Station managers are experiencing a shortage at the pump – of digits. They never expected the price of gas to go up so much, so quickly. While they have a surplus of 3s, there are no 4s to represent the current near-record gas prices.

So how are the station managers informing their customers of the cost to fill up? They have been using makeshift signs. Many are simply flipping the plastic signs over and writing 4s on them. While they have placed orders to get more digits, they are afraid that by the time they come in, they will no longer need them. At the rate that gas prices are changing, they will soon need to order 5s too. The price of diesel gas is already over $5 in some areas.

This shortage in digits at the pump is a reflection of our economy’s instability. If station managers can’t even keep up, how can the rest of us deal?

It’s impossible to avoid getting gas. However, it might be possible to avoid having to drive. That’s the solution many college students have come up with as a way to save money. They have turned to online classes as an alternative to commuting to campus.

If the gas crisis is so bad that students are afraid to go out, then the economy really is in trouble. Does that mean that the bars and clubs will soon go out of business?

On the other hand, the number of accidents due to drinking and driving will certainly drop. MADD and SADD might cease to exist. "Happy" will be the word on everyone’s lips.