Last night I was watching the evening news. There was a story about the copycat
sniper in West Virginia. The newscaster reported what has happened and
who's investigating, all while shots of the various gas stations where each
shooting took place. They were all closed with yellow police tape.

"Oh my god," I said astonished.

"I know," The Roommate replied shaking her head in a mixture of
sadness and empathy. "Those poor people."

"They are only paying $1.57 for gas!"

For those of you who may have missed the morning news, Phoenix
is going through a gas crunch. It's causing long lines, lost business
and price gouging. Every newscast features dutiful reports live from the
scene of either a deserted gas station blocked off with yellow tape (much like
those in West Virginia) or from a half mile long line of cars waiting for there
turn at the one station that actually is open. Scrolling banners at the
bottom of the newscast reports the addresses of stations that have gas.
Phone lines have been dedicated to report price gouging. Some have seen
prices as high as five dollars a gallon.

The Governor is having meetings, urging citizens to not "horde" gas by
topping off. (Okay Janet, we will all just fill up to half a tank so we
can repeat this 50 minute wait in the hot desert August sun again in a few
days. Thanks for the tip!)

I can't help but think that big ass SUVs play a part in this mess.
"Sure my vehicle has a forty gallon tank but it only last me a couple trips
back and forth to work, but I need it to haul my kid's soccer equipment."

Personally I think SUVs are an eye sore and most of my feelings are summed up in
an
excellent article by Amy Alkon in the Phoenix New Times.

Meanwhile, I will be carefully planning my next trip to the pump, which won't be
for a while because I lucked out by passing an open station with no line on
Sunday on my way to the grocery store.

I wonder if the line is shorter at 3 AM.