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David Barboza

@sosuburbia.bsky.social
196 followers 13 following 532 posts

Tweets about politics and city planning mostly. Personal account. Husband, father and city planner working on ADUs (he/him). Bluskying from California.

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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
The city planning profession has the AICP Code of Ethics. This is the most direct thing it says about housing: "Promote an increase in the supply and quality of affordable housing and improved services and facilities with equal access for all residents, including people with disabilities."
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
More California city planning conference thoughts. Why is local planning so ineffective at making housing more affordable? I would argue it's four things: 1) self-selection bias, 2) homeowner bias, 3) the high cost of updating plans and zoning, and 4) the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
At a city planning conference in California one of the great debates plays out: How can we solve California's housing affordability crisis? Can it be solved through local land use planning or does the state need to take a stronger role in checking NIMBYism? If the state does more, how exactly? . . .
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Executions are bad. They're unnecessary and cruel. Unfortunately in America, they're not unusual. This is an area where state legislation can help, since the feds have failed to act. That includes California, which still has the death penalty on the books. www.democracynow.org/2026/10/2/ch...
democracynow.org
“Cruel & Torturous”: Christa Pike in Critical Condition After Botched Tennessee Execution
Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee has halted executions for the remainder of the year after a death row prisoner survived two lethal injections on Wednesday. According to her lawyers, Christa Pike was sti...
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
It's definitely bad that Republicans are fighting vehicle fuel efficiency rules. The auto industry has been lobbying for this and shame on them too. Ultimately it's yet another failure to address climate change. The solutions are there. EVs are great . . . www.latimes.com/environment/...
latimes.com
Lower mileage standards, higher pump costs: What Trump's auto move means for California
Experts say Trump's new fuel standards could complicate California’s efforts to address climate change at a time when drivers face some of the nation’s highest gas prices.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I recently finished an audiobook of "Frankenstein" and realized that it's kind of an AI story. The monster is literally a form of artificial intelligence, created through scientific knowledge. More in the undead lane than the computer lane for sure, but AI nonetheless.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
It's been about a year since I bought my electric car and I'm really glad I did. This means I have not bought any gasoline for a year, despite driving thousands of miles, including several road trips. People complain about the high cost of gasoline and I don't have to worry about it at all. Yay!
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
The problem with an AI "kill switch" is if AI becomes smarter than people it will just disable the kill switch. Right? I mean it would just be some code that the AI itself would find a way to rewrite. The threat is in making something smarter than us at all. www.latimes.com/california/s...
latimes.com
Newsom creates panel on AI safety regulation, suggests possible 'kill switch'
Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered the formation of a panel to come up with safety regulations for the state's AI companies, including the development of a possible 'kill switch' for programs that go rogue...
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
It's weird to me that we're having a debate that's like inserting this dialogue into Terminator 2: "We need to stop Cyberdyne from developing Skynet, because it will become self aware and unleash the final war on humanity. "But we don't want to stifle innovation." www.latimes.com/california/s...
latimes.com
California lawmakers urge criminal penalties, emergency legislation to rein in unchecked AI
California lawmakers call for criminal penalties and emergency legislation as tech leaders warn of existential risks from rogue AI.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
This is a bad idea. It would significantly increase the national debt, and would increase inflation. If people have more money to spend, they'll spend it, and that additional demand will push up prices. Also, voting for Republicans in general is a mistake. www.latimes.com/world-nation...
latimes.com
Questions swirl over Trump's pledge to give $5,000 payouts if GOP wins
The promise would likely cost more than $1 trillion and require congressional approval, and would further exacerbate the country’s nearly $1.8-trillion annual budget deficit and concerns about inflati...
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I can't remember a time when it has been this humid in L.A. It feels like L.A. is in Florida right now. The combination of heat and humidity is dangerous, particularly for people who have to work outside or don't have access to air conditioning. www.latimes.com/california/s...
latimes.com
L.A.'s 'perfect' Mediterranean weather is a birthright. Why did it disappear this summer?
