Priorities

Dozens of drivers lined up to fill up free Tuesday at a one-hour gas giveaway sponsored by the makers of a new energy drink in Maplewood.

I understand that gas is expensive, and free gas is nice, but, damn.

Gary Aliperto, of Vandais Heights, watches Kelsey Steadland pumps free gas for him Tuesday. Alipert was the first customer in line, waiting from 8:30 a.m. until noon to get his tank filled for free.

Waiting 3.5 hours to save, at most, $60. My time has value, and I don't consider that to be a winning proposition. If I make $10/hour, the value of my time, including benefits and administrative overhead, is $20/hour. That means he wasted $70, by corporate calculation on a tank of gas that will be gone next week. I consider my time to be worth at least $20. More depending on the situation, but never, ever less.