Oil prices...

[SLCPUNK]

And yet it's been said that a multitude of Iraqis vastly preferred living under Saddam's power when compared to the living conditions they've been faced with since 2003.

Saddam also worked as a counterweight of sorts with Iran. Now, all the right can talk about is the "vacuum" that will occur "once we leave." Well, who created that scenario? Dipshits.

[Smoking Guns]

Anyone know when the "official" holiday weekend travel numbers come out?

I've heard they're going to be down quite a bit, more than predicted...and that the speculators are thinking this might be the week the bottom drops out of the oil market.

We'll see....

I hope you are right!!!

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Filled up @ 4.39 a gallon for regular unleaded yesterday.

[AxlsMainMan]

Wall Street moves higher after Bernanke speech

By JOE BEL BRUNO ? 19 minutes ago

NEW YORK (AP) ? Wall Street meandered in directionless trading Tuesday as investors were torn between troubling fears about inflation and more reassuring signs that the U.S. economic downturn is nearing an end.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke reiterated expectations that the economy will rebound during the second half due to interest rate cuts, Fed loans to banks and tax rebates. But, the Fed chief, in a speech in Barcelona, Spain, said the economy faces headwinds with rising prices for food and energy ? a signal that interest rates will remain on hold.

Inflation-weary investors are wrangling with record oil and gasoline prices, which last month peaked at $135.09 a barrel. Though oil has since retreated, the fear is that higher energy costs are already hurting strapped consumers whose spending accounts for more than two-thirds of economic growth.

The market also remains on guard for more bad news from the nation's banks and brokerages. Financial companies tumbled for a second straight session on reports that investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. is facing a fiscal second-quarter loss and might need a capital infusion.

"The push-and-pull here is the market has shifted its focus from a fear of an economic slowdown to a fear of inflation," said Arthur Hogan, chief market analyst at Jefferies & Co. "For the rest of this week we're going to get economic data that could be the bomb that adversely effects our impression of inflation, and right now investors are basically just holding on."

Indeed, trading was light on Tuesday as Wall Street awaited a spate of key economic readings due the rest of the week,including the Labor Department's employment report on Friday.

In late morning trading, the Dow Jones industrials rose 5.04, or 0.04 percent, to 12,508.86.

Broader market indexes were also slightly higher. The Standard & Poor's 500 index added 3.77, or 0.27 percent, to 1,389.44; the Nasdaq composite rose 15.32, or 0.61 percent, to 2,506.85.

Bernanke's comments set off sharp reactions across other markets. The biggest response came in the dollar, which rallied after Bernanke said he'd remain "attentive" to the sagging currency because of its impact on inflation.

Oil prices also fell. Light, sweet crude for July delivery shed $1.27 to $126.49 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

And, expectations that interest rates will be placed on hold also pressured government debt. The 10-year Treasury note's yield, which moves opposite its price, was at 4.01 percent, up from 3.97 percent late Monday.

Stocks did get some lift after a report on factory orders showed an unexpected surge in April and a barometer of capital spending by U.S. businesses also jumped, according to government data.

In corporate news, Lehman Brothers dropped $1.84, or 5.4 percent, to $31.99 amid reports it may raise up to $4 billion in fresh capital to help cover losses stemming from the credit crisis.

Meanwhile, Residential Capital LLC said it needs more funding in order to stay whole. The mortgage lender said it is borrowing another $450 million from its parent GMAC, raising its loan to $1.2 billion, and estimated it needs about $2 billion in cash by the end of the month to meet liquidity demands.

Toll Brothers Inc. reported that write-downs of land joint ventures led the luxury homebuilder to a quarterly loss of $93.7 million. The results were better than Wall Street expected, and shares rose 58 cents, or 2.8 percent, to $21.54.

Staples Inc. shares were unchanged after raising its hostile bid for Dutch office supplies distributor Corporate Express NV to $2.6 billion. Last month, Corporate Express rebuffed two offers from Staples and struck a surprise deal to buy a French competitor, Lyreco SAS.

Rick Wagoner, chairman and CEO of General Motors Corp., said Tuesday the company plans to halt production at four North American plants, and is considering a sale of its Hummer brand. Wagoner said high oil prices have altered consumer behavior, and that he believes it is a permanent shift. GM rose 49 cents, or 2.9 percent, to $17.94.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 3.38, or 0.46 percent, to 744.40.

