Don’t forget, Linoge’s HAVA fundraiser is still going! Get your donations in before 2359 EDT on 31MAR13 for the drawing!
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HAVA Fundraiser Reminder
Posted by Jake on March 21, 2013
http://cursesfoiledagain2.wordpress.com/2013/03/21/hava-fundraiser-reminder/
The Great Gas Experiment – Update 1 (2013-03-15)
Update 2013-03-15: Edited to correct a math error I noticed that was due to a typo when calculating the cost per mile.
Today marked the second filling of the car with alcohol-free gasoline, and the end of the first tank.
- 12.17 gal @ $3.699 / gal = $45.01
- Distance traveled = 279 miles
Preliminary results?
According to my car’s trip computer, there’s a definite improvement. For the last couple of tanks of adulterated gas, the car’s computer has calculated that I’m getting an average of 23.8 mpg. Today, when I went to fill up, it said 24.5 mpg. The caveat? I don’t know what time frame / mileage range it calculates that over, so it could be reading low due to including data from adulterated gas.
According to the Fuel Log app on my phone, I got 22.93 mpg on this tank, which is lower than my previous two fill-ups. However, I also think I “stuffed” a little more gas in than usual trying to get up to an even dollar amount (which, of course, I overshot by one frelling cent), which would make it look like it took more gas than it did to go that distance. (FYI, it is, according to the owner’s manual, an 11.9 gallon tank.)
At this point, I think my car’s calculation is probably more accurate than my phone’s calculation, so it looks like I may be getting a noticeable benefit from the alcohol-free gas.
Like last time, the cost at this station is more expensive than at my usual Kroger station – $3.699 / gal compared to $3.489 / gal at Kroger. However, today I noticed that there is a full service lane at this station, and they charge the same for full or self-serve. That adds a little convenience to offset the additional cost, if I want to take advantage of it.
The cost analysis, based off my car’s mileage estimates:
- 23.8 mpg = 0.0420 gal/mile * $3.489 / gal = $0.1465 / mile
- 24.5 mpg = 0.0408 gal/mile * $3.699 / gal = $0.1509 / mile
That works out to a difference in cost of $0.0044 / mile in favour of the alcoholic gas. But remember that this is a very preliminary conclusion, since my “sample size” is so small. And I would again point out that my car’s computer may still be using some data from before the switch, so the actual mileage for alcohol-free gas may be even higher, which would probably put it ahead of the regular gas.
Distance per tank and cost per tank estimates:
- With alcohol: 11.9 gal * 23.8 mpg = 283.22 miles | 283.22 miles * $0.1465 / mile = $41.49 / tank
- Sans alcohol: 11.9 gal * 24.5 mpg = 291.55 miles | 291.55 miles * $0.1509 / mile = $43.99 / tank
Notice that, despite the ~$0.20 / gal difference in cost, it’s only about a $2.50 difference in cost per tank. Not enough that I would really consider it to be significant, especially when the added wear and tear on the car from the alcohol is considered – yes, as a 2008 model my car is supposedly designed to handle it, but I strongly suspect that it’s still going to have a negative effect on the life of some parts.
If you see any errors in my methodology, or in my math, please mention it in the comments. However, note that this is not a truly scientific experiment. My “control” consists of not making any deliberate changes in my driving habits, which does not equal driving exactly the same for every tank of gas.
I have not made any conscious effort to change my driving habits or style in any way, but minor changes in schedule, weather, etc., may mean that this one tank is not representative of any true change in fuel consumption. I’ll have another update after my next fill-up.
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Posted by Jake on March 15, 2013
http://cursesfoiledagain2.wordpress.com/2013/03/15/the-great-gas-experiment-update-1-2013-03-15/
Legislative Update (Federal) and Quote of the Day – 2013-03-13
Sebastian has a post up with some information on the federal “background check” bill that was voted out of the Senate committee yesterday. It’s bad. Very bad. Go, read the whole thing, follow his link to the actual text of the bill, and decide for yourself how unbelievably bad it is. Then get on the phone and computer to call and email your senators. Let them know that their vote on this bill will be remembered, and that a vote against freedom will not be forgiven.
