Sameer Vasta
@sameervasta.bsky.social
Unabashedly earnest. Unapologetically enthusiastic. Infinitely curious. (he/him)
I’d eat tourtière for dinner every night of the year, but having it on Christmas Eve is just perfect.
December 25, 2025 at 2:18 AM
I’d eat tourtière for dinner every night of the year, but having it on Christmas Eve is just perfect.
Reposted by Sameer Vasta
We are so fortunate to be alive at the same time as Queen Latifah. My mom had me fell in love with her song on Q’s Juke Joint and then “Living Single” happened and all the movies. Also, her rap songs were probably my first encounter with feminism. “Who you calling a bitch?” She raised a legion.
December 24, 2025 at 11:45 AM
We are so fortunate to be alive at the same time as Queen Latifah. My mom had me fell in love with her song on Q’s Juke Joint and then “Living Single” happened and all the movies. Also, her rap songs were probably my first encounter with feminism. “Who you calling a bitch?” She raised a legion.
Some of my favorite movies, television shows, books, albums, and theatre of the year: www.inthemargins.ca/media-best-o...
The best of my media diet for 2025 - Flashing Palely in the Margins
Sameer Vasta is an epistolarian, anthropologist, urban explorer, and over-user of the discretionary comma.
www.inthemargins.ca
December 24, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Some of my favorite movies, television shows, books, albums, and theatre of the year: www.inthemargins.ca/media-best-o...
Didn’t know much about Rick Steves before, but if this is any indication, I’m an instant fan.
It’s the “season of love and giving”…but this year, doesn’t it seem more like a “season of fear and taking”? Like many of you, I’ve been saddened by the human impact of draconian government budget cuts and how angry many housed Americans are at unhoused Americans.
🧵 1 of 9
🧵 1 of 9
December 21, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Didn’t know much about Rick Steves before, but if this is any indication, I’m an instant fan.
Reposted by Sameer Vasta
I am unstoppable unless there’s a minor inconvenience.
December 20, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I am unstoppable unless there’s a minor inconvenience.
Reposted by Sameer Vasta
In no particular order, here are the 25 most-borrowed books in London, shared in today’s LPL Express newsletter: catalogue.lpl.ca/library-list...
catalogue.lpl.ca
December 16, 2025 at 11:42 PM
In no particular order, here are the 25 most-borrowed books in London, shared in today’s LPL Express newsletter: catalogue.lpl.ca/library-list...
Reposted by Sameer Vasta
domestic versions of a bad idea are still a bad idea
December 17, 2025 at 1:29 PM
domestic versions of a bad idea are still a bad idea
Shared a bunch of good links (and some commentary) at the bottom of this post: www.inthemargins.ca/end-of-2025
December 17, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Shared a bunch of good links (and some commentary) at the bottom of this post: www.inthemargins.ca/end-of-2025
Would love if @lpl.ca released stats like this so we could see what the city of #ldnont has been reading. www.nypl.org/blog/2025/12...
www.nypl.org
December 16, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Would love if @lpl.ca released stats like this so we could see what the city of #ldnont has been reading. www.nypl.org/blog/2025/12...
Reposted by Sameer Vasta
@biancawylie.com with an incisive read "Less as more: decomputing in the age of tech accelerationism". www.policyready.ca/policymaking...
2025s final post for Policymaking Today!
#canpoli #digitalgov #gcdigital
2025s final post for Policymaking Today!
#canpoli #digitalgov #gcdigital
Less as more: decomputing in the age of tech accelerationism — Resources for today's policymakers
By Bianca Wylie In 2021, in the Journal of Social Computing, historian Jonnie Penn made the argument for “Algorithmic Silence: A Call to Decomputerize.” As he summarizes: “Tech critics become...
www.policyready.ca
December 16, 2025 at 4:31 PM
@biancawylie.com with an incisive read "Less as more: decomputing in the age of tech accelerationism". www.policyready.ca/policymaking...
2025s final post for Policymaking Today!
#canpoli #digitalgov #gcdigital
2025s final post for Policymaking Today!
#canpoli #digitalgov #gcdigital
Reposted by Sameer Vasta
Another way to restart the world’s idea machine is to restore funding and grants to universities, researchers, and artists.
