21 of 30 - Grading Petroleum

At least here in the United States, gasoline is always sold as "Regular" "[something I can't remember]" and "Premium." It is always sold in increments of 10 cents -- back when Regular was $1.00, Midgrade would be $1.10 (/gallon) and Premium $1.20 (all prices plus 9 tenths of a cent actually because gas stations are sheisty like that). When Regular was $2.00, Mid would be $2.10 and Premium $2.20 ... and at present here Regular is $4.62, Mid $4.72, and Premium $4.82, on average in the LA area.

When Regular was a dollar, I'd have assumed Mid cost 10% more to produce/provide, and Premium 20% more, hence the price. This seems like a logical deduction to me. But by that logic, Premium should presently be $5.54, not $4.82. At the latter price its now only 4% more expensive than Regular.

So whats the deal with the different grades?

Also, who buys the Midgrade (and btw its not called "Midgrade" at the pumps. I can't remember what its actually usually called around here). It would seem to me most people buy the Regular because its cheapest and there's not generally believed to be a worthwhile difference. However, I know some people want the best of everything, so they'll buy the premium for their gold plated hummer H3s. But who thinks "I want a little better, but I'm only gonna go 2% better, 4% better is just gratuitous!" ?? It seems to me there'd be no market for the midgrade.


Picture of the Day Yesterday

Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska and Wyoming!!
Thats a year ago yesterday actually. Year ago this day was actually Yellowstone, for which I have piles of awesome pictures, but I'm still entertaining the fanciful idea I'll post entries more than once a day and catch up (and so will have an entry to devote to that).


Also, don't believe his filthy lies, emosnail IS the sockpuppet of THIS lj, not vice versa!

27 of 30 - Official Epic Roadtrip Month!

   In August, 30 in 30 participant hereticxxii is going on a (road?)trip of some kind around his area (Korea? Countries surrounding Korea?), which he has dubbed Epik Adventure 2008. 30 in 30 participant metalphoenix is planning a roadtrip from August 16-31st around the middle of the US. 30 in 30 participant kilkenny and I emosnail are also planning an epic roadtrip (from San Diego up the coast to Vancouver) from August 15th to the 26th (which I have dubbed Epic Roadtrip 2008).

   As such, I declare August OFFICIAL (EPIC) ROADTRIP MONTH!


Meanwhile in the Real World
   Yesterday (Thursday) I was going to the Stone Brewery in San Marcos, one of my favourite places in the world, but due to some miscommunication with my friends it fell through (I assumed they meant midafternoon so I worked in the morning, but by the time I got off at 1pm they said it was too late because they had plans at 4 )= ). That evening I went up to Mark's place for beer tasting -- wherein we go to Bevmo and stock up on a whole bunch of random beers and try them all.
   This morning (Friday) we didn't have any beekeeping to do because we need to build more frames and boxes next but are currently out of supplies and awaiting delivery. I showed up at the beecave anyway and Dave and ourselves occupied ourselves brewing beer. (Honey beer). Then around 1pm I got a call from my slave merchants the Temp Agency saying a firm needed someone asap because someone had flaked and they'd be eternally grateful if I could do it. We had just transferred the beer to the primary fermentation bucket where it would sit for the rest of the day anyway, so I scampered off to lawfirm land.
   This evening there's a party which should be fun. Its a suprise party for someone so in the off chance that they could read this before then I'll give no more details on it for now.

   And speaking of things in the real world I haven't reported on. In the last few months there was a sweet party in Pasadena, I think a party at Mark's, a pirate themed party at UCI, and I went to see air races in San Diego which were pretty sweet.


Picture of the Day / Year Ago Today

Day 11: Yellowstone!!


(Also, just kidding, emo_snal is the sockpuppet.)