• ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? con

    From Lynn McGuire@3:633/10 to All on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 19:19:13
    Subject: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    https://www.oann.com/newsroom/the-california-premium-why-the-golden-states-take-per-gallon-consistently-outpaces-refiner-earnings/

    ?As California moves through 2026, a clear fiscal reality is visible at
    the gas pump.?

    ?For every gallon of regular unleaded gasoline sold in the state,
    combined taxes, fees, and regulatory program costs imposed by state and
    local governments now represent a substantial portion of the final price
    ? frequently exceeding the net profit margins earned by refiners after
    costs.?

    ?This has intensified debate over the persistent ?California Premium,?
    the roughly $1.70?$1.90 per gallon gap between what Californians pay
    compared to the national average.?

    I know one place I do not want to move to, California.

    Lynn


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Dimensional Traveler@3:633/10 to All on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 17:45:11
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    On 4/21/2026 5:19 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    https://www.oann.com/newsroom/the-california-premium-why-the-golden- states-take-per-gallon-consistently-outpaces-refiner-earnings/

    ?As California moves through 2026, a clear fiscal reality is visible at
    the gas pump.?

    ?For every gallon of regular unleaded gasoline sold in the state,
    combined taxes, fees, and regulatory program costs imposed by state and local governments now represent a substantial portion of the final price
    ? frequently exceeding the net profit margins earned by refiners after costs.?

    All those taxes & fees don't come out of what the gas station charges,
    they are in ADDITION to the what the gas station charges. OAN wouldn't
    know reality if it bit their genitals off.

    ?This has intensified debate over the persistent ?California Premium,?
    the roughly $1.70?$1.90 per gallon gap between what Californians pay compared to the national average.?

    I know one place I do not want to move to, California.

    Lynn



    --
    I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
    dirty old man.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Bobbie Sellers@3:633/10 to All on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 17:55:58
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?



    On 4/21/26 17:19, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    https://www.oann.com/newsroom/the-california-premium-why-the-golden- states-take-per-gallon-consistently-outpaces-refiner-earnings/

    ?As California moves through 2026, a clear fiscal reality is visible at
    the gas pump.?

    ?For every gallon of regular unleaded gasoline sold in the state,
    combined taxes, fees, and regulatory program costs imposed by state and local governments now represent a substantial portion of the final price
    ? frequently exceeding the net profit margins earned by refiners after costs.?

    ?This has intensified debate over the persistent ?California Premium,?
    the roughly $1.70?$1.90 per gallon gap between what Californians pay compared to the national average.?

    I know one place I do not want to move to, California.

    Oh good!

    Lynn

    The gas tax pays for the roads. The refineries do not. The roads
    including freeways, concrete, grave, and asphalt are not cheap and they are quite extensive since California is not a little state nor an
    under-populated state.
    The gasoline is formulated for the summer when more Californians are driving
    to give less emissions of the sort that produce photochemical smog. By the
    way not only Los Angeles but many agricultual areas have the problem of pollution. It was very bad in the Central Valley not so many years ago.
    So we have refineries charging more for the special formulation and then California's tax on top of that to pay for the places that the
    wheels may
    turn delivering food and many other products to the people of the state...

    In the San Francisco area we can have high levels of pollution and allergens but the City between the Ocean and the Bay frequently
    enjoys refreshing breezes that cut the cost of air conditioning a lot.

    Other parts of the San Francisco Bay Area are not so lucky.
    We are having dampish weather currently but it should go away
    in the next 24 hours. Maybe some thunder storms coming in.

    bliss


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Lurndal@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 14:44:51
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:

    <right-wing ravings elided>

    I know one place I do not want to move to, California.

    That's fine by us.

    I've been to Houston. Didn't like it.



    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Paul S Person@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 08:53:14
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    On Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:45:11 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
    <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:

    On 4/21/2026 5:19 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per
    Gallon?
    consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    https://www.oann.com/newsroom/the-california-premium-why-the-golden-
    states-take-per-gallon-consistently-outpaces-refiner-earnings/

    ?As California moves through 2026, a clear fiscal reality is visible
    at
    the gas pump.?

    ?For every gallon of regular unleaded gasoline sold in the state,
    combined taxes, fees, and regulatory program costs imposed by state
    and
    local governments now represent a substantial portion of the final
    price
    ? frequently exceeding the net profit margins earned by refiners
    after
    costs.?

    All those taxes & fees don't come out of what the gas station charges,
    they are in ADDITION to the what the gas station charges. OAN wouldn't
    know reality if it bit their genitals off.

