Ray Monk
@raymodraco.bsky.social
I've written biographies of Ludwig Wittgenstein, Bertrand Russell and Robert J. Oppenheimer and am currently preoccupied with climate change. My passions include music and ancient churches. I am proud to be a volunteer tour guide at Salisbury Cathedral.
Pinned
Ray Monk
@raymodraco.bsky.social
· Nov 18
Q&A: The evolving science of ‘extreme weather attribution’ - Carbon Brief
As global temperatures rise, extreme weather events are becoming more intense and more frequent all around the world.
www.carbonbrief.org
A long, detailed and very useful summary of the science that links extreme weather events to anthropogenic climate change. www.carbonbrief.org/qa-the-evolv...
On Sunday, at the invitation of my publishers at Zhejiang University Press, I will go to China, where I will give talks on Wittgenstein at Fudan University, Zhejiang University and Beijing Normal University. I will also be give a lecture on biography in this amazing building: Shanghai Library East.
October 29, 2025 at 7:25 PM
On Sunday, at the invitation of my publishers at Zhejiang University Press, I will go to China, where I will give talks on Wittgenstein at Fudan University, Zhejiang University and Beijing Normal University. I will also be give a lecture on biography in this amazing building: Shanghai Library East.
Good news for polluters, bad news for the planet. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Shipping emissions levy shelved as countries bow to US pressure
Long-planned charge on greenhouse gas emissions postponed as Trump officials accused of intimidation tactics
www.theguardian.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Good news for polluters, bad news for the planet. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
"We are the hottest country in the world." Trump really doesn't understand the dangers of climate change, does he?
September 23, 2025 at 2:53 PM
"We are the hottest country in the world." Trump really doesn't understand the dangers of climate change, does he?
The cover of the latest Private Eye. Painfully on target.
September 17, 2025 at 8:10 AM
The cover of the latest Private Eye. Painfully on target.
“The causal chain from fossil fuel burning to rising heat and increased mortality is undeniable.”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Human-made global warming ‘caused two in three heat deaths in Europe this summer’
Researchers from Imperial College London say 16,500 deaths caused by hot weather brought on by greenhouse gases
www.theguardian.com
September 17, 2025 at 5:54 AM
“The causal chain from fossil fuel burning to rising heat and increased mortality is undeniable.”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
"They call me the president of Europe." They don't, Donald, they really don't.
August 26, 2025 at 1:25 PM
"They call me the president of Europe." They don't, Donald, they really don't.
RIP Tom Lehrer, mathematician, satirist and writer of every geek's favorite song.
youtu.be/U2cfju6GTNs?...
youtu.be/U2cfju6GTNs?...
The Element Song by Tom Lehrer
YouTube video by KoolScience
youtu.be
July 28, 2025 at 11:09 AM
RIP Tom Lehrer, mathematician, satirist and writer of every geek's favorite song.
youtu.be/U2cfju6GTNs?...
youtu.be/U2cfju6GTNs?...
Reposted by Ray Monk
For over 20 years, Louise Sime has worked at the British Antarctic Survey, specialising in polar climate dynamics. She tells @jonathan-watts.bsky.social nothing should distract us from the primary goal of stopping the burning of any fossil fuel as quickly as possible.
‘It looks more likely with each day we burn fossil fuels’: polar scientist on Antarctic tipping points
Despite working on polar science for the British Antarctic Survey for 20 years, Louise Sime finds the magnitude of potential sea-level rise hard to comprehend
www.theguardian.com
June 29, 2025 at 10:59 PM
For over 20 years, Louise Sime has worked at the British Antarctic Survey, specialising in polar climate dynamics. She tells @jonathan-watts.bsky.social nothing should distract us from the primary goal of stopping the burning of any fossil fuel as quickly as possible.
This is important and very worrying.
For over 20 years, Louise Sime has worked at the British Antarctic Survey, specialising in polar climate dynamics. She tells @jonathan-watts.bsky.social nothing should distract us from the primary goal of stopping the burning of any fossil fuel as quickly as possible.
June 30, 2025 at 10:16 AM
This is important and very worrying.
Oh dear. Back in the day, I really liked Rod Stewart: his solo albums, his work with The Faces, and, above all, his singing with the Jeff Beck Group, but tonight he sounds like a bloke down the pub on karaoke night who thinks he can sing like Rod Stewart, but, sadly, gets nowhere near.
June 29, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Oh dear. Back in the day, I really liked Rod Stewart: his solo albums, his work with The Faces, and, above all, his singing with the Jeff Beck Group, but tonight he sounds like a bloke down the pub on karaoke night who thinks he can sing like Rod Stewart, but, sadly, gets nowhere near.
Sea level rise of at least 1-2 metres is now inevitable. 250 million people live at or below 1 metre above sea level. Meanwhile, our governments are delaying or reversing measures to deal with climate change and creating an atmosphere intolerant to migrants.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Sea level rise will cause ‘catastrophic inland migration’, scientists warn
Rising oceans will force millions away from coasts even if global temperature rise remains below 1.5C, analysis finds
www.theguardian.com
May 20, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Sea level rise of at least 1-2 metres is now inevitable. 250 million people live at or below 1 metre above sea level. Meanwhile, our governments are delaying or reversing measures to deal with climate change and creating an atmosphere intolerant to migrants.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Just got an email about my Ocado order due today. It started: "Hello Mrs Monk". Does Ocado just assume that all its customers are married women?
