Samson
Póg Mo Thóin
I am playing Devil's advocate here....but it looks like the Devil might be winning....
Reading through your post, I'd definately say you were possessed by something.
LA has refineries, because it has a lot of oil, and Venezuelan Crude (heavy) can be imported up the river. Refinery products are shipped via pipeline from LA throughout the Eastern USA.
Ditto for Texas.
There are a few small refineries in New Jersey that import oil.
On the West Coast, the oil is poduced in CA or AK, and refined there.