Advancing issues outpaced decliners by 4 to 3 on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to 324.2 million shares.

Overseas, Japan's Nikkei stock average closed down 1.60 percent. In afternoon trading, Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.05 percent, Germany's DAX index fell 0.41 percent, and France's CAC-40 rose 0.14 percent.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gHs5OM3gFG_DytQQZFbWfgPT08MAD912ME0O0

[fuckin crazy]

^^I was  unaware that anyone still took him seriously.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Staples Inc. 

Fucking fascists.

[fuckin crazy]

Staples Inc. 

Fucking fascists.

For real!!!

The US of fucking KKK is full of them.

[SLCPUNK]

Oil prices down today as demand is lowered.

Well gee golly, imagine that!

Something I've been telling these dopes for years now. Driving these wasteful vehicles, and wasting energy, helps drive prices up. That's why I asked a few pages back, what everybody did to conserve energy? Everybody wanted to attack me and call me a chicken little rather than take some personal responsibility.

Sometimes it's too much. I'm more conservative than these guys, and they aren't even aware of it. 

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

My CRV has this handy little display by my speedometer that lets me know how many mpg's I'm getting.

I have found two settings that allow me to get 60 mpg easy.  One is roughly at 62 mph on the highway, and one is exactly 41 on the streets.

Yeah, I get honked at a lot and get one-fingered salutes, but I don't care!  Funny thing is, I pull right up to them when the stoplight is red! 

[Howard2k]

I downgraded from a "performance" car to something more sensible.   The Suzuki SX4 tells me my current L/100km and it's pretty handy.  Coupled with cruise control on the highway it's a more boring but less expensive ride.

And for speed, I have the bike.  A "slow" bike but still kicks the snot out of the performance car I had in both performance and economy.   And fun.

[Smoking Guns]

I downgraded from a "performance" car to something more sensible.   The Suzuki SX4 tells me my current L/100km and it's pretty handy.  Coupled with cruise control on the highway it's a more boring but less expensive ride.

And for speed, I have the bike.  A "slow" bike but still kicks the snot out of the performance car I had in both performance and economy.   And fun.

4 cylinder cars with turbos are the economical way to get performance and fuel economy.

[SLCPUNK]

I think we'll be seeing a lot more of those smaller cars with turbos and superchargers. My daughter just got a 4 banger with a turbo and it's a blast to drive, even as an automatic. Gets killer MPG, although working on it's gonna be a bitch, they really shoehorned that thing in, Jesus.

Edit: I hope we can have more of a European vision when it comes to cars now. We don't need these huge engines-never have. We can have a nice sized sedan, with a smaller engine paired with a supercharger or turbo...diesel plus turbo is even better!

[Howard2k]

I downgraded from a "performance" car to something more sensible.   The Suzuki SX4 tells me my current L/100km and it's pretty handy.  Coupled with cruise control on the highway it's a more boring but less expensive ride.

And for speed, I have the bike.  A "slow" bike but still kicks the snot out of the performance car I had in both performance and economy.   And fun.

4 cylinder cars with turbos are the economical way to get performance and fuel economy.

True, but that's what I just downgraded from (WRX).  It was pretty thirsty.   You're right though, they ARE a good compromise of the two, and I do miss her.   Except when on the bike. 

[pilferk]

Sort of on topic, sort of off:

I'm starting to look at buying a new vehicle.

I'm currently driving a 2001 Subaru Forester.

I have a LONG, mostly highway commute (60 miles each way).

I need 4wd or awd, because I live in the snowbelt of CT, and I work in a place that doesn't take bad weather as a good reason to not be at work....if the docs are here, I have to be here.

And fuel economy is the primary concern.  Hybrids are possible, but it looks like the 4wd versions really lose their "benefit" on the highway.

I don't need big...even the Forester is more room than I need...because this car literally is only used for my back and forth to work.  I am 6 ft 3, though, so "roomy" is sorta nice.

I don't need "sexy" because I don't care.

I would like "cheap" because, well...lets face it.....the economy sucks and it's always nice to save a buck.  Plus, I hate car payments.

Anyone have any suggestions.

