The rich get richer!

With the stock market in free-fall Banks around the world poised for collapse, and our elected officials talking about a trying to avoid a worldwide depression: I just received an email from Bentley telling me about their new, more deluxe version of the Arnage.

I'm not sure what is wrong with their marketing team that they believe that I might be a possible customer, but it is fun to pretend.

They begin by telling me how the auto is very exclusive. and that they will limit the edition to just 150 cars worldwide. This is truly good to know, otherwise I would expect to see one of these $275,000 cars parked in every driveway.
"Through a combination of commitment and timeless tradition, the Arnage Final Series is destined to become a true British classic".

"The sumptuously crafted interior of the Arnage Final Series features a waistrail with inset chrome strip and recessed Bentley marque badges, a leather steering wheel that has taken more than 15 hours of hand stitching, along with a burr walnut cocktail cabinet and veneered picnic tables."
When I read the car comes with a "Burr walnut veneered picnic tables", I can't help but find it difficult to picture the passengers actually making their own lunch. I find the image of the "Staff" preparing this "Picnic". Perhaps, the very thought that I would object to someone eating in my new $275,000 car, proves I can't afford to own one of these automotive works of art.

Of course I am not surprised by the fact the car sips gas at a rate of 9.8mpg Urban, clearly, the cost of petrol is beneath concern. That said I am a bit surprised by some of the options that do not come as standard equipment. For example the Silk Curtains to Rear Compartment will set you back an additional $9,490. And what's the use of having the curtain with out having a need for privacy, like maybe when you use the Entertainment Combination system that can be added for just $34,290.

Max. Speed 179mph / 288km/h
Acceleration 0 - 60mph 5.2 seconds
Acceleration 0 - 100km/h 5.5 seconds
Acceleration 0 - 100mph 12.1 seconds

The thing about buying a car like this is that you are buying into a "Lifestyle"
So how can you just skip over the matching luggage (sold separately)
For example this bag can be yours for just $2,500.

Well with all of the forclosures, Pink slips and general hard times that we find ourselves in today, it is nice to know that there will always be those that have a different set of problems; like should I buy the car in black or silver.
Larry Lubell

Exxon's profits are not big enough

File this under ironic.

At he very time we are all struggling trying out how to pay for gas, The Supreme court just cut Exxon's damages from the Valdez spill one tenth of what the jury decided.

Justice David Souter wrote for the court that punitive damages may not exceed what the company already paid to compensate victims for economic losses, about $500 million compensation. The Exxon Valdez case involves reckless action that was "profitless" for the company and that has already resulted in substantial recovery for substantial injury, Souter wrote. A penalty should be "reasonably predictable" in its severity, he added.
Exxon asked the high court to reject the punitive damages judgment, saying it already has spent $3.4 billion in response to the accident that fouled 1,200 miles of Alaska coastline. A jury decided Exxon should pay $5 billion in punitive damages.
A federal appeals court cut that verdict in half in 1994. This come at the same time Exxon has generated the largest profits of any company in history. The punitive damage award is extremely large, but in fairness, it is less than half of the last quarters profit.

First-quarter profits at Exxon Mobil Corp. were $10.9 billion. The company's 2007 profit was $40.6 billion.

I'm glad to see our government is still handing out favors for big oil.

The price of gas in 2008

Let's do the Math!

The five largest U.S. oil companies earned $36 billion during the first three months of this year. This is after last year's figures set an all-time record.
Even if we assume that the next months will see the big 5 earning somewhat lower profits, they should still break $120 Billion dollars profit in 2008.

"Americans are furious about what's going on," declared Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and want Congress to do something about oil company profits and "an orgy of speculation" on oil markets.

The cost of energy not only impacts consumers when they fill their tanks, but is a driving force in the price of everything we buy. Congress is getting the message that Americans are "Mad as Hell" and expect their government to do something.In response to the growing rage and falling economy, the Democrats on the hill have pushed legislation to tax the "Windfall profits of the oil industry." The law would boost taxes paid by the large oil companies, or allow them to instead invest the money in new clean energy development.

Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has acknowledged that Americans are hurting from the high energy costs but strongly opposes the Democrats' response and has ridiculed those who "think we can tax our way out of this problem.""Republicans by and large believe that the solution to this problem, in part, is to increase domestic production," McConnell said.
A GOP energy plan, rejected by the Senate last month, calls for opening a coastal strip of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil development and to allow states to opt out of the national moratorium that has been in effect for a quarter century against oil and gas drilling in more than 80 percent of the country's coastal waters.

The question is, how big are the profits compared to the increased costs we are all paying.

Here is how the basic math works......

Let's say that the combined profits for the big 5 are $120 Billion.

There are 126 Million households in the United States
$120,000,000,000 : 126,000,000 = $952 Dollars/ household in 2008 will go to profit for the Big 5 Oil Companies.

Average Annual Miles per Household = 11,100
The Average Fuel Economy = 22 miles per gallon
11,100 miles : 22 = 504 gallons of get used/ household

Now, let's take 504 gallons and divide that by the $952 Dollars profit/ household in 2008
and we see that about $1.88 of the cost/ gallon we pay at the pump goes straight into the pockets of 5 Oil Companies.

