iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Did you know? Thanks to reneging on a previous referendum where the majority said "no thanks to continuous daylight time", sunrise on Christmas Day in Edmonton will occur at 9.50am. But don't worry, it will occur at 9.20am by 31st January, and 8.24am by 28th February.

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

My mum had cataract surgery in the UK recently. She's 86 and had enough savings to pay for "private" surgery. She waited 4 weeks from assessment to surgery. Her 80 year old neighbour who doesn't have enough savings has been waiting for 8 years. But yah - a two tier system doesn't lead to disparity.

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Last harvest of the season

A small yellow bowl with around 20 ripe cherry tomatoes and a small red chilli pepper - the last of the season

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Yeah - pay attention peeps. This movement originated in Sequim (popln 8000 ish) just down the road from Port Angeles, within sight of Victoria BC on a clear day. Normally known for lavendar - but also a healthy dose of WE'VE HAD ENOUGH.

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Now in Copenhagen - renting an apartment that is 2 minutes walk from high speed metro, five minutes walk from grocery stores and a diverse range of restaurants. Our building has a sauna, access to sea bathing, and a garbage collection system based on vacuums. Having a car here would be irritating.

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I’m in Oslo, Norway. Observation on densification. It isn’t just about building multiplexes. The rest of the infrastructure needs to change too. In this ‘hood, household garbage goes in tubes in the street. No carts, no trucks, no vermin. Grocery stores in easy walking distance, great transit.

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Sèafra @woodward.ca · 31/08/2026

If you're not following Senator Simons, you should be. Informative and entertaining stuff about politics, and Canada at large with a wonderful lens on Alberta in particular.

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Reposted by PaulaJay

Sèafra @woodward.ca · 31/07/2026

This is a great website made by Edmonton City Councillor Aaron Paquette. I sort of thought Edmonton had pretty good flood infrastructure in place, in spite of what we've seen in the past weeks. This confirms it. Really incredible comms work. aaronpaquette.ca/rain

aaronpaquette.ca

RAIN — Aaron Paquette

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Why am I paying more and more for increasingly shitty services - including internet. Books and physical media (CDs, DVDs, etc.) never let you down. Internet is increasingly unreliable and shite.Thank goodness I never got suckered in to buying internet enabled domestic appliances. Rant over!

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Apocalypse now - quite the son et lumiere show out there in the midst of terrible air quality, mosquitoes and flickering power. The end times are nigh …

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

For the first time in my 20 years living in E-town, I’m buying a DE-humidifier. The days of ”it’s a dry heat” are not in play this “summer” yet. Rain, rain, rain = lower fire risk and higher risk of soggy basement and mould.

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

There's weather coming. Sunset is officially 10.05pm. It is 8.42pm and dark enough that the street lights have come on. Waiting for the gust front, thunder and hammering rain.

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Reposted by PaulaJay

By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 11/06/2026

Douglas Adams: > Anything in the world when you're born is normal, ordinary and a natural part of the world. Anything invented between when you’re 15-35 is new, exciting and revolutionary and you can get a career in it. Anything invented after you're 35 is against the natural order of things. 1/

A blasted wasteland with a mushroom cloud rising over it. In the foreground are swarms of drowning people climbing over each other to escape into the limbs of a dead tree, and a crowd of agonized skeletons. All sourced from Dore engravings illustrating the Old Testament.

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Add long-term dug up roads, feeder roads impeded, charging for parking at weekends/evenings, re-imaging Jasper Ave (!) - all hollowing out our downtown core - resulting in the steady devastation of family run businesses.

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Frustrated @thecityofedmonton.bsky.social @andrewknack.bsky.social If I were to implement a strategy to hollow out YEG downtown, I would impede feeder roads, charge for parking, close/shrink key access routes, put up fences around sites of interest, hamper access to small business - oh wait...

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Stinging eyes, a hustly throat, a bit of a sniffle - husband suggests that there is a "lot of guff in the air". I think he means pollen, dust and dander.

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Hon. Thomas A. Lukaszuk @lukaszukab.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Forever Canadians, we asked you to show up and pick up a lawn sign. You did! So great to see supporters from all walks of life and political leanings with one message in common: DON’T SCREW WITH CANADA!!!🇨🇦 #ForeverCanadian #ableg #cdnpoli

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

So, our downtown is all dug up. Getting there is also all dug up if you're coming from the west. Think you want to get to a restaurant or a grocery store from the south side of Jasper Avenue - think again. #yeg This is what the City refers to as "Imagine Jasper".

