Tony Bowden
@tmtm.com
International political data (peppercat.org) + 🇪🇪 car-free travel (current project: cycling to every public library in Harjumaa)
Reposted by Tony Bowden
With 29% of all trips made by bike and 64% of bike trips made by women, Osaka is a cycling city beyond compare. What makes it even more remarkable is these gains were made in spite of very little dedicated infrastructure. So what can we learn from a place that didn't build it, and they came anyway?🧵
September 22, 2025 at 2:54 PM
With 29% of all trips made by bike and 64% of bike trips made by women, Osaka is a cycling city beyond compare. What makes it even more remarkable is these gains were made in spite of very little dedicated infrastructure. So what can we learn from a place that didn't build it, and they came anyway?🧵
Reposted by Tony Bowden
"Arguably the most lucrative innovation to come out of Silicon Valley in the past decade and a half has been a willingness to break the law. "
prospect.org/power/2025-0...
prospect.org/power/2025-0...
What Trump Learned From Silicon Valley
Before DOGE’s lawbreaking spree, there was ‘blitzscaling.’
prospect.org
August 21, 2025 at 2:49 AM
"Arguably the most lucrative innovation to come out of Silicon Valley in the past decade and a half has been a willingness to break the law. "
prospect.org/power/2025-0...
prospect.org/power/2025-0...
Reposted by Tony Bowden
Today, Bolivians will vote to decide the fate of their democracy.
"[Bolivia] is a nation rich in strategic resources, sitting at the crossroads of the Andes and the Amazon, and increasingly targeted by authoritarian powers. What happens here will ripple across the region."
"[Bolivia] is a nation rich in strategic resources, sitting at the crossroads of the Andes and the Amazon, and increasingly targeted by authoritarian powers. What happens here will ripple across the region."
Why Bolivia’s Election Matters So Much | Journal of Democracy
The small South American country has become a strategic foothold for authoritarian powers. Its election is hugely important for the future of democracy across the region.
www.journalofdemocracy.org
August 17, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Today, Bolivians will vote to decide the fate of their democracy.
"[Bolivia] is a nation rich in strategic resources, sitting at the crossroads of the Andes and the Amazon, and increasingly targeted by authoritarian powers. What happens here will ripple across the region."
"[Bolivia] is a nation rich in strategic resources, sitting at the crossroads of the Andes and the Amazon, and increasingly targeted by authoritarian powers. What happens here will ripple across the region."
Reposted by Tony Bowden
My book is published today 📚. It’s called Designing Inclusive Public Toilets: Wee the People, written with @jo-anneb.bsky.social. It’s part inclusive design guide, part manifesto for better public toilets 🚽. Buy copies for all your friends! 🎁. Here’s what you’ll find inside 🧵
June 26, 2025 at 12:26 PM
My book is published today 📚. It’s called Designing Inclusive Public Toilets: Wee the People, written with @jo-anneb.bsky.social. It’s part inclusive design guide, part manifesto for better public toilets 🚽. Buy copies for all your friends! 🎁. Here’s what you’ll find inside 🧵
Reposted by Tony Bowden
By far my favorite part of South Korean elections: election night graphics. SBS television station kills it EVERY. TIME. They play these clips all night and they get more and more unhinged and creative as the night goes on.
June 3, 2025 at 11:26 AM
By far my favorite part of South Korean elections: election night graphics. SBS television station kills it EVERY. TIME. They play these clips all night and they get more and more unhinged and creative as the night goes on.
Ooh, the pope has appointed a new Bishop of Urgell: press.vatican.va/content/sala...
Which, because crazy history, means a new Head of State in Andorra: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-prin...
Which, because crazy history, means a new Head of State in Andorra: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-prin...
Resignations and Appointments
press.vatican.va
June 3, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Ooh, the pope has appointed a new Bishop of Urgell: press.vatican.va/content/sala...
Which, because crazy history, means a new Head of State in Andorra: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-prin...
Which, because crazy history, means a new Head of State in Andorra: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-prin...
I completely missed this story at the time, but en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Ch... is setting off all my "Rabbit Hole! Rabbit Hole! Back away quickly!" alarms…
May 12, 2025 at 4:11 AM
I completely missed this story at the time, but en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Ch... is setting off all my "Rabbit Hole! Rabbit Hole! Back away quickly!" alarms…
Reposted by Tony Bowden
In this new guest post for Moldova Matters Jules shares his experience and impressions of biking around Moldova. Through stories and (amazing) photos he describes the hospitality and beauty of this small country.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
April 30, 2025 at 10:21 AM
In this new guest post for Moldova Matters Jules shares his experience and impressions of biking around Moldova. Through stories and (amazing) photos he describes the hospitality and beauty of this small country.
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...
Tracking down info on someone who's vanished from the Government of Myanmar website was difficult enough without getting sidetracked by idly wondering why we still call the language "Burmese"… and then deciding to find out. 30 minutes later, I've learned enough to understand much less than before.
