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Brian Bowen

@brianrbowen.bsky.social
168 followers 348 following 112 posts

Long-time lurker, sometime poster on climate, energy, transportation, and planning. Also jam bands. ⭕️⚡️

PostsRepliesMedia
Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Yikes. “Around half of human-caused climate change has occurred since the World Cup was last hosted in North America in 1994.” www.politico.com/live-updates...
politico.com
The World Cup has returned to a radically hotter America
Since the U.S. last hosted in 1994, climate change has reshaped the conditions players and fans now face. Cities are scrambling to adapt in real time.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
My “smart” TV suddenly wouldn’t connect to WiFi. It made me download an app to troubleshoot. The app took me through a 3-screen “diagnostic” that consisted of unplugging it and plugging it back in.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Attention Apple Health dev team: In Chicago, we call this phenomenon “winter”.
Apple Health screenshot showing steps trend down for 17 weeks
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 22/02/2026
Hockey players really have some hockey-playing-ass names.
Partial Team USA hockey roster
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Watched the Counting Crows doc. Dreamworks must have lawyered up because there’s nary a Shrek reference. During the Adam-dates-the-full-cast-of-Friends era, one of the guys describes him as handsome but ogre-like and the director does NOT jump cut to “Accidentally in Love”? Missed opportunity!
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
YOUNG MILCHICK is going to be so, so weird appleinsider.com/articles/26/...
appleinsider.com
'Severance' acquired by Apple for $70 million, expect a 4-season run and spinoffs
Apple Studios is now the owner of "Severance," with the original owners, Fifth Season, sticking around as executive producers, and there are plans to expand the IP's universe.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
It’s gonna be cold, cold, cold. Gonna be cold.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
“Say man, you got a license to use my IP?” “Uhhhh, no not on me man.” “It’d be a lot cooler if you did.” www.wsj.com/tech/ai/matt...
wsj.com
Exclusive | Matthew McConaughey Trademarks Himself to Fight AI Misuse
Actor plans to use trademarks of himself saying ‘Alright, alright, alright’ and staring at a camera to combat AI fakes in court.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Transportation isn’t something that can just be “solved” with AI. It takes real human effort and investment. (And compared to AI capex, this isn’t that much to spend.) Appreciate this ambitious vision and look forward to checking out the full report.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Starting the New Year off right! www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/my-...
mcsweeneys.net
My Fully Optimized Life Allows Me Ample Time to Optimize Yours
I rise blissfully at 4:30 a.m., thanks to my Tibetan singing bowl alarm clock. After twenty minutes of alternate nostril breathing, I start my day ...
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
96% of consumers say fuel economy is an important factor in their choice of vehicle - and it’s the single most desired improvement on their current vehicles. Which is why they’re going to love this CAFE standards rollback! advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_releas...
advocacy.consumerreports.org
Consumer Reports Survey Finds Majority of Americans Want Better Fuel Economy and Support Standards That Deliver Thousands in Fuel Savings - CR Advocacy
Washington, D.C. — A new nationally representative survey from Consumer Reports finds that fuel economy continues to be important to most Americans, and a majority…
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Thinking about how this could align with the "flex funding" concept discussed on the latest @volts.wtf episode. Can RTA keep fares low to encourage more ridership by shifting highway funds to transit?
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
Bank sent me a new debit card. It expires in 2030. We are living in the future.
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Oh The Urbanity! @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
I’ve mentioned it before but it’s happened again: a very large percentage of our child-related travel is medium-distance trips that don’t line up well with transit (so it’s barely faster than walking) but biking is literally as fast as driving. Bike-friendly cities are family-friendly cities!
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
Love seeing @rockymtninst.bsky.social citing StreetLight's research, and anytime you can use that Caltrans bigger roads, more traffic in a post, you've got me. rmi.org/the-domino-e...
rmi.org
The Domino Effect: States Prioritize Affordable Transportation Choices over Traffic - RMI
Minnesota, Colorado, and other states are unlocking time and cost savings from innovative transportation planning.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 22/04/2025
This lineup is so good. @evanstonspace.bsky.social making their own @newportfolk.bsky.social out here in Evanston!
