@bskippen.bsky.social
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We need to build homes, everywhere, for all kinds of people. That's how you solve a housing crisis.
Most of Vancouver is de facto a gated community for rich people. It’s been said many times, but can’t be said often enough.
Luckily, this is going to change!
Luckily, this is going to change!
Your regular reminder that it takes a ginormous amount of privilege to claim that our low-density neighbourhoods are "working".
(Old data, but story did not change.)
(Old data, but story did not change.)
December 12, 2025 at 10:25 PM
We need to build homes, everywhere, for all kinds of people. That's how you solve a housing crisis.
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Wtf is this map??
I want to say it’s too terrible for even being AI lol
Like wtf it’s just tracing the route by car from ‘Montréal’ to Ottawa. But it’s not even the most efficient. Going from the 40 onto the 17 and then the 174 instead of the 40 to 417.
The current train doesn’t even pass close
I want to say it’s too terrible for even being AI lol
Like wtf it’s just tracing the route by car from ‘Montréal’ to Ottawa. But it’s not even the most efficient. Going from the 40 onto the 17 and then the 174 instead of the 40 to 417.
The current train doesn’t even pass close
The Canadian government actually seems maybe serious about building high-speed rail, starting with Ottawa to Montreal (as Paige Saunders suggested in a video once).
Canada’s public broadcaster, however, seems unable to find Montreal and Laval on the map.
Canada’s public broadcaster, however, seems unable to find Montreal and Laval on the map.
December 12, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Wtf is this map??
I want to say it’s too terrible for even being AI lol
Like wtf it’s just tracing the route by car from ‘Montréal’ to Ottawa. But it’s not even the most efficient. Going from the 40 onto the 17 and then the 174 instead of the 40 to 417.
The current train doesn’t even pass close
I want to say it’s too terrible for even being AI lol
Like wtf it’s just tracing the route by car from ‘Montréal’ to Ottawa. But it’s not even the most efficient. Going from the 40 onto the 17 and then the 174 instead of the 40 to 417.
The current train doesn’t even pass close
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Having polluted air is a policy choice that is made at the municipal level. And likewise having clean air is a policy choice.
“Air pollution fell substantially as Paris restricted car traffic and made way for parks, people-streets and bike-lanes.”
Better for the climate, better for health, better for livability and quality of life.
Common sense.
Such a no-brainer, it’s remarkable that more cities HAVEN’T done the same.
Better for the climate, better for health, better for livability and quality of life.
Common sense.
Such a no-brainer, it’s remarkable that more cities HAVEN’T done the same.
Paris said au revoir to cars. Air pollution maps reveal a dramatic change.
Air pollution fell substantially as the city restricted car traffic and made way for parks and bike lanes.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 11, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Having polluted air is a policy choice that is made at the municipal level. And likewise having clean air is a policy choice.
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This sheet is the kicker that explains it. The occupant load per staircase is so much higher in the typical DLC building
December 12, 2025 at 11:51 PM
This sheet is the kicker that explains it. The occupant load per staircase is so much higher in the typical DLC building
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Habermas on why so many countries are seeing the rise of right wing, authoritarian populism.
In many cases, shortsighted opportunism of 'the left' is driving frustrated voters to 'the right'.
In many cases, shortsighted opportunism of 'the left' is driving frustrated voters to 'the right'.
December 12, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Habermas on why so many countries are seeing the rise of right wing, authoritarian populism.
In many cases, shortsighted opportunism of 'the left' is driving frustrated voters to 'the right'.
In many cases, shortsighted opportunism of 'the left' is driving frustrated voters to 'the right'.
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Until someone meme formats this image, “Stop blaming trade for things that are mostly the fault of huge problems America’s nontradeable sectors.”
December 11, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Until someone meme formats this image, “Stop blaming trade for things that are mostly the fault of huge problems America’s nontradeable sectors.”
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The big brains at the NYT thought they could sneak this one in on Friday night thinking defensesky wasn’t going to be ready
Think you hate the Gizmo Cult?
Read this and you’ll despise it even more.
The ritualistic, masturbatory early morning flag-wrapped workout should disgust you. These people demand attention. Deny it to them.
Join the infantry or shut the hell up.
Read this and you’ll despise it even more.
The ritualistic, masturbatory early morning flag-wrapped workout should disgust you. These people demand attention. Deny it to them.
Join the infantry or shut the hell up.
Someone designed this article in a lab to upset me. Another addition to an insane series.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
December 13, 2025 at 1:24 AM
The big brains at the NYT thought they could sneak this one in on Friday night thinking defensesky wasn’t going to be ready
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There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom
December 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom
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This hits on the real danger of generative AI: not that it can ever equal a truly competent and creative human's work but that its output can be middling enough to meet the frequently already dialed in expectations for mediocrity that are typical of so many sectors of modern life
As was true with the translators I heard from in an earlier edition, copywriters never felt that they were being replaced because the AI's work was better. It was almost always worse. It was simply cheaper and faster, and deemed "good enough" by clients.
