Thursday, August 21, 2008
Jim Griffith Columnist
Published Wednesday, August 06, 2008
No fuel like an old fuel
Exxon-Mobil, the world's largest publicly-traded oil company, reported second quarter earnings of $11.68 billion -- the largest quarterly profit in history by any U.S. corporation.
The Houston-headquartered business holds the records for the six most profitable quarters and the top annual profit.
Think of it. It is difficult to imagine $11.68 billion made in one quarter. That is, until you visit your filling station and the reality of it comes over you.
Even the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in an interview with a NBC TV newsman, said, "There must be a change. A barrel of oil is way overvalued and overpriced."
I know this. The only oil most of us own is the few quarts remaining in our automobiles.
We are so dependent on getting around in our cars and trucks that the price of gasoline is affecting everything: work, shopping, eating out and traveling.
Going by automobile has always been our favorite mode of travel.
Now, like millions of others who don't sit around filled with excitement in anticipation of future trips they will take, our joy comes in remembering where we have been. The question often asked is, "Aren't you glad we went there when we could?"
For many, happy memories must take the place of current wishes to drive to a distant interesting place, which would have been possible in the bygone days when filling your automobile gas tank was not a major expense.
Truth is, as we reflect on the past, we must admit a present fact of life: "There is no fuel like an old fuel."