neil21
@neil21.bsky.social
Renewables SaaS PM by day, Urbanism by night. Scot in #newwest
Reposted by neil21
Come celebrate this year's successes & make plans for what's next for housing abundance. Our holiday party is Monday (Dec 8) at the Alibi Room, starts @ 5.
See you there! RSVP link in thread
See you there! RSVP link in thread
December 4, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Come celebrate this year's successes & make plans for what's next for housing abundance. Our holiday party is Monday (Dec 8) at the Alibi Room, starts @ 5.
See you there! RSVP link in thread
See you there! RSVP link in thread
Reposted by neil21
Reposted by neil21
john rustad right now
two knights are standing in the woods and one of them is saying i 've had worse .
ALT: two knights are standing in the woods and one of them is saying i 've had worse .
media.tenor.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:04 PM
john rustad right now
Ski resorts are lovely. Why aren’t all snowy towns in BC lovely?
Flashback: "Why Winter Cities Need to Reconsider Car Dependence" www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFkI...
Why Winter Cities Need to Reconsider Car Dependence
YouTube video by Oh The Urbanity!
www.youtube.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Ski resorts are lovely. Why aren’t all snowy towns in BC lovely?
Reposted by neil21
ah, is this real?
If so I may need to invent entirely new swear words...
If so I may need to invent entirely new swear words...
Vancouver spent millions of taxpayer dollars on VIP tickets and luxury suites for FIFA World Cup 26.
But all the invoices are censored.
open.substack.com/pub/bobmacki...
But all the invoices are censored.
open.substack.com/pub/bobmacki...
Exclusive: How many World Cup tickets, suites and lounges did Vancouver city hall buy?
All dollar figures and quantities censored from invoices obtained by theBreaker.news
open.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:03 AM
ah, is this real?
If so I may need to invent entirely new swear words...
If so I may need to invent entirely new swear words...
Reposted by neil21
I’m just a foreign policy wonk, standing in front of the GOP, asking them to read at least one fucking book about the history of US interventions in Latin America. www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
December 3, 2025 at 10:15 PM
I’m just a foreign policy wonk, standing in front of the GOP, asking them to read at least one fucking book about the history of US interventions in Latin America. www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
6 storeys now allowed on 8000 (eg 50x160) sqft corner lots.
Still no #socialstair #sharedstair family #sunshinesuites #singlestair #singleegress but it’s teed up.
Still no #socialstair #sharedstair family #sunshinesuites #singlestair #singleegress but it’s teed up.
December 4, 2025 at 12:20 AM
6 storeys now allowed on 8000 (eg 50x160) sqft corner lots.
Still no #socialstair #sharedstair family #sunshinesuites #singlestair #singleegress but it’s teed up.
Still no #socialstair #sharedstair family #sunshinesuites #singlestair #singleegress but it’s teed up.
Reposted by neil21
In 1978, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors downzoned the city, banning multifamily homes in many areas and sparking a decades-long affordability crisis.
47 years later, on a 7–4 vote, they passed the Family Zoning Plan to finally begin to undo that mistake.
The times, they are a-changin’!
47 years later, on a 7–4 vote, they passed the Family Zoning Plan to finally begin to undo that mistake.
The times, they are a-changin’!
December 3, 2025 at 1:16 AM
In 1978, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors downzoned the city, banning multifamily homes in many areas and sparking a decades-long affordability crisis.
47 years later, on a 7–4 vote, they passed the Family Zoning Plan to finally begin to undo that mistake.
The times, they are a-changin’!
47 years later, on a 7–4 vote, they passed the Family Zoning Plan to finally begin to undo that mistake.
The times, they are a-changin’!
On Margins is back. @craigmod.com interviews @wdavidmarx.bsky.social on the latter’s cultural history of the 21st Century, “Blank Space”.
In a world of digital abundance: “Scarcity drives value, not exogenous preference.”
overcast.fm/+AAJG_M7-IqM
Pairs well with Adam Curtis’ oeuvre.
In a world of digital abundance: “Scarcity drives value, not exogenous preference.”
overcast.fm/+AAJG_M7-IqM
Pairs well with Adam Curtis’ oeuvre.
W. David Marx — Blank Space: A Cultural History of the 21st Century — On Margins
Guest & Book W. David Marx — Website | Newsletter: Culture: An Owner’s Manual | Twitter/X Blank Space: A Cultural History of the 21st Century — Penguin Random House | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodrea...
overcast.fm
December 3, 2025 at 8:58 PM
On Margins is back. @craigmod.com interviews @wdavidmarx.bsky.social on the latter’s cultural history of the 21st Century, “Blank Space”.
In a world of digital abundance: “Scarcity drives value, not exogenous preference.”
overcast.fm/+AAJG_M7-IqM
Pairs well with Adam Curtis’ oeuvre.
In a world of digital abundance: “Scarcity drives value, not exogenous preference.”
overcast.fm/+AAJG_M7-IqM
Pairs well with Adam Curtis’ oeuvre.
Reposted by neil21
A punchy new book by W. David Marx, explains why 21st century culture feels samey and dull. Mr Marx makes a trenchant case, but he—and maybe you—are too gloomy
Has culture in the 21st century become samey and dull?
