iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 8h

I would sing old ballads like "The Death of Queen Jane" or "Three Ravens" and it was very funny to hear them humming these during breakfast the next day.

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CJ Ciaramella @cjciaramella.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

One of my favorite anachronistic things I started doing is reciting poems to my kiddo when I tuck them in. It keeps your mind sharp, and it's very funny when they walk around mumbling bits of verse.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 19h

Reminds me of when Dallas wanted to build a giant freeway by the river. They published a ridiculous rendering of people partying under the freeway (which would have been in a flood way). Widely mocked for the "Toll Road juggler".

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 22h

Twice a week the trash truck drives backwards down our street at 5am waking everyone up. I'm on team "no backup beeps"

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Indeed, no matter how many "This text shall be liberally interpreted to maximize housing" you put in, we're a lawyer (amateur or otherwise) culture here.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Yeah, in Dallas we ended up calling them "Consolidated Dwellings" which is different from "apartment", "townhouse" and "townhome" for the various exceptions we've cooked up.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

In Texas, it looks like there's already an engineering exception for apartments 2 stories or less with 4 units or less.

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ciarangallagher.bsky.social @ciarangallagher.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

They don’t call it the Lone Stair State for nothing.

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Zander🚈🔰 @kohiwonomu.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

"hey Zander how's it going in the transit world over there in Dallas" well,

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Well this went from "Red Flags" to "Smoke" to "Fire" very quickly.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

This is your fault: bsky.app/profile/kohi...

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patrick.kennedy @thedotcity.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

We need a shout out for State Senator @nathanfortexas.bsky.social running for Corrupt Ken's old AG job, who sponsored it in the senate. We are now exploring putting some iteration of the opt-in bill to city council in Dallas.

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Txnewsprincess @txnewsprincess.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

The other day, I was in the elevator, and this woman was FaceTiming a man, and she said, "I'm going to need you to have a better personality because you do not have the looks for this attitude."

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I hope to see a Talarico Stair Reform at the Dallas Council by the end of the year.

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Dan Keshet @dankeshet.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

With Talarico up 51-45 on Paxton, it's safe to declare this race a referendum on Talarico's single stair bill. The majority of Texans are giving a resounding yes to Senator Single Stair.

fox7austin.com

Talarico continues to lead polls as spending ramps up in Texas Senate race

The U.S. Senate race in Texas is shaping up to be the most expensive Senate race of all time as polling shows Democrat James Talarico extending his lead over Republican Ken Paxton.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Lol at this "New Look for Duncanville Debut" dallas.culturemap.com/news/restaur...

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

That lay-flat back seat was just perfect. Got a Prius C after the Fit was totaled and just couldn't match that horizontal perfection.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Can't even grow your own food without supply chain contamination.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

We eventually got to some not terrible ideas, but I think we need the architect's touch for that corner.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Me: "That unit jutting out is awkward, let's try to keep them consistent in size and shape" AI: "Got it boss"

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Playing around with AI on a conceptual site plan we did a few years ago. I know the problems are my prompts, but it's still funny. "What if we dropped the 9th parking space?" AI: "This would allow additional space for Unit 7" 😆

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Just walked into a CVS when I had an appointment at Walgreens which was literally across the street, something I have done multiple times. It's hard to understand how you work a retail business where two undifferentiated brands with the same offerings are sited right next to each other. Oh...

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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 05/10/2026

On Wednesday I am recording a podcast on the hot subject of the moment, PERMITTING REFORM, with Daniel Palken of Arnold Ventures. There is, to say the least, much to discuss. What are your big questions? What do you want clarity on? What are your worries/fears/hopes? Hit me.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Solar & Batteries go "bzzzt" "The utility said lower wholesale electricity prices in the Texas grid are part of the reason it can reduce the charge. GP&L attributes those prices partly to the addition of solar generation and battery storage." richardson-garlandherald.com/2026/10/05/g...

