iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Unimpressed to see @jleiper.bsky.social agreed with the idea of restricting City program registration during the first 48 hours. The concept is riddled with problems that will make things harder for everyone, and I expected him to know this and call it out.

static.klipy.com

Station19: Carina Deluca's Unimpressed Look

ALT: Station19: Carina Deluca's Unimpressed Look

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I had planned to advance vote today but realized I haven't even looked at the School Trustee options. Had a convo with someone who said they skipped that part because what's the point thanks to the Ford Fiefdom. This has been the weirdest municipal election I can remember.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

N.3: Also self-explanatory Conclusion: if it's not accessible, it's a dud.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

N. 1 is self explanatory, so let's jump to N.2 The City's webpages are not optimized for tablets/phones. This presents a barrier to access

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

So. Even in Ottawa: Not everyone has reliable internet service. Not everyone has a desktop or laptop Not everyone can easily navigate online services.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

This. It frustrates me to no end how people will make critical voting decisions based on pure selfishness and failure to think critically, and how candidates exploit this.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Drove out to the other end of the city today, taking the 417. Was reminded why I hate driving on that highway. Anyway, if you were stuck behind me because I was keeping to the speed limit, not tailgaiting, leaving room for on-ramping cars, etc, I'm not sorry.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

BTW, non-City residents pay a premium to access City rec programs. Further punishing a handful of families is just gross.

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Toon Dreessen @toondreessen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Roads in poor shape? Late for work bc of transit or congestion? Can’t register your kid for swimming or skating bc there aren’t enough spots or the arena closed bc of poor repair condition? Business struggling bc city red tape? Here’s why: decades of underfunded tax base, unsustainable investment 1/

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Trapdinawrpool @trapdinawrpool.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

People act like the decision to strike is an easy one to make, it is not. Strikes take a heavy toll on workers, financially, emotionally, and in relationships (family and friendship) Also in my experience strikes are seldom about wages (those are often the easiest to solve) but working conditions.

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Peggy Blair @peggyjblair.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Are you a self-published Canadian mystery author? Check out the Toby award at Tobyaward.wordpress.com!

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Offsite parking is $24/day. Thoughts and prayers to local residents who need to get anywhere during event hours

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Pretty sure I've openly mused about this We all recognize WW3 is already in progress, yes?

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Helen Czerski @helenczerski.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

As both an academic and a writer, I am repelled by the "this looks like a long document. Would you like me to summarize it for you?" that seems to appear at the top of every pdf viewer now. NO. The *entire point* of good writing (either books or journal papers) is that every sentence has a purpose.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I'm unimpressed with the #Ottawa mayoral candidates' electioneering so far. Two candidates are playing whack-a-mole hoping to land a hit, one is ridiculously uninformed, and I'm not seeing Jeff highlight his broad experience and knowledge where he could.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Discovered my name is no longer on the municipal voter's list for #Ottawa. WTF. ottawa.ca/en/city-hall...

ottawa.ca

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Seasonal reminder to book your Flu/Covid booster if you can: The sore arm you live with for 24 hours is a small inconvenience when you're protecting others

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Dave @allcaps.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Have at it! livelaughmayor.com I've tried to make it easy to participate while also allowing for scoring and preventing trash comments. We'll see how long this stays up. Politics aside, I enjoy testing my knowledge of Ottawa's geography - I hope others do to so we can see Sutcliffe's NCC love.

livelaughmayor.com

Live.Laugh.Mayor. – "Good morning Ottawa. Bonjour Ottawa." Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has been posting photos with these words for years now. However, a large portion of these photos appear to be on ...

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Jenny Lee Shee @jennyleeshee.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Thanks to Doug Ford and Paul Calandra, 80,000 elementary educators have to order classroom supplies from Staples this year instead of from their school boards. I decided to do a little comparison shopping for school supplies many of us will have to order over the course of a school year. 🧵 #OntEd

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gdfreeman 🇨🇦 🍁 @gdfreeman.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

One picture, a thousand words Toronto editorial cartoonist Theo Moudakis Bravo!

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Tobias Wilson-Bates @phdhurtbrain.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Bluesky Users 🚩🚩🚩 DO NOT FALL FOR ENGAGEMENT BAIT 🚩🚩🚩

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Hey, @cbcgem.bsky.social: The people watching the Tragically Hip concert you're re-airing tonight have heard, and regularly use, the word Fuck. Muting the key word in a song named Tired as Fuck is fucking stupid.

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Peggy Blair @peggyjblair.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Hey everyone, my friend Brenda MacDonald-Rowe (who is launching her debut novel tomorrow as Susan Leon) is having her launch party tomorrow at the Dark and Deadly Cafe in Carleton Place tomorrow! Worth a trip to CP just for the cafe if you haven't been there -- it's quite the place!

