13 Comments
Sep 11, 2023Liked by The Honest Sorcerer

Thank you B🙏

Expand full comment

Thanks NOF.

Expand full comment

NOF, Fast Eddy, NOF. Did I just insult you or compliment you? I have no idea. It's your acronym, Fast Eddy; I don't know what it means.

Expand full comment

It's an insider joke for THS.

Expand full comment

Bang on.

I'm presuming TPTB know all this?

(I wouldn't say they're stupid. They are. But I wouldn't say it! 🤪)

Expand full comment
author

They know, for at least 20 years now. Of course they are not the same guys/gals, as back then... All they hope for that it will not happen under their watch.

Expand full comment

Incidentally, one of the main economic newspaper in France just published an article today stating that French diesel and gazoline demand has fallen by 1.3% since January. After a 1.6% fall since 2019.

It is supposed to be some good news. But not enough yet to reach government decarbonization target.

Unfortunately, I can't get the full article. So it's hard to say to what this decline is attributable. Higher prices for one thing but probably a first hint of a much touted successful transition to EV. Or so they would say...

https://www.lesechos.fr/industrie-services/energie-environnement/essence-diesel-la-demande-de-carburants-amorce-lentement-son-declin-en-france-1976926

Expand full comment

And (e-)bikes. Seems to be some resurgence in cycle commuting in European cities, though have no idea of the numbers.

Expand full comment

Yes I've seen this too in my local area. An increase in all types of personal electric vehicles such as bikes and scooters, and a few fully electric cars, but mostly an uptick in hybrids.

And a substantial number of people have switched to getting their food delivered but this is still obviously done with diesel vans.

Expand full comment
author

It looks more like a sign of decreased economic activity and travel to me.

Expand full comment
Sep 12, 2023·edited Sep 12, 2023

I predict that a plug and play cross purpose energy solution will pop up just as things reach peak bleak.

Partly wishful thinking but why not. I have nothing to lose by putting all my money on the wildest card possible at this stage in the game.

If we can get a little conspiratorial for a second, imagine that the global elite have this game all planned out for the next hundred years. They know oil is done, but instead of introducing a valid replacement, they milk it for all it's worth, allow things to get a little wild, have people begging on their knees for a solution, and then drop a surprise package so they can live large as the saviors of humanity once again.

At least that's what I would do if I was harboring some secret energy tech in the DUMBs and wanted to stay top dog for the next hundred years or two.

Maybe you could introduce it as a gift from aliens or some such to spice things up a little.

Expand full comment

We can survive and have high quality of life, just not quantity or high-tech solutions. It will take some more work but not nearly as much stress as we've inflicted on ourselves in the Industrial age. Our population will drastically decline, sadly, but it is a mistake in thinking to view this as the same as the end of humanity. We have a good shot at creating something far better than what we've had.

Expand full comment

Interesting analysis of petroleum and the products from it's distillation. Indeed, plastics and Group V lubricants are made from the ligher fractions of refining. What doesn't get utilized gets burned off at the stack, instead of becoming a shopping bag or heating a home.

Run out of sand? Quoting Popular Mechanics is a bit like quoting Wikipedia or Snopes.

Expand full comment