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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦

@jemburch.bsky.social
4.8K followers 9K following 2.4K posts

PhD candidate (Political Science) | Sessional Instructor (Quantitative Methods) | Recovering public servant | Huge nerd (SCA, LARP, TTRPGs) Expect posts about Canadian news (often political) and nerdy pursuits. Opinions my own and likely to be unhinged.

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Reposted by Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦
Courtney Theriault @ctheriault.bsky.social · 21h
“If we don’t have a law that covers them, I think we should at least be thinking about whether we need one.” Alberta separatists’ talks with GOP spark outcry, call for legislative change www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
theglobeandmail.com
Alberta separatists’ talks with GOP spark outcry, call for legislative change
Canada needs to consider overhauling its laws to address the kind of freelance negotiating trips that separatist leaders have made to D.C., Liberal MP says
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 7h
It must be hard to govern a province while not being aware of anything.
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Clare Blackwood @clareblackwood.bsky.social · 20h
not now, Russian plague, I've got shit to do
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The Tyee @thetyee.ca · 20h
Michael Harris: Just because Mark Carney is on a roll doesn’t mean Canada can do without an effective Opposition. Too bad Pierre Poilievre and his Conservatives can’t muster one. #canpoli thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
thetyee.ca
Canada Needs an Opposition That’s Serious and Constructive | The Tyee
Instead, we get Poilievre’s simplistic sound bites, leaving Carney unaccountable.
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Cheryl in Nova Scotia 🇨🇦🍁🍁 @minibubbly.bsky.social · 19h
Baby Bobcat stuck up on a power pole in #Vancouver rescued #Canada
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 16h
I've had this song running through my head all day. ...which seems very unfair because I'm actually doing the things I was supposed to be doing today. www.tiktok.com/@savetimesha...
tiktok.com
Productive Procrastination, my fave ADHD hyperfixation ✨ Obsessed with this song from @Kristen | The Centered Life Co #adhd #adultadhd #adhdrelatable #adhdsts #procrastination
TikTok video by Shan
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Abigail Larson @abigaillarson.com · 21h
“I collected bones from charnel houses; and disturbed, with profane fingers, the tremendous secrets of the human frame. In a solitary chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house, and separated from all the other apartments by a gallery and staircase, I kept my workshop of filthy creation." 🧪🫀⚗️
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Frederik Thieme @frederikthieme.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Why do green parties struggle electorally despite widespread support for climate action? My new (first 😱) paper explores why green parties remain uniquely challenged in economic crisis & that the mechanism is not only about sociotropic concerns, but also voters’ pocketbooks 🧵 doi.org/10.1017/S147...
doi.org
Pocketbook politics and climate action: How economic strain reduces support for green parties | European Journal of Political Research | Cambridge Core
Pocketbook politics and climate action: How economic strain reduces support for green parties
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Coach Finstock @coachfinstock.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Exactly. This is such a lie. Email had a purpose. The internet had a purpose. Search had a purpose. Everybody loved Silicon Valley in the 90s because they made shit that did what it promised. Now 3 guys who never made SHIT have ALL the money in SV. They're scam artists. Not engineers.
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
"Vote to stay and send Washington the right message: don’t be lulled by our internal squabbling into believing we’re so weak and divisible as our stupidest citizens would have you believe. Oh, and don’t fuck with us." #ABLeg #CNDPoli open.substack.com/pub/theline/...
open.substack.com
Jen Gerson: Oh, so you want to send Ottawa a message, eh?
Vote to stay and send Washington the right message. Namely, don’t fuck with us.
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Killing the golden Canada goose.
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Coincidentally, I'm wearing my new shirt today.
Close-up photo of a heathered grey t-shirt. White text reads 'Nasty since 1867' - the 'a' in 'nasty' has been replaced with a maple leaf. The shirt is Todd Maffin merchandise.
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Paul Fairie @paulisci.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Every accusation is a confession.
Trump trade adviser says Canada will 'pay even more dearly' if 'you interfere' in U.S. midterms
Peter Navarro said Canadian lobbyists should 'get the hell out of our country'
-CBC, Sep 29 2026
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
I've never tried it, mostly because my Dad once told me his experience: "you either get better or you lie about it."
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Emmett Macfarlane 🇨🇦 @emmettmacfarlane.com · 03/10/2026
Canada is not actually 'battling for survival' in the context of secession, because in both Alberta and Quebec secession has relatively small amounts of public support. What we're battling is dipshit far-right populist politicians enabling/pushing for this destructive bullshit.
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CanadaSky #Resist @canadasky1.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
substack.com/@canadianret... Is the Quebec government more committed to Canada than the Alberta government? Thank you Premier Frechette.
substack.com
Canadian Returnee (@canadianreturnee)
We will never be trusted again. Reports confirm that U.S. officials approached Quebec directly about reducing tariffs, including on aluminum. Quebec alerted Ottawa, and no separate Quebec-U.S. trad...
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
In fairness, it seems like they *did* try to hide it originally. They're just bad at it.
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tams! @maezanilla.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Happy fma day! 🦾✨
An illustration of some of the main cast of Fullmetal Alchemist (Edward Elric, Alphonse Elric, Riza Hawkeye, Roy Mustang, Maes Hughes, Louis Armstrong) walking through the train station of Central City, in Amestris.
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Luke LeBrun @lukelebrun.ca · 03/10/2026
Oh wow In May, I reported Alberta separatists were using an app developed by GOP operatives with ties to US ambassador Pete Hoekstra @theglobeandmail.com now reports the same operatives flew to Calgary on a private jet for a secret meeting with separatist leaders: pressprogress.ca/alberta-sepa...
