Gas 360!

Gas prices have finally come full circle. (Get it? Prices are $3.60 and a circle is 360 degrees.) Really? Gas is that expensive nowadays? These gas companies are making money hand over fist and are not in danger of missing any meals. I think this guy put it best:




Why are prices this high? I don't think the supply or demand of gas has changed that drastically in the last month or two, when prices were only $3.00. I know we are fighting a war, but come on people. I am not going to fall in line with all those hippies out there and start walking or taking bus, but gas prices really are getting ridiculous. I might do what they do in Grand Theft Auto and just start car-jacking people and taking their cars, driving until it is out of gas, and then ditch it for a new car with gas in it.

We're at war....

I know we are at war but things are getting quite absurd. Yesterday I went to get gas and swiped my card and then after typing my pin number the machine asked for my zip code. I typed it in and waited. After about 90 seconds the machine told me to see the attendant.

• Why does some gas company need my zip code? Will terrorists only sell gas to certain zip codes and not others? Other gas companies gathering data to see which zip codes buy more gas, and spend more per fill-up?
• This is America, I should be able to fill up on gas, or buy anything I want, without getting the third degree.

After I see the attendant it turns out that my zip code was too far away and he had to authorize it by hand. WTF?? So I guess since we are at war we have to stay close to home and not venture over 10 miles for gas.

I told this story to a friend and she guessed exactly which gas station this occurred at, because it happened to her before.

Vending Machine Technology

I have a lot of down time where I just sit around with my thoughts, and as you can imagine, that can be a frightening experience. There's a Seinfeld episode in which George talks about how Toilet Paper has not advanced at all since it was first invented, and probably never would. His girlfriend was fascinated by this and led George believe that this girl may be "the one." Jerry then pointed out a number of advancements that toilet paper has made over the years. One thing I've been thinking about lately is the lack of advancement in vending machine technology and related fields.

You still have to go up to a vending machine, insert your money, type in a letter and number, watch the coilly thing uncurl and watch your selection fall down. You then recieve your change and retrieve your treat, often times broke from the fall. This process has many falls that you think could have been reconciled with technology. For example, this week I was on Marquette University Campus and needed a quick snack. I went to the vending machine and also noticed that all I had was a $5. Without thinking I put it in and made my selection, and got my bag of chex mix. The machine then proceeded to give me my change in quarters and dimes. There are obviously $1 in the machine from other people buying stuff. You would think that we would have the technology to give back change in $1. But no, now I have $4.25 in quarters and dimes.

Other areas of technology needs:

• A softer, more cushy way for the item to fall so it doesn't break
• A better system than the coilly thing that get stuck and sometimes you get nothing. A lever that goes up and down and pushed your item off maybe.
• A way to accept debit cards. I know purchases are only like $0.75, but why not.
• A way to accept or cancel your choice after typing it in, in case you typed in the wrong number.

On a side not, I have always wondered why Gas Stations do not use vending machine technology on their pumps. When you get gas you either have to use a credit card or go in and pay with cash. Wouldn't it make sense to allow customers pay with cash right at the pump. With gas prices so high there are stories about people leaving without paying for gas and now many gas stations are requiring pre-paying for gas. So now a customer must walk in and pay first, then pump gas. Also, if I don't have a credit card I can't pump gas late at night when the inside is closed. (many gas stations are 24 hours, but only at the pump with a credit card.) To me it would make sense to allow someone to put in $20 in cash at the pump, and then be able to pump $20 of gas and leave. Not having to go into the store and take extra time. But then again, what do I know ?