bryan

Two Fender logos are placed on top of a Fender amp.

Sometimes I am way too OCD about certain details. #fender

Low Velocity An urbanist's blog based in Portland, Oregon. I share thoughts on planning, transit, housing, economic development and architecture.

Up to 11 subscribers on my urbanist blog! Probably seems lame, but building readership on niche and nerdy topics has proven difficult. I’m just gonna keep writing for myself and if someone else enjoys it, great. I’ve got some drafts in the queue.

Low Velocity https://lowvelocity.org/

Bad parenting award 👍: let my 6-year-old watch a few minutes of Jaws because he was begging me because it’s rated PG. Then came the gore, and I shut it off. He got mad because he just thought it was boring. Meanwhile, Harry Potter is PG-13. The movie ratings system is… something else.

“The moment of change is when the pain of your circumstances exceeds the fear of doing something different.” - Rich Roll

Super excited to check out Ghost 6.0. Ghost 6.0 https://announcements.ghost.org/ghost-6-0/?ref=ghost-newsletter

A black plastic storage bin with wheels is placed on a driveway, holding a tan cooler labeled "SHITI."

Heavy cooler hack with a wheeled storage tote.

Had to pull over for this one. Battle Ground, WA.

A metal pier extends over a calm lake, reflecting a forest of tall trees under a clear blue sky.

Early bird, etc.

Anyone ever had a seismic retrofit done on their home? If so, can we chat?

When is Ghost 6.0 being released?

A pint of McConnell’s Sweet Cream Caramel Brownie ice cream.

A beloved brand that’s been around for decades, I only just decided to see if it’s really worth the price. Pretty good! Maybe my new hide-it-from-the-kids, once-in-awhile sweet treat.

One of the more annoying things about life in Oregon is that you can’t buy liquor at the grocery store. Many liquor stores close at 8 p.m., and some as early as 5 p.m., even on weekends. I don’t drink a lot, but it’s frustrating having to make a special trip or running out of something after hours.

Just called a coworker on the phone instead of first checking to see if they were available on Teams or sending an email. Even though I still had to leave them a voicemail, it felt more human. I wonder if they will return my call or if they’ll email me. We could be phonepals.

A broken microwave plate with two strips of cooked bacon lies inside a microwave.

My microwave finally got so upset with me for eating veggie bacon that it destroyed a plate.

Q-Tips have cocaine in them.

From: @grubz
https://grubz.net/2025/07/22/conspiracy-theorists-dont-realize-theyre.html

The Best-Designed Town in the Netherlands…and therefore, the world - YouTube https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r-TuGAHR78w

Two people stand on a scenic overlook with one holding an umbrella, gazing at a cityscape surrounded by greenery under a clear sky.

I was picnicking with my daughter at Pittock Mansion when we suddenly found ourselves on the set of a movie. I managed to snap a few photos and liked this one the most.

I am always so shocked when a person on the other end of a professional video call doesn’t have their background blurred and their bedroom is spotless. While we try to keep a pretty clean house, having two little kids always ensures a certain level of household chaos.

This is absolutely true. I have a 3,000 gallon rain cistern that fills up in winter here in the PNW. It’s enough to water ONE 8x4 raised bed via drip irrigation over the summer. This amount of food is barely supplemental to our dietary needs. The only real benefits are educational.

Two people are smiling and standing on a sidewalk, one holding a cup of coffee.

Two children are looking at a bookshelf filled with various colorful books.

A vibrant mural featuring abstract natural elements decorates the side of a building on a street with people, trees, and a dog.

Two children walk on a colorful street toward an outdoor area with tables and people near a sign for Gorges Beer Co.

Our friend, who officiated our wedding, is in town from the Bay Area. We spent some time on Alberta Street this afternoon, shopping the used book stores, eating good food, and enjoying the murals. We made our way down to Kerns afterwards, got some soft serve, and caught a tiny bit of Pride. 🏳️‍🌈

I started a neighborhood-based group on FB for volunteer coordination because I’ve often thought their groups functionality is actually good. But now Meta is inviting all of my friends and coworkers on an ongoing and rolling basis without consent, which can’t be shut off. Abusive tactic.

A graphic of a tire inside a circle is surrounded by stars, with text below stating "40 Pounds Lost" and comparing the weight loss to a truck tire.

Progress has been slower lately, but I broke through a plateau and this win feels better than most. #gettingfit

literally me at 4:52 am

My God, I hope Epstein is his Watergate.

Nest Aware is going up from $15 to $20 a month. A 58% increase in less than 2 years is bananas for this service. I’ve been looking for another reason to drop my nest cams and here it is.

A lush community garden with various plants and flowers grows alongside a row of townhouses.

I’m always impressed by our park’s community gardens. Much of the neighborhood consists of apartments and attached housing without yards, so it’s all the more meaningful to have these spaces.

Silhouetted evergreen trees stand against a twilight sky with a faint trail of an airplane overhead.

Evening, beauties.

The Amount of Electricity Generated From Solar Is Suddenly Unbelievable If you blinked at any time in the past two years, [that feels a bit sloppy] you might've missed the fact that the sun has become the go-to source of energy for tens of millions across the globe. A recent survey by The New Yorker dove into the astonishing growth of solar energy over the past few years. Among other things, they note that renewables made up [covered?] 96 percent of demand for new energy throughout the globe. In the United States, 93 percent of that came from either solar or wind power. But while renewables are having their day, the speed […]

I wanted to share the article in The New Yorker, but it was behind a paywall.

The Amount of Electricity Generated From Solar Is Suddenly Unbelievable https://futurism.com/electricity-generated-solar-power

It’s been a minute since I thought about this band, which I used to listen to quite a bit. Wonder Ballroom has been on a burn lately with 20-year throwbacks. Maybe that’s their schtick!

Cut Copy I Official Info I Nov 11, 2025 I Wonder Ballroom I Portland […]