The pitch began with a prayer.
On an afternoon in late January, Mitch Sylvestre, the leader of Alberta's most prominent separatist organization, gathered with three of his lieutenants in a boardroom not far from the executive hangars at the Calgary International Airport, where private jets shuttle in and out of the city away from prying eyes.
It was a few hours before thousands of Albertans would gather near the city centre at a rally to launch the separatist campaign. But this meeting, convened behind closed doors a half-hour drive away, was invite only.
The Alberta Prosperity Project chose the location to accommodate its guests, Republican political strategists from Michigan who helped Donald Trump win the state in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
The American delegation travelled to Calgary to sell them on software developed for Republicans to get out the vote - and how it could be used to wrench Alberta from Confederation.
"They were young Christians. Capable, intelligent people," Mr. Sylvestre said. "We prayed before we started the meeting.""There is no secrecy'
One of the key figures behind the Michigan software company has expressed strong views on Alberta.
On July 1, Mr. Born wrote on social media: "On this Canada Day, I hope this is the last year Alberta is part of Canada." He has also called for U.S. annexation of the province.
A hunter, outdoorsman and commercial real estate agent in Grand Rapids, Mr. Born is the stepson of J.C. Huizenga, a wealthy Republican donor and founder of National Heritage Academies, a network of conservative charter schools in the U.S.
Mr. Wierda is the nephew of Erik Prince, who founded and ran the private military contractor Blackwater before it was sold to investors in 2010, and Betsy DeVos, the education secretary during Mr. Trump's first term.
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
static.klipy.com
Spider-Man Pointing Meme: Hamily Seaham
ALT: Spider-Man Pointing Meme: Hamily Seaham
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Have any of the parties done anything other than awkwardly avoid Translink's gaze on this one? #BCPoli
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
My father: do you want to do something about this? Me: it would be my word against his. ... I am Jane Doe www.cbc.ca/news/world/j...
cbc.ca
'I am Jane Doe': Rally to protect Cornell rape accuser's identity becomes a reckoning | CBC News
The repeated refrain, part of an online wave of support this week for the complainant in the Cornell University gang rape allegations, is being compared to the cultural and structural reckoning of the...
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Rafe Meager (they/them) @economeager.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
It drives me insane to see apparent progressives and leftists conflating ugliness and evil both because it’s wrong and because it’s nazi shit! That is one of their famous things! Stop it!!
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Carolyn Baer @carebaer7.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
I'm recruiting a graduate student for Fall 2027! Full funding, beautiful campus, and a great community to work in. International applicants welcome - Canada is a great place to be. More info about what I look for and the app process: www.trentdevminds.ca/join-the-lab www.trentu.ca/graduatestud...
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Well I, for one, am shocked that a piece of technology widely associated with biased decision-making in previous research isn't good at mimicking an unbiased sample.
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Poutine to the people!
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Tod Maffin 🇨🇦 @todmaffin.com · 01/10/2026
Here are 16 Canadian-owned brands you can buy instead of the usual grocery store picks. 🇨🇦 #BuyCanadian ✅ Get my free weekly newsletter: farandwide.news Note: A previous version of this graphic listed a Canadian-owned company which had moved its production to the U.S.
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JeffTrnka @jefftrnka.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Fruit giant Driscoll's faces class-action lawsuit in Quebec. Suit alleges Driscoll’s fails to inform customers about presence of pesticide residues. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Fruit giant Driscoll's faces class-action lawsuit in Quebec | CBC News
Lawyers are asking a Quebec Superior Court judge to authorize a class-action lawsuit against American fruit giant Driscoll’s. It comes after allegations that the company had sent millions of pounds of...
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Tod Maffin 🇨🇦 @todmaffin.com · 01/10/2026
TODAY IN CANADA: In 1986, children's author Robert Munsch published "Love You Forever";  the book went on to become one of the best-selling children's books of all time. 📕YOUR SAY: Name a Canadian kids' book you can still partially recite from memory?
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
For Canada! 💪🇨🇦
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Francesc Amat @cescamat.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
🚨 Job alert: Open call in my Department for an Assistant Professor position under the Serra Húnter Programme. The position is in Economic History and Institutions. HPE profiles are very welcome! Info: web.ub.edu/en/web/depar... Deadline: 13 October 2026.
web.ub.edu
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Nicola Rennie @nrennie.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
More tips and tricks in this blog post: nrennie.rbind.io/blog/five-gg...
nrennie.rbind.io
Five ggplot2 functions I wish I’d known about earlier – Nicola Rennie
There are a few small tweaks you can make to your ggplot2 code to improve your charts. However, they’re not often mentioned. So here’s a few functions and arguments I wish I’d known about earlier.
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Luke LeBrun @lukelebrun.ca · 01/10/2026
NDP parliamentary leader @donvdavies.bsky.social says National Post column targeting NDP leader @avilewis.ca is "appalling, irresponsible and likely criminal" The column calls for Lewis to be dealt with by way of ancient "Jewish law" while invoking loaded language used by Yitzhak Rabin's assassin
Don Davies v @DonDavies • 1h This is appalling, irresponsible and likely criminal. Threatening and inciting others to remove a Canadian political leader for his political views is outrageous. Both the author and the National Post must retract, apologize and reverse this message at once. Samira Mohyeddin /jau Absolutely diabolical. National Post puts a bullseye on Avi Lewis through the rabid ramblings of Yoni Goldstein who invokes Halakhah and Leviticus on how to deal with Jews. Writing Lewis "presents a clear and present danger to the Jewish community" & other Jews are "duty- bound to = NATIONAL POST Yoni Goldstein: Jewish law tells us how to deal with Avi Lewis His Yom Kippur message was indefensible By Yoni Goldstein, Special to National Post Published Sep 29, 2026 Last updated 17 hours ago 4 minute read • 190 Comments

