Ryan C. Smith
@rcsmitheco.bsky.social
Author of, "The Real Oil Shock: How Oil Transformed Money, Debt, and Finance", host of "A History of Capitalism" podcast. Economist & historian, currently #amquerying "The Emerging Energy Revolution" on how renewables+batteries are transforming the world.
"Fun" late night thoughts:
Who knows if and how much of financial market trades are operating purely in a "dead Internet"-like repeating loop where bots & algorithms trade based solely on the inputs & response of other automated processes like high-frequency trading algorithms?
#EconSky
Who knows if and how much of financial market trades are operating purely in a "dead Internet"-like repeating loop where bots & algorithms trade based solely on the inputs & response of other automated processes like high-frequency trading algorithms?
#EconSky
November 23, 2025 at 5:53 AM
"Fun" late night thoughts:
Who knows if and how much of financial market trades are operating purely in a "dead Internet"-like repeating loop where bots & algorithms trade based solely on the inputs & response of other automated processes like high-frequency trading algorithms?
#EconSky
Who knows if and how much of financial market trades are operating purely in a "dead Internet"-like repeating loop where bots & algorithms trade based solely on the inputs & response of other automated processes like high-frequency trading algorithms?
#EconSky
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
‘I began to wonder if there was anything significant to write about. But when I began to investigate photovoltaics, I found that here was a success story that begged to be told…
…1973, annual output pv ~20-30 kW, next year doubled. In 1978, 1 MW - 1998, >100 MW’
Space to Earth, John Perlin, 1999
…1973, annual output pv ~20-30 kW, next year doubled. In 1978, 1 MW - 1998, >100 MW’
Space to Earth, John Perlin, 1999
November 23, 2025 at 2:22 AM
‘I began to wonder if there was anything significant to write about. But when I began to investigate photovoltaics, I found that here was a success story that begged to be told…
…1973, annual output pv ~20-30 kW, next year doubled. In 1978, 1 MW - 1998, >100 MW’
Space to Earth, John Perlin, 1999
…1973, annual output pv ~20-30 kW, next year doubled. In 1978, 1 MW - 1998, >100 MW’
Space to Earth, John Perlin, 1999
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
This great thread makes a point I've been trying to convey for years. Calling all data-driven prediction or decision software "AI" is a huge gift to LLM hypemen, who want people to believe, incorrectly, that LLM data centers are crucial for solar forecasting or operating buildings and power grids.
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
November 22, 2025 at 6:08 PM
This great thread makes a point I've been trying to convey for years. Calling all data-driven prediction or decision software "AI" is a huge gift to LLM hypemen, who want people to believe, incorrectly, that LLM data centers are crucial for solar forecasting or operating buildings and power grids.
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
America's obscene LNG build-out only makes financial sense if the price of gas is cripplingly, devastatingly high for households
If households pay reasonable amounts of gas, then it means billions in LNG export investments go down the drain
Who do you think Trump is going to choose to bail out?
If households pay reasonable amounts of gas, then it means billions in LNG export investments go down the drain
Who do you think Trump is going to choose to bail out?
November 21, 2025 at 7:08 PM
America's obscene LNG build-out only makes financial sense if the price of gas is cripplingly, devastatingly high for households
If households pay reasonable amounts of gas, then it means billions in LNG export investments go down the drain
Who do you think Trump is going to choose to bail out?
If households pay reasonable amounts of gas, then it means billions in LNG export investments go down the drain
Who do you think Trump is going to choose to bail out?
That's one way to guarantee the price of electricity will keep on surging.
You're going to focus on lowering costs by cutting the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy?
Also, OCED was the coolest thing going. Industrial decarb! This sucks.
h/t @heatmap.news
Also, OCED was the coolest thing going. Industrial decarb! This sucks.
h/t @heatmap.news
November 21, 2025 at 6:29 PM
That's one way to guarantee the price of electricity will keep on surging.
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
Nearly 30 countries refuse to sign a final #COP30 agreement that doesn't include "fossil fuel phase-out," as negotiations head into overtime.
Live updates from @fionaharvey.bsky.social, @olliemilman.bsky.social and @theguardian.com here: www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Live updates from @fionaharvey.bsky.social, @olliemilman.bsky.social and @theguardian.com here: www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
November 21, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Nearly 30 countries refuse to sign a final #COP30 agreement that doesn't include "fossil fuel phase-out," as negotiations head into overtime.
Live updates from @fionaharvey.bsky.social, @olliemilman.bsky.social and @theguardian.com here: www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Live updates from @fionaharvey.bsky.social, @olliemilman.bsky.social and @theguardian.com here: www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
Iowa City Made Its Buses Free. Traffic Cleared, and So Did the Air.
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:08 PM
This is just a little too on the nose.
