David Passmore
@davidpassmore.bsky.social
Distinguished Professor, Emeritus, Penn State University, https://davidpassmore.net; live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; a Niagara Falls native.
What would you do with a Pittsburgh turnip?
November 10, 2025 at 7:33 PM
What would you do with a Pittsburgh turnip?
Dove who sits most days with 3 others on my windowsill in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
November 10, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Dove who sits most days with 3 others on my windowsill in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The color out my window wanes. Someone reported snow in Pittsburgh this morning. I will miss Fall. Winter better to be good to us.
November 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The color out my window wanes. Someone reported snow in Pittsburgh this morning. I will miss Fall. Winter better to be good to us.
COURAGE?
"Each one hopes that if he feeds the crocodile enough, the crocodile will eat him last. All of them hope that the storm will pass before their turn comes to be devoured."
~ Winston Churchill, BBC, 20 January 1940, when he was First Lord of the British Admiralty.
"Each one hopes that if he feeds the crocodile enough, the crocodile will eat him last. All of them hope that the storm will pass before their turn comes to be devoured."
~ Winston Churchill, BBC, 20 January 1940, when he was First Lord of the British Admiralty.
November 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM
COURAGE?
"Each one hopes that if he feeds the crocodile enough, the crocodile will eat him last. All of them hope that the storm will pass before their turn comes to be devoured."
~ Winston Churchill, BBC, 20 January 1940, when he was First Lord of the British Admiralty.
"Each one hopes that if he feeds the crocodile enough, the crocodile will eat him last. All of them hope that the storm will pass before their turn comes to be devoured."
~ Winston Churchill, BBC, 20 January 1940, when he was First Lord of the British Admiralty.
ADELITA S. GRIJAIVA....NOW?
thehill.com/homenews/hou...
A chance to fix an obstruction "a falsis principiis proficisci"?
For the real deal, see Cicero, "De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", 4.53, bit.ly/Cice
thehill.com/homenews/hou...
A chance to fix an obstruction "a falsis principiis proficisci"?
For the real deal, see Cicero, "De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", 4.53, bit.ly/Cice
November 10, 2025 at 1:13 PM
ADELITA S. GRIJAIVA....NOW?
thehill.com/homenews/hou...
A chance to fix an obstruction "a falsis principiis proficisci"?
For the real deal, see Cicero, "De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", 4.53, bit.ly/Cice
thehill.com/homenews/hou...
A chance to fix an obstruction "a falsis principiis proficisci"?
For the real deal, see Cicero, "De Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", 4.53, bit.ly/Cice
A Portrait of Leadership:
November 10, 2025 at 12:53 PM
A Portrait of Leadership:
TRUST IS SO SIMPLE TO LOSE
"Five Eyes officials have watched with alarm as Mr. Patel has fired agents who investigated President Trump and invoked his powers to investigate the president’s perceived enemies."
bit.ly/484AsLj
"Five Eyes officials have watched with alarm as Mr. Patel has fired agents who investigated President Trump and invoked his powers to investigate the president’s perceived enemies."
bit.ly/484AsLj
November 10, 2025 at 12:05 PM
TRUST IS SO SIMPLE TO LOSE
"Five Eyes officials have watched with alarm as Mr. Patel has fired agents who investigated President Trump and invoked his powers to investigate the president’s perceived enemies."
bit.ly/484AsLj
"Five Eyes officials have watched with alarm as Mr. Patel has fired agents who investigated President Trump and invoked his powers to investigate the president’s perceived enemies."
bit.ly/484AsLj
November 10, 2025 at 11:27 AM
One comment on NYTimes article:
November 10, 2025 at 11:11 AM
One comment on NYTimes article:
ELECTRICITY PRICES INCREASE IN U.S. DUE TO POLES AND WIRES, NOT GENERATION?
Since 2005, utilities have nearly tripled the amount they spend annually on the network of poles, wires, substations, and transformers that deliver power to customers.
bit.ly/3Xgcarz
Since 2005, utilities have nearly tripled the amount they spend annually on the network of poles, wires, substations, and transformers that deliver power to customers.
bit.ly/3Xgcarz
November 7, 2025 at 11:27 AM
ELECTRICITY PRICES INCREASE IN U.S. DUE TO POLES AND WIRES, NOT GENERATION?
