Josh Lappen
@jlappen1.bsky.social
energy historian | postdoc at Notre Dame, PhD at Oxford | infrastructure, decarbonization, and landscapes | Angeleno | always on the lookout for a good fun fact
views my own, at best
views my own, at best
Pinned
Josh Lappen
@jlappen1.bsky.social
· Apr 16
Allan Nevins Prize | Society of American Historians
sah.columbia.edu
Interrupting my usual programming to share that my doctoral dissertation has won the Society of American Historians' Allan Nevins Prize!
I'm so grateful to the friends and mentors who have taught me this beautiful profession, especially in dark times.
sah.columbia.edu/content/priz...
I'm so grateful to the friends and mentors who have taught me this beautiful profession, especially in dark times.
sah.columbia.edu/content/priz...
I remain convinced that the only thing that's going to stop the administrative passion for LLM Everything is the administrative passion for Not Getting Sued All The Time
A large number of union grievances start because a single mid-level program or department administrator misunderstands our contracts. This is supposed to help staff with university-specific questions. Let's see how it does. 🧵
God dammit
December 3, 2025 at 9:39 PM
I remain convinced that the only thing that's going to stop the administrative passion for LLM Everything is the administrative passion for Not Getting Sued All The Time
Reposted by Josh Lappen
This is great reporting. To complement it, I'm reposting my post-fires analysis - rebuilding with gas puts these communities, and the communities that surround them, in multiple forms of danger.
heatmap.news/ideas/la-fir...
heatmap.news/ideas/la-fir...
December 3, 2025 at 6:38 PM
This is great reporting. To complement it, I'm reposting my post-fires analysis - rebuilding with gas puts these communities, and the communities that surround them, in multiple forms of danger.
heatmap.news/ideas/la-fir...
heatmap.news/ideas/la-fir...
Maybe I'm a rube but sure seems like you could prosecute a company that designs and advertises that its products will systematically violate the law!
Love to share the road with cars programmed to blast past speed limits
Tesla brings back 'Mad Max' 'Full Self-Driving' mode that ignores speed limits
Tesla has brought back its 'Mad Max' mode for 'Full Self-Driving (Supervised) that ignores speed limits amid several investigations.
electrek.co
December 3, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Maybe I'm a rube but sure seems like you could prosecute a company that designs and advertises that its products will systematically violate the law!
This is great reporting. To complement it, I'm reposting my post-fires analysis - rebuilding with gas puts these communities, and the communities that surround them, in multiple forms of danger.
heatmap.news/ideas/la-fir...
heatmap.news/ideas/la-fir...
December 3, 2025 at 6:38 PM
This is great reporting. To complement it, I'm reposting my post-fires analysis - rebuilding with gas puts these communities, and the communities that surround them, in multiple forms of danger.
heatmap.news/ideas/la-fir...
heatmap.news/ideas/la-fir...
Reposted by Josh Lappen
“Calculators expanded reasoning; the printing press spread knowledge. ChatGPT, by contrast, doesn’t extend cognition—it automates it, turning thinking itself into a service. Rather than democratizing learning, it privatizes the act of thinking under corporate control. “
Absolutely devastating account of the CSU's $17 million capitulation to ChatGPT, from a fellow faculty member watching it happen www.currentaffairs.org/news/ai-is-d...
AI is Destroying the University and Learning Itself
Students use AI to write papers, professors use AI to grade them, degrees become meaningless, and tech companies make fortunes. Welcome to the death of higher education.
www.currentaffairs.org
December 3, 2025 at 6:15 AM
“Calculators expanded reasoning; the printing press spread knowledge. ChatGPT, by contrast, doesn’t extend cognition—it automates it, turning thinking itself into a service. Rather than democratizing learning, it privatizes the act of thinking under corporate control. “
a) It's so funny these dunces are going to try to argue their short coastal-CA pipeline is interstate
b) this is the type of legal lie that the Trump Admin approves of
c) if this is the game, CA and SB have so, so many monkey wrenches at their disposal
www.independent.com/2025/12/02/s...
b) this is the type of legal lie that the Trump Admin approves of
c) if this is the game, CA and SB have so, so many monkey wrenches at their disposal
www.independent.com/2025/12/02/s...
