Michael Karlin
@supergovernance.bsky.social
Digital policy @ Canadian Digital Service. Reasonably subversive. Husband of Amy. Skeets entirely my nonsense and not my employer. He/him. Jewish/🏳️🌈
Pinned
The future seems terrifying but everything is possible
The following is my opinion only and does not represent the opinions of my employer. I’m a federal public servant and take that oath…
medium.com
I wrote a blog post for the first time in ages. Extending my best to Canadian public servants ready to buckle up and help out amidst a changing continental reality.
It's all about culture and process.
medium.com/@supergovern...
It's all about culture and process.
medium.com/@supergovern...
Reposted by Michael Karlin
I was thinking about this Joe and Tracy anecdote from the supply chain crisis on gummy bears. Things are probably going to get really weird in a few weeks in unexpected ways:
April 12, 2025 at 11:17 AM
I was thinking about this Joe and Tracy anecdote from the supply chain crisis on gummy bears. Things are probably going to get really weird in a few weeks in unexpected ways:
Reposted by Michael Karlin
Absolutely tired of the psychodrama of one country being the problem of the entire planet.
April 3, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Absolutely tired of the psychodrama of one country being the problem of the entire planet.
That Canada was spared more tariffs yesterday is irrelevant. We're sleeping next to the elephant, but it's now gesticulating wildly and lost 40% of its cognitive function. I feel like trampling is likely consciously so or not.
April 3, 2025 at 12:34 PM
That Canada was spared more tariffs yesterday is irrelevant. We're sleeping next to the elephant, but it's now gesticulating wildly and lost 40% of its cognitive function. I feel like trampling is likely consciously so or not.
How have you not fallen in love with the internet yet?
youtu.be/6R8VWXk9uo8?...
youtu.be/6R8VWXk9uo8?...
Scatman John – A Marxist Analysis
YouTube video by Jonas Čeika - CCK Philosophy
youtu.be
April 1, 2025 at 1:54 PM
How have you not fallen in love with the internet yet?
youtu.be/6R8VWXk9uo8?...
youtu.be/6R8VWXk9uo8?...
This is how Warhammer 40K happens.
In remarks to NBC News, Trump also said, "There are methods which you could do it." Trump would need either a two-thirds vote in Congress or a constitutional convention to serve a third term.
Trump is 'not joking' about third term, though Constitution says he can't serve
In remarks to NBC News, Trump also said "there are methods which you could do it." Trump would need either a two-thirds vote in Congress or a constitutional convention to serve a third term.
www.npr.org
March 31, 2025 at 6:51 PM
This is how Warhammer 40K happens.
Reposted by Michael Karlin
The purpose of the deportations we have been seeing has not been to fight antisemitism, but rather to use antisemitism as a beachhead to eventually do away with foreign students altogether, using Jews as a pretext for a non-Jewish political agenda.
EXCLUSIVE: The Trump administration is discussing plans to try to block certain colleges from having any foreign students if it decides too many are "pro-Hamas," senior Justice and State Department officials tell Axios.
Exclusive: Trump's "pro-Hamas" purge could block foreign students from colleges
The planned purge is another escalation of Trump's aggressive crackdown on immigration and antisemitism that civil libertarians say stifles campus speech.
www.axios.com
March 27, 2025 at 4:25 PM
The purpose of the deportations we have been seeing has not been to fight antisemitism, but rather to use antisemitism as a beachhead to eventually do away with foreign students altogether, using Jews as a pretext for a non-Jewish political agenda.
Reposted by Michael Karlin
This is adorable
Source: x.com/iniemohk/sta...
Source: x.com/iniemohk/sta...
March 22, 2025 at 8:04 AM
This is adorable
Source: x.com/iniemohk/sta...
Source: x.com/iniemohk/sta...
How many Substacks can I POSSIBLY subscribe to?
March 21, 2025 at 9:11 PM
How many Substacks can I POSSIBLY subscribe to?
Reposted by Michael Karlin
NYC CTO Matt Fraser destroyed the city's digital service by declaring that Salesforce would abandon user research and build the "MyCity" platform faster and cheaper than city-employed developers. Three years and $100 million later, MyCity remains a mirage.
Does Eric Adams’s $100 Million Website Do Anything?
The mayor enlisted an army of contractors to build a one-stop benefits platform. Two years and $100 million later, the website is a skeleton of what it…
nysfocus.com
March 20, 2025 at 1:22 AM
NYC CTO Matt Fraser destroyed the city's digital service by declaring that Salesforce would abandon user research and build the "MyCity" platform faster and cheaper than city-employed developers. Three years and $100 million later, MyCity remains a mirage.
