neil21
@neil21.bsky.social
Renewables SaaS PM by day, Urbanism by night. Scot in #newwest
Great interview with Christopher Nolan about The Odyssey by a doctoral student in philosophy. First question: “Do you consider yourself a bard for a civilization at dusk?" [kottke.org]
Does Christopher Nolan Consider Himself a Bard for a Civilization at Dusk?
This 17-minute interview about the Odyssey with Christopher Nolan conducted by philosophy doctoral student Zhong Shu is one of the better ones I’ve seen. The first two questions are: Do you consider yourself a
kottke.org
Work vs gym: a simple way to decide whether to use AI for a task. “At the gym, it makes no sense for that robot to lift weights for you. The point of weightlifting isn’t to move heavy things across the room; it’s to actually lift those heavy things.” [schneier.com]
Should You Use AI for a Task? Here’s a Simple Way to Decide - Schneier on Security
This essay originally appeared in The Guardian. I teach public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Munk School at the University of Toronto. And it will come as no surprise to you that my students regularly use AI to complete their writing assignments. Doing so is a waste of their tuition m
schneier.com
Spain summons Italy’s ambassador after Italy said it’s considering suspending Schengen with Spain over the migratory crisis in Ceuta. Spain “expects European solidarity and not partisan demagoguery”, says foreign minister.
Jorge Liboreiro@jorgeliboreiro.bsky.social · 6d agoThe Italian government is considering suspending free circulation with Spain under Schengen. EU countries can reintroduce border checks in response to serious threats to public order or internal security. In this case, it would be new checks at airports for 🇪🇸🇮🇹 flights.
Here are those special rules on Ceuta and Melilla as regards Schengen - dating back to Spain acceding to the Schengen Convention eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-conten...
Nissim@nissimss.bsky.social · 5d agoCeuta isn’t in mainland Spain. Is on Morocco’s coast. Under Spanish control since 1500 Is one of 2 Spanish cities that form the European Union’s only land borders with Africa, While Ceuta is part of the EU, it operates under special rules that restrict people from entering Spain and the rest of EU.
“Ni siquiera sé por qué he venido”: el rápido retorno desde España de la estampida marroquí en Ceuta
“Ni siquiera sé por qué he venido”: el rápido retorno desde España de la estampida marroquí en Ceuta
Mientras el Gobierno español asegura que 96% de las 50.000 personas que ingresaron a Ceuta el 30 de julio ya han vuelto a Marruecos, el mundo sigue buscando una explicación a un fenómeno tan efímero como inusual. Algunos de los que retornan lamentan que en la ciudad “no había agua ni comida”. Otros le han declarado al ‘New York Times’ que fueron alentados por autoridades de su país. Lo único cierto es que la aventura dejó 57 fallecidos en el cruce a nado alrededor del espigón del Tarajal.
f24.my
This has been confirmed by Spanish news outlet El Pais. english.elpais.com/spain/2026-0...
Thousands of people return to Morocco after crossing the border into Ceuta
Spanish soldiers have joined the police and Civil Guard officers at the Spanish exclave in North Africa, and authorities say 48,300 people out of an estimated 50,000 have already returned home volunta...
english.elpais.com
Update: over 48,300 people have returned from Ceuta to Morocco. About 1,700 people are still in Ceuta.
Jorge Liboreiro@jorgeliboreiro.bsky.social · 5d agoUpdate: over 37,500 people have already returned from Ceuta to Morocco, according to the Spanish Interior Ministry. This represents 75% of all arrivals. Death toll rises to 57.
No professional accomplishment has ever made me happier than this. theonion.com/translator-o...
Translator Of Original ‘Minions’ Epic Poem Slams ‘Sexless, Bloodless’ Film Adaptation
PHILADELPHIA—In a 4,500-word essay published in Harper’s Magazine, Emily Wilson, known for her popular translation of the Minions epic poem, blasted the latest film Thursday as a “sexless, bloodless” ...
theonion.com
Wow. The #newwest pier park expansion is done! The city workers have been meticulously working rain and shine. Congratulations on such a beautiful space! It sure is neat to hear laughter and play instead of drilling. 😁
"It would be one thing if CPP was underperforming... another if they were manipulating their benchmark to pay themselves unduly... another if ... depressing growth in the Canadian economy writ-large to cover it all up. I’ll prove they're doing all three"
How CPP Executives are Manipulating their Benchmarks to Pay Themselves Before Your Retirement
An insider's perspective on the illegitimate $100 million dollar wealth transfer from Canadian tax-payers to CPP execs and employees, and exactly how they covered it up.
mathewkaminski.substack.com
Front Street levelled up! 🎮 We had a blast at the Video Games-themed Games Night edition of Fridays on Front, complete with live music, cosplay, family fun and even Sonic joining the band. Thanks for playing, New West! 💙 #FridaysOnFront #NewWest #KeyWestFord
Excellent piece by @kehyslop.bsky.social on the dilemma #NewWest faces between population/densification & the urgent need to build school capacity. Mustn't there be something better than the current plan, which noone seems happy with?
