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George Sousa

@george-sousa.bsky.social
249 followers 263 following 50 posts

Engineer. Technology & Water junkie. Science, data, IP, climate, sustainability, cycling, photography and policy wonk.

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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
“Marsden on your radio…” as only Marsden could say it. A legend in an era when radio was relevant and mattered. Sad news…
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Bentley ****TALK CLIMATE**** @bigclimate.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Hot tip: You can be "committed to reducing Canada's emissions and achieving net-zero by 2050" ****** OR ******* You can build another DEADLY pipeline for the #BigOil skunks But you can't do both This is the #MarkCarney government LYING to you about #ClimateChange. Again. #cdnpoli
static.klipy.com
Taffer-either-step-up-or-step-out
Alt: Taffer-either-step-up-or-step-out
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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
"Municipal government makes decisions that affect our everyday lives, yet municipal elections attract fewer voters than federal and provincial elections. An informed vote takes some effort. Learn who the candidates are. Listen to what they have to say. Compare their priorities and their visions."
mailchi.mp
Democracy Is Local: Be Ambitious for Cambridge
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Apple Maps bends to state fiat like Google with "Lake America," but its compliance has a deeper irony: built in 2012 as an ecosystem fortress, it's now an ad platform redrawing history for revenue. I wrote about this recently: bsky.app/profile/geor...
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
I wrote about this recently: bsky.app/profile/geor...
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Apple Maps bends to state fiat like Google with "Lake America," but its compliance has a deeper irony: built in 2012 as an ecosystem fortress, it's now an ad platform redrawing history for revenue. I wrote about this recently: bsky.app/profile/geor...
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
I wrote about this recently: bsky.app/profile/geor...
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Apple Maps bends to state fiat like Google with "Lake America," but its compliance has a deeper irony: built in 2012 as an ecosystem fortress, it's now an ad platform redrawing history for revenue. I wrote about this recently: bsky.app/profile/geor...
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Apple Maps bends to state fiat like Google with "Lake America," but its compliance has a deeper irony: built in 2012 as an ecosystem fortress, it's now an ad platform redrawing history for revenue. I wrote about this recently: bsky.app/profile/geor...
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Apple Maps bends to state fiat like Google with "Lake America," but its compliance has a deeper irony: built in 2012 as an ecosystem fortress, it's now an ad platform redrawing history for revenue. I wrote about this recently: bsky.app/profile/geor...
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
I agree and recently wrote about this... bsky.app/profile/geor...
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
The public uproar over renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America" is being fought on the wrong battlefield. This isn't a geographic dispute, and it isn’t a technical glitch. I write about i here. bsky.app/profile/geor...
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Google Maps has turned geography into a fluid asset for corporate risk management. The 'Lake America' mess is just the beginning of a completely fractured world view. If you’re a GIS pro, tech critic, or map nerd—how do we fight back against the #enshittification of reality?
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
11 - Google is responsible for this chaos. By using its data system to legitimize a political ploy, Google has made it seem normal that space can be flexible, subjective, and controlled by power. Focused solely on profits, they are leading humanity into a world of fragmented realities. #Harari
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
10 - By choosing lazy automation over rigorous data governance, Google has built the literal infrastructure for the post-truth world. When a monopoly on human perception decides that objective reality can be altered by geofencing, it permanently destroys the concept of a shared reality. #Harari
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
9 - Choosing not to implement this basic spatial fix is a deliberate, conscious choice. For government agencies, it is forced political compliance. For Google, it is a business decision. Manually curating data costs money and slows down automated pipelines. Google chose a cheap and lazy shortcut.
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
8 - The technical solutions are simple. Any entry-level GIS Tech knows that intersecting a lake polygon with an international border is elementary work. Both federal agencies and Google can easily split the geometry, using rule-based labeling to show both names accurately in their respective waters.
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
7 - Tech monopolies love to blame "database schemas," "automated ingestion," or "polygon constraints" for why the entire lake was renamed on American screens. This is a calculated tech-industry defense mechanism designed to duck accountability and gaslight the public. #Enshittification
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
6 - Because Google’s true customers are advertisers and investors, the platform has zero incentive to protect geographic truth. If rewriting reality for US users pacifies a volatile political regime and keeps American eyes on screen, Google will erase Canadian geography to protect domestic revenue.
