Animal and Plant Fossils Not Necessary For Oil and Natural Gas

This is something I just have to post here as it looks to be a major find recently. Swedish Researchers at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm have claimed proof that fossils from animals and plants are not necessary for crude oil and natural gas to be generated. Instead it is much more abundant than previously thought.

This finding seem to indicate that they believe the supply of oil is not even close to nearing its end.

“There is no doubt that our research proves that crude oil and natural gas are generated without the involvement of fossils. All types of bedrock can serve as reservoirs of oil,” says Vladimir Kutcherov, who adds that this is true of land areas that have not yet been prospected for these energy sources.

“Using our research we can even say where oil could be found in Sweden,” says Vladimir Kutcherov, a professor at the Division of Energy Technology at KTH.

Well well now. IF this is the case then I expect my gas to only cost $1 a gallon next week and the money I save will let me take a Myrtle beach vacation rentals reservation soon :).

10 Biggest Auto Sales Losers

Now...most of these vehicles are SUVs with poor gas mileage. That right there is a big clue as to why they are losing out in the market right now. Although this is the case the costs of them are getting so low as they are blinking brightly on the digital signage outside dealerships, that many are trying to justify the purchase as that they are so cheap the cost of gasoline is offset.

Certainly this is "logical" to deduce, but in reality are you really getting that good a deal in the long run? First of all the sticker price being dropped down means that the blue book of the vehicle is worth a lot less now anyways so it isn't like you are getting a good investment out of it. Used cars don't typically go up in value like say a house does when you buy it in this market. Besides...I am not going to try and call you dumb, but do you honestly believe that gas prices are going to go down over the life of your vehicle, or that MPG standards are going to stay the same? I didn't think you did. So...these "deals" aren't technically deals at all, and frankly you are just adding to the problem by buying them.

Anyways,,,there might be a couple "good" deals in this list, but you'll have to judge for yourself. Take a look at the 10 Biggest Auto Sales Losers out there right now.

Late Payments on Auto Loans Rising, Gas Prices Dropping

It's not just the home mortgages that are taking a toll in this economy. Auto loans are having their share of troubles as well. Borrowers have pushed the total of late payments up to over $25 Billion recently according to figures released by Experian Automotive, a part of Experian, at the Automotive Finance Summit by the hotels in las vegas this week.

Experian Automotive presented a comprehensive overview of automotive lending trends based on a quarterly analysis of the market from the second quarter of 2006 through the second quarter of 2008. The analysis found that loans 30 days past due were up 9 percent year-over-year in the second quarter of 2008, while loans 60 days past due were up 11 percent. Currently, 2.48 percent of all automotive loans are 30 days past due, compared with 2.28 percent in the second quarter of 2007. Automotive loans 60 days past due rose to 0.75 percent from 0.67 percent. Although it may not seem like a ton to the average person this is a significant increase over this term. Just shows that the economy is taking its toll on even more industries.

On a happier note, gas prices have dropped significantly over the last week. While we were probably paying $3.50-4.00 a gallon a week ago, many of us are seeing prices at the pump around $3 now, and I have even gotten gas for as little as $2.90 a gallon in the last few days.

Theory suggests that the decline comes as hurricane season winds down and oil prices drop because demand is likely to weaken as the economy slows. Hey...at least getting to work and back isn't going to be so costly this month. Great time to build up your cash reserve, or pay off some debt because this isn't going to be this friendly for a long time. I guess if you don't like to think a head, then you have more money to blow on stuff you want instead of using a credit card for it.

Best Value SUVs and Crossovers

If you are even considering an SUV with gas prices right now you may as well at least do a little research to find something that gets more than 11 MPG. I know an SUV is needed at times to chug a family around, or a place to store 4 golf bags when you sneak out of the house on the weekends so let's take a looks at some of the better values out there.

Stas for these vehicles are available at Cars.com. Not only do they give you the standard MPG info, but they are also compared based upon lifetime fuel cost based on 15,000 miles driven per year. #1 is the Jeep Patriot.