Evanston Folk Festival featuring Iron & Wine, Margo Price, Watchhouse, and more
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 21/04/2025
Car culture is learned helplessness. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. www.chicagomag.com/chicago-maga...
chicagomag.com
The L in Crisis
With ridership lagging and a fiscal reckoning looming, the L is in trouble. Here’s why our train is worth saving.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Komar & Melamid predicted AI slop in 1993 www.artsy.net/article/arts...
artsy.net
This Is America’s Most Wanted Painting
Is there an artwork that everyone could agree to love? The Russian art duo tried to find out, running opinion polls to create the “Most Wanted Painting.”
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
#Severance is a long-form animal rights allegory. #EmileThanksYou
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Weak. International conglomerate can’t deal with ice cream man talking about peace. Next thing they’ll reformulate Cherry Garcia with raw milk. www.detroitnews.com/story/busine...
detroitnews.com
Ben & Jerry’s says CEO fired by Unilever because of his political stance
Ben and Jerry’s accused parent company Unilever Plc of firing its chief executive officer, claiming he was ousted because of disputes over the ice cream brand’s social mission.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
This is just a story about how Chicago-style pizza is an intimidating meal www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/d...
nytimes.com
Are Leftovers at Restaurants Over?
Restaurateurs in big cities have noticed a somewhat surprising shift in diner behavior.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
The Gallagher Brothers and John Lennon are Irish and there's no convincing me otherwise www.limerickleader.ie/news/arts---...
limerickleader.ie
'There's no English blood in us' - How Noel Gallagher has embraced his Irish roots
The former Oasis frontman has always been proud of his Irish heritage
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Starting to think the 16e launch was a stealth campaign to reinvigorate the MagSafe brand. It’s all anyone talks about. www.macworld.com/article/2616...
macworld.com
The iPhone 16e is a painful reminder of how great Apple can be
Lack of attraction: All the news, rumors, and tips you missed last week.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
Iron laws of children’s movies: 1) All protagonists must be orphans or, at minimum, be traumatically abandoned by their parents. 2) Every film must have this scene. 3) That is all. youtu.be/yi7fhTRCkqg?...
youtu.be
Disney • PIXAR Films in 94 Screaming Seconds
YouTube video by Aaron Vasquez (2009)
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 21/02/2025
Absolutely. And in the US, not only is transportation policy incredibly arcane but also the roads are terrible AND the trains are terrible. Stands to reason that the average person believes they care more about getting from point A to B than the govt does.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Corporate America: Ground your business travelers until the FAA is restored.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Interesting mix of small and huge venues. NH/SC vs. Folsom and United Center
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Beyond parody.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Dark "stroads" are deadly. This is a choice. It doesn't have to be this way. www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/pedestr...
smartcitiesdive.com
Pedestrian deaths highest on dark city roads at night: AAA report
Crashes involving pedestrians were also disproportionately higher in socially and economically disadvantaged communities in the cities it studied, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Saw a Deadhead sticker on an IPA www.dogfish.com/blog/Gratefu...
dogfish.com
A new brew that’ll have you truckin’ up flavor street ... Introducing, Grateful Dead Juicy Pale Ale!
Behold, the ultimate collaboration of off-centeredness and musical exploration ... Dogfish Head x Grateful Dead!! As beer geeks with a music problem, we couldn’t resist teaming back up with this legen...
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
Chiefs fans this morning.
