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!"
Pinned
Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Subsidies are intended to protect consumers by keeping prices low, but they come at a high cost. Subsidies have sizable fiscal costs (leading to higher taxes/borrowing or lower spending), promote inef...
www.imf.org
1⃣ Since 2013, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has published biennially global estimates of what they call "explicit" and "implicit" #FossilFuelSubsidies.
Those estimates are widely cited, but also widely misinterpreted & misrepresented. And some things they include shouldn't be.
A long 🧵.
Those estimates are widely cited, but also widely misinterpreted & misrepresented. And some things they include shouldn't be.
A long 🧵.
Reposted by Ronald Steenblik
Two days ago, the president used his social media platform to endorse this "phenomenal candidate" and to urge "all America First Patriots" in the district to get out and vote for her.
Today, he says he doesn't know anything about it and had nothing to do with it.
He's lying or demented or both.
Today, he says he doesn't know anything about it and had nothing to do with it.
He's lying or demented or both.
February 1, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Two days ago, the president used his social media platform to endorse this "phenomenal candidate" and to urge "all America First Patriots" in the district to get out and vote for her.
Today, he says he doesn't know anything about it and had nothing to do with it.
He's lying or demented or both.
Today, he says he doesn't know anything about it and had nothing to do with it.
He's lying or demented or both.
Reposted by Ronald Steenblik
Anti-ICE protest crosses the Atlantic.
Last night, in London, my family & I saw the stage play version of the classic 1952 Western starring Gary Cooper & Grace Kelly that was originally written as an allegory of the McCarthy era: “High Noon”. The play’s dialogue has subtly but clearly been changed…
Last night, in London, my family & I saw the stage play version of the classic 1952 Western starring Gary Cooper & Grace Kelly that was originally written as an allegory of the McCarthy era: “High Noon”. The play’s dialogue has subtly but clearly been changed…
a man wearing a top hat and a sheriff 's badge is standing in front of a building .
Alt: GIF in black & white of the actor Gary Cooper, playing a town sheriff in 19th century New Mexico, from the 1952 film “High Noon”. The sheriff is wearing a cowboy hat in front of a building before which stands his wife, played by the actress Grace Kelly.
media.tenor.com
February 1, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Anti-ICE protest crosses the Atlantic.
Last night, in London, my family & I saw the stage play version of the classic 1952 Western starring Gary Cooper & Grace Kelly that was originally written as an allegory of the McCarthy era: “High Noon”. The play’s dialogue has subtly but clearly been changed…
Last night, in London, my family & I saw the stage play version of the classic 1952 Western starring Gary Cooper & Grace Kelly that was originally written as an allegory of the McCarthy era: “High Noon”. The play’s dialogue has subtly but clearly been changed…
Reposted by Ronald Steenblik
Killer Miller
youtu.be/0h76jPE0_T4?...
youtu.be/0h76jPE0_T4?...
KILLER MILLER — A Founders Sing Parody of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” w/Mega-Monster Stephen Miller
YouTube video by Founders Sing
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Killer Miller
youtu.be/0h76jPE0_T4?...
youtu.be/0h76jPE0_T4?...
Incredibly well done. Brilliant lyrics. One of the Marsh Family’s best.
February 1, 2026 at 1:42 PM
Incredibly well done. Brilliant lyrics. One of the Marsh Family’s best.
Good on yer, Australia! 💪🏼
I am the #1 ticket holder in Australia for the Melania Trump film
February 1, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Good on yer, Australia! 💪🏼
Anti-ICE protest crosses the Atlantic.
Last night, in London, my family & I saw the stage play version of the classic 1952 Western starring Gary Cooper & Grace Kelly that was originally written as an allegory of the McCarthy era: “High Noon”. The play’s dialogue has subtly but clearly been changed…
Last night, in London, my family & I saw the stage play version of the classic 1952 Western starring Gary Cooper & Grace Kelly that was originally written as an allegory of the McCarthy era: “High Noon”. The play’s dialogue has subtly but clearly been changed…
a man wearing a top hat and a sheriff 's badge is standing in front of a building .
Alt: GIF in black & white of the actor Gary Cooper, playing a town sheriff in 19th century New Mexico, from the 1952 film “High Noon”. The sheriff is wearing a cowboy hat in front of a building before which stands his wife, played by the actress Grace Kelly.
media.tenor.com
February 1, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Anti-ICE protest crosses the Atlantic.
