Joe Stares at Maps

I beg you Alex, please give The Wire a chance until season 3. Yes it has bleak undertones and yes it is seemingly about the layers and complexities of institutions at its heart - like some weighty Dickensian novel. But it is essentially about people too, and I promise they do shine through.

15-Minute Cities – How Urban Design Entered the Culture War | Origin Story YouTube video by Origin Story

This is so good, we wish WE had made it! The history & lunacy of the disinformation campaign around 15-Minute Cities, by 2 “non experts” @iandunt.bsky.social & @dorianlynskey.bsky.social who show how experts SHOULD be communicating. Thanks to the @originstorypodcast.bsky.social podcast. #UrbanTruth

A picture of an electricity pylon.

Pylon. That is all.

A copy of the weekend Financial Times (14/15 Feb 2026). It has a map feature in its appended Magazine!

Thanks for the post - now in my grasp!

Maps remade An FT Magazine special feature on how to map a changing world

You should definitely consider picking up a Weekend FT today, because it's the magazine MAPS special. Radical cartography, maps that changed the world, an FT reader competition that almost started a war, they don't love you like i love you, MAPS! www.ft.com/content/efab...

Tomorrow's episode of Bold Politics is so so rare in British politics: real people who are unafraid to just be themselves for an hour because they know they don't have to protect any vested interests.

It's time for a clearout of robots in Westminster.

The youth of today will never truly grasp the sheer terror that the Crimestoppers adverts instilled into the minds of 90s kids www.youtube.com/watch?v=V39y...

A still showing amap from the video game, Silent Hill 2 (the updated version).

Playing the updated version of Silent Hill 2 and I’m taken back that I had completely forgotten about the in-game map feature. I cannot believe the nostalgia I had for playing this game again didn’t include this one aspect, but right now it’s even more like meeting and greeting an old friend.

I’m fascinated by how we can enhance route planning by considering more subjective factors, in addition to finding the quickest route through objective data. I recognise the challenges which will come with this, but maybe this is might be something where AI can have a meaningful impact over time.

a penguin is standing next to a trash can with the words " a fresh new year make the best of it " on it Alt: a penguin is standing next to a trash can with the words " a fresh new year make the best of it " on it

It’s that time again when I vow to post more on social media. Here’s to another year of good intentions and barely a dozen posts to show for it. Have a great new year folks!

Knee-deep in the middle of our own Titanic construction - definitely one of the more intricate designs I’ve had! It’s great to see it when finished and hope that Family 61 enjoy admiring it!

Ten most costly climate-related disasters this year caused €100bn damage Californian wildfires were the most expensive financially

“Climate-related disasters caused severe economic harm in 2025, with the 10 most costly responsible for damage exceeding €100 billion.”

The true costs are MUCH higher & rising fast.

They want us to think we can’t afford to change to address the #ClimateCrisis. The truth is we can’t afford NOT to.

RSPCA appeal for information after emaciated greyhound found RSPCA Cymru has launched an appeal for information after an emaciated greyhound was found straying in Cardiff. The dog was found in the Cefn Mably and Michaelston-y-Fedw area on the evening of Wednesd...

RSPCA Cymru has launched an appeal for information after an emaciated greyhound was found straying in Cardiff

Screengrab of the preorder of the audiobook for Everything Will Swallow You by Tom Cox.

Pre-ordered on @libro.fm. Looking forward to listening it over the holidays if I can get through 21st Century Yokel first!

A bottle of Malbec red wine from Argentina - Marcelo Bocardo. It has a delightful terrain map on the label which is presumably where the vineyard is situated.

A pleasant surprise to see a map in the wild this weekend whilst enjoying some red with friends - @mapsinthewild.bsky.social

FINAL book giveaway of the year.

To enter: reply below & repost this extract.

Up for grabs:

THREE signed Villager paperbacks with free art (bookmarks & postcards) by my parents.

Enter if you enjoy
Folklore
Nature
Rivers
Hills
Social history
Lost art
Ghost
Tangled psychedelic narratives
Silliness

Great to see some nice illustrations in the @theobserveruk.bsky.social of places in and around Cardiff. Disappointingly though, for the life of me I cannot work out that map and Ninian Park hasn’t been around since 2009.

Thanks @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social!

A picture of a Christmas-themed signpost in front of a plant bush. The sign post points which can be seen from right-to-left are ‘Christmas Tree Avenue’ and ‘Pegwyn y Gogledd’ (The North Pole in Welsh). On one of the sign points is a rather small and dashing looking robin. Taken in National Trust Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan.

‘Tis the season! If you need some help getting around Dyffryn Gardens, this little guy may be able to help you find your way #fingerpostfriday #nationaltrust

“A glorious ramble”, you say?

Count me in!

Dear Bluesky. I'm giving away two signed paperbacks of my novel Villager.

All you have to do to enter is share this extract from it & pop a reply below.

You also get a free map!

You might like the book if you like:
Ghosts
Social history
Folklore
Lost music
Rivers
Opinionated hills
Earth magic

Author wrote best book he's ever written.
Publisher disintegrated/fucked off with author's earnings.
Book was finally published by new publisher.
Author has bought two hardbacks, for full price, to give away, signed.

Please repost/reply if you'd like a chance to win one..
bsky.app/profile/zygo...

I love maps so I'm giving away TWO signed paperbacks of my psychedelic/folkloric novel Villager each with these fantastic maps my dad illustrated of the fictional village in the book.Just repost this/reply below for a chance to win.

Here's an extract from the book: www.tom-cox.com/the-village-...

A picture showing a colourful card appearing out of the my checked shirt breast pocket, with the words “Pooch Passport“ (also “Pasbort Pero”, in Welsh). This refers to the National Trust’s Pooch Passport campaign, where furry friends can earn stamps when visiting NT sites.

Also - it’s that time of year again. 5/12 stamps down already; our hounds are well on their way to getting their prizes!

#NTPoochPassport #NationalTrust

A 1976 official guide of the „Borough of Dinefwr“; an old publication which includes tourist information for the towns of Ammanford, Llandeilo and Llandovery.

This was a nice find. I do love these town/regional guides, offering a window into a time and place now long gone.

Returned from the Cotswolds, suitably refreshed. The map/road atlas haul from second hand shops wasn’t too promising, but but some good ideas for the blog moving forward.

I haven’t even started reading this report and already I’ve gone down a Buchanan rabbit hole. I really didn’t appreciate his influence on town transport planning in the 60s, leading up to present day.

This gem just turned full diamond 💎

A slightly-weathered looking ring bound report entitled “Probe Study Report: Cardiff Development and Transportation Study” authored by Colin Buchanan and Partners, dated April [19]66.

YES! This little gem was gifted to me recently and will be a delight, I’m sure.

The link brings up a 404 error for me?

A great addition for #FingerpostFriday!