James Andrew Smith
@drsmith.bsky.social
Engineering professor at York University
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
Bruce Springsteen: “ICE should get the fuck out of Minneapolis.”
January 19, 2026 at 1:40 AM
Bruce Springsteen: “ICE should get the fuck out of Minneapolis.”
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
Despite US politics being a total clusterfuck, this is an incredible development. It will be the first time anyone under the age 54 will have been alive to see a Lunar mission. Part of the spacecraft was also built by the European Space Agency. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Artemis II: Nasa's mega Moon rocket arrives at launch pad
Final preparations now get underway for the first crewed mission to the Moon in more than 50 years.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 18, 2026 at 10:20 AM
Despite US politics being a total clusterfuck, this is an incredible development. It will be the first time anyone under the age 54 will have been alive to see a Lunar mission. Part of the spacecraft was also built by the European Space Agency. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
Measles is INCREDIBLY infectious, and can severaly hurt or kill those it infects, especially kids. The more people who have it, the more likely children will be seriously injured or die because of it. Check with your doctor and get vaccinated!
To put 200 active measles infections in one state in context, the Disneyland measles outbreak a decade ago - which I did some work on in grad school - was 131 total cases in California. That was a notable outbreak. That's an outbreak with its own Wikipedia page. And it's just like this now
'Staring over the edge': South Carolina measles outbreak doubles in a week www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
January 18, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Measles is INCREDIBLY infectious, and can severaly hurt or kill those it infects, especially kids. The more people who have it, the more likely children will be seriously injured or die because of it. Check with your doctor and get vaccinated!
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
9/
Finally this -
"...Gina says it was the fire alarm triggering, which made people react - almost as if they had to be told to leave."
🚨 #PublicHealth is that 🚒 fire alarm that still isn't ringing.
How often have you heard, "If COVID really was a problem, public health would warn us"?
Quite.
Finally this -
"...Gina says it was the fire alarm triggering, which made people react - almost as if they had to be told to leave."
🚨 #PublicHealth is that 🚒 fire alarm that still isn't ringing.
How often have you heard, "If COVID really was a problem, public health would warn us"?
Quite.
January 18, 2026 at 6:08 PM
9/
Finally this -
"...Gina says it was the fire alarm triggering, which made people react - almost as if they had to be told to leave."
🚨 #PublicHealth is that 🚒 fire alarm that still isn't ringing.
How often have you heard, "If COVID really was a problem, public health would warn us"?
Quite.
Finally this -
"...Gina says it was the fire alarm triggering, which made people react - almost as if they had to be told to leave."
🚨 #PublicHealth is that 🚒 fire alarm that still isn't ringing.
How often have you heard, "If COVID really was a problem, public health would warn us"?
Quite.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
Huge accessibility upgrade for NYC. This is disability justice in action, and as always, when we improve accessibility for disabled people, it makes life better for everyone.
More public restrooms across our city?
Relief for all New Yorkers.
Relief for all New Yorkers.
January 18, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Huge accessibility upgrade for NYC. This is disability justice in action, and as always, when we improve accessibility for disabled people, it makes life better for everyone.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
Risks of using AI in education outweigh any benefits
www.npr.org/2026/01/14/n...
www.npr.org/2026/01/14/n...
The risks of AI in schools outweigh the benefits, report says
A new report warns that AI poses a serious threat to children's cognitive development and emotional well-being.
www.npr.org
January 18, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Risks of using AI in education outweigh any benefits
www.npr.org/2026/01/14/n...
www.npr.org/2026/01/14/n...
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
"As members of NATO, we are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest."
"We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland."
"Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral."
"We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland."
"Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral."
Statement by Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom
www.bundesregierung.de
January 18, 2026 at 5:21 PM
"As members of NATO, we are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest."
"We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland."
"Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral."
"We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland."
"Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral."
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
If we don't make it dangerous to be a Nazi, they'll make it dangerous not to be.
January 18, 2026 at 5:17 PM
If we don't make it dangerous to be a Nazi, they'll make it dangerous not to be.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
They all casually use the language of abusers.
WELKER: Is military action on the table?
BESSENT: I believe the Europeans will understand that the best outcome is for the US to receive control of Greenland
BESSENT: I believe the Europeans will understand that the best outcome is for the US to receive control of Greenland
January 18, 2026 at 5:14 PM
They all casually use the language of abusers.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
Córy Doctorow with another verbal bullseye: pluralistic.net/2026/01/13/n...
January 18, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Córy Doctorow with another verbal bullseye: pluralistic.net/2026/01/13/n...
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
I can't believe Carney fans are rationalizing even this. They really and truly have no principles left.
Canada must not do this. It is a mockery of international political governance, legitimizing the idea that Trump can simply push aside other countries' sovereignty.
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
Carney mulling $1B membership to Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’
The Canadian PM said the POTUS invite came "a few weeks ago."
www.politico.com
January 18, 2026 at 5:39 PM
I can't believe Carney fans are rationalizing even this. They really and truly have no principles left.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
We now have a full-blown European-American crisis, and for no reason that the president is able to articulate
January 18, 2026 at 2:08 PM
We now have a full-blown European-American crisis, and for no reason that the president is able to articulate
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
January 18, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom release a joint statement:
January 18, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom release a joint statement:
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
I’m just glad the US military is finally focused on the real threats - Minnesota and Denmark.
