News/talk ratings skyrocketing due to high gas prices

[PTBoardOp94]

Just looking at two of the major railroads in the United States... the BNSF (Burlington Northern & Santa Fe) is largely controlled by Warren Buffett (1/3 ownership), and the Canadian National Railroad's most significant owners are Bill and Melinda Gates (1/6 ownership).

I'm sure the geneology folks will do the research and determine Melinda Gates and Pres. Biden are 4th cousins once removed, but they definitely aren't close family.

 

[boombox4]

Doesn't matter who owns which railroad, really. More oil will be travelling from Canada to US ports and refineries by rail, by various railroads, probably much of it by Canadian National, which has tracks from northern Alberta all the way to the Gulf Coast.

In my region certain chains have cheaper gas, usually 20 cents or so lower per gallon than the other chains. Whether the gas prices in general go up or go down, certain stations and chains have lower prices than others.

RE: cultism and presidents: I noticed much of that with Obama, too. When he was first elected the drugstores had Obama statues, Obama dinner plates, Obama plaques and other Obama paraphernalia. Further into his term, you couldn't say anything against any of Obama's policies without his followers taking direct offense as if you insulted their family. It was bizarre. Then Trump got in and it was more of the same and then some, except from the other side. I have never understood why so many Americans hero worship their politicians. They don't do that in the UK or Australia, or even Canada, for that matter.

That's one reason it's refreshing to finally have a vanilla president like Biden. No majestic oratory or charisma, no Biden plates or statues or commemorative coins or any of that, he's just a politician who is trying to do his job. It's the first time in 16 years where the occupant of the White House isn't worshipped like some sort of demigod by one party or the other. He's just a normal guy trying to do the best job he can.

As for news/talk 'skyrocketing' I don't know if that's true in my market but if more people are listening to news radio and news talk I would think it's because of the war in Ukraine more than gas prices, which actually went up before the war started.

 

[Delete My Account]

In the case of Obama, while some of it was excessive - one can somewhat understand. He was the first black man to become President of the United States, which is historical and an amazing step for equal representation. Regardless of one's politics, this was historic. It affirmed to young people of color that they too could even become president - the most powerful person in the free world. In addition, I didn't see many Obama supporters with the weaponized rhetoric that came from a not insignificant number of Trump's supporters - the enthusiasm for taking up arms, "tribunals" against the media, the events of Jan 6th, and so on.

Also, when you have some sort of historic figure or strong cult of personality (not meaning that as a pejorative) then a free market will look to monetize it. Look at the enterprises hawking various forms of MAGA gear. Someone will always be willing to commoditize what's popular.

 

[Kelly A]

As for news/talk 'skyrocketing' I don't know if that's true in my market but if more people are listening to news radio and news talk I would think it's because of the war in Ukraine more than gas prices, which actually went up before the war started.

This. For all the outrage, gas in my area peaked at $4.29 a gallon, then dropped to $4.12 the following day. This morning one of my local stations was $3.89. Seems to be going in the right direction.

 

[asugeorge1]

This. For all the outrage, gas in my area peaked at $4.29 a gallon, then dropped to $4.12 the following day. This morning one of my local stations was $3.89. Seems to be going in the right direction.

Not here in Southern California. Gas prices are still rising. Today, the Chevron by my house here in Carlsbad was $6.09 for regular unleaded. The “cheapest” gas is at the nearby Costco, which is selling it for $5.59. Now if you take the California state taxes into account, that is only 51.1 cents so there is definitely some price gouging going on around California as gas in nearby Arizona is over a $1.00 less at $4.49 at Costco in my hometown of Gilbert, AZ, $4.79 at Chevron even though their gas tax is 18 cents. The difference between Arizona’s and California’s gas tax is 33 cents, but the over $1.00 difference just doesn’t add up, especially when you consider that California actually refines gasoline in state and sends it to Arizona. Why the government doesn’t do more to investigate and prosecute these gasoline and oil companies for price gouging is beyond me.

 

[Greg Goodfellow]

I noted yesterday a freshly-painted oil holding tank emblazoned with “Let’s Go Brandon”

 

[Greg Goodfellow]

What surprises me most is that other stations apart from talk don't do regular price check in their broadcast area.it is a good talking point for listeners and could also find out to cheapest places to buy gas ⛽.

“Gasbuddy.com” is your friend.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Just looking at two of the major railroads in the United States... the BNSF (Burlington Northern & Santa Fe) is largely controlled by Warren Buffett (1/3 ownership), and the Canadian National Railroad's most significant owners are Bill and Melinda Gates (1/6 ownership).

I'm sure the geneology folks will do the research and determine Melinda Gates and Pres. Biden are 4th cousins once removed, but they definitely aren't close family.

Yesterday I was unlucky enough to arrive at the railroad crossing just at the right time to be stopped by a train. And it was a long one. Long enough to have three locomotives on front, and would you believe that behind the CSX locomotive in front, the next two were these two companies?

I don't know what was in what seemed like hundreds of identical tank cars but at least one had a phone number to call about the chemical inside. I have to wonder how dangerous that train was. This was way out in the country so only a hydro power plant and a town's water equipment, but if someone wanted to cause a huge explosion, that train was one that could do it.

 

[vchimpanzee]

This. For all the outrage, gas in my area peaked at $4.29 a gallon, then dropped to $4.12 the following day. This morning one of my local stations was $3.89. Seems to be going in the right direction.