It's been hot in SoCal, but at least it's a dry heat. Wait. It's not dry — at all. Locals' favorite summertime cliche has been brutally terminated by the worst humidity we've ever seen.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
I actually think this is a good idea. Pairing news with a meditation app is an acknowledgement that news can be pretty scary and/or depressing. It's important not to overload on it, while still staying informed. I use that meditation app myself. www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
latimes.com
Is the news stressing you out? MS NOW partners with Calm
The cable channel is offering meditation exercises on its new digital platform that launches Wednesday.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
It bears repeating that the most significant climate action most of us can take is voting for people who care about solving climate change. Trump and most Republican legislators do not care about solving climate change. They're actively hostile to progress. www.latimes.com/environment/...
latimes.com
Trump is trying to terminate EVs in California. Is that even possible?
The Trump administration's efforts to erode California's emissions authority are slowing the state's EV transition, but not stopping it.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
I think it's a mistake not to talk about climate change. You can definitely emphasize how some climate solutions have co-benefits for affordability, and try to deliver climate messages though trusted messengers, which vary based on the audience. However . . . www.latimes.com/environment/...
latimes.com
Earth is sizzling, but climate isn't a hot topic for Democrats in this year's campaigns
Climate change has become a less prominent election-year issue for Democrats as voters say concerns such as affordability are more pressing
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
I love that Los Angeles County is tracking down private jets to make sure their owners pay their property taxes. Taxing the rich for behavior that is terrible for the environment? Yes. More of this please! www.latimes.com/california/s...
latimes.com
Bezos, Judge Judy, Rihanna: L.A. County assessor goes after celebrities' jets for unpaid taxes
L.A. County has billed hundreds of celebrities, billionaires and tech moguls accused of not paying taxes on their luxury jets.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
I never want to forget to appreciate electric cars. You can charge them up with relatively clean grid electricity and drive them just like any other car, across town or across the country. That's amazing! That has not been possible until very recently, since around 2010 or so.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Recently I was thinking about companies that failed because they didn't adapt to technological change. Think Blockbuster Video, Kodak or Borders. Then I realized Trump has a very "Blockbuster Video" mentality when it comes to clean energy technology . . .
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
You know things are not going well when headlines start with "Canada strikes back . . ." www.latimes.com/world-nation...
latimes.com
Canada strikes back at U.S. with retaliatory tariffs as trade war escalates
The tension threatened one of the world’s largest trading relationships. The new tariffs extended well beyond industrial goods, hitting everyday purchases such as seafood, cheese, clothing, cosmetics ...
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Sometimes you hear expressions of concern when people turn to AI for mental health support, especially when it ends badly. But if you're ever tried to get real mental health care, it's not that surprising. Our mental health care system sucks. It's hard to access and expensive.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Uruguay is dominating on clean, affordable electricity. Love it! open.spotify.com/episode/06mb...
open.spotify.com
He helped Uruguay decarbonize. Can he help other countries do the same?
Volts · Episode
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
At one point in my life I decided to stop flying for years. I found flying stressful and worried about its environmental impact, so I just stopped doing it. During this time I started experimenting with Amtrak in California, going up to the Central Coast, then the Bay Area . . .
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
I wish the U.S. had a high-speed rail network. It would make it so much more convenient to travel sustainably. I'm grateful for intercity bus service, Amtrak and my electric car, but it would be so cool to be able to travel faster without trashing the climate.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Since AI is such a hot topic these days I decided to watch some AI-themed films, starting with "The Matrix" films. One of these is "The Animatrix" (2003) which went straight to video the same year the last two films in the original Matrix trilogy came out. It's a series of short films actually.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
I think people should fly less because it could create pressure on the industry cut emissions and because it supports more sustainable alternatives like buses, trains and carpools. Flying less is the only thing that has any real short-run potential to cut aviation's pollution. Let me explain . . .
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
What's so remarkable about the character Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment is how he starts off so isolated, brooding and depressed. He settles on this scheme to murder the pawnbroker and then things start going materially better for him. He reconnects with a friend who has ideas for work . . .
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
The best way to stick it to oil companies is to stop driving or drive an electric car. We've got to make both of those easier by improving transit and making sure people can afford EVs. Until we do those things, oil companies will price gouge us as much as they want. www.latimes.com/environment/...
latimes.com
Energy company profits are soaring with the Iran war. Here's what California officials want to do
Sky-high earnings for oil companies and California refiners in the second quarter are renewing calls from California legislators to crack down on industry profits.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Recently I was thinking about how we can make long-distance travel, like travel of more than 100 km, sustainable. Currently we have a few greener options, like buses, trains and electric cars, but at least here in California, speeds are pretty modest and so it's not always super convenient.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Congratulations to California for getting a record-setting 50% of its electricity from solar! We've got a lot of solar and batteries on our grid now. The fight against climate disruption continues, no matter how dumb federal climate policy is under Republican rule! www.latimes.com/environment/...