    If you are thinking that the gas station charges, say, $5.9999 (local
    price seen in Seattle) and that does /not/ include the various State
    and Federal taxes (that is, that the station using part of the $5.9999
    to pay the refinery and the rest to pay itself and then, out of the
    generosity of its heart, pays some money to the State from some other
    source) -- then you have, as Anna Russell once put it, "an enormous
    echo chamber where your brains ought to be".

    OAN may, indeed, have no knowledge of reality, but then, neither do
    you.
    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Paul S Person@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 08:58:56
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    On Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:44:51 GMT, scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal)
    wrote:

    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:

    <right-wing ravings elided>

    I know one place I do not want to move to, California.

    That's fine by us.

    I've been to Houston. Didn't like it.

    The Army sent me to school at Goodfellow AFB twice.

    The first time, a cold snap hit while our "temporary" wooden barrack's
    furnace was half-way through a repair. We spent a weekend in very cold
    weather.

    The second time, I was amazed to see a rain storm turn a street into a
    river because there were no drains and so nowhere else for the water
    to go. At least the old temporary wooden barracks had been replaced
    but something more substantial.

    But I didn't mind living in Texas for a few months all that bad. For
    an AFB, at least.

    Note: the "temporary wooden barracks" were erected during the big Army
    buildup in 1942. That they survived into 1971 was a tribute to their
    builders, as they were expected to be gone in the mid-50s at the
    latest.
    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Lurndal@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 16:23:28
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> writes:
    On Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:45:11 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
    <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:

    On 4/21/2026 5:19 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    =93The =91California Premium=92: Why the Golden State=92s =91Take Per = >Gallon=92=20
    consistently outpaces refiner earnings=94
    =20
    https://www.oann.com/newsroom/the-california-premium-why-the-golden-=20
    states-take-per-gallon-consistently-outpaces-refiner-earnings/
    =20
    =93As California moves through 2026, a clear fiscal reality is visible=
    at=20
    the gas pump.=94
    =20
    =93For every gallon of regular unleaded gasoline sold in the state,=20
    combined taxes, fees, and regulatory program costs imposed by state = >and=20
    local governments now represent a substantial portion of the final = >price=20
    =97 frequently exceeding the net profit margins earned by refiners = >after=20
    costs.=94
    =20
    All those taxes & fees don't come out of what the gas station charges,=20 >>they are in ADDITION to the what the gas station charges. OAN wouldn't=20 >>know reality if it bit their genitals off.

    If you are thinking that the gas station charges, say, $5.9999 (local
    price seen in Seattle) and that does /not/ include the various State
    and Federal taxes

    I knew exactly what he meant, which was that the price at the pump
    includes fees that don't get paid to the depot that supply the
    fuel to the gas station nor do they profit to the station owner.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From William Hyde@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 16:51:23
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    Scott Lurndal wrote:
    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:

    <right-wing ravings elided>

    I know one place I do not want to move to, California.

    That's fine by us.

    I've been to Houston. Didn't like it.

    All big cities have good areas.

    A friend lived in the Montrose area, near Rice. While I don't like the climate, I think it was a good area to live in. Good shops (bookstores!) restaurants, plenty of trees. They have a massive booze and food store
    called Spec's, or possibly Specs. Back in my drinking days that was a paradise. For the food, it might still be.

    Not so good when the wind came from the wrong area, though. And there
    was a bit of a flooding problem on my last visit.

    On my only trip to Dallas the driver could not understand that I didn't
    want to visit the assassination site. Which perhaps colours my
    impression of Dallas negatively.

    But I'm going to join the hipster crowd and say that Austin is the best big-city place to live in in Texas. Bastrop, just outside of Austin, is supposed to be excellent. Moorcock lived there in his Texas years.
    Which reminds me that I haven't read his book of Texas stories.

    William Hyde


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Lurndal@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 22:53:57
    Subject: Re: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> writes:
    Scott Lurndal wrote:
    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:

    <right-wing ravings elided>

    I know one place I do not want to move to, California.

    That's fine by us.

    I've been to Houston. Didn't like it.

    All big cities have good areas.

    But the smog and humidity were the parts
    of Houston that I disliked the most. Also
    the spread-out nature of the metropolis made
    getting anywhere painful. I have trouble
    tolerating humidity and the area is flat, flat,
    flat (after decades in California, flat is boring :-)

    <snip>

    On my only trip to Dallas the driver could not understand that I didn't >want to visit the assassination site. Which perhaps colours my
    impression of Dallas negatively.

