i was robbed today
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,487
Likes: 3,672
From: California
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,460
Likes: 232
From: CA
By CA law, over a certain amount any surplus has to be refunded to the taxpayers. My understanding is, for the $400 debit card, there is no income limit, EVs count and the maximum is $800.
If you fill up once a week, that is $15 off for 6 months.
There is a lot of money in CA, by ourselves we are the 4th or 5th largest economy in the world.
IMO, paying a lot of taxes is a great problem because it means you are making money.
If you fill up once a week, that is $15 off for 6 months.
There is a lot of money in CA, by ourselves we are the 4th or 5th largest economy in the world.
IMO, paying a lot of taxes is a great problem because it means you are making money.
The sad part irregardless is that the politics of gas is mind numbing. AAA published this for state averages:
https://gasprices.aaa.com/state-gas-price-averages/
To see us be higher than Hawaii is crazy.
I shared that with a few more friends that loved that joke. They all agreed that it does feel like that more so now.
https://gasprices.aaa.com/state-gas-price-averages/
To see us be higher than Hawaii is crazy.
I shared that with a few more friends that loved that joke. They all agreed that it does feel like that more so now.
On the serious side is that stateside the infrastructure development did not favor contained accessible services for the local areas. When I was a kiddie our area along a major street had 4 gas stations on each corner, SE,SW, NE, NW and on this intersection there were two supermarkets, Alpha Beta and Safeway, Thriftys, dry cleaner, barber/beauty salon, liquor store, doughnut shop, jeweler, mom-pop restaurant/s, electronics repair shop, real estate office and similar. Mom dad bought the house because it was located in easy walking access to these basic services.
Over the years the gas stations closed and were replaced with homes and other commercial space changes. There remains one gas station on that corner now while the retail due to covid pretty much closed 70% of the mom-pop stores, even some big corporate like Verizon have closed up. That back story is that now the community is required to drive to access basic needs. I would not want to hoof 2 -4 miles to the market with temp sensitive foods.
Family in Japan no matter where in the community all are within walking distance to a mom-pop market for foods. Little snack shops, restaurants that serve reasonable $ foods for the local area residents. No need for a car. Public transportation is easy too. With globalization of Amazon, ordering from Amazon is even easier now and they had a variety of other online shopping prior. Not a perfect system there yet unless out in the boonies, the effect of rising gas is not as big a deal because the community is designed to be self sufficient for most basics. America has developed differently so we have to deal with this gas situation. (I would still pick being stateside than Japan but some aspects are tempting.)
Over the years the gas stations closed and were replaced with homes and other commercial space changes. There remains one gas station on that corner now while the retail due to covid pretty much closed 70% of the mom-pop stores, even some big corporate like Verizon have closed up. That back story is that now the community is required to drive to access basic needs. I would not want to hoof 2 -4 miles to the market with temp sensitive foods.
Family in Japan no matter where in the community all are within walking distance to a mom-pop market for foods. Little snack shops, restaurants that serve reasonable $ foods for the local area residents. No need for a car. Public transportation is easy too. With globalization of Amazon, ordering from Amazon is even easier now and they had a variety of other online shopping prior. Not a perfect system there yet unless out in the boonies, the effect of rising gas is not as big a deal because the community is designed to be self sufficient for most basics. America has developed differently so we have to deal with this gas situation. (I would still pick being stateside than Japan but some aspects are tempting.)
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,487
Likes: 3,672
From: California
On the serious side is that stateside the infrastructure development did not favor contained accessible services for the local areas. When I was a kiddie our area along a major street had 4 gas stations on each corner, SE,SW, NE, NW and on this intersection there were two supermarkets, Alpha Beta and Safeway, Thriftys, dry cleaner, barber/beauty salon, liquor store, doughnut shop, jeweler, mom-pop restaurant/s, electronics repair shop, real estate office and similar. Mom dad bought the house because it was located in easy walking access to these basic services.
