Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
@iainrb.bsky.social
Fights cancer with computers in Toronto, Canada. Fan of SF, cinema and various sports. Sort of an ominous robed figure pointing and saying "BEWARE" in a hoarse voice every time AI is mentioned. 🇨🇦/🇬🇧 citizen. Parent, husband, cat servant. He/him.
Insert a movie into another movie:
THE ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT PRETTY WOMAN
(in which a giant Julia Roberts wreaks havoc on LA while carrying Richard Gere in one hand)
THE ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT PRETTY WOMAN
(in which a giant Julia Roberts wreaks havoc on LA while carrying Richard Gere in one hand)
Insert a movie into another movie:
THE THING FROM ANOTHER WAYNE’S WORLD
THE THING FROM ANOTHER WAYNE’S WORLD
Insert a movie into another movie:
THE BOURNE IDENTITY THIEF
THE BOURNE IDENTITY THIEF
December 3, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Insert a movie into another movie:
THE ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT PRETTY WOMAN
(in which a giant Julia Roberts wreaks havoc on LA while carrying Richard Gere in one hand)
THE ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT PRETTY WOMAN
(in which a giant Julia Roberts wreaks havoc on LA while carrying Richard Gere in one hand)
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
"And in a classroom setting, it teaches students that a machine can express their ideas better than they can. I told [CHILD] I was interested in seeing what they had to draw, and my heart sank when they told me "but I can't draw that pretty". Children deserve to draw what they imagine." (A. Moser)
I ended up drafting an email that didn't really lean on research specific to grade school education, but expressed my concerns in the most basic terms.
I removed the personal details and have shared it as a template here for folks who might find it useful:
bit.ly/TeacherEmail...
I removed the personal details and have shared it as a template here for folks who might find it useful:
bit.ly/TeacherEmail...
![Dear [TEACHER],
I want to make sure we're on the same page for the rest of the year, because I was surprised and disappointed to hear that you uploaded student projects to ChatGPT.
We have always found [SCHOOL] to be a place that encourages students to express themselves creatively, to be responsible and aware of how their actions affect others, and to be intellectually honest – doing their own work, rather than copying from others.
I know ChatGPT has been heavily marketed as an educational tool, but everything about it is the opposite of those values. AI tools are built by training models on stolen work. They have huge and terrible environmental costs, because their data centers generate enormous amounts of pollution and are cooled with drinking water. They're also incredibly dangerous: tools like ChatGPT have taught children how to start fires and even encouraged them to commit suicide.
And in a classroom setting, it teaches students that a machine can express their ideas better than they can. I told [ CHILD ] I was interested in seeing what they had to draw, and my heart sank when they told me "but I can't draw that pretty." Children deserve to draw what they imagine.
These environmental, ethical, and pedagogical concerns are why I don't want [ CHILD ] to use AI tools (or for you to use them on their behalf). For the same reasons, I respectfully ask that you stop using them in your classroom.
If you do plan to use AI this year, please send home a permission slip requesting consent. There are important privacy concerns when you upload student work into a for-profit service like ChatGPT.
Thank you,
[ PARENT ]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:c2xl6zaxo623jzbjb43urymd/bafkreiesldew7oebm4hg2gymd4cftvwmrpbdw6m7eil2buiphw7db4ror4@jpeg)
December 2, 2025 at 9:18 PM
"And in a classroom setting, it teaches students that a machine can express their ideas better than they can. I told [CHILD] I was interested in seeing what they had to draw, and my heart sank when they told me "but I can't draw that pretty". Children deserve to draw what they imagine." (A. Moser)
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Royal Mail have written a GDPR policy for their letter to Santa scheme that is a) pitched at children explaining how their data is used and b) fully committed to the existence of Father Christmas and it’s just… really cute
December 2, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Royal Mail have written a GDPR policy for their letter to Santa scheme that is a) pitched at children explaining how their data is used and b) fully committed to the existence of Father Christmas and it’s just… really cute
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
The Toronto Public Library has purchased the old WE Charity headquarters at Queen & Parliament to convert into a new branch: blogs.tpl.ca/news-release...
December 2, 2025 at 3:14 PM
The Toronto Public Library has purchased the old WE Charity headquarters at Queen & Parliament to convert into a new branch: blogs.tpl.ca/news-release...
Use a GIF, pic, or vid to show your favorite movie with law enforcement 🖤
December 2, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Use a GIF, pic, or vid to show your favorite movie with law enforcement 🖤
I could pretend I'm too sophisticated to fall for a gambit like "chicken and alcohol", but who am I kidding? 😜
Well played, Korean fried chicken place. 🐔 🍺
Well played, Korean fried chicken place. 🐔 🍺
December 1, 2025 at 7:25 PM
I could pretend I'm too sophisticated to fall for a gambit like "chicken and alcohol", but who am I kidding? 😜
Well played, Korean fried chicken place. 🐔 🍺
Well played, Korean fried chicken place. 🐔 🍺
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Not enough of you have watched "Monkey Man."
