The High Price of Travel

June 24, 2008 at 6:57 pm (Los Angeles) (, , , , , )

I don’t want to go anywhere anymore.  Sorry westside, sorry mom and dad, sorry friends in San Fransico and San Diego, sorry cabin.  Gas has nearly crested $5 a gallon, and going anywhere has become expensive.

So I look to carpooling. To go anywhere, I look for people to travel with. Even though they are not paying for the gas (I haven’t asked for gas money since I was seventeen, but now I am thinking about getting one of those stickers for my car). It’s nice to feel like you are doing something!

Living in LA, the thing I keep wondering is when (not if) will gas prices break this city? When will our poor public transport system and super spread out car culture go broke under the financial burden? We rely on trucks for so much of what we take for granted. When will the food and goods stop coming?

Hell, at least it got me to actively carpool.  And, I know I can do more. Here’s what I promise.

  • I won’t go anywhere alone if I can help it, even though my house is kind of out of the way, I am sure I can find someone nearby to travel with me.
  • I will actively carpool to work when possible. Most of the crews (except wolfie) live on my side of town. There is no reason to not drive with a buddy. Besides, maybe I can get them to drive.
  • I’m going to drop my speed. The optimal speed on highways is 55-65 mph. This one will be tough. I will also need to start minding my acceleration. It’s there where the most gas is consumed.
  • Alas, I am going to have to remove my roof rack. Air drag. This might give me an extra mpg or two.
  • Track my MPG. Number of miles when you fill up, divided by the number of gallons you put in. I’ll keep a little notebook in my car to track it as time goes by, noting variables.
  • More places in one trip. No going out for just one thing. Make lists and group journeys.  Stop at Target to get cleaning supplies on the way home from work, do several meetings in a day, etc.
This is an interesting challenge for me. I am a avid solo driver. Let’s see how this goes. I’m by no means green, but I can be a little less evil.

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I Think We Were Left Behind

June 12, 2008 at 8:14 am (Los Angeles, The Life of A Spaceman) (, , , )

I had this amazing experience today. At 6:30 PM, I made it from Redondo Beach to my home in Sun Valley in 45 minutes. I took the 405. I took the Sepulveda Pass. I drove on the 101.  There just were no cars out there, at all.

So obviously there is only one conclusion I could come to: The Rapture came, took away all of the pious and left behind everyone else.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture . I am surprised it’s not all over the news, well really, I wouldn’t know. I don’t watch or listen to the news. Maybe I’ll see it on the front page at Starfucks tomorrow or something.  It just seems like nobody really noticed.

What does this mean for us, the fashionable sinners of the new age, now that the most righteous christian fundamentalist have all been swept up into their heavenly vortex of god’s love?  Obviously, a significant relief from the worst rush hour traffic.  I also noticed, a few times, that McDonalds parking lots were also frighteningly empty. But perhaps we will also see a few less holier than thou kind of attitudes! I mean, if you were holier than me, wouldn’t your ass be on the Jesus Spaceship with the rest of the rubes?  Besides, the worst self-righteous ones are gone.  I know that all my friends will be here! Good times!

There is also a chance, however remote, that the reason for the total lack of traffic today can be traced to some other cause… Like maybe that fuel is just about at FIVE FUCKING DOLLARS A GALLON! This is alongside the smug reports of record profits by the oil industry. Maybe, just maybe, people are not able to afford to drive anymore?

I was kinda hoping that our short-timer president got raptured. Hahahaha!

btw: check out the game they made for left behind: http://blog.wired.com/games/2006/12/group_calls_for.html

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Prepping for Lightning in a Bottle part 2

May 15, 2008 at 4:11 pm (The Life of A Spaceman) (, , , , )

More practical stuff.

1. Did you know that LIB open it’s gates at 4pm on thursday? This means that you can set up your camp and be ready to go when the festival actually starts on friday! Last year, it filled up very fast.  Arriving early should mean that you get a good spot. I am not involved in this aspect of things. But as someone who heads  out to the playa early every year, the best times are had by those who get out there at the beginning.
2. Bring cash. I do not think there will be ATMs on site. Last year there were some amazing things available that I just couldn’t buy because I didn’t have the money. Bring enough cash for the long weekend. There will be even more vendors this year.
3. Figure out who you are camping with before you get there!
4. Pack things in bins, especially food. There are chipmunks everywhere at LIB. I like to think of them as very small and adorable bears.  Bins also make things pack neatly into your car, and chips cannot be crushed in them.
5. Beware of holes. Watch where you are going.  There have had a couple of injuries at LIB over the years. Please be careful.
6. Earplugs.  Not for the music, cause it stops pretty early. But for your loud-ass campmates in the morning having deep conversations about the nature of the universe.
7. Car camping is completely sold out. If you didn’t arrange a car pass, you will not be able to bring your car to your campsite.  Keep this in mind when packing. Use wheels if you can. Pack a little lighter.
8. Bring a towel. There are showers at the event.  There are also infinite uses for a towel.  Also, think about some sandals or crocs for the showers.
9. Do not miss the  Yard Dogs Traveling Road Show.  Two years ago at LIB I saw them. They completely changed my life. One of the most compelling shows I have ever seen. They are an incredible band.
10. Meditate on actually capturing lightning in a bottle, think of the equipment and danger involved, the lightning rods, the vacuum tubes, the dials and levers… It’s so crazy it just might work.

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