Sable Offshore Looking for Way Around State Fire Marshal to Restart Oil Pipeline
The Texas oil company now claims that federal pipeline regulators should have jurisdiction over whether it should be allowed to restart its oil pipeline in Santa Barbara County.
www.independent.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:02 AM
a) It's so funny these dunces are going to try to argue their short coastal-CA pipeline is interstate
b) this is the type of legal lie that the Trump Admin approves of
c) if this is the game, CA and SB have so, so many monkey wrenches at their disposal
www.independent.com/2025/12/02/s...
b) this is the type of legal lie that the Trump Admin approves of
c) if this is the game, CA and SB have so, so many monkey wrenches at their disposal
www.independent.com/2025/12/02/s...
A though from the bus: I support (unarmed) fare enforcement bc of all the people who can clearly, absolutely pay for public transit, but don't. I believe asocial behavior anywhere in society is a threat to the whole structure, but I believe that threat stems from the well-off, not the destitute.
December 3, 2025 at 3:45 AM
A though from the bus: I support (unarmed) fare enforcement bc of all the people who can clearly, absolutely pay for public transit, but don't. I believe asocial behavior anywhere in society is a threat to the whole structure, but I believe that threat stems from the well-off, not the destitute.
ILL is the category of program that you don't think exists because it would just be unrealistic to expect something so impressive and valuable provided so smoothly and universally.
A couple weeks ago we got a lovely note from someone on the other side of the country thanking us profusely for ILLing a book to them. Curious, we looked up the book they borrowed.
It would have cost $1,200 for them to purchase it.
ILL is one of the things I love most about libraries.
It would have cost $1,200 for them to purchase it.
ILL is one of the things I love most about libraries.
Requested a book through ILL over break. It arrived today. Libraries man.
December 3, 2025 at 3:11 AM
ILL is the category of program that you don't think exists because it would just be unrealistic to expect something so impressive and valuable provided so smoothly and universally.
Reposted by Josh Lappen
Universities are assembling larger and larger teams to deal with academic integrity issues--mostly focused on AI--while simultaneously holding AI "writing" contests, AI-themed events, "hey, come play with these fun tools!" The messages are so mixed, it's criminal. Because AI is bloated with money.
November 28, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Universities are assembling larger and larger teams to deal with academic integrity issues--mostly focused on AI--while simultaneously holding AI "writing" contests, AI-themed events, "hey, come play with these fun tools!" The messages are so mixed, it's criminal. Because AI is bloated with money.
crazy whiplash moving back and forth between drafts of a physical-sciences article (word count c. 5k) and a law review article (word count c. 35k). I really think the humanities gotten have article length right...
December 3, 2025 at 2:31 AM
crazy whiplash moving back and forth between drafts of a physical-sciences article (word count c. 5k) and a law review article (word count c. 35k). I really think the humanities gotten have article length right...
Reposted by Josh Lappen
After becoming a congressional leader, a politician’s stock portfolio beats out those of peers by 47 (!!!) percentage points a year through trades timed around bills and firms that later get government contracts
www.nber.org/papers/w34524
via @florianederer.bsky.social
www.nber.org/papers/w34524
via @florianederer.bsky.social
December 3, 2025 at 1:42 AM
After becoming a congressional leader, a politician’s stock portfolio beats out those of peers by 47 (!!!) percentage points a year through trades timed around bills and firms that later get government contracts
www.nber.org/papers/w34524
via @florianederer.bsky.social
www.nber.org/papers/w34524
via @florianederer.bsky.social
Reposted by Josh Lappen
An article that wasn't focused on elite colleges might be capable of considering that disability accommodations are about a student getting a good education for themselves rather than framing things in terms of a hunger games competition for who gets to be elite in society
December 3, 2025 at 12:41 AM
An article that wasn't focused on elite colleges might be capable of considering that disability accommodations are about a student getting a good education for themselves rather than framing things in terms of a hunger games competition for who gets to be elite in society
Reposted by Josh Lappen
If a man personally implicated in war crimes can remain atop the Pentagon, why would he stand by and risk his freedom should Vance (or Trump again) lose the 2028 election?
