Ryan Flanagan
@ryanflanagan.bsky.social
Former journalist now working in media relations. Living in Kitchener after a few years away.
Reposted by Ryan Flanagan
My apologies to everyone who has heard this story before.
Back in the 1970s, two things were true about UWaterloo:
* UW never, ever closed.
* Many faculty members owned farms.
Cue the Great Storm of 1978.
Back in the 1970s, two things were true about UWaterloo:
* UW never, ever closed.
* Many faculty members owned farms.
Cue the Great Storm of 1978.
January 26, 2026 at 2:49 PM
My apologies to everyone who has heard this story before.
Back in the 1970s, two things were true about UWaterloo:
* UW never, ever closed.
* Many faculty members owned farms.
Cue the Great Storm of 1978.
Back in the 1970s, two things were true about UWaterloo:
* UW never, ever closed.
* Many faculty members owned farms.
Cue the Great Storm of 1978.
This was one of the most surprising (to me) lessons I learned when I moved from newspapers to digital news.
Nobody clicks on the clever headline. Our eyes scan right past it to the headline that makes it more obvious what's on the other side.
Nobody clicks on the clever headline. Our eyes scan right past it to the headline that makes it more obvious what's on the other side.
The other thing modern headline writers are sometimes warned about is using puns or idioms. It’s another holdover from newspaper days that has faded a bit online. Puns, in my opinion, can be fun, but for some reason, they don’t do well in the digital world.
January 1, 2026 at 1:12 AM
This was one of the most surprising (to me) lessons I learned when I moved from newspapers to digital news.
Nobody clicks on the clever headline. Our eyes scan right past it to the headline that makes it more obvious what's on the other side.
Nobody clicks on the clever headline. Our eyes scan right past it to the headline that makes it more obvious what's on the other side.
Happy 255th birthday to Ludwig van Beethoven! Or as everyone who grew up in Canada in the ‘90s knows him, that guy who wrote the ‘Drink Milk, Love Life’ song.
Milk Energy Commercial 1997
YouTube video by Betamax King
www.youtube.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Happy 255th birthday to Ludwig van Beethoven! Or as everyone who grew up in Canada in the ‘90s knows him, that guy who wrote the ‘Drink Milk, Love Life’ song.
Reposted by Ryan Flanagan
We've got so many great grassroots orgs and non-profits in #WatReg and I need your help to highlight them! For an upcoming Citified post, I'm wanting to share short blurbs (3-5 sentences) about your favourite local organization or non-profit. Feel free to share it on this thread or DM me. Thanks!
December 5, 2025 at 9:25 PM
We've got so many great grassroots orgs and non-profits in #WatReg and I need your help to highlight them! For an upcoming Citified post, I'm wanting to share short blurbs (3-5 sentences) about your favourite local organization or non-profit. Feel free to share it on this thread or DM me. Thanks!
Too soon, MLB bot!
A Game 7 we will never forget.
One month ago today, Yoshinobu Yamamoto records the final 8 outs as the @Dodgers secure back-to-back World Series titles! 💍
One month ago today, Yoshinobu Yamamoto records the final 8 outs as the @Dodgers secure back-to-back World Series titles! 💍
December 1, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Too soon, MLB bot!
Reposted by Ryan Flanagan
This is an absolute *must read* by @nickhunebrown.bsky.social on the impact of AI slop in an era where journalism trust is already depressingly low, and why fact-checkers are more important than ever. As a freelancer who agonizes over accuracy and getting quotes right, this was a mind boggling read.
A few months ago @thelocal.to got a promising pitch from a writer with bylines in whole bunch of reputable publications—The Cut, The Guardian, Dwell, Architectural Digest, etc. Then I started investigating. Here's a story about fabulists in journalism's AI slop era. thelocal.to/investigatin...
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 19, 2025 at 9:59 PM
This is an absolute *must read* by @nickhunebrown.bsky.social on the impact of AI slop in an era where journalism trust is already depressingly low, and why fact-checkers are more important than ever. As a freelancer who agonizes over accuracy and getting quotes right, this was a mind boggling read.
