John R Ebdon
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jrebdon.bsky.social
John R Ebdon
@jrebdon.bsky.social
Semi-retired polymer scientist. Interested in science, politics, economics, film, TV drama, motor sport, gardens and gardening.
Pinned
Should anyone be interested in my science (and I'm not holding my breath!), some details can be found here: scholar.google.com/citations?us...
John R Ebdon
‪Honorary Visiting Professor, Institute for Materials Research and Innovation, University of Bolton‬ - ‪‪Cited by 4,858‬‬ - ‪Polymer science‬ - ‪Polymers‬ - ‪Fire retardance‬ - ‪Composites‬
scholar.google.com
Will be ironic if Trump turns his attention to Cuba thinking he can teach them a thing or two. Cuba's education system (free) is vastly superior to that of the US and its health system (also free) just as good with a far lower spend. Several indices of happiness are better for Cuba than for USA too.
January 6, 2026 at 3:15 PM
When Argentina invaded the Falklands (300 miles from their shores), we (8,000 miles away) went to their rescue with the support of most of Europe. If the USA should invade Greenland (1200 miles from US shores), I hope the UK and Europe would come to their rescue; the distance is a mere 2,000 miles.
January 6, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Donald Trump has filed a $10bn lawsuit against the BBC over a Panorama documentary! 🚨 If he wins, our national broadcaster could be wrecked - and license fee payers could be stuck with the bill. Stand with the BBC: tell leaders don’t pay Trump a penny! 38d.gs/2auv
Donald Trump has filed a $10bn lawsuit against the BBC over a Panorama documentary! 🚨 If he wins, our national broadcaster could be wrecked - and license fee payers could be stuck with the bill. Stand...
Donald Trump has filed a $10bn lawsuit against the BBC over a Panorama documentary! 🚨 If he wins, our national broadcaster could be wrecked - and license fee payers could be stuck with the bill. Stand...
38d.gs
December 29, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Just been catching up on the BBC's "Civilisations: Rise and Fall - Japan", only to hear Charles Moore stating that no society can afford to erect a wall around itself and take an isolationism stance if it is to survive. This from a supporter of Vote Leave, Brexit and an end to immigration!
December 8, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Reposted by John R Ebdon
Breaking. Liz Truss wins this year's FIFA Prize for Economics.
December 6, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Reposted by John R Ebdon
Once every 20 years or so, the director-general of the BBC is forced to resign for being insufficiently rightwing. Alastair Milne in 1987. Greg Dyke in 2004. Tim Davie in 2025. The great irony is that the BBC was in all cases profoundly biased towards established power. But just not biased enough …
November 10, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Reposted by John R Ebdon
November 10, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Reposted by John R Ebdon
If you want to see what Labour are delivering in your area pop your postcode in:

whathaskeirdone.co.uk
This is what Keir Starmer has done for you so far
The Tories presided over 14 years of decline, undermined our public services, and wrecked our economy. Keir Starmer's Labour Government is getting on with the job, fixing the foundations of our countr...
whathaskeirdone.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Member of Transport Police on R4 this morning explaining why they couldn't be expected to review hours of CCTV footage to spot thefts of bicycles from railway stations. I can't believe that in this day and age they appear not to be aware of binary searching, which would reduce such tasks to minutes.
October 7, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Reposted by John R Ebdon
The heat pump will take in waste heat from one of the site's steam crackers, and deliver 500,000 tonnes of steam per year to drive formic acid production.
BASF begins building huge industrial heat pump for low-carbon steam
When powered by renewable electricity, BASF says system will cut carbon emissions by up to 98%
www.chemistryworld.com
October 6, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Reposted by John R Ebdon
When speaking to Tommy Robinson at the far right demonstration in London today, Elon Musk wore a t-shirt saying "What would Orwell think?"

So let's dive in - what would George Orwell think about Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk? 🧵
September 13, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Schindler's Lift
September 6, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Your chance to sample the vibrant West London arts scene this weekend and next:
Borough of Ealing Art Trail share.google/UUSs4GMhEAT8...
Borough of Ealing Art Trail
We are Ealing’s first ever Art Trail. Our main event takes place over two consecutive weekends in September each year and enables the general public to see and buy some of the unique artwork being cre...
share.google
September 3, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Reposted by John R Ebdon
From black bins to green gains: how Leeds transforms waste

Leeds’ recycling and energy recovery facility turns black bin waste into electricity, heat and even roads – cutting landfill for good

By Dr Pam Jarvis

@yorkshirebylines.co.uk
From black bins to green gains: how Leeds transforms waste
Leeds’ recycling and energy recovery facility turns black bin waste into electricity, heat and even roads – cutting landfill for good
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
September 3, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Reposted by John R Ebdon
What has London’s Bakerloo line got to do with the government’s ability to invest in the North?

Put simply, if we let London raise more money from high land values to pay for its infrastructure, this frees up more government spending for the rest of the country.

Read below to see detail 👇
August 27, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Putin on his way? Following plane is "Russian Special Flight Squadron" too
August 14, 2025 at 5:12 PM
If a new west-east railway line can be this transformative for London, then it's high time we had similar lines in the Midlands and the North

Want to know what’s going right in Britain? Come to the capital, look at the Elizabeth line railway | Jonn Elledge www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Want to know what’s going right in Britain? Come to the capital, look at the Elizabeth line railway | Jonn Elledge
It’s a ‘can-do’ object lesson for the Treasury. And imagine what such ambition could do for the fortunes of Birmingham, Manchester or Leeds, says author Jonn Elledge
www.theguardian.com
August 11, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Reposted by John R Ebdon
Blackpool's rate of new business formation (5.6 per 1000 people/yr) exceeds Oxfordshire's (4.2 per 1000 people/yr)
It's that greater degree of entrepreneurial spirit that must account for the fact that Blackpool is famously more prosperous than Oxfordshire.
"Britain needs to unleash the spirit of entrepreneurship", by Camilla Cavendish
Could have been written any time in the last 20 years, & would have been just as cliched and vacuous.
www.ft.com/content/9c32...
Britain needs to unleash the spirit of entrepreneurship
We continue to put too many obstacles in the way of businesses that want to take risks and make things happen
www.ft.com
July 26, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Reposted by John R Ebdon
US climate scientists need all the help they can get. Including from foul-mouthed comedians! 🤡😱😱

Watch Emmy Award-Winning David Cross team up with Prof Michael Oppenheimer in the US launch of the hit series "Climate Science Translated".

#climate #arresteddevelopment #climatescience
June 2, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Reposted by John R Ebdon
The Spectacle continues. Meanwhile Project 2025 is 42% complete.

www.project2025.observer
Project 2025 Tracker
Track the progress on Project 2025
www.project2025.observer
April 19, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by John R Ebdon
📣 New report 📣

In a volatile world, we need an economy that is firing on all cylinders - but regional imbalances are driving overheating and stagnation in different places.

www.labourtogether.uk/all-reports/...
Nation Rebalanced: How do we create a country that works for all places? — Labour Together
This report, by Labour Together’s Director of Devolution, JP Spencer, sets out a bold vision for how to rebalance the UK economy and create prosperity in every part of the country. It outlines four k...
www.labourtogether.uk
April 7, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by John R Ebdon
The UK car industry contributes £22bn to the economy and employs c 35k people.

Universities contribute £265bn and employ nearly 400k, over 10x as much.

Yet he seems ok to let that sector implode.
"My choice in these volatile times is backing British brilliance," says Keir Starmer, who promises to deliver "British cars for British workers"
April 9, 2025 at 9:30 AM