Karen Quinn Fung 馮皓珍
@kqf.ca
Co-ops, cycling and civictech in the streets; amateur making, disability justice and decolonization in the sheets. | she/her
w3w: wrong.thin.stencil
w3w: wrong.thin.stencil
Pinned
Karen Quinn Fung 馮皓珍
@kqf.ca
· Mar 11
“Technology sufficiently advanced is indistinguishable from magic, but misunderstanding one’s place in the function and aims of a system is no excuse for magical thinking.”
— me, Sep 25, 2024, riffing on Arthur C. Clarke in response to a bumper sticker about conspiracy theories
— me, Sep 25, 2024, riffing on Arthur C. Clarke in response to a bumper sticker about conspiracy theories
Reposted by Karen Quinn Fung 馮皓珍
Today is the last day to join @onecityvan.bsky.social and be eligible to vote in the mayoral nomination that’s being held this month.
January 13, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Today is the last day to join @onecityvan.bsky.social and be eligible to vote in the mayoral nomination that’s being held this month.
There are some suggestions in Paris Marx’s guide to getting off US tech here: disconnect.blog/getting-off-...
I’ve gone as far as making Duck Duck Go my default and download Vivaldi for browsing.
I’ve gone as far as making Duck Duck Go my default and download Vivaldi for browsing.
Getting off US tech: a guide
I’m in the process of dropping US tech services. Here’s how I did it, and options you should consider.
disconnect.blog
January 12, 2026 at 10:29 PM
There are some suggestions in Paris Marx’s guide to getting off US tech here: disconnect.blog/getting-off-...
I’ve gone as far as making Duck Duck Go my default and download Vivaldi for browsing.
I’ve gone as far as making Duck Duck Go my default and download Vivaldi for browsing.
I was having a conversation last year with a longtime acquaintance of my partner’s, an older woodworker, about potentially getting similarly involved in one of the many local makerspaces around town too. Love to see it.
January 12, 2026 at 1:15 PM
I was having a conversation last year with a longtime acquaintance of my partner’s, an older woodworker, about potentially getting similarly involved in one of the many local makerspaces around town too. Love to see it.
I saw this while out and about at the end of the year. I have no idea what it’s for but it caught my eye.
January 12, 2026 at 7:27 AM
I saw this while out and about at the end of the year. I have no idea what it’s for but it caught my eye.
There’s an entire Buy It Once subreddit that might help, but yes, retail expertise rooted in actual material literacy* is very hard to find these days, alas.
* my understanding of this term comes from a 2 hour video about the private equity takeover of Joann Fabrics.
* my understanding of this term comes from a 2 hour video about the private equity takeover of Joann Fabrics.
January 12, 2026 at 2:57 AM
There’s an entire Buy It Once subreddit that might help, but yes, retail expertise rooted in actual material literacy* is very hard to find these days, alas.
* my understanding of this term comes from a 2 hour video about the private equity takeover of Joann Fabrics.
* my understanding of this term comes from a 2 hour video about the private equity takeover of Joann Fabrics.
It’s a big city, you can be forgiven. Happy birthday!
January 10, 2026 at 11:10 PM
It’s a big city, you can be forgiven. Happy birthday!
I’ve enjoyed my Tern Vektron Q8 and I’m not even really carrying much of anything. I didn’t buy it new, but I think a lot of the design differences really prove themselves in the regular use.
January 10, 2026 at 8:49 PM
I’ve enjoyed my Tern Vektron Q8 and I’m not even really carrying much of anything. I didn’t buy it new, but I think a lot of the design differences really prove themselves in the regular use.
Reposted by Karen Quinn Fung 馮皓珍
Pro tip: if you Google something, type -ai after it and you won't get tge ai summary.
Save some water.
Save some water.
January 9, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Pro tip: if you Google something, type -ai after it and you won't get tge ai summary.
Save some water.
Save some water.
I only have one device / browser defaulting to Chrome but I will absolutely be using this!
January 9, 2026 at 10:49 PM
I only have one device / browser defaulting to Chrome but I will absolutely be using this!