Last night, in London, my family & I saw the stage play version of the classic 1952 Western starring Gary Cooper & Grace Kelly that was originally written as an allegory of the McCarthy era: “High Noon”. The play’s dialogue has subtly but clearly been changed…
Last night, in London, my family & I saw the stage play version of the classic 1952 Western starring Gary Cooper & Grace Kelly that was originally written as an allegory of the McCarthy era: “High Noon”. The play’s dialogue has subtly but clearly been changed…
Reposted by Ronald Steenblik
Who is Trump instructing to arrest Obama here? Is he giving an order? If so, to whom? His AG? The FBI? A fantasy savior? His continued calls to arrest his opponents seek to condition the public to accept punishment by decree.
January 31, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Who is Trump instructing to arrest Obama here? Is he giving an order? If so, to whom? His AG? The FBI? A fantasy savior? His continued calls to arrest his opponents seek to condition the public to accept punishment by decree.
Can anyone explain to me why Epstein’s e-mail address is redacted?
January 31, 2026 at 6:45 AM
Can anyone explain to me why Epstein’s e-mail address is redacted?
Reposted by Ronald Steenblik
I can’t🫠 Trump literally chose a team of people who didn’t even finish five classes in school.
The head of the US Cybersecurity Agency, Madhu Guttamukkala, uploaded the agency's official documents to ChatGPT, according to Politico.
The head of the US Cybersecurity Agency, Madhu Guttamukkala, uploaded the agency's official documents to ChatGPT, according to Politico.
January 28, 2026 at 4:40 PM
I can’t🫠 Trump literally chose a team of people who didn’t even finish five classes in school.
The head of the US Cybersecurity Agency, Madhu Guttamukkala, uploaded the agency's official documents to ChatGPT, according to Politico.
The head of the US Cybersecurity Agency, Madhu Guttamukkala, uploaded the agency's official documents to ChatGPT, according to Politico.
Reposted by Ronald Steenblik
Holy moly this chart: Cumulative US measles cases
January 28, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Holy moly this chart: Cumulative US measles cases
Reposted by Ronald Steenblik
This is the democratic opposition party in Italy protesting against ICE involvement in the Winter Olympics in Milan
January 28, 2026 at 4:53 AM
This is the democratic opposition party in Italy protesting against ICE involvement in the Winter Olympics in Milan
So glad she wasn’t hurt.
I just love her MinneSOta accent. My son, at age 5, spent about six weeks in Minneapolis and ended up completely taking on the accent in that short amount of time.
I just love her MinneSOta accent. My son, at age 5, spent about six weeks in Minneapolis and ended up completely taking on the accent in that short amount of time.
JUST NOW… rep. Omar attacked and sprayed with a liquid…
January 28, 2026 at 9:30 AM
So glad she wasn’t hurt.
I just love her MinneSOta accent. My son, at age 5, spent about six weeks in Minneapolis and ended up completely taking on the accent in that short amount of time.
I just love her MinneSOta accent. My son, at age 5, spent about six weeks in Minneapolis and ended up completely taking on the accent in that short amount of time.
Reposted by Ronald Steenblik
One of the most powerful illustrations I've seen in my life. Just...wow.
January 27, 2026 at 3:43 PM
One of the most powerful illustrations I've seen in my life. Just...wow.
👋 I'm going to be asking some questions about foods that were being traded (for money or barter) anywhere in the world during the second and first millennia BCE.
For example, does anyone in this hive mind know whether people might have traded (naturally) frozen foods (fish, shellfish, meat, etc.)?
For example, does anyone in this hive mind know whether people might have traded (naturally) frozen foods (fish, shellfish, meat, etc.)?
a person wearing a hat with the word pa on it is fishing in the snow
Alt: GIF of a person wearing a parka pulling a fish out of a fishing hole in a lake.
media.tenor.com
January 27, 2026 at 10:54 AM
👋 I'm going to be asking some questions about foods that were being traded (for money or barter) anywhere in the world during the second and first millennia BCE.
For example, does anyone in this hive mind know whether people might have traded (naturally) frozen foods (fish, shellfish, meat, etc.)?
For example, does anyone in this hive mind know whether people might have traded (naturally) frozen foods (fish, shellfish, meat, etc.)?
Reposted by Ronald Steenblik
#GVerse Bravo #London just joined #Minnesota!
Trafalgar Square filled with protesters demanding justice for Alex Pretti while opposing Farage.
When state violence goes unchecked, the world notices.
Solidarity doesn’t stop at borders. 🇬🇧
Trafalgar Square filled with protesters demanding justice for Alex Pretti while opposing Farage.
When state violence goes unchecked, the world notices.
Solidarity doesn’t stop at borders. 🇬🇧
January 27, 2026 at 2:06 AM
#GVerse Bravo #London just joined #Minnesota!
Trafalgar Square filled with protesters demanding justice for Alex Pretti while opposing Farage.
When state violence goes unchecked, the world notices.
Solidarity doesn’t stop at borders. 🇬🇧
Trafalgar Square filled with protesters demanding justice for Alex Pretti while opposing Farage.