It's Christmas for #cdnpoli data nerds!
Who wants a very detailed poll-by-poll map of the last election you can go scour?
Kyle Hutton put in the leg work and you can check it here! -> app.atlas.co/shared/uhOeG...
Kyle Hutton put in the leg work and you can check it here! -> app.atlas.co/shared/uhOeG...
November 7, 2025 at 8:05 PM
It's Christmas for #cdnpoli data nerds!
Other Queen songs the #BlueJays could have used as #WantItAll -style anthems, in descending order of appropriateness:
Play the Game
Don't Stop Me Now
The Show Must Go On
Keep Yourself Alive
Another One Bites the Dust
Hang On In There
The Millionaire Waltz
Lost Opportunity
I'm In Love With My Car
Play the Game
Don't Stop Me Now
The Show Must Go On
Keep Yourself Alive
Another One Bites the Dust
Hang On In There
The Millionaire Waltz
Lost Opportunity
I'm In Love With My Car
October 25, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Other Queen songs the #BlueJays could have used as #WantItAll -style anthems, in descending order of appropriateness:
Play the Game
Don't Stop Me Now
The Show Must Go On
Keep Yourself Alive
Another One Bites the Dust
Hang On In There
The Millionaire Waltz
Lost Opportunity
I'm In Love With My Car
Play the Game
Don't Stop Me Now
The Show Must Go On
Keep Yourself Alive
Another One Bites the Dust
Hang On In There
The Millionaire Waltz
Lost Opportunity
I'm In Love With My Car
I’ve been a huge Blue Jays fan for as long as I can remember (since 1994, just after the last World Series).
I’ve seen good years and bad years. Good decisions and bad decisions. Amazing moments and ho-hum Tuesday nights. Stars demanding to be traded. Fans demanding that other stars be traded.
I’ve seen good years and bad years. Good decisions and bad decisions. Amazing moments and ho-hum Tuesday nights. Stars demanding to be traded. Fans demanding that other stars be traded.
October 24, 2025 at 11:49 AM
I’ve been a huge Blue Jays fan for as long as I can remember (since 1994, just after the last World Series).
I’ve seen good years and bad years. Good decisions and bad decisions. Amazing moments and ho-hum Tuesday nights. Stars demanding to be traded. Fans demanding that other stars be traded.
I’ve seen good years and bad years. Good decisions and bad decisions. Amazing moments and ho-hum Tuesday nights. Stars demanding to be traded. Fans demanding that other stars be traded.
Reposted by Ryan Flanagan
As Canadian as possible under the circumstances
At Yonge & Dundas Jays fans are obeying the pedestrian scramble, as is the custom & returning to sidewalk each light cycle.
October 21, 2025 at 1:25 PM
As Canadian as possible under the circumstances
This is basically catnip for me.
Here's a recording of the pilot of C-GZPT, a Cirrus SR22, tracing the Jays logo over Nova Scotia
October 14, 2025 at 11:18 PM
This is basically catnip for me.
I’ve explained how Kitchener and Waterloo acquired their names, but what about Cambridge?
You might know that it only dates back 52 years, but you might not realize that it contains a nod to local history or that, like Kitchener, it was selected by a vote of its citizens…
You might know that it only dates back 52 years, but you might not realize that it contains a nod to local history or that, like Kitchener, it was selected by a vote of its citizens…
September 24, 2025 at 12:27 PM
I’ve explained how Kitchener and Waterloo acquired their names, but what about Cambridge?
You might know that it only dates back 52 years, but you might not realize that it contains a nod to local history or that, like Kitchener, it was selected by a vote of its citizens…
You might know that it only dates back 52 years, but you might not realize that it contains a nod to local history or that, like Kitchener, it was selected by a vote of its citizens…
The story of how Waterloo, Ont. got its name has some similarities to Kitchener’s. Both cities owe their names to war developments that were top-of-mind at the time of the renamings.