January 18, 2026 at 2:57 PM
I’m just glad the US military is finally focused on the real threats - Minnesota and Denmark.
Remember when the Nazi sympathizers told us it was wrong to punch Nazis?
January 18, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Remember when the Nazi sympathizers told us it was wrong to punch Nazis?
If the “improve ventilation” and “wear respirators” messaging comes from Forbes will executives finally listen?
January 18, 2026 at 1:55 PM
If the “improve ventilation” and “wear respirators” messaging comes from Forbes will executives finally listen?
Any time a university says that it has to outsource its IT we need to ask why, how and to which company/country?
Especially when we are also being told to cut programs and personnel at the university.
Especially when we are also being told to cut programs and personnel at the university.
Big picture: that US law supersedes Canadian law when it comes to US-sourced software provided by Canadian orgs (here, universities) puts the lie to the Carney government‘s claim that US tech companies can unproblematically be part of any Canadian sovereign cloud initiative.
Trump’s trade policy has digitally invaded Canadian universities. Here’s how, and why you should worry
By outsourcing IT to a U.S. company, writes Jim Stanford, students at more than 100 Canadian schools, including the U of T, are at the whim of Trump's U.S. trade
www.thestar.com
January 18, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Any time a university says that it has to outsource its IT we need to ask why, how and to which company/country?
Especially when we are also being told to cut programs and personnel at the university.
Especially when we are also being told to cut programs and personnel at the university.
Epstein Epstein Epstein.
About 1,500 paratroopers from the 11th Airborne Division in Alaska were placed on alert for potential deployment to Minnesota, following President Trump's request for active-duty options to address unrest, though no final decision has been announced.
January 18, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Epstein Epstein Epstein.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
Minnesota should get the Nobel peace prize.
People in Minnesota are now using their key fobs to trigger their car alarms from the safety of their homes when they see ICE walking around.
January 18, 2026 at 6:35 AM
Minnesota should get the Nobel peace prize.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
This.
We should stop referring to what ICE agents wear as “masks,” as it feeds into stigmatization and actual legislation to ban face-masks, including respirators. ICE agents technically do not wear masks; they wear neck gaiters. However we should refer to them as what they actually are: hoods
January 18, 2026 at 6:56 AM
This.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
People could wear respirators and stop this. Influenza doesn't magically appear in your body because it's cold outside. Someone who is infected breathes it out, and you breathe it in. IT'S AIRBORNE like cigarette smoke. Washing your hands won't stop it unless you breathe through your damn hands.
⚠️ BREAKING:
Mutant H3N2 Influenza Surges in the U.S., Driving 18 Million Illnesses, 230,000 Hospitalizations, and 9,300 Deaths
At least 15 children died of flu last week; this season’s total is 32.
Mutant H3N2 Influenza Surges in the U.S., Driving 18 Million Illnesses, 230,000 Hospitalizations, and 9,300 Deaths
At least 15 children died of flu last week; this season’s total is 32.
January 18, 2026 at 9:29 AM
People could wear respirators and stop this. Influenza doesn't magically appear in your body because it's cold outside. Someone who is infected breathes it out, and you breathe it in. IT'S AIRBORNE like cigarette smoke. Washing your hands won't stop it unless you breathe through your damn hands.
Reposted by James Andrew Smith
For all those involved in drafting so-called AI guidelines, but being overwhelmed with nonsense, this is a lifesaver. Great work by Dagmar and Ariel!
Resisting Enchantment and Determinism: How to critically engage with AI university guidelines. doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
Resisting Enchantment and Determinism: How to critically engage with AI university guidelines. doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
January 18, 2026 at 6:47 AM
For all those involved in drafting so-called AI guidelines, but being overwhelmed with nonsense, this is a lifesaver. Great work by Dagmar and Ariel!
Resisting Enchantment and Determinism: How to critically engage with AI university guidelines. doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
Resisting Enchantment and Determinism: How to critically engage with AI university guidelines. doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
It won’t stop with Greenland. So he needs to be stopped.
January 18, 2026 at 12:59 PM
It won’t stop with Greenland. So he needs to be stopped.
Nazis raus!
(Glad to hear that my kids are being exposed to anti-Nazi content like this at school)
youtu.be/KYG7-d_Q9zU?...
(Glad to hear that my kids are being exposed to anti-Nazi content like this at school)
youtu.be/KYG7-d_Q9zU?...
Chumbawamba - The day the nazi died (live)
YouTube video by Giorgos Dimitropoulos
youtu.be
January 18, 2026 at 12:57 PM
Nazis raus!
(Glad to hear that my kids are being exposed to anti-Nazi content like this at school)
youtu.be/KYG7-d_Q9zU?...
(Glad to hear that my kids are being exposed to anti-Nazi content like this at school)
youtu.be/KYG7-d_Q9zU?...