    Most of my visits to Dallas were for conferences and meetings;
    often the meeting was at the hotel in the middle of DFW, and
    we seldom left the airport. Had a few good meals downtown.

    I've been there visiting IBM during an ice storm in January, when there were more cars in the ditch than on the road.


    But I'm going to join the hipster crowd and say that Austin is the best >big-city place to live in in Texas. Bastrop, just outside of Austin, is >supposed to be excellent. Moorcock lived there in his Texas years.
    Which reminds me that I haven't read his book of Texas stories.

    That was my favorite city in Texas. The music scene on 6th
    street at night was fantastic; although I was last there in the 90s.

    San Antonio is nice.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Dimensional Traveler@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 17:31:36
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    On 4/22/2026 9:23 AM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
    Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> writes:
    On Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:45:11 -0700, Dimensional Traveler
    <dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:

    On 4/21/2026 5:19 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    =93The =91California Premium=92: Why the Golden State=92s =91Take Per =
    Gallon=92=20
    consistently outpaces refiner earnings=94
    =20
    https://www.oann.com/newsroom/the-california-premium-why-the-golden-=20 >>>> states-take-per-gallon-consistently-outpaces-refiner-earnings/
    =20
    =93As California moves through 2026, a clear fiscal reality is visible=
    at=20
    the gas pump.=94
    =20
    =93For every gallon of regular unleaded gasoline sold in the state,=20 >>>> combined taxes, fees, and regulatory program costs imposed by state =
    and=20
    local governments now represent a substantial portion of the final =
    price=20
    =97 frequently exceeding the net profit margins earned by refiners =
    after=20
    costs.=94
    =20
    All those taxes & fees don't come out of what the gas station charges,=20 >>> they are in ADDITION to the what the gas station charges. OAN wouldn't=20 >>> know reality if it bit their genitals off.

    If you are thinking that the gas station charges, say, $5.9999 (local
    price seen in Seattle) and that does /not/ include the various State
    and Federal taxes

    I knew exactly what he meant, which was that the price at the pump
    includes fees that don't get paid to the depot that supply the
    fuel to the gas station nor do they profit to the station owner.

    Correct, thank you.

    --
    I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
    dirty old man.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Paul S Person@3:633/10 to All on Thursday, April 23, 2026 08:21:39
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    On Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:23:28 GMT, scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal)
    wrote:

    Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> writes:
    On Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:45:11 -0700, Dimensional Traveler >><dtravel@sonic.net> wrote:

    On 4/21/2026 5:19 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    =93The =91California Premium=92: Why the Golden State=92s
    =91Take Per =
    Gallon=92=20
    consistently outpaces refiner earnings=94
    =20

    https://www.oann.com/newsroom/the-california-premium-why-the-golden-=20
    states-take-per-gallon-consistently-outpaces-refiner-earnings/
    =20
    =93As California moves through 2026, a clear fiscal reality is
    visible=
    at=20
    the gas pump.=94
    =20
    =93For every gallon of regular unleaded gasoline sold in the
    state,=20
    combined taxes, fees, and regulatory program costs imposed by state
    =
    and=20
    local governments now represent a substantial portion of the final = >>price=20
    =97 frequently exceeding the net profit margins earned by refiners
    =
    after=20
    costs.=94
    =20
    All those taxes & fees don't come out of what the gas station
    charges,=20
    they are in ADDITION to the what the gas station charges. OAN
    wouldn't=20
    know reality if it bit their genitals off.

    If you are thinking that the gas station charges, say, $5.9999 (local
    price seen in Seattle) and that does /not/ include the various State
    and Federal taxes

    I knew exactly what he meant, which was that the price at the pump
    includes fees that don't get paid to the depot that supply the
    fuel to the gas station nor do they profit to the station owner.

    You know what he meant to say. The /gas station/ charges an amount
    that /includes all costs, all taxes, and all profits/. This is how
    commerce works.

    And he made no mention of the depot supplying the gas.
    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Paul S Person@3:633/10 to All on Thursday, April 23, 2026 08:27:09
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    On Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:51:23 -0400, William Hyde
    <wthyde1953@gmail.com> wrote:

    <snippo: visiting/living in Texas>
    On my only trip to Dallas the driver could not understand that I didn't

    want to visit the assassination site. Which perhaps colours my
    impression of Dallas negatively.

    I suspect that the driver asked because most visitors want to see it.

    Or, at least, the driver thinks they do.

    As to negativity, I suppose that would depend on whether they were
    proud of it ("got rid of him!") or not.
    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From William Hyde@3:633/10 to All on Thursday, April 23, 2026 20:43:27
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    Scott Lurndal wrote:
    William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> writes:
    Scott Lurndal wrote:
    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:

    <right-wing ravings elided>

    I know one place I do not want to move to, California.