While Kitchener’s name came from a general, Waterloo’s is a tribute to a famous battle.
While Kitchener’s name came from a general, Waterloo’s is a tribute to a famous battle.
On this day in 1916, Berlin, Ont. officially changed its name to Kitchener.
Although nearly 20,000 people lived in the city at the time, only 346 of them had voted in favour of the change.
So how did that happen? Read on…
Although nearly 20,000 people lived in the city at the time, only 346 of them had voted in favour of the change.
So how did that happen? Read on…
September 15, 2025 at 7:54 PM
The story of how Waterloo, Ont. got its name has some similarities to Kitchener’s. Both cities owe their names to war developments that were top-of-mind at the time of the renamings.
While Kitchener’s name came from a general, Waterloo’s is a tribute to a famous battle.
While Kitchener’s name came from a general, Waterloo’s is a tribute to a famous battle.
Reposted by Ryan Flanagan
Just found this, a way to search Google without ads. The results are so calming, how search used to be. Nostalgia for the earlier era of the internet hitting hard right now
www.no-ads.tech?source=omglo...
www.no-ads.tech?source=omglo...
Ad-Free Search - Clean Google Search Without Ads
Experience pure Google search results without advertisements or AI overview. Fast, clean, and focused search experience.
www.no-ads.tech
September 9, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Just found this, a way to search Google without ads. The results are so calming, how search used to be. Nostalgia for the earlier era of the internet hitting hard right now
www.no-ads.tech?source=omglo...
www.no-ads.tech?source=omglo...
On this day in 1916, Berlin, Ont. officially changed its name to Kitchener.
Although nearly 20,000 people lived in the city at the time, only 346 of them had voted in favour of the change.
So how did that happen? Read on…
Although nearly 20,000 people lived in the city at the time, only 346 of them had voted in favour of the change.
So how did that happen? Read on…
September 1, 2025 at 6:58 PM
On this day in 1916, Berlin, Ont. officially changed its name to Kitchener.
Although nearly 20,000 people lived in the city at the time, only 346 of them had voted in favour of the change.
So how did that happen? Read on…
Although nearly 20,000 people lived in the city at the time, only 346 of them had voted in favour of the change.
So how did that happen? Read on…
Really looking forward to listening to this.
For fans of tennis: My Sports Media Podcast guests tomorrow are Catherine Whitaker, David Law and Matt Roberts, the hosts of the @tennispodcast.bsky.social, recently named by Time Magazine as one The 100 Best Podcasts of All Time
To subscribe/listen:
link.chtbl.com/SportsMediaP...
To subscribe/listen:
link.chtbl.com/SportsMediaP...
Sports Media with Richard Deitsch
The Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch is a weekly show that features interviews with members of the sports media about their work, as well as roundtables with sports media reporters about tele...
link.chtbl.com
August 19, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Really looking forward to listening to this.
"We've lined up a fabulous type of tiny robots that thrives on kidney stones."
"But then we're stuck with tiny robots!"
"No, that's the beautiful part. When wintertime rolls around, the tiny robots simply freeze to death."
"But then we're stuck with tiny robots!"
"No, that's the beautiful part. When wintertime rolls around, the tiny robots simply freeze to death."
How University of Waterloo researchers are attacking kidney stones with a tiny robot army
www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/ar...
www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/ar...
How University of Waterloo researchers are attacking kidney stones with a tiny robot army
www.ctvnews.ca
August 14, 2025 at 11:01 PM
"We've lined up a fabulous type of tiny robots that thrives on kidney stones."
"But then we're stuck with tiny robots!"
"No, that's the beautiful part. When wintertime rolls around, the tiny robots simply freeze to death."
"But then we're stuck with tiny robots!"
"No, that's the beautiful part. When wintertime rolls around, the tiny robots simply freeze to death."
Six weeks ago I saw Victoria Mboko play a Wimbledon qualifier on a court where the only seats were reserved for coaches and tournament staff.
