Idealistic Pragmatist
@justip.bsky.social
Canadian by choice.📍Halifax. International in outlook. Leftie. Foodie. Queer. Multilingual. Bike person, but pedestrian at heart. Social scientist by trade. Household = me, Partner, two cats. Embracer of reality in an anti-reality world since early 2022.
Pinned
As of today, I am officially retired! I expect my life to change, well, not at all, at least for now (I was already not teaching because it was summer, I still have my research group, and my last grad student will still be at it for a while), but it’s the beginning of the end, anyway.
Reposted by Idealistic Pragmatist
February 13, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Reposted by Idealistic Pragmatist
If you're tired of perpetual illness, please send a letter to your NS MLA & the Minister of Ed. We could improve everyone's standard of living if we took indoor air quality seriously.
You can find your MLAs email address here: nslegislature.ca/members/prof...
You can find your MLAs email address here: nslegislature.ca/members/prof...
New Brunswick commited to monitoring & improving gov. building ventilation, including schools. Why hasn't Nova Scotia done the same?
Use this template to send a letter to the Premier ([email protected]), your MLA (nslegislature.ca/members/prof...), and the Minister of Ed ([email protected])
Use this template to send a letter to the Premier ([email protected]), your MLA (nslegislature.ca/members/prof...), and the Minister of Ed ([email protected])
Health Schools Letter
[YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS] Honourable Tim Houston Office of the Premier 7th Floor, One Government Place 1700 Granville Street Halifax, NS B3J 1X5 Dear Premier Houston, Over the last five years, we’ve...
bit.ly
February 12, 2026 at 4:09 PM
If you're tired of perpetual illness, please send a letter to your NS MLA & the Minister of Ed. We could improve everyone's standard of living if we took indoor air quality seriously.
You can find your MLAs email address here: nslegislature.ca/members/prof...
You can find your MLAs email address here: nslegislature.ca/members/prof...
My neighbourhood made it onto r/UrbanHell today and I feel weirdly proud. 😄
February 11, 2026 at 10:41 PM
My neighbourhood made it onto r/UrbanHell today and I feel weirdly proud. 😄
Apparently Carney is coming to Halifax for an announcement today--let's hope he doesn't get trapped here!
February 11, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Apparently Carney is coming to Halifax for an announcement today--let's hope he doesn't get trapped here!
Reposted by Idealistic Pragmatist
Love Billy Gillis’s suggestion for fiscal de-amalgamation. Let each district pay its own way. #HaliSky #BikeHfx
Bike lanes should be paid for by the folks who use them albeit very few. All of our resources between the 3 levels of government should be focused on greatly improving our Transit system here in HRM.
I’m hoping for a dedicated Transit lane across the Mag Hill so more folks can get out of their cars
I’m hoping for a dedicated Transit lane across the Mag Hill so more folks can get out of their cars
February 10, 2026 at 8:10 PM
So much of the bad stuff that’s going on at my former employer is down to Nous. This is not. This is down to direct government interference.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
U of A looks to remove EDI from hiring policy | CBC News
The University of Alberta is proposing to eliminate Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) from its hiring policy, a year after the school initially said it was moving away from the term.
www.cbc.ca
February 10, 2026 at 11:01 AM
So much of the bad stuff that’s going on at my former employer is down to Nous. This is not. This is down to direct government interference.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Idealistic Pragmatist
“China will cancel Heated Rivalry season two” would have been so much more believable
February 10, 2026 at 10:54 AM
“China will cancel Heated Rivalry season two” would have been so much more believable
Me: I have to work today and I don’t want to.
Partner: That’s not supposed to happen when you’re retired!
Me: I know, right???
Partner: That’s not supposed to happen when you’re retired!
Me: I know, right???
February 9, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Me: I have to work today and I don’t want to.
Partner: That’s not supposed to happen when you’re retired!
Me: I know, right???
Partner: That’s not supposed to happen when you’re retired!
Me: I know, right???
When our friends became the provincial government while we were living in Edmonton, I remember feeling worried they were miserable. Every time I saw one of them, I’d ask about it. In Halifax, I feel that way about my city councillor (who is not a friend, but she’s great and I hope not miserable!).
February 9, 2026 at 11:10 AM
When our friends became the provincial government while we were living in Edmonton, I remember feeling worried they were miserable. Every time I saw one of them, I’d ask about it. In Halifax, I feel that way about my city councillor (who is not a friend, but she’s great and I hope not miserable!).