    That's fine by us.

    I've been to Houston. Didn't like it.

    All big cities have good areas.

    But the smog and humidity were the parts
    of Houston that I disliked the most. Also
    the spread-out nature of the metropolis made
    getting anywhere painful. I have trouble
    tolerating humidity and the area is flat, flat,
    flat (after decades in California, flat is boring :-)

    I did forget to mention one downside. Your vote will be gerrymandered away.

    William Hyde



    <snip>

    On my only trip to Dallas the driver could not understand that I didn't
    want to visit the assassination site. Which perhaps colours my
    impression of Dallas negatively.

    Most of my visits to Dallas were for conferences and meetings;
    often the meeting was at the hotel in the middle of DFW, and
    we seldom left the airport. Had a few good meals downtown.

    I've been there visiting IBM during an ice storm in January, when there were more cars in the ditch than on the road.


    But I'm going to join the hipster crowd and say that Austin is the best
    big-city place to live in in Texas. Bastrop, just outside of Austin, is
    supposed to be excellent. Moorcock lived there in his Texas years.
    Which reminds me that I haven't read his book of Texas stories.

    That was my favorite city in Texas. The music scene on 6th
    street at night was fantastic; although I was last there in the 90s.

    San Antonio is nice.

    Friends lived there a year and were not so happy. It looks nice in
    parts, but not where they could afford to live (and she was a highly
    qualified physician).

    I enjoyed my one brief stay there.

    William Hyde

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From William Hyde@3:633/10 to All on Thursday, April 23, 2026 20:44:51
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    Paul S Person wrote:
    On Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:51:23 -0400, William Hyde
    <wthyde1953@gmail.com> wrote:

    <snippo: visiting/living in Texas>
    On my only trip to Dallas the driver could not understand that I didn't
    want to visit the assassination site. Which perhaps colours my
    impression of Dallas negatively.

    I suspect that the driver asked because most visitors want to see it.

    Right, but he wouldn't shut up about it. He couldn't believe that I
    didn't want to go there.

    William Hyde


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Lurndal@3:633/10 to All on Friday, April 24, 2026 14:38:20
    Subject: Re: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> writes:
    Scott Lurndal wrote:
    William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> writes:
    Scott Lurndal wrote:
    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:

    <right-wing ravings elided>

    I know one place I do not want to move to, California.

    That's fine by us.

    I've been to Houston. Didn't like it.

    All big cities have good areas.

    <snip>

    But I'm going to join the hipster crowd and say that Austin is the best
    big-city place to live in in Texas. Bastrop, just outside of Austin, is >>> supposed to be excellent. Moorcock lived there in his Texas years.
    Which reminds me that I haven't read his book of Texas stories.

    That was my favorite city in Texas. The music scene on 6th
    street at night was fantastic; although I was last there in the 90s.

    San Antonio is nice.

    Friends lived there a year and were not so happy. It looks nice in
    parts, but not where they could afford to live (and she was a highly >qualified physician).

    I enjoyed my one brief stay there.

    We flew from Saginaw to SA for a business meeting at Rack Space. Due to weather, the
    flight was late, so we arrived at a fancy hotel about 1AM
    only to find they'd given away our guaranteed late arrival reservations.

    They put us up in a nearby embassy suites, which was the
    most run-down ES that I'd ever stayed at (I was used to the
    ES in Battery Park city where I stayed often) so we had at
    least a couple hours of sleep before the 0900 meeting.

    We were back at the airport by noon for a flight to Houston
    and an afternoon meeting with Veritas DGC and on a flight
    back to San Jose by early evening.


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From BCFD 36@3:633/10 to All on Monday, April 27, 2026 10:46:36
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    On 4/22/26 15:53, Scott Lurndal wrote:
    William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> writes:
    Scott Lurndal wrote:
    Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> writes:

    <right-wing ravings elided>

    I know one place I do not want to move to, California.

    That's fine by us.

    I've been to Houston. Didn't like it.

    All big cities have good areas.

    But the smog and humidity were the parts
    of Houston that I disliked the most. Also
    the spread-out nature of the metropolis made
    getting anywhere painful. I have trouble
    tolerating humidity and the area is flat, flat,
    flat (after decades in California, flat is boring :-)

    <snip>

    On my only trip to Dallas the driver could not understand that I didn't
    want to visit the assassination site. Which perhaps colours my
    impression of Dallas negatively.