Yes, argues a provocative new book. It is half right
econ.st
November 12, 2025 at 6:40 PM
A punchy new book by W. David Marx, explains why 21st century culture feels samey and dull. Mr Marx makes a trenchant case, but he—and maybe you—are too gloomy
Reposted by neil21
BLANK SPACE: A Cultural History of the 21st Century
OUT TODAY 11/18/25
culture.ghost.io/my-new-book-...
OUT TODAY 11/18/25
culture.ghost.io/my-new-book-...
My New Book, Blank Space, is Out Today
I wrote — perhaps “inadvisably” — a cultural history of the first 24.5 years of the 21st century
My third book, Blank Space: A Cultural History of the 21st Century, is out today from Viking Books. (I...
culture.ghost.io
November 18, 2025 at 12:39 PM
BLANK SPACE: A Cultural History of the 21st Century
OUT TODAY 11/18/25
culture.ghost.io/my-new-book-...
OUT TODAY 11/18/25
culture.ghost.io/my-new-book-...
Reposted by neil21
"There’s a ruthlessness that’s taken hold across all cultural making. Everything turned into a casino, 'traps' galore. Billions as the only goal. Leave “nothing on the table.” Epicurean maximizing. That sort of thing. AI now turning solid ground liquid for the next decade."
craigmod.com/roden/109/
craigmod.com/roden/109/
Blank Spaces, Radicalized Offlineness, Curious Protagonists — Roden newsletter issue 109
David Marx' new book, protesting being online all the time, thinking about good films and books
craigmod.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:58 AM
"There’s a ruthlessness that’s taken hold across all cultural making. Everything turned into a casino, 'traps' galore. Billions as the only goal. Leave “nothing on the table.” Epicurean maximizing. That sort of thing. AI now turning solid ground liquid for the next decade."
craigmod.com/roden/109/
craigmod.com/roden/109/
Reposted by neil21
London is fast becoming a cycling city. As each new piece in the network appears—which has more than quadrupled from 90 to 431 km since 2016—so do new cyclists. Its infrastructure now sees a stunning 1.5 million daily users—a 43% spike since 2019—moving nearly half as many people as the Tube below.🧵
December 3, 2025 at 5:07 PM
London is fast becoming a cycling city. As each new piece in the network appears—which has more than quadrupled from 90 to 431 km since 2016—so do new cyclists. Its infrastructure now sees a stunning 1.5 million daily users—a 43% spike since 2019—moving nearly half as many people as the Tube below.🧵
Reposted by neil21
Pisses me the fuck off that sylvanian families are called ‘calico critters’ in the US. Like genuinely rattled every time I see it
December 3, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Pisses me the fuck off that sylvanian families are called ‘calico critters’ in the US. Like genuinely rattled every time I see it
Reposted by neil21
Stuff like this require a permit from the Feds IIRC. Canada should not be in the business of war machines to begin with but this makes us even more complicit, in the American war on non-white people, than we already are.
ICE ordering fleet of 20 armoured vehicles from Canadian firm | CBC News
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement earmarked millions of dollars for a bulk order for 20 armoured vehicles from Canadian defence manufacturer Roshel that are built to resist bullets and bomb bla...
www.cbc.ca
December 3, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Stuff like this require a permit from the Feds IIRC. Canada should not be in the business of war machines to begin with but this makes us even more complicit, in the American war on non-white people, than we already are.
The dynamic in #newwest is a little different:
Council: we declare…
Also council: therefore denser low car public space
A couple of noisy people: but muh parking
The community: [silence] politics is boring
Opposition council: [rabble-rouse]
The community: an election? Change!
The community: o no
Council: we declare…
Also council: therefore denser low car public space
A couple of noisy people: but muh parking
The community: [silence] politics is boring
Opposition council: [rabble-rouse]
The community: an election? Change!
The community: o no
City: We unanimously declare a climate emergency! We must make change no matter what the cost, humanity's survival depends on it!
Community: Can we put in a protected bike lane to get more people cycling.
City: No, we'll lose parking spots.
Community: Can we put in a protected bike lane to get more people cycling.
City: No, we'll lose parking spots.
December 3, 2025 at 4:30 PM
The dynamic in #newwest is a little different:
Council: we declare…
Also council: therefore denser low car public space
A couple of noisy people: but muh parking
The community: [silence] politics is boring
Opposition council: [rabble-rouse]
The community: an election? Change!
The community: o no
Council: we declare…
Also council: therefore denser low car public space
A couple of noisy people: but muh parking
The community: [silence] politics is boring
Opposition council: [rabble-rouse]
The community: an election? Change!
The community: o no
Reposted by neil21
Failing to deliver on housing will be disaster for Carney and for Canada. The housing crisis is serious and is impacting the futures of many people.
