UtterlyBoring.com is produced by Jake Ortman (e-mail, resume), a 30-year-old dad, percussionist, freelance Web designer, consultant and jack-of-all-trades computer geek, living in Bend, Oregon. He created this so that his expensive journalism and technology degree isn't getting totally wasted. In addition to editing this site in his free time, he is the IT Director and Ad Designer at both Sunray and Discover Sunriver. He has LinkedIn, MySpace, Facebook profiles if you're trying to stalk him.
Opinions and comments on this site are the opinions of the author, not the author's employer, family, friends or pets.
This site is powered by Movable Type and is hosted by orty.com. Internet connection provided by Bend BroadBand. Since December 1st, 2002, there have been 5269 entries. Visitors to this blog have posted 16539 comments.
If you're reading this, you have too much time on your hands.
josh said on 04/23/06 @ 10:41 PM: I was never under the impression that we were entitled to the relatively inexpensive gas we were getting when the rest of the world pays a lot more. Sure, it costs a bunch more now than it used to, but it's not like it's a surprise. When you calculate the change in the value of a dollar, as well as the fact that it costs more now to refine crude than it did a decade ago, it's understandable that there would be a correction in the market prices of the fuel. Sure, it's an inconvenience, and it's a hardship, but it's one that we can collectively learn to deal with.
Nameless One said on 04/24/06 @ 09:41 AM: I heard that people all over the World pay way more for gas and do just fine. I also heard that in some countries, most people don't even use gas. Crazy!
Jake said on 04/24/06 @ 09:46 AM: Yes, but in other parts of the world, you can get just about anywhere by bus, train, or bike. Unfortunately, too many American cities don't make it easy for any of the above (and especially small-towners like me). If I could take a bus to work on a daily basis, I would.
jen said on 04/24/06 @ 10:20 AM: Yeah, but that's America's own fault. Designers created cities and towns that are dependent on cars. Go to anytown USA (other than the major metropolises)and you'd be hard pressed to find a pedestrian friendly street or a functioning public transit system. Sure, things are starting to change (it's nice to see bike lanes in Bend), but public transit is expensive and the reality is, people are too attached to their cars to give them up: They are much more than a form of transport in this society. Anyhoo, don't gripe that this isn't a problem for people in the rest of the world because they know how to function without the glut of oil America needs. This country paved its own path and now it's got to pay the price for it.
Jake said on 04/24/06 @ 10:28 AM: Oh, don't get me wrong, I agree with you, Jen -- Americans put themselves in this hole. That being said, I've commuted whenever possible when I worked close by (or even in the city limits), and drive a small economical car on my 30 mile commute to work. If I could afford a hybrid car, I'd buy one. So I'm doing my part -- it's the bastards who drive around the massive SUVs that are screwing it all up for the rest of us who actually are trying (and have been for many years) to cut down on waste. Buy a frickin' mini-van, people -- rarely do you ever *need* an SUV.
That, and I didn't design these towns I live in, this is my site, so I can bitch if I want
;-)
Nameless One said on 04/24/06 @ 10:51 AM: I don't like SUV's either, but to blame them for our problems is absurd. If you really are concerned about this issue, get behind public transportation here in our community. Start something. Participate. Change things.
Jake said on 04/24/06 @ 10:54 AM: Why is this conversation starting to sound like a public service announcement? ;-)