They also were seemingly proactive on recycling in ways I really didn’t see many other retailers doing, which I support. But I’m told they are middling to poor on the labour front.
January 9, 2026 at 9:27 PM
They also were seemingly proactive on recycling in ways I really didn’t see many other retailers doing, which I support. But I’m told they are middling to poor on the labour front.
I think most of their innovation has been on the vertical integration around distribution and white labelling more than brick and mortar (I live by both LD and SDG). They are presently redeveloping one of their oldest stores in East Van so they are working the “housing” side of your skeet.
January 9, 2026 at 9:25 PM
I think most of their innovation has been on the vertical integration around distribution and white labelling more than brick and mortar (I live by both LD and SDG). They are presently redeveloping one of their oldest stores in East Van so they are working the “housing” side of your skeet.
Reposted by Karen Quinn Fung 馮皓珍
hi! i would like to reup my request for ANY AND ALL PEOPLE FIGHTING DATA CENTERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME
i am now covering data center conflicts for @heatmap.news
my email is jael@heatmap.news
i am now covering data center conflicts for @heatmap.news
my email is jael@heatmap.news
January 9, 2026 at 5:33 PM
hi! i would like to reup my request for ANY AND ALL PEOPLE FIGHTING DATA CENTERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME
i am now covering data center conflicts for @heatmap.news
my email is jael@heatmap.news
i am now covering data center conflicts for @heatmap.news
my email is jael@heatmap.news
I’ve heard about the post-holiday season being intensely busy with declutterers this way for a few years now… hard to keep it from taking the wind out of your sails, I’m sure.
January 9, 2026 at 6:06 PM
I’ve heard about the post-holiday season being intensely busy with declutterers this way for a few years now… hard to keep it from taking the wind out of your sails, I’m sure.
Reposted by Karen Quinn Fung 馮皓珍
Your great-great-grandparents commuted about an hour a day. So did Roman merchants. So do you. No matter how fast we make transportation, people just live farther from work regardless of income. It's called Marchetti's constant, basically Jevons paradox for your morning commute.
January 7, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Your great-great-grandparents commuted about an hour a day. So did Roman merchants. So do you. No matter how fast we make transportation, people just live farther from work regardless of income. It's called Marchetti's constant, basically Jevons paradox for your morning commute.
Reposted by Karen Quinn Fung 馮皓珍
My new podcast DWELL TIME IS OUT!
Join Denis Agar and Rodney Chan in their discussions around transit in Canada. From buses to trains and everything else transit, learn about advocacy happening in Canadian cities and beyond.
Apple podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/d...
Spotify link below:
Join Denis Agar and Rodney Chan in their discussions around transit in Canada. From buses to trains and everything else transit, learn about advocacy happening in Canadian cities and beyond.
Apple podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/d...
Spotify link below:
January 7, 2026 at 5:34 PM
My new podcast DWELL TIME IS OUT!
Join Denis Agar and Rodney Chan in their discussions around transit in Canada. From buses to trains and everything else transit, learn about advocacy happening in Canadian cities and beyond.
Apple podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/d...
Spotify link below:
Join Denis Agar and Rodney Chan in their discussions around transit in Canada. From buses to trains and everything else transit, learn about advocacy happening in Canadian cities and beyond.
Apple podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/d...
Spotify link below:
Reposted by Karen Quinn Fung 馮皓珍
Everyone deserves shelter, food, water & healthcare.
Even the people you don’t like.
Even the people you feel made “bad lifestyle choices”
Even the people who you don’t think “contribute enough”
Every person should have their basic needs met
This shouldn’t be controversial.
Even the people you don’t like.
Even the people you feel made “bad lifestyle choices”
Even the people who you don’t think “contribute enough”
Every person should have their basic needs met
This shouldn’t be controversial.
January 7, 2026 at 5:26 AM
Everyone deserves shelter, food, water & healthcare.
Even the people you don’t like.
Even the people you feel made “bad lifestyle choices”
Even the people who you don’t think “contribute enough”
Every person should have their basic needs met
This shouldn’t be controversial.