May 17, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Just got an email about my Ocado order due today. It started: "Hello Mrs Monk". Does Ocado just assume that all its customers are married women?
This arrived yesterday, bringing memories of a wonderful conference in Swansea a few years ago. Congratulations to Alan for a great conference and for seeing through the publication of this very handsome and interesting book.
May 15, 2025 at 7:56 AM
This arrived yesterday, bringing memories of a wonderful conference in Swansea a few years ago. Congratulations to Alan for a great conference and for seeing through the publication of this very handsome and interesting book.
Happy Wittgenstein's birthday to those who celebrate!
April 26, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Happy Wittgenstein's birthday to those who celebrate!
Reposted by Ray Monk
Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions - rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking steps to make sure students can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope others follow suit.
April 15, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions - rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking steps to make sure students can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope others follow suit.
"[At 3C of global heating] capitalism as we know it ceases to be viable... This is about saving the conditions under which markets, finance, and civilisation itself can continue to operate.”
Doesn't this seem like a story that merits wider coverage?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Doesn't this seem like a story that merits wider coverage?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Climate crisis on track to destroy capitalism, warns top insurer
Action urgently needed to save the conditions under which markets – and civilisation itself – can operate, says senior Allianz figure
www.theguardian.com
April 4, 2025 at 10:58 AM
"[At 3C of global heating] capitalism as we know it ceases to be viable... This is about saving the conditions under which markets, finance, and civilisation itself can continue to operate.”
Doesn't this seem like a story that merits wider coverage?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Doesn't this seem like a story that merits wider coverage?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Just catching up with Newsnight. Victoria Derbyshire deserves a medal for her forbearance while interviewing the extraordinarily irritating Sebastian Gorka. #Newsnight
April 2, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Just catching up with Newsnight. Victoria Derbyshire deserves a medal for her forbearance while interviewing the extraordinarily irritating Sebastian Gorka. #Newsnight
For a moment, I forgot what day it is and was all set to welcome our new neighbour with placards reading, "Oi Musk, get off our Plain!"
www.wiltshire999s.co.uk/elon-musks-s...
www.wiltshire999s.co.uk/elon-musks-s...
Elon Musk's SpaceX to launch next rocket from Salisbury Plain
Breaking news and court stories from Wiltshire 999s
www.wiltshire999s.co.uk
April 1, 2025 at 8:17 AM
For a moment, I forgot what day it is and was all set to welcome our new neighbour with placards reading, "Oi Musk, get off our Plain!"
www.wiltshire999s.co.uk/elon-musks-s...
www.wiltshire999s.co.uk/elon-musks-s...
Reposted by Ray Monk
💥💥 #ICYMI
@channel4news.bsky.social @lindseyhilsum.bsky.social @u24.gov.ua @tomshakespeare.bsky.social @paulbernal.bsky.social @raymodraco.bsky.social
@channel4news.bsky.social @lindseyhilsum.bsky.social @u24.gov.ua @tomshakespeare.bsky.social @paulbernal.bsky.social @raymodraco.bsky.social
This speaks volumes:
Yale professors, Timothy Snyder, a historian of totalitarianism and the author of "On Tyranny," and Jason Stanley, a philosopher and the author of "How Fascism Works", move to Canada.
leiterreports.typepad.com/blog/2025/03...
munkschool.utoronto.ca/person/timot...
Yale professors, Timothy Snyder, a historian of totalitarianism and the author of "On Tyranny," and Jason Stanley, a philosopher and the author of "How Fascism Works", move to Canada.
leiterreports.typepad.com/blog/2025/03...
munkschool.utoronto.ca/person/timot...
Stanley from Yale to Toronto
Jason Stanley (philosophy of language, epistemology, political philosophy), Professor of Philosophy at Yale University, has accepted a senior offer from the University of Toronto, where he will be thr...
leiterreports.typepad.com
March 26, 2025 at 9:32 AM
“The latest planetary health check tells us that earth is profoundly ill," says the Met Office chief scientist.
www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/new...
www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/new...
Vital climate signs sounding alarms shows latest planetary report
The imprint of human-induced climate change is evident in the 2024 State of the Global Climate Report from the World Meteorological Organization.
www.metoffice.gov.uk
March 19, 2025 at 3:05 PM
“The latest planetary health check tells us that earth is profoundly ill," says the Met Office chief scientist.
www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/new...
www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/new...
With regard to tariffs, do you get the feeling that Trump doesn't know what he is doing?
March 7, 2025 at 7:12 AM
With regard to tariffs, do you get the feeling that Trump doesn't know what he is doing?
What's the opposite of The Midas Touch? Whatever it is, Trump has it.
christinapagel.substack.com/p/state-of-p...
christinapagel.substack.com/p/state-of-p...
State of play of Bird Flu in the US - and how the Trump administration is increasing the danger for everybody
Where we are, what we know, what we don't know and how Trump is making things worse
christinapagel.substack.com
March 6, 2025 at 12:27 AM
What's the opposite of The Midas Touch? Whatever it is, Trump has it.
christinapagel.substack.com/p/state-of-p...
christinapagel.substack.com/p/state-of-p...