Fix that.
Fix that.
December 1, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Not enough of you have watched "Monkey Man."
Fix that.
Fix that.
TV ADVERT: You already love SportsNet Plus...
ME: You have been misinformed. Instead of "love", try "grudgingly tolerate".
ME: You have been misinformed. Instead of "love", try "grudgingly tolerate".
December 1, 2025 at 12:25 AM
TV ADVERT: You already love SportsNet Plus...
ME: You have been misinformed. Instead of "love", try "grudgingly tolerate".
ME: You have been misinformed. Instead of "love", try "grudgingly tolerate".
The closest the UK gets to "college sports watched by people not at college" is the annual Oxford-Cambridge boat race.
just a reminder that *lots* of countries have universities, and (to my knowledge) none of them but the U.S. treat their universities as largely minor league sports franchises
LSU is paying its previous football coach over $50 million NOT to coach there while likely guaranteeing Kiffin something approaching double that, all while having an academic hiring freeze and budget cuts across the board. What is the purpose of a university (rhetorical)?
November 30, 2025 at 8:12 PM
The closest the UK gets to "college sports watched by people not at college" is the annual Oxford-Cambridge boat race.
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
So it’s family movie night and we’re near the end of Fantastic 4 and one of the characters appears to die and I’m all ready to be soothing and comforting like a good parent and that’s when the seven year old shouts “I GUESS NOW THEY’RE THE FANTASTIC THREE!”
November 29, 2025 at 3:06 AM
So it’s family movie night and we’re near the end of Fantastic 4 and one of the characters appears to die and I’m all ready to be soothing and comforting like a good parent and that’s when the seven year old shouts “I GUESS NOW THEY’RE THE FANTASTIC THREE!”
It gives me no joy to say "we told you so". And I feel bad for my friends and family in the UK.
But on purely selfish grounds, I'm glad I moved to Canada when I did.
But on purely selfish grounds, I'm glad I moved to Canada when I did.
What happened is precisely what the world's leading macroeconomists predicted would happen.
November 29, 2025 at 8:15 PM
It gives me no joy to say "we told you so". And I feel bad for my friends and family in the UK.
But on purely selfish grounds, I'm glad I moved to Canada when I did.
But on purely selfish grounds, I'm glad I moved to Canada when I did.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Zootopia
Lawrence of Zootopia
zootopia impossible: rogue nation
November 29, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Kingdom of the Planet of the Zootopia
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
From the well known musical:
Sweeney Todd, the $SCARY_CONCEPT $PROFESSION of $LOCAL_NEIGHBOURHOOD
Sweeney Todd, the $SCARY_CONCEPT $PROFESSION of $LOCAL_NEIGHBOURHOOD
November 28, 2025 at 6:53 PM
From the well known musical:
Sweeney Todd, the $SCARY_CONCEPT $PROFESSION of $LOCAL_NEIGHBOURHOOD
Sweeney Todd, the $SCARY_CONCEPT $PROFESSION of $LOCAL_NEIGHBOURHOOD
The worst pies in USER_CITY
I know why nobody cares to take them
I should know, I make them
But good?
No, the worst pies in USER_CITY, even that's polite
The worst pies in USER_CITY
If you doubt it, take a bite (ugh!)
I know why nobody cares to take them
I should know, I make them
But good?
No, the worst pies in USER_CITY, even that's polite
The worst pies in USER_CITY
If you doubt it, take a bite (ugh!)
November 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
The worst pies in USER_CITY
I know why nobody cares to take them
I should know, I make them
But good?
No, the worst pies in USER_CITY, even that's polite
The worst pies in USER_CITY
If you doubt it, take a bite (ugh!)
I know why nobody cares to take them
I should know, I make them
But good?
No, the worst pies in USER_CITY, even that's polite
The worst pies in USER_CITY
If you doubt it, take a bite (ugh!)
Introduce yourself with five animals you have seen in the wild.
Snapping turtle (Toronto)
Raccoon (Toronto)
Great horned owl (Ontario)
Bison (Alberta)
Otter (Islay, Scotland)
Snapping turtle (Toronto)
Raccoon (Toronto)
Great horned owl (Ontario)
Bison (Alberta)
Otter (Islay, Scotland)
Introduce yourself with five animals you have seen in the wild.
Heron (Magdalen)
Fox (Magdalen)
Badger (Magdalen)
Roe deer (Magdalen)
Kingfisher (Magdalen)
But I have yet to see the otters that live here.
