Chris Briem (www.briem.com)
@chrisbriem.bsky.social
Moriae Encomium
Pinned
In a poetic coincidence today, I now have a book cover. Not available yet, but you can pre-order, and I promised my editor everyone following here will want to preorder! But if you have landed here because of the Nippon Steel/US Steel news, you will want to read this:
Resident Live Births by Age of Mother
Allegheny County - Selected Age Groups - 2007 to 2024
Allegheny County - Selected Age Groups - 2007 to 2024
November 23, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Resident Live Births by Age of Mother
Allegheny County - Selected Age Groups - 2007 to 2024
Allegheny County - Selected Age Groups - 2007 to 2024
So for the record 1) I’ve actually slept in a shipping container, and 2) I’m a big fan of modular housing components, but shipping containers are not engineered for this and this is dumb.
Drove by this monstrosity this morning, backed up to get pics bc 😳.
@chrisbriem.bsky.social, did you know this had hit Bloomfield??
@chrisbriem.bsky.social, did you know this had hit Bloomfield??
November 21, 2025 at 8:25 PM
So for the record 1) I’ve actually slept in a shipping container, and 2) I’m a big fan of modular housing components, but shipping containers are not engineered for this and this is dumb.
Now I know more than 7 of you have library cards!
Ok, this is neat. You can reserve a loan now from the Carnegie Library.
acl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S2...
acl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S2...
Beyond Steel — Allegheny County Libraries
Beyond Steel — Briem, Christopher P., — <p> Learning from one Rust Belt city's postindustrial transition </p> <p>While Pittsburgh is sometimes held up as a successful example of urban reinvention ...
acl.bibliocommons.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Now I know more than 7 of you have library cards!
Briems of the world!
Alexandra Briem, city councillor and former chair of #Reykjavík City Council, has announced that she will run to be chair of #Iceland's #Pirate #Party.
https://www.ruv.is/english/2025-10-28-alexandra-briem-in-pirate-party-chair-bid-457293
https://www.ruv.is/english/2025-10-28-alexandra-briem-in-pirate-party-chair-bid-457293
Alexandra Briem in Pirate Party chair bid - RÚV.is
Alexandra Briem, former chair of Reykjavík City Council, wants to become the first chair of the Pirate Party. She sees the party as a bulwark against populism and fascism.
www.ruv.is
November 17, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Briems of the world!
Ok, this is neat. You can reserve a loan now from the Carnegie Library.
acl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S2...
acl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S2...
Beyond Steel — Allegheny County Libraries
Beyond Steel — Briem, Christopher P., — <p> Learning from one Rust Belt city's postindustrial transition </p> <p>While Pittsburgh is sometimes held up as a successful example of urban reinvention ...
acl.bibliocommons.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Ok, this is neat. You can reserve a loan now from the Carnegie Library.
acl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S2...
acl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S2...
Just $5k more…
November 14, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Just $5k more…
"Casa San José, an example of support for migrants in Pittsburgh"
efs.efeservicios.com/reportaje/ca...
efs.efeservicios.com/reportaje/ca...
Casa San José, un ejemplo de apoyo a los migrantes en Pittsburgh | Stories | 55018522028
Estados Unidos se ha convertido en uno de los mayores focos de atención sobre el tema migratorio en el mundo. Organizaciones de derechos humanos han s...
efs.efeservicios.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:36 PM
"Casa San José, an example of support for migrants in Pittsburgh"
efs.efeservicios.com/reportaje/ca...
efs.efeservicios.com/reportaje/ca...
Reposted by Chris Briem (www.briem.com)
And there it is.. the location for the new plant promised as part of the Nippon deal.
ArkansasOnline: Pittsburgh-based steelmaking giant U.S. Steel, ..., plans to build a new metals plant at the Big River site as part of the company's plan to invest $11 billion in its domestic operations by 2028.
ArkansasOnline: Pittsburgh-based steelmaking giant U.S. Steel, ..., plans to build a new metals plant at the Big River site as part of the company's plan to invest $11 billion in its domestic operations by 2028.
Homepage | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is the largest source for award-winning news and opinion that matters to you. Featuring up to the minute breaking news and the most in-depth Razorback, business, and poli...
arkansasonline.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:54 PM
And there it is.. the location for the new plant promised as part of the Nippon deal.
ArkansasOnline: Pittsburgh-based steelmaking giant U.S. Steel, ..., plans to build a new metals plant at the Big River site as part of the company's plan to invest $11 billion in its domestic operations by 2028.
ArkansasOnline: Pittsburgh-based steelmaking giant U.S. Steel, ..., plans to build a new metals plant at the Big River site as part of the company's plan to invest $11 billion in its domestic operations by 2028.
And there it is.. the location for the new plant promised as part of the Nippon deal.
ArkansasOnline: Pittsburgh-based steelmaking giant U.S. Steel, ..., plans to build a new metals plant at the Big River site as part of the company's plan to invest $11 billion in its domestic operations by 2028.
ArkansasOnline: Pittsburgh-based steelmaking giant U.S. Steel, ..., plans to build a new metals plant at the Big River site as part of the company's plan to invest $11 billion in its domestic operations by 2028.
Homepage | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is the largest source for award-winning news and opinion that matters to you. Featuring up to the minute breaking news and the most in-depth Razorback, business, and poli...
arkansasonline.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:54 PM
And there it is.. the location for the new plant promised as part of the Nippon deal.
ArkansasOnline: Pittsburgh-based steelmaking giant U.S. Steel, ..., plans to build a new metals plant at the Big River site as part of the company's plan to invest $11 billion in its domestic operations by 2028.
ArkansasOnline: Pittsburgh-based steelmaking giant U.S. Steel, ..., plans to build a new metals plant at the Big River site as part of the company's plan to invest $11 billion in its domestic operations by 2028.
