If the public was any more naive....

[DZink24]

I was recycling some old papers today when I noticed the heading in the local section. . "City buses to use cleaner fuel", so, I read on. In the article it states the board of commisioners of the local regional transit service "voted", unanimously, as well, to switch to "ultra low sulfer diesel fuel", to help to reduce emissions and reduce pollution. Hmm. . like they had a choice. . and that all buses will be "changed over" by October. What timing! LIKE THEY HAVE A CHOICE! Who says the media and big business aren't in cahoots! I'll give'em credit though, thats some good public relations , make the public feel they are doing something voluntary to help the environment.

 

[Tractorat]

Both the government and the media think we're all stupid. The sad thing is that a lot of us are.

 

[klenger]

I think it's wonderful what they are doing for the environment. Ahhh. Now, please excuse me while I pick up my kids from soccer practice in my Lincoln Navigator.

 

[cahammer]

Both the government and the media think we're all stupid. The sad thing is that a lot of us are.

i agree but there are those in government that realy take the cake

 

[Cattletrkr]

Did you correct that article with a letter to the editor?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Did you correct that article with a letter to the editor?

Good point - the media continues to treat us like idiots because we sit back silently as though we really ARE!

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

There is also a good chance that the board of directors thought they had a choice????

 

[mhenon]

I think the October 2006 deadline is for all stations selling diesel to clearly state whether that fuel is low sulphur or ultra low sulphur fuel.

From the Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance web-page:

"Owners of 2007 and later model year diesel-powered highway vehicles must refuel only with ULSD fuel. * Owners of 2006 and earlier model year diesel-powered highway engines and vehicles may use ULSD or Low Sulfur Diesel fuel during the transition period. Only ULSD fuel will be available for highway use starting on December 1, 2010. "

There seems to be a phasing in period (except California) to allow stations and refineries to bring ULSD to market.

Sooo..... maybe the article you mentioned is correct. The city may have made a choice to go over to ULSD in October 2006.

Mike

 

[BigEasy]

Both the government and the media think we're all stupid. The sad thing is that a lot of us are.

I was astounded the other day when I learned that over half of the adult population of the US has an IQ under 100! That's just damn scary...

 

[Wayne M.]

OK I'm sticking my neck out here, but it's the truth! The NYC Department of Sanitation (I'm a mechanic 18 years with them) has been getting ULSD for about 3 years now. I believe the MTA (transit) has had it for as long, and I understand they have paid through the noses for it too. I can tell the difference by the color and aromatics that it's not diesel as I knew it as well as having to put stickers stating the fact near the fuel tank.

I guess it worked out alright with the thousands M-11's, Mack E-tech's, Power jokes, and GM6. 5's, on top of all the others we have including about 500 ISB's, we haven't had any chronic or pattern fuel problems.

I have another shocking fact about DSNY's passenger cars. Since about 1999 and in many parts of the city we have been running E85 exclusively. It's old news to me. We have Flexfuel Tauruses and explorers that drink the stuff. I laugh when they say they're gonna push this "new technology". We tried CNG about 15+ years ago in all sorts of light and heavy equipment with crappy results. Now we're getting into hybrids big time.

I don't trust politicians either (they won't give me a raise!!!) but sometimes they think they're doing a good thing- or covering their butts.

 

[bmoeller]

i agree but there are those in government that realy take the cake

Got that right. Palosi, Kerry, Edwards (take your pick), Gore, Daschel, ... ... ... ... ... Where to stop?

 

[LOtero]

I think it's wonderful what they are doing for the environment. Ahhh. Now, please excuse me while I pick up my kids from soccer practice in my Lincoln Navigator.

thats hilarious!!

 

[FATCAT]

Remember the old politician's quote ... "The masses are *****".

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Originally Posted by klenger

I think it's wonderful what they are doing for the environment. Ahhh. Now, please excuse me while I pick up my kids from soccer practice in my Lincoln Navigator.

AH, yet ANOTHER example of successful brainwashing of the masses by the media - "SUV" has been demonized by them so much that ANYTHING used for larger than average transport of families or goods is treated like a dirty word!



