This year’s winner of the Balsillie Prize for Public Policy was Wendy H. Wong’s book, We, The Data: Human Rights in the Digital Age. The Winner We, The Data is an eye-opening, gripping look at the ways in which humanity is being codified, monitored, and tracked at alarming speed and intensity — in largely unaccountable […]
AI product demo: How Google’s NotebookLM helps manage complex information
November 8, 2024 by · Leave a Comment
Google calls NotebookLM an “AI-powered research and writing assistant”. It’s more than that. It “helps users understand complex information by instantly becoming an expert on uploaded sources.” You can upload various types of files to NotebookLM, give it an ask, and watch it “generate” … Focused on AI, I wanted NotebookLM to intersect the big […]
Consider Maslow’s hierarchy in response to NIMBY development concerns
June 11, 2024 by · Leave a Comment
As part of the City of Victoria’s 10-Year Official Community Plan (OCP) Update, last Saturday, I attended an OCP engagement event at my local (James Bay Neighbourhood) community centre. Like many urban neighbourhoods, mine is diverse. There’s a range of people, places and opinions. A common divergence of opinion that comes up circles around the […]
Field notes on advocating for low-income seniors
March 24, 2024 by · Leave a Comment
Mabel is direct in her communications. Aged 67, of low-income, her tenancy at-risk, and loaded with all sorts of health concerns, Mabel leaves no doubts. She isn’t ready to give up. She wants to maintain her independence for as long as possible. She just needs help doing that. Seniors’ Entitlement Services Mabel’s attitude typifies that […]
Emotional Labour
May 8, 2019 by · Leave a Comment
Ever had to smile at work, even when you didn’t want to? Or, show empathy and warmth to someone you’re caring for, when you are at your wits’ end? Or, stayed silent when what you really wanted to do was speak up? I got my hand raised. All of these workplace actions involved ‘emotional labour’. […]