Katie Hyslop@kehyslop.bsky.social · last wk.New West needs a 2nd high school. SD40 are considering tearing down seismically-upgraded Tweedsmuir Elem for the new school. Where will Tweedsmuir students go temporarily? To Stride Avenue School, which is at high risk in event of an earthquake. My @thetyee.ca piece today thetyee.ca/News/2026/07...
Pier Park in #NewWest continues to expand. It's long overdue, but really happy to see council's plans to expand and improve park space come to fruition. www.newwestcity.ca/2026/07/28/c...
City of New Westminster completes westward expansion of Westminster Pier Park | City of New Westminster
newwestcity.ca
Maybe it's the times and places I'm out, but in one month I have never seen congestion on any Dutch transportation mode. A central tourist-route tram might be standing room only, but never armpit-in-face. Small platoons of cyclists and pedestrians gather at lights. Cars most often appear singly.
This seems to be a recurring theme in the NWP platform. Continue doing all the things council is doing despite voting against doing all of them. Does anyone know if/when Be Good is making any platform announcements?
Jason Congdon@jasoncongdon.bsky.social · 7d ago80% of the items (22/27) in the #NWP "Greener #NewWest" platform are the city's existing policies and practices. I've posted a full rundown with receipts on Reddit.
Today I'm excited and nervous in equal measure. New website, new everything, and Scott Monaco is officially open for submissions. We're looking for personal essays, photo essays, and humor from these places. Closes July 31. We pay! #travelwriting #travel
Scott Monaco Is Open for Submissions
We pay $50–$200 for writing and photography about the Global South and less-traveled destinations. Open through July 31.
read.scottmonaco.travel
What I love about this story is that, at its core, it rests on the idea that French naval officers can identify members of the Shadow Cabinet from a distance, something most politicos can't do from up close.
Henry Mance@henrymance.ft.com · last wk.update: Chris Philp has invaded France.
Local governments are unaccountable, time to drop the provincial hammer.
Maloney: "wrt my colleagues saying this is a 'one sized fits all approach', our current zoning is a one sized fits all approach. But it doesn't actually fit all people. It fits people who can afford to buy incredibly expensive homes, and it doesn't fit everyone else."
Minimalism is apparently trendy again (yay!), but it is important to know where it came from- the battle against tuberculosis. It was all about health. With an aging population, we have to think about prescribing it again. lloydalter.substack.com/p/minimalism...
Minimalism is not a style, it's a prescription
It fights disease with design and was a weapon in the battle against tuberculosis. It's time to get serious about making our homes safe, healthy, and minimalist again.
lloydalter.substack.com
"« Le dessin qu'on trouve le plus sur la route, c'est le sexe », raconte Patrick. « Je les transforme en hiboux, en lapins ou en papillons. Mais cette année, je fais beaucoup de lapins. »" 🐇🐰 Le tour de France, ce poète 😭🙄 www.lequipe.fr/Cyclisme-sur...
On a passé une journée avec Patrick, « l'effaceur de pénis » du Tour de France
À bord de sa camionnette, Patrick Dancoisne sillonne chaque matin la route de l'étape pour effacer les dessins obscènes et les messages politiques avant le passage du peloton. Surnommé « l'effaceur de...
lequipe.fr
If the plan that Ken Sim personally promoted for years "disrespected Vancouverites and the process itself" then I wonder who Ken Sim is going to hold accountable for such a disrespectful action
The Vancouver Villages Plan is up for a vote today! It would be a meaningful step in the right direction: low-rise apartments on off-arterial streets; walkable communities. We know it's the right direction for the city. It was prioritized by Ken Sim and ABC. Will they have the courage to pass it?
Peter Waldkirch 華彼德@pwaldkirch.bsky.social · 2w agoDay 3 of the Vancouver Villages Plan is starting up. Here's a live update of how it's going: (As before, I'll be listening but not posting on every speaker---too much psychic damage.) bsky.app/profile/pwal...
Very bad earthquake just now in Kumamoto, prelim magnitude M7.1 ⚒️🧪⚛️
Oh damn. Looks like a Big One hit Kumamoto, and it might have taken two full minutes for the shaking to get up here.