I have absolutely no memory of how I got everything done when I was actually working full-time. Somehow I did, for years. It's a mystery.
Relatedly, people who get bored after retirement puzzle me.
Relatedly, people who get bored after retirement puzzle me.
February 8, 2026 at 12:06 PM
I have absolutely no memory of how I got everything done when I was actually working full-time. Somehow I did, for years. It's a mystery.
Relatedly, people who get bored after retirement puzzle me.
Relatedly, people who get bored after retirement puzzle me.
Reposted by Idealistic Pragmatist
Paging Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Keep this in mind when people claim cars mean business — closing Central #Madrid to cars over holidays resulted in a 9.5% boost in retail spending on its main shopping street: STUDY.
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
There was also a 71% drop in air pollution.
Via @carltonreid.com in @forbes.com. #citymakingmath #citiesforpeople
Closing Central Madrid To Cars Resulted In 9.5% Boost To Retail Spending, Finds Bank Analysis
City of Madrid significantly boosted the takings of its shops and restaurants last Christmas by banning cars from the CBD, finds an analysis by Spain's second largest bank.
www.forbes.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:07 AM
Paging Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Reposted by Idealistic Pragmatist
Holy shit! Parking minimums in the urban service boundary are dead as of last week.
February 5, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Holy shit! Parking minimums in the urban service boundary are dead as of last week.
Reposted by Idealistic Pragmatist
Cyclist who lives in city of over 3 million does in fact know your friend who rides a bike there too.
February 5, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Cyclist who lives in city of over 3 million does in fact know your friend who rides a bike there too.
Reposted by Idealistic Pragmatist
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Summary: they allowed new high-density builds that aren't covered by the property tax cap and so permanently improve their fiscal outlook without adding massive new costs per resident.
ASTONISHING BUT TRUE
Summary: they allowed new high-density builds that aren't covered by the property tax cap and so permanently improve their fiscal outlook without adding massive new costs per resident.
ASTONISHING BUT TRUE
How 3 small Nova Scotia towns improved their finances | CBC News
Three mayors in Nova Scotia say a focus on development, pooling resources, population growth and finding new revenue streams has helped move their towns into the low-risk category for fiscal instabili...
www.cbc.ca
February 5, 2026 at 2:41 PM
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Summary: they allowed new high-density builds that aren't covered by the property tax cap and so permanently improve their fiscal outlook without adding massive new costs per resident.
ASTONISHING BUT TRUE
Summary: they allowed new high-density builds that aren't covered by the property tax cap and so permanently improve their fiscal outlook without adding massive new costs per resident.
ASTONISHING BUT TRUE
@tsrhg.bsky.social hi! I believe you wanted to repost the information about the vaccine study, right? You actually reposted my post about my prior vaccine history. Would you mind undoing the repost on that and reposting the quoted post about the study instead?
February 5, 2026 at 1:54 PM
@tsrhg.bsky.social hi! I believe you wanted to repost the information about the vaccine study, right? You actually reposted my post about my prior vaccine history. Would you mind undoing the repost on that and reposting the quoted post about the study instead?
I’m excluded from the study because one of my many prior COVID vaccinations was with the early AstraZeneca vaccine. So bummed!
Ah well, my masking behaviour should probably have been an exclusion criterion anyway.
Ah well, my masking behaviour should probably have been an exclusion criterion anyway.
Halifax! There is a trial of an inhaled vaccine for COVID that you can enrol in right now!
Phase 2 Clinical Trial Evaluating an Inhaled Aerosol COVID-19 Vaccine
Study description
www.ccfv.ca
February 5, 2026 at 1:48 PM
I’m excluded from the study because one of my many prior COVID vaccinations was with the early AstraZeneca vaccine. So bummed!
Ah well, my masking behaviour should probably have been an exclusion criterion anyway.
Ah well, my masking behaviour should probably have been an exclusion criterion anyway.
Partner, looking at the weather forecast (confused voice): “But…there’s no storm on Sunday. There are supposed to be storms on Sundays!”
February 5, 2026 at 10:47 AM
Partner, looking at the weather forecast (confused voice): “But…there’s no storm on Sunday. There are supposed to be storms on Sundays!”
Reposted by Idealistic Pragmatist
Toronto and Halifax are both debating parking and... Halifax might be having a better day.
"I just can't imagine current requirements being adequate," says Cheng of visitor parking. She rejects the idea that the "market" should decide the amount of visitor parking in a new building, because people buying units just assume parking will be available and don't think about it before they buy.
