I can't drive 55...

[Tarheel]

A national speed limit of 55!  You have got to be kidding me!  Didn't we go through this during the 70's (thanks, Jimmy!)?  At some point you just knew that this potential law would rear it's ugly head again.  Now all we need is another Jimmy Carter...oh...wait...perhaps we might get one (www.BarackObama.com).  Looking forward to those gas lines...

This is from ABC sNooz:

(as usual all emphasis and subtext are my own)

With Gas Prices Rising and the Planet Warming, Is It Time To Drive 55 Again?

May 22, 2008 —

Congress adopted a nationwide 55 mph speed limit law during the oil embargo of the 1970s and threatened to withhold highway funding for any state that didn't comply. It repealed the law 13 years ago, when oil was cheap and gas plentiful. But with prices going through the roof and everyone worried about global warming, there are increasing calls for Congress to bring back the double-nickel speed limit.

_{And there it is...the Glow-bull worming cultists appear again!}

Advocacy groups like drive55.org say rolling the speed limit back to 55 will save fuel, reduce pollution and save lives. It seems logical, but not everyone is convinced slower speeds bring any real benefit, and the debate is heating up.

_{I think there's plenty of empirical data to prove otherwise}

"Sheer physics tell you lower speeds equal better fuel economy, fewer injuries and lower emissions," said Justin McNaull, director of state relations for AAA. "But what happens when you change the speed limit is a little less clear."

It depends upon who you want to believe.

_{Yes, it's all about doing what feels right for Mother Gia.}

Connecticut adopted the nation's first vehicular speed limit 107 years ago today - setting the maximum speed at 12 in the city and 15 in the country - and people have been ignoring them ever since. Congress set the limit at 55 mph under the National Maximum Speed Law of 1974. The law was repealed 19 years later and the states allowed to set their own limits. Most of them bumped it up to 65 mph, although some went to 75 mph and there are stretches of highway in west Texas where you can cruise at 80.

The U.S. Department of Energy says gas mileage plummets above 60 mph and says every 5 mph above that speed is akin to paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas. But the American Heritage Foundation claims 12 years of 55 mph speed limits cut fuel consumption by just 1 percent. After Congress repealed the National Maximum Speed Law and 33 states raised their speed limits, the Cato Institute said traffic deaths dropped to a record low.

_{Evil, agenda-driven, CONSERVATIVES...probably subsidized by BIG OIL!}

More than fuel economy and traffic deaths are at stake now. "Emissions increase pretty appreciably above 55," McNaull says. drive55.org claims Washington state would cut CO2 emissions by 10 percent if it cut its 70 mph speed limit by 15 mph. But even here, the evidence is debated. The Automobile Association in England claims reducing the speed limit from 30 mph to 20 on residential roads would increase CO2 emission by more than 10%.

_{Well...here we go again...drive 55 to "Save Mother Gia"!  It's all about being green!}

drive55.org also says the average speed people travel on the highway has been rising for 20 years. McNaull notes that advances in vehicle design, such as better windows and sound proofing have changed peoples' sense of how fast they're going, which is one reason people regularly exceed the posted speed limit. "Doing 60 mph in a 2008 vehicle feels a lot different than in the vehicles our grandparents drove."
...

Here's the rest of this garbage (my blood pressure is too high to read further)...

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/GlobalWarming/story?id=4911100&page=1

[Tarheel]

The above article reminded me of what the Great Obama said to the Sheeple in Oregon earlier this week...

“We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times … and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK,” Obama said.

“That’s not leadership. That’s not going to happen,” he added.

If he gets elected you know that we will be slouching into the second term of James Earl Carter.  I've heard others make that analogy but the more I find out about the junior senator from Illinois the more I'm realizing how true it is.  And by the way if you parse what he said above yall better be prepared to go on diet too under his leadership.  It's all about the zero-sum game.  If I eat an extra McD's hamburger some other person in Gambia is going without a hamburger...if I set my thermostat on 72 someone in France must have theirs on 92.

[GarMan]

A national speed limit of 55!  You have got to be kidding me!  Didn't we go through this during the 70's (thanks, Jimmy!)?  At some point you just knew that this potential law would rear it's ugly head again.  Now all we need is another Jimmy Carter...oh...wait...perhaps we might get one (www.BarackObama.com).  Looking forward to those gas lines...

Ok...  This is the evil, cynical, Conservative bastard in me speaking.  I say, let the Democrats legislate the fuck out of us.  I want to see 55 MPH speed limits, imposed recycling, increased income taxes, increased capital gains taxes, increased Social Security taxes, increased emissions standards, increased bullshit...  I want to see them spend like they did in the 80s.  I want more entitlements!  I want to see more of government telling us how we should live our lives.  I want them to block domestic oil production.  I want to see $5 and $6 per gallon gas prices.  Bring back the gas lines!!!  Let's run up those interest rates!  People should have 12% rates on their home mortgages.  I want them to bring back the "Misery Index"!!!  I want to see people suffer! 

