iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 20/09/2026

Today was my first time voting in a German election! #ltwberlin #BerlinWahl2026

Selfie standing in front of a plywood wall with a small paper sign with an arrow pointing left (also at my head) that says “Wahllokal”

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 29/05/2026

I forgot to keep announcements in this thread. We've had one @demsabroad.bsky.social #Kreuzberg Kiez meetup in 2026; now announcing the next one on 10 June 2026 at Golgatha biergarten in Viktoriapark. See you there, RSVPs appreciated! www.democratsabroad.org/stacyhyer/kr... #americansabroad #berlin

Several people seated outdoors at a biergarten, the background is blurred and no faces are visible. On the table is a hand-written in chalk reservation sign for "1900 Democrats Abroad"

131

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 29/05/2026

I'm definitely not one to poke fun at people's names (too much childhood trauma there and on-going mispronunciations) but scrolling through all 60+ candidates definitely worth it for some surprises like these folks. #californiaprimary2026

candidate ballot listing for LIVINGFORGOD ANDCOUNTRY DEMOTT Logistical Professional / Chaplain Party Preference: None

Candidate ballot listing for BARACK D. OBAMA SHAW Business Owner Party Preference: Democratic

010

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 29/05/2026

It's one of those times of year where I fax my ballot back to California to vote! Choosing from 60+ candidates for governor in the primary is hard (plus all the political offices that get way less news coverage) but as they say, #democracy is not a spectator sport.

screenshot of the voter oath and ballot return form for california's June 2, 2026 primary election. the word fax is visible in the upper right corner

110

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 19/05/2026

What can I say? I'm *not* at #republica this year. It feels pretty weird, as it was one of the first big events I attended in Berlin when I moved here in 2014. I've been there in person every year since then (except 2020) and even got to give a talk last year.

Ten photos of me/selfies from 2014-2025 at re:publica

130

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 19/02/2026

It feels like a special time to be here. There’s a bit of the German “between the years” (Christmas to New Year) vibe: stuff is randomly closed, people are traveling. But folks are out doing stuff with their families: I went to Huashan 1914 Creative Park and there was a line for everything!

Huashan 1914 Creative Park 華山1914文化創意產業園區 with lots of pedestrians in the photo, looking and taking pictures at stores and sights.

Large image of Godzilla on the side of a building near Huashan 1914 Creative Park

020

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 19/02/2026

Monday (LNY eve) was dinner at my aunt’s house - food photo in previous post with the extended family. Tuesday during the day we went to a temple, which lots of folks do, it’s not family tradition I grew up with though. It was super busy, lots of people in line for food and other rituals.

Crowded scene at the entrance of a Buddhist temple in Shilin/Beitou on the first day of the new year. The pillars of the main building are visible in the background

Dragon dance being performed around a pool at the temple. The zig zags of the orange dragon are reflected in the water. People are sitting on the steps down to the water.

A concrete walkway framed by gray concrete pillars which people are walking between. Red round lanterns are strung down the middle of the walkway above the heads of the people.

A multi-colored artistic horse cut-out of which only the head is visible, with red, blue, and green sections. People are somewhat visible behind the horse figure.

120

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 19/02/2026

I feel so lucky to be able to spend some time in Taipei with my family. If you’d told me in 2023 that I’d get to celebrate the next 3 Lunar New Years in Taiwan with my parents, I wouldn’t have believed it. Growing up, we never came - didn’t work w/U.S. school breaks and expensive of course).

Photo of a table full of different Chinese and Taiwanese foods served family-style on a table with yellow cloth, including scrambled eggs with shrimp, grilled salmon, dumplings, and various vegetables, and Taiwanese meatballs

View at night up toward a temple in Shilin in Taiwan, which is lit for Lunar New Year, and there are bright rows of red lanterns along the stairs leading up to the entrance.

Overhead shot of a very crowded market in an alley in Taiwan. Vendors line both sides of the semi-covered street, and the space is filled with people doing their shopping before Lunar New Year.

Night photo of a cherry tree with dark pink blossoms growing over a white wall.

150

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 15/11/2025

I really appreciated district mayor @claraherrmann.bsky.social’s speech emphasizing we were already part of the community & Friedrichshainers/Kreuzbergers regardless of citizenship, and welcoming us as new Germans. Taina Gärtner of the district parliament also spoke, and a student jazz group played!