GIF from the Big Lebowski where Jeffery begs the cab driver to turn off the Eagles
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Reposted by Brian Bowen
The Onion @theonion.com · 06/02/2025
NBC Producers Deny Using AI In New Series ‘Detective Fireman Lawyer Chicago Los Angeles Show’ theonion.com/nbc-pro...
theonion.com
NBC Producers Deny Using AI In New Series ‘Detective Fireman Lawyer Chicago Los Angeles Show’
NEW YORK—Issuing a categorical denial of the accusations, NBC producers announced Thursday there was absolutely no usage of artificial intelligence in the new series Detective Fireman Lawyer Chicago Los Angeles Show. “At NBC, we are passionate about storytelling, and the truth is that machine learning isn’t capable of bringing to life vibrant characters like Jim Jack […]
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Miriam Goldstein @miriamgoldstein.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Just in case you thought that removing DEI criteria would mean that everyone is competing equally: NIH is removing grad students from underrepresented backgrounds from the applicant pool altogether. Their applications will not be considered. Other students, not from these backgrounds, will be.
Update: They were removed from our reviewer assignments completely. I'm so sorry to all those graduate students. 

Anonymous to protect the identity of the NIH employee I spoke to...I am on study section next month to discuss F awards. We were just instructed to put the F31-Diversity applications on the bottom of our priority list for review because there is a chance we may not be able to review them. My heart is breaking for the grad students and their mentors that put so much work into these just for them to be disqualified and thrown out.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 01/02/2025
“Although the Inflation Reduction Act was passed by Democrats, 80 percent of the law’s investments so far have gone to Republican congressional districts. So far, however, many Republicans have refrained from criticizing the spending freeze.” 😑 www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/c...
nytimes.com
Trump’s Halt on Climate Spending Freezes Jobs and Stalls Projects
The pause affects billions of dollars and is delaying home repairs, factory construction and other projects, many in states that voted Republican.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 26/01/2025
Who will save her soul?
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
Bleak.
Article from a kids magazine with the headline “Rats who learn to drive are happier”
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
Remember when Elon fired an entire business unit and then hired them back? They’re just going to try that with the whole federal government, huh? arstechnica.com/cars/2024/05...
arstechnica.com
Elon Musk laid off the Tesla Supercharger team; now he’s rehiring them
Last week the CEO said Tesla will spend $500 million expanding the charger network.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
Imagine if you wanted to
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
Glad that my kids think taking transit is as fun as a carnival ride, but this is so true: "A transit system is no good if the avg family can't ride it out of fear for their safety. Loud noises, threats [etc will not] be tolerated by the avg person & when they can simply drive instead, they will."
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
From duck curve to ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ curve!
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Jesse D. Jenkins @jessedjenkins.com · 08/01/2025
Check out that drop in evening gas generation! Storage (+ solar) is crushing the evening peak in California. 🔌💡
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David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
In DC for TRB next week? MIT prof @cathywu.bsky.social and I will lead an informal discussion on Tues about road safety & engineering, focused on Killed by a Traffic Engineer and Confessions of a Recovering Engineer. 3:30p on 1/7 in the lobby of the Downtown Westin (999 9th St NW). Join us!
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
Someone call Sotheby’s blockclubchicago.org/2024/12/27/c...
blockclubchicago.org
Cheese Slice On A Window In Lincoln Park: ‘Is This The New Rat Hole?'
In a note taped next to the cheese, someone wrote that they first noticed it stuck to the window of the former Jeni’s ice cream shop on Armitage Avenue in August.
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Cameron Roberts @bikeademic.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
Individual sleighs are an inherently inefficient and irresponsible way to deliver presents. Santa should use high-speed rail, public transit, and an e-bike.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
That the Jim Carrey/Ron Howard Grinch movie both predates AI slop and yet perfectly predicts it…is a true cinematic achievement.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Saw someone carrying a box that said “candy salad” today. We did it, America.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
If Fuller had just taken it easy on the Pepsi, Kevin never would have been left home alone.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
The perfect gift for everyone on your list.
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Brian Bowen @brianrbowen.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
This but for children’s music.
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Alex Steffen @alexsteffen.bsky.social · 19/08/2017
In American cities, roads and parking cover 40-70% of the usable surface area of the entire city. That's a gigantic area of land. 44.
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