iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 28/08/2025

Just 41 years after the Bethesda Metro station opened, we are getting a WMATA-standard sign to show people approaching on foot from the west where the station is.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/08/2025

Signs on Capital Crescent Trail next to Kenwood. (Neighborhood that led successful fight to partially reverse road diet on Little Falls Parkway, road where prior to road diet cyclists & pedestrians crossing on trail were repeatedly hit, one killed, by drivers.)

Left: Capital Crescent Trail 2.0. Multi-use. Multi-age. Be gentle.
Right: We are all human powered on this trail. We are all equal & equally vulnerable. Take your sign to Little Falls Parkway next block where those are roaming in 4000-pound steel junk. Annually 40,000 killed by cars in crashes, 55,000 killed by car air pollution. You are blinded by the ideology of the car system!

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 08/07/2025

Is this the same New York Times that is covering Mamdani's college application as a scandal? www.nytimes.com/2025/07/08/science/…

The young applicant had scored 4.0 marks in math and physics. The recruiter
congratulated him.

But what the recruiter didn’t know was that in Norway, the best grade was a 1.0, not a 4.0, the top grade in American schools. In fact, a 4.0 in Norway was barely passing — something like a D on American report cards. In reality, his academic record in Norway had been anything but impressive.

He did not want to be dishonest, Dr. Giaever would say in recounting the episode with some amusement over the years, but he also did not correct the interviewer. He got the job.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 16/06/2025

New poll on "abundance agenda" shows majority still support local decision-making. Do you support or oppose limiting local zoning rules to build more homes? Yes 28% No 43% www.gelliottmorris.com/p/trump-appr… BUT: When you ask […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 05/06/2025

There are any number of ways to keep Altadena affordable. Ban single-family detached dwellings. Ban off-street parking. Build 6-story affordable housing on scattered sites. The aim here is to maintain the area's high social status via exclusion. Based on […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

(5) Max Dubler [& + Follow
@maxdubler.com
Does it make sense to talk about “gentrifying” a neighborhood
where all the houses burned to the ground in a massive wildfire?
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Los Angeles fires Mapping the damage Help fo
Ahern said the shopping spree is causing
deep concern among locals that the new
builds won’t match the charm and quirks
of Altadena, where century-old Craftsmans
mingle with Colonial Revivals and English
Tudors. New development can also
, which is why some
to buy up lots to
resell them below market value to
displaced locals.
The collective fear? An Altadena ego death,
where the community fades into suburban
sprawl obscurity. The potential culprits?
Developers.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/06/2025

Are Trump voters honest when they say "I didn't vote for this"? Many voters hold inconsistent opinions. Here's a Pew poll in which 7% of self-identified atheists say they are absolutely certain that God exists […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 30/05/2025

Highway agencies to cyclists: Obey all road signs. Also highway agencies to cyclists: Ignore this road sign.

Bike route sign on same pole with signs saying Do Not Enter 7-9:30 am

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 29/05/2025

How preservation is sold to the public: wapo.st/4dDr1Ut How it works more often than not in practice: www.arlnow.com/2025/05/27/review-pa…

Home of President John Tyler purchased & restored by his grandson and opened to the public.

Builder of 8-story apartment house told to redesign project to match style of nondescript 1950s motel it will replace.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 27/05/2025

Arlington VA historic preservation board votes against proposed 8-story apartment house because "the design did not evoke the mid-century modern style" of the motel (pictured here) that it will replace […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

The 2-story motel in its heyday, with no obvious difference from other motels built in the 1950s.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 24/04/2025

@2avesag.as I don't see why this is pretextual. The rationale for canceling the agreement suggested by DOJ is that their new priorities are to fund highways instead of transit and remove obstacles to driving. This is true, unlike the absurd argument they make […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

awareness” that FHWA is “changing position,” and “consider the serious reliance interests,”
attendant with the buildout of the tolling infrastructure of the CBDTP—building on these same
elements that are already included in the Secretary's letter. In addition, if FHWA determines that
non-compliance cannot be remedied by imposing specific conditions, see 2 CER. § 200.339
(referencing 2 C.F.R. § 200.208), it should follow all applicable notice and hearing provisions, see,
e.g. 2 C.ER. §§ 200.341, 342, and also evaluate whether a new NEPA analysis is required to assess
the environmental impacts of terminating the CBDTP.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 01/04/2025

@ryanlcooper.com Not so. Zoning doesn't curb supply of 1-family houses, only multi-family. (It even forces people who want apartments into group houses.) The decline in apartment-building after the nimby explosion in the 1970s dwarfs the 2008 crash. I agree […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 01/04/2025

@ddayen.bsky.social I agree on power analysis. The big power in housing is upscale homeowners, Rs more than Ds. Left "anti-gentrification" nimbys just give them cover. Not so at all that "No zoning law or agglomeration of zoning laws has had the impact on […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 30/03/2025

