John Belshaw
@belshaw.bsky.social
Writer. Historian. Cyclist. Writing a history of cycling.
🛋️ Vancouver based
📚 Open textbooks https://opentextbc.ca/postconfederation/
🧭 Local stories https://www.anvilpress.com/books/vancouver-noir-1930-1960
Elbows up.
🛋️ Vancouver based
📚 Open textbooks https://opentextbc.ca/postconfederation/
🧭 Local stories https://www.anvilpress.com/books/vancouver-noir-1930-1960
Elbows up.
The surveillance state is real.
November 15, 2025 at 1:00 AM
The surveillance state is real.
This is a "gookie", perfected and performed by Harpo Marx. Practice it. Be ready. Brave Canadians, you know what to do.
October 26, 2025 at 8:20 PM
This is a "gookie", perfected and performed by Harpo Marx. Practice it. Be ready. Brave Canadians, you know what to do.
Let's get ahead of stupid for a change. CBC just posted this graph, which shows BC losing population. It's a 0.04% fall. That's ~2,000 out of 5.7million. It's a sneeze, not a call to ramp up pro-natalist rhetoric. And BC is where Canadians go to die. Thus: higher death rate.
September 26, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Let's get ahead of stupid for a change. CBC just posted this graph, which shows BC losing population. It's a 0.04% fall. That's ~2,000 out of 5.7million. It's a sneeze, not a call to ramp up pro-natalist rhetoric. And BC is where Canadians go to die. Thus: higher death rate.
The Grands Prix Cyclistes is in Québec and Montréal this year. The logo is just enough like that of the Green Party of Canada that one can only hope that confusion will ensue.
August 21, 2025 at 8:08 PM
The Grands Prix Cyclistes is in Québec and Montréal this year. The logo is just enough like that of the Green Party of Canada that one can only hope that confusion will ensue.
Another bumper year for figs and once again I must confront the possibility that Little Shop of Horrors is actually a nature documentary.
August 7, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Another bumper year for figs and once again I must confront the possibility that Little Shop of Horrors is actually a nature documentary.
Scientific American? Sounds like an oxymoron to me. And this one is clearly carrying water for the lebensraum-hungry Trumpoids.
July 6, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Scientific American? Sounds like an oxymoron to me. And this one is clearly carrying water for the lebensraum-hungry Trumpoids.
Spotted in the middle of the English countryside. Posted, presumably, for the benefit of the cows and sheep. Also, what if Jesus says yes to 15 minute cities? Now I am confused.
June 5, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Spotted in the middle of the English countryside. Posted, presumably, for the benefit of the cows and sheep. Also, what if Jesus says yes to 15 minute cities? Now I am confused.
No. No. No. That's a really bad idea. Stop it.
May 27, 2025 at 7:51 PM
No. No. No. That's a really bad idea. Stop it.
I am on record as not a fan of bagpipes. The way they spring out at you in the mall or show up unexpectedly at funerals. But today I encountered one in the wild, in its natural environment, and it was amazing. So let's return bagpipes to the wild, shall we? Thanks @MacmillanCancer for a great event.
April 27, 2025 at 12:39 PM
I am on record as not a fan of bagpipes. The way they spring out at you in the mall or show up unexpectedly at funerals. But today I encountered one in the wild, in its natural environment, and it was amazing. So let's return bagpipes to the wild, shall we? Thanks @MacmillanCancer for a great event.
All that stands between me and a cup of coffee.
March 21, 2025 at 4:41 PM
All that stands between me and a cup of coffee.
Out of nowhere this a.m., I remembered a bit from 'Russian Rhapsody' -- the cartoon about Gremlins from the Kremlin. Does this one remind you of anyone? Colouring? Bad hair? Generally chaotic evil?
March 20, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Out of nowhere this a.m., I remembered a bit from 'Russian Rhapsody' -- the cartoon about Gremlins from the Kremlin. Does this one remind you of anyone? Colouring? Bad hair? Generally chaotic evil?
Another surprising piece of classical urn art (same restaurant, same washroom stall). Is that Mercury delivering pizza? And why is Artemis paying with a snake? What's Merc going to do if she wants change back? I remain, your loyal serpent....
March 7, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Another surprising piece of classical urn art (same restaurant, same washroom stall). Is that Mercury delivering pizza? And why is Artemis paying with a snake? What's Merc going to do if she wants change back? I remain, your loyal serpent....
Surprising classical urn art in a restaurant washroom. What's with the ram's head? Is it part of the urn or something the urn tests upon? And if that's a steaming plate of food, is the Angel's head steaming as well? Or just smelly? Is his angel sense tingling?
March 7, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Surprising classical urn art in a restaurant washroom. What's with the ram's head? Is it part of the urn or something the urn tests upon? And if that's a steaming plate of food, is the Angel's head steaming as well? Or just smelly? Is his angel sense tingling?
They'll just tramp on through the rest of Canada to get to the Arctic. You know, just looking for some ice for the old cocktail shaker, sorry about the mess on the carpet....
February 25, 2025 at 4:06 PM
They'll just tramp on through the rest of Canada to get to the Arctic. You know, just looking for some ice for the old cocktail shaker, sorry about the mess on the carpet....
He is getting more and more orange, I'm sure of it. (The picture of Hugh Grant is for scale.)
February 2, 2025 at 12:35 AM
He is getting more and more orange, I'm sure of it. (The picture of Hugh Grant is for scale.)
And shed another for the old Vancouver tram/streetcar/interurban system. I just ... can't imagine. (Credit to r/vancouver)
January 30, 2025 at 12:05 AM
And shed another for the old Vancouver tram/streetcar/interurban system. I just ... can't imagine. (Credit to r/vancouver)
New to my neighbourhood. Huzzah! #waroncars
December 19, 2024 at 9:20 PM
New to my neighbourhood. Huzzah! #waroncars
Remember the fun of fixing series-wired Xmas lights when one bulb was dead? I never thought that level of frustration would return. Until today. These could only be worse if barbed wire was involved.
December 17, 2024 at 12:40 AM
Remember the fun of fixing series-wired Xmas lights when one bulb was dead? I never thought that level of frustration would return. Until today. These could only be worse if barbed wire was involved.
Got this wonderful opportunity today via LinkedIn. I am pretty sure the writer is AI because no one but my mum when she was angry at me ever uses my middle name.
What do you think? Should I throw away my principles for as much as $1600 US a week?
What do you think? Should I throw away my principles for as much as $1600 US a week?
December 16, 2024 at 9:36 PM
Got this wonderful opportunity today via LinkedIn. I am pretty sure the writer is AI because no one but my mum when she was angry at me ever uses my middle name.
What do you think? Should I throw away my principles for as much as $1600 US a week?
What do you think? Should I throw away my principles for as much as $1600 US a week?
Escaping hydrangeas.
November 20, 2024 at 9:28 PM
Escaping hydrangeas.
Vancouver Historical Society update!
November 10, 2024 at 12:56 AM
Vancouver Historical Society update!
Enjoying the BC Greens 'hot takes' on the BC Conservative 11th hour platform. Especially this one.
October 16, 2024 at 5:46 PM
Enjoying the BC Greens 'hot takes' on the BC Conservative 11th hour platform. Especially this one.