Pump Pain

Living ten minutes from downtown Chicago has its advantages. Gas prices are not included in that list. I've got the city's most expensive station less than a mile from me...which is currently asking $4.59 per gallon. Luckily, there's a "more reasonable" station closer to me, at $4.29. Still 10¢ more than the city average, 24¢ more than the state, and 36¢ more than the national. Also luckily, I don't drive all that much, especially compared to commuters.

Around these parts the CTA's got a decent system set up. Not always the fastest way to get around, but it's starting to be cheaper. A trip to O'Hare from my place is about 18 miles. With traffic, that's good for over a gallon of gas...which goes for an average of $4.19. Or, you could grab the L for $1.75 and get there in an hour. It can even be faster than traffic sometimes...probably had four Blue Lines blow by me the other day...chumps that we were in traffic. And it only took 75 minutes to get there. And even in making the occasional trip back home, Amtrak ($32) is cheaper than driving (~$50).

This is obviously going on all over the country and making it more painful for everyone to fill up. Everyone, including semis. Semis which run on more expensive diesel. Big whoop. Wait, those guys carry 60% of our freight in this country. Freight including my bounty of books, delicious pre-cooked food, and wonderful paper products (towels, TP, kleenex). At some point, common sense dictates that the price of basic goods will be affected by gas prices. Combine that with higher costs of commuting to earn money for said goods, and people will not be happy.

Now, for an exercise in numbers. Take the number three, for example. As in $3 per gallon back in October. Fast forward to today at $4.19 and that's better than a 25% increase in seven months. As Gob would say, "Come on!" Next up is the number five...percent of the world's population - using 44% of world's gasoline.

Between those gas prices and volume consumption, one could say we've got or will have a problem. So at some point, the ole' internal combustion engine is gonna have to be replaced and sooner would probably better than later. In the meantime, conservation is clearly a good thing: carpooling, public transit, pooling errands - but it's all ultimately still using gas. And yeah, hybrids are around...but they're more a transition solution than anything else. Plug-in hybrids and hydrogen power are nice options on the horizon. Wait, they both require grid power for fuel. And actually, most rapid transit systems like the L also use grid power. Grid power of which 70% comes from non-renewables.

So yeah, that was mostly stream of consciousness that I just rattled off. Hopefully it made some sense. Seeing that $4.59 sign got me thinking about all this peak oil and energy security business. And how some real solutions would be nice. I realize that gas is cheap relative to some of Europe's $8 prices. Still. I also know I'm part of the problem: driving a 6 cylinder faster and harsher than I really need to. But like J said, I don't think stopping strategic petroleum reserve deposits will do anything. I don't think that cutting out gas/oil/energy taxes is a good idea either. If anything, I say hike them in the interests of alternative energy. Probably will never happen with various interests in play. Interests which led to the disassembly of most cities' streetcars back in the day. Streetcars or their modern derivative on the same right of way would be nice about now. But the strongest motivation for change probably won't come from the government. Instead, our distaste for high energy prices will force industries' hands before the government does. Hopefully.

New Place?

I'm planning on seeing the place after saving some money this summer. I figure that should be good for a trip over to the sales office.

I'm debating between the west loop and the Spire.

I wouldn't mind the 2000 foot view, but $1.35 million for a lower floor 1 br/1 ba is starting to get outside my price range. I would have a few years to save up though, since it's still being built... Maybe I'll go crazy and get a place there anyway.

Fin

I wanna start out by saying congrats to two of my friends! You know who you are... If I weren't in celebratory/recovery modes this weekend, I would've done this sooner.

So I took my last final Wednesday. ...that puts me at *DONE* with M1 year! Hell of a way to go out: seven finals, ten days. Understatement of the year, but I would *not* want to repeat this year. Ever. There were probably only one or two times that I legitimately freaked out, but that's more than enough for me. And less than some of my classmates.

Not to say that the rest of the year was stress city 24/7, but there was just always stuff to study and we're always behind. And that's what made it so hard. Sure, some material was more difficult than others: endocrinology, CV, neuro, renal. But it's the pacing and massive amount of information that made things difficult. Immunology in 1/4 of a semester? A bit much, especially since it was a semester class at UIUC. What made things more bearable for me was cutting out any class that wasted my time...which at the end of the year included everything except anatomy lab. I don't know how some people did all the classes, anatomy lab, and studied that night. At one point, that would've meant a 9:30-7:00 day...just in class/lab. That's a no-go in my book.

All this said, the past year was a blur in hindsight. Cliche, but it feels like I was just getting done with orientation week. I know I was exposed to a *shitton* of information. My grades say I know an acceptable amount of it. My brain reports differently. (Read: histology, neuroanatomy.) I'm cleaning the disaster of my apartment right now (long overdue). And I'm coming across stuff that brings about this thought: "WTF? I knew this at one point?"

Ah well, it's all in the past now. There were some good post-exam events and weekends out. I've decided that I like having block exams. Sure it sucks for a few weeks, but I definitely like having some of my weekends back. I've found that I cared less and less as the year went on though. Hell, a year long histo final got one day of studying...somewhat by choice, mostly due to scheduling. Seriously though, my junior year at UIUC I was more ambitious than I am now. I've missed out on some good rotations and summer opportunities (anterior cingulate syndrome anyone?). Whatever. I'll see what I can figure out for the summer. Guess I should do something for residency apps. Whatever comes of it, this kid's an M2 and on summer break!

Pedal Power

I've been contemplating buying a bike for the past few months. Warmer temperatures have helped that sentiment. But also it's not a bad way to get around the city. Between traffic, $4 gas prices, and doing most stuff within a two mile radius it's logically not a bad idea. Yeah, the semester's pretty much over, but it can turn a twenty minute campus walk into a five minute ride.

Biking in the city? Chicago's actually a reasonably bike-friendly city, with quite a few roads having actual bike lanes on them. You'll see bikes among traffic downtown, as well as out in the neighborhoods. Don't know how I feel about riding directly next to traffic, but maybe I'll find out if I follow through with this. All I know is I feel a little uncomfortable *driving* next to bikes sometimes. And speaking of bike lanes, Chicago actually has a ~18 mile trail/path right along the lake. That's actually one of the higher reasons I'm wanting a bike. Decent exercise, plus I get a pretty nice view while doing so.

As for the actual bike, I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm definitely getting a used one, but that's about all I know. That said, I'm open to any and all advice. And now back to the nap/study cycle...stupid year long finals coming up. Four down, three to go!