Patrick Foster 🇨🇦
@patrickfoster.bsky.social
Art Director at Hidden Gnome Publishing. Professor of Graphic Design at Vancouver Island University. Book nerd. Movie nerd. Star Trek nerd. All opinions are 100% my own and not attributable to anyone I work for or with.
That's it for me for a while. Good luck everyone.
July 12, 2025 at 7:10 PM
That's it for me for a while. Good luck everyone.
I’m so sick of people.
July 12, 2025 at 6:53 PM
I’m so sick of people.
Reposted by Patrick Foster 🇨🇦
This is probably the right way to think about taxes - how we signal our values and build our society
paulwells.substack.com/p/the-q-and-...
paulwells.substack.com/p/the-q-and-...
![PW: What's to love about tax law?
Christians: Well, tax law is how we create our country. That's how we build our society. That's how we create the communities that we want to live in and the lifestyle that we want to share with our neighbours. That's how: with tax law.
PW: I guess the goal [of tax policy] is to generate the largest amount of revenue with the smallest amount of grief? And to send social signals while you're at it. Is that right?
Christians: I don't think so. Tax is not about raising maximum revenue. Tax is about deciding what society you're trying to build and what portions of that society need to be made public, and what can be left to private interests which then need to profit. So we have decided in Canada, as a country, that basic minimum healthcare cannot be a for-profit enterprise. It has to be a public enterprise in order to make sure that it works for everybody to a certain basic level. So tax is about making those decisions: are we going to privatize everything and everyone pays for their own health care, security, roads, insurance, fire department etc. And if they can't pay, then too bad? Or are we going to have a certain minimum, and that minimum is going to be provided in a public way that harmonizes across the communities that we have. And that's what tax is about. It's not about extracting revenue at all. It's about creating revenue. It's about creating a market. It's about investing in a community. So I just object to the whole idea that tax is about extracting something from me, because what tax is doing is creating a market for me to be able to thrive. Not just me, but all of my neighbours, as well.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:is2jdsvhpkqhfjzrqmvzd7gu/bafkreiczpw2cwvfia6cadixmx5ksemcvhxbt4xcejmaqxlwzr5j3re537m@jpeg)
July 6, 2025 at 4:29 PM
This is probably the right way to think about taxes - how we signal our values and build our society
paulwells.substack.com/p/the-q-and-...
paulwells.substack.com/p/the-q-and-...
Reposted by Patrick Foster 🇨🇦
I’m a single issue voter and my issue is STOP FUCKING FIGHTING EACH OTHER AND FOCUS.
July 2, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I’m a single issue voter and my issue is STOP FUCKING FIGHTING EACH OTHER AND FOCUS.
These are great books, and you should buy them.
I don’t know how long this sale will last, so grab them while they’re cheap. :)
I have two ebooks on sale for $2 each in the US today: HUNT THE STARS and CAPTURE THE SUN! Get two-thirds of the trilogy for just $4!
Forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, & telepathic shenanigans 😏
…IN SPACE! <3
Buy links / 3 chapters:
HTS: https://miha.li/HTS
CTS: https://miha.li/CTS
Forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, & telepathic shenanigans 😏
…IN SPACE! <3
Buy links / 3 chapters:
HTS: https://miha.li/HTS
CTS: https://miha.li/CTS
June 24, 2025 at 4:52 PM
These are great books, and you should buy them.
Reposted by Patrick Foster 🇨🇦
I seriously think the Social Internet is 21st century cigarettes. Complete with secondary smoke causing a lot of harm in nonusers.
June 22, 2025 at 2:48 PM
I seriously think the Social Internet is 21st century cigarettes. Complete with secondary smoke causing a lot of harm in nonusers.
Reposted by Patrick Foster 🇨🇦
A friend just asked me what I do to stay hopeful and I told him one of my favorite strategies…I stay hopeful by remembering that no one has any idea what the fuck is going to happen, so as long as we don’t know, we gotta do what we can.
June 11, 2025 at 3:35 AM
A friend just asked me what I do to stay hopeful and I told him one of my favorite strategies…I stay hopeful by remembering that no one has any idea what the fuck is going to happen, so as long as we don’t know, we gotta do what we can.
If you’re looking for a great SF adventure, this is your pick this week.
