August 30, 2005—Complain all you want about climbing prices at the pump; at least it's not as drastic as what one gas station is asking. The proprietor of a Dallas, Texas, filling station revised his prices on August 24 to reflect what he felt would soon be the going rate—an arm and a leg, unless you want the top grade, in which case it'll set you back your first born.

Though the sarcastic sign may have overstated the case, gas prices have spiraled even higher than when the pump owner pulled this prank.

Hurricane Katrina's violent course (see our Hurricane Katrina photo gallery) through the Gulf of Mexico wreaked havoc with hundreds of oil-drilling platforms and refineries, causing oil production in the region to plummet by 92 percent. The Gulf is the source of more than a quarter of U.S. oil production.

The day after the storm made landfall, oil prices bubbled up toward record levels, and some analysts predicted gasoline prices could soon top $3 a gallon (4 liters) in the U.S.

—Blake de Pastino

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