Ronald Steenblik
@ronsteenblik.bsky.social
Retired OECD staff member. I post on trade, environment, energy (especially fossil fuel subsidies). Supporting QUNO's work on identifying & reducing subsidies to #plastics. Commenting in my personal capacity.
Once told by Mel Brooks: "You have no taste!"
Once told by Mel Brooks: "You have no taste!"
It is. But I think even better — as in more chilling — would have been if he had used a German Gothic font. Something like this, or even older.
November 26, 2025 at 9:08 PM
It is. But I think even better — as in more chilling — would have been if he had used a German Gothic font. Something like this, or even older.
Um, no. Those are Hindu-Arabic numerals.
Arabic numerals are shown below. Those are also useful for school children in the USA to learn, both for appreciating other cultures and because knowing them can come in very handy when traveling in the Middle East and North Africa.
Arabic numerals are shown below. Those are also useful for school children in the USA to learn, both for appreciating other cultures and because knowing them can come in very handy when traveling in the Middle East and North Africa.
November 21, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Um, no. Those are Hindu-Arabic numerals.
Arabic numerals are shown below. Those are also useful for school children in the USA to learn, both for appreciating other cultures and because knowing them can come in very handy when traveling in the Middle East and North Africa.
Arabic numerals are shown below. Those are also useful for school children in the USA to learn, both for appreciating other cultures and because knowing them can come in very handy when traveling in the Middle East and North Africa.
Second, as @colinwoodard.bsky.social devotes a whole book to, the original European settlers each had very different attitudes towards the rights of indigenous peoples, slaves the settlers brought with them, freedom of religion, the roles of women, etc.
November 16, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Second, as @colinwoodard.bsky.social devotes a whole book to, the original European settlers each had very different attitudes towards the rights of indigenous peoples, slaves the settlers brought with them, freedom of religion, the roles of women, etc.
Production and export of fossil fuels, I presume you mean.
Did you know, by the way, that until about 2015, Norway was a significant producer of coal (on the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard), most of it exported?
Norway’s annual production of hard coal, 1979–2024, in thousands of metric tonnes:
Did you know, by the way, that until about 2015, Norway was a significant producer of coal (on the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard), most of it exported?
Norway’s annual production of hard coal, 1979–2024, in thousands of metric tonnes:
November 6, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Production and export of fossil fuels, I presume you mean.
Did you know, by the way, that until about 2015, Norway was a significant producer of coal (on the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard), most of it exported?
Norway’s annual production of hard coal, 1979–2024, in thousands of metric tonnes:
Did you know, by the way, that until about 2015, Norway was a significant producer of coal (on the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard), most of it exported?
Norway’s annual production of hard coal, 1979–2024, in thousands of metric tonnes:
I’m currently reading “American Nations”, by @colinwoodard.bsky.social, which explains the attitudes towards religion, government, slavery, and relations with indigenous peoples of the 11 rival regional cultures of North America.
I recommend it highly. Make sure you get the updated, 2022 edition.
I recommend it highly. Make sure you get the updated, 2022 edition.
November 2, 2025 at 10:40 AM
I’m currently reading “American Nations”, by @colinwoodard.bsky.social, which explains the attitudes towards religion, government, slavery, and relations with indigenous peoples of the 11 rival regional cultures of North America.
I recommend it highly. Make sure you get the updated, 2022 edition.
I recommend it highly. Make sure you get the updated, 2022 edition.
We don’t know the value of global subsidies for 2024, much less 2025. Your number, from the IMF, is for 2022, and of that $7 trillion only $1.3 trillion are fossil fuel subsidies, 96% related to consumption. That component had already fallen considerably in 2023, and likely will be similar in 2024.
October 21, 2025 at 9:20 PM
We don’t know the value of global subsidies for 2024, much less 2025. Your number, from the IMF, is for 2022, and of that $7 trillion only $1.3 trillion are fossil fuel subsidies, 96% related to consumption. That component had already fallen considerably in 2023, and likely will be similar in 2024.
🤔
(From my Google alerts.)
(From my Google alerts.)
October 13, 2025 at 5:24 PM
🤔
(From my Google alerts.)
(From my Google alerts.)
I’m reading Norman Mailer’s great 1948 novel of the battle for the Philippines during WW2, “The Naked and the Dead”. This para. jumped out at me as eerily contemporary:
“Your average man never dares suspect that the men in power have all the nasty impulses he has, … “
“Your average man never dares suspect that the men in power have all the nasty impulses he has, … “
October 3, 2025 at 6:48 AM
I’m reading Norman Mailer’s great 1948 novel of the battle for the Philippines during WW2, “The Naked and the Dead”. This para. jumped out at me as eerily contemporary:
“Your average man never dares suspect that the men in power have all the nasty impulses he has, … “
“Your average man never dares suspect that the men in power have all the nasty impulses he has, … “
Or a Fuller Brush salesman.
September 30, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Or a Fuller Brush salesman.
Nice tribute from Doug Koplow to the Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), which is celebrating its 20th Anniversary. I attended its kick-off meeting, but my flight from Paris to Milan was delayed on account of snow, so I missed this 📸.
September 26, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Nice tribute from Doug Koplow to the Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), which is celebrating its 20th Anniversary. I attended its kick-off meeting, but my flight from Paris to Milan was delayed on account of snow, so I missed this 📸.
Poor J.D. Vance. Henceforth he’ll have to pay an additional 30% import tariff on his favorite sexy sofas.
September 26, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Poor J.D. Vance. Henceforth he’ll have to pay an additional 30% import tariff on his favorite sexy sofas.
Bravo! You tied the Bot. How it managed to get it in three (mine’s on the left) has me puzzled. Luck, I guess.
