Dan Stephenson
@danstephenson.ca
Educator | Podcaster | Entertainer | Hockey Fan | All Around Geek
“One learns from books and example only that certain things can be done. Actual learning requires that you do those things.” — Frank Herbert
December 22, 2025 at 6:28 PM
“One learns from books and example only that certain things can be done. Actual learning requires that you do those things.” — Frank Herbert
A reminder to my students and students everywhere. It's okay not to know things - you're here to learn. But make sure when you encounter something you don't know, you take the time to practice and use the skills/knowledge so you do know it next time you need it.
December 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
A reminder to my students and students everywhere. It's okay not to know things - you're here to learn. But make sure when you encounter something you don't know, you take the time to practice and use the skills/knowledge so you do know it next time you need it.
AI transcription bots are everywhere in meetings—but are we handling privacy right? Should their use and terms be disclosed in advance, announced at the start, or is there a better norm we should adopt?
December 17, 2025 at 2:11 AM
AI transcription bots are everywhere in meetings—but are we handling privacy right? Should their use and terms be disclosed in advance, announced at the start, or is there a better norm we should adopt?
A student used a random image converter they found online and kept getting corrupted WebP files. I showed them the method we’ve practised all semester, and they said I should “remove the website from the Internet since it doesn’t work.” I’m flattered they think I have that power.
December 12, 2025 at 7:31 PM
A student used a random image converter they found online and kept getting corrupted WebP files. I showed them the method we’ve practised all semester, and they said I should “remove the website from the Internet since it doesn’t work.” I’m flattered they think I have that power.
More and more the word "hacked" seems to be used in the media for an undesired technological outcome that can't be explained. We need to find a better word to use.
December 4, 2025 at 7:28 PM
More and more the word "hacked" seems to be used in the media for an undesired technological outcome that can't be explained. We need to find a better word to use.
I chatted with a web dev tonight who ranted about PHP being “ancient” and “unusable.” Five minutes later he said he loves working in WordPress and Drupal. It felt like AI-fed talking points. When I mentioned the contradiction, he immediately walked away.
December 3, 2025 at 4:42 AM
I chatted with a web dev tonight who ranted about PHP being “ancient” and “unusable.” Five minutes later he said he loves working in WordPress and Drupal. It felt like AI-fed talking points. When I mentioned the contradiction, he immediately walked away.
There is a website I log into often that implemented passkeys. Now, whenever I log in with a passkey, it skips prompting me for a password but asks for my TOTP code. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a passkey?
November 26, 2025 at 3:48 PM
There is a website I log into often that implemented passkeys. Now, whenever I log in with a passkey, it skips prompting me for a password but asks for my TOTP code. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a passkey?
Whatever happened to the idea Google had years ago where Google Asisstant could phone your local barber and book a haircut for you? It seemed far fetched at the time, but now very doable.
November 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Whatever happened to the idea Google had years ago where Google Asisstant could phone your local barber and book a haircut for you? It seemed far fetched at the time, but now very doable.
I am disappointed I still need to remind people of this. ChatGPT (and other GenAI LLM tools) is not a truth machine, as it generates responses based on statistical patterns in its training data rather than a commitment to factual accuracy.
November 19, 2025 at 2:27 AM
I am disappointed I still need to remind people of this. ChatGPT (and other GenAI LLM tools) is not a truth machine, as it generates responses based on statistical patterns in its training data rather than a commitment to factual accuracy.
I've been exploring my Elgato Stream Deck Mini over the last few weeks and discovered it can have live tiles - clocks, timers, weather, etc.
I am finding this really useful to still be able to have a clock when I am running full-screen applications (like games).
I am finding this really useful to still be able to have a clock when I am running full-screen applications (like games).
October 30, 2025 at 12:08 AM
I've been exploring my Elgato Stream Deck Mini over the last few weeks and discovered it can have live tiles - clocks, timers, weather, etc.
I am finding this really useful to still be able to have a clock when I am running full-screen applications (like games).
I am finding this really useful to still be able to have a clock when I am running full-screen applications (like games).
More #webdev agencies are defining themselves by a single platform—“WordPress,” “Shopify,”, “Webflow.” It’s a strong brand move, but as a client, I’d value an agency that starts with my goals and then selects the best tool to match.
October 27, 2025 at 9:46 PM
More #webdev agencies are defining themselves by a single platform—“WordPress,” “Shopify,”, “Webflow.” It’s a strong brand move, but as a client, I’d value an agency that starts with my goals and then selects the best tool to match.
I've now got my Elgato Stream Deck Mini set up for my #webdev work so I can get access to my eye dropper, measuring tool, code editor, browser's dev tools, DBeaver, and FTP client all set up as buttons. This is a really useful little tool for less than $80 bucks.
October 22, 2025 at 3:16 PM
I've now got my Elgato Stream Deck Mini set up for my #webdev work so I can get access to my eye dropper, measuring tool, code editor, browser's dev tools, DBeaver, and FTP client all set up as buttons. This is a really useful little tool for less than $80 bucks.
In the age of QR code scanning and search engines with reasonably accurate results, it seems less and less people know what the address bar/omnibar in their browser is for, and how to use it.
