Borners
@borners.bsky.social
Transit Costs Project Researcher
英国基進主義者 (English state buildingism...its better in the Sino-Japanese).
Profile pic is Nagasawa Ryosetsu's picture of Crane (the virtuous man) staring at your soul.
英国基進主義者 (English state buildingism...its better in the Sino-Japanese).
Profile pic is Nagasawa Ryosetsu's picture of Crane (the virtuous man) staring at your soul.
Pinned
Borners
@borners.bsky.social
· Oct 17
This Himeji city's current land use plan, 6 sides of A4 for a city of 500,000 people, an industrial city with Japan's largest intact castle west of Osaka. Use rights, FAR ratios, light-rights, set-back all, here.
If your city plan can't be summarised like this, you have to ask why.
If your city plan can't be summarised like this, you have to ask why.
UK immigration sceptics collapse on impact with
1. Okay so how high are you willing taxes to go?
2. Are you okay with London eating Boston and Middlesborough's working age people like Tokyo and Seoul do.
3. Are you willing to tell Lancaster and Middlesborough their unis will close or should I?
1. Okay so how high are you willing taxes to go?
2. Are you okay with London eating Boston and Middlesborough's working age people like Tokyo and Seoul do.
3. Are you willing to tell Lancaster and Middlesborough their unis will close or should I?
For reference, to my American friends, Phillips is a member of the Labour Party
Trevor Phillips proposes banning "remittances" (ie: imposing currency/exchange controls on international cash transfers by foreign nationals from Britain). He says this would disincentivise immigration, in a Times piece saying the Home Secretary needs to go [much] further
archive.ph/RlXPj
archive.ph/RlXPj
November 24, 2025 at 10:27 PM
UK immigration sceptics collapse on impact with
1. Okay so how high are you willing taxes to go?
2. Are you okay with London eating Boston and Middlesborough's working age people like Tokyo and Seoul do.
3. Are you willing to tell Lancaster and Middlesborough their unis will close or should I?
1. Okay so how high are you willing taxes to go?
2. Are you okay with London eating Boston and Middlesborough's working age people like Tokyo and Seoul do.
3. Are you willing to tell Lancaster and Middlesborough their unis will close or should I?
Reposted by Borners
It's out now: @egoldwyn.bsky.social is on the Mamdani transition team committee on transportation, climate, and infrastructure. mailchi.mp/zohranfornyc...
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani Announces Transition Committee Appointments to Advance His Affordability Agenda
mailchi.mp
November 24, 2025 at 8:27 PM
It's out now: @egoldwyn.bsky.social is on the Mamdani transition team committee on transportation, climate, and infrastructure. mailchi.mp/zohranfornyc...
@miyhnea.bsky.social Describing the Eastern European state building by Montenegro. Truly I am jealous of such state building patriotism.
Revived the nation, freed it from the Serb, adopted Euro, got into NATO. Set it on its civilizational destined course to be a fiscal paradise / tourist hotel owner state inside the EU
And he got executed by his own kids who voted some Green/Lib hippie (hotel owner controlled obvs)
And he got executed by his own kids who voted some Green/Lib hippie (hotel owner controlled obvs)
November 24, 2025 at 8:58 PM
@miyhnea.bsky.social Describing the Eastern European state building by Montenegro. Truly I am jealous of such state building patriotism.
Eugh, you think you've found a series interviews with Pre-classic Maya experts...only to realise the interviewer combines New Age woo with consistent assertations that to build anything Mayans must of had non-mesoamerican "help". Bleh.
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Eugh, you think you've found a series interviews with Pre-classic Maya experts...only to realise the interviewer combines New Age woo with consistent assertations that to build anything Mayans must of had non-mesoamerican "help". Bleh.
Reposted by Borners
You can do this with Poland as a con because you can pretend the economy skyrocketed bcs of based trad PiS
It's dumb obviously but at least straightforward. Just wait for them to delve even lower and discover Romania or Bulgaria because here its just incomprehensible memes with no ideology
It's dumb obviously but at least straightforward. Just wait for them to delve even lower and discover Romania or Bulgaria because here its just incomprehensible memes with no ideology
Over at the Daily Telegraph, they're scratching their heads as to why the former mining and steel producinv city of Gliwice in Poland is now 45% more prosperous than Darlington... and why it has new shiny infrastructure... without mentioning EU funds for urban and regional development...
November 24, 2025 at 10:22 AM
You can do this with Poland as a con because you can pretend the economy skyrocketed bcs of based trad PiS
It's dumb obviously but at least straightforward. Just wait for them to delve even lower and discover Romania or Bulgaria because here its just incomprehensible memes with no ideology
It's dumb obviously but at least straightforward. Just wait for them to delve even lower and discover Romania or Bulgaria because here its just incomprehensible memes with no ideology
Everyone has this pathology. UK/JPN specific problems are quite different.