Washington Post quite positive on the city of Pittsburgh today.
"How this major city became one of America’s most affordable for home buyers"
wapo.st/4hQQxYiThe
"How this major city became one of America’s most affordable for home buyers"
wapo.st/4hQQxYiThe
November 11, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Washington Post quite positive on the city of Pittsburgh today.
"How this major city became one of America’s most affordable for home buyers"
wapo.st/4hQQxYiThe
"How this major city became one of America’s most affordable for home buyers"
wapo.st/4hQQxYiThe
Tiny house before tiny houses were cool.
November 11, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Tiny house before tiny houses were cool.
Reposted by Chris Briem (www.briem.com)
Scoop: The University of Pittsburgh will maintain its current federal funding for indirect research costs after cuts announced earlier this year threatened to push one of the region’s major research institutions off a financial cliff.
www.wesa.fm/health-scien...
www.wesa.fm/health-scien...
NIH under Trump wanted to cut indirect research costs to 15%. Pitt just signed an agreement at 59%
Pitt and the Department of Health and Human Services have agreed to maintain the school’s current 59% reimbursement rate for ancillary research costs through 2029.
www.wesa.fm
November 7, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Scoop: The University of Pittsburgh will maintain its current federal funding for indirect research costs after cuts announced earlier this year threatened to push one of the region’s major research institutions off a financial cliff.
www.wesa.fm/health-scien...
www.wesa.fm/health-scien...
Factoid of the day - workforce edition.
Workers Age 65 and Over in the Pittsburgh MSA, 1998 to 2024
Workers Age 65 and Over in the Pittsburgh MSA, 1998 to 2024
November 5, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Factoid of the day - workforce edition.
Workers Age 65 and Over in the Pittsburgh MSA, 1998 to 2024
Workers Age 65 and Over in the Pittsburgh MSA, 1998 to 2024
Here is your factoid of the day. Who knows that in recent years Allegheny County has become the youngest county in SW Pennsylvania?
November 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Here is your factoid of the day. Who knows that in recent years Allegheny County has become the youngest county in SW Pennsylvania?
Seems almost open?
November 4, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Seems almost open?
So here is an updated factoid. For many years in this benchmarking, Pittsburgh was just behind Tampa in the percentage of Population age 65 and over. But we moved decisively past Tampa a few years ago*, and now so has Cleveland. So it's Cleveburgh on the right.
November 3, 2025 at 3:27 PM
So here is an updated factoid. For many years in this benchmarking, Pittsburgh was just behind Tampa in the percentage of Population age 65 and over. But we moved decisively past Tampa a few years ago*, and now so has Cleveland. So it's Cleveburgh on the right.
Obligatory Halloween mention of the strangest post-political life of an Allegheny County politician. Former county commissioner Bob Cranmer became an author writing about his real life need for an exorcist to clear his Brentwood home of… well, just of….
October 31, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Obligatory Halloween mention of the strangest post-political life of an Allegheny County politician. Former county commissioner Bob Cranmer became an author writing about his real life need for an exorcist to clear his Brentwood home of… well, just of….
Who has been inside?
October 28, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Who has been inside?
Some books become deprecated quickly, others become ever more relevant long after they were first published. Today I’m reminded of this one.
October 23, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Some books become deprecated quickly, others become ever more relevant long after they were first published. Today I’m reminded of this one.
Here is a rarely noticed piece of Bloomfield (Bridge) zen.
October 23, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Here is a rarely noticed piece of Bloomfield (Bridge) zen.
Reposted by Chris Briem (www.briem.com)
Part of this feels relevant to Pittsburgh's insane refusal to reassess property values since 2012. Long-term homeowners in my area have houses twice the size of mine and pay half the property taxes; when they sell they're going to make bank and the next owner will get a fun assessment surprise.
Just something I've been thinking about. Yes, this is mostly an artifact of being an older region, but still this has an impact in local real estate markets, and an even more concentrated impact in some communities.
October 22, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Part of this feels relevant to Pittsburgh's insane refusal to reassess property values since 2012. Long-term homeowners in my area have houses twice the size of mine and pay half the property taxes; when they sell they're going to make bank and the next owner will get a fun assessment surprise.
Tessitor lawn sign in the wild.
So few lawn signs in the city this cycle?
So few lawn signs in the city this cycle?
October 22, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Tessitor lawn sign in the wild.
So few lawn signs in the city this cycle?
So few lawn signs in the city this cycle?
A quick snapshot of employment change in the Pittsburgh MSA from just before Covid set in to now.
At extremes note: priv. education services is capturing institutions of higher education locally & construction reflects dropoff following completion of the cracker plant.
At extremes note: priv. education services is capturing institutions of higher education locally & construction reflects dropoff following completion of the cracker plant.
October 21, 2025 at 6:11 PM
A quick snapshot of employment change in the Pittsburgh MSA from just before Covid set in to now.
At extremes note: priv. education services is capturing institutions of higher education locally & construction reflects dropoff following completion of the cracker plant.
At extremes note: priv. education services is capturing institutions of higher education locally & construction reflects dropoff following completion of the cracker plant.
Better shot, Bloomfield zen.
October 20, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Better shot, Bloomfield zen.
PublicSource: Pittsburgh is hailed for its affordable homes. How true are the headlines?
www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-h...
www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-h...
Pittsburgh is hailed for its affordable homes. How true are the headlines?
Compared to the coasts, Pittsburgh houses are bargains. But that’s skewed by fixer-uppers and long commutes, and the city’s stats are not much better than other middle-American cities.
www.publicsource.org
October 20, 2025 at 9:08 PM
PublicSource: Pittsburgh is hailed for its affordable homes. How true are the headlines?
www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-h...
www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-h...