Owen Biesel
@owenbiesel.bsky.social
Math prof, dad, gardener, knitter, cyclist, community member, friendly introvert. he/him 🏳️🌈
Also on mastodon as @[email protected]
Also on mastodon as @[email protected]
Reposted by Owen Biesel
For my Chicago neighbors, here's the petition to sign to oppose the delivery robots: nosidewalkbots.org
November 30, 2025 at 2:42 PM
For my Chicago neighbors, here's the petition to sign to oppose the delivery robots: nosidewalkbots.org
Reposted by Owen Biesel
Remember this picture, & others like it, every time you hear someone in your city say "we're not Amsterdam."
This was #Amsterdam in the 1970s.
Many of the cities we admire made better choices regarding cars in the past. and are still making better choices today.
Better choices instead of excuses.
This was #Amsterdam in the 1970s.
Many of the cities we admire made better choices regarding cars in the past. and are still making better choices today.
Better choices instead of excuses.
November 30, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Remember this picture, & others like it, every time you hear someone in your city say "we're not Amsterdam."
This was #Amsterdam in the 1970s.
Many of the cities we admire made better choices regarding cars in the past. and are still making better choices today.
Better choices instead of excuses.
This was #Amsterdam in the 1970s.
Many of the cities we admire made better choices regarding cars in the past. and are still making better choices today.
Better choices instead of excuses.
Reposted by Owen Biesel
This piece is as good as people say it is. Read it to appreciate that writing isn't just about content, but style. AI can't do this.
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:10 AM
This piece is as good as people say it is. Read it to appreciate that writing isn't just about content, but style. AI can't do this.
Reposted by Owen Biesel
I have been reading all the "students these days" threads from various sides and I have an essay's worth of thoughts -- there's a lot of complexity and heterogeneity that is hard to communicate on social media. There are a couple of things I will say here though. 1/
November 29, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I have been reading all the "students these days" threads from various sides and I have an essay's worth of thoughts -- there's a lot of complexity and heterogeneity that is hard to communicate on social media. There are a couple of things I will say here though. 1/
Reposted by Owen Biesel
It’s #BlackFridayParking day, so we took a visit to the Danbury Fair Mall in Danbury, CT.
Even on the busiest day of the year—a day where the front side of the mall is packed—the back side and parking garage has more than enough space!
Even on the busiest day of the year—a day where the front side of the mall is packed—the back side and parking garage has more than enough space!
November 28, 2025 at 7:10 PM
It’s #BlackFridayParking day, so we took a visit to the Danbury Fair Mall in Danbury, CT.
Even on the busiest day of the year—a day where the front side of the mall is packed—the back side and parking garage has more than enough space!
Even on the busiest day of the year—a day where the front side of the mall is packed—the back side and parking garage has more than enough space!
This is definitely a factor in our household. Other questions include: Can you learn as you play your first game? How easy is it to remember from the game design/theming what is allowed? Are there default strategies that must be explained with the rules or there will be no hope of winning?
When evaluating whether or not a board game is "good," how much do you weigh "ease of learning how to play it"?
On hour 2 of Earthborn Rangers and my great friend/guide through the game just realized we've been playing it wrong the entire time...
On hour 2 of Earthborn Rangers and my great friend/guide through the game just realized we've been playing it wrong the entire time...
November 29, 2025 at 12:21 PM
This is definitely a factor in our household. Other questions include: Can you learn as you play your first game? How easy is it to remember from the game design/theming what is allowed? Are there default strategies that must be explained with the rules or there will be no hope of winning?
Reposted by Owen Biesel
Another example of a weird American domestic decorating & design taboo: no depictions of cars allowed, except in man caves & boys' bedrooms. Otherwise, landscapes & cityscapes must be car-free to earn a place on the wall or your holiday cards.
USPS 250th Anniversary Forever Stamps are a model for walkable communities, urbanism, and car-free neighborhoods.
In this essay (1/250)
In this essay (1/250)
November 28, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Another example of a weird American domestic decorating & design taboo: no depictions of cars allowed, except in man caves & boys' bedrooms. Otherwise, landscapes & cityscapes must be car-free to earn a place on the wall or your holiday cards.
Reposted by Owen Biesel
yeah I feel a very high sense of alarm about what the "incapable of loving our country" goalposts are going to include
quite certainly they're going to try very hard to use it on elected Democrats which is at least one reason I feel like we need to be TALKING ABOUT IMPEACHMENT WAY MORE THAN WE ARE
quite certainly they're going to try very hard to use it on elected Democrats which is at least one reason I feel like we need to be TALKING ABOUT IMPEACHMENT WAY MORE THAN WE ARE
In case you thought you were safe bc you aren't one of his currently identified enemies to kidnap and deport, take a look at this line:
"and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country..."
No one is safe when a bully is in charge.
"and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country..."
No one is safe when a bully is in charge.
