Everyone knows that gas prices suck right now (I heart BART). But there’s a way to maximize each precious drop that goes in your tank. There’s a fast growing subculture of gas-misers, know as hypermilers. Encased in their hybrids, they use special techniques to save gas and piss off the rest of us on the roads. Like leaving 4 car lengths in front of them during stop-and-go rush hour traffic, what the fuck is that???! But I digress. I’m just jealous that I’m still in my SUV. Here are a couple of tips from our friends at Howcast…
If you are a fan of battling robots, destruction derbies of electronic compnents and scrap metal destruction… this is your weekend! RoboGames (formerly RoboOlympics) is setting up in Fort Mason for some showdown-style battles!
LEGENDmag TV headed out to cover the Maker Faire and ran into our old friend Ernie, from littleyellowdifferent.com! Come with us on a fantastic journey through the seemingly neverending exhibit halls, race tracks, and proving grounds and explore the Maker Faire!!
UPDATE: Added some photos from the event and a little more about the video.
(Photography: Jake Thomason, kc! Bradshaw)
PS: In case you were wondering about that amazing techno giraffe at the end of the episode (I fell in love with it and had to get it in the video), his name is Russell and he is an electric giraffe with a wonderful story. Go check out the website for more info and if anyone wants to build me one, I would forever be indebted!
A special thank you to all the wonderful people we met and spoke with during the event… like our new friends working on Within Reach Movie! Keep up all the hard work we will see you all next year again at Maker Faire 2009!!!!
I just got my first “do something about gas prices this summer” email. It wasn’t a band together and don’t buy gas all on the same day but it also wasn’t much better. I’m not a economic wiz but I know enough and this was my response to the plan below.
“Here’s the Idea: For the rest of this year, DON’T purchase ANY gasoline from the two biggest companies (which now are one), EXXON and MOBIL.
If they are not selling any gas, 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 Exxon and Mobil gas buyers. It’s really simple to do! Now, don’t wimp out on me at this point…keep reading and I’ll explain how simple it is to reach millions of people!!
I am sending this note to 30 people. If each of us send it to at least ten more (30 x 10 = 300) …”
Here was my response to the email.
Do me a favor and send this one out to your list as well. I have a friend that is a chemical engineer for Exxon and so I definitely have an inside track.
I don’t believe I know that many of you and believe me the last time I “replied all” to anyone was back in college (to long ago then I want to mention). I don’t want to be a spoil sport to any ones revolution, speaking out, or doing what they feel is right but I do want to just say something that may help you in the long term.
The market demands that if the supply goes way up then we’ll be ok. Or if our consumption goes way down we’ll also see a decrease. But unless that happens we’ll be in trouble. When one gas company looses money guess what they do? Sell gas to another gas company because they’re supply is low and guess what then? They raise the price because buying from a competitor isn’t cheap. And this is all assuming that no one is influencing the market the way they want to see it go (a editorial for another time).
Wanna have your prices lower? Convince the rest of the country to not be hot and not use their A/C this summer. Or make most of the country use solar panels. If that’s not the case people will need more gas for summer trips, summer ac, summer concerts and summer art shows as well, don’t forget those summer bonus sales trips to the coolest places on the planet.
It’s like anything else. If you want to lose weight don’t call a doctor, go to the gym and change your regular diet. If you want to save money on gas, buy a bike, take public transit and then put your finger up to the man.
I love you all and this message is just me saying do whatever it is you can but make sure you’re doing something that does a good for the long term and not something that might/could but probably won’t help for this summer!
LEGENDmag was out at Nasa Ames Research Center at Moffett Field in lovely Mountain View to attend the second annual Yuri’s Night World Space Party! The event started last year as a celebration of the first person in space, Yuri Gagarin and similar events happen simultaneously around the world. Think of it as Burningman-meets-science fair with a sprinkling of NASA-rave thrown in for flavor… totally fun, yet a little peculiar.
In an effort to save everyone time and help me to find newer sites , I’m going to share one of my favorite time savers when it comes to finding music.
I could’ve shared this back in ‘06 but hey…better late then never. The big secret? indiefeed. They have a great staff of people sifting through all of the music that we are all trying to find, to give you some single serving goodness it every podcast. Don’t take my word for it:
“IndieFeed is a community-oriented niche-media broadcast network that delivers fresh, independent content to an intelligent audience that wants cutting-edge and relevant entertainment. Unlike mass-oriented brodacast companies, IndiFeed delivers targeted, single-serving shows optimized for mobile use, helping to provide more choice and control in the busy, on-the-go lifestyle. You choose us, we’re just tickled you are listening!”
Yesterday was Easter Sunday for everyone else, but you know what that means for San Franciscans? Yep, another edition of “BYOB: Bring Your Own Bigwheels!”
Showcasing three official rounds of “racing”, where waves of adults took to the steep streets of Potrero Hill and held on tight as they crashed, slid, and bounced their way to the bottom—then hoofed it back up to the top for yet another round of madness! We witnessed every form of bigwheel possible, including some favorites: the recycling can on it’s side, the 4-man bobsled, the tandem bigwheel, and the wheel-less wagon.
There was probably a 10-to-1 ratio of onlookers-to-bigwheelers, and with close to 50+ people barreling downhill… it made for a packed little course and an extremely fun day.
Everyone who walked away without major injury could be declared a winner, but no doubt by the end of the races everyone was smiling and wishing the street could be kept closed longer. And as the sun set on the top of the hill, hippies strummed folk songs in the park, contestants held their rides high with pride, trash-collectors scoured the course in costume, and couples rode the remains of their plastic vehicles into the sunset.
We at LEGENDmag, love things BIY (build it yourself), and so when we heard about this burger joint concept, our mouths are watering at the possibilities!!