February 4, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Toronto and Halifax are both debating parking and... Halifax might be having a better day.
Reposted by Idealistic Pragmatist
I desperately want to live in a city that is actively bettering itself – it's what drew me back to Halifax. However, we are quickly regressing under amateurish provincial leaders and their "vacuous and controllable" mayor. I don't think continued population growth is assured.
It seems like we had a brief period in Halifax when the constant talk of outward migration of young people stopped, but it seems like we’ve returned to the baseline I remember from childhood.
February 4, 2026 at 2:12 PM
I desperately want to live in a city that is actively bettering itself – it's what drew me back to Halifax. However, we are quickly regressing under amateurish provincial leaders and their "vacuous and controllable" mayor. I don't think continued population growth is assured.
Reposted by Idealistic Pragmatist
I'm planning on being in the room live posting. But before I start live posting I'm gonna take advantage of my 5 mins and call council out on its fiscal bullshit like I threatened to do on Mondays podcast.
#Halifax's budget committee meets today at 9:30am. On the agenda is the operating budget.
I'm watching the meeting from home because I can (and I have laundry to do). Work-from-home perk!
pub-halifax.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx...
I'm watching the meeting from home because I can (and I have laundry to do). Work-from-home perk!
pub-halifax.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx...
Budget Committee - February 04, 2026
pub-halifax.escribemeetings.com
February 4, 2026 at 11:26 AM
I'm planning on being in the room live posting. But before I start live posting I'm gonna take advantage of my 5 mins and call council out on its fiscal bullshit like I threatened to do on Mondays podcast.
Conversation with Partner about the sparse communication and absenteeism of our now not-so-new MP, culminating with:
Me: Well, we’ve had worse.
Her: And we’ve had better.
Me: Well, we’ve had worse.
Her: And we’ve had better.
February 4, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Conversation with Partner about the sparse communication and absenteeism of our now not-so-new MP, culminating with:
Me: Well, we’ve had worse.
Her: And we’ve had better.
Me: Well, we’ve had worse.
Her: And we’ve had better.
Reposted by Idealistic Pragmatist
This was the slimiest, greasiest vote I've seen at council in my time watching their meetings. Just an absolute shit show.
There was more debate on active transportation at #Halifax's budget committee on Friday. The committee voted in favour of Trish Purdy's motion requesting a briefing note to look at if any bike lane projects for 2026-2027 can be delayed.
Here's the story.
www.halifaxexaminer.ca/government/c...
Here's the story.
www.halifaxexaminer.ca/government/c...
Trish Purdy wants details on delaying some of next year's Halifax bike lane projects - Halifax Examiner
On Friday, budget committee voted in favour of councillor's request for a briefing note.
www.halifaxexaminer.ca
February 2, 2026 at 12:58 PM
This was the slimiest, greasiest vote I've seen at council in my time watching their meetings. Just an absolute shit show.
Reposted by Idealistic Pragmatist
It’s a dark and cold time in so many ways.
Grateful for a little meetup and ride with the #BikeHfx community, who brought everything from homemade cookies and hot chocolate to hot dogs!
Thanks to all who made this happen ❤️
Grateful for a little meetup and ride with the #BikeHfx community, who brought everything from homemade cookies and hot chocolate to hot dogs!
Thanks to all who made this happen ❤️
February 1, 2026 at 7:56 PM
It’s a dark and cold time in so many ways.
Grateful for a little meetup and ride with the #BikeHfx community, who brought everything from homemade cookies and hot chocolate to hot dogs!
Thanks to all who made this happen ❤️
Grateful for a little meetup and ride with the #BikeHfx community, who brought everything from homemade cookies and hot chocolate to hot dogs!
Thanks to all who made this happen ❤️
Reposted by Idealistic Pragmatist
Thank you to everyone who made it out this morning — 34 on the ride, and many more at coffee!
It’s a real treat to be part of a community that consistently comes together and shows up for each other the way #bikehfx does ♥️ 🚲 ☕️
It’s a real treat to be part of a community that consistently comes together and shows up for each other the way #bikehfx does ♥️ 🚲 ☕️
February 1, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Thank you to everyone who made it out this morning — 34 on the ride, and many more at coffee!
It’s a real treat to be part of a community that consistently comes together and shows up for each other the way #bikehfx does ♥️ 🚲 ☕️
It’s a real treat to be part of a community that consistently comes together and shows up for each other the way #bikehfx does ♥️ 🚲 ☕️