Laura J. Smart
@ljsmart.bsky.social
Secret agent smartypants. Original infodiva. Metadata maven. Foul mouthed. Opinions mine all mine. Baketigweyaang Deshkan Ziibi #ldnont
photo alt text Laura J. Smart wearing hot pink computer glasses in their office @ UWO. Bookshelf in background
photo alt text Laura J. Smart wearing hot pink computer glasses in their office @ UWO. Bookshelf in background
Posted another newsletter for my California friends. It's Christmas catch-up time. www.infodiva.com/RCF
Report from the Canadian Front
Observations from Baketigweyaang, Deshkan Ziibi
www.infodiva.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Posted another newsletter for my California friends. It's Christmas catch-up time. www.infodiva.com/RCF
truth.
December 18, 2025 at 2:33 PM
truth.
That thing where you’re procrastinating on shovelling the drive before rainyness makes a treacherously large and tall ice patch with tailbone destroying bumps.
December 16, 2025 at 12:18 PM
That thing where you’re procrastinating on shovelling the drive before rainyness makes a treacherously large and tall ice patch with tailbone destroying bumps.
Kicked off my holiday break by going to the Hyland Theatre to see Muppet Christmas Carol. Because Muppets and Michael Caine. And because our repertory movie house is part of what’s great about #ldnont I love having a membership and go often. I miss the New Beverly in LA and having the Hyland helps
December 15, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Kicked off my holiday break by going to the Hyland Theatre to see Muppet Christmas Carol. Because Muppets and Michael Caine. And because our repertory movie house is part of what’s great about #ldnont I love having a membership and go often. I miss the New Beverly in LA and having the Hyland helps
Reposted by Laura J. Smart
The ArQuives invites nominations and applications from individuals across Canada to join our active Board of Directors.
Deadline for submissions: February 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST.
www.arquives.ca/call-for-board-members-2026
Deadline for submissions: February 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST.
www.arquives.ca/call-for-board-members-2026
December 14, 2025 at 12:30 PM
The ArQuives invites nominations and applications from individuals across Canada to join our active Board of Directors.
Deadline for submissions: February 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST.
www.arquives.ca/call-for-board-members-2026
Deadline for submissions: February 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST.
www.arquives.ca/call-for-board-members-2026
Reposted by Laura J. Smart
Strategy Inc. joins Snowflake's Open Semantic Interchange (OSI) for a universal semantic metadata standard! 🤝 This improves AI & BI interoperability & breaks down data silos. Working with Pfizer & more! #AI #Data #Interoperability
December 11, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Strategy Inc. joins Snowflake's Open Semantic Interchange (OSI) for a universal semantic metadata standard! 🤝 This improves AI & BI interoperability & breaks down data silos. Working with Pfizer & more! #AI #Data #Interoperability
Perfume bombed THREE times from entrance to 5th floor office. Undergrads, I'm getting really tired of tasting your stench. If I can smell it a metre away ITS TOO DAMN MUCH. How would you like it if I crop dusted you?. Fuck you & your smellmaxxng trend. It's rude.
December 11, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Perfume bombed THREE times from entrance to 5th floor office. Undergrads, I'm getting really tired of tasting your stench. If I can smell it a metre away ITS TOO DAMN MUCH. How would you like it if I crop dusted you?. Fuck you & your smellmaxxng trend. It's rude.
today in #metadata #librarian land: working on funding application for summer grad student co-op project, more serials metadata work. Maybe some LCSH split headings IYKYK. Great ire @ having to be onsite. ie shovelling the driveway out x 2 + car out x 3. No covered parking for me @ uwo.ca
December 11, 2025 at 12:16 PM
today in #metadata #librarian land: working on funding application for summer grad student co-op project, more serials metadata work. Maybe some LCSH split headings IYKYK. Great ire @ having to be onsite. ie shovelling the driveway out x 2 + car out x 3. No covered parking for me @ uwo.ca
This is depressing AF. It’s not for Canadians. Yet. I have been boycotting crossing due to genuine anxiety and distress about it. I am a dual citizen fwiw www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Foreign tourists could be required to disclose 5 years of social media histories under Trump administration plan
The Customs and Border Protection proposal would apply to travelers from more than 40 countries.
www.nbcnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 12:08 PM
This is depressing AF. It’s not for Canadians. Yet. I have been boycotting crossing due to genuine anxiety and distress about it. I am a dual citizen fwiw www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
today in #metadata #librarian land: I added "short-staffedness" to my spell check. Reviewing serials records for continuity changes and holdings information, part of the verification work with North/Nord for the COPPUL Indigenous Historical Periodicals Working Group. Attending a vendor preso.
