Truth is, Orbán is just the latest in long list of authoritarians to be defeated by anti-corruption politics. A Democratic landslide is possible if they can credibly take up the anti-corruption mantle. But that can’t happen if voters see them as corrupt and beholden to wealthy donors.

I just listened to a podcast interview with Phillips, and it was one of the most jarringly insightful ways of looking at what the right has become in the US (and unfortunately, due to linguistic and cultural proximity, in Canada). I think this highlights a key perspective on how ideology works. 🧵

Never forget. #cdnpoli

Remember: The recipe for economic growth isn’t tax cuts for the rich. It’s investment in our people — in health care, infrastructure and education — to build a strong middle class. You don't grow the economy through trickle-down nonsense.

One last point: When governments talk about "age verification," they also mean "identity verification" So even if you're 55 years old, you will be virtually carded and all your social media activity will be linked to your identity. That means no online anonymity and raises privacy issues for adults

After years of using a Chromecast that constantly suffered technical issues (even before support stopped), switching to Linux seemed to coincide with my Chromecast becoming nearly unusable. So I got a Roku stick. Happy to say it works better than the Chromecast *ever* did. Awesome.

Canadian digital policy should be focused on counterbalancing out-of-control market forces and regulating platforms in the public interest What we don’t need is paternalism or new rules policing Internet users

The biggest difference between 1990s Internet and 2020s Internet is that the bulk of our online activity has been corralled onto unregulated for-profit digital platforms The profit motive driving the way these platforms are designed and run is the root cause of everything that goes wrong on them

This is something that bugs me. We're starting to get more widespread understanding that the designs of these platforms are deeply toxic, and that goes beyond kids. Rather than narrow bans (which kids will circumvent), we should address that toxicity at its roots: business models and algorithms.

A very cool find! I spotted this termite (Zootermopsis spp.) with a little springtail (Cheirotoma spp.) riding on its back. Apparently Cheirotoma are known hitchhikers on termites. #springtail #termite #arthropod #invertebrate #macro #inaturalist #bowenisland #canada #britishcolumbia

Carney is being asked whether *any* politician is welcome in the Liberal caucus and he’s basically saying yes. There’s no line in the sand — as long as they tell *him* they support Liberal values, they’re welcome to the Liberal Party to grow his majority power. Yikes.

"France to ditch Windows for Linux to reduce reliance on US tech" #digitalsovereignty techcrunch.com/2026/04/10/f...

‘men aged 18 to 29 who agreed with the statement “I do not feel financially stable”—that is, men experiencing acute economic anxiety—favored Harris by 10 points. Meanwhile, those who agreed with the statement “society looks down on men who are masculine” leaned +32 for Trump’

Apple is closing down the first of its US stores to unionize. Apple says that because of the collective bargaining agreement with these workers, they "couldn’t offer to transfer them to nearby locations.” The union is outraged, and exploring options to hold Apple accountable.

It’s not a ceasefire if the killing continues on one side. Mass atrocities are being carried out by Netanyahu in Lebanon with U.S. backing. (1/3)

When journalists ask questions like this, do they hear themselves? It is an ideological position they're promoting. They surely must see this.

Spoiler alert: nothing trickled down.

It’s now crystal clear, with the MP for Sarnia–Lambton deciding to side with the Liberal government: we have a progressive-conservative government and a Maple MAGA opposition in Ottawa. There is only one alternative for the progressive majority in Quebec and across Canada — the NDP 🧡🫶 #cdnpoli

"What do you expect them to do?" I expect someone who I voted for and has way more power and money than me to represent me and go be an obnoxious ****ing roadblock. A wrench in the fascist engine.

South Korean members of the opposition woke up at 3AM to storm their capital and stop a despotic president from declaring martial law. That same president is going to jail. Anyone in US opposition on vacation right now should be at the same Hague trials if we get there.

Mosslings 🍃

4/5 Is the safety of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people not in the national interest?

Prime Minister Sanchez: “.. Spain will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket.” 🇪🇸

When Austin Wintory says a new album is out now, I listen.

