philbixby.bsky.social

(the moon in the opposite direction!)

The Most Amazing Sky over York this evening - the moon was amazing but the rest was even better...

#phonephotography
#xiaomi14

It breaks my mind that two British political parties have seen scenes like this and decided to try and replicate it in Britain. Thuggary, lawlessness, state brutality. Farage and Badenoch decided they liked the look of it.

Here's one made of purest frog, come to wave at our cat Lulu through our window... 😁

Both Labour and the Conservatives were stronger, more intellectually vigorous & commanded a larger share of the vote when they were broad churches, able to contain different strands of opinion.

Recently they've developed a taste for purges, loyalty tests & expulsions.

How's that going for them? 🧵

They really *are* ridiculously good

Not sure St.Albans would want me back, frankly

There seems to be a crippling inability to reflect going on in government at the present time...

Our pal John Gilham has visited Vauban in Freiburg - basically the UK's built wishlist for sustainable urban development - and sent photos & words on the experience of being there. It's now a blog on YoCo's website at www.yoco.uk/blog/vauban-... as part of our discussion of what "good" looks like.

My late mother, a fan of David Icke, would approve

Breezy out

I like that - it gives him ownership of Brexit, and ownership of the boats

Some good news.

London is meeting legal limits for toxic NO2 pollution for the first time – almost 200 years earlier than predicted – following the Mayor’s "world leading air pollution policies," City Hall announces.

The Ultra Low Emissions Zone - and similar policies - really do work.

The Life-Sized City - Barcelona — YoCo Our winter series of Life Sized City screenings and discussions started in Barcelona – we chose this episode for its parallels with York around housing and gentrification, and tourism. As with all the...

Yesterday evening saw the Screenings & Discussions event run by YoCo as part of York Environment Festival - a virtual trip to Barcelona via The Life Sized City film, and discussion of lessons we might learn. I've blogged it on YoCo's website at www.yoco.uk/blog/the-lif...

How weird that this should have disappeared from the Telegraph archive...

Final plug for tomorrow's www.yoco.uk Screenings and Discussions - part of York Environment Festival. How can communities create more liveable places? How can they support bold action by politicians & good local professionals? Join us on Zoom, 7-9pm Monday evening - via www.yoco.uk/events/the-l...

This is all true, and why we need to think about housebuilding as part of neighbourhood / city building rather than a discrete thing. Which points to broader agendas which probably need to come from government (and from communities where need is recognised). I do agree it's a big challenge.

Before getting too excited, check the detail. These are *optional* cards, not mandatory, and after concerns that blocked a serious plan, the system is provided by the state without private company involvement.

That would be a scheme even I could back.

Interesting. I read James H-P's "What We Have Lost" recently which has much to say about manufacturing and the infrastructure it needs (government, education etc). Councils do need to build more, but they need to enable communities to build too.

I'm interested in this, hence my earlier comment about thinking about development more holistically. Any thoughts on where those new ideas might be - where the conversations need starting?

That's helpful perspective. Surely there's a view though that a town isn't just housing, but is employment, culture, economy and all of those can bring benefit to their existing environment (but require much more complex lever-pulling in terms of making that broader agenda work)?

Just back from One Battle After Another - which is excellent. Just how much time did Leonardo D spend preparing by watching Jeff Bridges playing The Dude

A black and white photograph with a pale old building visible beyond a fragment of even older building in the foreground, with an arched opening and pantiled roof visible

Last of the Lyon trip photos - further layers of the past

B&W photography on film
📷 Nikon F4
🎞️ Ilford Delta Pro 100
#believeinfilm
#fridayfavourites
#ilfordphoto

The community note has it right.

Mahmood vows to change modern slavery laws after bid to deport Eritrean man thwarted Appeal court rejects home secretary’s attempt to appeal against blocking of return of man to France under ‘one in, one out’ deal

Modern slavery laws have already been weakened to the point where victims are at serious risk. Further undermining them will be absolutely catastrophic for vulnerable victims. It isn't modern slavery laws which need changing. It's Labour anti-asylum policies.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Interested in how the city can fit your life? Join us on Monday evening for a screening and discussion featuring The Life Sized City film on Barcelona. Part of York Environment Festival 2025 and brought to you by www.yoco.uk - booking via www.yoco.uk/events/the-l...

If you're in or around York and want to see how old homes like ours can be made more comfortable (and sustainable) get yourself booked on some visits this Sunday - York Open Eco Homes at www.stnicks.org.uk/waste-and-su...

A black and white photograph taken from below street level, looking up past railings and bicycles to a clear sky

More than one city

B&W photography on film
📷 Nikon F4
🎞️ Ilford Delta Pro 100
#believeinfilm
#fridayfavourites
#ilfordphoto

Black and white photograph of a stone wall, the edge of an arch in the lower left corner and much evidence of construction at different times

Narrative in stone

B&W photography on film
📷 Nikon F4
🎞️ Ilford Delta Pro 100
#believeinfilm
#fridayfavourites
#ilfordphoto

Where is Hans Rosling and his Factfulness when you need him? Interestingly, his research found the specialists in the field to have the least accurate and most pessimistic perception of issues such as education levels, mortality and morbidity.