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
5 - Google uses a clean, smooth, authoritative interface to project a veneer of objective certainty. But cartographic accuracy is not embedded in the product. The underlying machine is an advertising engine engineered to harvest spatial coordinates, track human movement, and sell local ad placement.
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
4 - Enter Google Maps. The public’s fundamental mistake is treating commercial mapping apps as authoritative, public-service atlases. Google Maps is not a mapping tool; it is a hyper-profitable node of surveillance capitalism disguised as a utility. #SurveillanceCapitalism #Enshittification #GIS
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
3 - The crisis emerges from a grotesque double standard. The US relies on "nomenclature authority" to rewrite a map that is 50% Canadian territory. If Canada renamed it "Lake Canada," the US response would be immediate economic warfare and tariff retaliation. This is raw, asymmetrical dominance.
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
2 - An executive order has zero jurisdiction outside the US. When the President ordered federal agencies to rename Lake Ontario, the mandate was strictly internal. Canada immediately and rightfully rejected it. Legally and diplomatically, the lake’s historic name remains unchanged.
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
1 - The public uproar over renaming Lake Ontario to "Lake America" is being fought on the wrong battlefield. This isn't a geographic dispute, and it isn’t a technical glitch. It is a masterclass in geopolitical power asymmetry and deliberate corporate gaslighting. Let's unpack the real machinery.
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Matt Rodrigues @mattjrodrigues.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
As we wrap up another vibrant Pride weekend in Waterloo Region, I’m reminded of the importance of continuing to gather, and allowing voices to be heard, openly. The unfortunate actions of one person last week haven’t overshadowed the strength of our community 🏳️‍🌈
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TODERIAN UrbanWORKS Inc. (TUW) @toderianuw.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
“Our growth patterns cost us money. Plain and simple,” Barrett said. “Until we understand that, until we can get that across to people, we're going to continue to have politicians that make these similar decisions without thinking about the financial and other kinds of knock-on effects.”
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Katharine Hayhoe @katharinehayhoe.com · 30/05/2026
I’m a climate scientist. Let me fix this headline. “Nearly a century ago, scientists showed that burning fossil fuels warms the planet. Today, we know human emissions account for over 100% of the warming. Yet dark money and disinformation still work to keep Americans addicted to fossil fuels.”
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
“The term ‘third place’ was coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his book The Great Good Place, which explored the role of places like cafes, parks, & libraries in societies. He argued such places were not only important for mental health, but were essential to democracy & a sense of community.”
abc.net.au
'Elevates the mood': Third places providing a space away from work and home
In an increasingly digital world, Brisbane residents are still heading out to enjoy third places to take a break, enjoy life, and expose themselves to new ideas.
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
www.nasa.gov/wp-content/u...
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Heritage matters — especially in Downtown Cambridge. But as a future transit growth area, there’s still no Secondary Plan or MTSA framework. Now the “Galt Core Heritage District” comes first. Protection without a plan isn’t a vision — it risks the core’s future. www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...
therecord.com
Local group warns Cambridge heritage district proposal could stifle downtown growth
A citizens’ group called the Cambridge Core Planning Advisory Committee was created after members felt public feedback on the plan wasn’t fully heard.
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Brian Doucet @briandoucet.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
With March just around the corner, we have a full line up of screenings coming up. Not all registration is online yet, but check details at www.housinfilm.ca 3rd Hamilton 11th Ottawa 12th Cambridge, ON 16th Montreal 17th Montreal 25th Windsor 25th Fredericton, NB 26th Brno, Czechia
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Tri-Cities Transport Action Group @tritag.ca · 03/03/2026
The new CAO for the Region of Waterloo is Darshpreet Bhatti, who was the longtime project lead for the implementation of ION stage 1. Hopefully this is a good sign for getting ION stage 2 and beyond built.
regionofwaterloo.ca
National transit expert returns to Region of Waterloo as Chief Administrative Officer
Waterloo Region – The Region of Waterloo has announced that Darshpreet Bhatti, P.Eng. will join the organization as Chief Administrative Officer on March 9, 2026. Bhatti recently served as the ...
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
How do we get this message to decision makers?
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Which is why Downtown Cambridge ON is a useful case study. It’s an Urban Growth Centre within MTSA radii, yet a new HCD is being considered before an intensification framework is in place. From your experience, where has that balance been handled well?