latimes.com
California produced over half its May electricity from solar, a world record
New batteries to store solar electricity and low demand in May both contributed to high percentage of electricity that came from solar.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
This is funny because Trump's signature policies actually make inflation worse. Tariffs are import taxes that raise prices. The illegal War on Iran obviously spiked gasoline prices. Trump is pressuring the Fed to LOWER interest rates which tends to RAISE inflation. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
latimes.com
Trump running out of options to fix inflation, economic woes before election, experts say
The economic pain many Americans feel after years of stagnant wages and steep inflation is unlikely to lift before the November elections, and could be a major liability for Republicans, according to ...
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Glad to see California stepping up with some electric vehicle tax credits. Gasoline is expensive, pollutes the air and disrupts the climate. I definitely recommend checking out EVs if you're in the market for a car. They're just better. www.latimes.com/california/s...
latimes.com
California hopes to lure a new generation to electric cars, with help from rebates, high gas prices
California is set to roll out its own instant rebate program to assist drivers in purchasing their first new or used EV.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
The Trump Administration illegally canceled clean energy grants specifically in blue states as punishment for voting against him. Ironically, this is a very good argument to vote against anyone affiliated with the MAGA movement. www.latimes.com/environment/...
latimes.com
Trump administration targeted California and other blue states for clean energy cuts
Trump administration agreed in court documents that it targeted California and other blue states when it slashed clean energy projects last year
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I recently had a chance to visit Tijuana. It was great to experience the food, walk around the city, visit museums and practice mi Español. However, I have a critique. Tijuana needs a better bus system . . . badly. The Calafias (minibuses) just aren't cutting it.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
There is a good reason to tax oil more: burning oil adds to climate disruption and pollutes the air. We should discourage oil use and use oil tax revenue to help people transition. However, taxing oil because oil companies are "too profitable" doesn't add up for me. www.npr.org/2026/07/16/n...
npr.org
Oil companies are making billions. In the U.S., calls to tax their windfall are growing
Higher oil prices since the Iran war began mean many oil companies have brought in excess profits. Some U.S. lawmakers want to tax those windfall profits and give the money to lower-income Americans.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
This is wild: the U.S. requires ethanol to mixed with gasoline and this INCREASES greenhouse gas emissions. While this policy has air quality benefits and improves gasoline engine performance, ethanol is NOT a climate solution. drawdown.org/explorer/use...
drawdown.org
Use Corn Ethanol
The Use Corn-Based Ethanol solution is coming soon.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
About 22% of new vehicle sales in the U.S. are either electric, hybrid, or plug-in hybrid. In one sense it's not bad considering none of this was available prior to 2000. On the other hand, these numbers need to go up a lot if we're going to stop disrupting the climate. www.eia.gov/todayinenerg...
eia.gov
Electric vehicle sales fell as hybrid vehicle sales continued to rise in 2025 - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Hear me out: Americans should eat less beef. Eating less beef has two major advantages: 1) beef is REALLY bad for the environment so eating less reduces the damage and 2) Americans tend to eat WAY more beef, a red meat high in saturated fat, than is actually healthy. drawdown.org/explorer/imp...
drawdown.org
Improve Diets
Improve Diets is a Highly Recommended climate solution. Reducing ruminant meat consumption reduces methane production and pressure to destroy tropical forests.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
This story underscores that the price elasticity of demand for oil or gas (i.e., the percent decrease on quantity demanded for each 1% increase in price) is larger in magnitude (absolute value) in the long run. In the long run people can do more to adjust to high prices. www.npr.org/2026/07/09/n...
npr.org
The Iran war has pushed some countries away from oil and toward clean energy
The new round of bombing in the Middle East has underscored the precarity of relying on fossil fuels. The war is speeding up the global transition to EVs, solar and batteries, experts say.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
I'm disappointed that Trump is doubling down on his illegal War on Iran. This war is unnecessary, immoral and not in America's interest. All of the previous disagreements we had with Iran are still unresolved, but now more people are dead and energy costs are up. www.latimes.com/world-nation...