    Most of my visits to Dallas were for conferences and meetings;
    often the meeting was at the hotel in the middle of DFW, and
    we seldom left the airport. Had a few good meals downtown.

    I've been there visiting IBM during an ice storm in January, when there were more cars in the ditch than on the road.


    But I'm going to join the hipster crowd and say that Austin is the best
    big-city place to live in in Texas. Bastrop, just outside of Austin, is
    supposed to be excellent. Moorcock lived there in his Texas years.
    Which reminds me that I haven't read his book of Texas stories.

    That was my favorite city in Texas. The music scene on 6th
    street at night was fantastic; although I was last there in the 90s.

    San Antonio is nice.

    Another feature of Houston is that they have no codes saying where you
    can and where you can't build a particular type of building. So it is perfectly legal to have a chemical plant right next to a day care
    center. When my parents were looking for a house to buy in Houston in
    the middle '60s, my Dad passed on one because it had an empty corner lot
    next to it. Not long after, a kennel was built there.

    --
    ----------------

    Dave Scruggs
    Senior Software Engineer - Lockheed Martin, et. al (mostly Retired)
    Captain - Boulder Creek Fire (Retired)
    Board of Directors - Boulder Creek Fire Protection District (What was I thinking?)

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Jay Morris@3:633/10 to All on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 09:10:09
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    On 4/27/2026 12:46 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
    ....

    Another feature of Houston is that they have no codes saying where you
    can and where you can't build a particular type of building. So it is perfectly legal to have a chemical plant right next to a day care
    center. When my parents were looking for a house to buy in Houston in
    the middle '60s, my Dad passed on one because it had an empty corner lot next to it. Not long after, a kennel was built there.


    The lack of building codes also leads to lack of adequate drainage and
    flood control. Houston is notorious for flooding. The local flood
    control district estimates a major flood every two years.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Lynn McGuire@3:633/10 to All on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 16:20:18
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    On 4/28/2026 9:10 AM, Jay Morris wrote:
    On 4/27/2026 12:46 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
    ....

    Another feature of Houston is that they have no codes saying where you
    can and where you can't build a particular type of building. So it is
    perfectly legal to have a chemical plant right next to a day care
    center. When my parents were looking for a house to buy in Houston in
    the middle '60s, my Dad passed on one because it had an empty corner
    lot next to it. Not long after, a kennel was built there.


    The lack of building codes also leads to lack of adequate drainage and
    flood control. Houston is notorious for flooding. The local flood
    control district estimates a major flood every two years.

    Houston also gets 65+ inches of rain a year on average. Tough to drain
    it all away when it half of it comes over three days like Hurricane
    Harvey. And the population of the Houston Metropolitan area just hit
    eight million.

    Lynn


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Jay Morris@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 12:02:48
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    On 4/28/2026 4:20 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 4/28/2026 9:10 AM, Jay Morris wrote:
    On 4/27/2026 12:46 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
    ....

    Another feature of Houston is that they have no codes saying where
    you can and where you can't build a particular type of building. So
    it is perfectly legal to have a chemical plant right next to a day
    care center. When my parents were looking for a house to buy in
    Houston in the middle '60s, my Dad passed on one because it had an
    empty corner lot next to it. Not long after, a kennel was built there.


    The lack of building codes also leads to lack of adequate drainage and
    flood control. Houston is notorious for flooding. The local flood
    control district estimates a major flood every two years.

    Houston also gets 65+ inches of rain a year on average.ÿ Tough to drain
    it all away when it half of it comes over three days like Hurricane
    Harvey.ÿ And the population of the Houston Metropolitan area just hit
    eight million.

    Lynn


    I believe I read some time ago that they were considering a tunnel, or tunnels, like San Antonio? Before the tunnel we had 5' of water in
    downtown San Antonio during one flood, since then, even with greater
    rain, nothing.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From BCFD 36@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 10:51:33
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    On 4/28/26 14:20, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 4/28/2026 9:10 AM, Jay Morris wrote:
    On 4/27/2026 12:46 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
    ....
    [stuff deleted]

    Houston also gets 65+ inches of rain a year on average.ÿ Tough to drain
    it all away when it half of it comes over three days like Hurricane
    Harvey.ÿ And the population of the Houston Metropolitan area just hit
    eight million.

