Daily conversation: What is the worst possible answer?

[pderocco]

April 29, 2026:

Why is traffic stopped here?

Because there was a chicken crossing the street.

Next question?

[PNWRoadgeek]

April 29, 2026:

Why is traffic stopped here?

Because that white car is on a crosswalk.

[TheCatalyst31]

April 29, 2026:

Why is traffic stopped here?

Gaper's block. People got distracted looking at that weird light over the road.

[PNWRoadgeek]

4/30/2026: What road do you think reminds you of an emoji the most?

[kphoger]

4/30/2026: What road do you think reminds you of an emoji the most?

Carolyn Street, Georgetown, Delaware

[NE2]

4/30/2026: What road do you think reminds you of an emoji the most?

The Key Bridge.

[kphoger]

01 MAY 2026

Why is gasoline sold in different octane ratings?  Why not just one grade of gas?

[I-55]

01 MAY 2026

Why is gasoline sold in different octane ratings?  Why not just one grade of gas?

Eventually gasoline graduates when it reaches grade 100 and becomes diesel

[kphoger]

Eventually gasoline graduates when it reaches grade 100 and becomes diesel

And then it basically never graduates, because I've never seen Diesel with a cetane rating anywhere close to 100.

[I-55]

Eventually gasoline graduates when it reaches grade 100 and becomes diesel

And then it basically never graduates, because I've never seen Diesel with a cetane rating anywhere close to 100.

The cetane rating is like the ACT, where the max is well below 100 but a score in the upper quintile gets the diesel into a preferred institution

[hotdogPi]

01 MAY 2026

Why is gasoline sold in different octane ratings?  Why not just one grade of gas?

It was created by the New Hampshire tourism board to promote the numbers 89 and 93 since they were Interstates.

[1995hoo]

01 MAY 2026

Why is gasoline sold in different octane ratings?  Why not just one grade of gas?

They thought it was important to offer gas at the level of a "B" student (87 and 89 octane) to satisfy underachievers who are happy settling for a lower grade. But because the people who came up with the system are old people who didn't experience grade inflation, they felt an "A" should be hard to get, which is why 94 octane is rare to nonexistent and 93 octane (a "B+" grade) is the highest you normally see.

[kphoger]

Eventually gasoline graduates when it reaches grade 100 and becomes diesel

They thought it was important to offer gas at the level of a "B" student (87 and 89 octane) to satisfy underachievers who are happy settling for a lower grade. But because the people who came up with the system are old people who didn't experience grade inflation, they felt an "A" should be hard to get, which is why 94 octane is rare to nonexistent and 93 octane (a "B+" grade) is the highest you normally see.

Then explain to me how it is that other countries can have gasoline with octane ratings above 100.  I'm confused.

[1995hoo]

Eventually gasoline graduates when it reaches grade 100 and becomes diesel

They thought it was important to offer gas at the level of a "B" student (87 and 89 octane) to satisfy underachievers who are happy settling for a lower grade. But because the people who came up with the system are old people who didn't experience grade inflation, they felt an "A" should be hard to get, which is why 94 octane is rare to nonexistent and 93 octane (a "B+" grade) is the highest you normally see.

Then explain to me how it is that other countries can have gasoline with octane ratings above 100.  I'm confused.

They wanted the octane rating to be closer to their currencies that sometimes had complicated denominations.

[GaryV]

01 MAY 2026

Why is gasoline sold in different octane ratings?  Why not just one grade of gas?

Because octane has 8 carbon atoms. Couldn't sell it by heptane rating because the good book says not to count to 7 unless you then proceed to 8. Decane is right out.

[kphoger]

Because octane has 8 carbon atoms. Couldn't sell it by heptane rating because the good book says not to count to 7 unless you then proceed to 8. Decane is right out.

[kphoger]

4/30/2026: What road do you think reminds you of an emoji the most?

The Key Bridge.

𖣑💥🚢

[Scott5114]

April 28, 2026:

"How many roads must a man walk down"?

According to Travel Mapping, 87,907.

[Scott5114]

01 MAY 2026

Why is gasoline sold in different octane ratings?

It's a government program to keep octane raters, an important political constituency, employed.

[kphoger]

01 MAY 2026

Why is gasoline sold in different octane ratings?  Why not just one grade of gas?

It isn't.  Premium is the same thing as Regular.  It's all the same gas.  Some people just feel really special by paying extra for premium things, and gas stations are all too happy to take advantage of that fact.

Also, Diesel is just gasoline with some foaming gel added in.

[The_Ginger]

01 MAY 2026

Why is gasoline sold in different octane ratings?  Why not just one grade of gas?

Gasoline is and isn't sold in different octane ratings and some do and don't get sold with octane. It's all and not all for the Grand Warbler and the Lnrvdxkk Onlast.

I figured this thread was confusing enough, so I threw some Alanlandish things in it for style 

[pderocco]

4/30/2026: What road do you think reminds you of an emoji the most?

Pretty much any roundabout.

[kphoger]

4/30/2026: What road do you think reminds you of an emoji the most?

Pretty much any roundabout.

🔄🚗

[PNWRoadgeek]

01 MAY 2026

Why is gasoline sold in different octane ratings?  Why not just one grade of gas?

Because we need to find different ways to rate gas and grade gas.

[TheCatalyst31]

Eventually gasoline graduates when it reaches grade 100 and becomes diesel

They thought it was important to offer gas at the level of a "B" student (87 and 89 octane) to satisfy underachievers who are happy settling for a lower grade. But because the people who came up with the system are old people who didn't experience grade inflation, they felt an "A" should be hard to get, which is why 94 octane is rare to nonexistent and 93 octane (a "B+" grade) is the highest you normally see.

Then explain to me how it is that other countries can have gasoline with octane ratings above 100.  I'm confused.

They got extra credit.