This is what the internet was supposed to be like. Congratulations to the team and thank you for hosting in Canada! 🏳️🌈🇨🇦
We’re excited to announce NorthSky Social Cooperative where we are building a new ATproto platform for the benefit of marginalized communities that prioritizes the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
After increasing hostility toward these communities we are taking action to provide a platform built by and for us
After increasing hostility toward these communities we are taking action to provide a platform built by and for us
Sign up for an Invite
northskysocial.com
March 18, 2025 at 3:17 AM
This is what the internet was supposed to be like. Congratulations to the team and thank you for hosting in Canada! 🏳️🌈🇨🇦
If you see Radio Free Europe as "far left" your political scale is terrifying.
DNI Tulsi Gabbard shares an Ian Miles Cheong tweet accusing the US government of promoting "pro-war narratives against Russia."
March 17, 2025 at 9:55 PM
If you see Radio Free Europe as "far left" your political scale is terrifying.
I really enjoyed yesterday's @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social video on (especially) local impediments to the "we have to build" response to US aggression. Some of it rests on local govs afraid of constituents unwilling to compromise. "Sure build that x, just not here."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS1x...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS1x...
Canada is Under Attack. We Need to Build.
YouTube video by Oh The Urbanity!
www.youtube.com
March 17, 2025 at 12:07 PM
I really enjoyed yesterday's @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social video on (especially) local impediments to the "we have to build" response to US aggression. Some of it rests on local govs afraid of constituents unwilling to compromise. "Sure build that x, just not here."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS1x...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS1x...
Reposted by Michael Karlin
Netanyahu will fire every official responsible for failing to prevent the October 7 attacks except the person in charge of all of them.
Netanyahu tells Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar he plans to fire him www.ynet.co.il/news/article...
נתניהו החליט לפטר את ראש השב"כ רונן בר
רה"מ זימן את בר לפגישה דחופה - והודיע לו שיעלה לממשלה הצעת החלטה על סיום תפקידו "בשל חוסר אמון מתמשך שהלך וגבר". בצל המתיחות ביניהם, בימים האחרונים נשמעו קולות בסביבת נתניהו על כך שהוא ניסה לשכנע אותו...
www.ynet.co.il
March 16, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Netanyahu will fire every official responsible for failing to prevent the October 7 attacks except the person in charge of all of them.
This is all just a millenarian cult. They are acquiring rare minerals, energy, and water. Cutting down guardrails. They just want to build their digital god who they believe will wipe out their enemies. I know this sounds overtly absurd but what else can you take away from it?
“Human flourishing” has long been on my list of bullshit terms wrt AI - some memed Aristotle and it became the bullshit term of AI ethics - but now it’s a right wing dog whistle.
Keep an eye on how the AISI will be weaponized as the Trump/Musk AI Act is written. 1/
www.wired.com/story/ai-saf...
Keep an eye on how the AISI will be weaponized as the Trump/Musk AI Act is written. 1/
www.wired.com/story/ai-saf...
Under Trump, AI Scientists Are Told to Remove ‘Ideological Bias’ From Powerful Models
A directive from the National Institute of Standards and Technology eliminates mention of “AI safety” and “AI fairness.”
www.wired.com
March 15, 2025 at 1:10 PM
This is all just a millenarian cult. They are acquiring rare minerals, energy, and water. Cutting down guardrails. They just want to build their digital god who they believe will wipe out their enemies. I know this sounds overtly absurd but what else can you take away from it?
Reposted by Michael Karlin
🚨 HUGE news from Canada's tricouncils who are harmonizing their scholarship & fellowship programs, upping the total number (huzzah!), and critically, allowing foreigners to apply for doctoral and postdoc fellowships. Want to work with me? Get in touch! 🇨🇦🧪⚒️
www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NewsDetail-D...
www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NewsDetail-D...
NSERC - Latest News - Launch of the new Harmonized Tri-agency Scholarship and Fellowship programs
As announced in Budget 2024, the scholarship and fellowship programs administered by the three federal research funding agencies – the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) – have been streamlined into a new harmonized talent program called the Canada Research Training Awards Suite (CRTAS) that will open for applications in summer 2025.
www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca
March 14, 2025 at 7:20 PM
🚨 HUGE news from Canada's tricouncils who are harmonizing their scholarship & fellowship programs, upping the total number (huzzah!), and critically, allowing foreigners to apply for doctoral and postdoc fellowships. Want to work with me? Get in touch! 🇨🇦🧪⚒️
www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NewsDetail-D...
www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/NewsDetail-D...
Yair knows what's up.
This is not fighting antisemitism, it IS antisemitism. Any Jew of any ideology who thinks that if they feed enough "bad Jews" to the antisemitic dragon that it won't eat them next is morally and politically deluded. Permission slips for attacking Jews are never used just once.
March 12, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Yair knows what's up.