I haven't seen gas go down yet. I just haven't seen it go any higher than $4.19. Some places were less and then went up to that. Some never made it that high.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Generally, the stations closest to Interstate highway exits have the highest prices. If I'm not running on empty, I'll always drive into town (unless it's really out in the middle of nowhere) and get a much lower price.

Normally in Thomasville NC the places next to the interstate are lower. Yesterday it didn't matter where you were in Thomasville. $4.09 was the price, except at a couple of places that were a few cents higher.

$3.99 is what I saw at several places a long way from the interstate. I also saw a wide range in a nearby city. One very isolated place in a residential neighborhood used to be higher than everyone else but yesterday it was $3.95.

 

[Mido3737]

Yesterday I was unlucky enough to arrive at the railroad crossing just at the right time to be stopped by a train. And it was a long one. Long enough to have three locomotives on front, and would you believe that behind the CSX locomotive in front, the next two were these two companies?

I don't know what was in what seemed like hundreds of identical tank cars but at least one had a phone number to call about the chemical inside. I have to wonder how dangerous that train was. This was way out in the country so only a hydro power plant and a town's water equipment, but if someone wanted to cause a huge explosion, that train was one that could do it.

That is great insight fantastic information thank you for sharing. Another reason why this site so good. Thank you sir👍.

 

[b-turner]

Andy Travis said: In the case of Obama, while some of it was excessive - one can somewhat understand. He was the first black man to become President of the United States, which is historical and an amazing step for equal representation.

History chooses to ignore he is 50% black (his father) and 50% white (his mother).

 

[davideduardo]

$3.99 is what I saw at several places a long way from the interstate. I also saw a wide range in a nearby city. One very isolated place in a residential neighborhood used to be higher than everyone else but yesterday it was $3.95.

Today's prices within 10 miles of my home were between $6.19 and $6.69 a gallon for my diesel car.
Premium was $5.79 to $6.49

 

[RadioFan2J3]

Yesterday I was unlucky enough to arrive at the railroad crossing just at the right time to be stopped by a train. And it was a long one. Long enough to have three locomotives on front, and would you believe that behind the CSX locomotive in front, the next two were these two companies?

There is a lot of locomotive sharing among the major railroads, sometimes call run-through power, where the locomotives from "foreign" railroads simply stay on the train until turn-around points.

Some information on this is at this Trains discussion:

Run Through Power from Different Railroads

I have a question about run through power. I understand that if one rail road borrows a locomotive from an other, they have to repay the favor by loaning a simular locomotive back for the same amount of time at a later date. How does this work exactly? Say if NS is short of a locomotive, do they...

cs.trains.com

I don't know what was in what seemed like hundreds of identical tank cars but at least one had a phone number to call about the chemical inside. I have to wonder how dangerous that train was. This was way out in the country so only a hydro power plant and a town's water equipment, but if someone wanted to cause a huge explosion, that train was one that could do it.

Each of those tank cars should have a placard which details the actual commodity loaded in each car.

 

[vchimpanzee]

There is a lot of locomotive sharing among the major railroads, sometimes call run-through power, where the locomotives from "foreign" railroads simply stay on the train until turn-around points.

Some information on this is at this Trains discussion:

Run Through Power from Different Railroads

I have a question about run through power. I understand that if one rail road borrows a locomotive from an other, they have to repay the favor by loaning a simular locomotive back for the same amount of time at a later date. How does this work exactly? Say if NS is short of a locomotive, do they...

cs.trains.com

Each of those tank cars should have a placard which details the actual commodity loaded in each car.

Maybe they did. I just saw what i could see as each one passed.

 

[TheRover]

Some stations have already updated their programming to allow another digit for the gas per gallon price display.

 

[Kelly A]

History chooses to ignore he is 50% black (his father) and 50% white (his mother).

And what does this have to do with anything?

 

[Kelly A]

Only those who could be considered 'pin heads' believe the President has anything to do with gas prices.
This just in: Fuel and gas prices are up all over the world.

 

[vchimpanzee]

Only those who could be considered 'pin heads' believe the President has anything to do with gas prices.
This just in: Fuel and gas prices are up all over the world.

I've been updating Wikipedia weekly on why oil prices are what they are, and the last reason for them not to go up is now gone. China's COVID situation got better.

So unless we have a new reason for oil prices to go down, they won't. I haven't looked at any news coverage this week.

But gas is the highest I've seen it.

 

[Kelly A]

I've been updating Wikipedia weekly on why oil prices are what they are, and the last reason for them not to go up is now gone.

Uh, you do know that Wikipedia is crowd sourced information, not necessarily correct, right?

So unless we have a new reason for oil prices to go down, they won't. I haven't looked at any news coverage this week.

Here's some actual non-crowed-sourced information related to your comment:

Why are gas prices so high and what will bring them down?

The high cost of oil is just one reason gas prices keep rising, and consumers could face more record prices at the pump.

www.nbcnews.com

Crude oil prices are sinking. So why are gas prices still high?

Gas stations tend to lower prices gradually when crude oil drops, one expert says. Here's why.

www.cbsnews.com

Why Are Gas Prices So High If the U.S. Is Energy Independent? | Kiplinger

Unfortunately, energy independence can’t keep U.S. gas prices down, and it isn’t enough to protect your stock portfolio either. Here’s why, and what worried investors should know.

www.kiplinger.com