Petrol

[DaGaffer]

We pump a fair old whack of wonga (billions) into fusian research in various forms, as well as all sorts of other stuff you wouldnt associate with it. Our national science budget is vast, it's just getting the stuff out the door and implementing it in a cost effective way thats tough.

As for taxing: ok so cap vat/duty on fuel a bit, no need for it to spiral out of control like it will otherwise, but a reduction is difficult. the money needs to come from somewhere. Forget the correctness of gordo's spending, if you just zap 10bn of it it will cause more problems than the savings will fix.

We spend less than all our major economic rivals on R&D.

As for capping fuel duty; if we can't make government more efficient, there ARE alternate sources of revenue; as I said, go for the supernormal profits of the energy companies.

 

[ford prefect]

We pump a fair old whack of wonga (billions) into fusian research in various forms, as well as all sorts of other stuff you wouldnt associate with it. Our national science budget is vast, it's just getting the stuff out the door and implementing it in a cost effective way thats tough.

Ermmm, no we don't actually. We have one major fusion project at the moment called HiPER - High Powered Laser Energy Research, they plan to create the most powerful laser ever made and fire it at a bucket of sea water, all very exciting I'm sure, but it is a multinational project based here, and we have only agreed to put in £12 million over the next seven years. The project itself is apparently expected to cost over 15 times that in the seven year period, with 11 other countries putting in substantially more than we are.

 

[Tom]

Having said that, energy company profits are so huge at the moment that if Gordon wanted to give us a break he could come over all OldLabour and hit them with a windfall tax and take a duty holiday. Of course he wouldn't have the balls to do it (he'd say the EU wouldn't let him or something).

Actually he did, about 6 years ago.

The high price of oil isn't to do with supply and demand - theres plenty of supply. Its to do with speculation over the actual reserves that Saudi Arabia claims it has, and whether it actually has them.

 

[Chilly]

Ermmm, no we don't actually. We have one major fusion project at the moment called HiPER - High Powered Laser Energy Research, they plan to create the most powerful laser ever made and fire it at a bucket of sea water, all very exciting I'm sure, but it is a multinational project based here, and we have only agreed to put in £12 million over the next seven years. The project itself is apparently expected to cost over 15 times that in the seven year period, with 11 other countries putting in substantially more than we are.

We fund that international toroid project. We have a few projects running at the rutherford appleton and we indirectly fund all sorts of side technologies required.

 

[ford prefect]

We fund that international toroid project. We have a few projects running at the rutherford appleton and we indirectly fund all sorts of side technologies required.

From what I have read, Rutherford Appleton Labs are more concerned with Particle Physics Theory, Astonomy and Materials and Structures research.By and large they work on theory rather than practical application, leaving that kind of thing to the larger european labs like CERN, who incidetnly have one of the largest compact toroid research programs at their Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Research Lab, again, something else we have refused to help fund.

 

[Embattle]

Traditionally the problem with green power was the expense, which as the cost of oil keeps going up results in it looking more favourable. Everyone thinks about doing something for our environment but when it comes down to it the cost of being green was often too much for most people to do much more than convince themselves that being green involved leaving the car at home and walking to pick up the Sunday paper.

The oil producing countries are under no obligation to produce more oil, although in my own opinion even if they did produce more it would result in little more than a good will reduction before the price of oil started to rise again. A lot of the oil producing countries are in trouble any way because they are forced to subsidise oil to their own people so no one is ecaping the issue that arise with higher oil prices.

 

[Chilly]

From what I have read, Rutherford Appleton Labs are more concerned with Particle Physics Theory, Astonomy and Materials and Structures research.By and large they work on theory rather than practical application, leaving that kind of thing to the larger european labs like CERN, who incidetnly have one of the largest compact toroid research programs at their Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Research Lab, again, something else we have refused to help fund.

So we do the sums and someone else builds it? Doesnt sound too bad to me. We aint in cern but are in the big new international tocamac thing the japs/us/frenchies were squabbling over. 50bn total funding for first phase iirc and we chipped in for that unless I was on acid while reading about in in nature a year or two back.

 

[Trem]

Sorry trem but you are being a bit of a tit on several counts.
Fuck sake your level of ignorance of basic economics really does piss me off.

You absolute spanner.

Are you a young Labour candidate or something?

I gave them as examples I didn't mention such things as the millenium dome etc.. I am sorry but your beloved Labour has fucked this country right up, I have knowledge of that, do you?

Use your argument and think about it for a while, what is the governement spending the revenue on that it makes from fuel duty? Is it on public transport, erm no, is it on cleaner fuel, erm no, does it remove VAT from the cost of converting cars to run on LPG, erm no, fuck me theres even VAT on push bikes.

