This is in an email making the rounds and has some interesting gas saving tips.

photo credit: Mingo.nl

Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening….your gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products plays an important role. I would think that ground temperature doesn’t vary much throughout the day though. A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

When you’re filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to a fast mode. If you look you will see that the trigger has three (3)stages: low, middle, and high. In slow mode you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some other liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you’re getting less worth for your money.

One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount.

Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up–most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom. Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.

I received the following e-mail from All Aboard Ohio and would like to pass it along for those interested:

Dear Members and Supporters,

Registration for the 4th Annual Rail/Transit Legislative Summit is now open. Please visit http://www.allaboardohio.org to see the agenda as well as online and mail-in registration.

This year’s Legislative Summit is a perfect opportunity to capitalize on our recent good press as well as the momentum building for rail development in Ohio. I hope to see you there on Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 at the 4th Annual Rail/Transit Legislative Summit.

Sincerely,
Andrew Bremer
Executive Director

So I’m watching Anderson Cooper 360, and he gives this sobering statistic: Ohio has the most bridges like the one that collapsed in Minneapolis. We’ve got 187 of them. And 54 of them are structurally deficient.

The DOT has a list of all steel deck truss bridges in the US. None of them look close to Columbus. But, I could be wrong. Click the below link to see the Ohio excerpt. Anyone know which ones are structurally deficient?