A street in Edmonton with concrete barriers, orange barriers, orange cones and a host of confusing signs. Behind these, to the left, is a multi-level cream and brown condo building. To the right is a steel and glass tower building.

The hood of a red car heading west along a street under construction. There are concrete barriers, piles of dirt and orange barriers to the right. These are in front of a row of stores - some open and some for lease.

A large piece of yellow construction machinery to the left of the picture, concrete barriers and pipe. These are in front of a low brown building (Earls restaurant) with a white sign declaring that they are "open during construction".

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

I heard a guy from Edmonton's Chamber of Commerce on CBC radio yesterday berating the City of Edmonton staff for having the temerity to work hybrid. As employees, they're supposed to contribute to the vibrancy of downtown. Here is our downtown. #yeg

Construction barriers in front of a blue netting fence. There are yellow and blue portapotties behind the fence. Behind those is a large grey building with a red sign that says "Open during neighbourhood construction". The sky is overcast and there are two trees - not yet in bud - one to the left and one to the right.

Blue metal fencing in front of orange netting fence in a construction zone. There are grey buildings to the left and right. The sky is overcast and cloudy.

Grey metal construction fencing with a green sign that says "PCL Construction". There is a large grey building (Stanley Milner library) to the left, a pink building (Canada Place) in the middle and a sandstone coloured office tower to the right.

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Edmonton #yeg - just had the most amazing Ukrainian dinner provided by two lovely people who came around with a paper menu and a cell phone for orders. We may have ordered enough food from Yura and Natalia for about 6 delicious dinners.

Hand written menu from Natalia and Yura - selling home-made Ukrainian food direct from them to you. Dishes include pierogis, cabbage rolls, borscht and the most lovely nut stuffed prunes. Text orders to 780 708 4174

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Oh - and when I came to AB as a temporary foreign worker in 2004 - I paid taxes AND health care premiums.

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Temporary foreign workers with jobs pay taxes. They can't vote, but they pay taxes. I know - I was one.

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Gosh - this is all very exhausting.

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Yep - a one-off beautifully crafted essay doesn't do it. Repeat a simple message over and over and over and over again. @albertandp.ca

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

For those of you that know and love Northern Ireland - have you EVER heard it described like this? "The real-life Narnia is an ancient mountain kingdom at the edge of Europe" - courtesy of CNN www.cnn.com/travel/mourn...

cnn.com

The ancient mountain kingdom where fantasy comes to life | CNN

Relatively few international visitors come to Northern Ireland to explore the Mourne Mountains — but as fantasy worlds they’ve been inspiring imaginations globally for more than 75 years.

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

I’m currently on the western edge of Europe. Fascinating to hear policy makers talk seriously about accelerating use of renewables for energy. Facing reality of oil/gas shortage + hard evidence that they CAN generate enough electricity from solar/wind is pushing them towards a tipping point.

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

A WILD night out there - somehow I forgot how air leaky these houses are on the coast of Norn Iron. The wind is howling and whistling through the window frames like banshees trying to get in. Oh - and the rental property has sand bags at the front - let’s home we don’t see them in action.

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Three and a half hours to wash a load of towels in my Irishvacation rental?!I know my 20 year old Canadian top loader is likely an environmental nightmare, but it doesn’t do math, doesn’t concern itself with “logic”, uses water that’s already been heated and is done in under an hour.

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Edmonton-I love you but you are a shambles. When will it occur to the City that people who don't have to go downtown won't go when downtown roads are dug up, blocked off, diverted, badly rutted and parking has to be paid for on a crappy app? @thecityofedmonton.bsky.social @andrewknack.bsky.social

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Power on, power out, power on, power out - I guess big trees, gusty wind and a network of overhead power lines are not a great combo

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

22 years here this year. A new phrase to me = "no host luncheon". Turns out this is a polite way of saying pay your own way. Who knew?

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

In the UK, lots of people scoffed and said that UK leaving EU would never happen. It would be too stupid and nobody would vote for it given the impacts on freedom of movement, trade, stability and access to grants. And yet it did. And it hit hard. cepr.org/voxeu/column...

cepr.org

Brexit’s slow‑burn hit to the UK economy

The UK is once again debating why its economy has grown slowly since the mid‑2010s. This column examines the impact of the decision to leave the European Union in 2016. Using almost a decade of data s...