April 28, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Tracking down info on someone who's vanished from the Government of Myanmar website was difficult enough without getting sidetracked by idly wondering why we still call the language "Burmese"… and then deciding to find out. 30 minutes later, I've learned enough to understand much less than before.
Reposted by Tony Bowden
The judges of the National Superior Court found that Humala and Heredia received almost $3 million in illegal contributions from Odebrecht and the government of then-Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.
apnews.com/article/peru...
apnews.com/article/peru...
Peruvian court sentences former President Humala and wife to 15 years for money laundering
A Peruvian court has sentenced former President Ollanta Humala and his wife, Nadine Heredia, to 15 years in prison for laundering funds received from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht to finance ...
apnews.com
April 16, 2025 at 2:13 PM
The judges of the National Superior Court found that Humala and Heredia received almost $3 million in illegal contributions from Odebrecht and the government of then-Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.
apnews.com/article/peru...
apnews.com/article/peru...
I'm not sure if it's more shameless or less if it's not actually Patreon, but it's been a while since I plugged Shuffled — the weekly guide to what's going on everywhere else in the world, told through the lens of the political defenestrations that rarely get international coverage. So duly plugged.
April 8, 2025 at 8:27 AM
I'm not sure if it's more shameless or less if it's not actually Patreon, but it's been a while since I plugged Shuffled — the weekly guide to what's going on everywhere else in the world, told through the lens of the political defenestrations that rarely get international coverage. So duly plugged.
Reposted by Tony Bowden
I just need everyone to watch this and understand I have been laughing about it for 24 hours
April 7, 2025 at 1:17 PM
I just need everyone to watch this and understand I have been laughing about it for 24 hours
Spent a while at the weekend wondering where all the new Shuffled subscribers were coming from. Turns out it was this week's webcurios (thanks @mattmuir.bsky.social) [Beware though: even with claimed reading time of 37 minutes", that's likely an order of magnitude low if you start following links…]
Webcurios 07/03/25 – webcurios
webcurios.co.uk
March 10, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Spent a while at the weekend wondering where all the new Shuffled subscribers were coming from. Turns out it was this week's webcurios (thanks @mattmuir.bsky.social) [Beware though: even with claimed reading time of 37 minutes", that's likely an order of magnitude low if you start following links…]
Reposted by Tony Bowden
What if you could explore Wikipedia on a map?
A little project I've been building with a friend over the past months!
wikiexplore.org
A little project I've been building with a friend over the past months!
wikiexplore.org
March 4, 2025 at 7:06 PM
What if you could explore Wikipedia on a map?
A little project I've been building with a friend over the past months!
wikiexplore.org
A little project I've been building with a friend over the past months!
wikiexplore.org
Reposted by Tony Bowden
I fully admit that I'm biased when it comes to Ukraine. I fully admit that I'm emotional. That's why I tried to use a variety of sources in this rather long article and keep it as factual as possible. I hope I've succeeded.
open.substack.com/pub/ireneken...
open.substack.com/pub/ireneken...
Ukraine: Lies and Realities
Separating Facts from Emotions
open.substack.com
March 1, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I fully admit that I'm biased when it comes to Ukraine. I fully admit that I'm emotional. That's why I tried to use a variety of sources in this rather long article and keep it as factual as possible. I hope I've succeeded.
open.substack.com/pub/ireneken...
open.substack.com/pub/ireneken...
I probably spent a couple of hours yesterday down the Călin Georgescu rabbit hole for the latest Shuffled update, so of course today they have to turn the knobs up to 11. English reporting seems to be lagging substantially: www.digi24.ro/stiri/actual... is the best I've found for updates in Romanian
Shuffled 2025-07
Political comings and goings from February 12th to 18th
shuffled.beehiiv.com
February 26, 2025 at 3:08 PM
I probably spent a couple of hours yesterday down the Călin Georgescu rabbit hole for the latest Shuffled update, so of course today they have to turn the knobs up to 11. English reporting seems to be lagging substantially: www.digi24.ro/stiri/actual... is the best I've found for updates in Romanian
Reposted by Tony Bowden
Manager: "What's this milestone 'Living on a prayer' ?"
Me: "That's the documentation deliverable."
Manager: "What's the status of that?"
Me: "We're halfway there"
Manager: "Why is progress so slow?"
Me: "You fired Tommy"
Manager: "So?"
Me: "Tommy used to work on the docs"
Me: "That's the documentation deliverable."
Manager: "What's the status of that?"
Me: "We're halfway there"
Manager: "Why is progress so slow?"
Me: "You fired Tommy"
Manager: "So?"
Me: "Tommy used to work on the docs"
February 23, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Manager: "What's this milestone 'Living on a prayer' ?"
Me: "That's the documentation deliverable."
Manager: "What's the status of that?"
Me: "We're halfway there"
Manager: "Why is progress so slow?"
Me: "You fired Tommy"
Manager: "So?"
Me: "Tommy used to work on the docs"
Me: "That's the documentation deliverable."
Manager: "What's the status of that?"
Me: "We're halfway there"
Manager: "Why is progress so slow?"
Me: "You fired Tommy"
Manager: "So?"