UK is a multi-national state that can't build anything, and identity crisis created by the EU being a better Union.
JPN is a nation state with a toxic business/work culture, failure subsidising financial system.
UK is a multi-national state that can't build anything, and identity crisis created by the EU being a better Union.
JPN is a nation state with a toxic business/work culture, failure subsidising financial system.
I suspect that the UK and Japan have the same sort of political pathologies: an electorate that basically hates migration at the same time the political-economic system requires labour as a means of staying competitive.
Japan’s labor market and social welfare challenges demand foreign labor, yet the current political framing from Takaichi's new government treats foreigners as a social problem, writes Stefan Aichholzer in his analysis:
November 24, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Everyone has this pathology. UK/JPN specific problems are quite different.
UK is a multi-national state that can't build anything, and identity crisis created by the EU being a better Union.
JPN is a nation state with a toxic business/work culture, failure subsidising financial system.
UK is a multi-national state that can't build anything, and identity crisis created by the EU being a better Union.
JPN is a nation state with a toxic business/work culture, failure subsidising financial system.
Reposted by Borners
The new Cairo museum in Egypt (that I too would like to visit eventually) is apparently "viral" on them tiktoks for a wrong reason
Source: www.tiktok.com/@otimesbrasi...
Source: www.tiktok.com/@otimesbrasi...
November 24, 2025 at 3:57 PM
The new Cairo museum in Egypt (that I too would like to visit eventually) is apparently "viral" on them tiktoks for a wrong reason
Source: www.tiktok.com/@otimesbrasi...
Source: www.tiktok.com/@otimesbrasi...
It should rise with inflation, TfL's has a fiscal crisis and a dozen higher priorities.
1. Get 2024 rolling stock in action ASAP.
2. Buy more of it after 2.
3. Pay off debts (incurred in low interest rate years).
4. Rehire lost mid-rankers.
1. Get 2024 rolling stock in action ASAP.
2. Buy more of it after 2.
3. Pay off debts (incurred in low interest rate years).
4. Rehire lost mid-rankers.
I'm intrigued to see what Sadiq Khan does with the national fares freeze. London decisions are constrained by the need to pass on rail fare increases to daily/weekly caps etc. Some innovation would be nice, particularly where there is capacity.
November 24, 2025 at 4:01 PM
It should rise with inflation, TfL's has a fiscal crisis and a dozen higher priorities.
1. Get 2024 rolling stock in action ASAP.
2. Buy more of it after 2.
3. Pay off debts (incurred in low interest rate years).
4. Rehire lost mid-rankers.
1. Get 2024 rolling stock in action ASAP.
2. Buy more of it after 2.
3. Pay off debts (incurred in low interest rate years).
4. Rehire lost mid-rankers.
I mean this is exactly what plants/biosphere in general did several times or rather all the time (on evolutionary timescales admittedly).
Human social conservativism is obsessed with "natural", but doesn't really like actual nature.
Human social conservativism is obsessed with "natural", but doesn't really like actual nature.
Anti-solar NIMBYs aren't beating the accusations of being pretty dim bulbs. "Extracting from the sky" is a good one
November 24, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I mean this is exactly what plants/biosphere in general did several times or rather all the time (on evolutionary timescales admittedly).
Human social conservativism is obsessed with "natural", but doesn't really like actual nature.
Human social conservativism is obsessed with "natural", but doesn't really like actual nature.
Reposted by Borners
Very niche council tax moan incoming... the fair funding review penalises parts of the country with below-average tax and says it wants to move to full equalisation. But you can only raise council tax by 4.99% and we all take the max. So places with low rates can never catch up.
November 24, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Very niche council tax moan incoming... the fair funding review penalises parts of the country with below-average tax and says it wants to move to full equalisation. But you can only raise council tax by 4.99% and we all take the max. So places with low rates can never catch up.
Also why invest in risky ordinary business when you can invest in mortgages? The government's NIMBY 1.5 million target, and DOA planning reforms are their main financial policy alongside Trussism-but-slower.
There isn't a magic trick with fin-reg available. Tax and planning reform or bust.
There isn't a magic trick with fin-reg available. Tax and planning reform or bust.
"if small businesses cannot borrow, it is hard for them to spend. The resulting low levels of business investment have led to years of sub-par productivity growth"- on.ft.com/44sjWT4
Surprisingly simpleminded from Lex
A. Most business investment is large companies
B. Not dependent on loans... 1/
Surprisingly simpleminded from Lex
A. Most business investment is large companies
B. Not dependent on loans... 1/
Lex in depth: Could the banks revive Britain’s economy?
