October is Canadian Library Month, and we can't think of a better time for Albertans to show support to one of the many local branches! There are over 300 library service touch-points across Alberta, spread out over seven regions as well as Edmonton and Calgary. Check out a book today!

Can-con lyrical quote of the day: “Her ego wrote cheques incredibly fast, But her personality didn't have the cash. I laughed out loud to my total dismay. She ain't pretty she just looks that way.” -She Ain’t Pretty, The Northern Pikes

Looking at hockey gifs for reasons that are my own. Today’s favourite.

This just in: someone drew artificial lines ALL OVER THE GLOBE. What could it mean?! 👀 #longitude #latitude #levity

Don’t forget “cancer moonshot.” Or terms related to treating cancer pain. #cancer #cancerresearch #nci “Vaccines. Fluoride. Autism. Communications involving these and 20 other ‘controversial, high profile, or sensitive’ topics will get extra scrutiny under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.”

Mornings with the pup.

This Nick Bilton book is a fascinating and fast-paced dive into Silk Road, if you want to know more about the recently pardoned Ross Ulbricht.

Transgenic. It doesn’t mean what you think it means.

Anti-vaxxers can cause direct harm to infants who are too young to be vaccinated, the elderly, and people living with chronic illnesses. They can also undermine herd immunity, because as pathogens spread, they mutate. And they may mutate to evade vaccines, rendering the ones we have less effective.

Here’s a throwback: Electric Pow Wow (Halluci Nation) is such a great pump up song.

@turnaray.bsky.social’s team took a deep dive into potential effects of NIH funding changes on the development of new precision medicine approaches.

Anyone who thinks talk of taking over Canada is a “distraction” should talk to a Canadian. Talk to your representatives. Shut this shit down. This can’t get reined in too soon.

A few episodes into Apple Cider Vinegar, and so far think it does a good job of showing harms of medical misinformation in an engaging, non-preachy way. Some hard scenes, considering I was initially a stage 3C breast cancer patient (downgraded to 3B after pCR to chemo/trastuzumab). #cancer #grifters

Some not-especially-supportive or science literate people I know thought it was hilarious that I worked on a yeast model organism as a Master’s student. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Whenever you hear someone sneer about scientific research that seems useless to them — “they’re studying the spit of lizards?!” — remind them that’s exactly how we got Ozempic. globalnews.ca/news/9793403...

Some people haven’t watched enough Northern Exposure and it shows.

Stand up for cancer patients. Stand up for healthcare providers. Stand up for medical research. Stand up for reality. Stay in the race. #worldcancerday

Seconded.

"You should always read the label, always read it well...in the most delicious way." 🇨🇦

Plan for the summer: 1) get really into gardening 2) camp/hike in Canada’s national parks 3) weighted vest trail runs with dog 4) repeatedly pick up and put down heavy things 5) all the book things (read, write, share, discuss)

$10 million, you say? Sounds lucrative. 🤔

"A disclosure form filed for his nomination revealed that the outspoken vaccine critic pulled in roughly $10 million over the last year related to dividends from his vaccine lawsuits, anti-vax speaking fees, and leading Children’s Health Defense." newrepublic.com/post/190958/...

Evolution underpins the entirety of modern biology, including medicine.

Where are my fellow readers for CBC Canada Reads? Thoughts on this year's shortlist? #BookSky #Canada

On this day in 1980, six American diplomats, travelling with valid Canadian passports, escaped Iran. They were hidden for months by Canadians, who played a massive role in their escape. Let's learn the real (not the Argo version) story of The Canadian Caper. 🧵1/15

Spelled “ … suggests war with peaceful allies” wrong.

At least 15 Indigenous people in Arizona and New Mexico have reported being stopped at their homes and workplaces, questioned or detained by federal law enforcement and asked to produce proof of citizenship during immigration raids since Wednesday, according to Navajo Nation officials.

Thanks for reminder, expensive report. Got my Covid-19 vaccine booster yesterday at a pharmacy in rural Alberta. Distinctly remember how thrilled I was to get my first dose, while going through cancer treatment in the spring of 2021.

“Scientists have focused on the issue of diversity in clinical studies both because lacking a diverse population can lead to skepticism from patients who could be helped by medicines and because some drugs do work differently in people of different backgrounds.”

Great piece and glad this work is being done! Hope more research also done on mitigating physical effects of natural/chemical menopause for those of us on treatments that aggressively lower estrogen levels. #menopause #breastcancer #cancer

Important progress is underway in women’s health. I’m hopeful it continues! My latest for @nature.com, with the editing prowess of Beth Quill. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

“Canada Reads premiered in 2002. The first winning book was In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje, which was defended by musician Steven Page. In 2021, CBC Books put together a retrospective to look back at the show's biggest moments and its impact on Canadian literature.” #canadareads #cbcbooks

Library training day spent learning from amazing librarians. Can’t wait to continuing developing our local collection and community programs. #books #booksky #community

I did several interviews for a potential wild horse story pitch a few years ago and the situation was incredibly contentious and murky.

“Wildlife advocates say the proposed measures aren't backed by science, have an arbitrary population threshold and are designed to appease the cattle industry. The province, meanwhile, says it's necessary to limit the risk to the landscape and to other grazing animals.”

“Educational officials say this lack of regulation allows parents to pull vulnerable children … from public schools then not provide any education for them. They call them ‘no schoolers.’”

When in doubt, put on a weighted vest and walk the dog.

This winter-loving pup is not a fan of his warm jacket and booties, but put up with them for the joy of being outside on a frigid day.

From Wright Thompson’s book, The Barn. Shine the light. #booksky

Hibernating in the stacks on a cold winter afternoon.

“The doctors say they were never able to identify the source of the girl’s exposure to H5N1, but noted genetic sequencing of the virus revealed ‘worrisome’ mutations that could increase binding to human airway receptors.”

BC teen no longer critical, taken off oxygen. We found this out through a letter in the @nejm.org because our health officials refused to provide an update "unless there was a need from the public health perspective to do so" globalnews.ca/news/1093865...

🤯 “Staff at Louisiana's health department fear the new policy undermines their efforts to protect the public, and violates the fundamental mission of public health: to prevent illness and disease by following the science.”

“Missed cases made it impossible to determine how the virus jumped into people and whether it was growing more infectious or dangerous.” Yikes.

💥 My 2024 Mile Marker: The inside scoop on how America lost control of the Bird Flu, opening the door for another pandemic. "We're in a terrible situation" said @angierasmussen.bsky.social 🧵Here's how we got here & how to get out @kffhealthnews.bsky.social kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

Such a heartbreaking and infuriating betrayal of trust, both for people affected directly and for future cancer patients who may be skeptical of doctors’ recommendations because of this situation.

Tree skirt repurposing.