It’s a classic bait and switch.  Gas station operators are displaying one price for a gallon gas and charging another at the pump.  And many motorists don’t even realize it.

Customers paying with credit cards are being charged an additional fee.  Their defense is that they (the gas stations) are simply passing along the processing fee the credit card companies are chargning.  Typically, credit card companies charge a 2% fee per transaction.  Some gas stations are charging an additional 2% to cover this added expense.  The problem is the large number of stations charging anywhere from 5% to 20% more per gallon.

The reality is the gas stations lure you in with a lower than competitor advertised price.  As long as you pay cash, you get the better price.  However, if you swipe your plastic, you are no longer saving money and possibly paying more than a competitor.  Gas stations hope you’ll opt to pay cash.  Paying cash gets you in the store and increases the possibility of additional purchases (sodas, candy, coffee).  For the gas station it’s a win-win situation. 

How can you protect yourself?  Check your receipt.  The pump should display the correct price when you swipe your card.  However, double check your receipt and verify the price is correct.  If it isn’t, or you discover an unreasonable additional charge, contact your state’s Department of Weights and Measures.  It is against the law for the the station to charge you an unadvertised price.  The can be charged a hefty penalty.  I’d recommend taking the receipt inside, and making a bit of scene.  Let everyone in the place know what you’ve been charged and the lack of the price being posted.  Protect your rights.

How fun is it to sit and listen to old songs, songs that meant something great to you.  Being the Microsoft/Zune committed individual I am, I subscribe for $9.99/month to Zune’s service which allows me to download umlimited numbers of songs for my pleasure (I just can’t burn them to cd; I have to listen to them on my computer, my zune, or home entertainment center… that’s fine for me…)

So I’ve spent the morning just clicking on old songs, mostly from my college time, and listening and loving.  I was reminded of so many times.  I laughed out loud at a few songs, making me think of crazy times in life (like riding to Tunica with Bahar, in the back of a blue Ford Probe, back seats down so we could stretch out, and singing so many songs for my parents… I get the biggest smile when I think of it.)

I actually got lost in a few songs as well; some make me think and a couple made me cry.  Emotions so raw.  They say you can be hypnotized and remember all kinds of memories you’d locked away, long forgotten.  I think a song does the same thing.  There’s actually a song about it, “The Song Remembers When”… It’s so true.  Wynonna’s “Is It Over Yet” took me back to a past “love” and how my young heart thought I’d never mend.  (I smile at that young man I was, thinking the world might end, and I might never move beyond that heartache. I hope that young man is pleased to see the “man in his 30’s” I’ve become and how I discovered through experience that, despite my pain, the sun would set and rise again.  I would live on. And I would learn what true love is.)

I listened to songs that Lance and Heather and I would listen to in college and I did shed a happy tear or two.  I’ve blogged and talked a few times about how I miss those two and those times.  They’ve both moved on with their lives and we don’t have contact, but those songs help me to spend a little time with them now.  I will always have a place in my heart and in my memories that will belong to no one else.  They were the other two parts of me.  I keep up with their lives through friends and accomplishments, I am happy to see they continue to be amazing adults.

I heard songs that took me to Jamie and Libby and the crazy times of cruising around Highland and Salem.  I laughed out loud at the FIGHTS Libby and I could get in and when we WOULD NEVER SPEAK AGAIN, we would relish the silence as we drove home, vowing to never again be friends, then somewhere on Highway 62 “Sneaky Snake” would come on and we would lose ourselves in laughter and find the friendship again.  I hate/love that we aren’t those kids anymore.  I wouldn’t take away the lives we have now for anything, but to be back there for a night.  To say those crazy/carefree words again, to just laugh together, to make plans for tomorrow like it might never come… I love those girls.  I love that they loved me.

Songs can be so powerful.  Memories are incredible.  Don’t lose them.  Don’t let yourself forget.  Listen to a song, read your journal, look at pictures… Do whatever you do to go back.  Those parts of your life might be gone, but they are not forgotten.  And the incredibly powerful role they played in making you the person you are today and the person you will be tomorrow can never be overstated and can never be taken from you.  In a time when so many people are losing so many things in this world, you have the most meaningful and powerful possessions anyone can have, which cannot be taken away.

I love the songs and I love every one of you connected to those songs and connected to my life.

What an incredible day to spend with my old friends…

Well I didn’t post anything about Whitney Houston on the renovated site because I felt it drew “false traffic”.  But after thinking about it, it’s not false at all… it’s my fan base.  ergh.. My reader base.

