Damon Lynch
@damonlynch.bsky.social
Anthropology PhD, focused on just peace, Iran, Israel/Palestine, Central Asia, climate, urbanism, and cycling. Have Long Covid.
Reposted by Damon Lynch
At The Gentle Barn, this flock of turkeys isn't going to end up on your plate, but they might cuddle up in your lap.
At The Gentle Barn, turkeys are for snuggling, not stuffing at Thanksgiving
At The Gentle Barn, this flock of turkeys isn't going to end up on your plate, but they might cuddle up in your lap.
bit.ly
November 27, 2025 at 2:30 AM
At The Gentle Barn, this flock of turkeys isn't going to end up on your plate, but they might cuddle up in your lap.
For a sobering scientific analysis of West Asia / the Middle East's prospects of drought, read this paper. Even nonspecialists (like me) can learn plenty from it.
Amazing fact: El Niño / La Niña impact drought formation in countries like Iran.
Amazing fact: El Niño / La Niña impact drought formation in countries like Iran.
For a review of the multiple factors forcing drought in the region:
Barlow, M., B. Zaitchik, S. Paz, E. Black, J. Evans, and A. Hoell, 2016: A Review of Drought in the Middle East and Southwest Asia. J. Climate, 29, 8547–8574, doi.org/10.1175/JCLI....
3/3
Barlow, M., B. Zaitchik, S. Paz, E. Black, J. Evans, and A. Hoell, 2016: A Review of Drought in the Middle East and Southwest Asia. J. Climate, 29, 8547–8574, doi.org/10.1175/JCLI....
3/3
November 25, 2025 at 10:20 PM
For a sobering scientific analysis of West Asia / the Middle East's prospects of drought, read this paper. Even nonspecialists (like me) can learn plenty from it.
Amazing fact: El Niño / La Niña impact drought formation in countries like Iran.
Amazing fact: El Niño / La Niña impact drought formation in countries like Iran.
Reposted by Damon Lynch
While the situation in Gaza remains desperate, the biggest short term risk is in the West Bank. The settlers'+IDF relentless campaign of terror, and the PA weakness could lead to sudden collapse and dramatic escalation in ethnic cleansing and carnage.
Sobering findings of @ecfrmena.bsky.social report by @tahanimustafa.bsky.social & @hlovatt.bsky.social about Palestinian politics in the West Bank. ecfr.eu/publication/...
November 25, 2025 at 5:04 PM
While the situation in Gaza remains desperate, the biggest short term risk is in the West Bank. The settlers'+IDF relentless campaign of terror, and the PA weakness could lead to sudden collapse and dramatic escalation in ethnic cleansing and carnage.
Reposted by Damon Lynch
Nothing to see here, literally! Just 6ft me standing, you read that right, standing upright in front of a truck.
@thewaroncars.bsky.social
@thewaroncars.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Nothing to see here, literally! Just 6ft me standing, you read that right, standing upright in front of a truck.
@thewaroncars.bsky.social
@thewaroncars.bsky.social
Reposted by Damon Lynch
US used coffee breaks to personally threaten negotiators in global climate talks on shipping: “They went from delegation to delegation . . . threatening them. Telling them to go back and speak to their capitals, warning what would happen if they didn’t change their minds,” the diplomat said.
Trump administration officials warned of additional trade tariffs and made personal threats against negotiators from other countries to block a historic climate deal for shipping. on.ft.com/4p98Drd
November 2, 2025 at 1:52 PM
US used coffee breaks to personally threaten negotiators in global climate talks on shipping: “They went from delegation to delegation . . . threatening them. Telling them to go back and speak to their capitals, warning what would happen if they didn’t change their minds,” the diplomat said.
Reposted by Damon Lynch
Ban private cars in cities.
what is your most "scare the hoes" political opinion
August 21, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Ban private cars in cities.
Reposted by Damon Lynch
I had a discussion w/an economist some years ago when his simple climate/economy model wasn't giving the results he expected. I suggested breaking out one term to allow for more nuance - but he said he couldn't because then the model would have 5 variables (instead of 4) & wouldn't run as fast. 🤷
August 19, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I had a discussion w/an economist some years ago when his simple climate/economy model wasn't giving the results he expected. I suggested breaking out one term to allow for more nuance - but he said he couldn't because then the model would have 5 variables (instead of 4) & wouldn't run as fast. 🤷
Psychology: the window pane encourages overt displays of dominance
Philosophy: the window pane reveals the performative nature of social reality
Anthropology: the window pane acts as a liminal space between the inner and outer realms of domesticity
Happy #caturday !