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
I agree. When change is framed as something communities can simply opt out of, cities can lose momentum or damage long term vitality at precisely the wrong time.
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
That perception gap is wild. Do you find this kind of mismatch shows up often in broader city planning decisions too?
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Michael Druker 🇨🇦 @mdruker.app · 17/02/2026
You can just watch buses and trains move across the city
realtime.grt.ca
GRT Realtime Map
GRT Map shows a live view of all GRT vehicles
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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Cambridge Councillor Shwery says, "Cambridge residents have paid and continue to pay for transit system that does not serve Cambridge," and therefore Cambridge residents should be reimbursed transit funding. Can I introduce you to the 302? www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjh0...
youtube.com
Council Meeting - February 3, 2026
YouTube video by City of Cambridge
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
www.cambridgetoday.ca/letters-to-t...
cambridgetoday.ca
LETTER: 'Seeking reimbursement for ION is not a solution'
'When Cambridge is repeatedly portrayed as not wanting or not deserving regional transit. Senior governments hear them. Funding partners hear them,' reader says
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Tri-Cities Transport Action Group @tritag.ca · 29/01/2026
Those advocates are right.
youtu.be
Advocates say lessons from Kitchener’s ION LRT could help Toronto projects
YouTube video by CityNews
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Michael Druker 🇨🇦 @mdruker.app · 19/01/2026
The streaming landscape is so bad. What does everyone think about a service that lets you rent physical movie discs by mail
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
www.cambridgetoday.ca/letters-to-t...
cambridgetoday.ca
LETTER: Cambridge’s heritage should support renewal, not limit it
In an open letter addressed to City Council, Citizens for Cambridge are urging municipal leaders to consider a more flexible and targeted approach to heritage conservation that supports sustainable gr...
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
"Cambridge’s heritage should be a foundation for renewal, not a barrier to it. The question is not whether to protect heritage, but how. A blanket HCD is a blunt instrument." www.cambridgetoday.ca/letters-to-t...
cambridgetoday.ca
LETTER: Protecting Cambridge’s heritage without freezing its downtown
'Cambridge’s heritage should be a foundation for renewal, not a barrier to it,' architect Patrick Simmons says
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Ken Wood part owner of 🇨🇦 @madhat59kenwood.bsky.social · 13/12/2025
I could not say it better or clearer 👏👏 no to foriegn owned systems. #cdnpoli 👇
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CJ @mateloos.be · 02/12/2025
"Country, BlueGrass, Blues"!? Never seen that one coming!! At least here we have the Stinky Car. kinkystar.com
kinkystar.com
Kinky Star
Hier is een korte beschrijving voor de website van Kinky Star: "Kinky Star is jouw bron voor avontuurlijke muziek en cultuur. Ontdek unieke optredens, alternatieve muziek en artistieke inspiratie. Be...
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Dr. Mike P. Moffatt @mikepmoffatt.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
New report! Our Q3 GTA and Greater Golden Horseshoe report is out, and it's bleak. Pre-construction apartment sales down 89%, ground-oriented pre-sales down 65%, guaranteeing an even deeper downturn in 2026 and beyond. Read here: www.missingmiddleini...
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George Sousa @george-sousa.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Serious concerns regarding proposed Heritage Conservation District for downtown Cambridge. mailchi.mp/citizensforc...
mailchi.mp
Serious Concerns Regarding Proposed Galt Core Heritage Conservation District
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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 23/11/2025
"ION reflects a long-term vision by our regional government across multiple councils. It’s an investment in mobility for the future. We can’t keep growing around cars, and ION helps with growing the region up and not out." Can't argue with this statement from @tritag.ca
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Tri-Cities Transport Action Group @tritag.ca · 20/11/2025
Onwards to Cambridge! Today's IONizeWR newsletter shares what we heard when the ION stage 2 direction was approved, and why the 2026 GRT budget matters:
ionizewr.ca
Onwards to Cambridge!
Last night, Regional Council formally adopted its decision to extend ION to Cambridge! At the November 4 committee meeting, councillors had voted 15 to 1 for ION to be extended as light rail, for the ...
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Melissa Bowman @dtkmelissa.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
media.tenor.com
a cartoon of a man with glasses says you kids are
ALT: a cartoon of a man with glasses says you kids are
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