Then, the Republicans can go back in and fix everything.  Of course, this assumes that they can pull their heads out of their asses long enough to rediscover their Conservative roots. 

And, the cycle repeats... 

[Tarheel]

Ok...  This is the evil, cynical, Conservative bastard in me speaking.  I say, let the Democrats legislate the fuck out of us.  I want to see 55 MPH speed limits, imposed recycling, increased income taxes, increased capital gains taxes, increased Social Security taxes, increased emissions standards, increased bullshit...  I want to see them spend like they did in the 80s.  I want more entitlements!  I want to see more of government telling us how we should live our lives.  I want them to block domestic oil production.  I want to see $5 and $6 per gallon gas prices.  Bring back the gas lines!!!  Let's run up those interest rates!  People should have 12% rates on their home mortgages.  I want them to bring back the "Misery Index"!!!  I want to see people suffer! 

Then, the Republicans can go back in and fix everything.  Of course, this assumes that they can pull their heads out of their asses long enough to rediscover their Conservative roots. 

And, the cycle repeats... 

The daze of malaise are coming GarMan...you might get your wish!  And you just wait until the Government Orcs come after your evil CIGARS sir!  You'll be facing jail time for certain and a significantly higher insurance premium AND...it'll all be on your permanent health record!

For those interested and/or too young to remember it here's JC's "Malaise Speech":

http://www.rightwingnews.com/speeches/carter.php

[Tiger Six]

If they raise the speed limit, only criminals will have fast cars.

On a related note on the cigar comment, I smoked a Cuban a few nights ago.  At least I think it was a Cuban.  The ring said Habana, Cuba, but I bought it from a guy who couldn't speak English.

[Tarheel]

If they raise the speed limit, only criminals will have fast cars.

On a related note on the cigar comment, I smoked a Cuban a few nights ago.  At least I think it was a Cuban.  The ring said Habana, Cuba, but I bought it from a guy who couldn't speak English.

Good point.

Cool.  Glad to hear that you're able to get Cubans (assuming that's what it was).  At least the ring did not say "Havana" a sure sign that it was not a Cuban.  I prefer Dominican and Honduran cigars myself (Punch, Partagas, La Gloria, H. Uppmann, Hoyo de Monterrey).  Nicaraguan and Mexican cigars have a tendency to make me puke.  The few Cubans that I've smoked have either been mediocre or really good (smoked a Cuban Cohiba that was phenomenal not too long ago). 

What cigars do you like?  Maybe we can arrange to get some non-Cubans to you in a care package through Saniflush ("Socks"?).

[GarMan]

Nicaraguan and Mexican cigars have a tendency to make me puke. 

Meow... 

[Tarheel]

Meow... 

Let me be more specific...Joyo de Nicaragua and Te-Amo have a tendency to make me 

But they are, in fact, lousy cigars anyway.

 

[GarMan]

Let me be more specific...Joyo de Nicaragua and Te-Amo have a tendency to make me 

But they are, in fact, lousy cigars anyway.

 

I disagree.  Joyo de Nicaragua's Antonio series is a great cigar.  They are fuller-bodied and tend to be fairly strong.  They're known for making people sick, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.  You also haven't tried their Celebracion series or their lessor lines which tend to be smoother for your fragile little pallet.  The Celebracion isn't bad, but I always seem to be left hanging after smoking one. 

I'm not a fan of Te-Amo cigars.  I had a couple of good ones, but I wouldn't go out of my way to purchase them. 

[AWK]

Ok, back on topic.  What the fuck does this hope to accomplish?  Lets see, not only will people be angrier because they have to drive like grandma on the way to the fucking Golden Corral, but they will also increase the amount of apeeding tickets.  Add that on to the incresing price of gas...How does this in any way hope to save money? Or the Enviroment? Do Cars that drive slower produce lower emissions standards?  Why don't they just ban automobiles...

[Saniflush]

Why don't they just ban automobiles...

Hold on my young friend.  They will get there.

[GarMan]

Ok, back on topic.  What the fuck does this hope to accomplish?  Lets see, not only will people be angrier because they have to drive like grandma on the way to the fucking Golden Corral, but they will also increase the amount of apeeding tickets.  Add that on to the incresing price of gas...How does this in any way hope to save money? Or the Enviroment? Do Cars that drive slower produce lower emissions standards?  Why don't they just ban automobiles...