    Lynn


    Your average rainfall didn't sound right, so I checked several sources.
    The sources all said right around 50 inches per year, so you were a bit
    off. It is still a lot of rain that can come rather quickly in a very
    flat area. Also, the streets in Houston are DESIGNED to flood and act as secondary flood channels

    Side note: When I lived in Houston in the middle to late 60's, there apparently were levees out in the cow pastures west of town. As the
    family story goes, one year they decided to test the levees and see how
    said levees were holding up. So the flood gates (on the bayous maybe?)
    were closed flooding the cow pastures. My dad decided this presented a
    great opportunity to try out his new used boat. Other people had the
    same idea. So he load up the car with Mom and kids, and drove to one of
    the flooded pastures AND LAUNCHED THE BOAT. Then proceeded to teach us
    kids to water ski. Not one of his best ideas, but none of us got hurt
    and none of the other boats ran over us.

    --
    ----------------

    Dave Scruggs
    Senior Software Engineer - Lockheed Martin, et. al (mostly Retired)
    Captain - Boulder Creek Fire (Retired)
    Board of Directors - Boulder Creek Fire Protection District (What was I thinking?)

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Lynn McGuire@3:633/10 to All on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 15:20:18
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    On 4/29/2026 12:02 PM, Jay Morris wrote:
    On 4/28/2026 4:20 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 4/28/2026 9:10 AM, Jay Morris wrote:
    On 4/27/2026 12:46 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
    ....

    Another feature of Houston is that they have no codes saying where
    you can and where you can't build a particular type of building. So
    it is perfectly legal to have a chemical plant right next to a day
    care center. When my parents were looking for a house to buy in
    Houston in the middle '60s, my Dad passed on one because it had an
    empty corner lot next to it. Not long after, a kennel was built there. >>>>

    The lack of building codes also leads to lack of adequate drainage
    and flood control. Houston is notorious for flooding. The local flood
    control district estimates a major flood every two years.

    Houston also gets 65+ inches of rain a year on average.ÿ Tough to
    drain it all away when it half of it comes over three days like
    Hurricane Harvey.ÿ And the population of the Houston Metropolitan area
    just hit eight million.

    Lynn


    I believe I read some time ago that they were considering a tunnel, or tunnels, like San Antonio? Before the tunnel we had 5' of water in
    downtown San Antonio during one flood, since then, even with greater
    rain, nothing.

    They are considering putting 30 foot diameter drainage tunnels under the existing bayous in Houston. The cost estimate is amazing.

    Lynn


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Paul S Person@3:633/10 to All on Thursday, April 30, 2026 08:15:44
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    On Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:20:18 -0500, Lynn McGuire
    <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:

    On 4/29/2026 12:02 PM, Jay Morris wrote:
    On 4/28/2026 4:20 PM, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 4/28/2026 9:10 AM, Jay Morris wrote:
    On 4/27/2026 12:46 PM, BCFD 36 wrote:
    ....

    Another feature of Houston is that they have no codes saying where
    you can and where you can't build a particular type of building. So

    it is perfectly legal to have a chemical plant right next to a day
    care center. When my parents were looking for a house to buy in
    Houston in the middle '60s, my Dad passed on one because it had an
    empty corner lot next to it. Not long after, a kennel was built
    there.


    The lack of building codes also leads to lack of adequate drainage
    and flood control. Houston is notorious for flooding. The local
    flood
    control district estimates a major flood every two years.

    Houston also gets 65+ inches of rain a year on average.? Tough to
    drain it all away when it half of it comes over three days like
    Hurricane Harvey.? And the population of the Houston Metropolitan
    area
    just hit eight million.

    Lynn


    I believe I read some time ago that they were considering a tunnel, or

    tunnels, like San Antonio? Before the tunnel we had 5' of water in
    downtown San Antonio during one flood, since then, even with greater
    rain, nothing.

    They are considering putting 30 foot diameter drainage tunnels under the

    existing bayous in Houston. The cost estimate is amazing.

    Such estimates often are. And tend to the low side.

    "You pays your money and you takes your choice" applies here: flooding
    vs drainage. It's Houston's choice.
    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Lurndal@3:633/10 to All on Thursday, April 30, 2026 15:52:13
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> writes:
    On Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:20:18 -0500, Lynn McGuire
    <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:


    I believe I read some time ago that they were considering a tunnel, or= >=20
    tunnels, like San Antonio? Before the tunnel we had 5' of water in=20
    downtown San Antonio during one flood, since then, even with greater=20
    rain, nothing.

    They are considering putting 30 foot diameter drainage tunnels under the= >=20
    existing bayous in Houston. The cost estimate is amazing.

    Such estimates often are. And tend to the low side.

    The estimate for the houston tunnel system is $30 billion
    (and of course, Elon is involved). It faces substantial
    hurdles in both funding and engineering feasbility.

    https://www.hcfcd.org/Community/Press-Room?post=Flood+Control+District+releases++Phase+2+results+of+Tunnel+Feasibility+Study


    At least California High Speed Rail is feasible, even if
    it does require substantial tunnelling on both ends.