I suppose that rather that a SINGLE, adequately sized vehicle, it would be better for the environment to run *2* "politically correct" too-small-for-the-job vehicles for the same work?



Our Ford Escape SUV fits our personal needs perfectly, is comfortable for longer trips - yet delivers good MPG around town - and easily carries the SAME passenger load as my '02 Quad-cab truck! But in the eyes of the media - and the society they have mind-control over, it's an "evil" thing for the environment...



SUV's are popular and in widespread use because they usually FIT the needs of the buyer, just as our SUV, and a fairly wide variety of OTHER larger than average vehicles have for our own specific personal needs - but if you buy into the media slant, you'd think the owner of one had ties directly to Bin Ladin...



YUP, the media does their mind manipulation quite well...

 

[DZink24]

It hasn't happened yet, but I cannot wait until the day someone at a fuel stop badmouths me for having a "big, inefficient, dirty diesel". First off, it may never happen, since I don't associate with gasser drivers, I only fill up at stand-alone diesel pumps , but I am perpared for what I will do. Hopefully the knucklhead who badmouths me is driving a 220 mile-per-tank V-8 SUV. Or better yet, a soccer mom in a minivan, who I may actually get nearly as good mileage as, and she certainly cannot tow a 7 ton trailer! It is all about efficiency, a diesel and a slow burn!

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

Hopefully the knucklhead who badmouths me is driving a 220 mile-per-tank V-8 SUV.

I hate to say this, but my wife's V-8 explorer gets 21mpg on the highway, and about 18 around town. That's just as good as either one of my trucks get. and "SUV's" have been around since cars were invented. They used to be called station wagons.

 

[mhenon]

"SUV's are popular and in widespread use because they usually FIT the needs of the buyer, just as our SUV, and a fairly wide variety of OTHER larger than average vehicles have for our own specific personal needs"



Gary... . please. SUV's are popular because they're big and cool. I rarely see people with SUV's out in the hills around town here. That's were you want a beater 4WD PU.

No. . the SUV's you see are down in Boise being driven by a soccer mom and it never gets dirty and rarely gets used in 4WD. And that's the gripe with them... . they're a BS staus car bought to impress the neighbors and they're ******* away fuel at like 13 mpg the whole time. I'm not saying thats what yours is... just the majority.

Mike

 

[mhenon]

I was astounded the other day when I learned that over half of the adult population of the US has an IQ under 100! That's just damn scary...

And the other half are plain stupid!

Mike

 

[Champane Flight]

I think

I think the government mistakes apathy, for stupidity. Nobody gives a damn what they say anymore... ... :-laf

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"SUV's are popular and in widespread use because they usually FIT the needs of the buyer, just as our SUV, and a fairly wide variety of OTHER larger than average vehicles have for our own specific personal needs"



Gary... . please. SUV's are popular because they're big and cool. I rarely see people with SUV's out in the hills around town here. That's were you want a beater 4WD PU.

No. . the SUV's you see are down in Boise being driven by a soccer mom and it never gets dirty and rarely gets used in 4WD. And that's the gripe with them... . they're a BS staus car bought to impress the neighbors and they're ******* away fuel at like 13 mpg the whole time. I'm not saying thats what yours is... just the majority.

Mike

Come on over here to our part of eastern Oregon (as well as MANY similar locations!) - where SUV's like our 4WD Escape and the Explorers are VERY common - and necessary in these ice and snow covered hills during winter months... I wouldn't even CONSIDER driving my Dodge in that weather - but the Escape has yet to spin a wheel, even in snow that scrapes the undercarriage.



Far too many of those critical of "empty SUV's" driven by "Soccer moms", forget that THEIR huge Dodge diesels ALSO are driven EMPTY far more often than not, get poor city MPG even unloaded, nor is THEIR 4x4 capability used more than ocassionally - nor does the fact that a vehicle that has the CAPABILITY of hauling lots of people or cargo in 4WD, mean that they will ALWAYS be loaded to the max and headed up some remote goat trail.



Criticise the empty SUV's only if YOU always have your truck and other family vehicles loaded to the gills, and are in 4WD! :-laf



YUP, media demonizing stereotyping really WORKS!