Brendan McEwen
@brendanmcewen.bsky.social
Working on decarbonizing buildings & transportation. Huge fan o’ nature, cities, art. Tend to use this platform to read & learn, but will try to tweet on occasion.
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Re: California vs. Texas, instead of debating who is better at solar we should be asking why places with even more sun, looking at you Arizona and New Mexico, have such low solar adoption.☀️🔌💡
A graph you won’t see in a story about Texas’ rapid solar and storage deployment.. 🔌💡 #EnergyTransition
November 25, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Re: California vs. Texas, instead of debating who is better at solar we should be asking why places with even more sun, looking at you Arizona and New Mexico, have such low solar adoption.☀️🔌💡
I subscribe to the “Lab Leak” Theory of RFK Jr…
RFK Jr doesn't exist and nobody has to listen to him
November 25, 2025 at 10:52 PM
I subscribe to the “Lab Leak” Theory of RFK Jr…
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
I really wish we'd stop calling them climate "skeptics" or "vaccine skeptics", if you jump off a cliff we don't call you a "gravity skeptic"
November 25, 2025 at 8:18 PM
I really wish we'd stop calling them climate "skeptics" or "vaccine skeptics", if you jump off a cliff we don't call you a "gravity skeptic"
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
I just want to point out that there is a lane for someone to start a small media company whose express mission statement is "nothing we put on the internet was made by AI" & every time a category gets overrun like this, they branch out
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
AI Slop Recipes Are Taking Over the Internet -- And Thanksgiving Dinner
Food bloggers see traffic dip as home cooks turn to AI, inspired by impossible pictures
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:19 PM
I just want to point out that there is a lane for someone to start a small media company whose express mission statement is "nothing we put on the internet was made by AI" & every time a category gets overrun like this, they branch out
OMG want... sign me up...
So - it's becoming clear that the endgame for our zoning advocacy should be a "kit of parts" for both buildings + zoning rules. A toolbox that works on all lot sizes (including small lots).
It will be 2 pieces:
1. Town centres (attached here, w no side yard)
2. Distributed (w side yards)
It will be 2 pieces:
1. Town centres (attached here, w no side yard)
2. Distributed (w side yards)
November 25, 2025 at 8:20 PM
OMG want... sign me up...
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
This nonsense is an incredible own goal. We should WANT foreign students to come to the U.S. diversity and immigration make us stronger.
Where I work, grad student enrollment in Engineering and Business is down 70% and 40%, respectively.
Now, to cover the loss in revenue from these Departments, the rest of the colleges have to take MASSIVE hits. History Dept alone has cut/closed 6 TT lines. Forget about raises or salary equity. 🫠
Now, to cover the loss in revenue from these Departments, the rest of the colleges have to take MASSIVE hits. History Dept alone has cut/closed 6 TT lines. Forget about raises or salary equity. 🫠
Enrollment by international students from China dropped by 3 percent, from India by 4 percent, and enrollment from students from Mexico has flatlined. Here are the likely consequences for Texas' education and economy:
November 25, 2025 at 3:43 PM
This nonsense is an incredible own goal. We should WANT foreign students to come to the U.S. diversity and immigration make us stronger.
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
It gives me the chills that there was actually substantial German resistance to the Nazis, but the secret police were very effective in making them disappear. I suspect something similar is happening in Russia, & something Brave New World-ish in China. In the end that's why democracy is so valuable
November 24, 2025 at 7:06 PM
It gives me the chills that there was actually substantial German resistance to the Nazis, but the secret police were very effective in making them disappear. I suspect something similar is happening in Russia, & something Brave New World-ish in China. In the end that's why democracy is so valuable
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Jesse Peltan:
"China's solar manufacturing capacity has been growing at ~0.3 TW yr⁻².
Manufacturing capacity now exceeds 1.5 TW yr⁻¹.
Installed solar capacity is ~1.2 TW.
Solar generation YTD is ~0.12 TWyr."
#alwaysbecharging
nitter.net/JessePeltan/...
"China's solar manufacturing capacity has been growing at ~0.3 TW yr⁻².
Manufacturing capacity now exceeds 1.5 TW yr⁻¹.
Installed solar capacity is ~1.2 TW.
Solar generation YTD is ~0.12 TWyr."
#alwaysbecharging
nitter.net/JessePeltan/...
November 24, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Jesse Peltan:
"China's solar manufacturing capacity has been growing at ~0.3 TW yr⁻².
