Michael Druker
@mdruker.app
Cities, justice, bad jokes. Dad. Immigrant 🇨🇦⬅️🇺🇸⬅️Ru. Staff eng on break, advocate at @tritag.ca, bsky tinkerer at @feeds.mdruker.app. he/him. Support 🇺🇦
📍 Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario
New here? My tips: https://bsky.app/profile/mdruker.app/post/3ljofscojis2j
📍 Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario
New here? My tips: https://bsky.app/profile/mdruker.app/post/3ljofscojis2j
Pinned
A short thread to plug my Highline custom feeds and why I built them! 1/7
me: towers are good
them: no, we need nice 4-6 storey, human scale buildings
me: we do! let’s rezone the city so we can get 4-6 storeys everywhere
them: oh no, not like that
them: no, we need nice 4-6 storey, human scale buildings
me: we do! let’s rezone the city so we can get 4-6 storeys everywhere
them: oh no, not like that
November 27, 2025 at 3:56 AM
me: towers are good
them: no, we need nice 4-6 storey, human scale buildings
me: we do! let’s rezone the city so we can get 4-6 storeys everywhere
them: oh no, not like that
them: no, we need nice 4-6 storey, human scale buildings
me: we do! let’s rezone the city so we can get 4-6 storeys everywhere
them: oh no, not like that
Reposted by Michael Druker
Isabella St. A perfectly good apt bldn empty, people displaced & being demolished all because so much of Toronto is off limits & forced here. Aka house neighbourhoods. Such a shame. Such waste. And the shame of every elected official here. Shame of Ford for not pushing reforms. All the same.
November 27, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Isabella St. A perfectly good apt bldn empty, people displaced & being demolished all because so much of Toronto is off limits & forced here. Aka house neighbourhoods. Such a shame. Such waste. And the shame of every elected official here. Shame of Ford for not pushing reforms. All the same.
Reposted by Michael Druker
Is new housing bourgeois?
Quote this with the American Thanksgiving family argument your nemesis would wish on you
November 27, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Is new housing bourgeois?
Reposted by Michael Druker
Should turkeys have been ruled kosher?
Quote this with the American Thanksgiving family argument your nemesis would wish on you
November 27, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Should turkeys have been ruled kosher?
Quote this with the American Thanksgiving family argument your nemesis would wish on you
November 27, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Quote this with the American Thanksgiving family argument your nemesis would wish on you
Is this platform still massively pro-pile-on or has it moved more towards moderation towards harmless posts with arguably bad takes?
November 27, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Is this platform still massively pro-pile-on or has it moved more towards moderation towards harmless posts with arguably bad takes?
Cities can just speed up buses, no one is stopping them
Blasting past rush hour traffic on the completed portion of Dufferin RapidTO (up to Dundas)
November 27, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Cities can just speed up buses, no one is stopping them
This is very weird policy design
Beer Store makes deal to take Ontario grocery stores’ beer and wine empties
Beer Store makes deal to take Ontario grocery stores’ beer and wine empties. ‘There’s no downside’
Independent grocery stores had warned they would stop selling beer and wine as of Jan. 1 if they had to take empties, citing concerns of food safety, logistics, and costs.
www.thestar.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:00 AM
This is very weird policy design
If Canada were a serious country with its act together, we would take them in
DHS has announced the end of temporary immigration protections for Haitians.
The decision, effective Feb. 3, 2026, affects up to more than a half million Haitians. They now face returning to a country plagued by criminal gangs that control all major roads into the capital Port-au-Prince.
The decision, effective Feb. 3, 2026, affects up to more than a half million Haitians. They now face returning to a country plagued by criminal gangs that control all major roads into the capital Port-au-Prince.
