I participate in updates on MissouriGasPrices.com. I post there from time to time when I have something to say, pass on, or comment about.

Earlier today, another participant posted the following...

I think there should be a new law that says gas stations can not raise their prices more then five cents in a twenty four hour period. What are your thoughts?

I replied...

In a perfect world supply and demand would be at equilibrium and for every unfortunate circumstance to devastating consequence there would be equal preparation to offset every event.

Price fixing wouldn't solve anything, stations would just stop selling gas, or go out of business if such a law were passed. The problem is complex and a simple solution won't solve anything in the long run anyway.

Is is kind of like trying to outlaw inflation. Economics has it's own laws whether we mandate them or not.

Demand is high, supply is not as high... then prices rise - unless competition keeps prices down. This is temporary in most cases, since competitors have only a finite supply in most cases, and when the supply is gone from one competitor, supply and demand rule once again.

It is too bad, but in large part, we made the situation what it is by continuing to heavily depend on a resource that is finite and growing smaller every day.

I just thought that since it was a thought from today, I'd share it here as well.

Following up on yesterday's list, the yard still needs mowed. Oh, I tried to start the mower, but it seems to be dead, flooded, or something. It was set outside a weekend ago to make room for the garage sale and was soaked by rain. Since I am so mechanically inclined, it stayed off and yard continues to grow at a break-neck speed.

It rained from around 2AM until late morning, so it won't get mowed today even if the mower does start.

I took Sophia to the bank - drive-thru was all we could do. She was not happy, but she got over it after we picked up a chocolate bar with her money at Dollar General.

Attached the tag to my e-mail, place DIRC and RYM in my interests in the profile, but no links yet. That has to be possible. I'll keep looking.

No time on the stationary bike. Night shift is still beating the daylight out of me, to paraphrase a Clint Black song. We did take Sophie to a Parents As Teachers event at the elementary school late yesterday - Messy Madness, and yes it was messy, not so much madness though. This is only an excuse, I could get on the bike - I have the ability. I just have to do it.

I am presently here with Larry so he can do lunch and I can do the media run a bit later - probably at the end of this short shift. Melinda and Sophie came to town with me to do errands. At $2.99 per gallon, trips to town for errands will likely be all in one trips with work days with only rare exceptions that will get rarer as time passes and the price of gas climbs.

Today, after the shift ends - I'd like to see what the Gold Mine has - I just have to have a few more CDs (because I just know that I need more music - today the collection is up to 3,831 owned, and 4,474 RYM units overall), get some groceries, and probably go back home unless they are already going to the store while I am here at the office. I have been up since just before 3AM, and still feel pretty good now at 11AM.

I should call on telemetry to see if anyone is needing off this weekend, but I'd kind of like to stay around the house (away from the office anyway - I am open to other activities away from home) this weekend, but if the opportunity arises - I'd better get the hours. I better do it when I do the media run - a in person appearance is more effective than a phone call.

I will spend some quality time on the bike today - no question about it. There are pounds to lose and 90 days to get it done. This must become a priority - I am out of second chances. Besides, these Dockers shouldn't be such a struggle to wear. What to play while biking? Def Leppard, Bryan Adams, Olivia, ABBA, REO, Van Halen, Mellencamp? Probably time to make another tape just for biking...

Called Paul, left message... hopefully, I can get a shift every other week on telemetry, if not a bit more often. Sometime they will go live with the other floors, and the OT will flow again, unless they get ahead of things and hire more before go live. I can't imagine that, but we will see.

Bruce called the other day and wants to catch a show on 10/1. That will probably happen. I'd like to see Mark Hummel on 10/27 as well - could probably swing both. Also, we probably need to catch a Soultones show as well...

Well, this is all - for now, and that is -

What's on my mind today.