Marina Carstens
@marinacarstens.bsky.social
Building permit technician. Interested in urban planning. I like books, art, and nature. Bellingham, WA.
Pinned
Happy New Year, everyone. May next year bring more peace to all. 🌟
I really needed this three-day weekend. 🥹
February 17, 2026 at 4:46 AM
I really needed this three-day weekend. 🥹
I regularly think about deleting all social media, but I have mixed feelings about it.
February 17, 2026 at 12:35 AM
I regularly think about deleting all social media, but I have mixed feelings about it.
This one could work, but I'm going to see what else is out there. There's only a fold out bed that's more of a day bed when it's folded up. We could maybe make it work for just five weeks.
I'm going to see a potential temporary apartment today. It's a great location for us. Once we get this set up, I'll feel a big weight lift from my shoulders. Then it'll just be putting one foot in front of the other for the move.
February 16, 2026 at 7:22 PM
This one could work, but I'm going to see what else is out there. There's only a fold out bed that's more of a day bed when it's folded up. We could maybe make it work for just five weeks.
I'm going to see a potential temporary apartment today. It's a great location for us. Once we get this set up, I'll feel a big weight lift from my shoulders. Then it'll just be putting one foot in front of the other for the move.
February 16, 2026 at 5:32 PM
I'm going to see a potential temporary apartment today. It's a great location for us. Once we get this set up, I'll feel a big weight lift from my shoulders. Then it'll just be putting one foot in front of the other for the move.
I'd be on this ferry several times a year.
We don't just want a Bellingham to Friday Habor fast ferry...we need and deserve a Bellingham to Friday Harbor fast ferry.
www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/16/m...
www.theurbanist.org/2026/02/16/m...
Mosquito Fleet Act Seeks to Throw Ferry-Oriented Communities a Lifeline » The Urbanist
# A proposal, dubbed the Mosquito Fleet Act, to empower local governments across Puget Sound to set up their own passenger ferry districts fell short in the Senate after passing the House last year. I...
www.theurbanist.org
February 16, 2026 at 5:30 PM
I'd be on this ferry several times a year.
I should get Canadian citizenship & Brian should get Irish citizenship. It'll be good to have choices even if we just end up moving to Illinois eventually.
I think I might be a Canadian citizen. They say there's no limit on how far back you can go as long as you can prove the link with paperwork. I have ancestors from Manitoba and Quebec. I think we can actually prove it. 🤔🇨🇦
How to Claim Canadian Citizenship by Descent Under Canada’s New Citizenship Act Bill C-3 - Canada Immigration and Visa Information. Canadian Immigration Services and Free Online Evaluation.
Learn how Canada’s new Bill C-3 restores citizenship by descent, removes the first-generation limit, and allows multigenerational claims for those born abroad.
immigration.ca
February 16, 2026 at 4:38 PM
I should get Canadian citizenship & Brian should get Irish citizenship. It'll be good to have choices even if we just end up moving to Illinois eventually.
Reposted by Marina Carstens
This is perhaps the most serious threat to my, your, and everyone else's health and well-being the world has seen in a generation. Worst than COVID.
No one benefits from this. No one.
No one benefits from this. No one.
“The U.S. no longer has emission standards of any meaning. Nothing. Zero. Not many countries have zero.”
With Latest Rollback, the U.S. Essentially Has No Clean-Car Rules
www.nytimes.com
February 16, 2026 at 12:46 PM
This is perhaps the most serious threat to my, your, and everyone else's health and well-being the world has seen in a generation. Worst than COVID.
No one benefits from this. No one.
No one benefits from this. No one.
I think I might be a Canadian citizen. They say there's no limit on how far back you can go as long as you can prove the link with paperwork. I have ancestors from Manitoba and Quebec. I think we can actually prove it. 🤔🇨🇦
How to Claim Canadian Citizenship by Descent Under Canada’s New Citizenship Act Bill C-3 - Canada Immigration and Visa Information. Canadian Immigration Services and Free Online Evaluation.
