Author Archives: Robert Basil

Oliver Sacks

Posted on December 16, 2025 by Robert Basil

I remember the bookstore in Buffalo where I found “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat” in 1985. I finished the book before I went to bed. Starting the next day, I relied on the work of Oliver … Continue reading →

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Happy American Thanksgiving

Posted on November 27, 2025 by Robert Basil

Even though I live in Canada, there is no holiday more meaningful to me than American Thanksgiving, having been raised south of here. I always obey the name, and spend the day reflecting in gratitude.

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Our friendly tour guide

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Robert Basil

From my point of view as a prof and as a writer/editor, Ethan Mollick has been the best and most sensible guide through the world of AI since the dawn of ChatGPT. His article “An Opinionated Guide to Using AI: … Continue reading →

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Jay Rosen

Posted on October 8, 2025 by Robert Basil

NoContest Communications readers know all about Jay Rosen, the marvellous analyst of media and journalism who recently retired from his position as Professor at NYU. His new gig is working to promote News Creators Corps. He writes: For the last … Continue reading →

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Small changes here

Posted on October 8, 2025 by Robert Basil

I’ve replaced the feed for “Kwantlen Polytechnic University” with one for “University Canada West” to reflect my new academic home. Gone is the feed for “Education and AI” because it’s already impossible to avoid utter immersion in this topic. And … Continue reading →

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Devotion

Posted on September 4, 2025 by Robert Basil

Zach Helfand’s article describing the history and sensibility of The New Yorker‘s famous fact-checking department is hilarious – and, to me, enthralling – from top to bottom. “I find that often a fact checker forces you to tie a knot … Continue reading →

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Avoid unnecessary fates

Posted on August 11, 2025 by Robert Basil

Our website’s founding friend Chet Wisniewski has a new podcast: “Security. Take. Two. Real. Serious. Security.” Chet with his colleague Ben Verschaeren revisit notable IT security calamities with profound and lively stories – “once the truth is known, discovering lessons … Continue reading →

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Mind = Soul

Posted on July 19, 2025 by Robert Basil

Reading is a form of controlled hallucination. AI sidesteps one of the most wonderful miracles of the mind.

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Sure Why Not

Posted on July 8, 2025 by Robert Basil

God. The agency said that if a house of worship endorsed a candidate to its congregants, the I.R.S. would view that not as campaigning but as a private matter, like “a family discussion concerning candidates.” (The title is a fine … Continue reading →

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Almost time to go

Posted on June 14, 2025 by Robert Basil

Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been at or near the centre of my life for more than two decades. We’ll keep the newsfeed here up into my retirement years, though.

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