Out tomorrow: the penultimate Central Corps adventure! Available at all your favorite retailers.
There's a Goodreads giveaway (US and Canada) going for the paperback, too. 🙂📕 #sf #sff #giveaway
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
There's a Goodreads giveaway (US and Canada) going for the paperback, too. 🙂📕 #sf #sff #giveaway
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
Book giveaway for Condition of War by Elizabeth Bonesteel May 28-Jun 18, 2025
Enter to win one of 5 free copies available. Giveaway dates from May 28-Jun 18, 2025. Enter for a chance to win a signed paperback copy of CONDITION OF W...
www.goodreads.com
June 2, 2025 at 3:56 PM
If you’re looking for a great SF adventure, this is your pick this week.
Reposted by Patrick Foster 🇨🇦
She's out in a week, so I did the giveaway thing. 5 paperbacks, US and Canada. #sff #goodreads
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
Book giveaway for Condition of War: A Central Corps Novel by Elizabeth Bonesteel May 28-Jun 18, 2025
Enter to win one of 5 free copies available. Giveaway dates from May 28-Jun 18, 2025. Enter for a chance to win a signed paperback copy of CONDITION OF W...
www.goodreads.com
May 28, 2025 at 12:11 PM
She's out in a week, so I did the giveaway thing. 5 paperbacks, US and Canada. #sff #goodreads
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sho...
Repost w/ the five shows you would be happy to rewatch over and over again for the rest of your life, as your sole TV diet.
- 30 Rock
- Deep Space Nine
- Doctor Who
- Rick Steves’ Europe
- The West Wing
- 30 Rock
- Deep Space Nine
- Doctor Who
- Rick Steves’ Europe
- The West Wing
Repost w/ the five shows you would be happy to rewatch over and over again for the rest of your life, as your sole TV diet.
- Andor
- The Expanse
- Babylon 5
- Band of Brothers
- True Detective (season 1)
- Andor
- The Expanse
- Babylon 5
- Band of Brothers
- True Detective (season 1)
Repost w/ the five shows you would be happy to rewatch over and over again for the rest of your life, as your sole TV diet.
M*A*S*H
The Andy Griffith Show
Star Trek
The Big Bang Theory
The Twilight Zone
M*A*S*H
The Andy Griffith Show
Star Trek
The Big Bang Theory
The Twilight Zone
May 26, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Repost w/ the five shows you would be happy to rewatch over and over again for the rest of your life, as your sole TV diet.
- 30 Rock
- Deep Space Nine
- Doctor Who
- Rick Steves’ Europe
- The West Wing
- 30 Rock
- Deep Space Nine
- Doctor Who
- Rick Steves’ Europe
- The West Wing
Reposted by Patrick Foster 🇨🇦
Once more for the evening crowd, the new series of Love Death + Robots launched today, and it features an adaptation of my story ‘Golgotha’. It has a cool poster.
May 15, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Once more for the evening crowd, the new series of Love Death + Robots launched today, and it features an adaptation of my story ‘Golgotha’. It has a cool poster.
This is a terrific book and you should all buy it. If you like SF, anyway.
Oh hey a thing arrived in the mail today. #sff
May 15, 2025 at 12:02 AM
This is a terrific book and you should all buy it. If you like SF, anyway.
Canadian crime tv nerds: DaVinci’s Inquest and Cold Squad are both on Disney+ in Canada now.
DaVinci’s is one of the best Canadian crime tv shows ever.
DaVinci’s is one of the best Canadian crime tv shows ever.
May 12, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Canadian crime tv nerds: DaVinci’s Inquest and Cold Squad are both on Disney+ in Canada now.
DaVinci’s is one of the best Canadian crime tv shows ever.
DaVinci’s is one of the best Canadian crime tv shows ever.
Reposted by Patrick Foster 🇨🇦
I, for one, am tired of [gestures broadly]. I have grown weary of [points in all directions simultaneously].
May 8, 2025 at 9:38 PM
I, for one, am tired of [gestures broadly]. I have grown weary of [points in all directions simultaneously].
This is a terrific book; can’t wait to hear this.
May 8, 2025 at 8:57 PM
This is a terrific book; can’t wait to hear this.