Clara Herrmann (mayor of the district of Friedrichshain Kreuzberg) speaking at a podium

Taina Gärtner (member of the district parliament Friedrichshain Kreuzberg and with another office I didn’t quite catch) also speaking at the podium

Jazz students from the Volkshochschule (continuing education school) played during the celebration

Sign pointing the way to the “Einbürgerungsfeier Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg 2025)

131

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 08/11/2025

Lots has happened since our last @demsabroad.bsky.social #Kreuzberg Kiez meetup! Join your local Americans abroad and friends on Monday 10 Nov 2025 at Yorckschlösschen for community, strategizing, and drinks. RSVP appreciated: www.democratsabroad.org/324260/kreuz... #Berlin #Germany

Dems Abroad Kiez Meetup for Kreuzberg graphic in the style of the Zohran Mamdani campaign slogan.

272

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 07/11/2025

If someone shares photos in #ProtonDrive folders, is there a way to get a view w/larger previews in the web? I don't have an account, don't see an option to switch view style anywhere. It's unwieldy because looking at each photo is slow—it shows a blurry preview, loads higher-res seconds later.

Screenshot of a web page showing a folder in Proton Drive with a compact list of image files.

010

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 27/10/2025

California ballot faxed yesterday; counted today!

An email confirmation from California BallotTrax notifying the recipient that their ballot for the November 4, 2025, Statewide Special Election has been received and counted. It includes contact information for questions and links for election information.

161

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 18/10/2025

I was just telling someone the other day that it’s surprising/weird that there are no LAP coffee shops near me in #Bergmannkiez. It looks like those days are numbered #kreuzberg #berlin

Night time photo of an under construction store front with an awning with the words “life among people”

000

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 29/09/2025

Since the first time I had birria (I think it was at the taqueria el oso pop-up in Berlin) I thought it had delicious similarities to Taiwanese or Chinese beef noodle soup. Last night in Santa Cruz I got to eat birria ramen, and a personal Asian-Latino fusion dream came true. Thanks Tacos El Chuy!

a large take-out container with a brown birria broth and ramen noodles

130

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 26/09/2025

Finding time to write for myself is a perennial struggle. I worry it mean that I'm not taking enough time to think -> some meandering thoughts in my latest post on my personal blog powen.net/not-writing-...

A pad of paper with lots of squiggly lines in many different colors and ink types on it.

021

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 26/09/2025

I’m sure a Google Maps product manager got promoted for this brilliant feature that sends you (checks notes) identical notifications multiple times an hour after searching for restaurants. #enshittification

Screenshot of Google Maps eight identical notifications on an iPhone, all sent within the last four hours, reading “Want to eat like a local? Check out top spots near you.”

040

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 24/08/2025

Made it to Amsterdam where it’s a beautiful Sunday evening: many thanks to the train deities for looking out for me… and the view from the upper floor. A brief idyllic moment before the excitement of #OSSummit revs up. Say hi and don’t miss my sessions on Tuesday 📌

View of the Amsterdam harbor from the main train station platform

Amsterdam skyline for 16th floor of the nhow hotel

180

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 12/08/2025

We’re having another #Kreuzberg Kiez pub night w/@demsabroad in #Berlin tonight at Südblock (at Kottbusser Tor) starting from 7pm. Looks like perfect weather for an evening get-together outdoors: www.democratsabroad.org/adonisabuyen... RSVP not required but appreciated! #americansabroad #demsabroad

The image displays a weather forecast for Berlin, indicating a current temperature of 22°C, sunny conditions, with a high of 29°C and a low of 15°C. The forecast mentions continuing sunny conditions all day.

111

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 31/07/2025

I think Germany has made me weak when it comes to spice. The spicy Italian sausage at lunch was almost too much!

A plate of rigatoni, spicy Italian sausage and greens.

010

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 23/07/2025

I’m currently two days into a family project of digitizing decades of photos using a portable scanner borrowed from the local library. I’m supposed to be sorting but that’s too overwhelming… which is how I ended up trying to just scan everything.

A digital contact sheet of nostalgic photographs featuring family gatherings, children playing, and moments from celebrations. The images include a boy at a playground, a family in front of a house, and various group photos with children and adults.

A zoomed out grid of dozens of various photographs featuring families and friends in diverse settings. Text appears alongside some images (scans of the back sides of photos with descriptions or context, often in Chinese).

110

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 13/07/2025

A little too on the nose, local Barnes & Noble. #selftransformation #barnesandnoble

Two completely empty bookshelves with the signs "Self-Transformation" displayed above them. The brown wooden shelves look a bit used.

