Devan Marr
@devanmarr.bsky.social
Bike Rider. Mediocre Beer Brewer. Research Lawyer at LawPRO. JDHD. He/Him.
It’s never legal advice. It’s rarely good advice.
Toronto, ON
It’s never legal advice. It’s rarely good advice.
Toronto, ON
Pinned
Devan Marr
@devanmarr.bsky.social
· Nov 8
Hello sudden influx of lawyers starting to follow me! Better get back to posting about law stuff…
Starting w/ Devan’s Rules of Professionalism:
1. Be competent
2. Don’t be incompetent
3. Don’t be a dick*
*taking a firm, principled, position based on facts or law is not (necessarily) being a dick.
Starting w/ Devan’s Rules of Professionalism:
1. Be competent
2. Don’t be incompetent
3. Don’t be a dick*
*taking a firm, principled, position based on facts or law is not (necessarily) being a dick.
Fun fact, when we used to go out for drinks at my old firm, we would occasionally tell people we were in the hot air balloon business instead of a bunch of lawyers. Who knew our business would have been contrary to the by-laws!?
Good news, balloonists. The City of Toronto is proposing an amendment to the parks bylaw that’ll remove specific restrictions on flying hot air balloons in parks. The city says the balloons are "outdated technology” but that sounds like a challenge to me. secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
November 25, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Fun fact, when we used to go out for drinks at my old firm, we would occasionally tell people we were in the hot air balloon business instead of a bunch of lawyers. Who knew our business would have been contrary to the by-laws!?
It's WILD that this is the first and last lines of a legal brief by Thomson Reuters:
November 24, 2025 at 5:06 PM
It's WILD that this is the first and last lines of a legal brief by Thomson Reuters:
It’s me, I’m the Canadian researcher, apparently.
"Instead of prioritizing faster travel or longer distances, the study says cities should concentrate on lower-energy mobility options, such as high-quality public transport, cycling infrastructure and compact, walkable neighbourhoods." www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/art...
Canadian researchers uncover what they think is the real driver of transport demand
A new global study suggests that people everywhere, regardless of country or wealth, spend almost the same amount of time travelling each day — about 78 minutes.
www.ctvnews.ca
November 24, 2025 at 1:34 PM
It’s me, I’m the Canadian researcher, apparently.
Glad to see such a big turn out! Sad I couldn't make it because I was out of the country but looks like others picked up the slack!
Some more footage of the ride over to Queen’s Park:
Loved seeing everybody pass by the “You save this bike lane” banners by @cycletoronto.bsky.social
Loved seeing everybody pass by the “You save this bike lane” banners by @cycletoronto.bsky.social
November 23, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Glad to see such a big turn out! Sad I couldn't make it because I was out of the country but looks like others picked up the slack!
Toronto, I’m coming home today. All I want for Christmas is a fraction of the Christmas markets I’ve attended in Vienna.
November 22, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Toronto, I’m coming home today. All I want for Christmas is a fraction of the Christmas markets I’ve attended in Vienna.
So, the Vienna Furniture Museum is BITCHIN’
November 21, 2025 at 1:59 PM
So, the Vienna Furniture Museum is BITCHIN’
Thats the fundamental problem with AI, it IS popular and (perceived) as easy to use.
If it was the Segway 2.0 (remember how that was going to change the EVERYTHING) I’d be less concerned!
If it was the Segway 2.0 (remember how that was going to change the EVERYTHING) I’d be less concerned!
There’s a very surreal conversation I keep having on here where people seem unable to hold two ideas at the same time, and I’m not sure why. It’s simply true that the Big AI platforms like ChatGPT are:
1. Extremely bad for society, in many ways.
2. Very genuinely popular with lots of people.
1. Extremely bad for society, in many ways.
2. Very genuinely popular with lots of people.
November 20, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Thats the fundamental problem with AI, it IS popular and (perceived) as easy to use.
If it was the Segway 2.0 (remember how that was going to change the EVERYTHING) I’d be less concerned!
If it was the Segway 2.0 (remember how that was going to change the EVERYTHING) I’d be less concerned!
Again, the Archives bringing the type of energy I crave in this current hellscape.
We're followed by some very talented people who really aught to be capturing the fragile beauty of the world instead of our Community Engagement Officer on his commute.