Victoria, Australia creates state-wide setback & footprint standard for apartments, rowhouses, duplexes & ADUs up to 3 stories high. Approval is by-right with no "compatibility" requirements. Neighbors cannot appeal […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Key elements of the new townhouse and low-rise deemed-to-comply
standards
Area Change
Appealrights Objector appeal rights removed when developers
meet the deemed-to-comply standards
Neighbourhood character Remove ability to consider local neighbourhood
character policies if standards are met and no
overlays apply (e.g. heritage).
Street setback Reduced to six metres or the same distance asa
neighbouring property’ street setback,
‘whichever is lesser
Height Buildings up to 11 metres tall can be deemed
compliant
Site coverage Between 60 and 70 per cent, depending on the
type of residential zone
Side setback Allowance to build up to 11 metres high with a
3-metre setback from north boundaries and 6
metres from south boundaries
Tree canopy Minimum 10 per tree canopy cover on sites up to
1000 square-metres and 20 per cent on larger
lots
Private openspace Reduced to 25 square-metres (from 40)
Overshadowing ~~ Shadowing should not be higher than 50 per
cent of a neighbour’ private open space
Overlooking Direct views of a habitable room window,
balcony or terrace to be considered within a 9-
metre distance. Bedrooms do not count as a
habitable room

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/03/2025

@ryanlcooper.com Here's a WaPo headline that says it's "shocking" and then just five words later it's merely "problematic."

Trump's shocking military plan leak is problematic

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 23/03/2025

Amazing Trump administration non-denial denial. Treasury spokesperson says report that DOGE has cost govt $500 billion in tax revenues should be dismissed because it relies on anonymous sources, but demands anonymity for self. I'm not sure how much of this is […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

After this report was published, a Treasury Department spokesperson
called this story “sensational and baseless” and said claims from The
Post’s anonymous sources “should be dismissed out of hand.” The
Treasury spokesperson requested to remain anonymous, citing a
department policy preventing them from speaking on the record.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 05/03/2025

You won't find a clearer case of someone literally Killed by a Traffic Engineer. WaPo reports driver under police pursuit killed pedestrian when he "drove through the intersection, sped onto the highway shoulder and struck Montoya-Perez on the side of the […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

People waiting at a bus stop located on the wide paved shoulder of a 4-lane divided highway with no sidewalk. Traffic is backed up on both traffic lanes but the shoulder is clear except for the people standing at the bus stop.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 26/02/2025

@2avesag.as Here's another statement from FHWA that NY's lawyers might want to use in court. Cutting through the bureaucratic language, the highlighted text says that states have "undisputed autonomy" to choose the funding and financing approach in their […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

... making clear the undisputed autonomy of the public sponsor in determining the outcome of that assessment. The FHWA maintains it is the public sponsor's prerogative to explore and determine the funding and financing approaches it pursues in its capital program improvements.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 11/02/2025

Capital Bikeshare, without advance notice to users, eliminates almost all undocked parking of e-bikes. You can only park at a dock or a "public bike rack" (whatever that means). If you interrupt your trip for more than 30 minutes, you will be fined $25. I […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

How to park

You can either dock or lock your ebike (not both at
once). Dock at any Capital Bikeshare station for free or
use the cable to lock to any public bike rack within the
service area for an extra $2.

Please don't lock the bike to itself or any other
structures, including trees or signposts. And be sure not
to block pathways, sidewalks, or ramps.

Ebike rides that are not properly ended and remain
inactive for over 30 minutes will incur a $25 fee, in
addition to the per minute rate.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 07/01/2025

Kudos to @MontgomeryCountyMDDOT snow removal. Cycletrack outside my window plowed yesterday. Plows dumping snow across cycletrack wake me up at 1:00 this morning. Cycletrack clear by 11:00 this morning.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 06/01/2025

The Pure Food & Drug Act of 1906 authorized seizure of food with additives "injurious to health." In 1930s FDA started seizing apples with too much lead arsenate (big pesticide of time). FDA had to prove "injurious" in court in each case to a farm-country jury, and often lost. 3/5

1930s-attired federal agent next to sign: All trucks stop, apple inspection.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 05/01/2025

USDOT says it! Widening highways & building new ones does not reduce traffic congestion. New USDOT report says that the "best practice" for traffic modeling is to assume that, in a city or suburb, the amount of traffic on an area's highways increases in […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 24/12/2024

With freezing rain in forecast, contractors come to spread salt. Use bike lane as parking lot. Spread salt on sidewalk & side road, but not on bike lane.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 15/12/2024

From the southeast corner of the intersection, which is occupied by a large Best Western motel, there is no marked crosswalk. To reach the bus stops on the NW & NE corners, riders must use an unmarked crosswalk located inches from high-speed traffic to cross […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Hurley Avenue, with no sidewalks. Slope, lightpole, and retaining wall make it impossible to walk down Hurley on either side, so that anyone walking between the motel and the bus stop must cross at the dangerous intersection.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 11/12/2024

