Michael Collins
@ownvolition.bsky.social
Graduate of X (EM said he wants things downsized, I complied)
Wanted transcript from Concordia U, re course from 1976. Got it. Envelope says, "Official Transcript Enclosed; Invalid if Opened by Student". Call them, ask, is it true that student *cannot* get an official transcript? Answer, you can't, 'cos you could doctor it. Open it, no longer official. Hmmm...
December 19, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Wanted transcript from Concordia U, re course from 1976. Got it. Envelope says, "Official Transcript Enclosed; Invalid if Opened by Student". Call them, ask, is it true that student *cannot* get an official transcript? Answer, you can't, 'cos you could doctor it. Open it, no longer official. Hmmm...
The US TikTok operation has been sold. 'The U.S. group ... has been tasked with retraining the content recommendation algorithm on U.S. user data to "ensure the content feed is free from outside manipulation.' Which is to say, it is open exclusively to *inside* manipulation.
December 19, 2025 at 11:13 AM
The US TikTok operation has been sold. 'The U.S. group ... has been tasked with retraining the content recommendation algorithm on U.S. user data to "ensure the content feed is free from outside manipulation.' Which is to say, it is open exclusively to *inside* manipulation.
It would surely save the WH a lot of time and effort if all allegations against 47 had a tag line of:
“This is not worth the paper it’s printed on, is just another stale regurgitation of decades-old false allegations against President Trump".
“This is not worth the paper it’s printed on, is just another stale regurgitation of decades-old false allegations against President Trump".
December 18, 2025 at 8:37 PM
It would surely save the WH a lot of time and effort if all allegations against 47 had a tag line of:
“This is not worth the paper it’s printed on, is just another stale regurgitation of decades-old false allegations against President Trump".
“This is not worth the paper it’s printed on, is just another stale regurgitation of decades-old false allegations against President Trump".
There is *some* justice in this country. "Alberta Premier Danielle Smith will have to fight to keep her seat in the legislature after a recall petition was approved by Elections Alberta today."
December 11, 2025 at 2:31 AM
There is *some* justice in this country. "Alberta Premier Danielle Smith will have to fight to keep her seat in the legislature after a recall petition was approved by Elections Alberta today."
Now that the USA is attempting to claim the Western Hemisphere as its playground, it really is time for Canada to join the EU, to serve as a European beachhead. This could make us the 28th Amendment.
December 9, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Now that the USA is attempting to claim the Western Hemisphere as its playground, it really is time for Canada to join the EU, to serve as a European beachhead. This could make us the 28th Amendment.
Globe and Mail: "The Kremlin on Sunday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s new national security strategy and said it largely accorded with Russia’s own perceptions..." - guess the Americans didn't do much editing.
December 8, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Globe and Mail: "The Kremlin on Sunday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s new national security strategy and said it largely accorded with Russia’s own perceptions..." - guess the Americans didn't do much editing.
Waiting for the FIFA Pizza Prize - thin crust with soccerkraut. And the FIFA Pasta Prize - 🎗️. And the FIFA Pesto Prize - crushed in Mordor with pedestal. And the FIFA Mushy Peas Prize - the greatest of them all - say no more.
December 8, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Waiting for the FIFA Pizza Prize - thin crust with soccerkraut. And the FIFA Pasta Prize - 🎗️. And the FIFA Pesto Prize - crushed in Mordor with pedestal. And the FIFA Mushy Peas Prize - the greatest of them all - say no more.
"Microsoft has acknowledged that a recent Windows preview update, KB5064081, contains a bug that renders the password icon invisible on the lock screen... The company's suggested workaround is straightforward if somewhat absurd: click where the button should be, and the password field will appear."
December 2, 2025 at 2:51 AM
"Microsoft has acknowledged that a recent Windows preview update, KB5064081, contains a bug that renders the password icon invisible on the lock screen... The company's suggested workaround is straightforward if somewhat absurd: click where the button should be, and the password field will appear."
Microsoft [support document] says: features like Copilot Actions introduce "novel security risks" e.g., "cross-prompt injection (XPIA)" [malicious content in documents or UI elements [that] can override the AI's instructions] "Unintended actions like data exfiltration or malware installation." Oi!
November 23, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Microsoft [support document] says: features like Copilot Actions introduce "novel security risks" e.g., "cross-prompt injection (XPIA)" [malicious content in documents or UI elements [that] can override the AI's instructions] "Unintended actions like data exfiltration or malware installation." Oi!
Oi! Oi! "AI nutrition tracking features in popular fitness apps are producing wildly inaccurate calorie and macro counts despite promises to simplify food logging through automated photo analysis."
November 22, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Oi! Oi! "AI nutrition tracking features in popular fitness apps are producing wildly inaccurate calorie and macro counts despite promises to simplify food logging through automated photo analysis."
Boggles the mind: "Microsoft has acknowledged in a support article that major Windows 11 core features including the Start Menu, Taskbar, File Explorer and System Settings break after applying monthly cumulative updates released on or after July 2025."
November 22, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Boggles the mind: "Microsoft has acknowledged in a support article that major Windows 11 core features including the Start Menu, Taskbar, File Explorer and System Settings break after applying monthly cumulative updates released on or after July 2025."
