yeah, that war thing ... Instead, we are supposed to worry about this poor station owner not making any money despite high prices and the fact that his kids might not be able to drive.

One thing I dread about returning to the US is having to listen to people seriously worrying about this while making such stupid buying decisions and being so dense on energy issues. The debate is settled everywhere else in the world (even where car usage is rising quickly, it's a luxury not a "right"). What will it take for Americans to wake up?

I leave you with a second choice quote:

The company usually makes 8 to 12 cents per gallon after suppliers' prices and credit card fees. On Wednesday -- the day before the protest -- that added up to $3.49 for a gallon of unleaded gas.

Schwartz called that "outrageous" and said even he can't fill up his SUV at that price.

"If it keeps going like this, my kids will never be able to afford to drive," said Schwartz, who has an 18-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter.

Sniff sniff ...

I hope I never own another car. Even a Prius.

Internal decapitation

Ok ok, I know it's puerile, but I can't help passing this along:

Woman survives 'internal decapitation'

Choice quotes:

Shannon Malloy was critically injured January 25 when a car crash slammed her into the dashboard. Her skull separated from her spine, although her skin, spinal cord and other internal organs remained intact.

***snip***

Ghiselli said a will to survive kept Malloy, 30, alive long enough for surgeons to insert screws in her head and neck and attach a halo to minimize movement -- no easy task.

"My skull slipped off my neck about five times," Malloy said. "Every time they tried to screw this to my head, I would slip."

France is not in decline and the last thing it needs is "reform"

Great post on DailyKos and European Tribune on the state of the French economy:

France is not in decline and the last thing it needs is "reform"

It is hard to find, in the international media, commentary on the French elections that does not suggest national decline, a stagnant economy, a hopeless employment situation, an unrealistic 35-hour working week, and the urgent need for "reform" if France is to get back on the road to growth again.. "Reform" is here between quotes, given the extent to which it has become a more or less explicit codeword for a one-way agenda: liberalizing the labour market, weakening union power and State regulation of business, and reducing taxes. Cheaper workers, it is assumed, will lead to greater competitiveness, higher profits and, therefore, more jobs.
The problem is that this programme is based on a view of economic reality that is neither impartial nor complete.

Read on ... (very highly recommended)