This is the ultimate in far-right - ultra-left convergence. Pairing a 7th-century slaughter of Jews with Communist & anarchist symbols. Most likely Islamists to start with. (Leftist movements don't teach you about Khaybar. Also, Communists & anarchists […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Graffiti on Hillel House pairs Khaybar with Communist & anarchist symbols.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 18/11/2024

Think about what this picture says about official toleration of drivers' lawbreaking. @MontgomeryCountyMDDOT saw fit to post a sign warning drivers to slow down to 15 mph right in front of a sign that requires them to come to a full stop. h/t www.threads.net/@actfortransit/post…

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/10/2024

Is this a real estate article in WaPo or a post on McMansion Hell? wapo.st/4dtR12S

Giant house with front facade broken up into ten panels. (Sorry for not knowing the right lingo to describe this, Kate W could have done it better.)

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 01/10/2024

*Unless you take a half-mile detour on foot to use this unsignalized crosswalk across a 5-lane road.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 01/10/2024

Truly killed by a traffic engineer. State trooper driving unmarked car northbound kills woman who "unexpectedly entered the roadway" in Annapolis. The only sidewalk is on the southbound side of the road. There is no marked crosswalk* connecting the […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 22/09/2024

Trouble never stops for Eric Adams. 10 days after being picked, his interim police commissioner Donlon's house is raided by federal agents. Donlon says raid sought documents from work he did about 20 years ago. In 2005 Donlon became Credit Suisse Global […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Credit Suisse failed to effectively monitor the activities of certain managers in the US. As a result, some managers came to believe that a certain degree of non-compliance was acceptable. Credit Suisse did not capture and record instances when managers in the US may have violated US laws.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 02/09/2024

Spotted this morning on Edgemoor Lane in downtown Bethesda. Parked car with Arizona temporary plates that expired in 2023.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 30/08/2024

Or have the mainstream news media become a party that runs against the Democrats? These two WaPo pundits' only criticism of Dana Bash is that she didn't go after Harris hard enough with all the Republican talking points she repeated. Nothing about her […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Opinion = Was CNN'’s big Kamala Harris interview a dud? Or have the Democrats become a party that runs against the mainstream news media?

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 21/08/2024

Tim Walz is only the second-most progressive candidate ever to run for Vice President. Here is LBJ's running mate in 1964. Source: Carew, American Labor's Cold War Abroad

‘Walter Reuther’s determination to project himself as an important figure on the international political stage and his hope to involve American labour in discussions with leaders of the European centre-lefi more generally were evident from his cata- Iytic role in what became known as the “Harpsund process;”a series of meetings of leading labour figures held in Sweden. Between 1963 and 1965, Reuther was the driving force behind these gatherings at the Harpsund country residence of Swedish prime minister Tage Erlander that brought together Erlander, mayor of West Berlin Willy Brandt, Britain's Labour prime minister Harold Wilson, US vice president Hubert Humphrey, Danish prime minister Jens Krag, Norway’s future socialist prime minister Trygve Bratelli, German social democrat leaders Erich Ollenhauer and Her- bert Wehner, and leading trade unionists Arne Geijer, George Woodcock, Ludwig Rosenberg, and Konrad Nordahl of the Norwegian LO, for what amounted to brain- storming sessions. Discussions ranged over economic issues relating to growth, full employment and integration, disarmament, problems of developing countries, and technological change. A study group of economists was formed to develop plans for ‘greater international monetary stability that UAW economist Nat Weinberg fondly hoped might lead to a new economic orthodoxy. Reuther and Humphrey considered itimportant to report back to President Kennedy on the results of the first conference.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 14/08/2024

Developer takes half of nimbys' "No Apartments No Compromise" slogan to heart. After plan to build 450 apts at failed mall next to light rail station is killed, he comes back with plan for 560 market-rate apts + 5-story office bldg. Tells neighbors that new […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

Save Suburbia. No New Light Rail. No TOD. No Apartments. No Compromise.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 08/08/2024

In Washington DC the fake license plates are classy. Way ahead of the grungy New York variety. www.popville.com/2024/08/excuse-me-…

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 06/08/2024

Man buys small old house in Melbourne suburb. Prior to closing, preservationists nominate it for historic status. Since he isn't the owner, he isn't notified. So now he owns a house that can't be altered or torn down […] [Original post on mastodon.social]

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 05/08/2024

This didn't take long. July 29: Bitcoin at $64,000. Trump goes all in. Aug 5: Bitcoin drops from $58,000 to under $50,000 in half a day.

President Trump Wants America To Become The World’s “Bitcoin Superpower”

o oot oo o

Bitcoin drops from $58,000 14 hours ago to $49,983 now.

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Benjamin Ross @benrosstransit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy · 25/07/2024

Class divides grow as racial divides shrink. NYT compares incomes in 2005 & 2019 of 27-year-olds born poor. Lets you look up county-level data! I see especially large growth in class divides in affluent northeastern suburbs & in southwestern (SoCal, NM, AZ) […] [Original post on mastodon.social]