Jamie Hyneman (left) and Adam Savage. Photo / Supplied
I find it curious, and a little disconcerting, that a litre of diesel is actually cheaper than a litre of milk.
Yet diesel comes from oil and oil is a finite commodity and is sourced from faraway places.
And it has to be refined and whatever to create the greasy fuel which drives an increasing number of regular cars on our roads.
Yet milk is far from finite, while there are herds of cows wandering the fields of the land, and it comes from grass and there's plenty of that about and, as long as the rain keeps falling, it will always be around.
Yet milk arrives on the shelves at an astonishingly high price.
I guess it's all about monopolies and cash flows and ledgers and profit margins and big returns to shareholders ... whatever it is, it isn't terribly kind to consumers.
As it has been pointed out many times in the past, it is cheaper to buy rubbish soft drinks than milk or milk-derived drinks and therein lies the dietary and ill health issues that will emerge in due course.
Why GST is clamped to already expensive yet beneficial items is utterly beyond me.
I guess they do it so they can raise money to pay for the health bills incurred by poor food and drink.
Dopey stuff.
As is the price of petrol for that matter, but, again, it is about giant corporations creating massive wealth so they can pay the bosses seven-figure sums.
If I sound a little bitter today it is because I am. I put $20 of petrol into the old Mitsi this morning and, by the time I got here, I'm sure the needle hadn't moved.
The one thing such expense does create, however, is a more fuel-conscious attitude to driving, and when it comes to filling the thing up.
I'm one of those forecourt fidgeters who shakes and drains every last drop from the nozzle after the little bell goes "bing" to say you've just bought enough petrol to get you halfway home.
And I always remember a tip radio's motoring man Robbie once gave out ... drive as if there is an egg between the soul of your shoe and the accelerator pedal and it must not break.
And take anything unwanted out of the car to reduce its weight.
And wash it regularly as a smooth surface reduces drag.
Inflate the tyres correctly and don't open the windows too far ... more drag.
Ahh, fuel-saving tips ... they're varied and valuable, so I am intrigued at what will emerge from the Mythbuster boys tonight on Prime.
They go all greeny-greeny and savey-savey money-money.
How can you squeeze every last dollar and cent out of that tankful of fuel?
Of course, Adam and Jamie will look into the myths around petrol conservation and, hopefully, come up with some tips which will allow my next modest top-up to get me all the way home.
Mythbusters is one of those genuinely colourful shows that can entertain, enlighten and educate all in one 50-minute lesson.
And, hey, you could end up saving money at the pump.
Mythbusters, Prime at 7.30 tonight: They have been around for a few seasons now, these often wild and reckless, but never dull, chaps. And long may they hang around. As long as they don't start cooking or doing up old houses I'll stand by them.
Hot Bench, Prime at 4.30pm weekdays:
The one curious factor about the original Judge Judy series was you never knew who could pop up from time to time. Apart from the general populace with their neighbourly disputes over property or money a few familiar faces have popped up. Like John Lydon from the Sex Pistols band who fought a lost wages case brought by a drummer who played with them during a US tour. Here is a new take on the courtroom "reality" show, where Judge Judy Sheindlin brings in three extra judges for some courtroom debate and exchanges. Odd stuff.
ITM Rugby Championship Final, Sky Sport 1 at 7pm Friday: Well, it has come down to this familiar scenario again. Last year the Magpies travelled south to battle it out for a place in the premiership with Tasman and against the odds very nearly did it. We have made the final again and the "away" tag is once again applied with Manawatu doing the host honours. A tough call, a tough match but if the passes are held and the tackles made...and Richard Buckman takes to the field anything can happen. Come on the Bay.
The Frighteners, TV4 at 8.30pm Saturday: I remember seeing this when it came out, for two reasons, really: it was first Hollywood style film made by a Kiwi bloke called Peter Jackson and I'd seen some sneak footage of what was remarkable special effects. And of course everyone knew Michael J Fox, so it was all good for the New Zealand industry. This is a great little tale about a chap who has a formidable foe to take on ... the Grim Reaper.
60 Minutes, Prime at 8.30pm Monday: One of the unfortunate, but not unexpected, consequences of a contact sport like rugby is that people get hurt. One of the most concerning injuries is concussion, and there are plenty of top players who have had their share. So here we have All Black Kieran Read opening up about his serious head knocks.