When state violence goes unchecked, the world notices.
Solidarity doesn’t stop at borders. 🇬🇧
I’ve been waiting for this. 👏👏
January 27, 2026 at 7:13 AM
I’ve been waiting for this. 👏👏
A 2-minute mea culpa to lift your soul. Worth your time to watch it all.
And hats off to the people of Minneapolis. They are such an inspiration.
Their grace and determination, I hope, will one day be immortalized in song.
And hats off to the people of Minneapolis. They are such an inspiration.
Their grace and determination, I hope, will one day be immortalized in song.
He spent decades bringing the religious right to power. Now he's marching to undo it.
Rev. Rob Schenck spent decades helping build the Religious Right—commingling church and state to advance conservative causes. Now, he says he must confront the damage he helped cause.
Rev. Rob Schenck spent decades helping build the Religious Right—commingling church and state to advance conservative causes. Now, he says he must confront the damage he helped cause.
January 26, 2026 at 9:41 AM
A 2-minute mea culpa to lift your soul. Worth your time to watch it all.
And hats off to the people of Minneapolis. They are such an inspiration.
Their grace and determination, I hope, will one day be immortalized in song.
And hats off to the people of Minneapolis. They are such an inspiration.
Their grace and determination, I hope, will one day be immortalized in song.
Reposted by Ronald Steenblik
Boycott the FIFA World Cup in the USA. Don't reward fascism. #3E #BoycottFifaWorldCup #BoycottUSA #BoycottFifa
January 26, 2026 at 4:06 AM
Boycott the FIFA World Cup in the USA. Don't reward fascism. #3E #BoycottFifaWorldCup #BoycottUSA #BoycottFifa
Reposted by Ronald Steenblik
Alex Pretti was an American hero. He saved lives. He protected people. He cared deeply about his community, unlike the murderous thugs who killed him.
The very last thing he did was try to help a woman who had been pepper-sprayed and violently shoved to the ground by ICE. 1/
The very last thing he did was try to help a woman who had been pepper-sprayed and violently shoved to the ground by ICE. 1/
January 25, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Alex Pretti was an American hero. He saved lives. He protected people. He cared deeply about his community, unlike the murderous thugs who killed him.
The very last thing he did was try to help a woman who had been pepper-sprayed and violently shoved to the ground by ICE. 1/
The very last thing he did was try to help a woman who had been pepper-sprayed and violently shoved to the ground by ICE. 1/
🤣 Google is now providing a warning on their own messages: "Be careful with this message." 🤦♂️
January 25, 2026 at 4:37 PM
🤣 Google is now providing a warning on their own messages: "Be careful with this message." 🤦♂️
Reposted by Ronald Steenblik
“This is a rally by the openly fascist organization ‘Patriot Front’ on Saturday at the Smithsonian subway station in Washington, D.C. Look at their appearance, their masks, their uniforms. Can anyone still tell the difference between this & Trump's armed ICE militia?”
Um, they’re not wearing camo?
Um, they’re not wearing camo?
🔴 Das ist ein Aufmarsch der offen faschistischen Organisation "Patriot Front" am Samstag in der U-Bahn-Station Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Seht euch das Auftreten an, die Vermummung, die Uniform. Kann noch jemand einen Unterschied zu Trumps bewaffneter ICE-Miliz erkennen?
January 25, 2026 at 12:03 PM
“This is a rally by the openly fascist organization ‘Patriot Front’ on Saturday at the Smithsonian subway station in Washington, D.C. Look at their appearance, their masks, their uniforms. Can anyone still tell the difference between this & Trump's armed ICE militia?”
Um, they’re not wearing camo?
Um, they’re not wearing camo?
As someone who grew up & lived until early adulthood in the USA (and still visit family there), Dmitry’s take on the myths lying behind the “this is not who we are” discourse rings true to me.
Of course “brutality is not who we are” applies to at least half the polity. But for many of the others …
Of course “brutality is not who we are” applies to at least half the polity. But for many of the others …
1/ I've been thinking a lot about the US "This is not who we are" discourse. Trying to think through it.
Note: This is all so far out of my lane my car may as well be in a nearby lake, so just skip this thread if you're looking for actual expertise or wisdom.
Note: This is all so far out of my lane my car may as well be in a nearby lake, so just skip this thread if you're looking for actual expertise or wisdom.
January 25, 2026 at 11:24 AM
As someone who grew up & lived until early adulthood in the USA (and still visit family there), Dmitry’s take on the myths lying behind the “this is not who we are” discourse rings true to me.
Of course “brutality is not who we are” applies to at least half the polity. But for many of the others …
Of course “brutality is not who we are” applies to at least half the polity. But for many of the others …
Reposted by Ronald Steenblik