I don't think she'll be playing many more matches in those conditions.
I don't think she'll be playing many more matches in those conditions.
August 7, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Six weeks ago I saw Victoria Mboko play a Wimbledon qualifier on a court where the only seats were reserved for coaches and tournament staff.
I don't think she'll be playing many more matches in those conditions.
I don't think she'll be playing many more matches in those conditions.
Reposted by Ryan Flanagan
We have worms in our fridge all summer and I have never thought about where they come from. 🪱 Beautifully written, fascinating story by @royinori.bsky.social
At night, across farmland in southern Ontario, hundreds of thousands of worms come to the surface of the soil. Inside the little-known Ontario industry—run primarily by immigrants and family businesses—that exports all of North America’s bait worm supply. thelocal.to/ontario-nigh...
On the Hunt for Nightcrawlers in the Worm-Picking Capital of the World | The Local
Nearly all bait worms sold in North America are hand-plucked from farmland in this part of Canada. But with labour shortages and climate change, some worry we’re witnessing the final wiggles of a once...
thelocal.to
July 23, 2025 at 3:10 PM
We have worms in our fridge all summer and I have never thought about where they come from. 🪱 Beautifully written, fascinating story by @royinori.bsky.social
Reposted by Ryan Flanagan
anti-doomer sentence of the day: "Globally, roughly a third more power is being generated from the sun this spring than last"
www.newyorker.com/news/annals-...
www.newyorker.com/news/annals-...
4.6 Billion Years On, the Sun Is Having a Moment
In the past two years, without much notice, solar power has begun to truly transform the world’s energy system.
www.newyorker.com
July 9, 2025 at 8:37 PM
anti-doomer sentence of the day: "Globally, roughly a third more power is being generated from the sun this spring than last"
www.newyorker.com/news/annals-...
www.newyorker.com/news/annals-...
Twitter, in its heyday, was a good place for journalists to build their brand and interact with their audience.
But it was never a significant source of traffic to news sites.
But it was never a significant source of traffic to news sites.
“.. traffic has dropped by only a single percentage point as a result of leaving Twitter ..”
@niemanreports.org #Hellsite
niemanreports.org/npr-twitter-...
@niemanreports.org #Hellsite
niemanreports.org/npr-twitter-...
July 10, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Twitter, in its heyday, was a good place for journalists to build their brand and interact with their audience.
But it was never a significant source of traffic to news sites.
But it was never a significant source of traffic to news sites.
The top four stories on the CBC Manitoba news site right now are about forest fires that have led to evacuation orders for four different communities.
To be clear, that's four separate fires affecting four different places. I've never seen anything like this in northern Manitoba.
To be clear, that's four separate fires affecting four different places. I've never seen anything like this in northern Manitoba.
May 31, 2025 at 6:52 PM
The top four stories on the CBC Manitoba news site right now are about forest fires that have led to evacuation orders for four different communities.
To be clear, that's four separate fires affecting four different places. I've never seen anything like this in northern Manitoba.
To be clear, that's four separate fires affecting four different places. I've never seen anything like this in northern Manitoba.
Does anyone know of a good alternative to Pocket? There has to be a better solution than creating a dedicated folder in my browser's bookmarks, right?
Gutted that Pocket is closing up shop. It has been the single best app I've ever used in terms of personal interests (aka news addiction). That and its integration with Kobo meant you could have an entire archive of articles available offline and off screens.
support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/fut...
support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/fut...
Pocket is saying goodbye - What you need to know | Pocket Help
More information about the end of support for Pocket.
support.mozilla.org
May 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Does anyone know of a good alternative to Pocket? There has to be a better solution than creating a dedicated folder in my browser's bookmarks, right?
Very excited for my favourite part of election night: watching TV networks try to entertain their audiences for the two hours between first results from Atlantic Canada and first results from anywhere else in Canada.
April 28, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Very excited for my favourite part of election night: watching TV networks try to entertain their audiences for the two hours between first results from Atlantic Canada and first results from anywhere else in Canada.