031

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 11/07/2025

Not the greatest photo but just spotted a visitor crawl under the deck at my parents place in Ann Arbor. I think it’s a groundhog? Quite chonky! #wildlife #midwest #michigan

A light brown furry animal (possibly a groundhog) hunched over on a grass lawn next to a wooden deck post

030

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 01/07/2025

A few firsts tonight: My first time at the c-base (one of the oldest (?) hackerspaces in Berlin) My first “Netzpolitischer Abend” #NPA148 by @digiges.bsky.social My first time walking across this bridge of the Spree river at dusk.

Silhouette of the Berlin TV Tower against a twilight sky, a gradient from gray to yellow, a lamp post with yellow lights glows in the foreground.

040

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 11/06/2025

The rumors are true, this millennial did indeed once receive a trophy for participating in a sport. I certainly was never good enough to win any races.

A small gold trophy with a figurine of a swimmer on top, mounted on a wooden base. The plaque reads "POWEN SHIAH, LIVONIA Y BLUE RACERS, 1994-95."

010

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 31/05/2025

And don’t forget Juneteenth is coming up…

A child in a red cap is ascending a staircase, skipping all the way to the top. Text on the steps includes phrases related to social issues and movements, from "Making Juneteenth a National Holiday," "Reparations," "Stop Police Violence," "Voting Rights," to “talking about race in schools”

010

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 31/05/2025

Also barely noticed AAPI heritage month this year, my own fault but also maybe everyone dialing back their diversity equity and inclusion programs?!

230

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 25/05/2025

pre:publica a little less lively than in previous years when the weather was better. #rp25

010

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 21/05/2025

Now @pascalstriebel.bsky.social is speaking about commercial rent regulation and support for AHA (Allgemeine Homosexuelle Arbeitsgemeinschaft), one of the oldest if not oldest queer organizations in Berlin. It’s existed for over 50 years and their rent has just been doubled. www.aha-berlin.de 2/

130

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 21/05/2025

and it looks like this year it’ll come true! Come listen to me talk about the potential demographic crisis threatening the #OpenSource communities who maintain the critical software components that form our #DigitalInfrastructure. 3/4

Photo of me (Powen) standing on stage, with my hands up in the air. Overlay of text reads "will the next generation of open source maintainers please stand up?"

230

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 16/05/2025

Liebes @baxhain.bsky.social wann ist die Einbürgerungsfeier für unser Bezirk? Die zentrale Staatsangehörigkeitsbehörde hatte leider nur Informationen von einigen Bezirken (Neukölln, Tempelhof-Schönberg, Lichtenberg, Spandau, Treptow-Köpenick, Steglitz-Zehlendorf, Reinickendorf, Mitte)

Durchsichtige Kasten an einer Wand, in dem Zetteln von verschiedenen Bezirksämtern Informationen zu Bezirkseinbürgerungsfeiern aushängen.

030

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 14/05/2025

Woke up this morning feeling very "my job is just... email" about yesterday. Let's see if today is any different 🕺

Two screenshots side-by-side of Ken from the Barbie movie with the meme caption "my job is just... email" and "my job is just... checklists"

030

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 09/05/2025

Yes, please stop building highways through city neighborhoods… but I really don't understand how people can take this tired old NIMBY shit seriously. Does Berlin have a housing crisis or not? 1/3

Der Bezirk sieht seine Pläne für eine klimagerechte Entwicklung in der Ortslage Stralau nicht mehr nur durch den geplanten Weiterbau der Stadtautobahn A100 gefährdet, sondern auch durch die Senatspläne für ein Hochhaus mit Wohnungen. Die Befürchtung ist, dass Gewerbe durch Wohnungen verdrängte werden könnte.

110

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 17/04/2025

It’s cold brew season again! 🧊

A dark, cylindrical bottle for making cold brew coffee with a ribbed black lid is positioned on a wooden surface. Natural light is coming from a nearby window, creating a soft reflection on the bottle's surface.

010

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 16/04/2025

I for one welcome our new pink-mustachioed overlords. (For the record I don’t use either freenow or Lyft)

Screenshot of a message from the FRENOW app announcing its acquisition by Lyft and stating that the app will continue to operate with improved ride services.

000

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 08/04/2025

What a time to be running this advertisement in the Berlin subway: “we are generation tariff” #germany #europe

The image features a promotional poster for "Zoll Karriere," showcasing three diverse young individuals against a backdrop of urban buildings and the EU flag. The text emphasizes unity and inclusivity, stating, "What do we have in common? That we make no distinction. We are generation tariff.”

020

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 04/04/2025

Kevin Chen presenting the German edition of his book “Ghost Town” - Geisterdämmerung, at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Berlin. www.goodreads.com/book/show/57... www.kulturkaufhaus.de/en/detail/IS...