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Feodor Chin @feochin.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

God, if only we could go back to the days when a person’s entire political career could be ended simply because they couldn’t spell potato.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Half of my neighbour's maple tree is now on the road. @seandevine9.bsky.social who should we call about the fallen tree on the road? The City'swebsite is not helpful

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The power just went out. No, wait, it's on again. Oops, off. Aaannd we're back Also, my little emergency back up light in the bathroom has apparently died. Am I the only one who understands that we've entered the climate apocalypse era? Ok.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

In less than a month, I've learned of two (workplace-adjacent) cases of Lyme disease. Recovery, with treatment, can take weeks. Oh, and don't forget to check your scalp. Did I mention that ticks are really, really smol?

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Today, I observed a 50+ couple riding eBikes on a very busy roadway. BTW, this is the demographic adopting eBikes faster than any other. You know what Ottawa has? A lot of 50+ plus residents. The safe, practical bike lane network is coming, Ottawa. They will make it so.

static.klipy.com

Woman with Crystal Ball

ALT: Woman with Crystal Ball

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

This whole thread including bull's-eye commentary from @brigittepellerin.bsky.social 👇👇

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Elle @elleisanisland.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

New baby hippo born at Berlin Zoo. Named Brötchen. Which means "little bread roll." You're welcome

A very cute baby hippo swimming in a pond, with algae on him

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Ooh! This reading brought me so much joy.

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Emmett Macfarlane 🇨🇦 @emmettmacfarlane.com · 24/07/2026

I am a political scientist. By every metric used to assess democracy, America is no longer one.

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Stephen Farrow @stephenfarrow.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Many thanks to the Toronto Star for inadvertently showing us why we should all use the Oxford Comma. Apparently Sylvia had some, let's say, complicated hobbies:

Headline from the Toronto Star:

The latest historical fiction
books take inspiration from
Sylvia Plath, a New York
vigilante and Shah of Iran

We review ‘Daffodil Days,’ ‘Lady X,’ ‘Love Lane’ and
‘Mistress of the Persian Boarding House.

July 16,2026 at 12:45 p.m.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Sharing their shame in hope this business gets fined

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Say what you will about Mrs. Bennet, who has many faults, but her saving grace is that she is 100% focussed on securing her daughters' security in a world where women's security is contigent on men and money, and even that is highly precarious

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Sigh. I'd been thinking of going to see it, but if this is what I'm setting myself up for, I'll pass.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

For any Canadians experiencing Elbows Up fatigue at the grocery store, here's a helpful reminder: The cyclosporiasis outbreaks we're all hearing about is from contaminated American produce. To avoid the explosive diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting, just choose Canadian produce.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Somebody at Cdn Tire content management has been rewatching Spinal Tap again.

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Anthony Hurd @anthonyhurd.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Wildflower - 16x24” acrylic on canvas. Available.

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Nancy Bennett 🇨🇦 @nancybennett.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Today is opening day of my art show in Toronto. For the first time I'm showing my skating/hockey paintings and two textile pieces along with the paintings that inspired them. If you're in the Toronto area, drop in and say Hi. Leslie Grove Gallery 1158 Queen St East, Toronto July 8-19

Poster for the show featuring a painting of a highway disappearing into the horizon, water tower on the left, orange, yellow and pink sky above. Text is on the top in a dark green block.
"Winter and Other Seasons
New Works by Nancy Bennett
July 8 - 19, 2026
Leslie Grove Gallery
1158 Queen St. East, Toronto"

View of one gallery wall. It's white. On the wall are five large 36x40 paintings of winter scenes.

Me, hot and sweaty after hanging the show, standing in front of a 6'x6' textile piece in autumn forest colours. I'm wearing a black tshirt and pants, arms raised in triumph, smiling. I'm a short, pudgy woman in my 60's, hair pulled back, glasses.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Whelp. Spotted a dark stain on my bedroom ceiling, today. Standard attic above. Got the stepstool from the kitchen and checked the spot. Damp. So, water got into the roof, yesterday. Good times.

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

And the power is back on. It apparently affected cell service too, because I was completely disconnected which has never happened before

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

I have questions: Was there a grant application? If yes, what was the criteria, who else applied, and how was this outcome determined? 🤔

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Catherine @cathbear.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

ON PCs are funnelling cash to a golf club in Kapusaking to "enhance its facilities". A private golf club is getting public money while public pools, parks, centres, etc, in Kapusaking are SOL. I hope everyone enabling this swindle ends up with chronic hemorrhoids.

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Peggy Blair @peggyjblair.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Mark your calendar for August 8th between 2:30 and 4:30 at the Rideau Lakes Public Library! We will be doing a Crime at the Cottage event there again this year and Alan Neal will be moderating an afternoon of mystery improv! $25 for tickets, $30 at the door, light refreshments served.

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