Since 2005, utilities have nearly tripled the amount they spend annually on the network of poles, wires, substations, and transformers that deliver power to customers.
bit.ly/3Xgcarz
Since 2005, utilities have nearly tripled the amount they spend annually on the network of poles, wires, substations, and transformers that deliver power to customers.
bit.ly/3Xgcarz
Tree outside my window in Pittsburgh still smiling this Fall.
November 6, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Tree outside my window in Pittsburgh still smiling this Fall.
One-half of U.S. Imports Are Tariffed
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
November 5, 2025 at 11:21 AM
One-half of U.S. Imports Are Tariffed
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
WILL ARTIFICIAL GENERAL INTELLIGENCE MISS YOU?
The future? Dystopian?
All bottleneck work automated. Growth of computing power determines economic growth. Wages converge to the cost of computing power needed to replace them. Share of labor income in GDP drops to zero.
www.nber.org/papers/w34423
The future? Dystopian?
All bottleneck work automated. Growth of computing power determines economic growth. Wages converge to the cost of computing power needed to replace them. Share of labor income in GDP drops to zero.
www.nber.org/papers/w34423
November 4, 2025 at 11:04 AM
WILL ARTIFICIAL GENERAL INTELLIGENCE MISS YOU?
The future? Dystopian?
All bottleneck work automated. Growth of computing power determines economic growth. Wages converge to the cost of computing power needed to replace them. Share of labor income in GDP drops to zero.
www.nber.org/papers/w34423
The future? Dystopian?
All bottleneck work automated. Growth of computing power determines economic growth. Wages converge to the cost of computing power needed to replace them. Share of labor income in GDP drops to zero.
www.nber.org/papers/w34423
SUPPORTING TRUMP'S MUTINY
15 months elapsed before the FBI agreed to investigate the ties between Trump and his circle and the deadly Jan 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Justice Department's herald to pursue evidence "without fear or favor"? Lost. By Garland. By Biden.
bit.ly/3JAXuQx
15 months elapsed before the FBI agreed to investigate the ties between Trump and his circle and the deadly Jan 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Justice Department's herald to pursue evidence "without fear or favor"? Lost. By Garland. By Biden.
bit.ly/3JAXuQx
November 1, 2025 at 10:27 AM
SUPPORTING TRUMP'S MUTINY
15 months elapsed before the FBI agreed to investigate the ties between Trump and his circle and the deadly Jan 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Justice Department's herald to pursue evidence "without fear or favor"? Lost. By Garland. By Biden.
bit.ly/3JAXuQx
15 months elapsed before the FBI agreed to investigate the ties between Trump and his circle and the deadly Jan 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Justice Department's herald to pursue evidence "without fear or favor"? Lost. By Garland. By Biden.
bit.ly/3JAXuQx
CAUSE & EFFECT?
On this date in history:
• Muhammad Ali defeated George Foreman in the historic Rumble in the Jungle (1974)
• Ivanka Trump was born (1981)
On this date in history:
• Muhammad Ali defeated George Foreman in the historic Rumble in the Jungle (1974)
• Ivanka Trump was born (1981)
October 31, 2025 at 2:56 PM
CAUSE & EFFECT?
On this date in history:
• Muhammad Ali defeated George Foreman in the historic Rumble in the Jungle (1974)
• Ivanka Trump was born (1981)
On this date in history:
• Muhammad Ali defeated George Foreman in the historic Rumble in the Jungle (1974)
• Ivanka Trump was born (1981)
October 31, 2025 at 11:29 AM
GOP sends a "Happy Halloween" to children on SNAP
October 31, 2025 at 11:25 AM
GOP sends a "Happy Halloween" to children on SNAP
Happy Halloween from the GOP
October 31, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Happy Halloween from the GOP
"The average increase in premiums for Affordable Care Act plans will be 26% next year."
bit.ly/47wln3W
bit.ly/47wln3W
October 29, 2025 at 10:38 AM
"The average increase in premiums for Affordable Care Act plans will be 26% next year."
bit.ly/47wln3W
bit.ly/47wln3W
KRISTI KREME KOMFORT
Publicly available government documents indicate the Coast Guard spent at least $172 million on two private jets. Gulfstream advertises the G700 as "THE MOST SPACIOUS CABIN IN THE INDUSTRY."
www.snopes.com/fact-check/k...