latimes.com
Iran ceasefire is 'over,' Trump says, threatening more strikes
Iran has targeted American military sites in the Gulf after the U.S. launched strikes on several places in Iran and reinstated sanctions on its oil sales.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
This site called SHIFT has some great ideas for taking climate action. You can take action as a citizen (e.g., vote), professional (speak up at work), investor (divest from fossil fuels), consumer (cut down on beef) or role model (start climate conversations). jointheshift.earth
jointheshift.earth
Home
Your guide to meaningful climate action is here! Take the quiz and discover your climate superpowers.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
One thing I love about my electric car is how it turns road trips and intercity travel into positive social and environmental impact. You drive with no tailpipe emissions and support the EV charging network, which makes the network stronger and helps others transition.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
The Supreme Court did the right thing by recognizing the obvious: birthright citizenship is a Constitutional right that can't be erased with an executive order. The decision was only 6-3 though, which shows how extreme the conservative wing of the court has become. www.aclu.org/news/immigra...
aclu.org
Supreme Court Rules to Protect Birthright Citizenship
The ruling held that Trump's effort to get rid of birthright citizenship was unconstitutional. President Donald Trump attempted to attack birthright citizenship. We defeated him in court, proving his ...
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
I recently finished "Parable of the Talents" by Octavia Butler. It's a sequel to "Parable of the Sower." Both books imagine a future America where things are falling apart and meditate on the nature of religion. Lauren Olamena's new Earthseed religion, that holds "God is change" marches onward.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
It's wild that companies are trying to deploy autonomous freight trucks. The article says there are about 130,000 people driving these trucks in California or about 0.8% of all jobs in the state. Plus we're already seeing autonomous taxis in our bigger cities. www.latimes.com/business/sto...
latimes.com
This startup wants to bring driverless freight trucks to California's roads, but drivers are pushing back
Founded in 2025, Humble Robotics is building self-driving freight trucks with no steering wheel, driver's seat or gas pedal.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
The rule is when America starts an illegal war, as we did in Iran, America loses that war. Our Constitution is weaker since Trump violated it by bypassing Congress. Thousands of people are dead. Gas prices are up, more national debt, Iran's regime survived. We lost. www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
latimes.com
Long list of U.S. concessions to Iran raises specter of a 'lost war'
Details of the framework peace agreement were finally shared with the public, revealing a raft of compromises with Tehran long opposed by Republicans.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Project Drawdown has updated its library of climate solutions and it's definitely worth a look! One of the really interesting changes is they rate the strategies based on how effective and realistic they are. drawdown.org/explorer?sec...
drawdown.org
Drawdown Explorer™
We know what we need to do: stop climate change as quickly as possible. Now, with the Drawdown Explorer, we know how to do it.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
I try not to focus on the negative, but the Trump Administration is sabotaging offshore wind projects, and that SUCKS. Wind power is clean, cheap and reliable (just add batteries). I'm optimistic for it in the long run . . . once our country isn't run by sociopaths. www.latimes.com/environment/...
latimes.com
Trump administration pays $765M to kill more offshore wind projects, including one off California
The Trump administration on Wednesday said it will pay developer Invenergy $765 million to walk away from four U.S. wind leases, including one off the coast of California, and invest instead in geothe...
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Is it ethical to fly, given that it makes climate change worse? It sounds like a simple question on the surface, but I've been wrestling with it for years. I think it depends on the reason for flying, the characteristics of the flight, and how you weigh individual versus collective responsibility.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
"Most people at the pumps agreed: Something needs to change." Yes, you need to stop buying gasoline. Seriously, the Chevy Bolt EV is like $28,000 new. Just . . . stop buying gas. In the long run it's very doable. The real problem is the short run. www.latimes.com/business/sto...
latimes.com
Fed up with the price of the pump, L.A. drivers are finding ways to adjust
Californians are facing high gas prices that are cutting into their summer spending plans. Some are cutting back on other expenses or exploring side hustles.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
I usually steer clear of red meat, because it's unhealthy and bad for the environment, but tonight I was in a "beef burger or food waste" situation, so I ate one. I decided to mitigate the unhealthyness a bit buy not putting cheese on it, since both beef and cheese are high in saturated fat.
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David Barboza @sosuburbia.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
I've been listening to the audiobook of "Meat Me Halfway" by Brian Kateman. So far it's been pretty interesting. He claims to have invented the word "reducetarian" and advocates for both eating less meat (but not necessarily zero meat) and for reducing the harms of factory farming.
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