Me: "Tommy used to work on the docs"
Reposted by Tony Bowden
In France, journalists of the magazine Le Point have tried to set Wikipedia volunteers under pressure following an edit to the Wikipedia article about the paper. They threatened to reveal the user’s identity and even tried to contact the user’s presumed employer. (…)
#Wikipedia
#Wikipedia
February 18, 2025 at 6:43 PM
In France, journalists of the magazine Le Point have tried to set Wikipedia volunteers under pressure following an edit to the Wikipedia article about the paper. They threatened to reveal the user’s identity and even tried to contact the user’s presumed employer. (…)
#Wikipedia
#Wikipedia
Every week I try to keep Shuffled as free from US content as possible figuring that's well covered everywhere else. This week I would've gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling Belgians. But there's plenty of lesser-reported shenanigans from the rest of the world to make up for it
Shuffled 2025-05
Political comings and goings from January 29th to February 4th. Peru, Nicaragua, Taiwan, Colombia, Myanmar, Belgium, Syria, Norway, and more.
shuffled.beehiiv.com
February 11, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Every week I try to keep Shuffled as free from US content as possible figuring that's well covered everywhere else. This week I would've gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling Belgians. But there's plenty of lesser-reported shenanigans from the rest of the world to make up for it
A bunch of government ministers recently resigned in Costa Rica to be eligible to run for President in 2026. Colombia seems to have a similar "no-public-offices-in-the-last-12-months" rule. I'm assuming other countries have this too, but I'm struggling to find much info. Anyone have any pointers?
Cinco jerarcas renuncian en fecha límite para aspirar a la presidencia en 2026
Este 30 de enero el presidente de la República, Rodrigo Chaves Robles, anunció la renuncia de cinco de sus jerarcas.
delfino.cr
February 11, 2025 at 10:45 AM
A bunch of government ministers recently resigned in Costa Rica to be eligible to run for President in 2026. Colombia seems to have a similar "no-public-offices-in-the-last-12-months" rule. I'm assuming other countries have this too, but I'm struggling to find much info. Anyone have any pointers?
Er, what, now? There used to be a Terry's Chocolate Apple?!
Though I suspect there's actually a very good reason why it's long since forgotten…
Though I suspect there's actually a very good reason why it's long since forgotten…
In fact a few years back we dug out the old Chocolate Apple recipe from our archives and worked with York Cocoa Works to actually make it for the first time in over half a century!
More on this here:
www.york.ac.uk/borthwick/pr...
(Archivists have all the fun.)
www.york.ac.uk/borthwick/pr...
(Archivists have all the fun.)
February 10, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Er, what, now? There used to be a Terry's Chocolate Apple?!
Though I suspect there's actually a very good reason why it's long since forgotten…
Though I suspect there's actually a very good reason why it's long since forgotten…
Reposted by Tony Bowden
First of all, don't indulge in false comfort if you are lucky enough to not be in the US. Odds are, the neoliberals/fascists in your country are, at this very moment, looking at Trump&Musk, learning, and planning the ways they can take down your own democracy and government.
3/
3/
February 8, 2025 at 10:38 AM
First of all, don't indulge in false comfort if you are lucky enough to not be in the US. Odds are, the neoliberals/fascists in your country are, at this very moment, looking at Trump&Musk, learning, and planning the ways they can take down your own democracy and government.
3/
3/
Reposted by Tony Bowden
⚡️ The historic moment of Estonia leaving the Russian-fed power grid.
On February 8, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia left Russia and Belarus energy system. By the end of the day today, they will have joined the European grid.
On February 8, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia left Russia and Belarus energy system. By the end of the day today, they will have joined the European grid.
February 9, 2025 at 9:37 AM
⚡️ The historic moment of Estonia leaving the Russian-fed power grid.
On February 8, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia left Russia and Belarus energy system. By the end of the day today, they will have joined the European grid.
On February 8, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia left Russia and Belarus energy system. By the end of the day today, they will have joined the European grid.
Reposted by Tony Bowden
Dublin City Council libraries have introduced a device to help tackle winter blues and Seasonal Affected Disorder
Dublin libraries hope Lightboxes can tackle SAD
Dublin City Council libraries have introduced a device to help tackle winter blues and Seasonal Affected Disorder.
www.rte.ie
February 8, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Dublin City Council libraries have introduced a device to help tackle winter blues and Seasonal Affected Disorder
With Shuffled, I currently only track that someone has been removed from office. Maybe I need a way to follow-up later…
thediplomat.com/2025/02/form...
thediplomat.com/2025/02/form...
Former Kyrgyz Natural Resources Minister Sentenced to 8 Years
Dinara Kutmanova and her son, once at the forefront of the Kumtor nationalization movement, were charged with abuse of office and fraud. They’d been arrested back in 2023.
thediplomat.com
February 7, 2025 at 4:57 AM
With Shuffled, I currently only track that someone has been removed from office. Maybe I need a way to follow-up later…
thediplomat.com/2025/02/form...
thediplomat.com/2025/02/form...