December 13, 2025 at 2:17 AM
This hits on the real danger of generative AI: not that it can ever equal a truly competent and creative human's work but that its output can be middling enough to meet the frequently already dialed in expectations for mediocrity that are typical of so many sectors of modern life
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God it is just so fucking crazy how big of a power vacuum there is right now. It is insane. She keeps drilling how insanely pissed the Indivisible crowd, dominated by slightly older white Americans, are at democratic leadership for caving on immigration and refusing to actually fight in the open.
December 12, 2025 at 10:34 PM
God it is just so fucking crazy how big of a power vacuum there is right now. It is insane. She keeps drilling how insanely pissed the Indivisible crowd, dominated by slightly older white Americans, are at democratic leadership for caving on immigration and refusing to actually fight in the open.
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"House Democrats on Thursday voted to return Rep. Henry Cuellar to his leadership role on the House Appropriations Committee following his presidential pardon on federal corruption charges."
JICYMI - Shameful, repulsive move by House Democrats and their leaders. Disgraceful.
JICYMI - Shameful, repulsive move by House Democrats and their leaders. Disgraceful.
Democrats Return Henry Cuellar to Powerful Spending Post After Trump Pardon
“We got ratified,” Cuellar told reporters after the vote.
www.notus.org
December 12, 2025 at 10:19 PM
"House Democrats on Thursday voted to return Rep. Henry Cuellar to his leadership role on the House Appropriations Committee following his presidential pardon on federal corruption charges."
JICYMI - Shameful, repulsive move by House Democrats and their leaders. Disgraceful.
JICYMI - Shameful, repulsive move by House Democrats and their leaders. Disgraceful.
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It sounds far-fetched now but settler colonialism is a process and this is eerily similar to how the US somehow expanded past the Appalachian Mountains despite it being officially "illegal"
Interesting article (in Hebrew) about the settler organizations seeking to establish Jewish farms and outposts in Syria beyond the Golan, in southern Lebanon, and in Gaza.
Some of them enjoy the support of Israeli cabinet ministers.
Some of them enjoy the support of Israeli cabinet ministers.
"זכותנו ההיסטורית": הפעילים שנכנסים לסוריה, לבנון ועזה
"חלוצי הבשן" חוצים לסוריה וקיימו טקס הנחת אבן פינה: "משה רבנו כבש". בלבנון פוזרו "אזהרות פינוי" באמצעות בלונים - ולעזה חודרים יהודים שטוענים: "היא שלנו". שרים לכ"ץ: "ניצחון - רק בלקיחת שטח". הפעילים ש...
www.ynet.co.il
December 13, 2025 at 1:44 AM
It sounds far-fetched now but settler colonialism is a process and this is eerily similar to how the US somehow expanded past the Appalachian Mountains despite it being officially "illegal"
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To give you a sense of how big a departure this year, the government doesn't do this for wanted criminals.
SCOOP: The Trump administration is providing the names of all travelers passing through U.S. airports to immigration officials in search of people with deportation orders, a substantial expansion of government efforts to draw on data to hunt down immigrants.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/u...
Immigration Agents Are Using Air Passenger Data for Deportation Effort
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 11:19 PM
To give you a sense of how big a departure this year, the government doesn't do this for wanted criminals.
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“They’re like, ‘you do Canadian politics.’ I don’t. These are nations [with] different understandings of their relationships, territory, themselves.”
To Make More Space for Indigenous Worldviews, Start Here | The Tyee
It begins with undoing the ‘hegemonologue,’ says a leading political scientist.
thetyee.ca
December 13, 2025 at 1:30 AM
“They’re like, ‘you do Canadian politics.’ I don’t. These are nations [with] different understandings of their relationships, territory, themselves.”
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Attention northern word nerds: The very first Canadian Word of the Year is MAPLEWASHING!
And the results are in! After carefully reviewing the results of a national poll the Board of Directors of the Society for Canadian English (SCE) has determined that this year’s Canadian Word of the Year (CWOTY), the first of its kind, will be “maplewashing.”
December 13, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Attention northern word nerds: The very first Canadian Word of the Year is MAPLEWASHING!
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Consultants contracted by Minnesota found that an eight-story single-stair building with 6,000 sq. ft. per floor (building 4) has dramatically lower fire risk than a same-height code-compliant two-stair building with a larger floor plate (building 1) www.dli.mn.gov/sites/defaul...