If the chancellor can find a way to solve the credit drought that small businesses face, the country’s prospects would get an important boost
on.ft.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Also why invest in risky ordinary business when you can invest in mortgages? The government's NIMBY 1.5 million target, and DOA planning reforms are their main financial policy alongside Trussism-but-slower.
There isn't a magic trick with fin-reg available. Tax and planning reform or bust.
There isn't a magic trick with fin-reg available. Tax and planning reform or bust.
Reposted by Borners
Just seen another 'but you don't get it! Raising income tax would be unpopular!' It certainly would.
I just am asking anyone who posts that to look at the currently planning departmental spending allocations going into 2028-9 and to explain why they think the *current* plans will be popular:
I just am asking anyone who posts that to look at the currently planning departmental spending allocations going into 2028-9 and to explain why they think the *current* plans will be popular:
Spending Review 2025 (HTML)
www.gov.uk
November 23, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Just seen another 'but you don't get it! Raising income tax would be unpopular!' It certainly would.
I just am asking anyone who posts that to look at the currently planning departmental spending allocations going into 2028-9 and to explain why they think the *current* plans will be popular:
I just am asking anyone who posts that to look at the currently planning departmental spending allocations going into 2028-9 and to explain why they think the *current* plans will be popular:
Oh my god that is just a perfect example of the rubbish turf of Postwar council estates. Turf is for ball games or picnics, what else is it good for?
(Its because architects 1. confused pastoral agriculture with "nature" 2. Wanted negative space)
(Its because architects 1. confused pastoral agriculture with "nature" 2. Wanted negative space)
For for @lccmunicipal.bsky.social - screenshot from a mid-60s BBC Archive film on Cockney accents and a view of a housing estate 'over the border' in Chigwell, Essex. @municipaldreams.bsky.social
November 23, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Oh my god that is just a perfect example of the rubbish turf of Postwar council estates. Turf is for ball games or picnics, what else is it good for?
(Its because architects 1. confused pastoral agriculture with "nature" 2. Wanted negative space)
(Its because architects 1. confused pastoral agriculture with "nature" 2. Wanted negative space)
Reposted by Borners
2006: Cinema closes after a brief period as a church
2022: Planning permission for 42 flats refused due to concerns about effect on local character
2025: Planning permission finally granted for 48 flats
Three wasted years in a struggling town centre.
www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/ne...
2022: Planning permission for 42 flats refused due to concerns about effect on local character
2025: Planning permission finally granted for 48 flats
Three wasted years in a struggling town centre.
www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/ne...
Flats plan for former cinema given final approval
A plan to convert a former cinema into flats and build a new apartment block has been given the final seal of approval.
www.kentonline.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 8:19 PM
2006: Cinema closes after a brief period as a church
2022: Planning permission for 42 flats refused due to concerns about effect on local character
2025: Planning permission finally granted for 48 flats
Three wasted years in a struggling town centre.
www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/ne...
2022: Planning permission for 42 flats refused due to concerns about effect on local character
2025: Planning permission finally granted for 48 flats
Three wasted years in a struggling town centre.
www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/ne...
Reposted by Borners
In ever age, in every place, the deeds of man remain the same.
November 23, 2025 at 2:51 PM
In ever age, in every place, the deeds of man remain the same.
This is unfair the plan is clearly British Rail circa 1976. British rail in 1989 is actually doing quite well esp Intercity/Network Southeast/Scotrail, with lots of electrification (at affordable costs too) and making progress on advancing driver only operations.
Indeed. Railway nationalisation doesn't have to be like this: not every nationalised railway is 'Germany in 2025' or 'the United Kingdom in 1994', but it's wild seeing the government actively go 'British Rail in 1989, here we come baby!'
"You know how British Rail was starved of investment because governments kept prices artificially low? And how privatisation has seen ridership increase with increased ticket prices underpinning much needed investment?
Well, we've nationalised it again, so we can go back to freezing ticket prices!"
Well, we've nationalised it again, so we can go back to freezing ticket prices!"
November 23, 2025 at 5:07 PM
This is unfair the plan is clearly British Rail circa 1976. British rail in 1989 is actually doing quite well esp Intercity/Network Southeast/Scotrail, with lots of electrification (at affordable costs too) and making progress on advancing driver only operations.
Reposted by Borners
Indeed. Railway nationalisation doesn't have to be like this: not every nationalised railway is 'Germany in 2025' or 'the United Kingdom in 1994', but it's wild seeing the government actively go 'British Rail in 1989, here we come baby!'
