Thom McVeigh
@thomasmcveigh.com
He/Him. Ottawa based. Aging punk. Anarchist and weird. On the left in all things. Working on it. I drink and I know things about drinks.
Reposted by Thom McVeigh
Santa Bloc! Santa Bloc! Santa Bloc!
“The Robins deposited some groceries in a public square at the foot of a Christmas tree on Tuesday evening, adding that the rest would be distributed through community food banks.
“Don’t forget – the hunger justifies the means, Merry Christmas!”
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
“Don’t forget – the hunger justifies the means, Merry Christmas!”
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Santas and elves rob Montreal grocery store to ‘give food to the needy’
Group called Robins des Ruelles later said in statement stunt was intended to highlight cost of living crisis
www.theguardian.com
December 21, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Santa Bloc! Santa Bloc! Santa Bloc!
I’m in WalMart on the Saturday before Christmas, and it doesn’t feel like a terrible mistake. That’s a terrifying economic indicator.
December 20, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I’m in WalMart on the Saturday before Christmas, and it doesn’t feel like a terrible mistake. That’s a terrifying economic indicator.
Reposted by Thom McVeigh
The name "Popular Science" doesn't mean we shift our coverage depending on public opinion. It means we cover relevant subjects that are rigorously researched, reliable, and grounded in reality.
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
First-of-a-kind study shows encouraging data for trans kids who socially transition
Ninety-four percent of participants in a new study stood firm in their trans identity after five years, and "detransitioning" is rare.
www.popsci.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:16 PM
The name "Popular Science" doesn't mean we shift our coverage depending on public opinion. It means we cover relevant subjects that are rigorously researched, reliable, and grounded in reality.
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
And trans lives are grounded in reality.
We see y'all. No matter what.
www.popsci.com/science/tran...
Reposted by Thom McVeigh
You go back and look at my early cartoons, you see that I never bought into the techno-utopian vision of the internet, because I had actually met human beings.
December 14, 2025 at 1:10 PM
You go back and look at my early cartoons, you see that I never bought into the techno-utopian vision of the internet, because I had actually met human beings.
Am I the only one who gets home from the gym and discovers brown paper towels bunched up in my pocket from cleaning the equipment, or do you all remember to toss it out every time?
December 8, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Am I the only one who gets home from the gym and discovers brown paper towels bunched up in my pocket from cleaning the equipment, or do you all remember to toss it out every time?
Reposted by Thom McVeigh
If your choice is between an existential risk to your organisation, vs being a fascist collaborator, and you make the difficult choice to be a collaborator...
...then you are still a collaborator.
...then you are still a collaborator.
Like, I'm sorry the fascists are giving you difficult choices. But that's what fascists fucking do. The only legit answer is "fuck you make me". The only answer that shows you have actual fucking principles not preferences is "fuck you make me". And that sucks. But here we are.
December 3, 2025 at 8:55 AM
If your choice is between an existential risk to your organisation, vs being a fascist collaborator, and you make the difficult choice to be a collaborator...
...then you are still a collaborator.
...then you are still a collaborator.
Reposted by Thom McVeigh
Exactly this: and I’d add that in #OttCity we don’t have a sprawl emergency but vote to anyway; we don’t have an arena emergency but voted to spend our money on that instead of dealing with the real challenges we face.
We face a climate emergency, a housing/affordabikity/homelessness emergency, a public health emergency, an equity emergency, an infrastructure cost emergency, all tied to too low densities, not enough housing, & far too much car dependency.
What we DON’T face is a “community character” emergency.
What we DON’T face is a “community character” emergency.
Despite a well-recognized housing emergency in Puget Sounds, cities continue to wield their emergency powers in ways that are related to...anything but that crisis.
A latest example: Bellevue is considering an emergency control tonight to protect the "character" of Old Bellevue from development.
A latest example: Bellevue is considering an emergency control tonight to protect the "character" of Old Bellevue from development.
December 3, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Exactly this: and I’d add that in #OttCity we don’t have a sprawl emergency but vote to anyway; we don’t have an arena emergency but voted to spend our money on that instead of dealing with the real challenges we face.