Publicly available government documents indicate the Coast Guard spent at least $172 million on two private jets. Gulfstream advertises the G700 as "THE MOST SPACIOUS CABIN IN THE INDUSTRY."
www.snopes.com/fact-check/k...
October 28, 2025 at 11:06 AM
KRISTI KREME KOMFORT
Publicly available government documents indicate the Coast Guard spent at least $172 million on two private jets. Gulfstream advertises the G700 as "THE MOST SPACIOUS CABIN IN THE INDUSTRY."
www.snopes.com/fact-check/k...
Publicly available government documents indicate the Coast Guard spent at least $172 million on two private jets. Gulfstream advertises the G700 as "THE MOST SPACIOUS CABIN IN THE INDUSTRY."
www.snopes.com/fact-check/k...
GET 'EM
"There are some really bad actors....And if they can be charged, we’ll charge them. But if they can’t be charged, we will name them, and we will name them. And in a culture that respects shame, they should be people that are shamed."
~ Ed Martin, Trump's DOJ pardon attorney, bit.ly/EdMart
"There are some really bad actors....And if they can be charged, we’ll charge them. But if they can’t be charged, we will name them, and we will name them. And in a culture that respects shame, they should be people that are shamed."
~ Ed Martin, Trump's DOJ pardon attorney, bit.ly/EdMart
October 28, 2025 at 10:34 AM
GET 'EM
"There are some really bad actors....And if they can be charged, we’ll charge them. But if they can’t be charged, we will name them, and we will name them. And in a culture that respects shame, they should be people that are shamed."
~ Ed Martin, Trump's DOJ pardon attorney, bit.ly/EdMart
"There are some really bad actors....And if they can be charged, we’ll charge them. But if they can’t be charged, we will name them, and we will name them. And in a culture that respects shame, they should be people that are shamed."
~ Ed Martin, Trump's DOJ pardon attorney, bit.ly/EdMart
GROWTH OF THE EARLY U.S. ECONOMY DEPENDED ON ENSLAVED LABOR
In the 1860s, about 1/3 of agricultural workers were enslaved labor, 70% in some southern states, driving economic growth.
bit.ly/4huILDr
In the 1860s, about 1/3 of agricultural workers were enslaved labor, 70% in some southern states, driving economic growth.
bit.ly/4huILDr
October 27, 2025 at 1:07 PM
GROWTH OF THE EARLY U.S. ECONOMY DEPENDED ON ENSLAVED LABOR
In the 1860s, about 1/3 of agricultural workers were enslaved labor, 70% in some southern states, driving economic growth.
bit.ly/4huILDr
In the 1860s, about 1/3 of agricultural workers were enslaved labor, 70% in some southern states, driving economic growth.
bit.ly/4huILDr
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY....
The first of the Federalist Papers was published in 1787.
"You are called upon to deliberate on a new Constitution for the United States of America....[Are] societies of men...really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice [?]."
The first of the Federalist Papers was published in 1787.
"You are called upon to deliberate on a new Constitution for the United States of America....[Are] societies of men...really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice [?]."
October 27, 2025 at 12:16 PM
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY....
The first of the Federalist Papers was published in 1787.
"You are called upon to deliberate on a new Constitution for the United States of America....[Are] societies of men...really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice [?]."
The first of the Federalist Papers was published in 1787.
"You are called upon to deliberate on a new Constitution for the United States of America....[Are] societies of men...really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice [?]."
MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS
Strong earnings growth among minimum wage workers, 1992-2016. Most minimum-wage workers are young, under 30. Strongest among young workers from better-off families, but noticeable even among minimum-wage workers from poor families.
www.nber.org/system/files...
Strong earnings growth among minimum wage workers, 1992-2016. Most minimum-wage workers are young, under 30. Strongest among young workers from better-off families, but noticeable even among minimum-wage workers from poor families.
www.nber.org/system/files...
October 27, 2025 at 11:50 AM
MINIMUM WAGE WORKERS
Strong earnings growth among minimum wage workers, 1992-2016. Most minimum-wage workers are young, under 30. Strongest among young workers from better-off families, but noticeable even among minimum-wage workers from poor families.
www.nber.org/system/files...
Strong earnings growth among minimum wage workers, 1992-2016. Most minimum-wage workers are young, under 30. Strongest among young workers from better-off families, but noticeable even among minimum-wage workers from poor families.
www.nber.org/system/files...