I wonder sometimes why you try and get aggresive with me, you don't seem to have the same size of problem with anyone else, you may have a small willy but I can assure you mine is no bigger if that makes you feel any better

Edit - it also seems you have been quoted quite a lot and proved wrong, seems your knowledge isn't too hot either.

 

[old.user4556]

Your post made me feel poo because the high petrol cost means you're "encouraged" to buy a more economical car and the fact that this country is now knee-deep in bastard-cam's that you're probably right that the only place you can drive fast is on a track.

I think Gordo would masturbate at your post...

Aye, bastard cams but a much more restrictive problem called congestion. I drive the M8 every day, and my trip computer average speed on the journey (excluding stopped moments) is 34 mph.

Some might say "But Big G, you live in Scotland, go and enjoy some B roads" - well I wish. I was in the Trossachs (Loch Lomond etc) on a weekday and the roads up there were chocka with motorbikes, caravans, general grannies and believe it or not; HGVs. Goods have got to get to Inverness somehow, but my point is that the sacred A and B roads of Caledonia are spoiled.

So my slinky 6 cyliner 130i M Sport is out the window, and my tractor tree hugging, eco warrior, save the planet 118d M Sport is in vogue

Sad, but a sign 'o' the times.

 

[old.user4556]

BP's new advert.

"Fuel of the future? Want to see how it'll be managed? Want to see footage of the public driving to the pumps?"

This is how I imagine that advert:

YouTube - Mad Max - Motörhead - Ace of Spades
[youtubevid]H6Vw402IaII[/youtubevid]

 

[Tom]

Bollocks G, get yourself an E39 540i and have some fun.

 

[Herbal]

With the extra revenue generated by the rise in the price of crude oil from the north sea oil fields ( over 2 billion pounds extra and counting since the budget in march) Gordon could cut fuel duty by 12p a liter tomorrow without affecting the budget balance.

However Labour has totally fucked up by not saving any money up during the good economic years. Instead deciding it would be a good idea to piss it down the drain with miss management and frankly criminal waste of public cash.

As a result Gordon can't back down but neither can the hauliers many of which will very soon be out of business if prices continue to rise, so strikes and blockades are inevitable imho. Now normally this is the point where the army gets called in except Labour has totally fucked the army over by underfunding while asking them to fight two wars. So that leaves the police who aren't Labours best buddies at the moment due to the whole pay rise fiasco.


Heed my warning soon there will be trouble at mill.

 

[rynnor]

Heed my warning soon there will be trouble at mill.

Sorry - couldnt resist and I could do with a cheer up

Chapman: Trouble at mill.
Cleveland: Oh no - what kind of trouble?
Chapman: One on't cross beams gone owt askew on treadle.
Cleveland: Pardon?
Chapman: One on't cross beams gone owt askew on treadle.
Cleveland: I don't understand what you're saying.
Chapman: [slightly irritatedly and with exaggeratedly clear accent] One of the cross beams has gone out askew on the treadle.
Cleveland: Well what on earth does that mean?
Chapman: *I* don't know - Mr Wentworth just told me to come in here and say that there was trouble at the mill, that's all - I didn't expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition.

[JARRING CHORD]

[The door flies open and Cardinal Ximinez of Spain [Palin] enters, flanked by two junior cardinals. Cardinal Biggles [Jones] has goggles pushed over his forehead. Cardinal Fang [Gilliam] is just Cardinal Fang]

Ximinez: NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our *four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise.... I'll come in again.

[The Inquisition exits]

 

[dysfunction]

Got an email about how to get the petrol price down at the petrol stations.
Not sure it will work but it can't hurt to try.

Accroding to the email I got this is the plan:

DON'T purchase ANY petrol from the two biggest oil companies (which now are one), ESSO and BP.
If they are not selling any petrol, they will be inclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow suit. But to have an impact we need to reach literally millions of Esso and BP petrol buyers.

It could work I suppose but I can't see everyone boycotting all at once...
And also BP makes loads of money elswhere other than at the petrol stations...

This seems to me a better tactic than "don't buy petrol on a certain day" campaign that went around a year or so ago..

 

[Tom]

Its a load of shite. Oil company profits are not based on fuel sales, that is a very small part of their business.

 

[DaGaffer]

Got an email about how to get the petrol price down at the petrol stations.
Not sure it will work but it can't hurt to try.

Accroding to the email I got this is the plan:



It could work I suppose but I can't see everyone boycotting all at once...
And also BP makes loads of money elswhere other than at the petrol stations...

This seems to me a better tactic than "don't buy petrol on a certain day" campaign that went around a year or so ago..

When did Esso & BP become "one"? News to me.