December 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM
today in #metadata #librarian land: I added "short-staffedness" to my spell check. Reviewing serials records for continuity changes and holdings information, part of the verification work with North/Nord for the COPPUL Indigenous Historical Periodicals Working Group. Attending a vendor preso.
Lake effect snow can suck it. The snow line in SW Ontario varies. Usually we’re south of it. Polar vortex and Alberta clippers make it dip below Huron county. It seems like a lot but it is actually normal. we’ve been spoiled with warmer gentler winters the past few years. 10cm last night 20cm to go.
December 10, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Lake effect snow can suck it. The snow line in SW Ontario varies. Usually we’re south of it. Polar vortex and Alberta clippers make it dip below Huron county. It seems like a lot but it is actually normal. we’ve been spoiled with warmer gentler winters the past few years. 10cm last night 20cm to go.
today in #metadata #librarian land: Damn. Now I need to write the damn thing :-)
"Thank you for submitting your proposal to the special issue of the Journal of Library Metadata. This is an interesting and timely piece. I am pleased to accept the proposal."
"Thank you for submitting your proposal to the special issue of the Journal of Library Metadata. This is an interesting and timely piece. I am pleased to accept the proposal."
December 4, 2025 at 9:18 PM
today in #metadata #librarian land: Damn. Now I need to write the damn thing :-)
"Thank you for submitting your proposal to the special issue of the Journal of Library Metadata. This is an interesting and timely piece. I am pleased to accept the proposal."
"Thank you for submitting your proposal to the special issue of the Journal of Library Metadata. This is an interesting and timely piece. I am pleased to accept the proposal."
Ploughshares is doing good work. apple.news/A6L795WK0S_q...
Anand won’t say whether Canada would block export of armoured vehicles for ICE use — The Globe and Mail
Washington has ordered nearly $10-million in vehicles from Brampton-based defence contractor, records show
apple.news
December 4, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Ploughshares is doing good work. apple.news/A6L795WK0S_q...
grrrr Completely unacceptable. globalnews.ca/news/1155832...
‘Fantastic news’: Ford welcomes ICE plan to order Ontario armoured vehicles | Globalnews.ca
Reports emerged this week of U.S. government procurement plans to order 20 Senator vehicles for its ICE officers, a move worth roughly $10 million.
globalnews.ca
December 4, 2025 at 12:59 PM
grrrr Completely unacceptable. globalnews.ca/news/1155832...
today in #metadata #librarian land: bailing on Code4Lib North. Couldn't do 2nd day tomorrow due to emergent "all must attend" meetings + the one thing I was really interested in hearing about moved to tomorrow. Would have possibly done 1st day today but I've got no spoons for coping with the 401
December 3, 2025 at 1:49 PM
today in #metadata #librarian land: bailing on Code4Lib North. Couldn't do 2nd day tomorrow due to emergent "all must attend" meetings + the one thing I was really interested in hearing about moved to tomorrow. Would have possibly done 1st day today but I've got no spoons for coping with the 401
Awww. Mutaytor reunion for Alpheus bday. Still sad I couldn’t be there. Nothing like hard funk and knowing everyone in the room. Miss you my loves! (wait to hear the horn section it’s worth it) www.instagram.com/reel/DRakXSm...
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December 2, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Awww. Mutaytor reunion for Alpheus bday. Still sad I couldn’t be there. Nothing like hard funk and knowing everyone in the room. Miss you my loves! (wait to hear the horn section it’s worth it) www.instagram.com/reel/DRakXSm...
SageMaker - so cataloging makes a sage? Well color me a sagacious mistress of information science.
Amazon SageMaker Catalog provides automatic data classification using AI agents
Amazon SageMaker Catalog now offers AI-powered data classification that automatically suggests business glossary terms during publishing, reducing manual work and improving metadata consistency using Amazon Bedrock.
Amazon SageMaker Catalog now offers AI-powered data classification that automatically suggests business glossary terms during publishing, reducing manual work and improving metadata consistency using Amazon Bedrock.
December 1, 2025 at 11:58 AM
SageMaker - so cataloging makes a sage? Well color me a sagacious mistress of information science.
Reposted by Laura J. Smart
The "innovation" of generative AI wasn't creation; it was laundering.
They built a machine that strips the metadata—authorship, context, rights—from human labor so the output can be booked as a proprietary asset.
"Intelligence" is just other people's work with the serial numbers filed off.
They built a machine that strips the metadata—authorship, context, rights—from human labor so the output can be booked as a proprietary asset.
"Intelligence" is just other people's work with the serial numbers filed off.
December 1, 2025 at 5:09 AM
The "innovation" of generative AI wasn't creation; it was laundering.
