Sep 13, 2004
RAY: I thought I'd start the new fall puzzler season off with a quasi-automotive puzzler.
Last month, when gas prices were at their highest, I stopped off one day at my friend Paul's gas station to get tanked. Up.
While he filled my tank, we talked about world affairs, sports, the latest Fall fashions in the automobile repair industry, the state of the auto repair business, and cars in general. I listened to his lament about how much it cost to fill his underground tanks.
When he had finished filling my tank, and I was about to leave, I made a statement. I said something like, "Gee, it's really getting harder and harder to do these days, isn't it"?
Get your mind out of the gutter, because I know what you're thinking.
TOM: I can't say that it didn't cross my mind.
RAY: He agreed. He said, "Yeah, it is." Another customer, who was pumping his own gas, heard my statement, and also agreed with me. He added, 'And, it's not likely to get any easier."
The question is, what was the "it" I was referring to?
Last month, when gas prices were at their highest, I stopped off one day at my friend Paul's gas station to get tanked. Up.
While he filled my tank, we talked about world affairs, sports, the latest Fall fashions in the automobile repair industry, the state of the auto repair business, and cars in general. I listened to his lament about how much it cost to fill his underground tanks.
When he had finished filling my tank, and I was about to leave, I made a statement. I said something like, "Gee, it's really getting harder and harder to do these days, isn't it"?
Get your mind out of the gutter, because I know what you're thinking.
TOM: I can't say that it didn't cross my mind.
RAY: He agreed. He said, "Yeah, it is." Another customer, who was pumping his own gas, heard my statement, and also agreed with me. He added, 'And, it's not likely to get any easier."
The question is, what was the "it" I was referring to?
Answer:
The question was, what was the "it," I was referring to? Well, the "it" I was referring to, is stopping the gas pump at an exact dollar amount.
TOM: Yeah, like 20 bucks.
RAY: Right. Because as gas prices continue to go up, those pennies go zipping by awfully darn fast. You're at $10.90, and just when you're thinking about letting go of the nozzle, you're past 11 bucks.
Of course, it's going to get harder as gas prices continue to go up and up, which we know they will because, what?
TOM: Every price goes up and up.
RAY: Right. Do we have a winner?
TOM: Sure we have a winner. Our winner this week is Andrew Elkin from Latham, New York. And for having his answer selected, at random, from among the thousands of correct answers that we received, Andrew is going to get a $26 gift certificate to the Shameless Commerce Division at cartalk.com
TOM: Yeah, like 20 bucks.
RAY: Right. Because as gas prices continue to go up, those pennies go zipping by awfully darn fast. You're at $10.90, and just when you're thinking about letting go of the nozzle, you're past 11 bucks.
Of course, it's going to get harder as gas prices continue to go up and up, which we know they will because, what?
TOM: Every price goes up and up.
RAY: Right. Do we have a winner?
TOM: Sure we have a winner. Our winner this week is Andrew Elkin from Latham, New York. And for having his answer selected, at random, from among the thousands of correct answers that we received, Andrew is going to get a $26 gift certificate to the Shameless Commerce Division at cartalk.com