@chrispolpsych.bsky.social
Philosophy: the window pane reveals the performative nature of social reality
Anthropology: the window pane acts as a liminal space between the inner and outer realms of domesticity
Happy #caturday !
@chrispolpsych.bsky.social
August 16, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Psychology: the window pane encourages overt displays of dominance
Philosophy: the window pane reveals the performative nature of social reality
Anthropology: the window pane acts as a liminal space between the inner and outer realms of domesticity
Happy #caturday !
@chrispolpsych.bsky.social
Philosophy: the window pane reveals the performative nature of social reality
Anthropology: the window pane acts as a liminal space between the inner and outer realms of domesticity
Happy #caturday !
@chrispolpsych.bsky.social
Reposted by Damon Lynch
“…moving from a less walkable (25th percentile) city to a more walkable city (75th percentile) increased walking by 1,100 daily steps, on average. The added activity is predominantly composed of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, which is linked to an array of associated health benefits.”
Countrywide natural experiment links built environment to physical activity - Nature
By analysing the smartphone data of 2,112,288 participants, in particular observing and comparing the activity of the same individual in two different environments, we find that increases in the walka...
www.nature.com
August 15, 2025 at 2:21 AM
“…moving from a less walkable (25th percentile) city to a more walkable city (75th percentile) increased walking by 1,100 daily steps, on average. The added activity is predominantly composed of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, which is linked to an array of associated health benefits.”
Reposted by Damon Lynch
My view, the most effective sanctions on Israel would be, in descending order:
1. Halting/downgrading military cooperation
2. Sanctions on banks (literally all are involved in settlements).
3. Trade sanctions
4. Cancelling the visa-free travel
5. Science and academic cooperation
1/
1. Halting/downgrading military cooperation
2. Sanctions on banks (literally all are involved in settlements).
3. Trade sanctions
4. Cancelling the visa-free travel
5. Science and academic cooperation
1/
August 1, 2025 at 3:08 PM
My view, the most effective sanctions on Israel would be, in descending order:
1. Halting/downgrading military cooperation
2. Sanctions on banks (literally all are involved in settlements).
3. Trade sanctions
4. Cancelling the visa-free travel
5. Science and academic cooperation
1/
1. Halting/downgrading military cooperation
2. Sanctions on banks (literally all are involved in settlements).
3. Trade sanctions
4. Cancelling the visa-free travel
5. Science and academic cooperation
1/
Reposted by Damon Lynch
Everything we've made will break, buildings and streets will crumble, and cities will be abandoned. But the CO₂ we emit into the atmosphere will persist for centuries, and the climatic impacts will last longer than human civilization has existed. This is our legacy for the future.
July 29, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Everything we've made will break, buildings and streets will crumble, and cities will be abandoned. But the CO₂ we emit into the atmosphere will persist for centuries, and the climatic impacts will last longer than human civilization has existed. This is our legacy for the future.
Reposted by Damon Lynch
Ebikes are not just bikes with a motor and battery. They are a new form of transportation
“Our results reject nesting electric with conventional bicycles, underscoring their distinct characteristics and minimal shared unobserved attributes”
“Our results reject nesting electric with conventional bicycles, underscoring their distinct characteristics and minimal shared unobserved attributes”
Interesting study from Germany on e-bikes and the modes they replace:
"43.1% of electric bicycle trips and 63.2% of electric bicycle mileage would have been undertaken using a car if no e-bike had been available, highlighting their substantial potential to reduce transport-related CO2 emissions"
"43.1% of electric bicycle trips and 63.2% of electric bicycle mileage would have been undertaken using a car if no e-bike had been available, highlighting their substantial potential to reduce transport-related CO2 emissions"
Further, steeper, greener: Implications from an electric bicycle mode choice model
Electric bicycles are transforming the active mobility landscape, potentially increasing active mode uptake and delivering environmental and health benefits. This study examines electric bicycle mo...
doi.org
July 24, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Ebikes are not just bikes with a motor and battery. They are a new form of transportation
“Our results reject nesting electric with conventional bicycles, underscoring their distinct characteristics and minimal shared unobserved attributes”
“Our results reject nesting electric with conventional bicycles, underscoring their distinct characteristics and minimal shared unobserved attributes”
Reposted by Damon Lynch
That’s so cool! Montreal’s bike share system is rolling out trailers that work on BIXIs as well as personal bikes.
