Timing's everything, you know? For example, I won't sneak a peek at the cutie sitting at the next table until my wife's distracted. ("Hey, honey, isn't that George Clooney walking in the door?") And I definitely wouldn't dream of buying a used Roadtrek camper van with so-so gas mileage today. No, I'd have bought it two months ago when gas was still--oh, and this is going to sound silly--a reasonable $2.25 a gallon.

This week? Internet resources to help you (and me) get the best deal on gasoline. And while I'm on the subject, I'll mention a few ways to boost your vehicle's mileage.

Dig This: This early-in-the-game "Dig This" will help you put the gas issue into perspective--and also give you something to get you through your next trip to the gas station. I present the new gas pricing scheme. [Thanks, Doug.] And here's the gas gauge included on new-model SUVs and Hummers. [Thanks, Bill.]

Got Gas?

As I write this, gasoline in and around Los Angeles just bumped over $3 a gallon. And we're leaving on a week-long road trip in a couple of days.

As I plan our trip, I'm consulting with Gas Buddy, a handy service I've mentioned before (when it wasn't nearly as valuable). Enter your zip code or click on your state and find the nearest location. Then you'll see a list of gas stations with the lowest prices.

What, you say you're not sure where your state is on the map? No problem (and no, I can never find half of those southern states either). Use Sheppard Software's map quiz to practice.

A little less valuable is Gas Buddy's list of the highest prices, which are generally at locations right off the freeway. Even without the help of Gas Buddy, whenever it's feasible our strategy is to drive the extra few miles for a gas pump that's nowhere near a major highway.

Coincidentally, I'm trying out the XNAV3500P, a Global Positioning System device from Dual. It comes preloaded with locations of many gas stations, but I also plan on entering recommendations from Gas Buddy. BTW, I'm not wild about the XNAV3500P and I'll have more to say about it a few weeks from now. In the meantime, you can get details about the $700 device at Dual's Web site.

Dig This: Have you had your daily dose of Chindogu yet? You don't know about Chindogu? They're Japanese inventions, some of which are quite brilliant. Go to Wikipedia for a full explanation, then check out a handful of these cool tools. My favorite? The "Back Scratcher's T-Shirt."

Let's Gas Up

There are other places on the Net with gas pricing info. Cheap Gas takes Gas Buddy's listings and pops them into Google Maps; just type in your city and find gas stations in a snap.

You can also try Gas Price Watch for nationwide searches by intersection, zip, station name, and latitude and longitude.

Quick Aside: Gas prices are high today, but I want to tell you my oh-you-think-you-have-it-bad version of walking to school in the snow. It was the oil crisis in the early seventies. Gasoline shot up from about 30 cents a gallon to more than $1.20; there wasn't much available; and tempers flared as we lined up around the block.

Dig This: This has just got to be faked, but it's kind of funny anyway. It's a video of the RoboCat, a device that allows a cat to scoot around using robotics. [Thanks, David.] [streaming .mov]

Pedal to the Metal--Not

I'm guessing everyone with a driver's license has their own ideas about how to get better mileage. But at $3 a gallon, it's probably worth a look at a few more tips, anyway.

For a quick read, scan EHow's "How to Get Good Gas Mileage With Your Car." And if you have the time, read Edmunds.com's "Change Your Driving Habits (and Save Gas!) Driving Tips." It's even better because it's more comprehensive.

Edmunds.com also has a detailed report that will give you some insight into the approach I'm using: stepping up to the higher level membership at Costco in order to buy gas from them. Costco's gas prices are generally 5 to 10 cents, and occasionally 20 cents per gallon less than other stations in the area. BTW, Edmunds.com is a rare find: It's got over 30 useful articles on driving, including "When Good Cars Go Bad: Emergency Roadside Primer," "Avoiding Traffic Tickets," and "Here's Looking at You, Skid."

Finally, there's some controversy over whether it's more fuel-efficient to drive with the car's air conditioning on or to keep it off and open the windows.

Way way back in 1986, the Straight Dope's Cecil Adams said it doesn't matter. However, Bankrate did what appears to be the most digging, and its writer says it depends on your vehicle and the speed at which you're driving. And the University of Central Florida said, "repeated evaluation at 65 miles per hour, our test car experienced 11% better fuel efficiency with no A/C and the windows open than using the air conditioner."

Steve Bass writes the "Hassle-Free PC" column in PC World's print edition and is the author of PC Annoyances, 2nd Edition: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things About Your Personal Computer, available from O'Reilly. Sign up to have Steve Bass's Tips & Tweaks newsletter e-mailed to you each week. Comments or questions? Send Steve e-mail.