A literal fire has erupted in the middle of the United Nations conference devoted to stopping the planet from burning.
heatmap.news/sparks/cop30...
heatmap.news/sparks/cop30...
COP30 Is on Fire
Flames have erupted in the “Blue Zone” at the United Nations Climate Conference in Brazil.
heatmap.news
November 20, 2025 at 7:31 PM
This is just a little too on the nose.
#BREAKING: Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Summers Will Not Finish Semester of Teaching as Harvard Investigates Epstein Ties | News | The Harvard Crimson
Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey E. Epstein.
www.thecrimson.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:58 AM
This is one reason why I'm a bit skeptical of the abundance crowd. They're a bit too willing to overlook some deeply problematic ideas & people which, I think, is downstream of their emphasis on small tweaks over systemic analysis.
November 19, 2025 at 9:42 PM
This is one reason why I'm a bit skeptical of the abundance crowd. They're a bit too willing to overlook some deeply problematic ideas & people which, I think, is downstream of their emphasis on small tweaks over systemic analysis.
This sounds tailor-made to kill the parts of academia who are best equipped to address our many social crises.
#AcademicSky #EduSky
#AcademicSky #EduSky
“The plan would reorganize the departments…into an array of “schools,” “centers” and “institutes.” Among those…floated are the School of Human Narratives and Creative Expressions and the Institute for Complex Systems and Algorithmic Infused Societies.”
Yuck. More quotes from the piece below.
Yuck. More quotes from the piece below.
Gift link: www.wsj.com/opinion/mont...
November 18, 2025 at 9:25 PM
This sounds tailor-made to kill the parts of academia who are best equipped to address our many social crises.
#AcademicSky #EduSky
#AcademicSky #EduSky
www.reuters.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:51 PM
More than 80 countries join call at Cop30 for roadmap to phasing out fossil fuels
More than 80 countries join call at Cop30 for roadmap to phasing out fossil fuels
Countries from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Pacific and Europe plead for transition to be central outcome of talks
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
Clay Higgins was the only member of the House to vote against releasing the Epstein files.
His record also includes allegedly putting a gun to the head of one of his ex-wives, voting for a neo-Nazi, and assaulting an unarmed Black man while working as a cop.
@nlanard.bsky.social's post from Sept:
His record also includes allegedly putting a gun to the head of one of his ex-wives, voting for a neo-Nazi, and assaulting an unarmed Black man while working as a cop.
@nlanard.bsky.social's post from Sept:
Rep. Clay Higgins’ racist tweet is only the tip of the iceberg
His record includes allegedly putting a gun to the head of one his three ex-wives, voting for a neo-Nazi, and assaulting an unarmed Black man.
www.motherjones.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Clay Higgins was the only member of the House to vote against releasing the Epstein files.
His record also includes allegedly putting a gun to the head of one of his ex-wives, voting for a neo-Nazi, and assaulting an unarmed Black man while working as a cop.
@nlanard.bsky.social's post from Sept:
His record also includes allegedly putting a gun to the head of one of his ex-wives, voting for a neo-Nazi, and assaulting an unarmed Black man while working as a cop.
@nlanard.bsky.social's post from Sept:
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
The world’s most valuable cryptocurrency’s weeks-long sell-off has now erased all its gains since the start of 2025.
Bitcoin Drops Below $90,000 For The First Time Since April As Crypto Slide Continues
The world’s most valuable cryptocurrency’s weeks-long sell-off has now erased all its gains since the start of 2025.
www.forbes.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:20 AM
The world’s most valuable cryptocurrency’s weeks-long sell-off has now erased all its gains since the start of 2025.
Why is he still allowed to teach?
Hey Harvard, why is a dude with a paper trail made by hanging out with a sex-trafficking pedophile and boasting about creeping on his students still allowed to teach?
#AcademicSky
Hey Harvard, why is a dude with a paper trail made by hanging out with a sex-trafficking pedophile and boasting about creeping on his students still allowed to teach?
#AcademicSky
Larry Summers statement in full…. It’s not clear that this actually changes anything about his status at Harvard or OpenAI.
November 18, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Why is he still allowed to teach?
Hey Harvard, why is a dude with a paper trail made by hanging out with a sex-trafficking pedophile and boasting about creeping on his students still allowed to teach?
#AcademicSky
Hey Harvard, why is a dude with a paper trail made by hanging out with a sex-trafficking pedophile and boasting about creeping on his students still allowed to teach?
#AcademicSky
A similar study for San Francisco City College found that every dollar invested in that free, public community college produced $1.57 of value for the San Francisco economy.
Investing in public goods *works*. Making social infrastructure free to use at point of service *works*.
#EconSky #EduSky
Investing in public goods *works*. Making social infrastructure free to use at point of service *works*.
