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It turns out that tossing back a few beers and getting good and toasted during a Graduation Celebration may not be as healthy or worthwhile as was once though by our more esteemed educational facilitators.

Not only did the idea of allowing high school students below drinking age the sanction to toss back booze always sound somewhat funny to me (even when I was in high school), the idea of introducing a new facet of life with a socially destructive ideology of drunkenness seemed to me a fairly weak send-off.

Interestingly in the past years, more and more people and students have been agreeing with such a sentiment. Dry grads are becoming popular and lots of goodie-goodie corporate sponsors are getting in on the deal, offering up prizes and cash for kids that decide to remain sober during their Graduation Celebration at the end of the school year.

Case in point, Salinas Toyota-Scion in California gave away a Toyota Scion to a grad who would remain “dry” throughout the celebration. Jacob Quesenberry, party animal extraordinaire, stayed at Palma High School’s sober grad party all night and won Scion for his efforts. While some of Jacob’s classmates will wake up gripping a porcelain bowl the morning after, Jacob will take a spin in his new Scion. Sounds like a sweet deal.

18-year-old Quesenberry was one of 10 new graduates representing 10 high schools from King City High to North Monterey County High in Castroville who came to Salinas Toyota-Scion in the Salinas Auto Mall on Sunday afternoon with a chance to win. In order to scoop the Scion, each student had to stay to the end of their school’s graduation party - usually around 5 a.m. - thereby winning a shot at winning the car.

The winner, big bad Jacob, doesn’t know how to drive standard transmission, but he’s said to be very excited about his new Scion and gives big thanks to the local Scion dealer that helped with the sober grad giveaway.

Throughout the last two weeks, we’ve been looking at ways that average automobile drivers can drive smarter and be more informed as to what’s going on in the world of car companies, gas prices, and environmental issues.

We opened our discussion by looking at what comprises the oil prices and examining who profits from the cost. Commodities investors factor heavily in how our gas prices are decided, as the rates of profit by which oil is being traded is certainly lining the pockets of North America’s most wealthy. This approach to wealth is part of what is creating such incredible gas prices.

We also took a look at the record oil profits for companies like ExxonMobil and Shell Oil. The top company execs have no desire to take a pay cut or to adjust their top line to help the average consumer, so this creates a sense of culpability as they experience record profits despite rising costs in crude. The oil companies culpability by not cutting personal profits and, in fact, by building immense personal profits based on volume, creates a sense of ill will between these corporate giants and the consumers. Consumers rightly point the finger at oil companies and, while they aren’t solely to blame, oil companies deserve our mistrust.

We then examined the peak oil theory and how it has impacted oil production throughout the United States for the past few years. Any good estimate would have demonstrated that America would have been in this position, as the oil production peaked within the borders of the country in the period between 1965 and 1970.

The market impact and the overall environmental impact of biofuels was then explored, as we learned that the food shortage impacts our fuel production and we need to be smarter about producing alternative sources of energy.

From that point of knowledge, we went forward with an examination of the rhetoric used by the “other side” in the conservation discussion and we learned some practical tips. Included in the practical tips was the idea to drive a smarter car, like the Toyota Scion or the Yaris. Drop by your Scion dealer today for more information on how the car you drive can make the world a better place.

We’re nearing the end of our Drive Smart series and the next two entries will attempt to draw all of this into perspective.

Driving smarter means learning more about your vehicle, gas prices, oil companies, and the economics that make driving from point A to point B a serious fiscal headache for the majority of North Americans. While a small minority of us might be having discussions about air conditioning or sports cars, the majority of North Americans are struggling at the gas pumps and want to spend as little time behind the wheel as possible. Going broke in traffic and watching pennies spew out in the car exhaust is not a fun prospect.

Can we put the fun back in driving or are things simply too far gone? The reality is that gas prices are only going to go up for the next little while. Ideas of $6 or even $8 a gallon prices are probably not all that unreasonable when one looks at the current prices and how the markets are changing. Commodities traders and oil company barons will continue to get richer, while the rest of us will continue to struggle.

Times are changing in America.

The housing crisis is forcing people out on the street and out of homes they’ve lived in for years and out of homes they’ve possibly even built with their bare hands. Car companies are closing their factory doors and are laying off thousands of workers, breaking contracts and longstanding trusts. Debates rage on about every kind of social issue imaginable, making America even more divided. Weather impacts things, as 52 tornados ripped across the Mid-West yesterday.

While it may appear as though Armageddon is indeed arriving in the United States, it’s important to remember to hold on during times of crisis. A simple trip to the gas station may inspire families to commit felonies and drive away from the pumps and a trip to the grocery store may have people stealing bread (but not tomatoes!).

