Rob Stephenson FRSA
@rob-stephenson.bsky.social
Fellow of CPA Australia, IML ANZ and the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. Member of AICD & ILA. Views my own.
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
Indianapolis Star, November 22, 1918
December 12, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Indianapolis Star, November 22, 1918
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
“For half a century, a litany of federal policies has favored large SUVs & trucks, pushing automakers & buyers toward larger models. Instead of counteracting #CarBloat thru regulation, policymakers have subtly encouraged it. That has been a boon for car companies but a disaster for everyone else.”
The reckless policies that helped fill our streets with ridiculously large cars
Dangerous, polluting SUVs and pickup trucks took over America. Lawmakers are partly to blame.
www.vox.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:19 AM
“For half a century, a litany of federal policies has favored large SUVs & trucks, pushing automakers & buyers toward larger models. Instead of counteracting #CarBloat thru regulation, policymakers have subtly encouraged it. That has been a boon for car companies but a disaster for everyone else.”
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
Is there any wonder this is happening?
December 12, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Is there any wonder this is happening?
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
The death of browsing is part of the reason art is the way it is now. Our opinions are largely fed to us by algorithms. Spending a spare 15 minutes wandering around a bookstore or comic shop or video rental place was how you found stuff you wouldn't ordinarily pick up and thereby expanded your taste
Bookselling is like the most "people go to the store and buy what looks cool to them without a particular agenda" type business left, and your purchases have a huge influence on what is ordered, what is displayed, and what is recommended.
November 29, 2025 at 6:44 PM
The death of browsing is part of the reason art is the way it is now. Our opinions are largely fed to us by algorithms. Spending a spare 15 minutes wandering around a bookstore or comic shop or video rental place was how you found stuff you wouldn't ordinarily pick up and thereby expanded your taste
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
Heard this one? The City of Barcelona traded 3 lanes of vehicle traffic for an exceptional 4.7km green pedestrian corridor in the heart of the Eixample grid. Businesses sued, & eventually won in court. Then they admitted that they actually like the change.
Streets for people are good for business.
Streets for people are good for business.
The Legal Attack on Superblock Barcelona - City Lab Barcelona
In this blog post, I attempt to unpack what this court ruling is about, the legal arguments, and who is behind it. Did the city really do something wrong? What will happen to the Consell de Cent proj...
citylabbcn.org
November 30, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Heard this one? The City of Barcelona traded 3 lanes of vehicle traffic for an exceptional 4.7km green pedestrian corridor in the heart of the Eixample grid. Businesses sued, & eventually won in court. Then they admitted that they actually like the change.
Streets for people are good for business.
Streets for people are good for business.
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
Imagine if we directed the same relentless energy toward building better cities that we currently waste on making excuses for why we can't.
Posts about urban biking in Dutch cities are routinely replied to with comments like “well, they have the big advantage of being relatively flat.”
The Dutch also have the big advantage of not constantly making excuses about why they can’t make clearly smarter city-making decisions. #Leadership
The Dutch also have the big advantage of not constantly making excuses about why they can’t make clearly smarter city-making decisions. #Leadership
November 30, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Imagine if we directed the same relentless energy toward building better cities that we currently waste on making excuses for why we can't.
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
If a Liberal State Government was wrecking the Victorian #StateLibrary & trashing the services it exists to provide, ALP members might be protesting. As it is, pretty much crickets. If you don't save the State Library you're going to lose more seats to indies, Teals & Greens. Interested now? #vicpol
November 29, 2025 at 1:47 AM
If a Liberal State Government was wrecking the Victorian #StateLibrary & trashing the services it exists to provide, ALP members might be protesting. As it is, pretty much crickets. If you don't save the State Library you're going to lose more seats to indies, Teals & Greens. Interested now? #vicpol
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
"What sort of monster makes casinos pay tax and bans them from money laundering?" chaser.com.au/business/bil...
November 25, 2025 at 7:04 AM
"What sort of monster makes casinos pay tax and bans them from money laundering?" chaser.com.au/business/bil...
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
President Trump and Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City, are open about their mutual distaste. Now they are meeting in person on Friday. nyti.ms/47UNw5Z
Trump and Mamdani’s Past Comments Reveal a Mutual Distaste
President Trump and Zohran Mamdani have pelted each other with insults from afar. They are meeting in person on Friday.
nyti.ms
November 21, 2025 at 8:45 PM
President Trump and Zohran Mamdani, the mayor-elect of New York City, are open about their mutual distaste. Now they are meeting in person on Friday. nyti.ms/47UNw5Z
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
Breaking News: President Trump called the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salam, a “very good friend” and dismissed a question about the journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s killing.
Trump Praises Saudi Prince and Dismisses Question About Killing of Khashoggi: Live Updates
Hosting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Trump brushed off the murder of a journalist by Saudi agents, saying, “Things happen.” Fighter jets and investment deals are on the leaders’ agenda today.
nyti.ms
November 18, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Breaking News: President Trump called the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salam, a “very good friend” and dismissed a question about the journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s killing.
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
“In all my years policing I’ve never seen officers coach an offender who was accused of stealing.
