Jason Moiron
@jmoiron.bsky.social
nyc, software eng, early datadoghq.com, turntable.fm et al, he/him, read my blog at jmoiron.net
I have a theory that if we had cars that would not function if your abv was over the legal limit then the desirability of car centric suburbs would plummet overnight.
I think the debate over what people "want" is a distraction given two basic facts:
1) America vastly over-provides suburbs and under-provides dense walkability;
2) Suburbs are hideously bad for the environment and harmful to numerous markers of well-being.
That's enough! We should do more density!
1) America vastly over-provides suburbs and under-provides dense walkability;
2) Suburbs are hideously bad for the environment and harmful to numerous markers of well-being.
That's enough! We should do more density!
as will notes, people tend to *say* they want suburban living. they want a big house and a big yard and etc. this is not however what is suggested by their actual purchasing practices, which invariably result in something like this:
raincitymaps.com/maps/inspect...
raincitymaps.com/maps/inspect...
November 20, 2025 at 11:43 PM
I have a theory that if we had cars that would not function if your abv was over the legal limit then the desirability of car centric suburbs would plummet overnight.
I went to Portugal a lot in the 90s to visit family, and it's still shocking to me when I go that it's basically a Nordic country now in terms of English proficiency.
November 20, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I went to Portugal a lot in the 90s to visit family, and it's still shocking to me when I go that it's basically a Nordic country now in terms of English proficiency.
Due to the distorted framing of US politics, centrists think they are straddling some enlightened middle, but they are actually just ordinary conservatives. You can tell this is true because there is no electoral result for which their answer is not "Democrats should move to the right."
this is just a wild thing to tweet a week after democrats won a statewide in Georgia by 20 points. completely divorced from the current electoral environment
November 19, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Due to the distorted framing of US politics, centrists think they are straddling some enlightened middle, but they are actually just ordinary conservatives. You can tell this is true because there is no electoral result for which their answer is not "Democrats should move to the right."
TIL that the words dale (meaning valley) and dollar ($) are related.
The late medieval silver coins minted in the mining town Joachimstal ended up being called "taler/thaler", from which we get the word dollar. The "tal" in Joachimstal is the German form of dale.
The late medieval silver coins minted in the mining town Joachimstal ended up being called "taler/thaler", from which we get the word dollar. The "tal" in Joachimstal is the German form of dale.
November 17, 2025 at 9:32 PM
TIL that the words dale (meaning valley) and dollar ($) are related.
The late medieval silver coins minted in the mining town Joachimstal ended up being called "taler/thaler", from which we get the word dollar. The "tal" in Joachimstal is the German form of dale.
The late medieval silver coins minted in the mining town Joachimstal ended up being called "taler/thaler", from which we get the word dollar. The "tal" in Joachimstal is the German form of dale.
I know he is more famous for the late Kurosawa films he did, but I always liked Tatsuya Nakadai's performance in Dai-bosatsu Toge (called "Sword of Doom" in the west).
RIP to a real legend of Japanese cinema.
RIP to a real legend of Japanese cinema.
November 11, 2025 at 6:31 PM
I know he is more famous for the late Kurosawa films he did, but I always liked Tatsuya Nakadai's performance in Dai-bosatsu Toge (called "Sword of Doom" in the west).
RIP to a real legend of Japanese cinema.
RIP to a real legend of Japanese cinema.
AMOC shutdown is unfathomably catastrophic. You know how Toronto is the latitude of Marseille, but much colder? Imagine European latitudes with Canadian climates.
During the last AMOC shutdown, the winters in Paris were similar to Winnipeg, UK summers similar to Reykjavik.
During the last AMOC shutdown, the winters in Paris were similar to Winnipeg, UK summers similar to Reykjavik.
Whilst its easy to get used to scary graphs, this one made me pause! The 2025 State of the Cryosphere report published yesterday has this one overlaying observations of #AMOC slowdown against model predictions.
The report states that “AMOC shutdown appears all but inevitable”
The report states that “AMOC shutdown appears all but inevitable”
November 8, 2025 at 2:02 AM
AMOC shutdown is unfathomably catastrophic. You know how Toronto is the latitude of Marseille, but much colder? Imagine European latitudes with Canadian climates.
During the last AMOC shutdown, the winters in Paris were similar to Winnipeg, UK summers similar to Reykjavik.
During the last AMOC shutdown, the winters in Paris were similar to Winnipeg, UK summers similar to Reykjavik.
When I wrote about Mamdani's primary victory, I focused a lot on how Islamophobia formed the unspoken core of the campaign to label him antisemitic.