America, you have spoken loud and clear: You do not like AI. But what if AI is the way to restart the world’s idea machine?
We’re running out of good ideas. AI might be how we find new ones.
What if the best use of AI is restarting the world’s idea machine?
www.vox.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Another way to restart the world’s idea machine is to restore funding and grants to universities, researchers, and artists.
Reposted by Sameer Vasta
I will say I have become less grouchy about The Kids™ primarily consuming information via video by reframing it in my head as a return to oral traditions, which genuinely does have a lot of prosocial benefits we should cultivate, but as someone who thinks primarily in text I’m not HAPPY about it lol
i have said this before but if you are actually interested in influencing people beyond a narrow circle of too-online journalists you will be making direct to camera videos on tiktok, instagram and youtube. if you primarily post on text-based social media then you're just dicking around.
December 16, 2025 at 1:31 AM
I will say I have become less grouchy about The Kids™ primarily consuming information via video by reframing it in my head as a return to oral traditions, which genuinely does have a lot of prosocial benefits we should cultivate, but as someone who thinks primarily in text I’m not HAPPY about it lol
Reposted by Sameer Vasta
Snow Angels Canada is an experiment in kindness: Please help if you can or share with someone who might be able to - our volunteers are trying their best but are overwhelmed. The demand for assistance currently exceeds our ability to help.
❄️😇🍁
snowangelscanada.ca
❄️😇🍁
snowangelscanada.ca
Homepage - Snow Angels Canada
Get your laneway shovelled Are you a senior or person in need? It only takes a couple minutes to sign up and find volunteers near you! Register as a recipient Become a volunteer Connect with neighbour...
snowangelscanada.ca
December 12, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Snow Angels Canada is an experiment in kindness: Please help if you can or share with someone who might be able to - our volunteers are trying their best but are overwhelmed. The demand for assistance currently exceeds our ability to help.
❄️😇🍁
snowangelscanada.ca
❄️😇🍁
snowangelscanada.ca
Have already pulled out the snowblower three times in the past 36 hours and the snow. keeps. falling.
a cartoon character wearing a yellow coat and a red hat
Alt: Animated gif of Lucy from Peanuts comic standing in falling snow looking angry
media.tenor.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Have already pulled out the snowblower three times in the past 36 hours and the snow. keeps. falling.
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif.
December 8, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif.
Reposted by Sameer Vasta
complaining about paywalls when so many journalists are being laid off and there are fewer market incentives to do great reporting and in-depth investigations, data analysis and features is also wild when everyone understands you need to pay for electronics, streaming services, and utilities
December 8, 2025 at 4:31 PM
complaining about paywalls when so many journalists are being laid off and there are fewer market incentives to do great reporting and in-depth investigations, data analysis and features is also wild when everyone understands you need to pay for electronics, streaming services, and utilities
Reposted by Sameer Vasta
Terribly stupid idea that will satisfy faux-populist urges to dunk on public servants while simultaneously making the lives of public servants and the service itself so much worse.
Goofy stuff.
Goofy stuff.
Carney says back-to-office plan for federal civil servants coming soon nationalnewswatch.com/2025/12/08/c...
Carney says back-to-office plan for federal civil servants coming soon
National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.
nationalnewswatch.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Terribly stupid idea that will satisfy faux-populist urges to dunk on public servants while simultaneously making the lives of public servants and the service itself so much worse.
Goofy stuff.
Goofy stuff.
Reposted by Sameer Vasta
The postal service is not a business, measuring it by revenue is the wrong frame for understanding its worth.
🚨SCOOP: Amazon is preparing to sever ties with USPS and expand its shipping network as a true coast-to-coast rival.
It could cost USPS more than *$6 billion* a year in lost revenue, and lead Amazon to dominate yet another facet of the economy.
USPS posted a *$9 billion* loss in 2025.
It could cost USPS more than *$6 billion* a year in lost revenue, and lead Amazon to dominate yet another facet of the economy.
USPS posted a *$9 billion* loss in 2025.