And unless Bradley sees the inside of a brig, the message to USSOCOM's chain of command is that no action is impermissible.
And unless Bradley sees the inside of a brig, the message to USSOCOM's chain of command is that no action is impermissible.
Pete Hegseth And Adm. Mitch Bradley Belong In Prison
The South American boat strikes are plainly murders. Now we have the names of the murderers. Do we have the political will to lock them up?
www.forever-wars.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:08 PM
If a man personally implicated in war crimes can remain atop the Pentagon, why would he stand by and risk his freedom should Vance (or Trump again) lose the 2028 election?
And unless Bradley sees the inside of a brig, the message to USSOCOM's chain of command is that no action is impermissible.
And unless Bradley sees the inside of a brig, the message to USSOCOM's chain of command is that no action is impermissible.
This is fantastic investigative work, and it hits at multiple levels. I've been thinking about it constantly for two weeks now.
calmatters.org/newsletter/c...
calmatters.org/newsletter/c...
California’s DUI enforcement system is broken. More people are dying
California’s drunk driving laws are more lenient than most states, a CalMatters investigation has found.
calmatters.org
December 3, 2025 at 12:44 AM
This is fantastic investigative work, and it hits at multiple levels. I've been thinking about it constantly for two weeks now.
calmatters.org/newsletter/c...
calmatters.org/newsletter/c...
Reposted by Josh Lappen
This is windpunk
Oh, now that we're on the brink, you sickos want more? Fine, have more!
December 2, 2025 at 6:56 AM
This is windpunk
This is major for a whole host of reasons - but from a system finance perspective, this could be a boon or a liability. It all depends on whether the transit agencies use this moment to convert new riders! Advertising and comms are critical to making this work by expanding system use
I hope every transit agency doesn't shut up about this for months
out there every day putting signs in front of drivers telling them transit just got cheaper so why not take the bus and enjoy not being stuck in traffic
this is one of the largest non-capital project changes to transit in decades
out there every day putting signs in front of drivers telling them transit just got cheaper so why not take the bus and enjoy not being stuck in traffic
this is one of the largest non-capital project changes to transit in decades
Starting next week, riding this bus and most other buses to BART will be FREE!
Clipper 2 rolls out on December 10, including free and low cost transfers between all transit agencies.
Riders will automatically receive discounts up to $2.85 when transferring within a two hour window.
Clipper 2 rolls out on December 10, including free and low cost transfers between all transit agencies.
Riders will automatically receive discounts up to $2.85 when transferring within a two hour window.
December 2, 2025 at 8:02 PM
This is major for a whole host of reasons - but from a system finance perspective, this could be a boon or a liability. It all depends on whether the transit agencies use this moment to convert new riders! Advertising and comms are critical to making this work by expanding system use
We live in an almost unique historical moment - perhaps the only one in which this beautiful proposition is even remotely controversial.
December 2, 2025 at 7:45 PM
We live in an almost unique historical moment - perhaps the only one in which this beautiful proposition is even remotely controversial.
Our best people are working night and day on this
I guess really what I want to know is - can you turn a petty grudge into a legitimate academic study?