"You know how British Rail was starved of investment because governments kept prices artificially low? And how privatisation has seen ridership increase with increased ticket prices underpinning much needed investment?
Well, we've nationalised it again, so we can go back to freezing ticket prices!"
Well, we've nationalised it again, so we can go back to freezing ticket prices!"
November 23, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Indeed. Railway nationalisation doesn't have to be like this: not every nationalised railway is 'Germany in 2025' or 'the United Kingdom in 1994', but it's wild seeing the government actively go 'British Rail in 1989, here we come baby!'
Reposted by Borners
Just like Brexit and much else, some folk have strong opinions about stuff they never enquire deeply about even if they use it (and often barely do). They’re about to find out that profit was equivalent to only about 6 mo of fare increases. Now new seats etc will go head to head for capex with NHS
November 23, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Just like Brexit and much else, some folk have strong opinions about stuff they never enquire deeply about even if they use it (and often barely do). They’re about to find out that profit was equivalent to only about 6 mo of fare increases. Now new seats etc will go head to head for capex with NHS
Reposted by Borners
The fact that in both 2019 and 2024, the winning party did so with a set of manifesto promises that could not be kept and dissolved upon contact with actual office is something that as an industry we should be much more bothered by than we are.
November 23, 2025 at 12:35 PM
The fact that in both 2019 and 2024, the winning party did so with a set of manifesto promises that could not be kept and dissolved upon contact with actual office is something that as an industry we should be much more bothered by than we are.
Yes we should all follow the example of massive tax evasion (sorry "investment zone"), state-directed overpriced procurement and I'm sure Labour Together will love this most,
masses and masses of student immigration.
Oh wait.
masses and masses of student immigration.
Oh wait.
Rotherham has seen a remarkable rise in its productivity in recent years. From the lowest in South Yorkshire in 2004, by 2023 it had the highest productivity in the area, even above Sheffield.
So what’s going on in South Yorkshire?
Short thread below.
1/6
So what’s going on in South Yorkshire?
Short thread below.
1/6
November 23, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Yes we should all follow the example of massive tax evasion (sorry "investment zone"), state-directed overpriced procurement and I'm sure Labour Together will love this most,
masses and masses of student immigration.
Oh wait.
masses and masses of student immigration.
Oh wait.
Reposted by Borners
NYT isn’t worth reading because they are in the bag for Trump
November 21, 2025 at 2:04 PM
NYT isn’t worth reading because they are in the bag for Trump
Reposted by Borners
“This is part of our wider plans to rebuild Great British Railways the public can be proud of and rely on.” - engagingly on the nose 'this can be read in multiple ways' line, this.
Relief for rail passengers as fare freeze in England announced for 2026
Relief for rail passengers as fare freeze in England announced for 2026
Chancellor will confirm the measure, intended to help commuters on expensive routes, in her budget speech
Rail fares in England will not be increased in 2026, the government has announced, surprising passengers with the first fare freeze in 30 years.
The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will confirm a freeze on fares in this week’s budget, a move designed to limit inflation, ease the cost of living and support economic growth. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:59 PM
“This is part of our wider plans to rebuild Great British Railways the public can be proud of and rely on.” - engagingly on the nose 'this can be read in multiple ways' line, this.
you're going to reduce operating costs....right?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Rail fares to be frozen in England next year
Regulated fares, which include season tickets and off-peak returns, will not see annual price rises for the first time in 30 years, the government announces.
www.bbc.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:42 AM
you're going to reduce operating costs....right?
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Typical UK story, massive difficulty imposed by lack of land.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnV4...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnV4...
The NFL’s Secret Weapon in London Is This Hidden Stadium Tech | WSJ Tech Behind
YouTube video by The Wall Street Journal
www.youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Typical UK story, massive difficulty imposed by lack of land.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnV4...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnV4...
Oh its totally cope (UK has a particularly stupid version we don't build roads!)
And not just Hyundai-Korea.
Toyota actually owns part of railway (Aichi Loop line),
and Honda actually paid for its own car factory station.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minami-...
And not just Hyundai-Korea.
Toyota actually owns part of railway (Aichi Loop line),
and Honda actually paid for its own car factory station.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minami-...
November 22, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Oh its totally cope (UK has a particularly stupid version we don't build roads!)
And not just Hyundai-Korea.
Toyota actually owns part of railway (Aichi Loop line),
and Honda actually paid for its own car factory station.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minami-...
And not just Hyundai-Korea.
Toyota actually owns part of railway (Aichi Loop line),
and Honda actually paid for its own car factory station.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minami-...