I'm thinking about another Subie...maybe a sedan to squeek out another couple/few MPG's.  But I figured I'd throw this out to the group to see if there are any other suggestions.

[meanmachine73]

I'm thinking about another Subie...maybe a sedan to squeek out another couple/few MPG's.  But I figured I'd throw this out to the group to see if there are any other suggestions.

Any roomy vehicle that has been converted to LPG. Petrol starts the car, then press a button to run on LPG.

Not sure how available it is in the USA though.

My car is currently averaging 28.1mpg, thats over a 3 month period using the car on the motorway and local journeys.
Its crazy really, but I knew that was the deal when i bought the car.

I know fuel prices are going crazy at the moment, but when the UK govt is taxing 70%+ on fuel, I dont think you have to point the finger at the people at the fuel stations... The govt are equally if not more responsible. They have it sussed, the public transport is pathetic unless you are live in London, and then its not great. So you have no alternative but to drive and pay the fuel prices.

Another side note: On TV last night it was reported that 'used' SUV prices had fallen 5% whilst cars with a 1.6l and less engine had risen by the same amount.

[Smoking Guns]

I downgraded from a "performance" car to something more sensible.   The Suzuki SX4 tells me my current L/100km and it's pretty handy.  Coupled with cruise control on the highway it's a more boring but less expensive ride.

And for speed, I have the bike.  A "slow" bike but still kicks the snot out of the performance car I had in both performance and economy.   And fun.

4 cylinder cars with turbos are the economical way to get performance and fuel economy.

True, but that's what I just downgraded from (WRX).  It was pretty thirsty.   You're right though, they ARE a good compromise of the two, and I do miss her.   Except when on the bike. 

The WRX is a badass ride!!  I have an Audi TT quattro 1.8 turbo.  I have it chipped, k and n, with borla exhaust.  At 80mph, with AC on high, i get 34 mpg.  That is respectable. 

[SLCPUNK]

137

[Howard2k]

Sort of on topic, sort of off:

I'm starting to look at buying a new vehicle.

I'm currently driving a 2001 Subaru Forester.

I have a LONG, mostly highway commute (60 miles each way).

I need 4wd or awd, because I live in the snowbelt of CT, and I work in a place that doesn't take bad weather as a good reason to not be at work....if the docs are here, I have to be here.

And fuel economy is the primary concern.  Hybrids are possible, but it looks like the 4wd versions really lose their "benefit" on the highway.

I don't need big...even the Forester is more room than I need...because this car literally is only used for my back and forth to work.  I am 6 ft 3, though, so "roomy" is sorta nice.

I don't need "sexy" because I don't care.

I would like "cheap" because, well...lets face it.....the economy sucks and it's always nice to save a buck.  Plus, I hate car payments.

Anyone have any suggestions.

I'm thinking about another Subie...maybe a sedan to squeek out another couple/few MPG's.  But I figured I'd throw this out to the group to see if there are any other suggestions.

I live in the snowbelt of Canada (all of it) so AWD was high on my list.   The Subaru AWD was FANTASTIC.  I never once used winter tires and never once felt like I was losing control of the car.  AWD + Common Sense got me through every situation.

However - in my quest for something cheaper to buy, cheaper to run and cheaper to insure, but still AWD I was led to the Suzuki SX4.   The car is cheap, the fuel economy is better (but still not fantastic), insurance is more reasonable and it's still very, very practical. 

http://www.suzukiauto.com/sx4_crossover/

[SLCPUNK]

Oil rises more than $10 to new record high
Friday June 6, 2:27 pm ET

Oil prices shoot past record above $138 a barrel on prediction of price spike, Mideast fears

NEW YORK (AP) -- Oil prices have shot up more than $10 to a new record above $138 a barrel after a Morgan Stanley analyst predicted prices could hit $150 by the Fourth of July. Traders were also rattled by rising tensions in the Middle East.

The meteoric surge builds on a huge jump on Thursday and sets the stage for the biggest two-day gain in the history of the New York Mercantile Exchange. A further weakening of the dollar helped keep prices high.

Light, sweet crude for July delivery jumped as high as $138.36 on the Nymex, then eased to $137.81, up $10.02.

[Jim Bob]

someone is posting on another board that gas is going up 50 cents in the next 48 hours.