Solutions seem like a long way off, but some car companies and individuals are doing something about all of this now. Toyota’s Scion has produced a car, for instance, that is getting tremendous gas mileage and can help ease some of the pressure and pain in these trying times.

All is not lost, America! With a little effort and a lot of hope (and maybe a trip to a Scion dealer), everyday Americans will once again be able to afford a tank of gas or a trip to the store for milk.

We’ve started telling you about how to save money and the environment by driving smarter. These tips are applicable behind the wheel of any car on the road, but it does make more of a difference if you drive a car with greater fuel economy. Big SUVs will still prove to be gas-guzzlers, regardless of what you do to modify your driving habits. While you may make a small difference, in order to make a more significant impact you should be thinking about driving a smaller car.

Regardless of what vehicle you’re driving, drive sensibly. Stop accelerating with such fervour and learn to brake properly. Sudden starts-and-stops will do you no favours and will take years off of the shelf life of your vehicle. Not only is that type of driving hard on your brakes and on your car’s overall operation, but it’s immensely hard on gas mileage. Pay more attention to traffic and maintain a consistent flowing speed.

Make sure you use the type of gas recommended by the manufacturer. This will help your car reach its maximum potential and will help in operation of your vehicle. Pay attention to the octane level and use the right grade of oil to avoid any additional problems. This will help your car run smoother and will help save on gas mileage, even if you’re putting in a higher grade of gas.

Be mindful of using fuel additives. The FTC and EPA state, pretty much on a regular basis, that the claims many companies make to have fuel additives that create more fuel economy are false. Don’t use an additive in your gas tank, as it may actually decrease your gas mileage and cause more emissions. Simply use the octane level of gas recommended by the car manufacturer and keep your car in good shape.

As stated before, driving a smaller car is really the best way to improve gas mileage and get more bang for your buck. One of the best cars for this purpose is the Toyota Scion. By dropping by a Scion dealer, you can save more money and will be able to enjoy your driving experience more by knowing you aren’t polluting as much. Everybody wins (except oil companies) when you drive a Scion!

Once a good foundation of information and knowledge has been established, getting practical is the next step. It takes time to navigate the rhetoric, like we discussed yesterday, and to wade through the misinformation out there. It is important to realize that both “sides” in the discussion have used misinformation. In order to cut through the bull, it’s a good idea to look at what truly motivates YOU as a driver and use your motivation to drive smart.

In practical terms, watching how you drive can save you tons of money on gas and can save the environment considerably, too. Most people falsely fall into the mindset that what they do won’t make a difference. Some people, even on this very blog, describe situations in which driving less for a week won’t make enough of a difference. I’d argue the opposite, respectfully of course, and would suggest that making the smallest, slightest change is a better move than making no change at all.

A first suggestion is to travel light and pack smart. Extra weight in your car decreases its fuel economy, so be mindful of that when packing up for a long voyage. The heavier your car or truck, the more fuel it will take to ease the mammoth up the road. Even in the smallest cars, hauling an extra 100 pounds can reduce fuel economy by two percent. Luggage should go inside the car instead of on a roof rack or in the trunk, as this will minimize drag resistance.

Also, drive less aggressively. We all know that with the speed demons on the road today, it can be hard to not want to compete with their aggressive behaviour. But we have to start somewhere. Not only is aggressive driving dangerous, but it can lower gas mileage considerably (in some cases by 33% or more) because of the constant use of the gas pedal and the brake. Drive with care and moderation instead. You’ll be a safer and smarter driver if you do.

Pick a fuel efficient car, like the Toyota Scion or other models. This will help cut down on gas mileage too and, coupled with a few tips like the aforementioned, will help you save cash at the pump. Drop by your Scion dealer today and see the difference a more fuel efficient car can make.

Part of driving smarter and becoming a smarter consumer is navigating the rhetoric with ease. Opponents of simple global warming science or of gas prices will often rely on segments of rhetoric to attempt to cast doubt on elementary principles, causing the average consumer to head into a tailspin of confusion. Learning to navigate the spin can be complicated, but it can be done.

First things first: question WHO the source is. Who is denying or debunking basic global warming science? Petroleum company scientists with vested interests are often the first to lead the charge and cast doubt over the obvious human involvement in climate change. Ask yourself what those vested interests would be (profit for their corporations, etc.) and define whether or not the source is a reliable one.

Second, watch for emotional appeals and sound-bytes. Statements casting doubt or shame on a “green movement” are usually laden with hollow criticism. The corporate culture in America wants to resist this change because it threatens to stop lining their pockets, but the average American wants to leave a better world for their children. How do we quantify this with our ethics? The answer lies in understanding the deceptive rhetoric used by corporate fat cats AND by global warming “supporters.”

