THE Random Chat Thread - AKA "The RCT" - No shirt or shoes required - Open 24 / 7

[Oregon Viking]

Good afternoon !!!!

 

[oldmxrat]

Good evening crew.
Looks to be about beer-thirty on the left coast.
Cheers!

 

[Oregon Viking]

I found these going through stuff, was most likely my dad's. Super ball eh ? They don't bonce for shit !! Second ball someone doesn't know how to use a tape measure for sizing items in pics! I could have been in a hurry too. Vikings... Can't live with them, can't kill them without losing 3 or 4 guys.....

 

[Tesorodeoro]

I found these going through stuff, was most likely my dad's. Super ball eh ? They don't bonce for shit !! Second ball someone doesn't know how to use a tape measure for sizing items in pics! I could have been in a hurry too. Vikings... Can't live with them, can't kill them without losing 3 or 4 guys.....

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Ah the super ball. Once discovered a super ball machine that would dispense 2-3 each time you turned the handle JUST THE RIGHT WAY and it wouldn’t take the quarter. We had lots of them laying around for a long time. Enough that the parents questioned us.

We thought we had figured the system out, not that we were stealing.

 

[ToddsPoint]

Good morning!☕️

 

[robertk]

Good morning and happy Saturday!

 

[pepperj]

Good morning everyone

 

[newnan man]

Good morning

 

[Tesorodeoro]

Well here it’s almost 4:30 AM. I see others are ahead of me. A pot of coffee sounds good and was on my schedule of chores.

Black Rifle “Just Black” in an old perc. pot of my grandmother's on a 1950’s gas cooktop.

 

[Gare]

Good morning ALL !!!~!~!

 

[releventchair]

I found these going through stuff, was most likely my dad's. Super ball eh ? They don't bonce for shit !! Second ball someone doesn't know how to use a tape measure for sizing items in pics! I could have been in a hurry too. Vikings... Can't live with them, can't kill them without losing 3 or 4 guys.....

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Super balls were not just about bounce. It was the raw excitement of a compound beyond leather and excelsior stuffing.
They bounced better than rocks even!
But if you insist on bouncing one treetop high start with a short tree and you'll need to put a little more oommmph behind your noodle arm.
( User tip: Try it on concrete. Be careful it doesn't bounce up into your crotch or chin .)

 

[releventchair]

Mornin all.

 

[oldmxrat]

Good morning

 

[Mackaydon]

Good mornin' y'all.
I opened my computer and saw this news; almost went back to bed--very depressing:
"As of May 2, 2026, California gas prices have surged to an average of over $6 per gallon for regular fuel, making it the most expensive market in the U.S.. Major cities like San Rafael and Napa are seeing prices over $6.30, with some stations in Los Angeles exceeding $8 per gallon. These record costs are largely driven by global oil market disruptions, state-specific taxes, and high refining costs."
Be aware this trend is coming to your area--wherever you are if the 'strait of Hormuz' remains closed.
Don in SoCal

 

[releventchair]

 

[releventchair]

Good mornin' y'all.
I opened my computer and saw this news; almost went back to bed--very depressing:
"As of May 2, 2026, California gas prices have surged to an average of over $6 per gallon for regular fuel, making it the most expensive market in the U.S.. Major cities like San Rafael and Napa are seeing prices over $6.30, with some stations in Los Angeles exceeding $8 per gallon. These record costs are largely driven by global oil market disruptions, state-specific taxes, and high refining costs."
Be aware this trend is coming to your area--wherever you are if the 'strait of Hormuz' remains closed.
Don in SoCal

Largely driven by....global oil market disruptions, state-specific taxes, and high refining costs..

Pretty vaugue.
Refinery pictures I see all want paint. Obviously far more too but ; increasing costs seem a simple matter.

Gas prices are one of the few things that don't bug me.
I recall the early seventies and the oil embargo and results.( Wasn't driving autos on roads yet then but was an avid fan of boat fuel.)

Sign said 4.99 for regular yesterday. I stopped at the particular station on my hometown and back drive due to it's automatic sliding doors. Not the gas price.
Pumping fuel the pump showed 4.89. i wasn't upset about that either.

I want ten or twelve gallons of rec gas to refill two cans.
Also time to buy more diesel .
Having cared for horses a while even cutting hay by hand at times in addition to all the other work regardless of if you are working them.....gasoline is a giggle in exchange for money.
And I don't walk far anymore.

Engines older than I can out work me for just a few dollars in feed.
This one needs some work again after I let it get a stuck valve.
(Note the free replacement vented fuel cap vs original 1948.)

 

[Evan in CA]

Good morning everybody

 

[releventchair]

Good morning everybody

Mornin Evan!

 

[oldmxrat]

Yep. Unfortunately, our fuel in Nevada comes from Cali as well.

California is losing approximately 17% of its refining capacity due to the scheduled shutdowns of the Phillips 66 (Wilmington) refinery in late 2025 and the Valero Benicia refinery by April 2026. Driven by strict environmental regulations, high operating costs, and declining demand, these closures threaten to increase gasoline price volatility and reliance on foreign fuel imports.
Key Refinery Closures (2025-2026)

• Phillips 66 (Wilmington/Carson): The Los Angeles-area refinery is set to cease traditional fuel production in late 2025.
• Valero (Benicia): The San Francisco Bay Area plant, which produces 145,000 barrels of crude oil daily, plans to cease operations by the end of April 2026.
• Impact: Combined, these closures represent nearly 20% of the state's total refining capacity.

Drivers of the Shutdowns

• Regulatory Pressure: Companies cite California's strict environmental regulations, such as those discussed in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee report, as a primary factor.
• Economic Viability: High operating costs and high penalties for emission violations have made operations less profitable, with Valero citing a $1.1 billion impairment charge.
• Market Shift: Declining demand for gasoline in California has spurred a strategic pivot toward renewable fuels or complete closures.
• Impact on Fuel Supply and Prices
  • Increased Imports: California is becoming more dependent on fuel imports from other countries, as highlighted by Argus Media.
  • Higher Prices: Analysts expect gasoline prices in California to rise, as described in the Breakthrough Fuel analysis, as the state faces a tighter supply of the specific fuel blend it requires.
  • Job Loss & Regional Impact: The shutdowns pose a significant economic challenge to local economies, such as the city of Benicia, which faces a potential loss of $7.7 million to $11 million in annual revenue.
  Long-Term Strategy
  • Repurposing Facilities: Sites may be repurposed, with Valero’s Benicia site converting to an import and storage terminal.
  • Worker Transition: The shutdowns call for, or in some cases are prompting, discussions around a "just transition" for workers and affected communities.

 

[Oregon Viking]

Super balls were not just about bounce. It was the raw excitement of a compound beyond leather and excelsior stuffing.
They bounced better than rocks even!
But if you insist on bouncing one treetop high start with a short tree and you'll need to put a little more oommmph behind your noodle arm.
( User tip: Try it on concrete. Be careful it doesn't bounce up into your crotch or chin .)