They built a machine that strips the metadata—authorship, context, rights—from human labor so the output can be booked as a proprietary asset.
"Intelligence" is just other people's work with the serial numbers filed off.
They built a machine that strips the metadata—authorship, context, rights—from human labor so the output can be booked as a proprietary asset.
"Intelligence" is just other people's work with the serial numbers filed off.
I killed inertia & returned to
regular gym going habit after a year of stone walling myself due to chronic pain. It’s going to hurt regardless & it’ll hurt worse in the long run if I don’t. Accepting that I am hitting late middle age & need to swap strength & stretch for spin classes is the thing.
regular gym going habit after a year of stone walling myself due to chronic pain. It’s going to hurt regardless & it’ll hurt worse in the long run if I don’t. Accepting that I am hitting late middle age & need to swap strength & stretch for spin classes is the thing.
November 29, 2025 at 4:50 PM
I killed inertia & returned to
regular gym going habit after a year of stone walling myself due to chronic pain. It’s going to hurt regardless & it’ll hurt worse in the long run if I don’t. Accepting that I am hitting late middle age & need to swap strength & stretch for spin classes is the thing.
regular gym going habit after a year of stone walling myself due to chronic pain. It’s going to hurt regardless & it’ll hurt worse in the long run if I don’t. Accepting that I am hitting late middle age & need to swap strength & stretch for spin classes is the thing.
Reposted by Laura J. Smart
I think if Canada wants to have a strong cultural identity we need to go back to doing what we're best at, making the weirdest fucking TV shows you've ever seen
November 26, 2025 at 7:33 PM
I think if Canada wants to have a strong cultural identity we need to go back to doing what we're best at, making the weirdest fucking TV shows you've ever seen
Gentle soul”? Perhaps. Her behaviour debating our current councillor during the election did not reflect this take. I found she started all the acrimonious parts, spoke over the other candidate. Basically rude and contemptuous to the point where an audience member called her out.
November 28, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Gentle soul”? Perhaps. Her behaviour debating our current councillor during the election did not reflect this take. I found she started all the acrimonious parts, spoke over the other candidate. Basically rude and contemptuous to the point where an audience member called her out.
@profdownie.bsky.social
I’d buy it just to keep Farhi from having it. I bet some more historical buildings become high rises.
I’d buy it just to keep Farhi from having it. I bet some more historical buildings become high rises.
Marienbad, the Carling Street old-world eatery, and Chaucer’s Pub are on the market as owner Jerry Pribil wants to take a step back from the restaurant business and focus on his work as a city councillor #ldnont
lfpress.com/news/local-n...
lfpress.com/news/local-n...
Downtown London landmark hits market for $3.5M: 'Emotional'
“There's always an emotional attachment to a business that's been here 50 years."
lfpress.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:08 AM
@profdownie.bsky.social
I’d buy it just to keep Farhi from having it. I bet some more historical buildings become high rises.
I’d buy it just to keep Farhi from having it. I bet some more historical buildings become high rises.
Reposted by Laura J. Smart
Metadata Rising
Earlier in my career, I was working on an infrastructure protection task and we were reconciling data from several sources that addressed the same road network. The data from the locality was authoritative, but it lacked some information we needed so we were conflating other data…
Earlier in my career, I was working on an infrastructure protection task and we were reconciling data from several sources that addressed the same road network. The data from the locality was authoritative, but it lacked some information we needed so we were conflating other data…
Metadata Rising
Earlier in my career, I was working on an infrastructure protection task and we were reconciling data from several sources that addressed the same road network. The data from the locality was authoritative, but it lacked some information we needed so we were conflating other data to the linework. I commented on the general lack of metadata and the government team lead said something like "We'll never get this done if we wait for that. Overlay everything and use your experience to toss out the outliers. We're shooting for consensus, not perfection." …
blog.geomusings.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Metadata Rising
Earlier in my career, I was working on an infrastructure protection task and we were reconciling data from several sources that addressed the same road network. The data from the locality was authoritative, but it lacked some information we needed so we were conflating other data…
Earlier in my career, I was working on an infrastructure protection task and we were reconciling data from several sources that addressed the same road network. The data from the locality was authoritative, but it lacked some information we needed so we were conflating other data…
today in #metadata #librarian land: North/Nord shared print Indigenous Historical Periodicals Inventory designing API calls to knock off the “easy” record matches in Western’s Omni catalogue before sending staff to the stacks to verify holdings and material condition at risk titles. New big project
November 25, 2025 at 12:28 PM
today in #metadata #librarian land: North/Nord shared print Indigenous Historical Periodicals Inventory designing API calls to knock off the “easy” record matches in Western’s Omni catalogue before sending staff to the stacks to verify holdings and material condition at risk titles. New big project