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From William Hyde@3:633/10 to All on Friday, May 01, 2026 17:38:28
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    Scott Lurndal wrote:
    Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> writes:
    On Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:20:18 -0500, Lynn McGuire
    <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:


    I believe I read some time ago that they were considering a tunnel, or=
    =20
    tunnels, like San Antonio? Before the tunnel we had 5' of water in=20
    downtown San Antonio during one flood, since then, even with greater=20 >>>> rain, nothing.

    They are considering putting 30 foot diameter drainage tunnels under the= >> =20
    existing bayous in Houston. The cost estimate is amazing.

    Such estimates often are. And tend to the low side.

    The estimate for the houston tunnel system is $30 billion
    (and of course, Elon is involved). It faces substantial
    hurdles in both funding and engineering feasbility.


    The idiots running this province want to build a tunnel under the 401
    highway at a cost of at least 80 billion.

    At least the Houston tunnels will produce a benefit. Twinning 401
    underground will produce almost nothing in the way of benefits. I've
    taken 401 across the city twice recently in rush hour. Slow but not
    terribly so.

    William Hyde


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Lynn McGuire@3:633/10 to All on Friday, May 01, 2026 17:24:21
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    On 4/30/2026 10:52 AM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
    Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> writes:
    On Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:20:18 -0500, Lynn McGuire
    <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:


    I believe I read some time ago that they were considering a tunnel, or=
    =20
    tunnels, like San Antonio? Before the tunnel we had 5' of water in=20
    downtown San Antonio during one flood, since then, even with greater=20 >>>> rain, nothing.

    They are considering putting 30 foot diameter drainage tunnels under the= >> =20
    existing bayous in Houston. The cost estimate is amazing.

    Such estimates often are. And tend to the low side.

    The estimate for the houston tunnel system is $30 billion
    (and of course, Elon is involved). It faces substantial
    hurdles in both funding and engineering feasbility.

    https://www.hcfcd.org/Community/Press-Room?post=Flood+Control+District+releases++Phase+2+results+of+Tunnel+Feasibility+Study


    At least California High Speed Rail is feasible, even if
    it does require substantial tunnelling on both ends.

    That is a 2022 study. I saw a pundit's esposition recently who thought
    it was understated by at least 3X, they thought it would be at least
    $100 billion.

    Plus Houston needs to build the third 5,000+ acre retaining pond on the
    north side which will be a few billion dollars more.

    Lynn


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Bobbie Sellers@3:633/10 to All on Friday, May 01, 2026 21:25:49
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?



    On 5/1/26 15:24, Lynn McGuire wrote:
    On 4/30/2026 10:52 AM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
    Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> writes:
    On Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:20:18 -0500, Lynn McGuire
    <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:


    I believe I read some time ago that they were considering a tunnel, >>>>> or=
    =20
    tunnels, like San Antonio? Before the tunnel we had 5' of water in=20 >>>>> downtown San Antonio during one flood, since then, even with
    greater=20
    rain, nothing.

    They are considering putting 30 foot diameter drainage tunnels under
    the=
    =20
    existing bayous in Houston.ÿ The cost estimate is amazing.

    Such estimates often are. And tend to the low side.

    The estimate for the houston tunnel system is $30 billion
    (and of course, Elon is involved).ÿ It faces substantial
    hurdles in both funding and engineering feasbility.

    https://www.hcfcd.org/Community/Press-Room?
    post=Flood+Control+District+releases+
    +Phase+2+results+of+Tunnel+Feasibility+Study


    At least California High Speed Rail is feasible, even if
    it does require substantial tunnelling on both ends.

    That is a 2022 study.ÿ I saw a pundit's esposition recently who thought
    it was understated by at least 3X, they thought it would be at least
    $100 billion.

    Plus Houston needs to build the third 5,000+ acre retaining pond on the north side which will be a few billion dollars more.

    Lynn


    The high speed rail is totally feasible. The cost is rising due to inflation
    caused by tax cuts to the most wealthy since before Reagan and continuing
    under the present "conservative" regime. The economic crashes at the
    beginning of the century in which the wealthy and the companies they
    depended upon were kept in business while the people who lost homes
    and livlihoods were left without support.


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Dorsey@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, May 02, 2026 10:00:21
    Subject: Re: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    Bobbie Sellers <blissInSanFrancisco@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    inflation
    caused by tax cuts to the most wealthy since before Reagan and continuing >under the present "conservative" regime. The economic crashes at the >beginning of the century in which the wealthy and the companies they
    depended upon were kept in business while the people who lost homes
    and livlihoods were left without support.