Over the years the gas stations closed and were replaced with homes and other commercial space changes. There remains one gas station on that corner now while the retail due to covid pretty much closed 70% of the mom-pop stores, even some big corporate like Verizon have closed up. That back story is that now the community is required to drive to access basic needs. I would not want to hoof 2 -4 miles to the market with temp sensitive foods.
Family in Japan no matter where in the community all are within walking distance to a mom-pop market for foods. Little snack shops, restaurants that serve reasonable $ foods for the local area residents. No need for a car. Public transportation is easy too. With globalization of Amazon, ordering from Amazon is even easier now and they had a variety of other online shopping prior. Not a perfect system there yet unless out in the boonies, the effect of rising gas is not as big a deal because the community is designed to be self sufficient for most basics. America has developed differently so we have to deal with this gas situation. (I would still pick being stateside than Japan but some aspects are tempting.)
Over the years the gas stations closed and were replaced with homes and other commercial space changes. There remains one gas station on that corner now while the retail due to covid pretty much closed 70% of the mom-pop stores, even some big corporate like Verizon have closed up. That back story is that now the community is required to drive to access basic needs. I would not want to hoof 2 -4 miles to the market with temp sensitive foods.
Family in Japan no matter where in the community all are within walking distance to a mom-pop market for foods. Little snack shops, restaurants that serve reasonable $ foods for the local area residents. No need for a car. Public transportation is easy too. With globalization of Amazon, ordering from Amazon is even easier now and they had a variety of other online shopping prior. Not a perfect system there yet unless out in the boonies, the effect of rising gas is not as big a deal because the community is designed to be self sufficient for most basics. America has developed differently so we have to deal with this gas situation. (I would still pick being stateside than Japan but some aspects are tempting.)
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 19,487
Likes: 3,672
From: California
Since this is technically a post about the high price of gasoline, I think mentioning this is appropriate. My daughter who is in SoCal attending UC Irvine called me today while in line at the Costco gas station. She currently is driving my 2006 Camry SE I gave to her which has the 3.3L V6. Toyota recommends premium, but it's not a hard requirement. Since I bought the car, I've always filled it with only premium. When I gave it to my daughter in 2018 I told her she should only use premium unless circumstances prohibited it.
Anyway she calls me, and the conversation went something like this:
Daughter: Papa?
Me: Yes, what is it?
Daughter: Well, I'm at Costco, is it ok if I use regular?
Me: Brief pause
Daughter: Are you ok papa?
Me: Yeah, yeah, everything's fine
Daughter: I was just asking cause I'm already spending so over $80 on gas every week
Me: I guess it's ok. It won't hurt anything. Some boring technical details then Yes, go ahead
Daughter: (Trying to sound interested in the technical details I gave her) Ok, thanks papa. I just wanted to make sure I don't mess up the engine
Me: remember what I've always told you. If a guy comes up to you, it's not your brain he's interested in. You'll thank me one day!
Daughter: OK papa (rolling her eyes)
Me: Stop rolling your eyes at your old man!
Anyway she calls me, and the conversation went something like this:
Daughter: Papa?
Me: Yes, what is it?
Daughter: Well, I'm at Costco, is it ok if I use regular?
Me: Brief pause
Daughter: Are you ok papa?
Me: Yeah, yeah, everything's fine
Daughter: I was just asking cause I'm already spending so over $80 on gas every week
Me: I guess it's ok. It won't hurt anything. Some boring technical details then Yes, go ahead
Daughter: (Trying to sound interested in the technical details I gave her) Ok, thanks papa. I just wanted to make sure I don't mess up the engine
Me: remember what I've always told you. If a guy comes up to you, it's not your brain he's interested in. You'll thank me one day!
Daughter: OK papa (rolling her eyes)
Me: Stop rolling your eyes at your old man!
Last edited by AMIRZA786; Mar 26, 2022 at 11:56 PM.
