European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

Still wondering what the deal is with Teddy Kennedy. The press doesn't seem to have a good idea. CNN's stuff suggests it's not so bad. The Boston Globe suggests it's really bad (a stroke with the whole Kennedy clan rushing to Boston).

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 01:55:30 PM EST

Re: Saturday Open Thread (none / 1)

This is just up:

BOSTON -- A spokeswoman says Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has been hospitalized in Boston after suffering a seizure.

Stephanie Cutter says it does not appear Saturday that the Democrat had a stroke as initially suspected.

She says he is undergoing tests at Massachusetts General Hospital to determine the cause of the seizure.

PolitiCook du jour.

by Asinus Asinum Fricat (aaf@politicook.net) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 02:03:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Oil price movements (4.00 / 5)

From the Oil Drum's Jeff Vail

This shows that long dated oil futures have increased even more than spot prices, suggesting that markets are moviing towards the belief that prices will not go down for a loooong time, even from today's levels.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 02:00:28 PM EST

Re: Oil price movements (none / 1)

Jerome, would you happen to know why diesel is more expensive than ordinary petrol? Over here in Eire, we're paying 1,39 a litre!

PolitiCook du jour.

by Asinus Asinum Fricat (aaf@politicook.net) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 02:05:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Oil price movements (4.00 / 2)

Today's Times has a story which says basically that diesel demand is up, gas demand isn't and that you can't simply choose to produce a much larger proportion of the former per barrel of crude that gets refined - thus diesel up more than gas.

by MarekNYC on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 02:10:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Oil price movements (none / 0)

Makes sense. I think gas demand in the states has actually fallen a bit, if I remember the stories correctly. I know the public transit systems are seeing a lot more business. If so, that's a good sign, as it might force the state and local governments to cut the crap and invest in public transit systems.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 02:32:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

This is the core reason (4.00 / 5)

Another, in Europe, is that taxes on diesel have gone up higher than those on gas, as more people switched from gas to diesel and governments did not want to lose out on what is one of their most important source of tax income.

I saw recently that gas went from 100c to 140c in France in 6 years, whereas diesel went from 70c to 130c in the same period - a good chunk of that is increased taxes on diesel.

The French buy 75% diesel cars these days.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 02:34:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This is the core reason (none / 1)

I've been wondering why we don't see more diesel cars here, since they seem to be very common in Europe. My guess was that it had something to do with regulations on emissions -- perhaps measuring emissions on a per-gallon basis (since my understanding is that, measured that way, diesel is more damaging, but that the equation changes based on mileage).

Any idea?

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 02:39:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I think there's two reasons (4.00 / 6)

One is that regulations on sulfur and particulate emissions were tougher in California, and until recently, European diesel cars did not qualify.

The other is that the earlier versions of diesel cars were much less pleasant to drive and use, reminding people of trucks, and created a lasting bad image for European diesels.

But the breakthrough of direct-injection, high pressure diesel engine has changed everything in terms of both the quality of the driving, and the fuel efficiency - it was really a major step forward in all respects. It also means that diesel can be used for big, powerful V6 engines like the Americans seem to like...

European diesels now use less fuel than a hybrid, for much better performance (you can google comparative road texts for the Lexus Hybrid SUV vs the Mercedes Diesel M Series, for instance, or more recently, the Toyota Prius vs the BMW 5 Series).

Of course, this has meant that we now have bigger, more powerful cars in Europe, given that they spend as much diesel as much smaller cars used to only ten years ago. For instance, my Renault Espace diesel (a largish people carrier) does 25mpg (9-10l/100km) with mostly 90mph highway driving with 6 people on board.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 03:21:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I think there's two reasons (none / 0)

VW has a diesel hybrid about to come out with 3.2l or so/100 (70 or so mpg).

Love the espace though.

Freiheit ist immer Freiheit der Andersdenkenden

by redstar on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 09:45:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Particulate emissions was the latest excuse, (none / 0)

and the feds were the controlling agency, as they adopted CA standards in this matter. As far as I know, VW is the only producer with a fairly substantial market share here whose diesel models were excluded. They've made the adjustment - with a trap, as I understand it - and the new Jetta diesels are coming back to our market in the late Summer. I'm on the list for one of the first to arrive. Projected fuel mileage is 55 mpg on the highway. Since I live in the country, this makes more sense for me than a hybrid at this point.

How come you're driving at 90 mph with 6 people aboard? You young folks!

paul spencer

by paul spencer (spencerinthegorge AT yahoo DOT com) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 11:42:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I think there's two reasons (none / 0)

I have to wonder the same thing Paul's wondering: What are you doing, going 90 mph on the highway with six people in the car?