CENORHOH3093708	SERVICE BRIDGE	INTAKE STRUCTURE
CENORHOH3093717	SERVICE BRIDGE	INTAKE STRUCTURE
0430722	LAKE ROAD	WHEELER CREEK
0430765	BROWN ROAD	GRIGGS CREEK
0431206	S. DENMARK ROAD	MILLS CREEK
0431478	MANN ROAD	PYMATUNING CREEK
0431753	MILL CREEK RD.	MILL CREEK
0432229	MONTGOMERY RD.	GRAND RIVER
0432350	CLAY ROAD	MILL CREEK
0432695	HILDOM ROAD	ASHTABULA RIVER
0432733	BECKWITH ROAD	ASHTABULA RIVER
0433039	GRAHAM ROAD	ASHTABULA RIVER
0433101	CAINE ROAD	ASHTABULA RIVER
0433144	GREEN HILL ROAD	ASHTABULA RIVER
0433284	OLD PLANK ROAD	GRAND RIVER
0433349	UNDERWOOD ROAD	PYMATUNING CREEK
0433691	RUNKLE AVENUE	HUBBARD RUN
7700369	SR 8 & SR 59	NORTH ST-RRS- L. CUY RIV
8830843	CR 9	SANDUSKY RIVER
8831408	SYCAMORE CREEK	SYCAMORE CREEK
8831688	NO DATA	SANDUSKY RIVER
8833931	TR 37TA	SANDUSKY RIVER
8835004	TH44	TYMOCHTEE CREEK
8835926	TWP HWY 49	TYMOCHTEE CREEK
8836639	NO DATA	BROKEN SWORD CREEK
8837031	NO DATA	BROKEN SWORD CREEK
8837384	NO DATA	BROKEN SWORD
8837651	NO DATA	TYMOCHTEE CREEK
8838380	TH71	TYMOCHTEE CREEK
8841152	TWP HWY 96	TYMCHTEE CREEK
8841551	TWP. HWY. 97	TYMOCHTEE CREEK
8842175	TH100A	SPRING RUN
8843260	NO DATA	LITTLE TYMOCHTEE CREEK
8843333	TWP HWY 106	TYMOCHTEE CREEK
8843341	TH106C	SPRING RUN
8845840	TWP HWY 124	SANDUSKY RIVER
8846138	NO DATA	CRANBERRY RUN
8846588	CO HWY 128	SANDUSKY RIVER
8847002	TH127	SANDUSKY RIVER
8847428	CH134B	KISER RUN
8847762	NO DATA	SANDUSKY RIVER
8860173	MILLER STREET	SYCAMORE CREEK
8302251	IR 71	ACC DR;LIT MIAMI R;BKWAY
8302286	IR71	ACC DR;LIT MIAMI;BIKEWAY
8403783	S.R. 124	LITTLE HOCKING RIVER
1803301	US 42	TRAIN AV FLATS IND RR
2300427	US 22	CONRAIL RR & LIT RUSH CR
2334224	HEIGLE ROAD SW	SALT CR (HEIGLE ROAD SW)
2340208	RUSHVILLE RD NE	RUSH CR & CONRAIL (CR 77
1131117	CLARK ROAD	KINGSCREEK
1809393	I-90	CUY. RIV VALLEY-RTA45
2931052	OLD WINCHESTER RD	ANDERSON FORK
3103390	COLUMBIA PARKWAY	COLUMBIA PARKWAY
1536915	WILLARD RD 843	PENN RR
0930288	ELK CREEK RD	ELK CREEK BRANCH
0930520	RIALTO RD	STREAM
0930598	RIVER RD	STREAM
0930644	ROSS HANOVER RD	INDIAN CREEK BRANCH
0930709	SOMERVILLE RD	BRANCH OF HARKERS RUN
0930768	SOMERVILLE RD	WILLIAMS RUN
0931098	BAKER RD	WILLIAMS RUN
0931284	BLACK RD	BRANCH OF LICK RUN
0931306	BONHAM RD	TALAWANDA CREEK
0931322	BONHAM RD	HARKERS RUN
0932183	HAM NEW LONDON RD	INDIAN CREEK
0932485	INDIAN CREEK RD	INDIAN CREEK
0932671	LAYHIGH RD	DRY RUN
0932809	MAUD HUGHES RD	GREGORY CREEK
0932868	MEYERS RD	BROWNS RUN
0932892	SOUTH WEAVER RD	KIATA CREEK BRANCH
0933090	MORGAN ROSS RD	PADDYS RUN
0933147	MORGANTHALER RD	COTTON RUN
0933430	RACE LANE	DRY FORK CREEK
0933597	SCOTT RD	DARRS RUN
0933643	SLOEBIG RD	BROWNS RUN
0933910	STREBEE RD	ELK CREEK BRANCH
0935735	BUCKLEY ROAD	TALAWANDA CREEK
1800035	SR 2	(1476)CUY RIVER RTA FLAT
1801503	SR 10	CUY RIVER VALLEY & FI RR
2830752	TR-183 GEAUGA LAKE	AURORA BR CHAGRIN RIVER
3631559	COUNTY RD #55	DODSON CREEK
3631761	COUNTY RD.#70	TURTLE CREEK
3632008	TOWNSHIP RD. 118	DODSON CREEK
3632342	TOWNSHIP RD.194	BRUSH CREEK
3632482	COUNTYRD#43	NORTH FORK WHITEOAK CREE
3632601	TOWNSHIP RD 239	BAKER FORK
7730306	N MAIN STREET	CUYAHOGA RIVER
7849923	BELMONT ST-NILES	MAHONING RIVER
7030568	ROME SOUTH RD.	BLACK FORK MOHICAN RIVER
7031300	PLY-SPRINGMILL RD.	BLACK FORK MOHICAN RIVER
7031432	BELLVILLE JOHNSVLL	CEDAR CREEK
7032730	EBY RD.	BRUBAKER CREEK
4304950	I-90	GRAND RIVER @ MP 209.5
4304985	CLOSED	GRAND RIVER @ MP 209.5
7035969	SMILEY AVE	BLACK FORK RIVER
4460014	NORTH 2ND STREET	N & W RAILROAD
7337620	WHEELERS MILL ROAD	WHEELERS MILL (LSR)