#EconSky #EduSky
November 18, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
We’re sleepwalking toward dystopia, and the other side is racing to get us there faster. We can’t afford elected officials with no fight in them, and we definitely can’t afford leaders who fight for corporations and lobbyists instead of the people.
November 16, 2025 at 8:52 PM
We’re sleepwalking toward dystopia, and the other side is racing to get us there faster. We can’t afford elected officials with no fight in them, and we definitely can’t afford leaders who fight for corporations and lobbyists instead of the people.
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
Border Patrol has been targeting the elderly heavily. Today in Santa Ana, that’s almost all they took, including this man and his cane.
November 15, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Border Patrol has been targeting the elderly heavily. Today in Santa Ana, that’s almost all they took, including this man and his cane.
I think, of all the slides in this report, this is the most important -- it's really worth examining closely. This illustrates why the triumph of electrotechnical is inevitable.
November 14, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Reposted by Ryan C. Smith
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
This will be an incredible experiment to watch. I suspect the overall result will be greater economic prosperity fueled by the reduced cost of electricity for every link in the economic chain. Each link's savings should multiply all the others and create cascading benefits.
#EconSky #ClimateSky
#EconSky #ClimateSky
Australia is getting free electricity - will other countries follow?
As one of the most advanced solar nations in the world, Australia is well placed to experiment with giving people free power - and if it succeeds, other countries may look to copy its approach
www.newscientist.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:17 PM
This will be an incredible experiment to watch. I suspect the overall result will be greater economic prosperity fueled by the reduced cost of electricity for every link in the economic chain. Each link's savings should multiply all the others and create cascading benefits.
#EconSky #ClimateSky
#EconSky #ClimateSky
Fun fact:
Mucking with inflation & other economic data was the proximate cause of the end of the Brazilian military junta in the 80s.
This piece is a great example of why some data just can't be fudged, esp data that hits people in their wallets.
#EconSky
Mucking with inflation & other economic data was the proximate cause of the end of the Brazilian military junta in the 80s.
This piece is a great example of why some data just can't be fudged, esp data that hits people in their wallets.
#EconSky
NEW — I spoke to DoorDash about the White House claiming the company's report shows "inflation has been tamed" and whether that's an interpretation one should make. An economist also weighed in, pointing out dictatorships use data obfuscation as a tool, and right now they're "grasping at straws."
WH claims 'inflation tamed,' per DoorDash stats. Company says that's not in its report.
It comes the same week we learned the WH would likely not release key economic reports for October.
www.thehandbasket.co
November 13, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Fun fact:
Mucking with inflation & other economic data was the proximate cause of the end of the Brazilian military junta in the 80s.
This piece is a great example of why some data just can't be fudged, esp data that hits people in their wallets.
#EconSky
Mucking with inflation & other economic data was the proximate cause of the end of the Brazilian military junta in the 80s.
This piece is a great example of why some data just can't be fudged, esp data that hits people in their wallets.
#EconSky
We are fast entering a world where the line between many of our devices & their energy production will cease to exist in any meaningful fashion. The implications for the future are staggering & require further investigation to best use them for the benefit of all.
#EconSky #Greensky #ClimateSky
#EconSky #Greensky #ClimateSky
World’s first inland solar ship to glide on sun power with 192 panels
The world's first solar cargo ship which consists of 192 solar panels has recently been launched in Europe.
interestingengineering.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:35 PM
We are fast entering a world where the line between many of our devices & their energy production will cease to exist in any meaningful fashion. The implications for the future are staggering & require further investigation to best use them for the benefit of all.
#EconSky #Greensky #ClimateSky
#EconSky #Greensky #ClimateSky
Yet another reason why AI, as it currently exists, is a terrible idea.
What good is it to sink so much money into a stochastic parrot in the dim hope that it *might* fix everything when we *know* the required actions to get there are *definitely* guaranteeing climate chaos?
#ClimateSky #AI #EconSky
What good is it to sink so much money into a stochastic parrot in the dim hope that it *might* fix everything when we *know* the required actions to get there are *definitely* guaranteeing climate chaos?
#ClimateSky #AI #EconSky
The UK's data centre boom is "not compatible with net zero" or the country's Clean Power 2030 plan, UK Networks Services MD Simon Gallagher told an event held by energy analyst Montel.
UK data centre boom “not compatible with net zero”
UK data centre boom
montelnews.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Yet another reason why AI, as it currently exists, is a terrible idea.
What good is it to sink so much money into a stochastic parrot in the dim hope that it *might* fix everything when we *know* the required actions to get there are *definitely* guaranteeing climate chaos?
#ClimateSky #AI #EconSky
What good is it to sink so much money into a stochastic parrot in the dim hope that it *might* fix everything when we *know* the required actions to get there are *definitely* guaranteeing climate chaos?
#ClimateSky #AI #EconSky