Sound-bytes will describe not “blaming oil companies” or talk about dependence on Middle Eastern oil, despite the fact that more oil comes from Canada or Mexico than the Middle East. Understanding what’s behind this rhetoric is important, but complex.

Third, do your own research. A general rule of thumb in historical studies is, for instance, to use at least three different sources to find information. If the information is asserted by all three sources, it can generally be considered a fact with a few exceptions. Check the veracity of the sources by looking for references and following up on those references. Don’t use Wikipedia entries that lack references.

Doing your own research will likely lead you to driving smarter and picking a smarter automobile. With rising gas prices, home closures, global food shortages, and other calamities gripping us at this point in history, it can be hard to imagine simply shifting to a smarter car. Some families will simply have to struggle through until help arrives. But for others with the ability to afford making it a little easier on the rest of us, I implore you to drive and think smarter.

Start with a Toyota Scion, for instance. Drive a car with smarter gas mileage and environmental controls. While the American way is often only to do things for self, do things for your environment, your children, your family, and your friends. Do things for the earth. Start by driving smarter. Start by driving a Scion.

Many people wonder where America gets the bulk of its oil and how its dependence on foreign oil is affecting gas prices. This occurs for a number of reasons, of course, but the main reason gas prices go up is the price of crude and the general unwillingness of CEOs and oil companies to take a hit in the profit. In fact, as has been reported worldwide, oil companies are still turning in record profits regardless of the change in costs.

Foreign oil has long been an issue in America, as each political candidate appears with a desire to cut the dependence on it. John McCain has said continually that he is ready to cut dependence on it, but how willing are the candidates in reality? Is it possible to cut dependence on foreign oil and, better still, would it make diplomatic sense to suddenly cut ties with US allies?

Canada supplies the United States with more oil than any other country. In March 2008, Canada supplied the United States with 1,795 thousand barrels of oil EACH DAY. The totals keep on rising, too, as Canada continues to supply more oil to the US.

Second in foreign oil for America are their old pals in Saudi Arabia. Not only will the Bush family likely head there to retire, but many Saudis were flown out of the country directly after the 9/11 attacks. The incredibly diplomatic relations America has with the Saudis is largely constructed on the oil barons in the country, which find Saudi Arabia to be an incredibly satisfying piece of geographical significance. The Saudis supplied America with 1,535 thousand barrels in March 2008.

Rounding out the top five foreign oil producers for the United States, Mexico follows Saudi Arabia closely. Sure, America turns away illegal immigrants and cripples the economy courtesy of NAFTA, but Mexico still supplies a huge amount of oil, with 1,232 thousand barrels a day as of March ’08. Nigeria is next, with 1,154 thousand a day in March 2008. Following Nigeria is Hugo Chavez and Venezuela, which likely plays a role in America’s tentative-at-best relationship with the socialist. Venezuela not only was first on the scene in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, but they supplied America with 858 thousand barrels of oil a day in March 2008. Iraq, seemingly the hotbed of oil production, supplies 773 thousand barrels a day. With Saudi Arabia and Iraq together not accounting for as much oil as Canada exports to the United States, the idea of Middle Eastern oil dependency seems somewhat skewed.

So what can we do to decrease America’s dependence on foreign oil and save money at the gas pumps? The answer is, as always, to drive a car that gets better fuel economy like Toyota’s Scion. Hop on down to your Scion dealer today; tell them all about foreign oil dependency and the myth of Middle Eastern oil dependency, and test drive a Scion with a big grin on your face. Knowledge is power.

Biofuel is often touted as the answer to our fuel woes, but does it really contain what we seek? The answer lies in a contextual understanding of the world around us, of the food crisis, and of simple economics.

While biofuel does represent an admirable sense of progress among industrialized countries to try to point at the issues, it also represents the capitalistic desire to turn profit at all costs. Canada, the United States, and other industrialized nations all jumped in head-first to the biofuel production discussion and, as such, have winded up overproducing a product that may, in fact, not be all that useful.

It is true that we are in a global food shortage at the moment and serious change will need to take place before we are able to commit to some sort of energy supply generation, like biofuel. Crop adjustments are needed and individuals will need to demand a more transparent process from corporations and governments in order to learn what is really occurring.

Countries experiencing food shortages and rising costs are quick to blame biofuel, as the use of arable land for biofuel and not for food can be construed as being downright cruel while individuals starve around the world. It is true that the rising demands for biofuel, despite a lack of marketing and selling of biofuel-related products, has crippled food supplies in Latin America and is aggravating the condition elsewhere.