2008 Sedans That Get 30+ MPG Combined City/Highway

While the U.S. has pretty loose miles per gallon requirements for automobiles compared to other countries, it still doesn't stop us from wanting to find cars that don't suck dry our bank accounts at the gas pump, or seeking the best acne treatments due to gas prices stress. In our case 30+ MPG is actually considered good, although it is poor compared to many other places.

Anyways, if you are looking for some "fuel efficiency" here is a list of the 2008 sedans with the best MPG stats. Surely these cars are going to save us millions in gas expenditures :rolls eyes:.

Choosing the Right Car for a Teen Driver

The last thing you probably want to do is think about getting your son or daughter their first car right now with the ridiculous prices of gasoline. I was actually happy to get gas for $4.09 a gallon today and filled it up with only a 1.4 of a tank gone. Still cost me about $25...ugh.

So they have graduated from hounding you about getting a new video card for their computer so they can play World of Warcraft all day and are ready to get a car. What should you be looking for in terms of a vehicle that your teen will not only be safe in, but something that isn't going to cost you an arm and a leg to maintian, and of course get some decent fuel efficiency.

AAA has produced a brochure you can check out with some helpful tips to decide just what your teen driver needs to have.

Gas Prices Angering Americans

Not a day goes by right now in which you don't talk to at least someone who mentions the price of gas. The expense that Americans face just to get to work causes as much heartache as anything in this struggling economy. With people looking for such things as foreclosure help, it is difficult to see how many can even afford to go to work at the current cost of gasoline. Certainly no one that makes less than $30,000 a year can afford to drive more than a few miles everyday to get to their jobs as it just eats half their paycheck away paying for the gasoline.

Seeing comments like these certainly piss people off:

The $4 mark, compounded by a sagging economy, could be a tipping point that spurs people to make permanent lifestyle changes to reduce dependence on foreign oil and help the environment, says Steve Reich, a program director at the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida.

"This is a more significant shift in behavior than I've seen through other fluctuations in gasoline prices," he says. "People are starting to understand that this resource … is not something to be taken for granted or wasted."

I doubt anyone believes people drive less because they are concerned about supply. They are concerned about being able to afford it. USA today breaks down some numbers today and talks more about these crazy gas prices.

2008 Sedans, 2007 Sedans That Get 30+ MPG Combined City/Highway

It can give you a migraine trying to figure out how to save a bit more money on gas other than just giving up and not driving anywhere. This report on sedans will help a bit in your search for a car that is a bit less of a gas guzzler if you insist on not looking into hybrids. They also list some ways to help you rank cars based on the specs important to you with a handy guide at the end of the article in the links.

Compare 2007 Sedans That Get 30+ MPG Combined City/Highway

Autonews.com has some interesting announcements in this new feature they have breaking down the Sedans with 30+ MPG. Considering the dramatic increase in gas prices over the pas couple of years there are plenty of people I'm sure that would be interested in a reports such as this. Definitely a must read for anyone who wants to conserve more fuel and save a bit of money. I know driving a lot for work really is a pain with gas prices this high. Fix it with goin gto the thing you can control. the vehicle.

Consumers Plan to Employ Gas-Saving Tips to Achieve Greater Fuel Economy

Even though gas prices have gone down considerably in the last couple weeks there is still a lot of news about how people are trying to save money on their fuel. Some of the ideas are so out there that many think they can save enough money to buy Las Vegas Luxury Condos, or even a great vacation cottage. HEre's an article about some of those ideas.

With gas prices on the rise this summer, there is no shortage of fuel economy advice available to consumers who want to save a few dollars at the pump. Drivers are often encouraged to improve their vehicle's fuel economy by reducing air conditioning use, changing filters regularly, checking tire pressure, having fuel injectors cleaned and using a fuel additive to increase engine performance. But how likely are consumers to actually use any of these gas-saving tips to help save money?

According to a recent Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research study on fuel economy, nearly six out of 10 consumers say they would be likely to change their filters at scheduled intervals and/or check their tire pressure regularly to achieve greater fuel economy or save money. In addition, nearly seven out of 10 consumers (68 percent) believe that by performing some or all of the recommended gas-saving maintenance to their car, they would save up to $200 annually. read more...