Chris Ferris
@chrisferris3.bsky.social
Economist. Consultant. Interested in improving urban areas: better housing, mass transit, & efficient goods flow. #cdnecon #Economics #Winnipeger #cdnag #R #spatialanalysis #Canada #EconomicDevelopment #LabourEcon #energyTransition #mb
Reposted by Chris Ferris
Yes, Jared Diamond was wrong.
Rapa Nui's people did not suffer ecological and social collapse. They adapted to changed circumstances and thrived.
And they were nothing like "primitive"
phys.org/news/2025-11...
Rapa Nui's people did not suffer ecological and social collapse. They adapted to changed circumstances and thrived.
And they were nothing like "primitive"
phys.org/news/2025-11...
Studies show how the giant statues on Rapa Nui were made and moved—and what caused the island's deforestation
Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, is often portrayed in popular culture as an enigma. The rationale is clear: The tiny, remote island in the Pacific features nearly 1,000 enormous statues—the moa...
phys.org
November 30, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Yes, Jared Diamond was wrong.
Rapa Nui's people did not suffer ecological and social collapse. They adapted to changed circumstances and thrived.
And they were nothing like "primitive"
phys.org/news/2025-11...
Rapa Nui's people did not suffer ecological and social collapse. They adapted to changed circumstances and thrived.
And they were nothing like "primitive"
phys.org/news/2025-11...
open.spotify.com/track/72RX8s...
Great cover of Stand by me!
Great cover of Stand by me!
Stand By Me - Live at The Print Shop
open.spotify.com
November 30, 2025 at 3:16 AM
open.spotify.com/track/72RX8s...
Great cover of Stand by me!
Great cover of Stand by me!
Reposted by Chris Ferris
Soon small businesses won’t have to wait for Small Business Saturday to get attention from their Mayor.
Some changes that they can look forward to:
Some changes that they can look forward to:
November 29, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Soon small businesses won’t have to wait for Small Business Saturday to get attention from their Mayor.
Some changes that they can look forward to:
Some changes that they can look forward to:
Reposted by Chris Ferris
Manitoba Signs on to Ontario Memorandum Aimed at Boosting Power Transmission www.chrisd.ca/2025/11/29/m... #mbpoli
Manitoba Signs on to Ontario Memorandum Aimed at Boosting Power Transmission
Manitoba is renewing its call for a national electricity grid that would move more power between provinces and territories.
www.chrisd.ca
November 29, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Manitoba Signs on to Ontario Memorandum Aimed at Boosting Power Transmission www.chrisd.ca/2025/11/29/m... #mbpoli
Reposted by Chris Ferris
Heavy-industry sectors like cement have long struggled to decarbonise because their processes require very high temperatures.
That’s why the new Rondo Energy heat-battery project in Thailand is such a big deal - powering a cement plant with low-carbon steam.
www.energy-storage.news/rondo-energy...
That’s why the new Rondo Energy heat-battery project in Thailand is such a big deal - powering a cement plant with low-carbon steam.
www.energy-storage.news/rondo-energy...
Rondo Energy deploys Southeast Asia’s ‘first industrial Heat Battery’
Rondo and SCG Cleanergy have commenced operation of Southeast Asia's first industrial thermal BESS at SCG's cement plant in Thailand.
www.energy-storage.news
November 28, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Heavy-industry sectors like cement have long struggled to decarbonise because their processes require very high temperatures.
That’s why the new Rondo Energy heat-battery project in Thailand is such a big deal - powering a cement plant with low-carbon steam.
www.energy-storage.news/rondo-energy...
That’s why the new Rondo Energy heat-battery project in Thailand is such a big deal - powering a cement plant with low-carbon steam.
www.energy-storage.news/rondo-energy...
finance.yahoo.com/news/openai-...
Makes for an interesting problem for all AI companies. Who will survive the eventual shake out when power and other bills come due.
Makes for an interesting problem for all AI companies. Who will survive the eventual shake out when power and other bills come due.