December 2, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Our best people are working night and day on this
Reposted by Josh Lappen
This is the future they're trying to take from you, people!!!
yes, this is actual art done for SERI in the 1970s. We used to be a proper country, etc etc
yes, this is actual art done for SERI in the 1970s. We used to be a proper country, etc etc
December 2, 2025 at 1:17 AM
This is the future they're trying to take from you, people!!!
yes, this is actual art done for SERI in the 1970s. We used to be a proper country, etc etc
yes, this is actual art done for SERI in the 1970s. We used to be a proper country, etc etc
Reposted by Josh Lappen
“AI is clearly sticking around so you have to get used to it” wrong. I don’t have to get used to shit. I am a practiced hater and I can keep this going for decades if I am required to
December 1, 2025 at 11:29 PM
“AI is clearly sticking around so you have to get used to it” wrong. I don’t have to get used to shit. I am a practiced hater and I can keep this going for decades if I am required to
I really shouldn't feed the troll, but note that this is wrong on its face. This is not how the utility business structure works in the vast majority of the US!
also hm wonder if anything besides ideology pushed by "Greens" in "the seventies" might've made energy efficiency appealing? probably not
also hm wonder if anything besides ideology pushed by "Greens" in "the seventies" might've made energy efficiency appealing? probably not
December 2, 2025 at 2:05 AM
I really shouldn't feed the troll, but note that this is wrong on its face. This is not how the utility business structure works in the vast majority of the US!
also hm wonder if anything besides ideology pushed by "Greens" in "the seventies" might've made energy efficiency appealing? probably not
also hm wonder if anything besides ideology pushed by "Greens" in "the seventies" might've made energy efficiency appealing? probably not
thank god we've been liberated from the woke oppression of [checks notes] Gerald Ford.
Worth noting that not only is NREL's name specified by statute - and that the name NREL is already more all-of-the-above than its original name: The Solar Energy Research Institute.
Worth noting that not only is NREL's name specified by statute - and that the name NREL is already more all-of-the-above than its original name: The Solar Energy Research Institute.
The Trump administration says it has renamed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory the "National Laboratory of the Rockies." "The renaming is effective immediately and will be reflected in all public communications and official correspondence." www.nrel.gov/news/detail/... 🔌💡
News Release: Energy Department Renames NREL 'National Lab of the Rockies' | NREL
www.nrel.gov
December 2, 2025 at 12:12 AM
thank god we've been liberated from the woke oppression of [checks notes] Gerald Ford.
Worth noting that not only is NREL's name specified by statute - and that the name NREL is already more all-of-the-above than its original name: The Solar Energy Research Institute.
Worth noting that not only is NREL's name specified by statute - and that the name NREL is already more all-of-the-above than its original name: The Solar Energy Research Institute.
Freshening up in my Coat Bath before sauntering out onto the patio deck whose surface is constructed of sliding doors, feeling deep self-satisfaction. Later tonight I'll curl up to sleep in the sink of my otherwise-bare Bedroom 4. Everything is for the best in this, the best of all possible houses.
December 1, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Freshening up in my Coat Bath before sauntering out onto the patio deck whose surface is constructed of sliding doors, feeling deep self-satisfaction. Later tonight I'll curl up to sleep in the sink of my otherwise-bare Bedroom 4. Everything is for the best in this, the best of all possible houses.
Reposted by Josh Lappen
We found that the BLM skipped environmental review on 75% of its grazing land. Our new @propublica.org story explains the ”loophole” that allows BLM to bypass enviro reviews. www.propublica.org/article/graz...
December 1, 2025 at 4:22 PM
We found that the BLM skipped environmental review on 75% of its grazing land. Our new @propublica.org story explains the ”loophole” that allows BLM to bypass enviro reviews. www.propublica.org/article/graz...
This documents the type of war crimes that the US has repeatedly executed foreign military officers and politicians for committing. There must be trials.
Textbook war crime/extrajudicial killing
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:01 AM
This documents the type of war crimes that the US has repeatedly executed foreign military officers and politicians for committing. There must be trials.