Amazon explores cutting ties with USPS, building its own delivery network
Amazon looks into expanding its nationwide delivery network and giving up its longstanding partnership with the U.S. Postal Service.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:45 PM
The postal service is not a business, measuring it by revenue is the wrong frame for understanding its worth.
Reposted by Sameer Vasta
Amazon is trying to kill the post office, and make no mistake: it will do the same in Canada.
Its subcontracted delivery model must be regulated out of existence if we care about not just the postal service, but ensuring delivery workers have good, union jobs they can depend on.
Its subcontracted delivery model must be regulated out of existence if we care about not just the postal service, but ensuring delivery workers have good, union jobs they can depend on.
Amazon eyes expanding delivery network after talks with USPS stall
Amazon looks into expanding its nationwide delivery network and giving up its long-standing partnership with the U.S. Postal Service.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Amazon is trying to kill the post office, and make no mistake: it will do the same in Canada.
Its subcontracted delivery model must be regulated out of existence if we care about not just the postal service, but ensuring delivery workers have good, union jobs they can depend on.
Its subcontracted delivery model must be regulated out of existence if we care about not just the postal service, but ensuring delivery workers have good, union jobs they can depend on.
Another year, another top 0.1% global listener of Carly Rae Jepsen. Nothing changes much.
December 4, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Another year, another top 0.1% global listener of Carly Rae Jepsen. Nothing changes much.
Reposted by Sameer Vasta
People (Americans especially) get so caught up in means-testing and gatekeeping and a scarcity and competition mindset. We have to realize that things like “enough time to finish a test” or “enough money to pay for every kid to eat lunch” are well within our capacity. Even more, but that’s a start.
December 3, 2025 at 2:54 PM
People (Americans especially) get so caught up in means-testing and gatekeeping and a scarcity and competition mindset. We have to realize that things like “enough time to finish a test” or “enough money to pay for every kid to eat lunch” are well within our capacity. Even more, but that’s a start.
Reposted by Sameer Vasta
Explore our International Day of Persons with Disabilities showcase.
Featuring powerful books from disability activists and authors, including Alice Wong.
Find the full list here: buff.ly/2tzSzO4
Featuring powerful books from disability activists and authors, including Alice Wong.
Find the full list here: buff.ly/2tzSzO4
December 3, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Explore our International Day of Persons with Disabilities showcase.
Featuring powerful books from disability activists and authors, including Alice Wong.
Find the full list here: buff.ly/2tzSzO4
Featuring powerful books from disability activists and authors, including Alice Wong.
Find the full list here: buff.ly/2tzSzO4
Reposted by Sameer Vasta
....was commissioned by @ldnontbikecafe.bsky.social to do up this ode to rock royalty in support of #WorldAIDSDay25 — with $20 from the sale of every shirt this Dec going to Regional HIV/AIDS Connection's work in #ldnont! ❤️
Grab yours here before the pre-sale sells out!
www.jameskingsley.ca/store
Grab yours here before the pre-sale sells out!
www.jameskingsley.ca/store
December 1, 2025 at 7:51 PM
....was commissioned by @ldnontbikecafe.bsky.social to do up this ode to rock royalty in support of #WorldAIDSDay25 — with $20 from the sale of every shirt this Dec going to Regional HIV/AIDS Connection's work in #ldnont! ❤️
Grab yours here before the pre-sale sells out!
www.jameskingsley.ca/store
Grab yours here before the pre-sale sells out!
www.jameskingsley.ca/store
Reposted by Sameer Vasta
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
My wife got featured in her hospital’s special coverage of World AIDS Day, and I’m extremely proud of the work she does in helping people with the disease survive and thrive: www.sjhc.london.on.ca/news-and-med...
#WAD25 #WorldAIDSDay
#WAD25 #WorldAIDSDay
Four Decades of Progress: How HIV care has transformed
When the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was first discovered in 1983, the diagnosis was devastating. There were no effective treatments and the care was palliative.
www.sjhc.london.on.ca
December 1, 2025 at 3:15 PM
My wife got featured in her hospital’s special coverage of World AIDS Day, and I’m extremely proud of the work she does in helping people with the disease survive and thrive: www.sjhc.london.on.ca/news-and-med...
#WAD25 #WorldAIDSDay
#WAD25 #WorldAIDSDay