October 21, 2025 at 7:27 PM
In the age of QR code scanning and search engines with reasonably accurate results, it seems less and less people know what the address bar/omnibar in their browser is for, and how to use it.
My #webdev students found Sprott’s Fractal Gallery website and couldn’t believe how bad the design was. I told them, “That’s just what the web looked like in 1995 when this was launched.” The collective gasp was audible. Web design has come a long way.
Sprott's Fractal Gallery
Computer generated artwork, with
thousands of downloadable images and a new fractal every day!
sprott.physics.wisc.edu
October 15, 2025 at 8:25 PM
My #webdev students found Sprott’s Fractal Gallery website and couldn’t believe how bad the design was. I told them, “That’s just what the web looked like in 1995 when this was launched.” The collective gasp was audible. Web design has come a long way.
I am exploring alternatives to the Adobe Creative Cloud to determine if I can viably move away from that subscription.
A Premiere alternative has been one of the challenges. My video editing needs are simple and so far I've found Kdenlive to be a viable Premiere alternative.
A Premiere alternative has been one of the challenges. My video editing needs are simple and so far I've found Kdenlive to be a viable Premiere alternative.
October 13, 2025 at 12:57 AM
I am exploring alternatives to the Adobe Creative Cloud to determine if I can viably move away from that subscription.
A Premiere alternative has been one of the challenges. My video editing needs are simple and so far I've found Kdenlive to be a viable Premiere alternative.
A Premiere alternative has been one of the challenges. My video editing needs are simple and so far I've found Kdenlive to be a viable Premiere alternative.
Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians.
October 12, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians.
I got an Elgato Stream Deck Mini. Not being a streamer, I wasn't sure how much use I'd get out of it, but I've found it to be a great workflow tool. The ability for it to switch my buttons to different actions based on the open program is convenient and makes me more productive.
October 12, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I got an Elgato Stream Deck Mini. Not being a streamer, I wasn't sure how much use I'd get out of it, but I've found it to be a great workflow tool. The ability for it to switch my buttons to different actions based on the open program is convenient and makes me more productive.
After many years of being faithful to Firefox, I'm diving in and giving Brave browser a try. I've promised myself that for better or worse, I'll use Brave as my primary browser for all of October.
October 2, 2025 at 3:31 AM
After many years of being faithful to Firefox, I'm diving in and giving Brave browser a try. I've promised myself that for better or worse, I'll use Brave as my primary browser for all of October.
No matter how bad your week at work is this week, be thankful you aren't the PR person at Tylenol.
September 23, 2025 at 8:57 PM
No matter how bad your week at work is this week, be thankful you aren't the PR person at Tylenol.
The Alberta government has launched digital health cards, but they have to be used in the government's proprietary wallet app. Didn't we learn during the pandemic the disaster that is government-created apps? Let's use existing digital wallet standards.
Province launches digital Alberta Wallet, introduces mobile health card
The Alberta Wallet will be able to store additional government-issued documents, said Minister of Technology and Innovation Nate Glubish.
calgaryherald.com
August 29, 2025 at 6:25 PM
The Alberta government has launched digital health cards, but they have to be used in the government's proprietary wallet app. Didn't we learn during the pandemic the disaster that is government-created apps? Let's use existing digital wallet standards.
I was watching a Jetsons cartoon today. We have robots to clean our homes, help with our pets, secure our homes, etc. How long do you think it'll be until we see affordable, commonly available domestic robots akin to Rosie?
August 25, 2025 at 12:35 AM
I was watching a Jetsons cartoon today. We have robots to clean our homes, help with our pets, secure our homes, etc. How long do you think it'll be until we see affordable, commonly available domestic robots akin to Rosie?
I was at the local furniture store today and saw a display of couches that are app-controlled for 'full reclining' and massage functionality.
This screams planned obsolence when you need to get a new couch because yours is no longer supported.
This is silly.
This screams planned obsolence when you need to get a new couch because yours is no longer supported.
This is silly.
August 25, 2025 at 12:21 AM
I was at the local furniture store today and saw a display of couches that are app-controlled for 'full reclining' and massage functionality.
This screams planned obsolence when you need to get a new couch because yours is no longer supported.
This is silly.
This screams planned obsolence when you need to get a new couch because yours is no longer supported.
This is silly.
AOL is finally shutting down their dial up service in the US. According to '22 Census data, approximately 175,000 US households still connect through dial-up services.
I think this is a good reminder that we can't assume everyone in even the US has high speed Internet access.
I think this is a good reminder that we can't assume everyone in even the US has high speed Internet access.
August 11, 2025 at 9:57 PM
AOL is finally shutting down their dial up service in the US. According to '22 Census data, approximately 175,000 US households still connect through dial-up services.
I think this is a good reminder that we can't assume everyone in even the US has high speed Internet access.
I think this is a good reminder that we can't assume everyone in even the US has high speed Internet access.
I ordered a BELT sandwich at Tim Hortons today. The lady behind the counter asked if I wanted Bacon or Sausage. "What would the B stand for if I got sausage? That would be a SELT" was my answer. She looked very confused.
July 21, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I ordered a BELT sandwich at Tim Hortons today. The lady behind the counter asked if I wanted Bacon or Sausage. "What would the B stand for if I got sausage? That would be a SELT" was my answer. She looked very confused.