Well you can rest easy knowing the careers of legendary icon Whitney Houston and today’s Pop Diva Leona Lewis are in great hands… the hands of Clive Davis.  And he’s decided the two will duet on Whitney’s November 2008 release.  While Lewis has drawn considerable comparisons to Houston and Mariah Carey, it is apparent the winner of 2006 British talent show “The X-Factor”, is a huge talent in her own right.  She’s blown away the British and US charts with her “Bleeding Love” (to the sometimes overplay status that is today’s pop radio.)

Apparently Lewis has stress-related chronic throat problems which might be compounded with the additional excitement of working with her idol, Whitney Houston.  Doctors have even suggested surgery is the only way to solve the problem.

This will either be a smash (a la Britney and Monica, Madonna and Justin Timberlake) or it will be quietly forgotten, no matter how strong it’s merit (a la the Oscar winning “When You Believe” with Whitney and Mariah, or that Shakira Beyonce song… help us.)

Let’s hope the song is worthy of the talent.

Also is you’re a Whitney fan, check out an incredible site…

http://www.whitney-fan.com

This woman can unite the Democratic Party and ensure a victory in November.  The real question is, which party will she help win the race?  Most hope it’s the Democrats.  Others feel strongly it will be the Republicans.  Many of Clinton’s supporters are swing voters, if they don’t feel satisfied with the role she will now assume in this race, they could swing vote to McCain.  Many of Clinton’s supporters weren’t necessarily supporters of the Democratic Party.  Many feel the party and its chair, Howard Dean, didn’t properly respond to voter concerns.

Will Barrack Obama ask Clinton to assume the #2 spot on the ticket?  Does she even want it?  Do they have a choice?  Clinton is quoted as saying she will do whatever she needs to do to ensure a victory for the Democrats in November.  It’s quite possible the voters will give them no choice.  Either we see a “dream ticket” Obama/Clinton or we vote McCain.

Matt Dusk video for the song “Please Please Me”

Well, it happens a lot.  You’re online and you type your own name into a search engine wondering what you’ll find.  That being said, there are some people that for one reason or another I’ve lost contact with.  I miss them.  And I would like to say hello. 

I posted back in December wishing everyone a great Christmas and mentioned a few names.  One of them, Jami Baber, responded back.  It was so nice.  I hope I can get more people to drop me a line.

Please say hello….

Have you seen?….

Lance Mullins (or his recent mug in a national periodical???)(He looks like he hasn’t aged a bit.)

Heather Ericson (or seen her book on a shelf at Barnes and Nobles)(I read it.)(Heather, I see Lydia from time to time… She wants contact with you!)

Jami Baber (remember her dog? or climbing on the roof of her house to get back in after we locked the door behind us.  Going in through the atrium in the center of the house?)

Lori Carpenter Davis (I talk to people from her home town all the time.  Her family is famous there.)

Monica Alexander (I should find out from Ginger where those two are.)

Carrie Beth Daughday (She was a number…)

Arthur Rogers (Is he walking aimlessly around? Just leaving the room without an explanation?)

Claire Sale (I’m in St. Charles quite a bit.  But I don’t see her.)

If you are one of these people, I just want to say “hello”… College was so long ago it seems and those memories are incredibly precious.  I think of each of you at least once a week if not more.  And I can never say “I’m sorry” enough if my actions our senior year hurt any of you.  I can tell you I never stopped considering you the closest of friends and still pray that you’re happy and well.  I would love nothing more than to hear from you. 

Hoping and waiting….

Well, I finally found the time to watch Sunday’s episode of ABC’s hit show “Brothers & Sisters“.  It was incredible.  I was worried when they started introducing the storyline that would undue the show as we know it: Rebecca isn’t a Walker.  I was more than concerned; I was on the verge of never watching the show again.

I can say the storeyline and the writing and the acting are so superior to other shows.  Without a doubt, I will continue to be an avid watcher.  It is my favorite show on television.

A quick synopsis (without giving away anything really)… the gay brother gets married, the political wife decides to adopt, the obessive sister decides she accepts Rebecca (who’s the baby in the photo???) and the youngest brother decides the once Walker sister is in fact a hottie.

The show’s writing is incredible.  The way they handle so many hot button issues is incredible.

 Sally Field and Rachel Griffiths are amazing.

Ryan…. What’s he gonna be about???

One of the best moments was when Nora was talking to Rebecca and tells her that being a family isn’t about DNA. 

I love this show.

I just really like this song.  No other reason really.

Priceless and hillarious!  I think I smell a Bill Gates reality show.  He can afford it.