Heron (Magdalen)
Fox (Magdalen)
Badger (Magdalen)
Roe deer (Magdalen)
Kingfisher (Magdalen)
But I have yet to see the otters that live here.
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you have seen in the wild.
Fox (Chorlton-cum-Hardy)
Hedgehog (Chorlton-cum-Hardy)
Goshawk (Chorlton-cum-Hardy)
Parakeet (Chorlton-cum-Hardy)
Terrapin (Whalley Range)
Fox (Chorlton-cum-Hardy)
Hedgehog (Chorlton-cum-Hardy)
Goshawk (Chorlton-cum-Hardy)
Parakeet (Chorlton-cum-Hardy)
Terrapin (Whalley Range)
November 28, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Introduce yourself with five animals you have seen in the wild.
Snapping turtle (Toronto)
Raccoon (Toronto)
Great horned owl (Ontario)
Bison (Alberta)
Otter (Islay, Scotland)
Snapping turtle (Toronto)
Raccoon (Toronto)
Great horned owl (Ontario)
Bison (Alberta)
Otter (Islay, Scotland)
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
I realize "miniseries about the assassination of one of America's most anonymous presidents" is sort of a tough sell but "Death by Lightning" on Netflix is very good.
November 27, 2025 at 12:58 PM
I realize "miniseries about the assassination of one of America's most anonymous presidents" is sort of a tough sell but "Death by Lightning" on Netflix is very good.
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
i’m so happy for him
November 26, 2025 at 10:48 PM
i’m so happy for him
Great news for cancer research in Toronto!
‘Generosity of this magnitude is transformative’: Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation receives $50M donation
The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation is developing a new early detection cancer research centre, which they say will be the 'largest research program of its kind globally.'
www.ctvnews.ca
November 26, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Great news for cancer research in Toronto!
This.
Whenever local government reviews the library budget and asks, "Why should we give you money?"
We want the library to be able to say, "Because we provide a valuable service used by many people!"
Libraries are like muscles, using them more makes them stronger. 💪
Whenever local government reviews the library budget and asks, "Why should we give you money?"
We want the library to be able to say, "Because we provide a valuable service used by many people!"
Libraries are like muscles, using them more makes them stronger. 💪
Anybody who is like “Piracy is activism!”—trust me, supporting your local library is about 1000% more effective activism, and it’s still free for you and authors still get paid!
November 26, 2025 at 8:46 PM
This.
Whenever local government reviews the library budget and asks, "Why should we give you money?"
We want the library to be able to say, "Because we provide a valuable service used by many people!"
Libraries are like muscles, using them more makes them stronger. 💪
Whenever local government reviews the library budget and asks, "Why should we give you money?"
We want the library to be able to say, "Because we provide a valuable service used by many people!"
Libraries are like muscles, using them more makes them stronger. 💪
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
Anybody who is like “Piracy is activism!”—trust me, supporting your local library is about 1000% more effective activism, and it’s still free for you and authors still get paid!
November 26, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Anybody who is like “Piracy is activism!”—trust me, supporting your local library is about 1000% more effective activism, and it’s still free for you and authors still get paid!
This is a wonderful story.
Reminds me of when I first made Thanksgiving dinner for my homesick American wife in Cambridge, England in 2008. We invited all our British friends who were most impressed with the concept. 😀
Reminds me of when I first made Thanksgiving dinner for my homesick American wife in Cambridge, England in 2008. We invited all our British friends who were most impressed with the concept. 😀
OK - pie discourse - best pie story:
In 2016, we were living in Andover, in the UK. My wife was assigned as an exchange officer at the Army Air Corps base at Middle Wallop (yes, really).*
The US Army has a tradition: senior leaders, in dress uniform, serve junior troops Thanksgiving dinner.
/1
In 2016, we were living in Andover, in the UK. My wife was assigned as an exchange officer at the Army Air Corps base at Middle Wallop (yes, really).*
The US Army has a tradition: senior leaders, in dress uniform, serve junior troops Thanksgiving dinner.
/1
November 26, 2025 at 4:01 PM
This is a wonderful story.
Reminds me of when I first made Thanksgiving dinner for my homesick American wife in Cambridge, England in 2008. We invited all our British friends who were most impressed with the concept. 😀
Reminds me of when I first made Thanksgiving dinner for my homesick American wife in Cambridge, England in 2008. We invited all our British friends who were most impressed with the concept. 😀
Reposted by Iain Bancarz 🇨🇦
So this happened in Oslo yesterday. Four articulated buses got stuck in a roundabout.
November 25, 2025 at 8:23 AM
So this happened in Oslo yesterday. Four articulated buses got stuck in a roundabout.