Peppino's basic pepperoni is the clear winner. Pretty much anything off the Mellow Mushroom menu is definitely second place (it's fantastic for a small chain).

I had several pizzas in Italy as well. Unfortunately, fat's where the flavor is. The fresh vegetables and dough just doesn't compete with my instinct to feast just one link beneath myself on the food chain.

Chicken-bacon-ranch pizza is also surprisingly good, fyi.

The R&P forums died months ago, they finally got around to burying it. It was sad to see 10 people on alt accounts trolling each other in extremely offensive ways.

Good riddance R&P!

Now, we can all disperse to our chosen game forum where people on alt accounts are trolling each other in slightly less offensive ways.

Originally posted by Faxxer

 despite this ...Obama still failed.  which is a point you're deflecting I see.

A point I'm deflecting? Good sir, contrary to your opinion, you've made no point to deflect. You offered up a source and I completely decimated their credibility in 15 seconds, reducing what you thought to be "a point" to an anecdotal statement.

Thanks for playing!

YAY! A Greenspan reference. I love seizing every opportunity to dust-off this transcript!

  REP. WAXMAN: Dr. Greenspan, I'm going to interrupt you just -- the question I have for you is, you had an ideology, you had a belief that free, competitive -- and this is your statement -- "I do have an ideology. My judgment is that free, competitive markets are by far the unrivaled way to organize economies. We've tried regulation. None meaningfully worked." That was your quote.

       You had the authority to prevent irresponsible lending practices that led to the subprime mortgage crisis. You were advised to do so by many others. And now our whole economy is paying its price.

       Do you feel that your ideology pushed you to make decisions that you wish you had not made?

       MR. GREENSPAN: Well, remember that what an ideology is, is a conceptual framework with the way people deal with reality. Everyone has one. You have to -- to exist, you need an ideology.

       The question is whether it is accurate or not.

       And what I'm saying to you is, yes, I've found a flaw. I don't know how significant or permanent it is. But I've been very distressed by that fact.

       But if I may, may I just answer the question --

       REP. WAXMAN: You found a flaw in the reality --

       MR. GREENSPAN: Flaw in the model that I perceived as the critical functioning structure that defines how the world works, so to speak.

       REP. WAXMAN: In other words, you found that your view of the world, your ideology was not right. It was not working.

       MR. GREENSPAN: Precisely.

Alan Greenspan is relevant to a minority of people. Unfortunately, that minority holds the majority of influence. Here's how Greenspan helped destroy the national economy. Enjoy!

Hell yea!

Fuck payroll, I'm applying for slave labor at my shop.

Now, if we could only find the tax dollars to build more prisons.

AHHHLOLOL!!!

She should've let Piper answer.

He can't win, he's black.

The GOP will have a black nominee in 2032, proving yet again that they're two decades behind the curve. Unfortunately, for the GOP, that will be much too late and the hispanic democrat will win with 65% of the vote.

Originally posted by C-B-M

Originally posted by DailyBuzz

I can only make assumptions why this wasn't the case in the past. Most likely it was because before the great recession companies were more cut-throat about local competitors. Since 2008 companies have run far more lean and had to work together to stay afloat. In working together they have found that all can benefit from a little legal price fixing. Now that the economy is coming around the businesses that survived are starting to build their cash on hand to begin gobbling up the vacancies. That and it's abundantly clear that the American people pay absolutely no attention to what the fuck is going on 75% of the time.

You say that before the recession, companies were more cut-throat about competition.  But why would a recession make companies LESS cut-throat about competitors?  And if they are making four times as much, why do they have to run leaner at all?

 

None of your answers to any of these questions demonstrates any working knowledge of business.  Even if I grant that you are correct that gas companies are profiteering, you still can't make a coherent argument.  You really need to learn how the market works.

If you need to find out why companies would cooperate during a recession, ask the CEOs of every major financial institution.

Perhaps none of my answers to your 6 word questions echo your idea of business. However, working knowledge of business is all that I possess. No, I really don't need to learn how this particular market works. I don't plan to buy a filling station. Although, at present date, it can be awfully lucrative.

Originally posted by C-B-M

Originally posted by DailyBuzz

Originally posted by C-B-M

So why did the gas station owners choose now to raise prices and profit?

Because it's masked by steadily rising oil prices and the standard summer month increases. Oh, and the American people are too dense to dig for the info. Besides, what's going to happen if they find out? They'll be mad? Oooooh, won't that scare the suppliers.

 

Hell, I've already laid it out to you all, yet you'd rather argue about it than dig for more info.