Reposted by Thom McVeigh
There's enough inaccurate or concerning information in the way in which @en.ottawa.ca is communicating about the 2026 Budget that I felt it should be addressed. And it's the concept of $252M in "savings" that I want to talk about, because this information is being used falsely. 1/
#OttBudget 2026 invests in the services we rely on every day. Through service reviews and continuous improvement, we have realized more than $252 million in savings during this Term of Council.
One example of a service improvement is the redesigned Open Ottawa platform.
1/5
One example of a service improvement is the redesigned Open Ottawa platform.
1/5
December 3, 2025 at 3:25 AM
There's enough inaccurate or concerning information in the way in which @en.ottawa.ca is communicating about the 2026 Budget that I felt it should be addressed. And it's the concept of $252M in "savings" that I want to talk about, because this information is being used falsely. 1/
November 26, 2025 at 8:29 PM
*stares round at the plants, books, obsolete cables, craft ceramics, and slightly messiness and feels seen*
Twitter accounts are based in Russia. BlueSky accounts are based in homes with, frankly, too many books, plants, obsolete cables, and pieces of rustic pottery, that could do with a bit of a tidying up, to be honest.
November 24, 2025 at 4:08 AM
*stares round at the plants, books, obsolete cables, craft ceramics, and slightly messiness and feels seen*
Reposted by Thom McVeigh
WATCH: If you really STILL don’t understand how car-dependent suburbia is HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED by downtown & all the urban parts of your city, please watch this EXCELLENT video by #NotJustBikes helped by #UrbanThree & @StrongTowns.org. And then please SHARE it as much as possible. youtu.be/7Nw6qyyrTeI
November 22, 2025 at 4:57 PM
WATCH: If you really STILL don’t understand how car-dependent suburbia is HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED by downtown & all the urban parts of your city, please watch this EXCELLENT video by #NotJustBikes helped by #UrbanThree & @StrongTowns.org. And then please SHARE it as much as possible. youtu.be/7Nw6qyyrTeI
Reposted by Thom McVeigh
The law has no claim to human respect. It has no civilizing mission; its only purpose is to protect exploitation.
- Peter Kropotkin
- Peter Kropotkin
November 23, 2025 at 12:24 PM
The law has no claim to human respect. It has no civilizing mission; its only purpose is to protect exploitation.
- Peter Kropotkin
- Peter Kropotkin
Reposted by Thom McVeigh
Bluesky has finally, quietly posted a position for a one-year remote contract Policy Lead, Trust & Safety position.
Trans people who qualify, apply here: jobs.gem.com/bluesky/am9i...
We need someone competent in this role if this place is going to survive.
Trans people who qualify, apply here: jobs.gem.com/bluesky/am9i...
We need someone competent in this role if this place is going to survive.
November 17, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Bluesky has finally, quietly posted a position for a one-year remote contract Policy Lead, Trust & Safety position.
Trans people who qualify, apply here: jobs.gem.com/bluesky/am9i...
We need someone competent in this role if this place is going to survive.
Trans people who qualify, apply here: jobs.gem.com/bluesky/am9i...
We need someone competent in this role if this place is going to survive.
Time for a two batch brew day. Stout and SMASH.
November 19, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Time for a two batch brew day. Stout and SMASH.
Reposted by Thom McVeigh
Wait..you’re saying that an opaque P3 deal where all the risk is transferred to the private sector doesn’t provide cost certainty, and is delivered late… wow.. call me shocked…. Glad we signed on to yet another P3 for Lansdowne….
O-Train Stage 2 budget cracks 5 billion dollars as delays and legal fees push up cost #ottpoli #ottnews
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
O-Train Stage 2 budget cracks $5B as delays and legal fees pile up | CBC News
The city is asking for more than $150 million in extra funding for the O-Train next year as delays and legal fees push up costs, while a contingency buffer needs to be padded again.
www.cbc.ca
November 19, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Wait..you’re saying that an opaque P3 deal where all the risk is transferred to the private sector doesn’t provide cost certainty, and is delivered late… wow.. call me shocked…. Glad we signed on to yet another P3 for Lansdowne….
Please sign this petition against Alberta’s threat to use th notwithstanding clause against trans kids.
www.stop-smith.ca?recruiter_id...
www.stop-smith.ca?recruiter_id...