Take a cost of $4.00 at the pump, subtract the windfall profits, and gas is $2.12/ gal.

How do you like that math?


Larry Lubell
www.urbanInsuranceAgency.com

http://www.defra.gov.uk/
U.S. Department of Energy’s Transportation Energy Data Handbookhttp://www-cta.ornl.gov/
U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Residential Energy Consumption Surveyhttp://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/recs/contents.html
Your Car Travel
AssumptionsEmissions per Gallon of Gasoline = 0.0089 tons of CO2Average Annual Miles per Household = 11,100Per Capita Miles Driven in 2004 = 9,941Average Vehicle Trip = 10 milesAverage Fuel Economy = 22 miles per gallon

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Best Selling Cars of 2008

1. Toyota Camry: 31,601
2. Honda Accord: 23,957
3. Nissan Altima: 21,635
4. Honda Civic: 20,993
5. Toyota Corolla: 20,736
6. Chevrolet Impala: 17,544
7. Chevrolet Cobalt: 17,310
8. Chevrolet Malibu: 14,105
9. Pontiac G6: 13,942
10. Ford Focus: 11,600

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Gas prices to hit $5.00?

The $100 fill-up has arrived in the United States.

No more than a few years ago if someone would have told you that a fill-up could run upwards of $100; you would have laughed loudly to their face. No ones laughing now.
(But the execs at "Big Oil" Companies are wearing a grin). Crude Oil which had been trading at the $20 range, and had never hit $50, has now broken through $120 a barrel.
The national average for regular unleaded is $3.53 and rising daily. Last year at this time, people were complaining that it was $2.86 per gallon. According to AAA, 24 states and the District of Columbia are averaging at or above $3.50 a gallon for regular unleaded. Premium, which is required for many cars and SUVs can run 40 to 60 cents higher.
Once again, California is home to the nation's highest average gas prices.
•San Francisco $3.97 per gallon; last year $3.47
• Los Angeles $3.85; last year $3.32
• San Jose $3.89; last year $3.36
• Sacramento $3.86; last year $3.30
• San Diego $3.88; last year $3.35

As scary as these prices seem now, many are warning that Americans should expect the price to increase another 25 cents over the next month and continue to climb over the summer months.
"A national average approaching $4 a gallon for self serve regular is likely, with cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and New York seeing prices for Premium at over $4.75 per gallon. Those type of prices will be devastating to America's already weak economy. As you read this blog, millions of families are struggling to make their mortgage payments, many of which are adjusting dramatically upward. In fact America finds it's self in a recession while simultaneously suffering inflation. We also find that the government as well as individuals and business are deep in debt; as a result, our options are limited.
Now is an auful time to be trying to sell Motor Homes, but a great time to be selling mopeds and scooters. I have had customers of ours tell me they are "Putting away" their car and buying a 125 cc bike.The allure of 60 or 70 miles per gallon is too hard to pass up.

Get a Motorcycle Quote
Urban Insurance Agency can save you money on your motorcycle insurance.

Read 10 Ways to Save Money on Motorcycle Insurance.

Owning and maintaining a car has never been cheap. And, gas is one of the biggest, of those expenses. With gas prices at all time highs, this has never been truer. But you can save gas and save money if you follow the following tips.

The $100 fill-up has arrived in the United States.

No more than a few years ago if someone would have told you that a fill-up could run upwards of $100; you would have laughed loudly to their face. No ones laughing now.
(But the execs at "Big Oil" Companies are wearing a grin). Crude Oil which had been trading at the $20 range, and had never hit $50, has now broken through $120 a barrel.


The national average for regular unleaded is $3.53 and rising daily. Last year at this time, people were complaining that it was $2.86 per gallon. According to AAA, 24 states and the District of Columbia are averaging at or above $3.50 a gallon for regular unleaded.Premium, which is required for many cars and SUVs can run 40 to 60 cents higher. Once again, California is home to the nation's highest average gas prices.


•San Francisco $3.97 per gallon; last year $3.47


• Los Angeles $3.85; last year $3.32


• San Jose $3.89; last year $3.36


• Sacramento $3.86; last year $3.30


• San Diego $3.88; last year $3.35
As scary as these prices seem now, many are warning that Americans should expect the price to increase another 25 cents over the next month and continue to climb over the summer months.
"A national average approaching $4 a gallon for self serve regular is likely, with cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and New York seeing prices for Premium at over $4.75 per gallon. Those type of prices will be devastating to America's already weak economy. As you read this blog, millions of families are struggling to make their mortgage payments, many of which are adjusting dramatically upward. In fact America finds it's self in a recession while simultaneously suffering inflation. We also find that the government as well as individuals and business are deep in debt; as a result, our options are limited.

Now is an auful time to be trying to sell Motor Homes, but a great time to be selling mopeds and scooters. I have had customers of ours tell me they are "Putting away" their car and buying a 125 cc bike.The allure of 60 or 70 miles per gallon is too hard to pass up.
Get a Motorcycle Quote
Urban Insurance Agency can save you money on your motorcycle insurance. Read 10 Ways to Save Money on Motorcycle Insurance.
Owning and maintaining a car has never been cheap. And, gas is one of the biggest, of those expenses. With gas prices at all time highs, this has never been truer. But you can save gas and save money if you follow the following tips.