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Qatar helium shutdown puts chip supply chain on a two-week clock

tomshardware.com

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Re: Qatar helium shutdown puts chip supply chain on a two-week clock

#121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

BLM was required (to sell it) by Congress in the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013, as the alternative was to not offer any H to the market due to the authorization to sell expiring. Sponsored by a Republican and passed basically unanimously with the proceeds used to pay of the debt (back when we cared about that)

Wouldn't another alternative be to renew the authorization to sell? This doesn't seem much different from just deciding to sell it.

Republicans believe that the federal government shouldn't be involved in it at all. So a reauth bill would effectively be DOA.

But yeah, that would make more sense.

Re: Qatar helium shutdown puts chip supply chain on a two-week clock

#122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The goal is to keep the oil in the ground, to not be burned or to be made into plastics.

Isn't the main source of helium from oil production? It's not like we have fusion reactors turning H into He.

The main source of helium is natural gas production, not oil

Re: Qatar helium shutdown puts chip supply chain on a two-week clock

#123

Aren’t there huge stockpiles of helium in the US? I can buy party sized tanks at Target or big tanks at the usual places like welding supply places.

A lot of the balloon use has switched to nitrogen (helium became much, much more expensive after the strategic helium reserve was sold off)

> balloon use ... helium became much, much more expensive

More than just from inflation? (sorry, not sorry!)

Re: Qatar helium shutdown puts chip supply chain on a two-week clock

#124
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is no such thing as "officially closed". The moment people start shooting there, driving a ship across becomes dangerous. This was an absolutely predictable consequence of the attacks on Iran, you didn't need to wait until several tankers were burning to know these attacks were likely to happen and the strait would become essentially too risky to pass.

Back then there were only two ships attacked in the straits, and one was an Iranian shadow fleet ship. I am not sure that is "closing the straits" in any shape or form

I'm guessing you watched the Hegseth interview?

--- Hegseth: “The only thing prohibiting transit in [Hormuz] right now is Iran shooting at shipping.”

“It is open for transit should Iran not do that” ---

Oh really? I thought it was because Mercury was in retrograde.

I guess if even Mr. Hegseth is admitting that transit is effectively prohibited in the Strait, he must actually be lying and part of the deep state.

Re: Qatar helium shutdown puts chip supply chain on a two-week clock

#126
post #95
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So if there's an active shooter on the one alley to your workplace you should still be at work in time, right? :) Or let's make the analogy clearer: if your Uber driver cancels the ride because there's an active shooter on the only road between him and you, it's their fault not the shooter's?

no, but if two ships were hit, while one clearly by mistake, it is very early to say the straits are going to be closed as opposed to incorrect targeting your analogies have went past me though, generally although a common misconception, countries are not people and wars are not comparable to crime

Oh, well, if it was by mistake...

Re: Qatar helium shutdown puts chip supply chain on a two-week clock

#128

Lindsay Graham has an easy solution to this unnecessary conflict: send your sons and daughters. This whole administration is such a fiasco.

Lindsey Graham is a lying sack of shit.

And I say that with his permission, since he’s on camera asking to be called out if he did exactly what they did with the Supreme Court not four years later.

Re: Qatar helium shutdown puts chip supply chain on a two-week clock

#130
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

However Qatar stopped production before the straits were officially closed and their stated reason is "due to military attacks", also Russian or Chinese ships can pass

The strait is now mined at least partially. Country of origin doesn't matter when there are mines in the water.

This is going to be an environmental disaster.
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