Claiming that the private sector will pick up the slack is the mantra of Paul Martin who put us in this disastrous slide.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Claiming that the private sector will pick up the slack is the mantra of Paul Martin who put us in this disastrous slide.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Feds to reduce housing spending by half, build only 26,000 homes: Budget watchdog | CBC News
Spending on housing programs will decline by more than half over the next four years with the federal government’s $13-billion signature housing initiative leading to the construction of just 26,000 n...
www.cbc.ca
December 2, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Failing to deliver on housing will be disaster for Carney and for Canada. The housing crisis is serious and is impacting the futures of many people.
Claiming that the private sector will pick up the slack is the mantra of Paul Martin who put us in this disastrous slide.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Claiming that the private sector will pick up the slack is the mantra of Paul Martin who put us in this disastrous slide.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
I heard bees, like humans, sense distance by the amount of different stuff they pass.
December 2, 2025 at 9:50 PM
I heard bees, like humans, sense distance by the amount of different stuff they pass.
Reposted by neil21
YouTube version: youtube.com/shorts/g_78e...
🚗 The illusion of a parking lot: Supermarket design creates the illusion that you’re parked closer.
YouTube video by Urban Cycling Institute
youtube.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:49 PM
YouTube version: youtube.com/shorts/g_78e...
Reposted by neil21
Also, if you go to a football game, you don't expect to drive your car into the stand.
December 2, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Also, if you go to a football game, you don't expect to drive your car into the stand.
Reposted by neil21
If you go to a suburban mall, you will probably have to park outside and walk in. You don’t expect to drive in to your store.
But for some reason in urban areas it’s considered an injustice if you can’t park directly in front of the store you want to go to.
But for some reason in urban areas it’s considered an injustice if you can’t park directly in front of the store you want to go to.
December 2, 2025 at 7:25 PM
If you go to a suburban mall, you will probably have to park outside and walk in. You don’t expect to drive in to your store.
But for some reason in urban areas it’s considered an injustice if you can’t park directly in front of the store you want to go to.
But for some reason in urban areas it’s considered an injustice if you can’t park directly in front of the store you want to go to.
Reposted by neil21
For scale: 13,000 affordable units over 5 years. That's 2,600 units a year *nation wide*.
Our Housing Needs Assessment shows we need 2,700 non-market homes in #NewWest alone over the next 5 years.
www.newwestcity.ca/housing/hous...
Our Housing Needs Assessment shows we need 2,700 non-market homes in #NewWest alone over the next 5 years.
www.newwestcity.ca/housing/hous...
Housing Needs Report
Test
www.newwestcity.ca
December 2, 2025 at 9:01 PM
For scale: 13,000 affordable units over 5 years. That's 2,600 units a year *nation wide*.
Our Housing Needs Assessment shows we need 2,700 non-market homes in #NewWest alone over the next 5 years.
www.newwestcity.ca/housing/hous...
Our Housing Needs Assessment shows we need 2,700 non-market homes in #NewWest alone over the next 5 years.
www.newwestcity.ca/housing/hous...
Reposted by neil21
Looks like no help from the Feds on Housing:
"That modest contribution... would lead to the construction of just 26,000 new units over the next five years, 13,000 of which would be affordable homes for low-income households — or about 3.7 per cent of the housing gap"
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
"That modest contribution... would lead to the construction of just 26,000 new units over the next five years, 13,000 of which would be affordable homes for low-income households — or about 3.7 per cent of the housing gap"
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Feds will cut over half of housing spending, build only 26,000 homes: Budget watchdog | CBC News
Spending on housing programs will decline by more than half over the next four years with the federal government’s $13-billion signature housing initiative leading to the construction of just 26,000 n...
www.cbc.ca
December 2, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Looks like no help from the Feds on Housing:
"That modest contribution... would lead to the construction of just 26,000 new units over the next five years, 13,000 of which would be affordable homes for low-income households — or about 3.7 per cent of the housing gap"
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
"That modest contribution... would lead to the construction of just 26,000 new units over the next five years, 13,000 of which would be affordable homes for low-income households — or about 3.7 per cent of the housing gap"
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
So I’m going to be in The Hague in July 2026.
I’d be interested to meet people there related to my day job: SaaS for renewable electricity investors.
Please DM me introductions.
I’d be interested to meet people there related to my day job: SaaS for renewable electricity investors.
Please DM me introductions.
December 2, 2025 at 8:20 PM
So I’m going to be in The Hague in July 2026.
I’d be interested to meet people there related to my day job: SaaS for renewable electricity investors.
Please DM me introductions.
I’d be interested to meet people there related to my day job: SaaS for renewable electricity investors.
Please DM me introductions.
Reposted by neil21
This is how we can build up incremental, small lot, single-stair urbanism in Vancouver (and beyond).
No rezoning, limited lot consolidation.
From detached housing to walkable urban density using a predictable toolkit of single stair buildings + zoning.
No rezoning, limited lot consolidation.
From detached housing to walkable urban density using a predictable toolkit of single stair buildings + zoning.
December 2, 2025 at 7:26 PM
This is how we can build up incremental, small lot, single-stair urbanism in Vancouver (and beyond).
No rezoning, limited lot consolidation.
From detached housing to walkable urban density using a predictable toolkit of single stair buildings + zoning.
No rezoning, limited lot consolidation.
From detached housing to walkable urban density using a predictable toolkit of single stair buildings + zoning.