Trump says Haiti no longer meets requirements for TPS. Haitians have to leave
The Department of Homeland Security said TPS for Haiti ends Feb. 3, 2026, affecting over half a million people who may face return to gang-controlled Port-au-Prince.
amp.miamiherald.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:48 AM
If Canada were a serious country with its act together, we would take them in
Reposted by Michael Druker
It's helpful to remember that every single thing Trump does is at best a scandal and quite regularly a crime
Now here’s the kind of news you drop going into a long holiday weekend. Maybe no one will notice. 🤡
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
@nytimes.com
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
November 26, 2025 at 9:30 PM
It's helpful to remember that every single thing Trump does is at best a scandal and quite regularly a crime
Reposted by Michael Druker
New: *Looseleaf* publishing — a way to publish standalone Leaflets on AT Protocol! 📝🍃
We started with publications on atproto; now we're bringing it all together so _anything_ you write on Leaflet, incl single documents / posts, can be 'atprotated' :)
Learn more in thread! ⬇️
We started with publications on atproto; now we're bringing it all together so _anything_ you write on Leaflet, incl single documents / posts, can be 'atprotated' :)
Learn more in thread! ⬇️
November 26, 2025 at 8:56 PM
New: *Looseleaf* publishing — a way to publish standalone Leaflets on AT Protocol! 📝🍃
We started with publications on atproto; now we're bringing it all together so _anything_ you write on Leaflet, incl single documents / posts, can be 'atprotated' :)
Learn more in thread! ⬇️
We started with publications on atproto; now we're bringing it all together so _anything_ you write on Leaflet, incl single documents / posts, can be 'atprotated' :)
Learn more in thread! ⬇️
Reposted by Michael Druker
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 18, 2025 at 4:59 PM
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.
Reposted by Michael Druker
In case you missed it: this month there was a de facto attempted terrorist attack in Poland organized by Russian services, where they've set up explosives that damaged a railway track, but fortunately didn't cause any train to be derailed (but easily could have)…
Is Russia’s Hybrid War on Europe Becoming Conventional?
Sławomir Sierakowski explains what the Kremlin is hoping to achieve with its increasingly frequent and dangerous acts of sabotage.
www.project-syndicate.org
November 26, 2025 at 5:05 PM
In case you missed it: this month there was a de facto attempted terrorist attack in Poland organized by Russian services, where they've set up explosives that damaged a railway track, but fortunately didn't cause any train to be derailed (but easily could have)…
Reposted by Michael Druker
[argument at thanksgiving dinner]
wife: *whispering to me* don’t start taking sides this time
me: why not? *sliding roast potatoes in pocket* they're too busy yelling to notice
wife: *whispering to me* don’t start taking sides this time
me: why not? *sliding roast potatoes in pocket* they're too busy yelling to notice
November 26, 2025 at 2:04 PM
[argument at thanksgiving dinner]
wife: *whispering to me* don’t start taking sides this time
me: why not? *sliding roast potatoes in pocket* they're too busy yelling to notice
wife: *whispering to me* don’t start taking sides this time
me: why not? *sliding roast potatoes in pocket* they're too busy yelling to notice
Developing a theory that negative polarization impairs reading comprehension
November 26, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Developing a theory that negative polarization impairs reading comprehension
Critical support to Mr. Outhit for this very funny piece
Developers who spent $15 million to buy land in Waterloo’s downtown now propose twin condo towers at 33 and 37 storeys on the site. Neighbours who live in other tall buildings are pushing back, calling the project too dense, too tall, and too much. www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...
In Waterloo’s downtown, residents in tall towers fight a plan for even taller towers
Disagreements over height, heritage and density have led some neighbours to oppose twin towers that would be the tallest in the city.
www.therecord.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Critical support to Mr. Outhit for this very funny piece
Reposted by Michael Druker
Icy London sunrise
November 26, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Icy London sunrise
“the most provincial of the provinces” is a great burn
It's hard because the people at MoT are just a bunch of dinosaurs who believe that they know better than the rest of the entire planet.
That's peak Ontario mentality of thinking they are the center of the world when they are just the most provincial of the provinces.
That's peak Ontario mentality of thinking they are the center of the world when they are just the most provincial of the provinces.
