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It's no surprise where the lowest average prices are (and usually are)....the South Central states. That's where most of the refineries are...and transportation-costs to the nearby stations are minimal. Also, those states generally don't impose high gas taxes.
Last edited by mmarshall; May 12, 2026 at 07:58 PM.
It's no surprise where the lowest average prices are (and usually are)....the South Central states. That's where most of the refineries are...and transportation-costs to the nearby stations are minimal.
🤞 no hurricanes this year disrupting any of those refineries.
Here's the whole story. Jill only posted the image.
JACKSONVILLE, FL — A Florida woman was detained early Tuesday morning after police say she attempted to ride a shopping cart down Interstate 95 at nearly 3 a.m. using a shower curtain as a homemade sail. According to investigators, 26-year-old Jessica Marino was spotted weaving through traffic while standing inside a shopping cart allegedly stolen from a nearby grocery store parking lot. Police reports claim the cart had been “modified for travel purposes” using duct tape, bungee cords, and a floral shower curtain attached to a mop handle. One witness told officers: “It looked like a homeless pirate entered NASCAR.” Authorities say Jessica allegedly told troopers she was “trying to catch the wind southbound” because Uber surge pricing was “financial oppression.” Drivers reportedly began slowing down after seeing the cart wobbling across the shoulder while the shower curtain flapped violently in traffic. According to police, Jessica was also wearing swim goggles and repeatedly yelling: “THE WIND IS PERFECT.” Things escalated after the cart allegedly struck a traffic barrel and spun into a patch of wet grass near an exit ramp. Witnesses claim Jessica climbed out completely unharmed and immediately blamed: “crosswinds and government interference.” Troopers say they discovered a backpack attached to the cart containing snacks, sunscreen, zip ties, and what appeared to be handwritten “navigation notes” for reaching Daytona Beach. One officer reportedly asked her: “You know this isn’t a real vehicle… right?” Jessica allegedly responded: “Not with that attitude.” Police say she remained cooperative during the arrest but continued insisting the idea “would’ve worked if the roads were flatter.” She was detained on charges including disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic. One trooper reportedly described the incident as: “the closest thing to Pirates of the Caribbean Florida has ever produced.”
Last edited by mmarshall; May 12, 2026 at 08:42 PM.
Here's the whole story. Jill only posted the image.
JACKSONVILLE, FL — A Florida woman was detained early Tuesday morning after police say she attempted to ride a shopping cart down Interstate 95 at nearly 3 a.m. using a shower curtain as a homemade sail. According to investigators, 26-year-old Jessica Marino was spotted weaving through traffic while standing inside a shopping cart allegedly stolen from a nearby grocery store parking lot. Police reports claim the cart had been “modified for travel purposes” using duct tape, bungee cords, and a floral shower curtain attached to a mop handle. One witness told officers: “It looked like a homeless pirate entered NASCAR.” Authorities say Jessica allegedly told troopers she was “trying to catch the wind southbound” because Uber surge pricing was “financial oppression.” Drivers reportedly began slowing down after seeing the cart wobbling across the shoulder while the shower curtain flapped violently in traffic. According to police, Jessica was also wearing swim goggles and repeatedly yelling: “THE WIND IS PERFECT.” Things escalated after the cart allegedly struck a traffic barrel and spun into a patch of wet grass near an exit ramp. Witnesses claim Jessica climbed out completely unharmed and immediately blamed: “crosswinds and government interference.” Troopers say they discovered a backpack attached to the cart containing snacks, sunscreen, zip ties, and what appeared to be handwritten “navigation notes” for reaching Daytona Beach. One officer reportedly asked her: “You know this isn’t a real vehicle… right?” Jessica allegedly responded: “Not with that attitude.” Police say she remained cooperative during the arrest but continued insisting the idea “would’ve worked if the roads were flatter.” She was detained on charges including disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic. One trooper reportedly described the incident as: “the closest thing to Pirates of the Caribbean Florida has ever produced.”