They’re hoping to have 50 by the end of the summer, and hundreds over the next few years.
They’re hoping to have 50 by the end of the summer, and hundreds over the next few years.
July 19, 2025 at 10:18 PM
That’s so cool! Montreal’s bike share system is rolling out trailers that work on BIXIs as well as personal bikes.
They’re hoping to have 50 by the end of the summer, and hundreds over the next few years.
They’re hoping to have 50 by the end of the summer, and hundreds over the next few years.
Reposted by Damon Lynch
Posts about urban biking in Dutch cities are routinely replied to with something like “well, they have the big advantage of being relatively flat.”
The Dutch also have the big advantage of not constantly making excuses about why they can’t make clearly smarter decisions.
The Dutch also have the big advantage of not constantly making excuses about why they can’t make clearly smarter decisions.
July 16, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Posts about urban biking in Dutch cities are routinely replied to with something like “well, they have the big advantage of being relatively flat.”
The Dutch also have the big advantage of not constantly making excuses about why they can’t make clearly smarter decisions.
The Dutch also have the big advantage of not constantly making excuses about why they can’t make clearly smarter decisions.
Is anyone installing these in New Zealand @kentlundberg.bsky.social ? I could see these making an enormous difference as neighbourhood density increases, and garages become less common.
One thing that London does well is that they have converted loads of parking spaces around the city into bike lockers. Rented by the local council, they are cheap, and make it much easier to use a bike if you live in a flat / shared house. Also safer to store e-bikes outside…
July 17, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Is anyone installing these in New Zealand @kentlundberg.bsky.social ? I could see these making an enormous difference as neighbourhood density increases, and garages become less common.
Reposted by Damon Lynch
I sincerely believe there is a massive untapped market of people that haven't ridden bikes since childhood who are one e-bike ride experience away from realizing how pleasant and useful they are for getting around urban areas.
I think people have yet to wake up to just how amazing e-bikes are. I commute about 20 miles a day, using about 10 cents of electricity. (Mostly on safe trails.)
Every time I ride my brain is ecstatic. I get a workout, but don’t need to shower when I get to work.
Every time I ride my brain is ecstatic. I get a workout, but don’t need to shower when I get to work.
July 12, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I sincerely believe there is a massive untapped market of people that haven't ridden bikes since childhood who are one e-bike ride experience away from realizing how pleasant and useful they are for getting around urban areas.
Reposted by Damon Lynch
A great thing about ebikes is that they turn non-cyclists into cyclists.
I think people have yet to wake up to just how amazing e-bikes are. I commute about 20 miles a day, using about 10 cents of electricity. (Mostly on safe trails.)
Every time I ride my brain is ecstatic. I get a workout, but don’t need to shower when I get to work.
Every time I ride my brain is ecstatic. I get a workout, but don’t need to shower when I get to work.
July 15, 2025 at 4:38 PM
A great thing about ebikes is that they turn non-cyclists into cyclists.
Reposted by Damon Lynch
Fauja Singh, world’s oldest marathoner, dies at 114 after being stuck by car | The Express Tribune
Fauja Singh, the iconic marathon runner whose career defied age and inspired generations, has died at the age of 114 after being hit by an unidentified vehicle in a hit-and-run incident in Punjab,…
Fauja Singh, the iconic marathon runner whose career defied age and inspired generations, has died at the age of 114 after being hit by an unidentified vehicle in a hit-and-run incident in Punjab,…
Fauja Singh, world’s oldest marathoner, dies at 114 after being stuck by car | The Express Tribune
Fauja Singh, the iconic marathon runner whose career defied age and inspired generations, has died at the age of 114 after being hit by an unidentified vehicle in a hit-and-run incident in Punjab, local media reported on July 15. The accident reportedly took place around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, as Singh was crossing the Adampur–Bhogpur road near his native village of Beas in the Jalandhar district. He was taken to a private hospital in Jalandhar but succumbed to his injuries later that evening. Authorities said an FIR has been registered against the unknown driver.