Predictably, his opponents tried to turn this up to 11 during the election, and I'm glad it failed.
jmoiron.net/blog/zohran-... (Jun 2025)
Predictably, his opponents tried to turn this up to 11 during the election, and I'm glad it failed.
jmoiron.net/blog/zohran-... (Jun 2025)
Zohran Takes
Various reflections and learnings related to Zohran Mamdani's win in the NYC Mayoral Primary.
jmoiron.net
November 5, 2025 at 11:27 PM
When I wrote about Mamdani's primary victory, I focused a lot on how Islamophobia formed the unspoken core of the campaign to label him antisemitic.
Predictably, his opponents tried to turn this up to 11 during the election, and I'm glad it failed.
jmoiron.net/blog/zohran-... (Jun 2025)
Predictably, his opponents tried to turn this up to 11 during the election, and I'm glad it failed.
jmoiron.net/blog/zohran-... (Jun 2025)
Oh no the communism has spread to the upper atmosphere.
November 5, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Oh no the communism has spread to the upper atmosphere.
It's one of those nights.
November 5, 2025 at 5:16 AM
It's one of those nights.
New York in Autumn is not too bad. Let's hope we can pull out the old R L Stine quote later tonight.
November 4, 2025 at 11:15 PM
New York in Autumn is not too bad. Let's hope we can pull out the old R L Stine quote later tonight.
Fewer than 10 users block me on bsky apparently, but among them is my favorite band, who:
1. last released an album in 2012
2. I saw live at least 20 times
3. follows me on twitter
Oh! turn to water, sublimate to steam,
then form a cloud and pour on me.
1. last released an album in 2012
2. I saw live at least 20 times
3. follows me on twitter
Oh! turn to water, sublimate to steam,
then form a cloud and pour on me.
November 4, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Fewer than 10 users block me on bsky apparently, but among them is my favorite band, who:
1. last released an album in 2012
2. I saw live at least 20 times
3. follows me on twitter
Oh! turn to water, sublimate to steam,
then form a cloud and pour on me.
1. last released an album in 2012
2. I saw live at least 20 times
3. follows me on twitter
Oh! turn to water, sublimate to steam,
then form a cloud and pour on me.
In this article:
> [Social Media] has affected the Democratic and Republican Parties in different ways. Let me start with the Democrats.
24 paragraphs on Democrats, 4 paragraphs on "The Right" and how yeah I guess they are nazis now but Americans like that so Democrats have to adapt.
> [Social Media] has affected the Democratic and Republican Parties in different ways. Let me start with the Democrats.
24 paragraphs on Democrats, 4 paragraphs on "The Right" and how yeah I guess they are nazis now but Americans like that so Democrats have to adapt.
November 2, 2025 at 3:43 PM
In this article:
> [Social Media] has affected the Democratic and Republican Parties in different ways. Let me start with the Democrats.
24 paragraphs on Democrats, 4 paragraphs on "The Right" and how yeah I guess they are nazis now but Americans like that so Democrats have to adapt.
> [Social Media] has affected the Democratic and Republican Parties in different ways. Let me start with the Democrats.
24 paragraphs on Democrats, 4 paragraphs on "The Right" and how yeah I guess they are nazis now but Americans like that so Democrats have to adapt.
The quote "Trump will be President in '28" is, barring his death or removal, correct; his term ends in '29. This feels like a dumb nitpick, but I think it plays into the subconscious narrative that Biden was somehow President in 2020 and is responsible for the pandemic response.
this week's newsletter has a bunch of quotes from the drafters and supporters of the 22nd amendment that make it extremely clear that there is no loophole you can use to circumvent it. (gift link)
Opinion | A Third Trump Term Is Not the Charm
www.nytimes.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The quote "Trump will be President in '28" is, barring his death or removal, correct; his term ends in '29. This feels like a dumb nitpick, but I think it plays into the subconscious narrative that Biden was somehow President in 2020 and is responsible for the pandemic response.
Every $TSLA quarterly announcement this year has been "we can't even give away our cars and the macro is getting worse" followed by a fabricated timetable for one of their vaporware projects, and the market reaction is "this guy's a genius lets give Musk literally a trillion dollars"
October 23, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Every $TSLA quarterly announcement this year has been "we can't even give away our cars and the macro is getting worse" followed by a fabricated timetable for one of their vaporware projects, and the market reaction is "this guy's a genius lets give Musk literally a trillion dollars"
Last night I had pickled chicken feet and pumpkin cheesecake, definitely the weirdest combo in recent memory.
7. Whats the weirdest food or meal you’ve eaten?
October 23, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Last night I had pickled chicken feet and pumpkin cheesecake, definitely the weirdest combo in recent memory.
Very encouraging that Zohran is not just about moonshot programs that will be difficult to enact given the limited powers of the Mayor.
There's plenty of waste from overlooked government operations and graft from corrupt NYS dem machinery that would be valuable to clear out.
There's plenty of waste from overlooked government operations and graft from corrupt NYS dem machinery that would be valuable to clear out.
NYC’s Dept. of Education spends around $10 billion/year on contracts.