Stop Smith
www.stop-smith.ca
November 19, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Please sign this petition against Alberta’s threat to use th notwithstanding clause against trans kids.
www.stop-smith.ca?recruiter_id...
www.stop-smith.ca?recruiter_id...
Reposted by Thom McVeigh
This is interesting — a recent study of mode share (the % share of transportation trips by car, transit, walking, biking etc) relative to city size and income levels in almost 800 cities in 61 countries. Interesting results. HT @davidzipper.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
November 15, 2025 at 8:43 PM
This is interesting — a recent study of mode share (the % share of transportation trips by car, transit, walking, biking etc) relative to city size and income levels in almost 800 cities in 61 countries. Interesting results. HT @davidzipper.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Thom McVeigh
“Helsinki hasn’t registered a single traffic-related fatality in the past year…Citing data that shows the risk of pedestrian fatality is cut in half by reducing a car’s speed from 40 to 30km/hr, city officials imposed the lower limit in most of Helsinki’s residential areas & city center in 2021.”
Helsinki just went a full year without a single traffic death
The capital city is Finnish’ed with car-related fatalities.
www.politico.eu
November 17, 2025 at 6:31 AM
“Helsinki hasn’t registered a single traffic-related fatality in the past year…Citing data that shows the risk of pedestrian fatality is cut in half by reducing a car’s speed from 40 to 30km/hr, city officials imposed the lower limit in most of Helsinki’s residential areas & city center in 2021.”
Reposted by Thom McVeigh
The Mayor will release his draft budget today. We know there's money for Lansdowne, but how will the budget affect people who rely on more important city services?
www.youtube.com/live/C94IU-g...
www.youtube.com/live/C94IU-g...
November 12, 2025 at 11:43 AM
The Mayor will release his draft budget today. We know there's money for Lansdowne, but how will the budget affect people who rely on more important city services?
www.youtube.com/live/C94IU-g...
www.youtube.com/live/C94IU-g...
In Canada, just substitute CBC
important to remember that we we talk about the BBC’s right-wing bias we mean in the way they chose what to report on and how they frame those issues, and when the right talks about the BBC’s left-wing bias they mean that sometimes the person who reads out the news is black
November 12, 2025 at 12:18 PM
In Canada, just substitute CBC
Reposted by Thom McVeigh
it is possible to be against both ICE and whatever the hell this is
Anti-ICE protesters held an 80’s-themed yoga class outside the Portland ICE facility.
November 12, 2025 at 2:16 AM
it is possible to be against both ICE and whatever the hell this is
Reposted by Thom McVeigh
The City recently added two stretches of #ottbike pathways in the east end of #Ottawa in Beacon Hill, inside the Greenbelt, with a total length of 4.5 km. Read our impressions and check out the photos.
hansonthebike.com/2025/11/09/u...
#cycling #bike @timtierney.ca
hansonthebike.com/2025/11/09/u...
#cycling #bike @timtierney.ca
Unboxing the new Beacon Hill multi use pathway in Ottawa - Hans on the Bike - Cycling in Ottawa and beyond
Today we take a closer look at the new pathway that runs along highway 174 in Ottawa. It's part of a large LRT project that passes Beacon Hill
hansonthebike.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:54 AM
The City recently added two stretches of #ottbike pathways in the east end of #Ottawa in Beacon Hill, inside the Greenbelt, with a total length of 4.5 km. Read our impressions and check out the photos.
hansonthebike.com/2025/11/09/u...
#cycling #bike @timtierney.ca
hansonthebike.com/2025/11/09/u...
#cycling #bike @timtierney.ca
Reposted by Thom McVeigh
Ontario property assessments haven't been done since 2016 and it's getting ridiculous. Suburban homes are paying much lower property taxes than they should be.
Annual property taxes:
↙️ $8575 | $6360 ↘️
Annual property taxes:
↙️ $8575 | $6360 ↘️
November 9, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Ontario property assessments haven't been done since 2016 and it's getting ridiculous. Suburban homes are paying much lower property taxes than they should be.
Annual property taxes:
↙️ $8575 | $6360 ↘️
Annual property taxes:
↙️ $8575 | $6360 ↘️