    What is so ironic is that the train service today is far poorer than it
    was in the 1890s, the last time we had this sort of economy. (And back
    then the huge gains in wealth among the top few percent were a consequence
    of railway expansion too.)
    --scott
    --
    "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Lurndal@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, May 02, 2026 15:49:12
    Subject: Re: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) writes:
    Bobbie Sellers <blissInSanFrancisco@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    inflation
    caused by tax cuts to the most wealthy since before Reagan and continuing >>under the present "conservative" regime. The economic crashes at the >>beginning of the century in which the wealthy and the companies they >>depended upon were kept in business while the people who lost homes
    and livlihoods were left without support.

    What is so ironic is that the train service today is far poorer than it
    was in the 1890s, the last time we had this sort of economy. (And back
    then the huge gains in wealth among the top few percent were a consequence
    of railway expansion too.)

    Mostly due to the free land given to the RR companies along the ROW, IIRC.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Scott Dorsey@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, May 02, 2026 13:27:18
    Subject: Re: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    Scott Lurndal <slp53@pacbell.net> wrote:
    kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) writes:
    Bobbie Sellers <blissInSanFrancisco@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    inflation
    caused by tax cuts to the most wealthy since before Reagan and continuing >>>under the present "conservative" regime. The economic crashes at the >>>beginning of the century in which the wealthy and the companies they >>>depended upon were kept in business while the people who lost homes
    and livlihoods were left without support.

    What is so ironic is that the train service today is far poorer than it
    was in the 1890s, the last time we had this sort of economy. (And back >>then the huge gains in wealth among the top few percent were a consequence >>of railway expansion too.)

    Mostly due to the free land given to the RR companies along the ROW, IIRC.

    That was some of it, although of course there was a lot of land and not
    very much demand at the time. (The demand came later after the railroads.) There was also a lot of money being made in consolidating railroads into
    large interstate companies that couldn't effectively be regulated by state governments.
    --scott
    --
    "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From William Hyde@3:633/10 to All on Saturday, May 02, 2026 17:55:13
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    Scott Dorsey wrote:
    Bobbie Sellers <blissInSanFrancisco@mouse-potato.com> wrote:
    inflation
    caused by tax cuts to the most wealthy since before Reagan and continuing
    under the present "conservative" regime. The economic crashes at the
    beginning of the century in which the wealthy and the companies they
    depended upon were kept in business while the people who lost homes
    and livlihoods were left without support.

    What is so ironic is that the train service today is far poorer than it
    was in the 1890s, the last time we had this sort of economy. (And back
    then the huge gains in wealth among the top few percent were a consequence
    of railway expansion too.)


    Strongly recommended reading is "The Scarlet Woman of Wall Street", a
    history of the early years of the Erie Railroad, and thus of its
    competitors also.

    Stock market manipulation, bribery of legislators, wiping out of middle
    class holdings, one battle, betrayal by the bribed, various serious comeuppances for the corrupt, "town milk", "uncle Daniel's one stringed Chinese lute", and so on.


    Featuring a cast of Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jay Gould, Fisk, the
    previously unknown to me Daniel Drew (inventor of "watered stock")
    Churchill's grandfather Leonard Jerome and even U.S. Grant.

    The author, John Gordon Steele, is very much a free market man, who
    doesn't forget to mention the good that was done, doesn't draw any caricatures, but even a lefty like myself found it very enjoyable, as
    well as informative.

    If I could find ten more books like this, nobody would see me for a week.

    William Hyde



    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Paul S Person@3:633/10 to All on Sunday, May 03, 2026 08:33:26
    Subject: Re: ?The ?California Premium?: Why the Golden State?s ?Take Per Gallon? consistently outpaces refiner earnings?

    On Sat, 2 May 2026 13:27:18 -0400 (EDT), kludge@panix.com (Scott
    Dorsey) wrote:

    Scott Lurndal <slp53@pacbell.net> wrote:

    <snppo>

    Mostly due to the free land given to the RR companies along the ROW,
    IIRC.

    That was some of it, although of course there was a lot of land and not
    very much demand at the time. (The demand came later after the
    railroads.)
    There was also a lot of money being made in consolidating railroads into >large interstate companies that couldn't effectively be regulated by
    state
    governments.

    And yet I suspect that the bar still closes whenever the train enters
    a dry State (or even county).
    --
    "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
    Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
    Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5.14
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)