September 14, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Bravo! You tied the Bot. How it managed to get it in three (mine’s on the left) has me puzzled. Luck, I guess.
Just realized that your profile photo is of P.J. O’Rourke. I’ve read most of his books. R.I.P. P.J.
September 11, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Just realized that your profile photo is of P.J. O’Rourke. I’ve read most of his books. R.I.P. P.J.
Then there’s this. Among the possible motives of the assassin (and I’m merely speculating, not defending) could be non-political — e.g., that one or more of his (it’s usually a he) loved ones, such as a child in school, was killed by a gunman. And then the future assassin saw this statement by CK:
September 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Then there’s this. Among the possible motives of the assassin (and I’m merely speculating, not defending) could be non-political — e.g., that one or more of his (it’s usually a he) loved ones, such as a child in school, was killed by a gunman. And then the future assassin saw this statement by CK:
I just noticed that the origin of my bag of shelled walnuts purchased at a French grocery store is #Ukraine.
Support Ukraine’s economy: eat more Ukrainian-grown walnuts!
Support Ukraine’s economy: eat more Ukrainian-grown walnuts!
September 11, 2025 at 9:33 AM
I just noticed that the origin of my bag of shelled walnuts purchased at a French grocery store is #Ukraine.
Support Ukraine’s economy: eat more Ukrainian-grown walnuts!
Support Ukraine’s economy: eat more Ukrainian-grown walnuts!
It is inconsistent to argue for lower fuel prices while railing against the effects of combustion on the environment. Nowadays, in any case, while the combustion of oil products is the largest source of CO2 emissions from energy use (47%), natural gas & coal combustion combined are a greater source.
September 11, 2025 at 8:40 AM
It is inconsistent to argue for lower fuel prices while railing against the effects of combustion on the environment. Nowadays, in any case, while the combustion of oil products is the largest source of CO2 emissions from energy use (47%), natural gas & coal combustion combined are a greater source.
One of the many improvements in Paris, thks to a concerted effort to discourage pigeons, has been an increase in other birds in the city, such as magpies, blackbirds, & even the occasional European green woodpecker.
This morning a full Parliament of crows appeared on the building across the street.
This morning a full Parliament of crows appeared on the building across the street.
September 6, 2025 at 7:37 AM
One of the many improvements in Paris, thks to a concerted effort to discourage pigeons, has been an increase in other birds in the city, such as magpies, blackbirds, & even the occasional European green woodpecker.
This morning a full Parliament of crows appeared on the building across the street.
This morning a full Parliament of crows appeared on the building across the street.
If he carries through with the plan, and quickly, it sounds like a good investment to me!
September 3, 2025 at 4:53 PM
If he carries through with the plan, and quickly, it sounds like a good investment to me!
Seen next to a house in Corsica. I wonder how many hikers are still lost on the trail from which this wood was taken.
September 1, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Seen next to a house in Corsica. I wonder how many hikers are still lost on the trail from which this wood was taken.
Yes, I did. If you're talking about his budget proposal to Congress, you are aware I assume that those are worth not much more than the proverbial bucket of spit. None of these cuts were enacted. That's why one sees Dem members of Congress introducing bills in each session to achieve those cuts.
August 28, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Yes, I did. If you're talking about his budget proposal to Congress, you are aware I assume that those are worth not much more than the proverbial bucket of spit. None of these cuts were enacted. That's why one sees Dem members of Congress introducing bills in each session to achieve those cuts.
A lot. See the graph below of world production by fibre. Wool is the thin line on the bottom, cotton above that. The rest is synthetic — dominated by polyester — except for the blue category near the top, which is "cellulosic fibres", which I assume refers to hemp, jute, coir, and suchlike.
August 27, 2025 at 4:07 PM
A lot. See the graph below of world production by fibre. Wool is the thin line on the bottom, cotton above that. The rest is synthetic — dominated by polyester — except for the blue category near the top, which is "cellulosic fibres", which I assume refers to hemp, jute, coir, and suchlike.
A lot of plastic has also been incorporated into solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, of which something like 2000 square kilometers worth (which may be an underestimate) are added each year. Recycling that plastic has so far not enjoyed great success.
August 27, 2025 at 9:59 AM
A lot of plastic has also been incorporated into solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, of which something like 2000 square kilometers worth (which may be an underestimate) are added each year. Recycling that plastic has so far not enjoyed great success.
Tried a new beer yesterday, Teslaquila. The label says it’s been named in honor of the great Serbian-American scientist and inventor, Nikola Tesla. Brewed in France. Light, but with an interesting flavor, thanks to the brewer adding in a bit of agave syrup.
August 25, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Tried a new beer yesterday, Teslaquila. The label says it’s been named in honor of the great Serbian-American scientist and inventor, Nikola Tesla. Brewed in France. Light, but with an interesting flavor, thanks to the brewer adding in a bit of agave syrup.
This person followed me. I don’t get it. The person follows ~12k people, has posted nothing, not even replied to any post, yet has managed to attract over 500 followers.
Also, the person’s profile photo is of someone at most 30 years old, yet claims to have 20 yrs of experience as an economist.
Also, the person’s profile photo is of someone at most 30 years old, yet claims to have 20 yrs of experience as an economist.
August 25, 2025 at 6:39 PM
This person followed me. I don’t get it. The person follows ~12k people, has posted nothing, not even replied to any post, yet has managed to attract over 500 followers.
Also, the person’s profile photo is of someone at most 30 years old, yet claims to have 20 yrs of experience as an economist.
Also, the person’s profile photo is of someone at most 30 years old, yet claims to have 20 yrs of experience as an economist.