But that's not what I'm asking.  You say that gas stations hiked gas prices to triple or quadruple their profits and that constitutes "good business."  So my question is: why did they just start doing that now?  Oil has been around for quite some time.  And you yourself say that normal profits are, what, 3-4 cents per gallon?  Or whatever you want to say.  So why didn't gas stations increase that before?  Are they stupid and just got smart two years ago?  Did they just discover how to run a business?  Were they anti-profit before?  Give us some insight.

I can only make assumptions why this wasn't the case in the past. Most likely it was because before the great recession companies were more cut-throat about local competitors. Since 2008 companies have run far more lean and had to work together to stay afloat. In working together they have found that all can benefit from a little legal price fixing. Now that the economy is coming around the businesses that survived are starting to build their cash on hand to begin gobbling up the vacancies. That and it's abundantly clear that the American people pay absolutely no attention to what the fuck is going on 75% of the time.

Originally posted by deviliscious

Originally posted by DailyBuzz

Originally posted by Zindaihas

Originally posted by DailyBuzz

Originally posted by Mardy

Has anyone found out exactly why the gas prices are so high?  I remember at the end of Bush's terms, the high price was blamed on speculators and GOP/Bush oil cronies.  What are we blaming it on this time?  I remember all sorts of media outrage over the gas price in 2008.  This time around, it has been rather quiet.  I've heard so many theories on who to blame for the high gas prices, but it'd be nice to know the truth rather than just a bunch of he said she said theories.

 

Oh and gas price here is $4.40.

Last time it was speculation.

This time it's profit at the pump. Filling stations are making 300% more profit per gallon than they were last time the price was ~$4.00.

 If that's true, buzz, then you should be the biggest big oil advocate on the planet.  You've already stated that you are hoping gas will go to $10/gallon.  Way to go big oil, keep fleecing America.  You'll get your alternate energy development and the rest of us just might get Obama's rear booted from office.

I'm so over Obama. I dunno if you've heard but he's not even American!

 

Honestly, though, I'll vote for whomever proposes the best energy independence initiative. However, we all know drilling isn't the answer. Continued addiction to oil is America's single most destructive posture.

 

I voted for Obama because we desperately needed to handle several major issues simultaneously. This is no longer the case (even though the US Senate has ensured that can't be done, ever). My only concern at the moment is energy independence.

 

Look, I have no problem with high gas prices. This is because of several changes I made in my life the last time we experienced this problem. I don't expect everyone else to make the same decisions. I do, however, want everyone to feel the relief of not having to worry with such issues. This transition is going to be extremely painful for many. Every day that we neglect the transition our future pain increases.

 Why would raising gas prices help us convert to renewable ultraclean petroleum? They estimate it at $40 barrel already, nothing needs to be replaced. It will already be less than drilled oil, so it will easily phase it out without needing to starve the poor.

http://www.ls9.com/products/rpf.html

And your plan is?

I'm for everything. Bio, electric, natural, hydrogen, steam, whatever. As long as the country possesses it, we should utilize it. That simple enough for you?

Originally posted by C-B-M

So why did the gas station owners choose now to raise prices and profit?

Because it's masked by steadily rising oil prices and the standard summer month increases. Oh, and the American people are too dense to dig for the info. Besides, what's going to happen if they find out? They'll be mad? Oooooh, won't that scare the suppliers.

Hell, I've already laid it out to you all, yet you'd rather argue about it than dig for more info.

Originally posted by Zindaihas

Originally posted by DailyBuzz

Originally posted by Mardy

Has anyone found out exactly why the gas prices are so high?  I remember at the end of Bush's terms, the high price was blamed on speculators and GOP/Bush oil cronies.  What are we blaming it on this time?  I remember all sorts of media outrage over the gas price in 2008.  This time around, it has been rather quiet.  I've heard so many theories on who to blame for the high gas prices, but it'd be nice to know the truth rather than just a bunch of he said she said theories.

 

Oh and gas price here is $4.40.

Last time it was speculation.

This time it's profit at the pump. Filling stations are making 300% more profit per gallon than they were last time the price was ~$4.00.

 If that's true, buzz, then you should be the biggest big oil advocate on the planet.  You've already stated that you are hoping gas will go to $10/gallon.  Way to go big oil, keep fleecing America.  You'll get your alternate energy development and the rest of us just might get Obama's rear booted from office.

I'm so over Obama. I dunno if you've heard but he's not even American!

Honestly, though, I'll vote for whomever proposes the best energy independence initiative. However, we all know drilling isn't the answer. Continued addiction to oil is America's single most destructive posture.

I voted for Obama because we desperately needed to handle several major issues simultaneously. This is no longer the case (even though the US Senate has ensured that can't be done, ever). My only concern at the moment is energy independence.

