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Diesel prices in U.S. top $6 a gallon for first time

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Re: Diesel prices in U.S. top $6 a gallon for first time

#121
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The market values Diesel more. Diesel fuel has more energy per gallon, and a diesel engine as run in the real world is more energy efficient (in a lab gasoline is slightly more energy efficient, but the difference is slight and the conditions needed to make this happen are rare in the real world). Thus those who use a lot of fuel - things like freight and earth moving normally use diesel engines. These are also appli…

That sounds like a great theory but is not consistent with the observation that until not too long ago, diesel used to be cheaper. How do you explain that? That's the problem with hindsight theories, especially if only using a limit horizon into the past.

Supply demand. As refineries got better at cracking fuel they made more and more gasoline since that is what the market wanted. However to change the mix they need to make a long term bet on it isn't worth it to build/rebuild their expensive refinery to produce a different mix. A refinery only has a small amount of ability to change what comes out, they can't make more diesel without a major rebuild and that isn't worth it.

Re: Diesel prices in U.S. top $6 a gallon for first time

#122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You think the planet is gonna run out of oil before it runs out of water.... interesting.

How does the planet run out of water?

> How does the planet run out of water?

By draining aquifers, for one:

* https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06879-8

* https://unu.edu/inweh/news/world-enters-era-of-global-water-...

Certain desalination exists, but can get expensive and energy-intensive (and they it may be necessary to transport the fresh water great distances).

Re: Diesel prices in U.S. top $6 a gallon for first time

#123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that is a contributor, but the root cause of the Iran war was Netanyahu goading a simple person into it. The US military and intelligence community knew the risk of this, told everyone not to do it, and they did it anyway. (if one is some combination of unsophisticated, irrational, and vain, and in a position of power, they will eventually be exploited by someone more rational and sophisticated, imho)

I don't even really understand Israel's game plan here. Iran took a lot of damage but now they control the strait, they have a lot of leverage. Hard to know how it's going to shake out, but how is Israel better off now?

This was Israel’s last chance to strike on Iran using the US as the munition, because the next Congress and President wouldn’t and Netanyahu (76 years old as of this comment, close to end of male life expectancy) will only live or be in power for so long.

Very similar to Putin (73 years old, as of this comment) making his move against Ukraine when he did. Light cone of potential outcomes and path dependency.

“Old men pulling triggers out of ideology before they’re too weak to.” I argue that, in many ways, extended life expectancy has been a curse in this context. It has allowed unscrupulous people positions of power where great harm is incurred with limited repercussions (if any!), positions of power they would not be in if they had aged out sooner. You can only wait to vote them out, or wait for them to die if you cannot vote them out. Very unfortunate.

Re: Diesel prices in U.S. top $6 a gallon for first time

#124
post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I want to know what happened to all the free trade republicans we used to know... If anyone knows where they went I want to join them.

The smart ones properly realized that their home is no longer in the republican party. The others were swept up in culture war because... What other adults do in their lives needs immediate government intervention from the party of small government.

> their home is no longer in the republican party

Which is why I'm no longer in the party... Where did the rest of us go?

Re: Diesel prices in U.S. top $6 a gallon for first time

#125
post #59
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd be more than willing to go electric if someone sends me the cash to get an electric, because if I could replace my diesel-guzzling 11yo I would.

I'd go electric if they were just cars and not shit android tablets with wheels stuck on them.

Every car has a 4G/5G modem in it now! Unless you cut off your search at about 2018, no matter what car you buy, you're giving up data!

I don't like it either but you have to pick your battles these days.

Re: Diesel prices in U.S. top $6 a gallon for first time

#126
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd be more than willing to go electric if someone sends me the cash to get an electric, because if I could replace my diesel-guzzling 11yo I would.

Last I checked, depending on one’s needs, used EVs are among some of the best values in the US used car market. Their prices are closer to what prices on used gas cars would’ve been had the market not been turned on its head during the pandemic. The main caveat is that available models are heavily weighted towards “compact” (RAV4 sized) SUVs and larger. There aren’t many little Prius/Fit/Soul type town car models aro…

I really wish Honda would release the CRV plug-in hybrid in the states. But all we get is some weird hydrogen monstrosity. China has all electric vehicles with gas generators to charge the battery. That would make this work for my scenarios too.

Re: Diesel prices in U.S. top $6 a gallon for first time

#127
post #63

Israel has caused more damage the the US and entire world than any other country. They blackmailed our politicians into this war and we continue to suffer for their bloodlust.

No. The US is a sovreign nation. Noone "made" them act like that, they did this all by themselves and now thy try to shrug the responsibility.

I don’t think the US is a sovereign nation. No one wanted this war but we did it anyway. Our politicians are all bribed and blackmailed by Israel.

Re: Diesel prices in U.S. top $6 a gallon for first time

#128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does the planet run out of water?

> How does the planet run out of water? By draining aquifers, for one: * https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06879-8 * https://unu.edu/inweh/news/world-enters-era-of-global-water-... Certain desalination exists, but can get expensive and energy-intensive (and they it may be necessary to transport the fresh water great distances).

OK I see, thank you. The idea of "the planet running out of water" confused me.

Re: Diesel prices in U.S. top $6 a gallon for first time

#129
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Only for a short time, everybody knows about cheap drones and they are ordering cheap drones (likely from Ukraine where they are field tested to work) to shoot down drones. If the next round is in a few years patriots will only be used on much more expensive ballistic missiles. That said, the patriot is a lot cheaper replace than the things it was defending so it was a good investment even if expensive.

New (Russian) versions of Shaheds are jet propelled (much faster), have high-quality remote control, and as some claim, AI-based computer vision. So old interceptor drones are not working anymore. And the country can manufacture them at much higher rate than the other country can manufacture patriots.

The new jet powered Shaheds are more expensive as well. And Ukraine is already having good success in shooting them down without patriots (which they are very lacking in) - these are new drones that they just designed for the task. These new interceptors are more expensive than the old ones, but still cheaper than patriots by a lot.

We know Ukraine is working on a not a patriot interceptor that can do ballistic missiles, but so far there is no word on progress. (this seems to be intentional - they are not saying why but experts have some good guesses)

Re: Diesel prices in U.S. top $6 a gallon for first time

#130
post #66
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This would not be happening if the USA had not launched an attack on Iran This was the desired effect though, as higher oil prices means more profit for US based oil producers. I'm sure that will trickle down any time now.

>This was the desired effect though, as higher oil prices means more profit for US based oil producers. I'm sure that will trickle down any time now. That's giving the Trump administration too much credit. Before the war there were pieces about how oil companies were doing worse under Trump than under Biden[1]. Of course, you could argue that the Iran war is Trump finally responding to oil companies, but given that i…

I don’t know why anyone gives Trump credit for things like this. He (like all elected officials for the past few decades) is a figurehead and has been manipulated by careerists at every step, who themselves are beholden to the lobbyists that grease the wheels of government.
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