John Bistline
@bistline.bsky.social
Energy systems modeling, economics, policy | IPCC, NCA, Stanford/CMU alum | Views my own
Moral of the story: models are only as good as their data, definitions, and constraints. Also, good models don't replace judgment but organize it. Dantzig's wife studied the menus and said, "I'll put you on my diet." And he lost 22 pounds.
November 10, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Moral of the story: models are only as good as their data, definitions, and constraints. Also, good models don't replace judgment but organize it. Dantzig's wife studied the menus and said, "I'll put you on my diet." And he lost 22 pounds.
Then: two pounds of bran per day. Anne threatens to take him to the hospital, imposes a cap, and swaps in blackstrap molasses. New constraint, similar nutrients. Classic LP substitution.
November 10, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Then: two pounds of bran per day. Anne threatens to take him to the hospital, imposes a cap, and swaps in blackstrap molasses. New constraint, similar nutrients. Classic LP substitution.
Next day the model prescribes 200 bouillon cubes/day. Anne Dantzig drops a legendary pun: "What are you trying to do, corner the bullion market?" Doctor confirms: no upper bound on salt in the requirements. So Dantzig adds one. Behold, the origin story of upper bounds.
November 10, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Next day the model prescribes 200 bouillon cubes/day. Anne Dantzig drops a legendary pun: "What are you trying to do, corner the bullion market?" Doctor confirms: no upper bound on salt in the requirements. So Dantzig adds one. Behold, the origin story of upper bounds.
First menu from the IBM 701 includes... 500 gallons of vinegar. Because the source listed vinegar as "very weak acid" with water content = 0, the model treats it like dense fullness. "I decided vinegar wasn't a food."
November 10, 2025 at 5:55 PM
First menu from the IBM 701 includes... 500 gallons of vinegar. Because the source listed vinegar as "very weak acid" with water content = 0, the model treats it like dense fullness. "I decided vinegar wasn't a food."
While at RAND, Dantzig's doctor tells him to go on a diet. So he models his own diet as an LP to maximize "feeling full." Objective ≈ food weight minus water weight. What could go wrong?
November 10, 2025 at 5:55 PM
While at RAND, Dantzig's doctor tells him to go on a diet. So he models his own diet as an LP to maximize "feeling full." Objective ≈ food weight minus water weight. What could go wrong?
Background: Dantzig invents the simplex algorithm for solving linear programming problems but needs a test case. In a Pentagon bull session, Marvin Hoffenberg suggests: "Try Jerry Cornfield's diet problem for GI rations" (i.e., finding a low-cost diet meeting nutritional needs).
November 10, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Background: Dantzig invents the simplex algorithm for solving linear programming problems but needs a test case. In a Pentagon bull session, Marvin Hoffenberg suggests: "Try Jerry Cornfield's diet problem for GI rations" (i.e., finding a low-cost diet meeting nutritional needs).
Ultimately, what matters is the emissions intensity of electricity generation. On that front, you're right that CA is currently lower than TX, but TX has made much faster progress (from a higher starting point) and is catching up to California.
November 6, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Ultimately, what matters is the emissions intensity of electricity generation. On that front, you're right that CA is currently lower than TX, but TX has made much faster progress (from a higher starting point) and is catching up to California.
November 6, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Ultimately, what matters is the emissions intensity of electricity generation. On that front, you're right that CA is currently lower than TX, but TX has made much faster progress (from a higher starting point) and is catching up to California.
Rooftop solar is still an important part of future mixes, but its credited CO2 impact depends on how you count. You can read our article here: rdcu.be/eL8iE
The tl;dr summary is here: restservice.epri.com/publicattach....
The tl;dr summary is here: restservice.epri.com/publicattach....
Emissions reductions of rooftop solar are overstated by approaches that inadequately capture substitution effects
Nature Climate Change - Emissions reductions of rooftop solar are overstated by approaches that inadequately capture substitution effects
rdcu.be
October 22, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Rooftop solar is still an important part of future mixes, but its credited CO2 impact depends on how you count. You can read our article here: rdcu.be/eL8iE
The tl;dr summary is here: restservice.epri.com/publicattach....
The tl;dr summary is here: restservice.epri.com/publicattach....