Look, I have no problem with high gas prices. This is because of several changes I made in my life the last time we experienced this problem. I don't expect everyone else to make the same decisions. I do, however, want everyone to feel the relief of not having to worry with such issues. This transition is going to be extremely painful for many. Every day that we neglect the transition our future pain increases.

Originally posted by C-B-M

Let's take your assertions at face value and assume that filling stations are hiking prices for profit.  So what?

Good for them, it's smart business.

Originally posted by C-B-M

1. So what's the argument now?  That gas stations are colluding in order to raise gas prices in order to harm Dear Leader President Barack Hussein Obama, MMM MMM MMM? 
2. I guess it has nothing to do with him decreasing production by placing a moratorium on Gulf drilling and prohibiting Alaskan drilling.

1. No, that's not the argument.
    
2. No, it has nothing to do with drilling.
    

Originally posted by Aelfinn

Originally posted by DailyBuzz

Originally posted by Mardy

Has anyone found out exactly why the gas prices are so high?  I remember at the end of Bush's terms, the high price was blamed on speculators and GOP/Bush oil cronies.  What are we blaming it on this time?  I remember all sorts of media outrage over the gas price in 2008.  This time around, it has been rather quiet.  I've heard so many theories on who to blame for the high gas prices, but it'd be nice to know the truth rather than just a bunch of he said she said theories.

 

Oh and gas price here is $4.40.

Last time it was speculation.

This time it's profit at the pump. Filling stations are making 300% more profit per gallon than they were last time the price was ~$4.00.

You do know that filling stations usually only get about 1-2 cents a gallon? An additional 3-6 cents barely makes a dent. Most gas stations operate at either break even prices, or even sometimes a loss when it comes to the pump. They make money off of the products they sell in the store. Those same stores charging slightly more for themselves on gas is good business, since people are less likely to go in and buy the stuff they actually make a profit on.

Not at all accurate. Over the past two months a friend has been making 17¢ profit per gallon. He says traditionally the average  was 3¢/gallon. So, while you're assuming that filling stations are only paying a couple cents less per gallon than they charge, you are quite wrong in that assumption. My 300% margin increase was a very, very conservative number.

Also, why limit your profitable merchandise to sodas and twinkies when the potential to make excellent profits on fuel is there? Sodas and twinkies are optional purchases, if the cost goes up people will stop buying them, and that's a bad business model. Fuel, on the other hand, is not an optional purchase. Just so long as all local competitors are content with matching prices, profits are only limited by the inability for the populace to afford the high prices, which resides on a sliding scale of effectiveness in itself.

By the way, you do realize that filling stations can sell more than 35,000 gallons of fuel per day, right?

Originally posted by Mardy

Has anyone found out exactly why the gas prices are so high?  I remember at the end of Bush's terms, the high price was blamed on speculators and GOP/Bush oil cronies.  What are we blaming it on this time?  I remember all sorts of media outrage over the gas price in 2008.  This time around, it has been rather quiet.  I've heard so many theories on who to blame for the high gas prices, but it'd be nice to know the truth rather than just a bunch of he said she said theories.

 

Oh and gas price here is $4.40.

Last time it was speculation.

This time it's profit at the pump. Filling stations are making 300% more profit per gallon than they were last time the price was ~$4.00.

$3.89/gallon here.

My car gets 32 mpg and I live 10 miles from work. The last time gas was ~$4.00/gallon I drove a truck that got 18 mpg, I commuted 50 miles to work, and endured stop-n-go traffic for an hour each way.

You're right powder, fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

You are the only one to blame for your canned vacation plans.

Originally posted by deviliscious

Originally posted by generals3

I think the main difference between europeans and americans is the distance they (have to) drive. We also have pretty good public transportation here (something which is simply not possible everywhere in the US). Everything is just so much closer in europe

 Yes, especially in states like Texas, everything is so spread out people have to drive 45 min at 70-80 mph to work everyday. My neighbor actually has to drive 200 miles to work everyday. They do so, because that is the only job they can find. They cannot afford to live where they work because the cost to live in the town they work in is usually much higher than where they live.

Quite frankly, that's bullshit. People choose where they live. They can choose to live 10 miles from their work or they can choose to live 100 miles from their work. Just because someone commutes 100 miles into the city for top dollar pay, and buys a house in an outskirt suburb, doesn't mean they "have to".

The mentality of high salaries and cheap cost of living encourages the mass consumption of an already diminishing resource. There must be some deterrent. Taxing per mile is a good start.

And don't give me the "they will starve" line. People who commute 100 miles don't do so to afford groceries.

I was talking with my brother last night and he had the best analogy I've heard yet: "Bin Laden's death is no more significant to the 'war on terror' than Pablo Escobar's death was to the 'war on drugs'".