November 26, 2025 at 4:10 AM
“the most provincial of the provinces” is a great burn
Reposted by Michael Druker
Proposing an off-campus study program in which I take students to the Platonic Realm and we observe the Forms in their natural habitat.
November 25, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Proposing an off-campus study program in which I take students to the Platonic Realm and we observe the Forms in their natural habitat.
One rarely noted difference between Canada and the US — even in places with comparable climates — is people generally put winter tires on their cars here.
(You can even just see at a glance with how many black steel wheels show up as the temperature goes down)
(You can even just see at a glance with how many black steel wheels show up as the temperature goes down)
November 26, 2025 at 2:16 AM
One rarely noted difference between Canada and the US — even in places with comparable climates — is people generally put winter tires on their cars here.
(You can even just see at a glance with how many black steel wheels show up as the temperature goes down)
(You can even just see at a glance with how many black steel wheels show up as the temperature goes down)
Kitchener folks, I’m pretty sure this is actually the city!
(I’m sure their cross-posting will get optimized over time, please be nice to them so they stick around)
(I’m sure their cross-posting will get optimized over time, please be nice to them so they stick around)
Snow is in the forecast! Please remember to keep snow and ice from building up on your gas meter. Gas meters need ventilation, preventing to do so can cause gas buildup to be forced back into the house.
Learn more: bit.ly/2hJa2Tm
#KitchenerUtilities
Learn more: bit.ly/2hJa2Tm
#KitchenerUtilities
November 26, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Kitchener folks, I’m pretty sure this is actually the city!
(I’m sure their cross-posting will get optimized over time, please be nice to them so they stick around)
(I’m sure their cross-posting will get optimized over time, please be nice to them so they stick around)
Being
-a Russian speaker supporting Ukraine’s victory
-a Jew opposed to Israel’s apartheid and genocide of Palestinians
-an American against Trump
-a Canadian engaged in Ontario municipal-level advocacy
-chronically online
…maybe explains why I feel like there is A Bit Too Much of everything
-a Russian speaker supporting Ukraine’s victory
-a Jew opposed to Israel’s apartheid and genocide of Palestinians
-an American against Trump
-a Canadian engaged in Ontario municipal-level advocacy
-chronically online
…maybe explains why I feel like there is A Bit Too Much of everything
November 26, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Being
-a Russian speaker supporting Ukraine’s victory
-a Jew opposed to Israel’s apartheid and genocide of Palestinians
-an American against Trump
-a Canadian engaged in Ontario municipal-level advocacy
-chronically online
…maybe explains why I feel like there is A Bit Too Much of everything
-a Russian speaker supporting Ukraine’s victory
-a Jew opposed to Israel’s apartheid and genocide of Palestinians
-an American against Trump
-a Canadian engaged in Ontario municipal-level advocacy
-chronically online
…maybe explains why I feel like there is A Bit Too Much of everything
Reposted by Michael Druker
Seriously I blame the uncoordinated mess of parties left of the Ontario Conservatives at least as much as Ford and crew. After Ontario Liberals get their new leader (that’s soon, right?), we have to force these parties to work together at least to topple the dynasty and replace the electoral system
Two ways I can think of to channel your despair at the Ford wrecking ball:
-run for municipal office and fight
-push the Ontario Liberals, NDP, and Greens from the inside and out to get over themselves and get their shit together to get these jokers out of government
-run for municipal office and fight
-push the Ontario Liberals, NDP, and Greens from the inside and out to get over themselves and get their shit together to get these jokers out of government
November 26, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Seriously I blame the uncoordinated mess of parties left of the Ontario Conservatives at least as much as Ford and crew. After Ontario Liberals get their new leader (that’s soon, right?), we have to force these parties to work together at least to topple the dynasty and replace the electoral system
This could have mass appeal
They should invent a slice of pizza that you have to peel
November 25, 2025 at 10:52 PM
This could have mass appeal