Manufacturing capacity now exceeds 1.5 TW yr⁻¹.
Installed solar capacity is ~1.2 TW.
Solar generation YTD is ~0.12 TWyr."
#alwaysbecharging
nitter.net/JessePeltan/...
"China's solar manufacturing capacity has been growing at ~0.3 TW yr⁻².
Manufacturing capacity now exceeds 1.5 TW yr⁻¹.
Installed solar capacity is ~1.2 TW.
Solar generation YTD is ~0.12 TWyr."
#alwaysbecharging
nitter.net/JessePeltan/...
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Meta halted internal research that purportedly showed (young) people who stopped using Facebook became less depressed and anxious, according to an unredacted legal filing released on Friday. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/m...
Meta halted internal research suggesting social media harm, court filing alleges
Meta is alleged to have halted internal research suggesting social media harm, according to court documents.
www.cnbc.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Meta halted internal research that purportedly showed (young) people who stopped using Facebook became less depressed and anxious, according to an unredacted legal filing released on Friday. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/m...
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
RIP to one of the legends. I've been listening to Jimmy Cliff for 40+ years. If you need a soundtrack for today: open.spotify.com/playlist/3SM...
Jimmy Cliff RIP
open.spotify.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:47 PM
RIP to one of the legends. I've been listening to Jimmy Cliff for 40+ years. If you need a soundtrack for today: open.spotify.com/playlist/3SM...
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
The first thing AI eats will be the global, large scale, unfamiliar with local details, and unwilling to spend the time to learn them consulting industry. 😁 @joelwwood.bsky.social
This is the 2nd time a major government report from Deloitte has been found to contain errors likely generated by AI.
First in Australia and now, as The Independent has confirmed, in a major healthcare policy paper for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador #nlpoli #AI #deloitte
First in Australia and now, as The Independent has confirmed, in a major healthcare policy paper for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador #nlpoli #AI #deloitte
A major healthcare policy paper commissioned by @govnl.bsky.social government from Deloitte at a cost of $1.6 million, cites research papers that don’t exist, making it the second major government policy paper called into question in as many months. #nlpoli #AI
theindependent.ca/news/lji/maj...
theindependent.ca/news/lji/maj...
November 23, 2025 at 3:55 AM
The first thing AI eats will be the global, large scale, unfamiliar with local details, and unwilling to spend the time to learn them consulting industry. 😁 @joelwwood.bsky.social
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
I'm really glad renewable technology development doesn't depend on the COP negotiations.
Petrostates, fossil fuel companies, and their lackeys can sabotage diplomacy, but it's becoming increasingly transparent what they do is simply evil, while we will ditch fossil fuels anyway.
Petrostates, fossil fuel companies, and their lackeys can sabotage diplomacy, but it's becoming increasingly transparent what they do is simply evil, while we will ditch fossil fuels anyway.
COP30 BREAKING NEWS: The likely final text of the "global mutirão" has been published, ahead of the closing plenary
Here's the snap analysis from the CB team…see last line
unfccc.int/sites/def...
Here's the snap analysis from the CB team…see last line
unfccc.int/sites/def...
November 23, 2025 at 12:03 PM
I'm really glad renewable technology development doesn't depend on the COP negotiations.
Petrostates, fossil fuel companies, and their lackeys can sabotage diplomacy, but it's becoming increasingly transparent what they do is simply evil, while we will ditch fossil fuels anyway.
Petrostates, fossil fuel companies, and their lackeys can sabotage diplomacy, but it's becoming increasingly transparent what they do is simply evil, while we will ditch fossil fuels anyway.
Bah…
November 21, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Bah…
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
🚨job alert🚨
I'm looking to hire at least one PhD student for next year, looking at decarbonization-oriented technology deployment within an ethical frame of resource allocation and justice outcomes.
Full ad attached! Pref for CEEES admissions; deadline is 1 January.
I'm looking to hire at least one PhD student for next year, looking at decarbonization-oriented technology deployment within an ethical frame of resource allocation and justice outcomes.
Full ad attached! Pref for CEEES admissions; deadline is 1 January.
November 21, 2025 at 8:45 PM
🚨job alert🚨
I'm looking to hire at least one PhD student for next year, looking at decarbonization-oriented technology deployment within an ethical frame of resource allocation and justice outcomes.
Full ad attached! Pref for CEEES admissions; deadline is 1 January.