November 29, 2025 at 12:26 AM
yeah I feel a very high sense of alarm about what the "incapable of loving our country" goalposts are going to include
quite certainly they're going to try very hard to use it on elected Democrats which is at least one reason I feel like we need to be TALKING ABOUT IMPEACHMENT WAY MORE THAN WE ARE
quite certainly they're going to try very hard to use it on elected Democrats which is at least one reason I feel like we need to be TALKING ABOUT IMPEACHMENT WAY MORE THAN WE ARE
Reposted by Owen Biesel
It’s infuriating to me that I need to evaluate media to determine whether it’s AI generated now. The great “time saver” technology wastes incalculable time and energy for people who want to retain their grasp on reality
November 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
It’s infuriating to me that I need to evaluate media to determine whether it’s AI generated now. The great “time saver” technology wastes incalculable time and energy for people who want to retain their grasp on reality
Reposted by Owen Biesel
Almost 3 years of occasional work in less than 1 minute, now that’s what I call efficiency
November 28, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Almost 3 years of occasional work in less than 1 minute, now that’s what I call efficiency
Reposted by Owen Biesel
#BlackFriday at Target in Ames, Iowa
Our minimum parking requirements are unnecessary.
#BlackFridayParking
Our minimum parking requirements are unnecessary.
#BlackFridayParking
November 28, 2025 at 1:52 PM
#BlackFriday at Target in Ames, Iowa
Our minimum parking requirements are unnecessary.
#BlackFridayParking
Our minimum parking requirements are unnecessary.
#BlackFridayParking
Reposted by Owen Biesel
Black Friday parking sucks, so let's make sure parking mandates become of a thing of the past #BlackFridayParking #ldnont #strongtowns
November 30, 2024 at 7:06 PM
Black Friday parking sucks, so let's make sure parking mandates become of a thing of the past #BlackFridayParking #ldnont #strongtowns
Reposted by Owen Biesel
#BlackFridayParking Every excess retail parking space is a failure for land use policy, the climate, wildlife, the economy, municipal finances, and public health. Black Friday reveals how big retailers build too much parking. Let's end parking minimums and retrofit suburbia.
November 25, 2024 at 4:04 PM
#BlackFridayParking Every excess retail parking space is a failure for land use policy, the climate, wildlife, the economy, municipal finances, and public health. Black Friday reveals how big retailers build too much parking. Let's end parking minimums and retrofit suburbia.
Reposted by Owen Biesel
Have you ever seen a bike lane sweeper - pulled behind a bike?
Volunteers in Kirkland have a new tool that attaches to the back of an e-bike. It's good for protected bike lanes, sidewalks, and narrow trails.
My @kuow.org story: www.kuow.org/stories/clea...
Volunteers in Kirkland have a new tool that attaches to the back of an e-bike. It's good for protected bike lanes, sidewalks, and narrow trails.
My @kuow.org story: www.kuow.org/stories/clea...
November 28, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Have you ever seen a bike lane sweeper - pulled behind a bike?
Volunteers in Kirkland have a new tool that attaches to the back of an e-bike. It's good for protected bike lanes, sidewalks, and narrow trails.
My @kuow.org story: www.kuow.org/stories/clea...
Volunteers in Kirkland have a new tool that attaches to the back of an e-bike. It's good for protected bike lanes, sidewalks, and narrow trails.
My @kuow.org story: www.kuow.org/stories/clea...
Reposted by Owen Biesel
And then there were FOUR 🎉🎉 Congratulations to Connecticut, which earlier this week became the 4th state to pass statewide Parking Reform in 2025: bsky.app/profile/ctpa...
Congratulations to IL on becoming the third state to pass state level Parking Reform in 2025!
We’ve still got CT & NC on the clock which would get us to 5 in one year! Amazing work by @parkingreform.org & many others 🙌🙌
We’ve still got CT & NC on the clock which would get us to 5 in one year! Amazing work by @parkingreform.org & many others 🙌🙌
Also contains parking reform! This is a preliminary map of Chicagoland based on the People Over Parking Act provision.
It would also apply downstate though!
It would also apply downstate though!
November 28, 2025 at 4:59 PM
And then there were FOUR 🎉🎉 Congratulations to Connecticut, which earlier this week became the 4th state to pass statewide Parking Reform in 2025: bsky.app/profile/ctpa...
Reposted by Owen Biesel
In Seattle our DOTs would be reminding you that it’s *your job* to shovel off their sidewalk too
"A city's priorities become as clear as the spaces they choose to maintain in the winter."
Creative done with @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social
Creative done with @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social
November 28, 2025 at 5:10 PM
In Seattle our DOTs would be reminding you that it’s *your job* to shovel off their sidewalk too
Reposted by Owen Biesel
Every prompt to chatbot software is “generate me some text.” If it generated you some text, it performed its function correctly. It never lies, it never wants anything, it’s text generating software that generates text.
Not wanting to disappoint you so much that it lies is the last quality I want in a computer.
November 28, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Every prompt to chatbot software is “generate me some text.” If it generated you some text, it performed its function correctly. It never lies, it never wants anything, it’s text generating software that generates text.