Many provide essential services to our schools, yet with over 3,000 active contracts, DOE faces major efficiency challenges.
DOE needs procurement reform.
Yesterday I announced my platform to deliver it.
Many provide essential services to our schools, yet with over 3,000 active contracts, DOE faces major efficiency challenges.
DOE needs procurement reform.
Yesterday I announced my platform to deliver it.
NYC Mayor’s Race: Mamdani unveils plan to root out ‘duplicative’ education spending at city’s public schools | amNewYork
Democratic mayoral nominee and frontrunner Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday rolled out a plan to overhaul how the city's Education Department inks contracts with
www.amny.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Very encouraging that Zohran is not just about moonshot programs that will be difficult to enact given the limited powers of the Mayor.
There's plenty of waste from overlooked government operations and graft from corrupt NYS dem machinery that would be valuable to clear out.
There's plenty of waste from overlooked government operations and graft from corrupt NYS dem machinery that would be valuable to clear out.
Reposted by Jason Moiron
dying that the hot, based "dev focussed" "distro" has built in hotkeys to open dhh's email provider that nobody uses
October 22, 2025 at 2:07 PM
dying that the hot, based "dev focussed" "distro" has built in hotkeys to open dhh's email provider that nobody uses
If one person can drive coverage for a whole week by shooting someone, and millions of people can't even get front page for a peaceful protest, what kind of political engagement are we really encouraging?
October 19, 2025 at 4:17 PM
If one person can drive coverage for a whole week by shooting someone, and millions of people can't even get front page for a peaceful protest, what kind of political engagement are we really encouraging?
Bob Holden beclowning himself for Curtis Sliwa. Maybe it's bad when one guy runs as both a Republican and Democrat and there is literally no other option.
October 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Bob Holden beclowning himself for Curtis Sliwa. Maybe it's bad when one guy runs as both a Republican and Democrat and there is literally no other option.
Autumn is here and it is time for soup.
October 12, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Autumn is here and it is time for soup.
I listened to Ezra Klein's latest with Ta-Nehisi Coates and I thought it was pretty good? I'm far more on Coates' side, and I think that Klein is trying to recapture a dead past and build a coalition that no longer exists, but his fears and his goals make sense to me.
September 29, 2025 at 3:07 AM
I listened to Ezra Klein's latest with Ta-Nehisi Coates and I thought it was pretty good? I'm far more on Coates' side, and I think that Klein is trying to recapture a dead past and build a coalition that no longer exists, but his fears and his goals make sense to me.
It's fascinating to see this being written ~75 years ago, though it has many anachronisms.
The rules around contact in NFL are far too dangerous. Many routine NFL tackles are illegal in Rugby. The helmet is used as a weapon, but this is also where the player's head and brains are stored.
The rules around contact in NFL are far too dangerous. Many routine NFL tackles are illegal in Rugby. The helmet is used as a weapon, but this is also where the player's head and brains are stored.
September 28, 2025 at 12:25 AM
It's fascinating to see this being written ~75 years ago, though it has many anachronisms.
The rules around contact in NFL are far too dangerous. Many routine NFL tackles are illegal in Rugby. The helmet is used as a weapon, but this is also where the player's head and brains are stored.
The rules around contact in NFL are far too dangerous. Many routine NFL tackles are illegal in Rugby. The helmet is used as a weapon, but this is also where the player's head and brains are stored.
Reposted by Jason Moiron
The people “enforcing” immigration law under this administration understand what their real job is but we’re all supposed to pretend it’s something else
September 25, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The people “enforcing” immigration law under this administration understand what their real job is but we’re all supposed to pretend it’s something else
Even a Nadal guy should see this earlier, but hey, a good TCW take.
Real ones know the best tennis comes from the eccentrics (Moutet, Cuevas, Bublik, 'Penko), the artists (Federer, Henin, Muchova) and "the kid" (Alcaraz, Fonseca, Andreeva).
Monfils was all 3.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Real ones know the best tennis comes from the eccentrics (Moutet, Cuevas, Bublik, 'Penko), the artists (Federer, Henin, Muchova) and "the kid" (Alcaraz, Fonseca, Andreeva).
Monfils was all 3.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
The Most Beautiful Stroke in Tennis
The value of the single-handed backhand lay not in a player’s strength but in his creativity.
www.theatlantic.com
September 24, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Even a Nadal guy should see this earlier, but hey, a good TCW take.
Real ones know the best tennis comes from the eccentrics (Moutet, Cuevas, Bublik, 'Penko), the artists (Federer, Henin, Muchova) and "the kid" (Alcaraz, Fonseca, Andreeva).
Monfils was all 3.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Real ones know the best tennis comes from the eccentrics (Moutet, Cuevas, Bublik, 'Penko), the artists (Federer, Henin, Muchova) and "the kid" (Alcaraz, Fonseca, Andreeva).
Monfils was all 3.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...