Reposted by Patrick Foster 🇨🇦
When someone shows you his Sith lightsaber, believe him the first time.
May 4, 2025 at 5:03 PM
When someone shows you his Sith lightsaber, believe him the first time.
Reposted by Patrick Foster 🇨🇦
With CBC now having called all ridings it's time for the land-vs-people-vote animation.
April 29, 2025 at 11:56 PM
With CBC now having called all ridings it's time for the land-vs-people-vote animation.
Reposted by Patrick Foster 🇨🇦
I keep reading takes from conservatives blaming the long ballot (91 candidates) in Carleton for Poilievre losing his seat.
None explain why this wasn’t also a problem for Fanjoy.
The riding seems to have experience near-zero vote splitting (independents got about 500 votes), so I’m not buying it.
None explain why this wasn’t also a problem for Fanjoy.
The riding seems to have experience near-zero vote splitting (independents got about 500 votes), so I’m not buying it.
April 29, 2025 at 10:35 PM
I keep reading takes from conservatives blaming the long ballot (91 candidates) in Carleton for Poilievre losing his seat.
None explain why this wasn’t also a problem for Fanjoy.
The riding seems to have experience near-zero vote splitting (independents got about 500 votes), so I’m not buying it.
None explain why this wasn’t also a problem for Fanjoy.
The riding seems to have experience near-zero vote splitting (independents got about 500 votes), so I’m not buying it.
Pleased to see the National Post is doing its job of stoking division with multiple articles about Alberta’s threatened secession on the front page the day after an election.
Fuck those guys.
Fuck those guys.
April 29, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Pleased to see the National Post is doing its job of stoking division with multiple articles about Alberta’s threatened secession on the front page the day after an election.
Fuck those guys.
Fuck those guys.
Reposted by Patrick Foster 🇨🇦
After a long bit of toiling, we're proud to announce the launch of Gander Social—a project to bring a new kind of social to Canadians.
Canadian owned and hosted, a feed you control, privacy-first, consent-based, respectful by default.
Join the Early Access program: gandersocial.ca
Canadian owned and hosted, a feed you control, privacy-first, consent-based, respectful by default.
Join the Early Access program: gandersocial.ca
Gander: The Social Media You Want, Built for Canada
Fun, private, and ethical. We're changing the way social media is done around here, all without your data taking an unexpected trip south.
gandersocial.ca
April 22, 2025 at 4:27 PM
After a long bit of toiling, we're proud to announce the launch of Gander Social—a project to bring a new kind of social to Canadians.
Canadian owned and hosted, a feed you control, privacy-first, consent-based, respectful by default.
Join the Early Access program: gandersocial.ca
Canadian owned and hosted, a feed you control, privacy-first, consent-based, respectful by default.
Join the Early Access program: gandersocial.ca
Movie you’ve seen more than six times, no Star Wars or Trek or LOTR.
April 26, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Movie you’ve seen more than six times, no Star Wars or Trek or LOTR.
These are great books he’s talking about, worth your interest if they speak to you.
Two authors I admire recently wrote about some of the difficulties they've faced in publishing some of their excellent books, and I think it's good that they did so because it helps highlight some of the realities of the publishing industry.
Fitting a round peg into a genre-sized hole
Two authors talk about things not often talked about
transfer-orbit.ghost.io
April 24, 2025 at 8:22 PM
These are great books he’s talking about, worth your interest if they speak to you.
Been watching the original 'Battlestar Galactica' on streaming and man, it is really not great.
So much of the genre stuff from my youth is only revered, I think, because it was all we _had_. Great concepts would routinely collapse into 'Shane but in space' when faced with tv budgets/timelines.
So much of the genre stuff from my youth is only revered, I think, because it was all we _had_. Great concepts would routinely collapse into 'Shane but in space' when faced with tv budgets/timelines.
April 23, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Been watching the original 'Battlestar Galactica' on streaming and man, it is really not great.
So much of the genre stuff from my youth is only revered, I think, because it was all we _had_. Great concepts would routinely collapse into 'Shane but in space' when faced with tv budgets/timelines.
So much of the genre stuff from my youth is only revered, I think, because it was all we _had_. Great concepts would routinely collapse into 'Shane but in space' when faced with tv budgets/timelines.