The vapor recovery systems in gas nozzles (and now built into cars) prevent most fumes from entering the atmosphere. However, topping off prevents the vapor recovery from operating properly, as liquid gasoline rather than fumes can get sucked into the system.

Incidentally, liquid gas getting sucked into the vapor recovery system at gas stations goes right back to their storage tank. So, rather than saving you money, you are actually spending more money to recirculate gas! This is what happens whenever you continue filling after the pump has clicked off (though, if you overfill enough, some of this gas will just overflow and spill out, which is also bad for many reasons).

To answer your question, yes, illegal in Oregon!
http://www.deq.state.or.us/aq/permit/vapor/vapor.htm#topOff

I hadn't thought about the middle of the dial being considered more valuable. I wonder how much that still holds, with virtually every radio in use today being button programmable and having scan loops that start over at the beginning of the dial rather than traversing back and forth between the ends.

Low Life is amazing. I hadn't heard of the Riis book, but will now seek it out. Thanks for the info.

Yes yes yes to everything you said about terrible WA drivers. It's all compounded by the fact that they think they are good drivers. And don't even get me started about not-existent or last-possible-moment turn signaling.

Yep, I'm sure that's a product of having no competition. Thanks for the shroom!

LOL ...
"I have cholera!"
"What?"

I agree that this is a good conversation to have. Old people are generally much less freaked out about death than young people.

Spoklahoma

10% feels about right to me too, but I didn't know if I was going to get sent to bad-tippers' prison. Thank you for the validation.

I mostly agree on the split tips aspect, and that is the one thing that gives me pause about leaving a lesser one. However, where is the line drawn? For example, they've got a tip jar at Red Mill burgers. Just like at Blue C, every employee is working hard to serve me, but leaving a 15-20% tip isn't even on my radar there or, frankly, anywhere that I'm ordering food from a counter. In those places, I'm more apt to leave my loose change or maybe a dollar (perhaps more for a huge order).

Notable exceptions to this are for bartenders and baristas, for whom I typically leave $1/drink.