In The Vortex

Month: November 2008

  • Lubbock, TX Does Not Exist says Associated Press

    …or so it would seem they think so anyway.  Below is a quote of a recent AP story:

    HOUSTON (AP) – Texans hitting the road for Thanksgiving are finding retail gas prices at levels to give thanks for.

    The weekly AAA Texas gasoline price survey released Wednesday found self-serve, regular was averaging $1.75 per gallon. That’s 13 cents lower than last week.

    Nationally, the average price per gallon fell 16 cents to $1.86 per gallon.

    The most expensive gasoline this week was in El Paso, where it averaged $1.92 per gallon.

    The cheapest gas is in Amarillo, at $1.66 per gallon.

    AAA Texas spokeswoman Sarah Schimmer says the auto club expects 7.8% of all U.S. travel during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend to be in Texas. Schimmer says 2.5 million Texans plan to be driving.

    Note the line I bolded there.  Currently gas in Lubbock, which is easily checked at texasgasprices.com, is averaging $1.50/gal.  So obviously Amarillo does NOT have the cheapest gas in the state.

    I could understand not checking lots of small towns, but Lubbock is at least as big as Amarillo, if not bigger, and certainly has received plenty of national attention in the sports arena lately.

    Normally I would have passed this off as a slip up or even rushing to do the report and not having complete facts, but every time they release one of these, which seems to be weekly, it’s the same thing.

    What gives AP?

  • Winter Weather Emergency Checklist

    AUSTIN – Thursday November 13, 2008 is Winter Weather Awareness Day in Texas. Winter storms can strand motorists traveling northern routes in Texas, sometimes striking South Texas and coastal areas. When winter storms threaten, monitor TV and radio, National Weather Service forecasts and NOAA Weather Radio for information. If you must travel, keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines and don’t travel alone.

    EMERGENCY SUPPLIES FOR VEHICLE

    • Blankets/sleeping bags and extra clothing, including mittens and hat
    • Cell phone, radio, flashlight, extra batteries, booster cables
    • First-aid kit
    • High-calorie, non-perishable food and bottled water
    • Sack of sand or cat litter for de-icing roadway
    • Windshield scraper , tool kit, tow rope and shovel

    EMERGENCY TIPS FOR HOME

    If heavy ice on the lines cuts utility service, be extremely careful using generators or gas powered equipment. Carbon monoxide (CO) is invisible, odorless, deadly and can build up in a matter of minutes. Do not use generators, charcoal grills or gas grills inside the house, garage or other enclosed space. Do not try to heat the house using a gas range or oven. Be prepared at home or work with these supplies:

    Battery-powered NOAA weather radio, extra batteries

    Emergency supplies of food, water, medicine, medical supplies and items needed by babies or the elderly

    Heating fuel for areas where fuel carriers may not be able to get through

    Properly ventilated emergency heating source such as a fireplace, wood stove or space heater

    Fire extinguisher and smoke detector