Even the people you don’t like.
Even the people you feel made “bad lifestyle choices”
Even the people who you don’t think “contribute enough”
Every person should have their basic needs met
This shouldn’t be controversial.
I was thinking of re-upping on first aid… but this is pretty similar.
January 7, 2026 at 12:04 AM
I was thinking of re-upping on first aid… but this is pretty similar.
Ah, so they’re also inconsistent like shishitos! I only cooked with half the ones I roasted (seeds and all) and froze the 4 remaining. It will all be a surprise.
January 6, 2026 at 6:20 AM
Ah, so they’re also inconsistent like shishitos! I only cooked with half the ones I roasted (seeds and all) and froze the 4 remaining. It will all be a surprise.
This day will live in infamy in my household as the day I found out the hard way that Fresno peppers are quite hot.
January 6, 2026 at 6:16 AM
This day will live in infamy in my household as the day I found out the hard way that Fresno peppers are quite hot.
Reposted by Karen Quinn Fung 馮皓珍
We could all learn a lot from Finland's approach
It's brilliant that they're just adding AI education to the existing media literacy curriculum
www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/ar...
It's brilliant that they're just adding AI education to the existing media literacy curriculum
www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/ar...
Finnish children learn media literacy at 3 years old. It’s protection against Russian propaganda
The battle against fake news in Finland starts in preschool classrooms.
www.ctvnews.ca
January 6, 2026 at 12:09 AM
We could all learn a lot from Finland's approach
It's brilliant that they're just adding AI education to the existing media literacy curriculum
www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/ar...
It's brilliant that they're just adding AI education to the existing media literacy curriculum
www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/ar...
Reposted by Karen Quinn Fung 馮皓珍
It’s a new year and things are still bad! If you want to join folks in Toronto who are doing organizing, activism, and mutual aid work to make things less bad, I run a calendar/newsletter that tracks it all. Newsletter returns tomorrow, or use the iCal/RSS feeds! Tell your friends! showuptoronto.ca
Show Up Toronto
Show Up Toronto brings together community organizing, mutual aid, and advocacy events from around the city. Get weekly updates or subscribe to the calendar feed!
showuptoronto.ca
January 6, 2026 at 12:21 AM
It’s a new year and things are still bad! If you want to join folks in Toronto who are doing organizing, activism, and mutual aid work to make things less bad, I run a calendar/newsletter that tracks it all. Newsletter returns tomorrow, or use the iCal/RSS feeds! Tell your friends! showuptoronto.ca
*sheds a tear for The OA*
January 5, 2026 at 11:47 PM
*sheds a tear for The OA*
(And death-glares me the whole slow saunter back to their car.)
I move to pass on the left - they actually didn’t leave me enough room on the right to press the button even if I’d wanted to.
Once seated, they inch the car towards my right calf.
I move to pass on the left - they actually didn’t leave me enough room on the right to press the button even if I’d wanted to.
Once seated, they inch the car towards my right calf.
a woman is wearing a green and red basketball jersey and making a funny face .
Alt: a woman waves her hands in utter incredulous bafflement.
media.tenor.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:23 PM
(And death-glares me the whole slow saunter back to their car.)
I move to pass on the left - they actually didn’t leave me enough room on the right to press the button even if I’d wanted to.
Once seated, they inch the car towards my right calf.
I move to pass on the left - they actually didn’t leave me enough room on the right to press the button even if I’d wanted to.
Once seated, they inch the car towards my right calf.
Not sure what to make of some road interactions sometimes. At southbound light on Woodland at 1st Ave, a late-90s sedan pulls up slowly to the stop line. They look like they might be parking so I (on my e-bike) position to the left to potentially pass. But no, driver gets out to hit beg button.
January 5, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Not sure what to make of some road interactions sometimes. At southbound light on Woodland at 1st Ave, a late-90s sedan pulls up slowly to the stop line. They look like they might be parking so I (on my e-bike) position to the left to potentially pass. But no, driver gets out to hit beg button.