“Why would you do it in the case of domestic violence?”
Qld police seem more likely to 'serve and protect' #FamilyViolence perps over victims.
Great work Ben Smee.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
“Why would you do it in the case of domestic violence?”
Qld police seem more likely to 'serve and protect' #FamilyViolence perps over victims.
Great work Ben Smee.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
The horrific murders of Hannah Clarke and her children stunned Australia. Could they have been saved?
Exclusive: A two-year Guardian investigation reveals new details about the critical final weeks of Clarke’s life, casting doubt on the coroner’s finding that nothing more could have been done to preve...
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:49 PM
“In all my years policing I’ve never seen officers coach an offender who was accused of stealing.
“Why would you do it in the case of domestic violence?”
Qld police seem more likely to 'serve and protect' #FamilyViolence perps over victims.
Great work Ben Smee.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
“Why would you do it in the case of domestic violence?”
Qld police seem more likely to 'serve and protect' #FamilyViolence perps over victims.
Great work Ben Smee.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
An interesting book, telling the story of the man who successfully prosecuted a King - despite most people (including himself), and probably the law itself, considering that he was above the law.
History doesn’t repeat - but it rhymes!
History doesn’t repeat - but it rhymes!
November 16, 2025 at 9:42 PM
An interesting book, telling the story of the man who successfully prosecuted a King - despite most people (including himself), and probably the law itself, considering that he was above the law.
History doesn’t repeat - but it rhymes!
History doesn’t repeat - but it rhymes!
An interesting book, telling the story of the man who successfully prosecuted a King - despite most people (including himself), and probably the law itself, considering that he was above the law.
History doesn’t repeat - but it rhymes!
History doesn’t repeat - but it rhymes!
November 16, 2025 at 9:36 PM
An interesting book, telling the story of the man who successfully prosecuted a King - despite most people (including himself), and probably the law itself, considering that he was above the law.
History doesn’t repeat - but it rhymes!
History doesn’t repeat - but it rhymes!
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
According to the Republican president, wanting child rapists to face justice means “betraying the Republican party.”
November 15, 2025 at 6:10 PM
According to the Republican president, wanting child rapists to face justice means “betraying the Republican party.”
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
Committed to not committing
November 12, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Committed to not committing
NSW Police, charging a woman with being a “fake Fortune Teller”, certainly provides reassurance for those qualified and regulated Fortune Tellers genuinely operating in the industry, and for consumers and business operators seeking advice and assistance!
November 13, 2025 at 1:18 AM
NSW Police, charging a woman with being a “fake Fortune Teller”, certainly provides reassurance for those qualified and regulated Fortune Tellers genuinely operating in the industry, and for consumers and business operators seeking advice and assistance!
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
On the occasion of Elon Musk pretending that he reads books, I thought I’d reshare my “100 Best Books On City-Making Ever Written” article in @planetizen.bsky.social. It’s 12 years old and needs updating, and got plently of debate back then, but I’d still recommend most of these. #UrbanismBookClub
November 11, 2025 at 1:23 AM
On the occasion of Elon Musk pretending that he reads books, I thought I’d reshare my “100 Best Books On City-Making Ever Written” article in @planetizen.bsky.social. It’s 12 years old and needs updating, and got plently of debate back then, but I’d still recommend most of these. #UrbanismBookClub
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 PM
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
Today marks the 107th Anniversary of the end of the War to End All Wars.
Lest We Forget.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxkh...
Lest We Forget.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxkh...
Eric Bogle - The Green Fields of France
YouTube video by Grant O'Neil
m.youtube.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Today marks the 107th Anniversary of the end of the War to End All Wars.
Lest We Forget.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxkh...
Lest We Forget.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxkh...
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
"isn't that just the conversation we've been having now for years, which is how does someone look the American people in the eye and lie to them? How should you respond as someone in the media? And how should I respond as an economist?"
November 8, 2025 at 10:56 PM
"isn't that just the conversation we've been having now for years, which is how does someone look the American people in the eye and lie to them? How should you respond as someone in the media? And how should I respond as an economist?"
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
The closed captioning is devastating
November 8, 2025 at 11:25 PM
The closed captioning is devastating
Given that we keep getting told that Australian Security Services are monitoring local Neo-Nazis, how can that gathering have happened in front of NSW Parliament House yesterday, and NSW Police says they had no idea it was happening?
November 9, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Given that we keep getting told that Australian Security Services are monitoring local Neo-Nazis, how can that gathering have happened in front of NSW Parliament House yesterday, and NSW Police says they had no idea it was happening?
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
Our new opinion columnist Skai Newsom gives their analysis on why the only way for the Liberals to win the next election, is to focus more on things like culture wars and destroying the planet. preview.mailerlite.io/preview/4483...
November 7, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Our new opinion columnist Skai Newsom gives their analysis on why the only way for the Liberals to win the next election, is to focus more on things like culture wars and destroying the planet. preview.mailerlite.io/preview/4483...
Reposted by Rob Stephenson FRSA
This is how a real President is supposed to act
November 5, 2025 at 12:00 AM
This is how a real President is supposed to act