I think Canadians are on here being told that it's not all Americans against us and... I get it. It's not. But it does seem like it's the entire political establishment with few exceptions? So Canada needs to do what it needs to do regardless of who comes to power if/when Trump leaves office.
So, THIS is Gavin Newsom? He's a full on nazi collaborator now?
March 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM
I think Canadians are on here being told that it's not all Americans against us and... I get it. It's not. But it does seem like it's the entire political establishment with few exceptions? So Canada needs to do what it needs to do regardless of who comes to power if/when Trump leaves office.
Yes tariffs, no tariffs. Energy surcharges, no energy surcharges. Attract American talent, stop immigration. High public spending, low public spending.
There are no perfect moves here; everything has consequences. Few advisors have relevant experience with this. Beware the certain person.
There are no perfect moves here; everything has consequences. Few advisors have relevant experience with this. Beware the certain person.
March 11, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Yes tariffs, no tariffs. Energy surcharges, no energy surcharges. Attract American talent, stop immigration. High public spending, low public spending.
There are no perfect moves here; everything has consequences. Few advisors have relevant experience with this. Beware the certain person.
There are no perfect moves here; everything has consequences. Few advisors have relevant experience with this. Beware the certain person.
Reposted by Michael Karlin
A quick story about big "bloated" systems that people love to hate.
When I was at Microsoft a million years ago, I had a friend on the MS Word team who told me this one. (I got the details second-hand; MSFT friends, please correct me.)
When I was at Microsoft a million years ago, I had a friend on the MS Word team who told me this one. (I got the details second-hand; MSFT friends, please correct me.)
March 11, 2025 at 2:14 PM
A quick story about big "bloated" systems that people love to hate.
When I was at Microsoft a million years ago, I had a friend on the MS Word team who told me this one. (I got the details second-hand; MSFT friends, please correct me.)
When I was at Microsoft a million years ago, I had a friend on the MS Word team who told me this one. (I got the details second-hand; MSFT friends, please correct me.)
Reposted by Michael Karlin
As a Jewish person it is so uniquely painful to exist in a world where Jews are the ones making lists of people for the government to target.
Jewish groups targeted Columbia grad Mahmoud Khalil — then ICE arrested him
Pro-Israel Jewish groups targeted Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate of Columbia University, days before ICE agents arrested him.
forward.com
March 11, 2025 at 1:16 PM
As a Jewish person it is so uniquely painful to exist in a world where Jews are the ones making lists of people for the government to target.
Reposted by Michael Karlin
What happens next?
Carney will be invited to form a govt by the GG.
Carney will be the Prime Minister-designate during a transition period (could be really fast or a few days).
Once the transition is over, Trudeau formally resigns as Prime Minister, and Carney is appointed PM.
Carney will be invited to form a govt by the GG.
Carney will be the Prime Minister-designate during a transition period (could be really fast or a few days).
Once the transition is over, Trudeau formally resigns as Prime Minister, and Carney is appointed PM.
March 9, 2025 at 10:46 PM
What happens next?
Carney will be invited to form a govt by the GG.
Carney will be the Prime Minister-designate during a transition period (could be really fast or a few days).
Once the transition is over, Trudeau formally resigns as Prime Minister, and Carney is appointed PM.
Carney will be invited to form a govt by the GG.
Carney will be the Prime Minister-designate during a transition period (could be really fast or a few days).
Once the transition is over, Trudeau formally resigns as Prime Minister, and Carney is appointed PM.
This might start becoming a big problem.
Kevin Hassett suggests Canadian authorities are covering up major fentanyl operations: "I can tell you that in the situation room I've seen photographs of fentanyl labs in Canada that the law enforcement folks were leaving alone. Canada's got a big drug problem."
March 9, 2025 at 5:04 PM
This might start becoming a big problem.
The McKinley period was also notable for its extensive use of industrial robots and AI. Thankfully, manufacturing remains a largely unskilled activity as it was in the 1890s, not requiring extensive apprenticeships or certifications, so it'll be incredibly labour absorbing in the next decade.
(/s)
(/s)
Newt Gingrich says the "McKinley Model" requires high tariffs over a three-year transition period.
Notable: Three years after the 1890 McKinley tariff, the economy had fallen into a severe depression. The GDP shrank by 10% and unemployment hit 18%. Certainly not the economic model I'd be copying. 😳
Notable: Three years after the 1890 McKinley tariff, the economy had fallen into a severe depression. The GDP shrank by 10% and unemployment hit 18%. Certainly not the economic model I'd be copying. 😳
March 7, 2025 at 12:22 PM
The McKinley period was also notable for its extensive use of industrial robots and AI. Thankfully, manufacturing remains a largely unskilled activity as it was in the 1890s, not requiring extensive apprenticeships or certifications, so it'll be incredibly labour absorbing in the next decade.
(/s)
(/s)