David Hsu
@dhsu.bsky.social
Professor studying cities, infrastructure, climate, energy, long bike rides, the Boston Celtics, & the drop serve. Personal account representing only me. Likes, reposts ≠ endorsements.
TIL that 1 MCF ~= 1.038 MMBTU based on 2023 average heat content, so convert gas volumes to energy all you want (within +/-4%!)
February 6, 2026 at 2:57 PM
TIL that 1 MCF ~= 1.038 MMBTU based on 2023 average heat content, so convert gas volumes to energy all you want (within +/-4%!)
Love this.
February 6, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Love this.
Here's the slide I use when I talk about rising costs in BOTH gas and electricity systems. Capital expended on distribution poles, wires, and pipes is the main cost for utilities and are the main driver of your rapidly growing energy bills. Gas 4X and electricity 2X inflation between 2003 and 2023.
February 4, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Here's the slide I use when I talk about rising costs in BOTH gas and electricity systems. Capital expended on distribution poles, wires, and pipes is the main cost for utilities and are the main driver of your rapidly growing energy bills. Gas 4X and electricity 2X inflation between 2003 and 2023.
In this season of college and graduate school admissions, I remembered this quite moving story about breaking the rules to do the right thing over enforcing selectivity. Seavey, circled, used to live in my town! www.bostonglobe.com/2022/12/22/m...
A Harvard Law professor broke the rules to let in WWII vets. They made ‘the best class there ever was.’ - The Boston Globe
Refusing to reduce veterans to their test scores, Warren Seavey accepted some with questionable academic credentials— and others who hadn’t even applied.
www.bostonglobe.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:02 PM
In this season of college and graduate school admissions, I remembered this quite moving story about breaking the rules to do the right thing over enforcing selectivity. Seavey, circled, used to live in my town! www.bostonglobe.com/2022/12/22/m...
Got around to listening to this and catching up on 2024 and 2025, in preparation for this year. Does a good job of explaining academic issues in terms of real people and relationships. apps.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/mult...
The Harvard Plan podcast
The Harvard Plan is about the fight for the soul of America’s oldest and most prestigious university.
apps.bostonglobe.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Got around to listening to this and catching up on 2024 and 2025, in preparation for this year. Does a good job of explaining academic issues in terms of real people and relationships. apps.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/mult...
Building offshore wind, despite the federal obstacles, would benefit Massachusetts and New England. www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
February 3, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Building offshore wind, despite the federal obstacles, would benefit Massachusetts and New England. www.canarymedia.com/articles/cle...
Missed this but sounds fun.
February 3, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Missed this but sounds fun.
Reposted by David Hsu
This op-ed is by the former NYT Detroit bureau chief, and adapted from a book I'm going to order: “The End of Detroit: How the Big Three Lost Their Grip on the American Car Market.” www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/02/o...
Trump is trying to kill electric cars. A coalition is emerging to fight back. - The Boston Globe
EVs still have international support and strong word of mouth. And inexpensive new models are on the way.
www.bostonglobe.com
February 3, 2026 at 10:45 AM
This op-ed is by the former NYT Detroit bureau chief, and adapted from a book I'm going to order: “The End of Detroit: How the Big Three Lost Their Grip on the American Car Market.” www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/02/o...
Oh, what a bummer. Put away your phone, "Sentimental Value" is worth it! www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
The Film Students Who Can No Longer Sit Through Films
The attention-span crisis goes to the movies.
www.theatlantic.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Oh, what a bummer. Put away your phone, "Sentimental Value" is worth it! www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Reposted by David Hsu
"What stayed with Amundson most, she said, was not the adrenaline of the moment but the realization that came while she was holding the agent’s head in her hands and keeping his airway open.
“I was hit so hard with the fact that this man would not do this for me,” she said.'"
“I was hit so hard with the fact that this man would not do this for me,” she said.'"
Two women trained as first responders were abducted by three ICE agents. One of the agents starts seizing. The other two don’t know what to do. The women jump into action and save the agent’s life, only to be re-handcuffed and processed.
www.startribune.com/detained-by-...
www.startribune.com/detained-by-...
Detained by ICE, two women became first responders during agent’s seizure
The women say they guided agents through the emergency, later raising concerns about medical protocols, weapons safety and accountability.
www.startribune.com
January 24, 2026 at 1:36 PM
"What stayed with Amundson most, she said, was not the adrenaline of the moment but the realization that came while she was holding the agent’s head in her hands and keeping his airway open.
“I was hit so hard with the fact that this man would not do this for me,” she said.'"
“I was hit so hard with the fact that this man would not do this for me,” she said.'"
Reposted by David Hsu
You may not believe that new-builds lower rents, but your landlord does.
Build more housing, get cheaper housing.
"Oversupply is the key reason why rents are falling. In 2024, builders delivered close to 20,000 new apartments, nearly double the recent historical average."
"Oversupply is the key reason why rents are falling. In 2024, builders delivered close to 20,000 new apartments, nearly double the recent historical average."
Apartment rents fall to early 2022 levels in metro Denver
Builders have supplied more apartments than what tenants have been able to absorb the past two years.
www.denverpost.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:01 AM
You may not believe that new-builds lower rents, but your landlord does.