Utterly pointless by the way; all the oil companies sell each other's petrol, which is why you'll see Shell tankers leaving BP refineries etc. and all the supermarket petrol comes from their refineries as well. All you'd do is decrease the revenue at the particular petrol station you're boycotting; and cause more damage through loss of shop sales (which is where they make their profit), and as most of these guys are franchises, you're not really hurting the oil company that much at all, but you are threatening the livelihood of the petrol station at at time when they're closing down at a dramatic rate.

The only lever petrol customers have is via the government; fuel duty is the thing to attack, especially when the government is weak. Lobby your MP, especially if he/she is Labour; they're all cacking it about being out on their arse in a year or two; now's the time to petition them.

 

[Trem]

I think sometime very soon there will be blockades again. Keep your cars topped up luvs and support whoever does the blockading (is that a word).

If it lasts for a week or two it will be worth it.

 

[Munkey]

Northern Rock: is a profitable business and going concern. The government has effectivly made an investment here.

Actually thats a lie, we got shafted on that one, Northern Rock Jersey, or whatever its called, was the bit where the majority of the profits of Northern Rock after the crash were. Which we diddn't get a single bit of, so now we're stuck with a bank that has little consumer confidence in the middle of an economic crisis.

Good work there.

 

[Munkey]

Actually he did, about 6 years ago.

The high price of oil isn't to do with supply and demand - theres plenty of supply. Its to do with speculation over the actual reserves that Saudi Arabia claims it has, and whether it actually has them.

And theres the problem, Saudi refueses to allow inspections of its oil fields, which are starting to get harder and harder to drill. Mainly due to pressure increases, which forces the companies to pump water in under the oil to force it to rise, however once the quantity of oil is reduced to about 46% or something then they close the field as it is no longer profitable.

Unless we manage to find the next "big" oil field, then we're screwed.

 

[SawTooTH]

Anyone converting to veggie oil? I've had a bit of a look at it and it seems most diesels can be converted. You are allowed 2500L per year before having to pay fuel duty and I think most veggie oil is about 50-60p per liter in the big 20L drums.

I'm sorely tempted.

 

[Trem]

Unless we manage to find the next "big" oil field, then we're screwed.

I fear its under the north or south pole.

Seeing as they are meant to be untouchable (poles) I wonder how the temptation of all that oil will sit with the good ol US of A.

 

[bob269]

I fear its under the north or south pole.

Seeing as they are meant to be untouchable (poles)

Call in the Burns Slant Drilling Co.

 

[rynnor]

Anyone converting to veggie oil? I've had a bit of a look at it and it seems most diesels can be converted. You are allowed 2500L per year before having to pay fuel duty and I think most veggie oil is about 50-60p per liter in the big 20L drums.

I'm sorely tempted.

I've looked into it but dont currently do enough driving to be worth the conversion costs/hassle.

Theres two systems I looked at - one you run on pure vegetable oil - to facilitate this you have special heaters fitted so that the fuel doesnt clog your engine as it gets lumpy while cold.

The other way around it is to have 2 fuel tanks - 1 runs on diesel - you use this to start the car then once its warmed up you switch over to vegetable oil tank.

I also recently saw a 3rd way - making your own biofuel - this is a potentially dangerous chemical process (much like that on fight club ) where you remove the fats as soap using lye then add fuel supplements.

I dont think the 2500litres free bit is true btw - you should in theory declare it all and pay duty...

 

[Furr]

Petrol is 117p and diesel 131p where I live at the moment, plus everything in the shops is getting expensive, didn't help today that I was sent to buy a bag of rice. 40 quid for 20kg! that's like a 25% increase...

 

[Tom]

I dont think the 2500litres free bit is true btw - you should in theory declare it all and pay duty...

It is true.

I didn't convert my engine. I just pour SVO straight in, works fine in hot weather. Not so great when it's cold.

SVO is about 87p a litre from Costco.

 

[rynnor]

It is true.

I didn't convert my engine. I just pour SVO straight in, works fine in hot weather. Not so great when it's cold.

SVO is about 87p a litre from Costco.

Do you change your fuel filters a lot?

 

[Tom]

Nope. Once every 2 years or so.

 

[old.user4556]

BBC NEWS | Politics | Brown attacked over road tax plan

Who's that grumpy scotsman? .... oh wait, he runs the country

 

[Sockstuff]

BBC NEWS | Politics | Brown attacked over road tax plan

Who's that grumpy scotsman? .... oh wait, he runs the country

Best bit of parliament banter for a while right there!

 

[nath]

Gah, this shit really winds me up. Fucking EVERYONE agrees that it's a bad idea to make the tax increase apply to old cars yet this fucking **** insists on doing it anyway.

What the fuck is he playing at?