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Reposted by Dr David R Brake

Kevin J. CREATURE @kevinjkircher.com · 1d

Over 40% of corn grown in Indiana is used to make ethanol that cars burn. One acre of corn yields about 16,500 vehicle-miles per year of ethanol, which sounds high until you realize that one acre of solar yields about 2,700,000 vehicle-miles per year: 16,000% more driving for a given plot of land.

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Reposted by Dr David R Brake

Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 9h

We have truly not yet figured out how to cope with a person or institution that is "aware" of climate change, "accepts the science", but then decides to continue actively worsening it anyway

We don't even have a word or a phrase for this!

theconversation.com/mark-carneys...

Mark Carney’s climate inaction is at odds with his awareness of climate change’s existential threat

Climate action no longer seems to be a priority for Prime Minister Mark Carney, despite his previous activism. This is bad news for Canadians and the climate.

theconversation.com

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 8h

Apparently it is too hard even to measure them and come up with a plan claiming to tackle them.

Auke Hoekstra @aukehoekstra.bsky.social · 9h

"Nestle quietly exits global initiative to reduce dairy methane emissions" Also not reporting its dairy methane emissions.
www.latimes.com/business/sto...

Nestle quietly exits global initiative to reduce dairy methane emissions

www.latimes.com

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Reposted by Dr David R Brake

Anita R @venividiverily.bsky.social · 1d

I could watch Zack Polanski utterly wreck Zia Yusuf ALL DAY LONG.

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 2d

Blimey! I am delighted that being an online history wonk seems to be working out for you (assuming you are not quite starving).

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 2d

I thought your imcome was from adjunct teaching which is only very loosely connected (and sometimes inversely!) with social media "success". No?

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 2d

I am delighted to be moving to Brighton which has a plentiful supply of both!

Bloody Marla 🏳️‍⚧️ @desperatemarlas.bsky.social · 3d

trump: transgenders and windmills all over the place

This is a real quote. This is the most horrific thing he can conjure up

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 2d

I hadn't realized Jenrick went to Newham and helped spray Union Jacks around the place. I certainly have happily draped myself in the flag a few times but using the flag as a weapon - don't forget you are in 'our' country now - is a disgraceful unpatriotic act.

Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 2d

"No one should come to our country who is not fully fluent in English. Absolutely no one." Imagine if English retirees to Spain were kept out until they learned Spanish! Maybe you shouldn't be allowed to say such rubbish if you haven't learned to speak Pashto...

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 2d

Jenrick: "I always read the comments under my articles in the Telegraph and find them incredibly useful". The mind boggles

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 2d

Morbidly curious to hear what the loathsome Jenrick had to say. But I couldn't help thinking on seeing this pic "if you want to find a scary cultural ghetto, look no further"! And the backslapping public joviality I heard at this tory conference was painful...

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 3d

Wow - two stupid errors in only a few words. Putin's "communists"? And they can't even spell "principles"! The Daily Express continues to embarrass itself.

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 3d

I'm never actually going to need to write another comment piece again am I?

The right wing shit rags are just going to keep recruiting for us.

Folks - want a better country?

Join.greenparty.org.uk

The party even more dangerous than Starmers labour - UK's answer to Putin's communists

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 3d

Do they all have the wrong number of fingers?

Techmeme @techmeme.com · 3d

Sources: Tesla abandoned Elon Musk's goal to make thousands of Optimus robots in 2025 due to significant technical challenges, especially with the robots' hands (Theo Wayt/The Information)

Main Link | Techmeme Permalink

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 3d

I wonder if in Holland they have backlashes about car lanes? I would hope so!