richardson-garlandherald.com

Garland Power & Light Has Lowered Rates Starting in October

GP&L is lowering its recovery adjustment by one cent per kilowatt-hour on Oct. 1, saving a household using 1,200 kilowatt-hours about $12 a month.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Vividly remember the nightmares that Maleficent gave me as a child.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The School Board declined: "A teacher who is emotionally disturbed by personal conflict is not a good teacher." and "The Board does not feel Mrs. Fagan has been treated unfairly in this matter." Simply being involved in a conflict was purportedly reason enough to fire her.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

After the firing, residents protested and submitted a petition with over 1,600 signatures calling for her reinstatement.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Among the many ways the school district fought desegregation was by punishing teachers who violated Jim Crow. In 1960 the Dallas School Board declined to renew the contract of Black educator Sallie Fagan because she and her husband had purchased a home in a previously all-white neighborhood.

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East Bay for Everyone @eastbayforeveryone.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Single Stair goes to Washington! Winners from the 2025 National Single Stair Design Competition were displayed on the National Mall last week for the HUD Innovative Housing Showcase. www.huduser.gov/portal/ihs.h... CC @lci-la.bsky.social

singlestair.com

2025 National Single Stair Architectural Design Competition

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Dallas ISD didn't stop fighting desegregation orders until 1983 and wasn't officially ruled desegregated until 2003. It wasn't actually desegregated in 2003. The government just gave up trying.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Looking forward to signing this petition opposing one of the dumbest efforts in Dallas in recent memory. Worse than the Calatrava bridges, worse than Patriot's Crossing, maybe worse than the Trinity Toll Road.

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Robert Wilonsky @robertwilonsky.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

From Lawrence Wright's 2019 "God Bless Texas: A Journey Into the Soul of the Lone Star State":

An excerpt from Lawrence Wright's "God Bless Texas" about the significance of Stanley Marcus. Or, Mister Stanley, as we knew him.

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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Neiman Marcus closed its downtown Dallas flagship on Wednesday. The store played a notable role in the history of desegregation in Dallas. Previously, Black shoppers across the US could enter department stores, but they weren't allowed to try on clothes without adhering to certain conditions. 🧵

A notice about the Neiman Marcus store opening in downtown Dallas.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

As long as we maintain the fiction that Rylie-Kleberg is part of some mythical Dallas countryside and fail to bring it into the City, it's going to feel remote and neglected.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Along the entire spine of 175 in Dallas, Seagoville, and up into Balch Springs there's a highly diverse mix of light industrial users crammed in along the freeway. Clearly demand for industrial uses that were never really planned, just popped up over time and now hemmed in by zoning.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Meanwhile, developers obviously want to build homes here: there are several recent and in-process subdivisions in Dallas. Keep going down 175 to Crandall and it's new homes going up by the hundreds. Incumbent residents don't like this.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

On the Comp Plan committee I focused a lot on how we're calling Rylie-Kleberg something unique in the City: "Small Town Residential". I maintained that this was a fiction in the principal city of the nation's 4th largest metro and should be the same as any residential area. I lost that fight.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The problem with Kleberg (and all southeast Dallas) is there's conflicting visions for it: The neighborhood association types want it to be a country livin' reserve. Developers want to build homes. The numerous industrial users mostly want to be left alone. Nobody's happy.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Incidentally this is what makes me great with the zoning code.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

My wife speaking about our son: "I was never so conniving...where does he get this?!" Me: *nervously raises hand*

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Did not enjoy September weather. It was record setting bad.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Experienced some of this myself. One tenant just didn't turn on the AC for 12 months. Given the humid climate, virtually every metal surface is coated in rust. Should have put dedicated dehumidification or central controls on the thermostat.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Interesting that the response to $10,000 checks directly to residents is "That's a bribe" while roughly the same amount for a water tower replacement is viewed as a community investment. Could be the need is different (Turkey, population 275 has a lot of need) but might be something to that.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I've wondered about this. From what I can tell, Dallas doesn't have any restrictions on the books specifically addressing manufactured homes, but you never see them outside of manufactured home parks. I've always assumed it was buyers' preferences for site built homes.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Oooh this a good real estate swindle. Looks like the hotel won't be renovated but we get a sordid tale.

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Nathaniel Barrett @ncoxbarrett.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

What gets built in the real world is just like the below but they just leave out the foot bridges.

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