Governments need to step in and strictly monitor land use for both possibilities, say energy experts. But is that a solution that will verify a change in food production or will that simply make the argument all the more political? More to the point, is it possible to pursue energy issues without the use of political might?

I think the only real answer when it comes to biofuel production is to wait until the food shortage situation is under control and then start seeing about allocating crops and arable land to biofuel production. Of course, that’s only my opinion.

Changing the way we drive, in the meantime, is a great way to table issues like biofuel production and gas mileage on better terms of discussion. Driving a car like the Toyota Scion is a great way to start being an agent for change, so stop by your Scion dealer today and see what’s what.

In order to understand where we’re going in the dynamic world of oil production and how it can and will impact you, the price you pay at the pump, and your driving habits, we need to understand the Hubbert peak theory.

Devised by American geophysicist M. King Hubbert, the peak oil theory essentially describes that any given geographical area on the planet has a rate of petroleum production that follows a bell-shaped curve. Choosing the curve model to use depends on a number of factors, namely the maximum production based on discovery rates and cumulative production. Hubbert’s theory was presented in 1956 and went on to accurately predict that the production of oil from conventional sources in the United States would peak between 1965 and 1970.

Hubbert went on to predict a worldwide peak about half a century from publication in 1956. In 1976, Hubbert noted that the actions of OPEC might be able to flatten production rates, but would only buy time in the form of about ten years.

By all accounts, it looks as though Hubbert’s theory was correct and that the global supply of oil has more than reached its peak. With growing population and more cars on the road than ever before, this is a problem. This issue is already reflecting itself in tangible ways, such as at the gas pumps where the prices of gas are skyrocketing through the roof. The oil companies, while obviously perturbed at the short shelf life due to the peak oil theory, still manage to create income based upon the skyrocketing rates and are turning in record profits.

One solution offered by oil producers is for a limit to be put on the amount of oil that can be pumped each day. This limit, announced in 2007 as a long term idea, termed that there should be a practical limit to the amount of crude that can be pumped each day. The limit, in theory, would be pegged at about 100 million barrels a day and, according to industry experts, could curb the peak oil theory’s diagnosis and buy us more time.

Instead of waiting on the oil industry to try out such a plan, why not take matters into your hands and let your dollars speak for you? Drive smarter and drive a more economical car, like a Toyota Yaris or a Scion. These vehicles save ample amounts of gas mileage and give an additional boost to the environment as well, keeping things green for your children. Drop by a Scion dealer today and see what you’ve been missing.

Last time we explored who was profiting from the rising oil prices and discovered that shareholders and top businesses are turning in significant profit from the commodities markets. The mythology of oil companies not turning in profits and suffering is often tossed around to make individuals paying high prices at the pump think that the rise of crude oil prices is simply necessary and unavoidable. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Not only are oil companies turning in record profits, but the rising costs at the pump aren’t looking to come down anytime soon.

Take ExxonMobil for instance. The U.S. company turned in $40.6 billion in profits (that’s in profits, not overall) in 2007. That’s about $1,300 of profit for every second of the year. Royal Dutch Shell made a smaller but still astronomical $31 billion in the same year. Are the oil companies really suffering in the United States because of rising fuel prices? The notion that rising crude prices isn’t going to generate profit for oil companies is a silly one, but some people will believe just about anything.

So what is the story from the side of the oil companies? How do they get so many people believing their narrative that they’re suffering and that our rising gas prices have nothing to do with their desire for more profit?

Last Wednesday, oil company execs stuck to their guns in front of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. They blamed government for not allowing more drilling for oil and said that global supply-and-demand was beyond their control.

The first notion of a lack of drilling seems apparent to anyone with a concern for environmental issues. Oil companies want to drill in Alaska, the forgotten state, and want to rip through the already melting ice to find precious black gold beneath. The second notion of supply-and-demand isn’t as “global” as American oil execs would have you believe, as the majority of global citizens, when asked, would prefer other sources of energy. It’s as though oil companies are hold our faces in the black stuff and begging us to get hooked on it like cigarettes.

On this framework, it’s important to learn what has happened with oil prices and what has caused this obvious addiction to oil to spiral so far out of control. Next time we’ll be looking back to 1973 at the oil crisis and we’ll explore Hubbert’s Peak Oil theory and the impact that has on today’s markets and costs.

For the time being, consumers can still fight back against oil companies by driving less and by driving responsible vehicles like hybrids and like Toyota’s Scion. In producing the Scion, Toyota joins the rest of the world in being more progressive on this important issue. Stop lining the pockets of oil execs and drive a money-saving Scion instead.