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Reposted by Dr David R Brake

SpinningHugo @spinninghugo.bsky.social · 4d

What on earth has happened to the Tories? This wouldn't have been acceptable in 1965 let alone 2025.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Robert Jenrick complained of ‘not seeing another white face’ in part of Birmingham

Shadow justice secretary criticised for suggesting he could tell how integrated Handsworth was based on short visit

www.theguardian.com

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 4d

It was just as interesting to see what was missing from The Economist's arguments. They didn't even discuss the claim that billionaires would dodge the tax, that it would damage growth or innovation or that it would be in some way unfair. Perhaps because they don't stand up to scrutiny?

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 4d

The main arguments:
1) #Wealthtax, while popular now, might become less popular later. So? Then it could be changed later!
2) They might not raise as much money as hoped for. Well, it could always be raised?
3) "Many wealth-tax advocates almost certainly see a levy of 2% as just the start." Aha!

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 4d

This to start with is just laughable from John Cochrane of Stanford University, “economists should analyse tax policy based on incentives, not moral sentiments" . Incentives to accomplish what and for whom? All economic choices are moral ones. siepr.stanford.edu/people/john-...

John Cochrane

Senior Fellow Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR) Senior Fellow Hoover Institution

siepr.stanford.edu

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 4d

🧵I was not that surprised to see @economist.com come out against a #wealthtax. But I figured if there was an intellectually credible argument against it, they would be the ones to look to. So I am pleased to see how weak their arguments actually seem to be. www.economist.com/finance-and-...

Don’t tax wealth

Even the most sophisticated arguments in favour of doing so make no sense

www.economist.com

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 4d

This is the way it's supposed to work - it is taking longer than we would like for the results to be seen but (if we don't change direction) things should only get better from here?

Jess Ralston @jessralston.bsky.social · 4d

The results:
1) Wind farms cut the day-ahead wholesale price by up to a quarter (25%) in 2024, about £25/MWh

compared to if there was no/little wind, and gas instead

this hidden saving is not being considered by those who call to scrap renewables.

Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 4d

So looks like the new Labour government in the UK is "winning the immigration battle" mainly by separating newcomer health and care sector workforce from their families? And soon ensuring they can't stay here unless they're better citizens than the rest of us? Grotesque.

James Bowes @jamesbowes01.bsky.social · 6d

The most recent net immigration figures were 431,000 year ending Dec 25. However, net immigration was already far lower than that even before the rules tightened Jul 25. Visa grants are much lower now than in the first half of 2024 primarily because of the Mar/Apr 24 salary threshold rises (2/x)

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Reposted by Dr David R Brake

Philip Eil @phileil.bsky.social · 4d

We really need to retire "contrarian" as a descriptor for Weiss immediately.

The reason she is getting this job right now is because of her *non-contrarian* sensibilities.

She espouses views that the US's current power structure likes.

NPR @npr.org · 4d

CBS' parent company will buy The Free Press and install Bari Weiss, its contrarian founder, as editor in chief of CBS News. n.pr/4o634cr

CBS' next top editor to be Bari Weiss of The Free Press

CBS' parent company will buy The Free Press and install Bari Weiss, its contrarian founder, as editor in chief of CBS News.

n.pr

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 4d

The arc of the roundabout bends towards progress, though!

Nancy Pelosi Progress GIF by GIPHY News

giphy.com

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 4d

It would be good to have independent verification of some of the more striking claims here but of course the Israeli military has been killing journalists in the region in droves which makes that pretty difficult!

Paul T. Levin @paultlevin.bsky.social · 6d

““They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” the Turkish activist ErsinÇelik, a participant in the Sumud flotilla, told Anadolu news agency.”+

Israel accused of detaining Greta Thunberg in infested cell and making her hold flags

Activist tells Swedish officials she has been subjected to harsh treatment, including insufficient food and water

www.theguardian.com

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Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · 4d

🧵I have a lot of respect in general for @economist.com as a rational centre-right voice so was interested to read its critique of #weathtaxes. And surprised (and relieved) that it turns out to be so weak. www.economist.com/finance-and-...

Don’t tax wealth

Even the most sophisticated arguments in favour of doing so make no sense

www.economist.com