Which leads me to today’s Quote of the Day, by jdrush, in a comment to Sebastian’s post.
Wow, they really aren’t coming for our guns. They are coming for US.
This looks to be the real point of this legislation – make gun ownership so fraught with legal dangers that it actively discourages people from trying to own firearms. Make teaching others how to shoot so difficult to do legally that it discourages people from trying.
Their aim is to strangle gun ownership with such a dense web of laws that are easily unintentionally broken, in order to choke the Right to the point that it is so weak that it can be excised out of American culture entirely.
Call and write your legislators. Kill this bill, before it can kill us.
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Posted by Jake on March 13, 2013
http://cursesfoiledagain2.wordpress.com/2013/03/13/legislative-update-federal-and-quote-of-the-day-2013-03-13/
This looks interesting
RWBY, a new series from the creators of Red vs. Blue.
If the embedding doesn’t work, follow the link. So far, there are two “teaser” videos available, Red and White.
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Posted by Jake on March 4, 2013
http://cursesfoiledagain2.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/this-looks-interesting/
An experiment
I filled the car with ethanol-free gas today. I want to see if there’s a change in my gas mileage, and if it’s enough to justify the extra $0.23 / gallon that it costs.
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Posted by Jake on February 27, 2013
http://cursesfoiledagain2.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/an-experiment-2/
Quote of the Day – 2013-02-24
From Roberta X:
Defending yourself is not a matter of “punishment.” You’re not out to correct your assailant’s behavior, you’re wanting to stop it, as quickly and effectively as possible, with the least collateral damage. Whatever does that is what you should do.
This is the only proper response to anyone that says that self-defence is “taking the law into one’s own hands” or something similar.
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Posted by Jake on February 24, 2013
http://cursesfoiledagain2.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/quote-of-the-day-2013-02-24/
Honored American Veterans Afield fundraiser
Over at Walls of the City, Linoge is doing another fundraiser for a worthy cause, with some nice prizes. Go check it out!
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Posted by Jake on February 15, 2013
http://cursesfoiledagain2.wordpress.com/2013/02/15/honored-american-veterans-afield-fundraiser/
Quote of the Day – 2013-02-05
From an anonymous comment at No Lawyers – Only Guns and Money:
It’s not about the DEER, it’s about the BOXCARS !
Also, take a moment to watch the video in the original post. It’s one of the most angry public meetings I’ve seen that didn’t end with somebody being hauled off in handcuffs.
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Posted by Jake on February 5, 2013
http://cursesfoiledagain2.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/quote-of-the-day-2013-02-05/
Quote of the Day – 2013-02-01
Background checks to prevent some people from gaining access to firearms is like checking ID to prevent underage drinking and smoking.
How long does it take your average high school dropout to find a way to light up while drinking a beer?
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Posted by Jake on February 1, 2013
http://cursesfoiledagain2.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/quote-of-the-day-2013-02-01/
Quote of the Day – 2013-01-30
From Roberta X:
And I’m done listening to calls for “compromise.” The antis don’t really want compromise. They want whatever they can get now and they’ll be back later for the rest of your firearms rights later — followed by the rest of the Bill of Rights, already plenty nibbled-at.
It’s well past time to say “enough” — and to keep on saying it, by whatever means it takes to get ‘em to hear.
This. A thousand times, this. They keep wanting more and more of our cake, and we’ve “compromised” again and again for so long that all we have left is half a slice and some crumbs. Now they want that half-slice. No more. It’s beyond time that we tell the Anti-Rights cultists to go bugger themselves.
By whatever means are required to make them listen.
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Posted by Jake on January 30, 2013
http://cursesfoiledagain2.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/quote-of-the-day-2013-01-30/
