Tor: From the Dark Web to the Future of Privacy This episode of Peoples & Things completely nerd sniped me. On recommendation from Biella Coleman, hosts Lee Vinsel and Paula Bialski interview Ben Collier about his new book Tor: From the Dark Web to the Future of Privacy (available Open Access from MIT Press. I love ethnographic works on computing history and especially admire Biella’s book Coding Freedom: The Ethics and Aesthetics of Hacking.
Somewhat embarrassing that I got lost trying to find the tea room at the Royal Geographical Society 😅
On an absolutely brilliant day I am at the Royal Geographical Society about to check off a 20+ year bucket list item: examining Sir Francis Younghusband’s notes on Tibet, Kashgar, and the Roof of the World 🏔️
(No, I did not intentionally wear the brand colours 😅)
England is kinda like Japan in how it blends old and new…
“EAT, REST, & PRAY”
wework
Chat, what do you say when the Finnish guy sitting at the table next to you, with a fresh commemorative military tat on his arm, says he just got back from 2 years in Ukraine and he would go back if it weren’t for his 15 year old son sitting across from him eating a plant-based burger? 😳
Well I got the Shard! ☝️
Been wandering around all afternoon. Hopefully between the sun ☀️ this cookie 🍪 and this Colombian handdrip ☕️ I can stay awake until the evening.
Landed at Gatwick 🇬🇧
Just having a toastie and a coffee before heading into London. Gorgeous sunny day 😎
#DXC2026 was a great time! Got to chat with legends like Cory Doctorow and Bruce Schneier, meet my pals at Hypha and The Dais, folks from CivicTechTO, CBC, Torstar, The Local, and the federal gov. 🤝 Evan Solomon the AI Minister popped in, and I saw Bob Rae! Thank you for the invite! 🙇♂️
I’ll see you all next in London 🇬🇧 @newspeak.house for luma.com/qjj9c8d7 /cc @protocolsforpublishers.com
Stressful day when checking into my flight realizing I was not allowed to check any luggage! Full flight! And me on middle leg of a 3 country journey 😵💫 Came to the airport 4 hours early and they were able to squeeze my bag (with my wedding suit!) onto the plane! Relaxxxing now 💆♂️
What a day. Wrapped up IETF AIPREFs WG, hung out with Hypha at 1RG, then went to the DXC opener got to meet Cory Doctorow and talk about cool spots in London. 🤩
A few snaps from a rainy and foggy downtown Toronto. 📸
After the IETF AIPREF WG meeting I went downtown for a Goodbot social ahead of DXC.
Tomorrow morning will the last of the IETF and then in the evening the DXC conference starts with a talk from Cory Doctorow.
Stopped in a coffee shop. Guy asked what I normally drink. When I said “Yemeni pourovers” he was like “Uh, we don’t have any of that” but then told me about a bunch of cool #coffee places in #Toronto, so I’m sharing! 🤲
There it is! #CNtower🗼☀️
View from our meeting room for IETF AIPREF working group this morning
Started this on the plane The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar 📚
So poetic! I have only ever read This Is How You Lose the Time War which was brilliant.
#amreading #booksky #bookstodon
Made it to Toronto
✈️ At the Rivers Monument in YVR, about to head to Toronto for IETF AIPREF WG, then DemocracyXchange. After that will be London and Germany. Expect photos!
The poles represent the Columbia and Fraser rivers, and are topped by eagles.
Started reading: A Short History of London The Creation of a World Capital by Simon Jenkins 📚
Prepping for going back to London next Sunday.
#amreading #booksky #bookstodon #London #travel
Seven countries now generate 100% of their electricity from renewable energy
Albania, Bhutan, Nepal, Paraguay, Iceland, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Canada is on the list of 50 countries producing over 50% of their electricity with #renewable #energy
“Connect, don’t collect”
Protocols and federation > data hoarding silos