It's just more feel-good legislation from the Left that is aimed at treating the symptoms rather than addressing the core issues.  Of course, most people are stupid and might see this as a good thing.  Slower speeds supposedly reduce the severity of injuries from car accidents, reduce the amount of fuel consumed over distance, and reduce the emissions expelled by the vehicle, but banning the internal combustion engine makes about as much sense.  

[Tarheel]

I disagree.
... 

Well, opinions are like arse-holes...and I do think they're bad cigars.

...
Joyo de Nicaragua's Antonio series is a great cigar.  They are fuller-bodied and tend to be fairly strong.  They're known for making people sick, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. 
..

See what I mean!?  Yes, it's a bad thing in my opinion.  A GOOD cigar should not make you puke.

...
You also haven't tried their Celebracion series or their lessor lines which tend to be smoother for your fragile little pallet.  The Celebracion isn't bad, but I always seem to be left hanging after smoking one. 
...

"Fool me once, shame on you..."

My cigar pallet is more refined than yours GarMan because I don't chain smoke them!

[Tarheel]

It's just more feel-good legislation from the Left that is aimed at treating the symptoms rather than addressing the core issues.  Of course, most people are stupid and might see this as a good thing.  Slower speeds supposedly reduce the severity of injuries from car accidents, reduce the amount of fuel consumed over distance, and reduce the emissions expelled by the vehicle, but banning the internal combustion engine makes about as much sense.  

The leftist, greenies will not be happy until we have completely de-industrialized this nation!

[Saniflush]

The leftist, greenies will not be happy until we have completely de-industrialized this nation!

Everyone start working on your mud-hutt designs.

[GarMan]

Well, opinions are like arse-holes...and I do think they're bad cigars.

CigarInsider/Cigar Aficionado rated two of them.  One scored an 86; the other scored an 88.  I'm guess that they didn't find them to be bad either.   

Yes, it's a bad thing in my opinion.  A GOOD cigar should not make you puke.

To a great extent, that's also a function of the smoker.  "It's the cigar's fault.  It's yucky!"  I suppose that guns kill people too... 

"Fool me once, shame on you..."

I'm sure that your tender little pallet could handle it.  Granted, it's not the cherry flavored swizzle-stick that you used to smoke...

My cigar pallet is more refined than yours GarMan because I don't chain smoke them!

I think that you should just let your testicles drop and man-up a little.   :thumbsup:

I've only had one today... so far...  And, I'm thinking about having a another before dinner.  Then, I'll need one after dinner with my drinks and another for the ride home. 

[Tarheel]

CigarInsider/Cigar Aficionado rated two of them.  One scored an 86; the other scored an 88.  I'm guess that they didn't find them to be bad either.   

Perhaps that was not the same cigar that I smoked; never-the-less their VERRRY OBJECTIVE rating system is worth noting (that's meant to be sarcastic).

To a great extent, that's also a function of the smoker.  "It's the cigar's fault.  It's yucky!"
...

Fair enough...but it's also a function of the shitty tobacco used in the blend too.  Not to mention the shitty materials used in the fermentation process and the shitty warehouses used in the ageing process and the shitty handling at the manufacturer.

I'm sure that your tender little pallet could handle it.  Granted, it's not the cherry flavored swizzle-stick that you used to smoke...
...

Well, maybe I'll try it on a full stomach.  Maybe on Carbon Belch Day after eating a steak!  Ironically, the Bacharat Luchadore that I used to smoke frequently NOW it makes me sick to even smell the aroma.  I can't believe I used to smoke that crap!

...
I've only had one today... so far...  And, I'm thinking about having a another before dinner.  Then, I'll need one after dinner with my drinks and another for the ride home. 

Get a job!   

[DnATL]

CigarInsider rated two of them

Is that Monica Lewinsky?

[GarMan]

Is that Monica Lewinsky?

That's Cigar Insider, not Cigar Inside Her, but I like where your mind's at...

[GarMan]

Perhaps that was not the same cigar that I smoked; never-the-less their VERRRY OBJECTIVE rating system is worth noting (that's meant to be sarcastic).
...
Fair enough...but it's also a function of the shitty tobacco used in the blend too.  Not to mention the shitty materials used in the fermentation process and the shitty warehouses used in the ageing process and the shitty handling at the manufacturer.

Didn't I already say, Meow? 

Well, maybe I'll try it on a full stomach.  Maybe on Carbon Belch Day after eating a steak!  Ironically, the Bacharat Luchadore that I used to smoke frequently NOW it makes me sick to even smell the aroma.  I can't believe I used to smoke that crap!

Oh, I remember...  And, I remember you blaspheming my cigars, the same ones you smoke everyday now. 

Get a job!  

Been working with the Brits all damn day...  I've come to the conclusion that they're all idiots.  They speak real funny too.