"The International Association of Cryptologic Research (IACR) was forced to cancel its leadership election after a trustee lost their portion of the Helios voting system's decryption key, making it impossible to reveal or verify the final results."
November 22, 2025 at 2:13 AM
"The International Association of Cryptologic Research (IACR) was forced to cancel its leadership election after a trustee lost their portion of the Helios voting system's decryption key, making it impossible to reveal or verify the final results."
What *is* the world coming to these days? Even my toaster has a "cancel" button...
November 17, 2025 at 2:01 PM
What *is* the world coming to these days? Even my toaster has a "cancel" button...
"<something for> Canada’s North is key to Arctic sovereignty, proponents say" - well, they would, wouldn't they.
November 12, 2025 at 1:48 AM
"<something for> Canada’s North is key to Arctic sovereignty, proponents say" - well, they would, wouldn't they.
Does the fact that the Dems caved just prove that they were responsible all along? Interesting choice of messaging.
November 10, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Does the fact that the Dems caved just prove that they were responsible all along? Interesting choice of messaging.
It seems that Americans are destroying part of the East Wing of the White House. Seems odd. There is very specific and long-standing British/Canadian experience available, if they'd just waive the H1-B cost.
October 21, 2025 at 12:46 AM
It seems that Americans are destroying part of the East Wing of the White House. Seems odd. There is very specific and long-standing British/Canadian experience available, if they'd just waive the H1-B cost.
Guardian: "Foreign nationals are underrepresented as a proportion of prisoners jailed in England and Wales when compared with rates of incarceration among British citizens of similar age, an analysis of government data has found."
Obvious solution: incarcerate more foreigners.
Obvious solution: incarcerate more foreigners.
October 1, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Guardian: "Foreign nationals are underrepresented as a proportion of prisoners jailed in England and Wales when compared with rates of incarceration among British citizens of similar age, an analysis of government data has found."
Obvious solution: incarcerate more foreigners.
Obvious solution: incarcerate more foreigners.
This is going to sound to a number of people like trivialising or mocking the issue, but seriously... in Canada's forthcoming attempt to allow us to deal with hate actions and speech [in some contrast to other nations]...
September 18, 2025 at 12:23 AM
This is going to sound to a number of people like trivialising or mocking the issue, but seriously... in Canada's forthcoming attempt to allow us to deal with hate actions and speech [in some contrast to other nations]...
I never been to Chicago but it
Must be a mighty fine place (that's right)
...
I'm goin' to Memphis
(that's right Lord Memphis)
Like a bitter weed I'm a bad seed...
Must be a mighty fine place (that's right)
...
I'm goin' to Memphis
(that's right Lord Memphis)
Like a bitter weed I'm a bad seed...
September 15, 2025 at 10:59 PM
I never been to Chicago but it
Must be a mighty fine place (that's right)
...
I'm goin' to Memphis
(that's right Lord Memphis)
Like a bitter weed I'm a bad seed...
Must be a mighty fine place (that's right)
...
I'm goin' to Memphis
(that's right Lord Memphis)
Like a bitter weed I'm a bad seed...
It's not chess, so uncertain which King will trump the other.
September 15, 2025 at 11:59 AM
It's not chess, so uncertain which King will trump the other.
"Donald Trump’s assault on the independence of the US Federal Reserve has been backed by Liz Truss, the shortest-serving British prime minister in history, who was ousted after a meltdown in the financial markets."
Lettuce prey that she doesn't end up with the IMF or World Bank.
Lettuce prey that she doesn't end up with the IMF or World Bank.
August 28, 2025 at 6:52 PM
"Donald Trump’s assault on the independence of the US Federal Reserve has been backed by Liz Truss, the shortest-serving British prime minister in history, who was ousted after a meltdown in the financial markets."
Lettuce prey that she doesn't end up with the IMF or World Bank.
Lettuce prey that she doesn't end up with the IMF or World Bank.
"Loud cheers for mass deportations and Alberta separation were the peaks of an otherwise tame and quiet town hall for Premier Danielle Smith’s Alberta Next panel in Lloydminster."
Suddenly I'm all *for* Alberta's separation.
Suddenly I'm all *for* Alberta's separation.
August 28, 2025 at 6:32 PM
"Loud cheers for mass deportations and Alberta separation were the peaks of an otherwise tame and quiet town hall for Premier Danielle Smith’s Alberta Next panel in Lloydminster."
Suddenly I'm all *for* Alberta's separation.
Suddenly I'm all *for* Alberta's separation.
Had to use one of my generally-frowned-upon strategies today: "No apology before credible explanation" after massive appointment booking screw-up. Reaction: I'm sorry you feel that way...
August 20, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Had to use one of my generally-frowned-upon strategies today: "No apology before credible explanation" after massive appointment booking screw-up. Reaction: I'm sorry you feel that way...
It is my understanding that during the Alaska Trump-Putin meeting, Putin will take back Alaska as historically Russian territory and will pay Trump the $7.2m Russia received (of course in today's dollars), leaving both men very very satisfied.
August 11, 2025 at 3:23 PM
It is my understanding that during the Alaska Trump-Putin meeting, Putin will take back Alaska as historically Russian territory and will pay Trump the $7.2m Russia received (of course in today's dollars), leaving both men very very satisfied.