The path we’re on instead is techno-solutionism: the cheapest, straightest line governments can choose towards efficiency and savings, and the most impoverished innovation strategy possible for a young country with every opportunity to do differently. www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...

Santa Arrives, Galiano Island Molly Lamb Bobak n.d.

Curated by staff here at @oxd.bsky.social, we created a fun year-end seasonal playlist. No Wham or Mariah. I promise. music.apple.com/ca/playlist/...

Been a soaker in Vancouver these past couple of weeks. My favourite sign at Trout Lake, swallowed up by the water this morning.

All told, the nearly 2,700 Mobi share bikes in Vancouver clocked 21.4 m kilometres from Jan 2017 - Sept 2025. "Meet Vancouver’s most-travelled shared bicycle in the Mobi network" as told by @njgriffiths.bsky.social via @vancouversun.bsky.social #vanpoli #vanre vancouversun.com/news/meet-va...

The Catch-22 of Canadian Digital Sovereignty: open version of my Globe op-ed that argues Canadian-based AI infrastructure has its advantages, but digital sovereignty isn’t really one of them. www.michaelgeist.ca/2025/12/the-...

Through the Mountains Barbara Pratt 2010

I played this compulsively as a child. I have never felt more seen: SMITH: I want every eight-year-old to look at this and think, “Someday, I will destroy my father’s confidence with pure logic.”

Was able to catch this panel at UBC in person. Really enjoyed the conversation. Now you can too.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Western Conference Champions. Incredible.

What makes something data? Some thoughts on that question, and how answers to it help us understand AI hype: medium.com/@emilymenonb...

What would Ursula Franklin say? Well, let's start with her list. "Should one not ask of any public project or loan whether it: (1) promotes justice; (2) restores reciprocity; (3) confers divisible or indivisible benefits; cont...

Oslo problems.

Is this cheese grater conscious? Many users feel they're talking to a real person. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.

"It’s been a nightmare, but an enjoyable one, and in the end, satisfying." I absolutely loved @phil.gyford.com's essay about getting online in the 90s. www.gyford.com/phil/writing...

That ball from Yohei Takaoka was just perfect. An equally great finish from Emmanuel Sabbi. At its finest, Route One “kick and run” can be outstanding.

On affordances and technomoral choices. From @shannonvallor.bsky.social in Technology and the Virtues

A question for scientists (construed as broadly as you like) of BlueSky: What makes something data? (Question inspired by a talk I listened to this morning, and of course I have thoughts, but I wanted to throw this out there first.)

I ❤️ libraries. Especially when they host such smart, witty, and engaging conversations like the one today with @vassb.bsky.social and Cory Doctorow. Big thanks to Jorge at VPL and everyone else for making this happen. #proudformerVPLtrustee www.crowdcast.io/c/0wzs9iu1q225

I think about how big tech openly and frictionlessly scrapes/steals everything to train AI models every time I have to work through a multi-part, multi-month research ethics review process to interview a half dozen people who actually want to talk to me about their work.

What a treat to have this panel happen today at UBC. So many topics, so little time. Chapeau @carolmliao.bsky.social @mysdick.bsky.social @profwhw.bsky.social @profhvdv.bsky.social @naomiaklein.bsky.social and the Centre for Climate Justice for making these conversations happen.

Have you heard of the Transit Death Spiral? It's happening right now in Metro Vancouver. Nic Laporte explains it perfectly in this video in collaboration with Movement. Do you think we can flip this downward spiral into growth that serves the needs of our region?

Canadian Federal budget as Rorschach test.

🧵 Vancouver Public Library & @InternetArchiveCA.bsky.social have been honoured by the City of Vancouver for their innovative digitization project, making rare & historical British Columbia materials accessible online for future generations. 🏆📚🇨🇦 Learn more ⤵️ internetarchivecanada.org/2025/11/12/v...

Howe Sound—Yesterday, Today, and Forever W.P. Weston 1927

Like many public sector digital nerds, I care about the new budget. But here I am, a few of days out, still haven't read it. What I do know: modernise (25 mentions) vs. modernize (17 mentions) is still a raging debate in the Canadian government. No AI was used in this post, just ctrl-F in Acrobat...

Tree Trunk Emily Carr c. 1935

Jim King's Warf W.J. Phillips 1927

House of Ypres A.Y. Jackson 1917

What a delight to be part of an absolutely incredible line up at the CSA Policy Pathways Conference today in Toronto.

First panel at the CSA Policy Pathways conference with @kaylietiessen.bsky.social @armineyalnizyan.bsky.social and host @spaikin.bsky.social — strong provocations and challenges from a great keynote talk by Armine about the care economy.

That thing when it's budget day in Canada and you're in Ottawa and buy a sandwich and the guy in front of you is the Finance Minister (too distracted to look at his shoes...)

Four cheers for @h2cents.bsky.social @honeygolightly.bsky.social @hillaryh.bsky.social and Stephanie and their encouragement about pattern finding and sharing #fwd50

Okay bsky gov digital folks - who’s here? #fwd50

"The new Luddites aren’t afraid of AI. They’re afraid of the people who profit from pretending it’s intelligent." Erik J. Larson reviews "The AI Con" by Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-return-of-the-luddites/

Ok...British Columbia...with trick or treaters calling it a #Halloween night...it's now your time to tally up your counts and contribute to #treatcount2025 #bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

A soggy evening but we are open for another #treatcount2025… be safe and stay warm everyone!

Logged Over Country Emily Carr 1935

Northern Lights, Fill the Sky Lee Munn 2019

Haida Grizzly Bear Bill Reid ~ Haida 1973

Just finished @shannonvallor.bsky.social’s book, The AI Mirror. Deeply appreciative of the thought and care that went into this book. Left reflecting upon one of many challenges posed: how might we “reclaim technology as a human-wielded instrument of care, responsibility, and service”?

While Portland isn’t what it seems, nor is my East Van street this afternoon. Honestly, can you pick a worse place to film than an active bike route?

I recently repaired my 17 year old Ortlieb cycling panniers with some new straps. In a context of so many disposable consumer goods, these nylon straps, fastex clips and screws brought me so much joy. We need more care in design, materials and repair. Well done Ortlieb.

From earlier this week, a brilliant bit of writing (and truth) about the upcoming Fifa World Cup via the Guardian. That’s a zinger of a paragraph. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

And one of our favourite quotes/calls to action: "There is an urgency to make our public spaces places people want to be... Messiness provides an opportunity for people to 'speak their needs.'"

Booking marking this case study of GOV.UK Notify by Hannah White & @eaves.ca to wheel out next time there’s a bit of reductive technical solutionism about common platforms: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/publications/2025/oct/scaling-digital-infrastructure-siloed-state

A new, and slightly polemical post on the dangers of fetishising AI, and some ideas of a set of heuristics to reduce the potential harm thecynefin.co/a-new-animism/

What a treat to have Kate Tarling @kateldn.bsky.social visit us in Vancouver last week. A real pleasure hosting her at @oxd.bsky.social and for a great presentation on service organizations at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. Catch her keynote tomorrow at CanUX in Ottawa 🇨🇦

Big news! I've been working with @sladner.bsky.social on "Off the Path" -- a limited series podcast where we talk about user research careers, especially our own. Episodes come out October 10. In this hype video, I reflect on why I decided to take on this new project together.