7338279	TATMAN COE ROAD	TATMAN-COE (SCIOTO BR CR
7338562	JR FURNACE-PWLSVL	JR FURNACE-PWLS (PINE CR
5233372	CH 16-SEVILLE RD.	RIVER STYX
5233658	RD27-RIVER CORNERS	EAST BRANCH BLACK RIVER
5233747	RD 29-CONGRESS RD	BR OF E BR BLACK RIVER
5233976	RD 37 – REMSEN RD.	BR OF WEST BR OF ROCKY R
5234247	RD49-RIVER STYX RD	BR OF W BR ROCKY RIVER
5234263	RD49-RIVER STYX RD	E BR ROCKY RIVER
5234298	RD50-CHIPPEWA RD.	CHIPPEWA INLET
5243416	CH 19 – LAKE RD.	CHIPPEWA LAKE OUTLET
6130127	COUNTY ROAD 40	DUCK CREEK
6130194	CR 75	BIG RUN
6130259	CR 7	KEITH FORK
6130437	COUNTY ROAD 40	DUCK CREEK
6130526	C.R.11	WEST FORK DUCK CREEK
6130542	TR199	WILLS CREEK
6232094	NO DATA	TURTLE CREEK
5432367	PURDY ROAD	LITTLE BLACKCREEK
5433509	HASIS ROAD	BLIERDOFER DITCH
5437601	FRYSINGER ROAD	ST MARYS RIVER ‘
5438098	TOWNSHIP-LINE ROAD	ST MARYS RIVER ‘
6241301	COUNTY ROAD 36	AT LITTLE PORAGE RIVER
5443520	FRAHM PIKE	TWELVE MILE CREEK
5446228	MEYER ROAD	BEAVER CREEK
5450276	WABASH ROAD	WABASH RIVER
5452848	CLUNE STUCKE ROAD	MILE CREEK
5453577	ST PETER ROAD	WABASH RIVER
5454697	PALMER ROAD	ST MARYS RIVER
5455022	PARK ROAD	WABASH RIVER
5458730	SCHROEDER ROAD	WABASH RIVER
5459850	WABASH ROAD	WABASH RIVER
5459990	ST ANTHONY ROAD	WABASH RIVER
7330545	WH GRAVEL MCDANIEL	WH GRVL-MCDAN (LTL SCIOT
7330979	DUCK RUN ROAD	DUCK RUN ROAD (DUCK RUN)
7331142	ROCKY FORK ROAD	ROCKY FORK (SOUTH FORK B
7331150	HENLEY DEEMER RD	HENLEY-DEEMER (MCCULL CR
7331169	NO DATA	HENLEY DEEMER
7331568	STOCKHAM ROAD	STOCKHAM RD (LTL SCIOTO)
7331835	KY TRAIL-HAINES RD	KY TRAIL (LTL SCIOTO RVR
7332408	NO DATA	RARDEN-HAZELBAKER(BRSH C
7332785	NO DATA	LAUREL FORK RD (DRY RUN)
7334079	DEVER ROAD	DEVER RD (ROCKY FORK CR)
7334133	SULPHUR SPRINGS RD	SULPHUR SPRINGS (LS RIVE
7334400	NO DATA	DISTERDICK LANE (PINE CR
7334702	NO DATA	MONROE ROAD
7334788	NO DATA	KNAPP ROAD
7335032	NO DATA	SWORD ROAD
7335199	NO DATA	EDMUNDS ROAD
4733797	BURSLEY RD.	W.B.BLACK RV BURSLEY RD
4733886	BURSLEY RD.	CHARLEMONT CK BURSLEY RD
4734653	CROOK ST.	BLACK RIVER CROOK ST.
4735102	FOLEY RD.	PLUM CREEK FOLEY RD.
4735293	FULLER RD.	E.BR.BLACK RV FULLER R
4735536	GORE ORPHANAGE	W.B.BLACK RV GORE ORPHA
4735749	GORE ORPHANAGE	VERMILION RV GORE ORPH R
4736303	HAWLEY RD.	WELLINGTON CR HAWLEY RD
4736397	HUGHES RD.	W.B.BLACK RV HUGHES RD
4736834	JONES RD.	CHARLEMONT CR JONES RD
4736966	JONES RD.	E.B.BLACK RV JONES RD.
4738047	NORTH RIDGE RD.	VERMILION RV N.RIDGE RD
4738365	OSBORNE RD.	PLUM CREEK OSBORNE RD.
4738411	PARSONS RD.	BLACK RIVER PARSONS RD
4738489	PARSONS RD.	KELNER DT PARSONS RD.
4738527	PARSONS RD.	BLACK RIVER PARSONS RD.
4738802	PECK WADSWORTH	WELLINGTON CR P.WADSWORT
4738829	PITTS RD.	CHARLEMONT CR PITTS RD
4739264	QUARRY RD.	BLACK RIVER QUARRY RD.
4741234	WHITNEY RD.	W.B.BLACK RV WHITNEY RD
5631076	NO DATA	SUNFISH CREEK
5631467	CR 27	SUNFISH CREEK
5631866	CR 9	WITTEN FORK
5632501	NO DATA	CRANENEST FORK
5632706	NO DATA	LITTLE MUSKINGUM RIVER
5632854	NO DATA	CLEAR FORK
5632919	COUNTY ROAD 68	STRAIGHT FORK
5633001	NO DATA	WITTEN RUN
5633257	CR 138	LITTLE MUSKINGUM RIVER
5633508	NO DATA	LITTLE MUSKINGUM RIVER
5633656	NO DATA	SOUTH FORK
5634156	NO DATA	SUNFISH CREEK
5634601	NO DATA	CLEAR FORK
5634709	NO DATA	CLEAR FORK
5634954	NO DATA	LITTLE MUSKINGUM RIVER
5635101	NO DATA	LITTLE MUSKINGUM RIVER
5635209	TR 2706	STRAIGHT FORK
6830072	PRICE RD	PRICES CREEK
6832377	BRUBAKER RD;	SAMS CREEK
5738474	TOWNSHIP ROAD 58	FORT ANTHONY TWIN OV CK
5740762	TOWNSHIP ROAD 42	FORNEY RD OV BEAR CREEK
6836399	CONC. FAIRHAVEN RD	FOUR MILE CREEK