Yes...sugar in one's gas tank will ruin one's whole day.
That practice of sugar-in-the-tank, however, is not new. I knew about it back in high-school, in the late 60s...although, of course, I would not do anything like that. But we did have some hooligans where I lived.
Here's the whole story. Jill only posted the image.
JACKSONVILLE, FL — A Florida woman was detained early Tuesday morning after police say she attempted to ride a shopping cart down Interstate 95 at nearly 3 a.m. using a shower curtain as a homemade sail. According to investigators, 26-year-old Jessica Marino was spotted weaving through traffic while standing inside a shopping cart allegedly stolen from a nearby grocery store parking lot. Police reports claim the cart had been “modified for travel purposes” using duct tape, bungee cords, and a floral shower curtain attached to a mop handle. One witness told officers: “It looked like a homeless pirate entered NASCAR.” Authorities say Jessica allegedly told troopers she was “trying to catch the wind southbound” because Uber surge pricing was “financial oppression.” Drivers reportedly began slowing down after seeing the cart wobbling across the shoulder while the shower curtain flapped violently in traffic. According to police, Jessica was also wearing swim goggles and repeatedly yelling: “THE WIND IS PERFECT.” Things escalated after the cart allegedly struck a traffic barrel and spun into a patch of wet grass near an exit ramp. Witnesses claim Jessica climbed out completely unharmed and immediately blamed: “crosswinds and government interference.” Troopers say they discovered a backpack attached to the cart containing snacks, sunscreen, zip ties, and what appeared to be handwritten “navigation notes” for reaching Daytona Beach. One officer reportedly asked her: “You know this isn’t a real vehicle… right?” Jessica allegedly responded: “Not with that attitude.” Police say she remained cooperative during the arrest but continued insisting the idea “would’ve worked if the roads were flatter.” She was detained on charges including disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic. One trooper reportedly described the incident as: “the closest thing to Pirates of the Caribbean Florida has ever produced.”
One point on gas prices that I believe should be brought up again, even though I have mentioned it before during past price-spikes, is that I generally don't recommend giving in to the temptation to use cheap Ma-and-Pa gas-brands that are not at the Tier-1 level. Tier-1 (or Top-Tier) brands are classified as such for a reason...they are usually the ones recommended by auto-manufacturers, they have been well-tested, and they generally contain enough detergent and other additives to keep the engine and fuel-syatem clean and prolong engine life. Sure, you can save a little by putting in the economy stuff, and doing so may not harm your engine very much in the short run if it is already still in good shape. But make a habit of it, and you are risking up a lot of carbon buildup, clogged injectors, and (possibly) professional engine work or cleaning to correct it.
I myself use Shell almost exclusively, since Shell and Chevron generally have the best detergent-additive packages, even among the Top-Tier brands, and Chevron (inexplicably) moved out of the D.C. area a number of years ago. Local Giant Food grocery stores in this area also help subsuidize your Shell-purchases (although it is not a huge amount) by giving you gas-points on each purchase....about one point per dollar. 100 points gets you 10 cents off a gallon. Gas points, of course, have become easier to acccumulate now that Giant grocery prices keep rising.
We've been using Sam's Club Mastercard for several years. 5% cash back on all gas purchases at any gas station (not restricted to just Sam's gas)
I don't purchase so-called top tier fuels. Special detergents might benefit some engines or those that sit for extended periods but my Tundra idles and runs silky smooth with the same MPG after a quarter century and 300k miles.
ps. Yes, severe Spring drought conditions are impacting US agriculture. It's reportedly the worst March/April drought on record.
Last edited by ChattanoogaPhil; May 13, 2026 at 05:19 AM.
I don't purchase so-called top tier fuels. Special detergents might benefit some engines or those that sit for extended periods but my Tundra idles and runs silky smooth with the same MPG after a quarter century and 300k miles.
There is clear data that there is a benefit to using top tier fuels