Thanks for the inspiration.
November 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Again, the Archives bringing the type of energy I crave in this current hellscape.
I am 100% convinced that the death of the headphone jack is the direct cause of the scourge of people playing stuff on speaker phone in public.
November 18, 2025 at 7:14 PM
I am 100% convinced that the death of the headphone jack is the direct cause of the scourge of people playing stuff on speaker phone in public.
Oh Vienna, it’s good to be back. You’ve re-won me over with your cycling infrastructure, prevalent #cargobike usage, and cheese sausages in a bun.
November 18, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Oh Vienna, it’s good to be back. You’ve re-won me over with your cycling infrastructure, prevalent #cargobike usage, and cheese sausages in a bun.
What happens first? My flight takes off or the budget vote? It’s gonna be close! (Plane was supposed to take off at 6:30). It’s an 8 hour flight! Such suspense.
November 17, 2025 at 11:52 PM
What happens first? My flight takes off or the budget vote? It’s gonna be close! (Plane was supposed to take off at 6:30). It’s an 8 hour flight! Such suspense.
Welcome to @thewaroncars.bsky.social CBC: www.cbc.ca/news/climate...
Also, average cost of owning a car is $12-16k annually, and people say my eBullitt was expensive!
Also, average cost of owning a car is $12-16k annually, and people say my eBullitt was expensive!
Why some Canadians love living without a car | CBC Climate Change News
In this issue of our environmental newsletter, we share the experiences of people across Canada who don't own a car; track China's progress on cutting emissions; and check out an efficient way to remo...
www.cbc.ca
November 14, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Welcome to @thewaroncars.bsky.social CBC: www.cbc.ca/news/climate...
Also, average cost of owning a car is $12-16k annually, and people say my eBullitt was expensive!
Also, average cost of owning a car is $12-16k annually, and people say my eBullitt was expensive!
Devan's Hot Takes & Cakes Store. You pay me $5 for a mini cheesecake, and an off the cuff take on a current issue.
Good morning to everyone who seen zany things that have very little value sold in retail stores.
Councillor Holyday worries about retail stores that "sell some zany thing that has very little value." He wants to know if council could define a list of what stores can sell.
Staff say they can regulate things like size, noise and property standards, but generally not what stores sell.
Staff say they can regulate things like size, noise and property standards, but generally not what stores sell.
November 14, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Devan's Hot Takes & Cakes Store. You pay me $5 for a mini cheesecake, and an off the cuff take on a current issue.
What if we took Black Mirror: San Junipero and made it bleak as hell?
November 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM
What if we took Black Mirror: San Junipero and made it bleak as hell?
Reposted by Devan Marr
Note that the proposed buildings along Marlee will have a small proportion of cars per unit. What would have been even better is if Colle had supported building the planned and approved bike lanes along Marlee to give people in the neighbourhood better and safer active transportation options.
Councillor Mike Colle laments the traffic at the Eglinton & Allen intersection, but says there's no quick fix.
"And you know what's going to exasperate it even more? The lunatic provincial government is going to allow 30 towers of condominiums along the Allen Road!"
"And you know what's going to exasperate it even more? The lunatic provincial government is going to allow 30 towers of condominiums along the Allen Road!"
November 13, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Note that the proposed buildings along Marlee will have a small proportion of cars per unit. What would have been even better is if Colle had supported building the planned and approved bike lanes along Marlee to give people in the neighbourhood better and safer active transportation options.
Another day, another rally. Protesting Bill 60, which will removes tenant rights, prevents traffic safety improvements, and generally thinks the Province knows
better than your local elected officials. Thanks to @cycletoronto.bsky.social, @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social and the folks who showed up.
better than your local elected officials. Thanks to @cycletoronto.bsky.social, @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social and the folks who showed up.
November 13, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Another day, another rally. Protesting Bill 60, which will removes tenant rights, prevents traffic safety improvements, and generally thinks the Province knows
better than your local elected officials. Thanks to @cycletoronto.bsky.social, @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social and the folks who showed up.
better than your local elected officials. Thanks to @cycletoronto.bsky.social, @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social and the folks who showed up.
Reposted by Devan Marr
Fantastic new member motion from Councillors Bravo & Saxe opposing the province's attempt to undermine municipality authority over its roads (including banning bike lanes) in Bill 60!