OpenAI won’t make money by 2030 and still needs to come up with another $207 billion to power its growth plans, HSBC estimates
What company has a consumer base representing 44% of the world’s adult population and a $620 billion data center bill? OpenAI five years from now.
finance.yahoo.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:25 PM
finance.yahoo.com/news/openai-...
Makes for an interesting problem for all AI companies. Who will survive the eventual shake out when power and other bills come due.
Makes for an interesting problem for all AI companies. Who will survive the eventual shake out when power and other bills come due.
Reposted by Chris Ferris
Full text of the agreement between the federal and Alberta governments is available here: www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/bac... It's big. Strong commitments for a new pipeline to the west coast, and significant increases in climate policy stringency in AB to go along with it.
Canada-Alberta Memorandum of Understanding
PREFACE At this pivotal global moment, Canada and Alberta, working closely with Indigenous Peoples and industry, must work together cooperatively, and within their respective jurisdictions, to foster the conditions necessary for infrastructure, including pipelines, rail, power generation, a strong and integrated transmission grid, ports and other means that will unlock and grow natural resource production and transportation in Western Canada.
www.pm.gc.ca
November 27, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Full text of the agreement between the federal and Alberta governments is available here: www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/bac... It's big. Strong commitments for a new pipeline to the west coast, and significant increases in climate policy stringency in AB to go along with it.
Reposted by Chris Ferris
In shipboard damage control, one attacked the major leaks with temporary means until stronger shoring and bracing can be fitted. I want to see long-term plans but I understand the “leak stopping” going on right now.
November 25, 2025 at 1:04 PM
In shipboard damage control, one attacked the major leaks with temporary means until stronger shoring and bracing can be fitted. I want to see long-term plans but I understand the “leak stopping” going on right now.
Reposted by Chris Ferris
Winnipeg, MB. I know this issue is a significant local concern and so I just wanted to RP & flag this news, without further comment as it is obviously sub judice. More to come.
Police have arrested and charged a person with setting multiple fires.
Arrest made in arsons
Police to release more information later Wednesday
www.winnipegfreepress.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Winnipeg, MB. I know this issue is a significant local concern and so I just wanted to RP & flag this news, without further comment as it is obviously sub judice. More to come.
Reposted by Chris Ferris
Almost as though a framework, a framework like the Marginal Value of Public Funds, that enables consistence and comparable welfare assessment across public programs would be valuable to a government wanting a decision-making metric. I wonder if anyone is working on that, she says knowingly.
But I do think a prerequisite to any kind of broad tax increase would be a serious cost-cutting exercise that provided tangible evidence of things being cut -- ie. you'd need to make the case that a tax increase was necessary.
November 17, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Almost as though a framework, a framework like the Marginal Value of Public Funds, that enables consistence and comparable welfare assessment across public programs would be valuable to a government wanting a decision-making metric. I wonder if anyone is working on that, she says knowingly.
Reposted by Chris Ferris
Province commits more cash to Hudson Bay Railway even though Churchill port expansion is still not on federal fast track www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Port of Churchill, Hudson Bay Railway get $51M in provincial money toward improvements | CBC News
Manitoba is putting up $51 million in new funding to help upgrade the Hudson Bay Railway line as federal and provincial government officials were in Winnipeg Sunday to work toward the possibility of e...
www.cbc.ca
November 16, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Province commits more cash to Hudson Bay Railway even though Churchill port expansion is still not on federal fast track www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
On-Request Transit now available in 12 zones: Here’s how it works
www.winnipeg.ca
November 16, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Reposted by Chris Ferris
Prime Minister Mark Carney in Winnipeg for Grey Cup, Louis Riel Ceremony www.chrisd.ca/2025/11/16/p... #cdnpoli
Prime Minister Mark Carney in Winnipeg for Grey Cup, Louis Riel Ceremony
Prime Minister Mark Carney has paid tribute in Winnipeg to Métis leader Louis Riel on the 140th anniversary of Riel's execution.
www.chrisd.ca
November 16, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Prime Minister Mark Carney in Winnipeg for Grey Cup, Louis Riel Ceremony www.chrisd.ca/2025/11/16/p... #cdnpoli
Reposted by Chris Ferris
Most of the REM Metro system in Montreal is now open, and Oh The Urbanity has a fantastic video (a real step up in production value) on it, check it out here!
youtu.be/4G1oeIAfxDU?...
youtu.be/4G1oeIAfxDU?...