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Chipped away at the north facing sidewalk today with its ungraded/non-ploughed snowpack gently oozing over the path. Sprinkled tons of gravel to try to make it safe. I am SO WAITING for a fine notice from the City who have not yet managed to grade our street. @thecityofedmonton.bsky.social

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Oh no! More snow forecast before our City gets round to blading our deeply rutted and scary neighbourhood streets...please don't leave us behind! @thecityofedmonton.bsky.social

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

Oh boy - I feel kind of bad but I am losing patience over the state of the neighbourhood streets in this "Winter City" and promises that we'll do better next year. We're not yet "scheduled" for clearance of the 10 inches of snow slurry and I'm tired pushing people out. Sigh...

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Psyching myself up to shovel our street tomorrow - not the sidewalk - our actual street. I'm fed up helping push people out of the ruts and our City hasn't scheduled our 'hood. @thecityofedmonton.bsky.social

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

Actually cannot get out of my residential street even with AWD and brand new winter tires. Though I'd try a request to Edmonton 311 (knowing it is futile) - click the link to submit request - get a page with a tiny "blocked" in the top left corner. Oh dear! @thecityofedmonton.bsky.social

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

Tonight’s lesson - expensive eye cream does not mean soothed skin. #itchy #rash #red #in_the_bin #lesson_learned_the_hard_way

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

Edmonton - darling city that you are. Would it be too much to ask for a run of a steady -10C for a wee while, rather than vacillating between -25C and +5C from one day to the next?

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

Had a wee hankering for food from home today - wheaten bread for the win! Yeast free quick bread - 45 minutes from thinking about doing it to having a fresh baked loaf. Thanks www.loveballymena.online/post/vkpiad for the recipe that works in the freezing Alberta prairies!

loveballymena.online

JILL BAKES | Traditional Northern Irish wheaten bread

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

Maybe my age, maybe my heritage, maybe my crazy mixed up feelings about my Norn Irish background, but I tear up every time I hear The Pogues’ Fairy Tale of New York

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

I think this counts as a winter storm - minus 10C with rain (?) and now horizontal snow. Very glad not to be driving anywhere right now. #yeg

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Sarah Crumb @sarahscrumbs.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

This was a holiday card I painted several years ago. My husband suggested I paint "six geese a-honking" 🤣 #ArtAdventCalendar #birds #birdart

Six Canada geese in a row, all in various stages of honking. Painted in watercolor on a green background.

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

So Edmonton - so winter- thank you for sharing!

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PaulaJay @paulajay.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

Stunning Edmonton skies and spruce trees at dusk - no filters, no colour correction - just gorgeous purples, pinks and oranges at 5pm in early November. #ArtAdventCalendar

Multiple very tall spruce trees showing in black silhouette against a purple sky, with high wispy clouds coloured pink and orange as the sun sets at dusk in late fall.

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NigelBankes @nigelb.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

Corb Lund's "no coal on the eastern slopes" initiative petition has gone live with a web page to register your interest. He's going to have to re-file now that Bill 14 has entered into force and quashed his original filing but he'll be looking for canvassers once it is re-accepted. #ableg #abpoli

coalpetition.ca

Water Not Coal | Citizen Initiative Petition

Help prohibit coal mining in the Alberta's Rockies. Register to sign the petition.

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Peggy Wolven @vexedmuddler.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Okay I’m finally all caught up with this post (yay) for #ArtAdventCalendar day 6! One of about a gazillion beetle-inspired manicures I’ve done over the years. This one is Calligrapha beetle elytra! Sadly in real life they’re not shimmery and shifty like these ones, but they deserve the glow-up.

A close-up of my thumb nail. The almond-shaped tip is painted with a flaky, sparkly green polish to echo leaves. The actual beetle elytra take up the part of the nail that’s attached to the finger (making the green section a sort of “French tip”. I painted the elytra in white creme polish with black lines and dots based on actual beetle species, then topped them with a shifty, shimmery polish topper that gives a pink and yellow sheen over the white areas and green in the black areas.

A shot of 4 fingers at an angle to show the blue shift of the shimmer topper over the black areas of the elytra designs. Each nail has the same basic design as described for the thumb, but with different patterns of black markings to denote different species.

Another close-up shot of 4 nails, this time straight-on. All 4 of the shimmer shift colours are visible here: pink and yellow over the white, and blue and green over the black.

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