The Middle Way

[Ophbalance]

Originally Posted by herm

so autism is the ability to focus on one task and exclude everything else?

That is one benefit, however it also comes with a host of downsides. Sometimes it's better to see the bigger picture and react to that. We also tend to be quite the thick headed bunch if we feel we're "right" about an issue. Autism is a very large brush that paints many individuals in many different ways.

[brick]

There is no magic to the basic, most effective, and most widely used techniques. For the most part it comes down to what should be common sense, but somehow isn't. Don't burn more gas than you need to, and avoid throwing it away once you have. Car-specific stuff isn't worth worrying about until the basics feel natural.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Originally Posted by RedylC94

I let the ants and slugs clean out peanut butter jars before they go to the recycling center. Those critters do a good job, without wasting hot water, detergent, or my time on something of so little value.

That would work around here for about 8 or 9 months of the year.

Actually, with the number of ants we had out front this year they'd probably take the jar as well.

[RedylC94]

Originally Posted by ItsNotAboutTheMoney

Actually, with the number of ants we had out front this year they'd probably take the jar as well.

They do (or something does) take the paper label, if I give them a few extra days.

[08EscapeHybrid]

Originally Posted by herm

so autism is the ability to focus on one task and exclude everything else?

Part of it. When I take an interest in something, I learn everything possible about it. I used to be an EMT, and it was quite convenient to be able to turn off my emotions and focus on treating my patient's injuries. Everyone else can be around me panicking, and I just go right along and do what needs to be done.

[some_other_dave]

Originally Posted by 2011accent

I just finished my first tank using a focused hypermiling effort. I was able to get 38.5 mpg from a car rated by the government as 28 city/34 highway/30 combined.

That's good work! If you don't have good instrumentation already (especially instantaneous MPG and "trip" MPG and load), it's worth getting some. They can help you refine your techniques and show you what is working for you and what is not.

-soD