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun May 18th, 2008 at 12:37:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I think there's two reasons (none / 1)

French highways are limited to 130 km/h aka 80 mph for non-metric yee. So with a bit of slack, a nice weather and a good knowledge of the location of various radars, 145 km/h - 90 mph - is kinda sorta ok but not really but hey, everybody's doing it so...

For reference, the freaking big multi-ton Panzerkampfwagen I used to drive when I was in France gave me a neat 34 to 36 mpg on highways at those speeds. Same kind of engine - V6 diesel HDI - and better aerodynamics than the Espace.

Urban mileage was ugly though : 16 mpg or even worse (I don't dare remember, frankly). That where's an hybrid would help. But then, we Parisian scoundrels have this cool thing called public transportations like Le Metro and Le Tram, running on nuclear power. We also have feet. Very good for the waistline. Save for the rare run to the big box store or a drive to friends and family exiled in the suburbs, the Panzerkampfwagen always slept at the garage when I was in the city. Infinite mpg! Can't do better.

Facts, selfish little bastards. They don't even care about your feelings.

by Francois in Paris on Sun May 18th, 2008 at 02:31:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I think there's two reasons (none / 0)

I was reading something recently about a planned all electric vehicle, and how it would be ideal for those living in dense urban areas. My reaction was ? People I know here who own cars primarily use them for longer trips (weekends, vacations). On the other hand the ideal place for a hybrid or an all electric car is probably densely packed suburbs with commuter rail - drive to the station, shopping, ferrying kids around, etc. i.e. the sort of driving where hybrids get better performance than diesels.

by MarekNYC on Sun May 18th, 2008 at 02:49:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I think there's two reasons (none / 0)

The solution is serial hybrid aka EREV (electrical range extended vehicle). An electric car with an ICE-alternator group to recharge the battery when you drive for longer than the battery capacity. Short range commute is entirely on battery with a recharge at night and long trips are just like with your current car: drive and stop at the gas station if needed.

Example : the Chevy Volt which should be on the market late 2010 - early 2011. ~40 miles of full electric entirely on battery - with, very important, full speed/acceleration performances not a degraded mode like on classical hybrids with an electric-only mode - then very good mileage in gasoline mode beyond 40 miles of driving in a row.

Facts, selfish little bastards. They don't even care about your feelings.

by Francois in Paris on Sun May 18th, 2008 at 06:49:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Additions (none / 0)

Gas taxes in the USA are intended for highway maintenance. Because diesel tends to be used by the heavier vehicles, like trucks, diesel is taxed more.

It's a good example of the economically undesirable knock-on effects misdirected taxation can have (instead of gas you should be taxing vehicles).

Because diesel is more expensive and less popular, it's also less available -- in Europe you get it at every station.

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 08:44:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Additions (4.00 / 2)

It's not an enormous difference, though. $.47 vs $.536 on average, combining federal and state.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 10:23:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Additions (none / 0)

True, but it tends to be taxed less in Europe, and thereby is cheaper (which combines with better mileage).

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Sun May 18th, 2008 at 03:53:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

FarEasterner (4.00 / 5)

has posted a new travel diary over at Dailykos.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 02:05:16 PM EST

European Presidency (4.00 / 3)

Today when I was working on my dairy about women in politics, I was wondering why there are not more women being discussed for the EU Presidency, except for Merkel.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 02:14:11 PM EST

Re: European Presidency (none / 0)

Does Merkel have any real interest in it, though?

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 02:31:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: European Presidency (none / 1)

I don't think so, but maybe that is why she is being mentioned. But I was also thinking of Mary Robinson and I am sure there are other accomplished women in the EU who could fill that representative spot.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 02:36:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: European Presidency (4.00 / 2)

I hear Hillary Clinton may soon be available. Wasn't her grandfather Irish?

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 04:25:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: European Presidency (none / 1)

Would you guys take her? Please?

The blurker formerly known as ignorant bystander.

by b--- (budr at hughes net) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 05:49:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I had some server errors tonight (none / 1)

Is that why there are so few comments?

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 05:21:22 PM EST

Re: Saturday Open Thread (none / 1)

Cardiff City got to the FA Cup Final but didn't win :(
There again, remarkable to get that far!

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 05:26:55 PM EST

Re: Extraordinary Art (4.00 / 4)

http://www.vimeo.com/993998

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 06:44:11 PM EST

Re: Extraordinary Art (4.00 / 2)

[ET Moderation Technology™] New macro! ((*vimeo 993998)) without the asterisk.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sat May 17th, 2008 at 06:54:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Saturday Open Thread | 31 comments (31 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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