10bmnews.com
July 15, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Fauja Singh, world’s oldest marathoner, dies at 114 after being stuck by car | The Express Tribune
Fauja Singh, the iconic marathon runner whose career defied age and inspired generations, has died at the age of 114 after being hit by an unidentified vehicle in a hit-and-run incident in Punjab,…
Fauja Singh, the iconic marathon runner whose career defied age and inspired generations, has died at the age of 114 after being hit by an unidentified vehicle in a hit-and-run incident in Punjab,…
Married ten years ago today ♥️
Photo taken in Evaz, Iran.
Photo taken in Evaz, Iran.
July 8, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Married ten years ago today ♥️
Photo taken in Evaz, Iran.
Photo taken in Evaz, Iran.
From the awesome Abe Silberstein 👇
June 23, 2025 at 10:10 PM
From the awesome Abe Silberstein 👇
A brief video called "Leia and the birds", made 10 years ago in Tajikistan.
Uploading it now because Tajikistan underwent a dreadful civil war from 1992–1997. War can end, and life can get better.
CC @rinewithoutacat.bsky.social @chrispolpsych.bsky.social
Uploading it now because Tajikistan underwent a dreadful civil war from 1992–1997. War can end, and life can get better.
CC @rinewithoutacat.bsky.social @chrispolpsych.bsky.social
June 23, 2025 at 8:34 AM
A brief video called "Leia and the birds", made 10 years ago in Tajikistan.
Uploading it now because Tajikistan underwent a dreadful civil war from 1992–1997. War can end, and life can get better.
CC @rinewithoutacat.bsky.social @chrispolpsych.bsky.social
Uploading it now because Tajikistan underwent a dreadful civil war from 1992–1997. War can end, and life can get better.
CC @rinewithoutacat.bsky.social @chrispolpsych.bsky.social
Fedex was founded in 1973. Their founder Fred Smith just died. From his obit in the FT. 👇
Kudos to the 1975 auditor, I guess? Man.
Kudos to the 1975 auditor, I guess? Man.
June 23, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Fedex was founded in 1973. Their founder Fred Smith just died. From his obit in the FT. 👇
Kudos to the 1975 auditor, I guess? Man.
Kudos to the 1975 auditor, I guess? Man.
Reposted by Damon Lynch
on.ft.com/4lkbJXq We asked Vali Nasr, the author of ‘Iran’s Grand Strategy: A Political History’ to write our Weekend Essay and it is everything you need to read about its history with Israel and relations with the rest of the world.
Iran at the precipice
[FREE TO READ] Vali Nasr on how a decades-long power struggle with Israel ended in war — and what a failed Iranian state would mean for the world
on.ft.com
June 21, 2025 at 6:25 AM
on.ft.com/4lkbJXq We asked Vali Nasr, the author of ‘Iran’s Grand Strategy: A Political History’ to write our Weekend Essay and it is everything you need to read about its history with Israel and relations with the rest of the world.
Reposted by Damon Lynch
For any meaningful conversation, we need to drop the bad faith accusations. Bad faith: you're lying. And if you're a liar - what's even the point.
Most of the time, people aren't lying. They may be totally wrong. Or terrible. But that's not the same
Most of the time, people aren't lying. They may be totally wrong. Or terrible. But that's not the same
June 19, 2025 at 8:16 PM
For any meaningful conversation, we need to drop the bad faith accusations. Bad faith: you're lying. And if you're a liar - what's even the point.
Most of the time, people aren't lying. They may be totally wrong. Or terrible. But that's not the same
Most of the time, people aren't lying. They may be totally wrong. Or terrible. But that's not the same
Reposted by Damon Lynch
A new study using citizen science data via eBird — an app used by birdwatchers to record sightings — has found that declines in bird populations in North America are the steepest where the respective species have historically been most abundant.
Cartoon by Rohan Chakravarty: buff.ly/gmiRxec
Cartoon by Rohan Chakravarty: buff.ly/gmiRxec
June 17, 2025 at 10:03 AM
A new study using citizen science data via eBird — an app used by birdwatchers to record sightings — has found that declines in bird populations in North America are the steepest where the respective species have historically been most abundant.
Cartoon by Rohan Chakravarty: buff.ly/gmiRxec
Cartoon by Rohan Chakravarty: buff.ly/gmiRxec