Reposted by Owen Biesel
I don’t know if anyone else notices or cares, but when I see a presentation in which the speaker uses obviously generated-AI images to illustrate their slides, it makes me immediately less confident in whatever other content they’re presenting.
November 28, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I don’t know if anyone else notices or cares, but when I see a presentation in which the speaker uses obviously generated-AI images to illustrate their slides, it makes me immediately less confident in whatever other content they’re presenting.
Reposted by Owen Biesel
Every time I get behind the wheel of a car, I remember that I am wielding a weapon that can cause untold destruction, I wish more drivers thought about that, especially the ones that cavalierly almost run me over on a regular basis.
Ok, sure, let’s call it a shared responsibility, but let’s apportion that responsibility proportional to how much capacity for destruction each party in the equation has.
When a pedestrian is not paying attention and walks into something, no one dies. When a driver is not paying attention and drives into something people are often injured/killed. How long will it fucking take for society to STOP EQUATING THE TWO?
November 28, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Every time I get behind the wheel of a car, I remember that I am wielding a weapon that can cause untold destruction, I wish more drivers thought about that, especially the ones that cavalierly almost run me over on a regular basis.
Reposted by Owen Biesel
Tomorrow is #BlackFridayParking!
Join us in highlighting why costly mandatory parking requirements are unnecessary by showcasing all the excess parking on the busiest shopping day of the year.
Take some pics and post them with the #BlackFridayParking tag!
parkingreform.org/2025/11/19/b...
Join us in highlighting why costly mandatory parking requirements are unnecessary by showcasing all the excess parking on the busiest shopping day of the year.
Take some pics and post them with the #BlackFridayParking tag!
parkingreform.org/2025/11/19/b...
Black Friday Parking - Parking Reform Network
The idea is simple: showcase that even on the busiest shopping day of the year, plenty of parking spaces remain unused, supposedly when demand is at its peak.
parkingreform.org
November 27, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Tomorrow is #BlackFridayParking!
Join us in highlighting why costly mandatory parking requirements are unnecessary by showcasing all the excess parking on the busiest shopping day of the year.
Take some pics and post them with the #BlackFridayParking tag!
parkingreform.org/2025/11/19/b...
Join us in highlighting why costly mandatory parking requirements are unnecessary by showcasing all the excess parking on the busiest shopping day of the year.
Take some pics and post them with the #BlackFridayParking tag!
parkingreform.org/2025/11/19/b...
Reposted by Owen Biesel
If your family really sucks this holiday season, I am your new family and I think you're great and deserve love, a job, shelter and safety.
November 27, 2025 at 8:44 AM
If your family really sucks this holiday season, I am your new family and I think you're great and deserve love, a job, shelter and safety.
Reposted by Owen Biesel
As you’re preparing for your Thanksgiving meal, remember the skilled work it took to get that food to your grocery store.
Tell us your favorite Thanksgiving dish, and we can share some of what we know about the work behind the ingredients.
Tell us your favorite Thanksgiving dish, and we can share some of what we know about the work behind the ingredients.
November 26, 2025 at 6:03 PM
As you’re preparing for your Thanksgiving meal, remember the skilled work it took to get that food to your grocery store.
Tell us your favorite Thanksgiving dish, and we can share some of what we know about the work behind the ingredients.
Tell us your favorite Thanksgiving dish, and we can share some of what we know about the work behind the ingredients.
Reposted by Owen Biesel
Almost forgot I made this video yesterday
November 26, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Almost forgot I made this video yesterday
Reposted by Owen Biesel
#Montreal 's just leap-frogged other cities in North America by opening the REM.
Automated. Electric. Frequent (2.5 minute headways). Fast (100 km/h plus). Cheap to build. (One tenth the price of other systems)
And really fun to ride...
🧵
Automated. Electric. Frequent (2.5 minute headways). Fast (100 km/h plus). Cheap to build. (One tenth the price of other systems)
And really fun to ride...
🧵
November 26, 2025 at 2:17 PM
#Montreal 's just leap-frogged other cities in North America by opening the REM.
Automated. Electric. Frequent (2.5 minute headways). Fast (100 km/h plus). Cheap to build. (One tenth the price of other systems)
And really fun to ride...
🧵
Automated. Electric. Frequent (2.5 minute headways). Fast (100 km/h plus). Cheap to build. (One tenth the price of other systems)
And really fun to ride...
🧵
Reposted by Owen Biesel
Ladies and Gentlemen, we did it! Parking Mandates for new homes have been abolished in Connecticut.
We're, piece by piece, relegalizing the traditional Connecticut town center. The momentum is real
We're, piece by piece, relegalizing the traditional Connecticut town center. The momentum is real
November 26, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Ladies and Gentlemen, we did it! Parking Mandates for new homes have been abolished in Connecticut.
We're, piece by piece, relegalizing the traditional Connecticut town center. The momentum is real
We're, piece by piece, relegalizing the traditional Connecticut town center. The momentum is real