I'm looking to hire at least one PhD student for next year, looking at decarbonization-oriented technology deployment within an ethical frame of resource allocation and justice outcomes.
Full ad attached! Pref for CEEES admissions; deadline is 1 January.
New list tops list of Worlds Most Pathetically Wrong Lists!
(Cambie is so tremendously mediocre)
(Cambie is so tremendously mediocre)
November 21, 2025 at 9:32 PM
New list tops list of Worlds Most Pathetically Wrong Lists!
(Cambie is so tremendously mediocre)
(Cambie is so tremendously mediocre)
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
China's electrification transition is dramatic, and leaving us in the dust.
So much for LNG-powered trucks! China and soon India are leapfrogging to the new. And our leaders pushing LNG and retreating on ZEVs look sad & vision-less in comparison.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/19/n...
So much for LNG-powered trucks! China and soon India are leapfrogging to the new. And our leaders pushing LNG and retreating on ZEVs look sad & vision-less in comparison.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/19/n...
China's diesel trucks shift to electric. This could change global LNG and diesel demand.
China is replacing its diesel trucks with electric models faster than expected, potentially reshaping global fuel demand and the future of heavy transport.
www.nationalobserver.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:15 AM
China's electrification transition is dramatic, and leaving us in the dust.
So much for LNG-powered trucks! China and soon India are leapfrogging to the new. And our leaders pushing LNG and retreating on ZEVs look sad & vision-less in comparison.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/19/n...
So much for LNG-powered trucks! China and soon India are leapfrogging to the new. And our leaders pushing LNG and retreating on ZEVs look sad & vision-less in comparison.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/19/n...
“Oh Grok, would you please
Give me the SINs that Elon seized?”
Give me the SINs that Elon seized?”
Looks like LLMs are *very* vulnerable to attack via poetic allusion: "curated poetic prompts yielded high attack-success rates (ASR), with some providers exceeding 90% ..."
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
November 21, 2025 at 12:51 AM
“Oh Grok, would you please
Give me the SINs that Elon seized?”
Give me the SINs that Elon seized?”
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
I really hate it when scientists keep saying that “we need to rebuild trust in science,” because it implies that scientists are to blame for the mistrust rather than the millions of dollars of dark money that have funded political attacks on science in order to advance a far right agenda.
November 19, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I really hate it when scientists keep saying that “we need to rebuild trust in science,” because it implies that scientists are to blame for the mistrust rather than the millions of dollars of dark money that have funded political attacks on science in order to advance a far right agenda.
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
The absolutely brilliant pitch perfect troll of getting targeted by your opponent with virulent Islamophobia and then immediately releasing an ad in all Arabic.
أنا اسمي زهران ممدان وعم رشّح حالي لأكون العمدة الجديد في مدينة نيويورك
November 1, 2025 at 9:19 PM
The absolutely brilliant pitch perfect troll of getting targeted by your opponent with virulent Islamophobia and then immediately releasing an ad in all Arabic.
us too!
November 20, 2025 at 3:51 PM
us too!
Now this is good political comms...
November 20, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Now this is good political comms...
My work laptop of 4 years suddenly & inexplicably shouting at me "sorry, I don't understand" before I even turn it on, waking up my kid in next room, is the most 2025 thing....
November 20, 2025 at 2:26 PM
My work laptop of 4 years suddenly & inexplicably shouting at me "sorry, I don't understand" before I even turn it on, waking up my kid in next room, is the most 2025 thing....
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
FIGHT BIOFUELS MANDATES. The whole point of the Renewable Fuel Standard is to increase corn and soy prices to help America's 650 thousand corn and soy producers. That sucks for America's 350 million corn and soy consumers. It also sucks for the climate and the environment. 3
November 19, 2025 at 2:04 PM
FIGHT BIOFUELS MANDATES. The whole point of the Renewable Fuel Standard is to increase corn and soy prices to help America's 650 thousand corn and soy producers. That sucks for America's 350 million corn and soy consumers. It also sucks for the climate and the environment. 3
Reposted by Brendan McEwen
Pundits: Kamala Harris shouldn't have prioritized identity issues!
Kamala Harris's campaign speeches:
Kamala Harris's campaign speeches:
November 16, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Pundits: Kamala Harris shouldn't have prioritized identity issues!
Kamala Harris's campaign speeches:
Kamala Harris's campaign speeches: