Jay Cockburn
@jaycockburn.bsky.social
I write and make podcasts about cities and the people in them.
Producer: Lately & City Space at the Globe and Mail
Write for Canada's National Observer, The Green Line, The Local, Toronto Star,
Former BBC News. He/him.
Producer: Lately & City Space at the Globe and Mail
Write for Canada's National Observer, The Green Line, The Local, Toronto Star,
Former BBC News. He/him.
Pinned
Jay Cockburn
@jaycockburn.bsky.social
· Mar 4
I had so much fun making this episode of City Space. It's about a Calgary that might-have-been, but also about how power uses beauty and architecture to express itself.
Plus you can hear me acting as a 1900s English landscape architect.
Plus you can hear me acting as a 1900s English landscape architect.
I'm a tough independent American Republican and that's why I check if my news is government approved!
Apparently the White House has launched an official "Media Offenders" page of their website, and to save you the trouble of looking it up, just imagine a Burn Book written by the absolute saddest of little fascist babies. Incredible stuff.
November 30, 2025 at 1:12 AM
I'm a tough independent American Republican and that's why I check if my news is government approved!
This is the model for AI policies in journalism, and another reason to support @thelocal.to
I can’t think of a more existential threat to journalism right now than AI-generated content masking as original reporting. Once the well is poisoned we’re all toast. @thelocal.to is taking a stance with our new AI policy. thelocal.to/ai-policy/
The Local's AI Policy | The Local
When you read The Local, know that our stories are written and edited by real people.
thelocal.to
November 29, 2025 at 5:29 PM
This is the model for AI policies in journalism, and another reason to support @thelocal.to
On my old street there was a perfectly healthy, if out of shape couple who would drive their car 150m from their house amd park at the store they own at the other end of the street every day. It took longer to start the car, drive and park than just walking would have.
This is a post about AI.
This is a post about AI.
November 29, 2025 at 2:32 PM
On my old street there was a perfectly healthy, if out of shape couple who would drive their car 150m from their house amd park at the store they own at the other end of the street every day. It took longer to start the car, drive and park than just walking would have.
This is a post about AI.
This is a post about AI.
Turning up to the Eaton Centre like it's the clurb. Disappointed by bottle service.
November 28, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Turning up to the Eaton Centre like it's the clurb. Disappointed by bottle service.
I'm not sure there's anything wrong with being nostalgic for an era where I could reliably breathe outdoors in summer.
People who care about climate change are “dreaming nostalgically about the past.” - Minister Hodgson
Gotcha. That explains a lot.
Gotcha. That explains a lot.
November 28, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I'm not sure there's anything wrong with being nostalgic for an era where I could reliably breathe outdoors in summer.
It's a journalist's job to look outside and tell you if it's raining*
*unless someone's threatened you with legal action so that you merely mention that some people are wet, and others are dry
*unless someone's threatened you with legal action so that you merely mention that some people are wet, and others are dry
BBC presenters and journalists have been told they cannot quote a line removed from its prestigious annual lecture, in which a Dutch writer accused Donald Trump of being “the most openly corrupt president in American history”.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC tells staff they cannot quote Trump line removed from Reith lecture
Journalists not allowed to repeat Rutger Bregman’s corruption claims against US president in coverage of edit
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:49 PM
It's a journalist's job to look outside and tell you if it's raining*
*unless someone's threatened you with legal action so that you merely mention that some people are wet, and others are dry
*unless someone's threatened you with legal action so that you merely mention that some people are wet, and others are dry
This is what happens when you govern based on vibes and ignore evidence. Ford fucks around, we are left to find out.
Pedestrian struck by motorist on Parkside a block from the speed camera that vigilantes kept tearing down that caused ford to remove them from all Ontario. Drive as you wish Ontario. Nobody matters. This is what you voted for.
November 28, 2025 at 1:35 PM
This is what happens when you govern based on vibes and ignore evidence. Ford fucks around, we are left to find out.
If you're into games and want thoughtful, sharp and occasionally super weird writing about them -- stuff that treats games like the core part of culture that they are -- subscribe to Aftermath and support some brilliant writers who are also good people.
Exciting news! Thanks to our sale, we've rocketed all the way up to over 4,900 paying subscribers. This means we can cross another goal, a regular columnist, off our list. We plan to sort out the exact specifics in our own time, but for now, who do you think would be a good fit?
November 27, 2025 at 11:08 PM
If you're into games and want thoughtful, sharp and occasionally super weird writing about them -- stuff that treats games like the core part of culture that they are -- subscribe to Aftermath and support some brilliant writers who are also good people.
Has Victoria Goldiee ever written for Time? @nickhunebrown.bsky.social
When your ambassador is SO deranged that Time Magazine says, "Yeah, that quote sounds real".
November 27, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Has Victoria Goldiee ever written for Time? @nickhunebrown.bsky.social
Bringing this back to urbanisms: I had a conversation with a friend who agreed with banning speed cameras. Usual arguments at first: they make people hit the brakes hard, cash grab etc. I told him they're very popular, and proven to save lives.
Eventually it came down to feeling icky.
Eventually it came down to feeling icky.
Policies like these are often painted as soft-hearted and impractical, when in reality they're just the most efficient way to run a complex society.
They're also popular if you poll without politically charged language.
Unfortunately the idea of helping the needy makes some people feel icky.
They're also popular if you poll without politically charged language.
Unfortunately the idea of helping the needy makes some people feel icky.
The thing is we've known that housing the homeless is cheaper than neglect, we've known that Ubi is effective at eliminating poverty, we've known that heavily subsidized housing and education leads people into the middle class, we've known all of these things in some cases for 70 years.
November 27, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Bringing this back to urbanisms: I had a conversation with a friend who agreed with banning speed cameras. Usual arguments at first: they make people hit the brakes hard, cash grab etc. I told him they're very popular, and proven to save lives.
Eventually it came down to feeling icky.
Eventually it came down to feeling icky.
Policies like these are often painted as soft-hearted and impractical, when in reality they're just the most efficient way to run a complex society.
They're also popular if you poll without politically charged language.
Unfortunately the idea of helping the needy makes some people feel icky.
They're also popular if you poll without politically charged language.
Unfortunately the idea of helping the needy makes some people feel icky.
The thing is we've known that housing the homeless is cheaper than neglect, we've known that Ubi is effective at eliminating poverty, we've known that heavily subsidized housing and education leads people into the middle class, we've known all of these things in some cases for 70 years.
“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”
It costs a lot less to house people.
It costs a lot less to house people.
November 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Policies like these are often painted as soft-hearted and impractical, when in reality they're just the most efficient way to run a complex society.
They're also popular if you poll without politically charged language.
Unfortunately the idea of helping the needy makes some people feel icky.
They're also popular if you poll without politically charged language.
Unfortunately the idea of helping the needy makes some people feel icky.
Trump's threats worked in that the BBC made the edit on lawyer advice.
But if the goal was to mislead the public, they didn't work in the sense that was once a small moment on a niche Radio 4 show that would have gone unnoticed is now right in the spotlight for all to see.
But if the goal was to mislead the public, they didn't work in the sense that was once a small moment on a niche Radio 4 show that would have gone unnoticed is now right in the spotlight for all to see.
BBC confirms it edited out historian's criticism of president: 'Trump’s threats worked'
www.rawstory.com/donald-trump...
www.rawstory.com/donald-trump...
BBC confirms it edited out historian's criticism of president: 'Trump’s threats worked'
The BBC confirmed it edited a section of a historian's speech to remove criticism of President Donald Trump after he threatened to sue the company over a separate issue.Dutch author and historian Rutg...
www.rawstory.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Trump's threats worked in that the BBC made the edit on lawyer advice.
But if the goal was to mislead the public, they didn't work in the sense that was once a small moment on a niche Radio 4 show that would have gone unnoticed is now right in the spotlight for all to see.
But if the goal was to mislead the public, they didn't work in the sense that was once a small moment on a niche Radio 4 show that would have gone unnoticed is now right in the spotlight for all to see.
Reposted by Jay Cockburn
Report: It Pretty Incredible That Americans Entrusted With Driving Cars https://theonion.com/report-it-pretty-incredible-that-americans-entrusted-w-1819574734/
November 25, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Report: It Pretty Incredible That Americans Entrusted With Driving Cars https://theonion.com/report-it-pretty-incredible-that-americans-entrusted-w-1819574734/
Reposted by Jay Cockburn
It's an easy commitment to make. One, it supports individual humans with money. Two, the work is better because there's an actual brain behind it that understands the context of the thing it's working on. Three, me making it a contract point makes it easier for other authors/writers to do the same.
I’m truly delighted to hear that it is part of your contract that all work on your books (art, editing, translation, etc.) must be done by humans. I greatly admire this commitment
November 25, 2025 at 7:50 PM
It's an easy commitment to make. One, it supports individual humans with money. Two, the work is better because there's an actual brain behind it that understands the context of the thing it's working on. Three, me making it a contract point makes it easier for other authors/writers to do the same.
I wrote about the cuts to the public service in the federal budget, and why the narrative of a bloated public service that expanded rapidly under Trudeau is not particularly correct.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/24/a...
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/24/a...
Carney's sweeping public service cuts reflect a troubling legacy
The last time the government laid off a substantial percentage of the public service and attempted to replace them with new technology, it went poorly, leading to a debacle that the federal government...
www.nationalobserver.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I wrote about the cuts to the public service in the federal budget, and why the narrative of a bloated public service that expanded rapidly under Trudeau is not particularly correct.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/24/a...
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/24/a...
Wild that an inanimate object just did that
Elementary school student struck by car in Bowie
Elementary school student struck by car in Bowie
An elementary school student was hit by a car while walking home from school in Bowie on Friday.
wtop.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Wild that an inanimate object just did that
The CEO of the games company that is pivoting to be "AI-first" doesn't understand how to use ChatGPT or what it really does at all.
www.pcgamer.com/games/after-...
www.pcgamer.com/games/after-...
Krafton CEO says, well, yes, he did consult with ChatGPT on the Subnautica 2 mess, and also deleted some of those queries, but he had a good reason: He didn't want OpenAI finding out about it
Changhan Kim said during testimony that he used ChatGPT "like Google Search."
www.pcgamer.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:22 PM
The CEO of the games company that is pivoting to be "AI-first" doesn't understand how to use ChatGPT or what it really does at all.
www.pcgamer.com/games/after-...
www.pcgamer.com/games/after-...
Can't get arrested for hate crimes if you don't call hate a hate crime
November 20, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Can't get arrested for hate crimes if you don't call hate a hate crime
I'm beginning to think that the writers who run this whole show are unimaginative hacks. This stuff is too on the nose.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
COP30 evacuated after fire breaks out
Thousands of people are attending the UN climate talks in Brazil.
www.bbc.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I'm beginning to think that the writers who run this whole show are unimaginative hacks. This stuff is too on the nose.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Be like Grambo
“I want their morale as low as possible because a team with low morale is ineffective.”
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Clifford “Buzz” Grambo patrols the streets of Baltimore to keep his neighbors safe—and make federal agents uncomfortable.
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Be like Grambo
Reposted by Jay Cockburn
Spoiler alert: my answer is NO.
In the Globe and Mail, @vassb.bsky.social asks the basic question: Should we just let big tech companies insist that consent to use data for AI training is part and parcel of using their service?
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
Opinion: With AI, you are now the product: The hidden costs of staying online
More platforms are tying data surveillance for AI training as a condition to use services. Canada needs to reject this
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Spoiler alert: my answer is NO.
Urbanist policy is popular at the ballot, but when it comes to putting it into practice the discourse is distorted by people who actually have time to turn up and complain.
(or in Toronto's case, who have the time and moral vacancy to make AI anti-bus lane influencers)
(or in Toronto's case, who have the time and moral vacancy to make AI anti-bus lane influencers)
In bike-friendly Copenhagen, the Social Democrats' candidate for mayor tried to win over drivers by calling for more car parking.
In elections this week, she was trounced. For the first time in 122 years, a Social Democrat won't lead Copenhagen. The new mayor is a socialist from the Green Left.
In elections this week, she was trounced. For the first time in 122 years, a Social Democrat won't lead Copenhagen. The new mayor is a socialist from the Green Left.
Danish Premier’s Party Loses Century-Long Hold on Copenhagen
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s Social Democrats suffered a major setback in local elections held across the country, losing the capital after more than a century in power.
www.bloomberg.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Urbanist policy is popular at the ballot, but when it comes to putting it into practice the discourse is distorted by people who actually have time to turn up and complain.
(or in Toronto's case, who have the time and moral vacancy to make AI anti-bus lane influencers)
(or in Toronto's case, who have the time and moral vacancy to make AI anti-bus lane influencers)
Outer Worlds 2 is like, OK as a game.
But the radio stations have no right to be this good. I've had a doo-wop song about bubblegum flavoured cigarettes stuck in my head for days.
youtu.be/lv21iffgmYU?...
But the radio stations have no right to be this good. I've had a doo-wop song about bubblegum flavoured cigarettes stuck in my head for days.
youtu.be/lv21iffgmYU?...
The Outer Worlds 2 OST - Bubblegum Slims Song
YouTube video by FlareHazard
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Outer Worlds 2 is like, OK as a game.
But the radio stations have no right to be this good. I've had a doo-wop song about bubblegum flavoured cigarettes stuck in my head for days.
youtu.be/lv21iffgmYU?...
But the radio stations have no right to be this good. I've had a doo-wop song about bubblegum flavoured cigarettes stuck in my head for days.
youtu.be/lv21iffgmYU?...