iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 04/10/2026

Our ancient wisdom traditions have good reason for asking us to cultivate more compassion for present suffering, not less. If your ethical theory rejects this, then it's not worth the tokens it cost you.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 04/10/2026

You can see a moral error that big from orbit. But Musk and his acolytes can't fathom it. Doing so would require learning how to *feel*, and feel for people living *now*.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 04/10/2026

Why does Elon Musk think that empathy is destroying civilization? Because it gets in the way of the harm and dehumanization needed *today* to realize his ideal future.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 04/10/2026

The danger lies in treating empathy as an obstacle to moral reasoning rather than its foundation. Once present suffering becomes something to explain away, almost any cruelty can sound principled, no matter how sci-fi the rationale.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 04/10/2026

Dangerous because extreme longtermism allows, and even encourages, the short-circuiting of basic human sympathies. Most people buying bed nets are acting out of compassion. The people most worried about AI or Dyson spheres... aren’t.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 04/10/2026

Most of us learned about EA from those who said: use data to help others more effectively. So far, so sensible. Some then took that view to More Wrong and more dangerous places.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 04/10/2026

Excellent. And this clarifies what separates the good from the pernicious versions of EA: compassion.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 03/10/2026

The value of this life is clear to her doctors. Why not her executioners?

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 02/10/2026

Characteristically, Britain gives one the permanent worry of being on the wrong side.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 02/10/2026

Still walking on the left after three years in Britain.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 30/09/2026

Nothing reveals the wisdom in Buddhism more than a big move. So much stuff. So much regret. Nothing that makes us as happy as it once did. We see impermanence everywhere. Yet we cling to as much as our bodies/emotions/budgets will bear, and then start the cycle again.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 29/09/2026

The nation of shopkeepers has its problems, but shopping ain't one of them.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 29/09/2026

Americans tend to miss how Britain has basically perfected mass retail. Your typical M&S produce section is just incredible. John Lewis and Waitrose (co-ops!) balance accessibility and quality. Boots is good and reliable AND IN AIRPORTS. You're never more than 20 feet from some Meal Deal. Etc.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 29/09/2026

The café color-matched the dog.

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Reposted by Jason S. Canon

Mary Jo MacDonald @maryjomacdonald.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Today is all about shameless self-promotion because two (!) of my articles have been published 🎉 So excited to share that "Marriage as Slavery: Oroonoko, the Slave Trade, and the Origins of English Feminism" is now out in APSR. It is open access so you can read it here: doi.org/10.1017/S000...

doi.org

Marriage as Slavery: Oroonoko, the Slave Trade, and the Origins of English Feminism | American Political Science Review | Cambridge Core

Marriage as Slavery: Oroonoko, the Slave Trade, and the Origins of English Feminism

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Alan Elrod @aselrod.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

We talk about a lot of things but particularly this piece I wrote earlier this year on dirtbag politics, dirtbags, and dirtbagism www.liberalcurrents.com/the-dirtbags...

liberalcurrents.com

The Dirtbags Won’t Save Us

There is no path out of our present crisis offered by the exaltation of callousness.

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Reposted by Jason S. Canon

Alan Elrod @aselrod.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Really enjoyed this conversation with @aaronrosspowell.com and @uncanonical.net Have a listen!

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Aaron Ross Powell @aaronrosspowell.com · 27/09/2026

I don't think you have an obligation to maintain social ties with someone who makes you miserable, especially if that misery is persistent and, in your considered judgment, they are unlikely to change.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 26/09/2026

(the pope just arrived and proved that he’s the only celebrity bigger than Celine Dion)

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 26/09/2026

SO MANY CATHOLICS AND ALL AT ONCE

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

'Accounts described elephants selecting particular plants when they seemed unwell, and mothers reportedly giving medicinal plant material to their calves. ...the researchers concluded that the elephants use 35 different plant species, and that 25 of those are known locally to have medicinal uses.'

bbc.co.uk

Elephants treat themselves with medicinal plants, witnesses say

African elephants use dozens of different medicinal plants to treat themselves and their families when they are sick, research reveals.

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@nasarmeer.bsky.social @nasarmeer.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

1/ A slightly strange and lovely thing to be able to say, my book The Social Life of Justice is published tomorrow... www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?b...

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 24/09/2026

Great concept for a database: the brands that have enshittified and the brands still worth buying. ledger.worseonpurpose.com

ledger.worseonpurpose.com

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 22/09/2026

But then you’d expect the Belgians to get it right.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 22/09/2026

Some seriously good 0.0% beer. Best I’ve had by some distance.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 22/09/2026

Looking forward to reading this.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 19/09/2026

This will never stop being weird.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 17/09/2026

The scaffolds are an improvement.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 16/09/2026

this random swiss design shop gets it

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 16/09/2026

Ted‘s book helped launch the field of practice studies. What a thrill to discuss its legacy with him.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 11/09/2026

(Much of this also depends on when you visit. Paris was a parking lot in the 80s. Today, it’s one of the leading cities for better urbanism.)

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 11/09/2026

Was just saying that most Americans are disappointed in the reality of Paris. Turns out that they’re not the only ones! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_s...

en.wikipedia.org

Paris syndrome - Wikipedia

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 01/09/2026

Much obliged! Couldn’t find it for the life of me.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 01/09/2026

Did I miss the PDF of the APSA schedule?

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 31/08/2026

JetBlue blocks qualia during announcements.

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Brian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

‘Wakefield Rooves’, 1965, photo by John Bulmer.

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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

God I love this country. We're just so ridiculous.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 17/06/2026

Ah, Glasgow — the Philadelphia of Britain.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 16/06/2026

Sharing here for those who might want to do the same!

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 16/06/2026

If your shoe has enough space, you can keep the full length of the insole, or you can cut it down to 3/4 length for tighter fits. My chukkas now fit like the most comfortable sneaker, and I can *finally* wear whatever I want. Can't believe that it took me 20 years to try.

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Jason S. Canon @uncanonical.net · 16/06/2026

Very easy. All it takes is some 2mm EVA foam (get the higher density stuff) and some super thin 2mm insoles. Figure out how much support you need and where; use gaffer's tape to secure the foam to the shoe; then slip in the insole on top.

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