December 12, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Consultants contracted by Minnesota found that an eight-story single-stair building with 6,000 sq. ft. per floor (building 4) has dramatically lower fire risk than a same-height code-compliant two-stair building with a larger floor plate (building 1) www.dli.mn.gov/sites/defaul...
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Listen, let's not rule out that drawing Jamil Jivani's name in Secret Santa might have been what actually prompted the floor crossing.
Michael Ma collected his own conservative secret santa gift before crossing the floor BUT DID NOT DELIVER ANYTHING TO THE NAME HE DREW
HE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN JAMIL JIVANI’S SECRET SANTA
LMFAO THIS DIVAAAAAA
HE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN JAMIL JIVANI’S SECRET SANTA
LMFAO THIS DIVAAAAAA
December 12, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Listen, let's not rule out that drawing Jamil Jivani's name in Secret Santa might have been what actually prompted the floor crossing.
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for whatever reason, the victims of traffic violence never factor into the calculation. no urgency there. but do something that might affect a suburban lawyer who had a few drinks and then it becomes an “equity” issue
December 12, 2025 at 8:28 PM
for whatever reason, the victims of traffic violence never factor into the calculation. no urgency there. but do something that might affect a suburban lawyer who had a few drinks and then it becomes an “equity” issue
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seriously though, there is very clearly pent up demand for rail options and every reason to build out as much new rail as possible.
December 12, 2025 at 9:17 PM
seriously though, there is very clearly pent up demand for rail options and every reason to build out as much new rail as possible.
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the people of this great republic yearn for locomotive transport
Amtrak reports Mardi Gras service among most successful ever https://mynbc15.com/news/local/amtrak-provides-boost-to-mobile-businesses
Amtrak's Mardi Gras service boosts Mobile tourism with higher than expected ridership
Amtrak says the new Mardi Gras service that connects Mobile to New Orleans is one of the most successful services ever launched and it's on track to double the
mynbc15.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:44 PM
the people of this great republic yearn for locomotive transport
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i laughed out loud
Newly Unsealed Batch Of Epstein Estate Photos Contains Rare Holographic Dershowitz
December 12, 2025 at 9:43 PM
i laughed out loud
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Ignition interlocks are a *less carceral* option! DUI is a common crime, many drunk drivers are not societal threats in other aspects, and we have a device that notably reduces proclivity to drive drunk without otherwise restricting their liberty.
I think it was a huge mistake to make our society so car-dependent. But man. The Discourse today is a good reminder that when it comes to roadways policy, otherwise progressive anti-car people quickly become some of the most pro-carceral, anti-civil liberties people on the planet.
December 12, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Ignition interlocks are a *less carceral* option! DUI is a common crime, many drunk drivers are not societal threats in other aspects, and we have a device that notably reduces proclivity to drive drunk without otherwise restricting their liberty.
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A U.S. special operations team boarded a ship in the Indian Ocean last month and seized military-related articles headed to Iran from China, U.S. officials said, an operation at sea aimed at blocking Tehran from rebuilding its military arsenal.
on.wsj.com/3MryVqB
on.wsj.com/3MryVqB
Exclusive | U.S. Forces Raid Ship, Seize Cargo Headed to Iran From China
A U.S. special operations team boarded a ship in the Indian Ocean last month and seized military-related articles headed to Iran from China, U.S. officials said, an operation at sea aimed at blocking Tehran from rebuilding its military arsenal.
on.wsj.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:26 PM
A U.S. special operations team boarded a ship in the Indian Ocean last month and seized military-related articles headed to Iran from China, U.S. officials said, an operation at sea aimed at blocking Tehran from rebuilding its military arsenal.
on.wsj.com/3MryVqB
on.wsj.com/3MryVqB
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Impunity is an enabler of criminality. And again, I suggest that we spend some time reflecting on the radicalising effect it must have on British politicians to be so deeply and directly complicit in such monstrous, racist crimes. These people have crossed a threshold into a truly dark place.
Britain threatened to cut off ICC funding over Netanyahu arrest warrant, claims prosecutor
Britain threatened to cut off ICC funding over Netanyahu arrest warrant, claims prosecutor
Karim Khan makes allegation in court submission while defending move to prosecute Israeli prime minister in 2024
The British government threatened to defund the international criminal court and leave the Rome statute that set it up if it pressed ahead with plans to issue an arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu, the ICC’s prosecutor, has claimed.
Karim Khan made the allegation in a submission to the court defending his decision to prosecute Israel’s prime minister. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 12, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Impunity is an enabler of criminality. And again, I suggest that we spend some time reflecting on the radicalising effect it must have on British politicians to be so deeply and directly complicit in such monstrous, racist crimes. These people have crossed a threshold into a truly dark place.