Learn how Canada’s new Bill C-3 restores citizenship by descent, removes the first-generation limit, and allows multigenerational claims for those born abroad.
immigration.ca
February 16, 2026 at 6:37 AM
I think I might be a Canadian citizen. They say there's no limit on how far back you can go as long as you can prove the link with paperwork. I have ancestors from Manitoba and Quebec. I think we can actually prove it. 🤔🇨🇦
Reposted by Marina Carstens
I'm at their second benefit show right now. (They just opened their 3rd set with "American Idiot.) These white suburban parents are wearing t-shirts with slogans like "RADICALIZED BY BASIC HUMAN DECENCY" and "NO ONE IS ILLEGAL ON STOLEN LAND BUILT BY STOLEN HANDS." (4/?)
February 16, 2026 at 12:53 AM
I'm at their second benefit show right now. (They just opened their 3rd set with "American Idiot.) These white suburban parents are wearing t-shirts with slogans like "RADICALIZED BY BASIC HUMAN DECENCY" and "NO ONE IS ILLEGAL ON STOLEN LAND BUILT BY STOLEN HANDS." (4/?)
Reposted by Marina Carstens
Very special mega boost for an excellent cat buddy. 😻
February 16, 2026 at 4:35 AM
Very special mega boost for an excellent cat buddy. 😻
We decided to take a break from cleaning earlier to walk to the water. It was such a nice day that I had to get out and enjoy it again before the sun went down. We walked along Whatcom Creek and through Maritime Heritage Park to Waypoint Park.
February 16, 2026 at 3:49 AM
We decided to take a break from cleaning earlier to walk to the water. It was such a nice day that I had to get out and enjoy it again before the sun went down. We walked along Whatcom Creek and through Maritime Heritage Park to Waypoint Park.
Today feels like the first real day of getting ready to move. I'm about to clear out & organize the kitchen closet. It's like a long bedroom closet. We'll get rid of some stuff and organize the rest. The goal is to make it as easy as possible to pack and clean in the coming weeks.
February 15, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Today feels like the first real day of getting ready to move. I'm about to clear out & organize the kitchen closet. It's like a long bedroom closet. We'll get rid of some stuff and organize the rest. The goal is to make it as easy as possible to pack and clean in the coming weeks.
The first one was rejected quickly because they've just rented it to someone else. I didn't realize that the website shows you units that aren't available for the dates you enter. 🙃
I've sent out a couple more requests. I'm hoping for the one with bay views. It'll be like a vacation!
I've sent out a couple more requests. I'm hoping for the one with bay views. It'll be like a vacation!
I just sent a request to book a temporary apt. between leases! Next we need to rent a storage unit and moving vehicle for two different times (for the move into storage in March and the move from storage into the new apt. in April). Things get easier the more steps you take and decisions you make.
February 15, 2026 at 10:15 PM
The first one was rejected quickly because they've just rented it to someone else. I didn't realize that the website shows you units that aren't available for the dates you enter. 🙃
I've sent out a couple more requests. I'm hoping for the one with bay views. It'll be like a vacation!
I've sent out a couple more requests. I'm hoping for the one with bay views. It'll be like a vacation!
I just sent a request to book a temporary apt. between leases! Next we need to rent a storage unit and moving vehicle for two different times (for the move into storage in March and the move from storage into the new apt. in April). Things get easier the more steps you take and decisions you make.
February 15, 2026 at 9:48 PM
I just sent a request to book a temporary apt. between leases! Next we need to rent a storage unit and moving vehicle for two different times (for the move into storage in March and the move from storage into the new apt. in April). Things get easier the more steps you take and decisions you make.
Reposted by Marina Carstens
Someone has sure already made this observation but the fact they can convert all those empty warehouses into prison camps means they could have converted them into housing, community centers, job training centers or, hell, libraries or schools all along. It’s always a matter of will not resources.
February 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Someone has sure already made this observation but the fact they can convert all those empty warehouses into prison camps means they could have converted them into housing, community centers, job training centers or, hell, libraries or schools all along. It’s always a matter of will not resources.
Reposted by Marina Carstens
A BOOK BEDAZZLING WORKSHOP???????????????????? 😍
Libraries are fucking AWESOME, you guys.
Last night, my local library had a book bedazzling workshop, and I got to make @mskellymhayes.bsky.social's new book sparkly! ✨️
Last night, my local library had a book bedazzling workshop, and I got to make @mskellymhayes.bsky.social's new book sparkly! ✨️
February 15, 2026 at 9:01 PM
A BOOK BEDAZZLING WORKSHOP???????????????????? 😍
Reposted by Marina Carstens
We’ve all trained ourselves to see car infrastructure as “normal” — and therefore its costs as invisible. Roads aren’t expensive, they’re just there. Parking spaces aren’t subsidies, they’re just “necessary”.