Some have observed that people are attracted to the things that they couldn't afford when they were growing up; Cannondale was that for me. A great obituary for a cycling pioneer. Rest in peace. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/o...
Joe Montgomery, Who Made Bicycles Lighter, Dies at 86
www.nytimes.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Some have observed that people are attracted to the things that they couldn't afford when they were growing up; Cannondale was that for me. A great obituary for a cycling pioneer. Rest in peace. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/o...
Greetings from New England.
January 19, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Greetings from New England.
The long winter term, called IAP (Inter-Activities Period) and indeed full of weird activities, is one of the best times at MIT. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/16/a...
What is happening on MIT campus this weekend? We have a clue. Sort of. - The Boston Globe
The annual Mystery Hunt returns to the Cambridge campus for MLK Jr. weekend, bringing thousands of puzzle hunters together for one epic quest.
www.bostonglobe.com
January 16, 2026 at 2:19 PM
The long winter term, called IAP (Inter-Activities Period) and indeed full of weird activities, is one of the best times at MIT. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/16/a...
I’m so sorry, Denmark:
“This year’s annual threat assessment from the Danish military-intelligence service seemed to concur. For the first time, it cited the U.S., along with Russia, China, and terrorist groups, as a risk to Danish security.”
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
“This year’s annual threat assessment from the Danish military-intelligence service seemed to concur. For the first time, it cited the U.S., along with Russia, China, and terrorist groups, as a risk to Danish security.”
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Denmark Is Sick of Being Bullied by Trump
The U.S., once Denmark’s closest ally, is threatening to steal Greenland and attacking the country’s wind-power industry. Is this a permanent breakup?
www.newyorker.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:46 PM
I’m so sorry, Denmark:
“This year’s annual threat assessment from the Danish military-intelligence service seemed to concur. For the first time, it cited the U.S., along with Russia, China, and terrorist groups, as a risk to Danish security.”
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
“This year’s annual threat assessment from the Danish military-intelligence service seemed to concur. For the first time, it cited the U.S., along with Russia, China, and terrorist groups, as a risk to Danish security.”
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Just finished reading “Careless People” by Sarah Wynn-Williams, a very well-written, firsthand account of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sheryl Sandberg. About all three topics, two words:
EVEN WORSE.
EVEN WORSE.
January 10, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Just finished reading “Careless People” by Sarah Wynn-Williams, a very well-written, firsthand account of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sheryl Sandberg. About all three topics, two words:
EVEN WORSE.
EVEN WORSE.
I missed this one year anniversary yesterday but it is always a good day to reflect on what we are trying to avoid in the changing climate and what we are trying to build towards. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
My House Burned in the L.A. Fires. What Happens Now?
A devastated community fights for rebirth.
www.newyorker.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:59 PM
I missed this one year anniversary yesterday but it is always a good day to reflect on what we are trying to avoid in the changing climate and what we are trying to build towards. www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Reposted by David Hsu
I've watched thousands of videos from the Jan. 6 riot as part of NPR's reporting and archive project on that day.
Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.
🧵
Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.
🧵
January 6, 2026 at 1:23 PM
I've watched thousands of videos from the Jan. 6 riot as part of NPR's reporting and archive project on that day.
Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.
🧵
Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.
🧵
Reposted by David Hsu
"I’m going to pause here just to review: an institution that purports to be a university has told a philosophy professor he is forbidden from teaching Plato."
surreal times
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
surreal times
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
Texas A&M Bans Plato - Daily Nous
Drop the race and gender material from your course and the Plato readings, or teach a different course. You have a day to decide. That's a paraphrase of what Martin Peterson, professor of philosophy a...
dailynous.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:36 AM
"I’m going to pause here just to review: an institution that purports to be a university has told a philosophy professor he is forbidden from teaching Plato."
surreal times
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
surreal times
dailynous.com/2026/01/06/t...
I believe that lawlessness, hate, thuggishness, and violence can not and will not triumph. The NYT op-ed page is often a letdown and despite the title, this is a good summary and concludes well. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
Opinion | 5 Years After Jan. 6, Lawlessness Has Triumphed
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:55 PM
I believe that lawlessness, hate, thuggishness, and violence can not and will not triumph. The NYT op-ed page is often a letdown and despite the title, this is a good summary and concludes well. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
Never forget: five years ago today on January 6, 2021, Donald Trump gathered a mob that then rioted and attacked the US Capitol Building, in order to disrupt the counting of votes from across our country that showed that he did in fact lose the election. www.usatoday.com/picture-gall...
See images of pro-Trump rioters storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021
Images captured the deadly insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, as Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in Washington, DC.
www.usatoday.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Never forget: five years ago today on January 6, 2021, Donald Trump gathered a mob that then rioted and attacked the US Capitol Building, in order to disrupt the counting of votes from across our country that showed that he did in fact lose the election. www.usatoday.com/picture-gall...
Reposted by David Hsu
Polls conducted in late 2025 show that most Americans, by a 25-50 point margin (depending on question wording), oppose the use of military force against Venezuela.
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/americans-...
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/americans-...
January 4, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Polls conducted in late 2025 show that most Americans, by a 25-50 point margin (depending on question wording), oppose the use of military force against Venezuela.
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/americans-...
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/americans-...
Reposted by David Hsu
New Interview: www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
January 3, 2026 at 9:42 PM
New Interview: www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...