People really liked my ungovernable gull! So you can now get it as a sticker, or on a T-shirt. If there's some other item you'd like it on, I can probably make that happen too. www.etsy.com/ca/listing/4... #seagull #gull #ungovernable #vectorart #vectorgraphic #graphicdesign #art #etsy #merch

I used to be very scared of spiders; nowadays I'm fine with most of them, and I actually love jumping spiders. They're just so cute. This little one (Phidippus johnsoni) checked me out while I was out doing photography the other day. #spider #invertebrate #phidippus #macro #inaturalist #canada

genuinely think people outside of America don't realize how big this place is, how militarized and murderous our police are, how little our politicians care, how disconnected and impoverished we have been intentionally made to be, how we still have slavery just with extra steps. we really suck gang

A collection of the sample and full-length pieces I've made so far on my journey of learning to practice fléché, a Québec tradition of finger weaving. The squiggly ones are my trying to learn to reverse the weave partway through and... not succeeding! #weaving #fiberarts #crafts #crafting #yarn

Another doodle! #seagull #gull #ungovernable #vectorart #vectorgraphic #graphicdesign #art

I enjoy being silly with vector art. This my illustration of a kelp pipefish, Syngnathus californiensis. #vectorgraphic #vectorart #art #pipefish #syngnathus #fish

Today, voting opens for the next leader of the NDP. NDP members and organizers know things have to change in the party, and the collapse of old ways is a powerful force for change. So if you're a member: check your emails, review the candidates, and rank your choices! #cdnpoli #NDP #Canada

A few months ago I started learning a style of fingerweaving traditional to Québec (where I'm from). I'm not looking to make the classic sashes, but after many little test pieces to learn technique, yesterday I finished my first wearable-length belt! #fiberarts #weaving #crafts #yarn

Trouble is a real temptation for the orange ones! #orangecat #cat #art #vectorart

Two orange cats means somebody is sure to be causing trouble. #art #vectorart #orangecat #cat

I've been practising vector art lately, and because I have orange cats, I've ended up sketching a series of them. This one is happy to see you! #art #vectorart #orangecat #cat

We desperately need politicians willing to tackle the structures and designs of social media, not focus narrowly on whack-a-mole against specific content or access rules. We need systems thinking in politics, and it's wild to me that it doesn't seem to be there.

I've been toying around with making vector graphics art with Inkscape lately, so I figure I'll start sharing. Mostly I'm making silly designs that I might sell on stuff, but I'm trying to make some tougher pieces too. Here's a larger piece I'm working on at the moment, for my #NDP comrades.

For Valentine's Day, one of my most entertaining photos from last year. A Nearctic Carpenter Ant (Camponotus nearcticus) interrupting two very busy Asian Lady Beetles (Harmonia axyridis). #insect #arthropod #macro #invertebrate #quebec #gatineau #canada #inaturalist #macrophotography #valentinesday

I quickly fell in love with the sight of wild buckwheats in the Okanagan, like this parsnipflower buckwheat (Eriogonum heracleoides). #plant #buckwheat #eriogonum #flower #nativeplants #bcparks #okanagan #inaturalist #britishcolumbia #canada

I love marmots. Spotted this yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris) from the road last year. #marmot #marmota #mammal #rodent #inaturalist #bcparks #okanagan #britishcolumbia #canada

This is a serious concern I have, not only for the United States but for all the ailing democracies of the world. We need deep, proactive reforms and engagement. Democracy is not preserved by allowing the system to decay until authoritarians are elected and then just punishing the authoritarians.

Some charming little Lithophragma leaves, also called "woodland stars." #plant #lithophragma #bcparks #okanagan #inaturalist #britishcolumbia #canada #plantphotography #macro

#Vancouver peeps, if you want to meet fantastic NDP leadership candidate Tanille Johnston, she's stopping by Koerner's this Friday!

This is a good overview of the problem. It's not that Carney is doing nothing at all; he is making trade deals and boosting military spending. But nothing he's doing is geared to decoupling from or deal with the US; it's all just reshuffling priorities within the existing status quo.

A cute little plant from the Okanagan, Hemizonella minima. #hemizonella #plantphotography #plant #macro #inaturalist #bcparks #britishcolumbia #okanagan #canada

Vancouver birders got a Christmas present yesterday when someone spotted a vagrant Taiga Flycatcher (Ficedula albicilla). I went to find it this morning (with a crowd of 30-40 birders) and got some okay photos, considering the terrible lighting. #bird #birding #vancouver #inaturalist #canada

I came across quite a few of these charming little flowers in the Okanagan. These are Collinsia parviflora, the small-flowered blue-eyed Mary. #flower #plant #collinsia #macrophotography #inaturalist #bcparks #okanagan #britishcolumbia #canada

A cool beetle, probably Ptomister! #ptomister #beetle #insect #invertebrate #macro #macrophotography #inaturalist #bcparks #okanagan #britishcolumbia #canada

Some plump little tufts of Sedum (stonecrop) up on a mountain in the Okanagan. #sedum #stonecrop #plant #macro #macrophotography #inaturalist #bcparks #plantphotography #okanagan #britishcolumbia #canada

Another extreme close-up of one of my best friend plants, Selaginella! This is Selaginella scopulorum (Rocky Mountain Spikemoss), which was a new species for me this year. #selaginella #lycophyte #plant #plantphotography #macrophotography #inaturalist #bcparks #okanagan #britishcolumbia #canada