But a bus that runs on demand?
That’s
“spending taxpayer money”.
But a bus that runs on demand?
That’s
“spending taxpayer money”.
Here are my thoughts for all of you who are tired of hearing people tell them that alternative forms of transportation are “expensive”—while billions are poured into the car system.
For decades.
It's a framing game.
Devoid of content.
Fact-averse.
But successful.
medium.com/@Katja_Diehl...
For decades.
It's a framing game.
Devoid of content.
Fact-averse.
But successful.
medium.com/@Katja_Diehl...
The Framing Game: Why We Call Affordable Mobility “Too Costly” While Subsidizing Cars.
Or: How a society convinced itself that saving money is actually spending it
medium.com
February 15, 2026 at 6:35 PM
We’ve all trained ourselves to see car infrastructure as “normal” — and therefore its costs as invisible. Roads aren’t expensive, they’re just there. Parking spaces aren’t subsidies, they’re just “necessary”.
But a bus that runs on demand?
That’s
“spending taxpayer money”.
But a bus that runs on demand?
That’s
“spending taxpayer money”.
It's a nice day in #BellinghamWA in the #PacificNorthwest. We're going to enjoy the rest of our time here as much as we can. That might be one year or it might be ten years. Only time will tell.
It's a sunny day in Bellingham! We went for a walk at the park after breakfast. 🌞
February 15, 2026 at 8:33 PM
It's a nice day in #BellinghamWA in the #PacificNorthwest. We're going to enjoy the rest of our time here as much as we can. That might be one year or it might be ten years. Only time will tell.
It's a sunny day in Bellingham! We went for a walk at the park after breakfast. 🌞
February 15, 2026 at 6:10 PM
It's a sunny day in Bellingham! We went for a walk at the park after breakfast. 🌞
We've been going on evening walks lately and our neighborhood is actually a little bit lively in the evenings! There have been couples strolling or walking to a destination and lots of people with dogs. The other night I counted six dogs. This is the kind of city energy I love. 🥹
February 15, 2026 at 4:26 PM
We've been going on evening walks lately and our neighborhood is actually a little bit lively in the evenings! There have been couples strolling or walking to a destination and lots of people with dogs. The other night I counted six dogs. This is the kind of city energy I love. 🥹
Come to #BellinghamWA, everyone! I want to live in a bustling city. ❤️
Happy Valentine’s Day to people who love their cities and want to share them with more neighbors. ❤️
February 14, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Come to #BellinghamWA, everyone! I want to live in a bustling city. ❤️
Reposted by Marina Carstens
This is still Minneapolis:
February 14, 2026 at 3:58 PM
This is still Minneapolis:
I've started watching How To Get To Heaven From Belfast on Netflix without knowing anything about it. I like it so far. It seems weird, fun, and silly which is saying something because it starts with a death. I liked the intro. Happy to report that it also seems to involve a goat somehow.
February 14, 2026 at 3:37 PM
I've started watching How To Get To Heaven From Belfast on Netflix without knowing anything about it. I like it so far. It seems weird, fun, and silly which is saying something because it starts with a death. I liked the intro. Happy to report that it also seems to involve a goat somehow.
In case anyone is curious what landscaping looks like in a "luxury" apartment building, here's a photo. Most of the planter boxes have been empty most of the time we've been here. This one had trees, but they cut them down. There are only weeds now.
February 14, 2026 at 3:03 PM
In case anyone is curious what landscaping looks like in a "luxury" apartment building, here's a photo. Most of the planter boxes have been empty most of the time we've been here. This one had trees, but they cut them down. There are only weeds now.
Abolish ICE now.
NEW: How a Planned Disney World Vacation Turned Into Four Months in Immigration Detention
9-year-old Maria Antonia begged her mom to take her to the park’s annual Halloween celebration. But as soon as she arrived at Miami International Airport, everything started going wrong.
9-year-old Maria Antonia begged her mom to take her to the park’s annual Halloween celebration. But as soon as she arrived at Miami International Airport, everything started going wrong.
How a Planned Disney World Vacation Turned Into Four Months in Immigration Detention
A 9-year-old shares her story of being held at the nation’s only operating detention center for immigrant families in Dilley, Texas.
www.propublica.org
February 14, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Abolish ICE now.