Montreal’s Biggest REM Expansion Yet! (with Reece Martin)
YouTube video by Oh The Urbanity!
youtu.be
November 16, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Most of the REM Metro system in Montreal is now open, and Oh The Urbanity has a fantastic video (a real step up in production value) on it, check it out here!
youtu.be/4G1oeIAfxDU?...
youtu.be/4G1oeIAfxDU?...
Reposted by Chris Ferris
Saab and Embraer have completed the certification flight test campaign proving the Gripen E can be refuelled in flight by the KC-390 Millennium.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/gripen-e-cle...
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/gripen-e-cle...
Gripen E cleared for KC-390 refuel after Brazil test push
Saab and Embraer have completed the certification flight test campaign proving the Gripen E can be refuelled in flight by the KC-390 Millennium.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
November 14, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Saab and Embraer have completed the certification flight test campaign proving the Gripen E can be refuelled in flight by the KC-390 Millennium.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/gripen-e-cle...
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/gripen-e-cle...
Reposted by Chris Ferris
Waterloo Region proved that small metro areas in Canada can build rail transit, if it's designed prudently and governed smartly. What would be even better, though, is seeing someone unseat us as the reigning champ of small urban regions in Canada building light rail.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
CBU study says CBRM light rail transit is viable with government funding | CBC News
A new study from Cape Breton University says the first phase of a commuter train system in Cape Breton Regional Municipality could be ready to go in three years at an estimated cost of $143 million.
www.cbc.ca
November 15, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Waterloo Region proved that small metro areas in Canada can build rail transit, if it's designed prudently and governed smartly. What would be even better, though, is seeing someone unseat us as the reigning champ of small urban regions in Canada building light rail.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Chris Ferris
Owner of private Manitoba rail port questions $18M provincial grant to potential rival www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Owner of private Manitoba rail port questions $18M provincial grant to potential rival | CBC News
The owner of a privately owned rail port in southern Manitoba’s Red River Valley wants to know why the provincial government provided an $18-million grant to help create a rival rail port further dow...
www.cbc.ca
November 13, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Owner of private Manitoba rail port questions $18M provincial grant to potential rival www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Chris Ferris
So this happened an hour ago. I don’t think I’ve seen red this deep in a long time. You could see it quite clearly with the naked eye. #aurora
November 12, 2025 at 2:07 AM
So this happened an hour ago. I don’t think I’ve seen red this deep in a long time. You could see it quite clearly with the naked eye. #aurora
Reposted by Chris Ferris
#rstats #dataviz
🚀📈 Plotting methods for linear/quadratic discriminant analysis now developing nicely in the dev 1.0.1 version of {candisc} 📦
Now, nice ggplot plots of decision regions in data space for MASS::lda() & MASS::qda
🔗 friendly.r-universe.dev/candisc
🚀📈 Plotting methods for linear/quadratic discriminant analysis now developing nicely in the dev 1.0.1 version of {candisc} 📦
Now, nice ggplot plots of decision regions in data space for MASS::lda() & MASS::qda
🔗 friendly.r-universe.dev/candisc
November 12, 2025 at 2:03 AM
#rstats #dataviz
🚀📈 Plotting methods for linear/quadratic discriminant analysis now developing nicely in the dev 1.0.1 version of {candisc} 📦
Now, nice ggplot plots of decision regions in data space for MASS::lda() & MASS::qda
🔗 friendly.r-universe.dev/candisc
🚀📈 Plotting methods for linear/quadratic discriminant analysis now developing nicely in the dev 1.0.1 version of {candisc} 📦
Now, nice ggplot plots of decision regions in data space for MASS::lda() & MASS::qda
🔗 friendly.r-universe.dev/candisc
Reposted by Chris Ferris
Friendly reminder that dishwashers made after 1995 or so are so water and energy efficient that even if you ran them twice fully loaded it would still use less water than handwashing the same load.