Yes, you can comment!
secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Yes, you can comment!
secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
November 12, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Fantastic new member motion from Councillors Bravo & Saxe opposing the province's attempt to undermine municipality authority over its roads (including banning bike lanes) in Bill 60!
Yes, you can comment!
secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
Yes, you can comment!
secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
So everyone WILL have a job in the AI powered future.
In the future, no one will ever go to prison. You'll simply be followed around all the time by a robot whose job it is to prevent you from doing crimes, which itself will be followed around all the time by two guys whose job it is to make sure the robot doesn't tip over and fall for no reason.
November 11, 2025 at 10:01 PM
So everyone WILL have a job in the AI powered future.
I'll be attending the anti-Bill 60 rally this Thursday at Bloor & Spadina. Hope to see you there.
Thurs we ride against Ford's attack on bike lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian safety, tenants rights & more! Omnibus bills that aim to distract & divide communities w many intersecting interests we need to all fight against!
[https://www.cycleto.ca/bill_60_protest_ride](www.cycleto.ca/bill_60_prot...)
[https://www.cycleto.ca/bill_60_protest_ride](www.cycleto.ca/bill_60_prot...)
November 11, 2025 at 4:57 PM
I'll be attending the anti-Bill 60 rally this Thursday at Bloor & Spadina. Hope to see you there.
Mechanical Turk has entered the chat.
Incredible stuff on LinkedIn. Cofounder of AI notetaker says they told early customers that there's an "AI that'll join a meeting.” But it was really just him and cofounder joining & manually taking notes. No AI. Comments flame him. He posts reply trying to kind of walk it back. Overall: Total bait.
November 11, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Mechanical Turk has entered the chat.
There's something to be said for the language in older case law:
"14 Accordingly, Oliver is a knave in the chronicle to follow."
-Patchett v. Oliver, 1977 CanLII 2154 (BC SC), <https://canlii.ca/t/g9s7g>
"14 Accordingly, Oliver is a knave in the chronicle to follow."
-Patchett v. Oliver, 1977 CanLII 2154 (BC SC), <https://canlii.ca/t/g9s7g>
November 10, 2025 at 4:32 PM
There's something to be said for the language in older case law:
"14 Accordingly, Oliver is a knave in the chronicle to follow."
-Patchett v. Oliver, 1977 CanLII 2154 (BC SC), <https://canlii.ca/t/g9s7g>
"14 Accordingly, Oliver is a knave in the chronicle to follow."
-Patchett v. Oliver, 1977 CanLII 2154 (BC SC), <https://canlii.ca/t/g9s7g>
In a perfect world, I'd have @timbousquet.bsky.social, @bcmerchant.bsky.social and Dr. Maura Grossman on a panel called, "AI and the Law", and just let them talk for 3 hours.
The New York Times gets ‘AI in the newsroom’ completely wrong
Morning File by @timbousquet.bsky.social
Morning File by @timbousquet.bsky.social
The New York Times gets 'AI in the newsroom' completely wrong - Halifax Examiner
The celebration of a non-defined "AI" serves as a promotional tool for a very select group of ultra-rich tech titans who are primarily shilling generative AI tools.
www.halifaxexaminer.ca
November 10, 2025 at 2:41 PM
In a perfect world, I'd have @timbousquet.bsky.social, @bcmerchant.bsky.social and Dr. Maura Grossman on a panel called, "AI and the Law", and just let them talk for 3 hours.
So, on the one hand, fuck these people. On the other hand, can we all laugh at the fact that “Mannerbunds” just sounds like “man buns” and that’s all I can hear in my head?
"At least three attendees wore the uniform of the recently formed Second Sons Canada ... Second Sons Canada is run by Jeremy MacKenzie, the founder of Diagolon, who this year filmed himself making a Hitler salute in a video shared on Telegram"
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
November 10, 2025 at 1:54 PM
So, on the one hand, fuck these people. On the other hand, can we all laugh at the fact that “Mannerbunds” just sounds like “man buns” and that’s all I can hear in my head?
It’s Stampede 2.0, @clareblackwood.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 2:51 PM
It’s Stampede 2.0, @clareblackwood.bsky.social