Kevin Chen is speaking into a microphone and smiling, while the journalist interviewing him listens attentively. They are dressed in colorful shirts, with a patterned blue shirt on the left and a light blue shirt with larger dark blue patterns

A person is holding the book "Ghost Town" by Kevin Chen, featuring an illustrated cover with abstract trees and a figure in blue. The book is published by Europa Editions and mentions that the author is a winner of the Taiwan Literature Award.

A group of people are seated in rows, listening to speakers. Two individuals including Kevin Chen are seated, the head of the Taipei representative office is gesturing while speaking. The backdrop features a scenic image of Yushan National Park in Taiwan.

A discussion event featuring two speakers on stage, one holding a microphone, in front of an audience. The background displays an image related to Yushan National Park, Taiwan, and a projected graphic of book covers with portraits of two individuals.

020

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 01/04/2025

They forgot one thing when they designed this “found your startup in Brandenburg” subway ad: #fckafd

A colorful advertisement in a Berlin subway station promoting entrepreneurship in Brandenburg, Germany. It features a smiling young man wearing a cap and slogans like "Software! Startup! Visibility!" and "Lauter! Gute Gründe." The phrase "Nazis!" is added to the slogans.

020

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 29/03/2025

Next panel: “We build the future – software infrastructure and invisible bridges” with Karolin Varner (rosenpass), Adam Burns (sig0namectl) & Holger Levsen (Reproducible Builds) #8JahrePrototypeFund

120

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 29/03/2025

Just made it to “Eight years” event for Prototype Fund at Festsaal Kreuzberg and just learned they once had the dubious honor of being on Fox News (Tucker Carlson discovered a project tracking hate speech). #8JahrePrototypeFund

A stage presentation at an event featuring two speakers. Two are speaking into a microphone, while a third person is translating into German sign language. A large screen in the background displays text in German about diversity and open source. There are audience members visible

A banner displays the message "I <3 FREE & OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE" in colorful text. It is positioned in front of a gathering area, with a person walking in the background. There are wooden crates and a tent visible nearby.

310

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 28/03/2025

#MonkiGras where @reconditerose.bsky.social is speaking about how to build a sustainable community around a fork, going from Redis to Valkey. Also, celebratory Valkey birthday cupcakes!

Madelyn Olson on stage at Monki Gras in front of a screenshot of her removal from Redis maintainer ship in the wake of Redis relicensing.

A chocolate cupcake with blue frosting and a Valkey symbol on top of it

021

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 28/03/2025

Lucas Käldström @luxas.dev and Alex Zenla spoke about their journeys working in tech and open source as teenagers through today (they’re both just in their 20s!). Thanks to Redmonk for convening this gathering, and looking forward to today — including giving my talk at 11am.

000

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 28/03/2025

A quick look back on yesterday, my first #MonkiGras: A great slate of mind-expanding talks, from @geekygirldawn.bsky.social’s feudalism analogy and power analysis of rug-pulling and forks to Michael Coté’s attempts to play Dungeons and Dragons with GenAI.

A crowded event space with people mingling, some holding drinks and food. The walls feature large windows and an orange sign that reads "Sustaining Craft." The atmosphere appears lively and engaging, with participants networking and interacting.

Dawn Foster (with purple hair) on staging presenting a slide with "Open Source Power Dynamics" at a conference, discussing roles such as large cloud providers and users. The slide includes logos from Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, and other organizations.

A digital display features the title "What the goblins can teach us about AI" alongside an image of a colorful goblin character. The text includes a subtitle referencing lessons from playing D&D with GenAI.

182

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 22/03/2025

Trees in bloom on this spring Saturday in London. #bloomscrolling #uk #london

A close-up view of a flowering tree, featuring delicate pink blossoms clustered among branches against a light blue sky.

blossoming branches with delicate pink and white flowers are in focus, set against a blurred background of a street scene with an overcast sky and greenery in the distance.

040

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 17/03/2025

Tickled to see the @travisbaldree.bsky.social’s “Legends & Lattes” and “Bookshops & Bonedust” in the original as well as translated into German in my local store. I think the German versions of the titles are nice too! Magie & Milchschaum (Magic & Milkfoam) Bücher & Barbaren (Books & Barbarians)

030

Powen Shiah @powen.net · 14/03/2025

In German, there's "Frühjahrsmüdigkeit" (springtime lethargy, I guess?) but this email from the grocery store Lidl informs me there is also… "Frühlingshits" which my brain, of course, parsed as springtime defecation 🌸💩

Lidl lohnt sich
Frühlingshits für zuhause & unterwegs
Frische Ideen und saisonale Schnäppchen warten auf dich ...

040