So many "green" things feel like sacrifices. Dishwashers are not one of them.
So many "green" things feel like sacrifices. Dishwashers are not one of them.
November 12, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Friendly reminder that dishwashers made after 1995 or so are so water and energy efficient that even if you ran them twice fully loaded it would still use less water than handwashing the same load.
So many "green" things feel like sacrifices. Dishwashers are not one of them.
So many "green" things feel like sacrifices. Dishwashers are not one of them.
Reposted by Chris Ferris
Winnipeg rail relocation report identifies short abandoned spur as potential starting point www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Winnipeg rail relocation report identifies short abandoned spur as potential starting point | CBC News
An interim report into Winnipeg rail relocation recommends a short abandoned track in the Brooklands neighbourhood as a potential place to start.
www.cbc.ca
November 11, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Winnipeg rail relocation report identifies short abandoned spur as potential starting point www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Chris Ferris
#TodayinHistory #dataviz #OTD 📊
🎂Nov 9, 1854 Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey born in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland
1898: introduced the first energy flow diagram to show the energy efficiency of a steam engine, dubbed the "Sankey diagram"
👀 bit.ly/497fk8l
🎂Nov 9, 1854 Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey born in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland
1898: introduced the first energy flow diagram to show the energy efficiency of a steam engine, dubbed the "Sankey diagram"
👀 bit.ly/497fk8l
November 10, 2025 at 2:25 AM
#TodayinHistory #dataviz #OTD 📊
🎂Nov 9, 1854 Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey born in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland
1898: introduced the first energy flow diagram to show the energy efficiency of a steam engine, dubbed the "Sankey diagram"
👀 bit.ly/497fk8l
🎂Nov 9, 1854 Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey born in Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland
1898: introduced the first energy flow diagram to show the energy efficiency of a steam engine, dubbed the "Sankey diagram"
👀 bit.ly/497fk8l
Reposted by Chris Ferris
I disagree. We need to recognize that in our system we elect individual representatives, not captives to a party cult. They should be free to decide how to represent their riding, and can be turfed at the next election if we don't like what they do.
Floor crossing is one of the more egregious behaviours our "democratic" system allows. Utterly self-serving. Anyone wishing to cross the floor should be subject to an immediate by-election. toronto.citynews.ca/2025/11/05/p...
Liberals welcome former Tory d'Entremont into caucus, roll out welcome mat for more
Prime Minister Mark Carney and his fellow Liberal MPs said the party is open to talking to any other opposition MPs interested in joining their team, a day after Nova Scotia MP Chris d’Entremont quit ...
toronto.citynews.ca
November 5, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I disagree. We need to recognize that in our system we elect individual representatives, not captives to a party cult. They should be free to decide how to represent their riding, and can be turfed at the next election if we don't like what they do.
Reposted by Chris Ferris
So a mayor walks into an office... (he had an idea). But the real reason I'm posting this is to shout out to the blue book visible beside him, "Cities and the Constitution," w/ essays by @emmettmacfarlane.com, among many others who don't seem to be on BlueSky, just so you all know it got used. ;)
November 6, 2025 at 4:58 PM
So a mayor walks into an office... (he had an idea). But the real reason I'm posting this is to shout out to the blue book visible beside him, "Cities and the Constitution," w/ essays by @emmettmacfarlane.com, among many others who don't seem to be on BlueSky, just so you all know it got used. ;)
Reposted by Chris Ferris
The {sf} package continues to blow my mind with how easy it is to make maps with #rstats and ggplot (code for that map here gist.github.com/andrewheiss/...)
November 4, 2025 at 1:34 PM
The {sf} package continues to blow my mind with how easy it is to make maps with #rstats and ggplot (code for that map here gist.github.com/andrewheiss/...)