S..

@SMohyeddin • 10h = NATIONAL POST None of this applies, however, when a Jewish person presents a clear and present danger to the Jewish community. When that happens, Jewish thought is much more forceful: you must prevent the perpetrator from causing harm. Jewish law developed two character sketches to describe such scenarios. The first is known as a "mosar" — a Jewish person who informs to oppressive authorities, potentially leading to the imprisonment, torture or death of community members. The second, called a "rodef," refers to a Jew who is actively pursuing another with the intent to harm or kill them. In both scenarios, the law is clear that a jew is duty-bound to step in. Protecting the community and its members is the most important thing. 244
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PEIPolitical 🇨🇦 @peipolitical.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Mark Carney laughs when asked about Trump saying Canada will apologize. Way to go Buddy. The rest of the country is laughing alongside you! #cdnpoli
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Cheryl in Nova Scotia 🇨🇦🍁🍁 @minibubbly.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Ukrainian women soldiers are fighting in body armour that doesn't fit — because it was designed for men. NP Aerospace, a Canadian company in the U.K. is trying to change that by making body armour specifically designed for women. www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
cbc.ca
Ukrainian women don't have armour that fits. That's about to change
Ukrainian women soldiers are fighting in body armour that doesn't fit — because it was designed for men. NP Aerospace, a Canadian company in the U.K. is trying to change that by making body armour spe...
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Tod Maffin 🇨🇦 @todmaffin.com · 30/09/2026
In 1973, Phyllis Webstad, age 6, arrived at residential school in a new orange shirt her grandmother had bought her. To her, the shirt stood for belonging. It was taken away on her first day. Today, in part, is about what was taken from children. 🪶 READ: orangeshirtday.org/about/phylli...
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Justin McElroy 🇨🇦 @jmcelroy.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
For the past week, I've heard a lot of people say "provincial and municipal elections happening at the same time is confusing, especially since I don't fully understand what a city is in control of." So, I did a four minute explainer piece to try and help www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqlh...
youtube.com
What municipalities can and can’t do in B.C.
YouTube video by CBC British Columbia
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I'll never forget how a faculty member I'd just met felt comfortable trashing another grad student in my hearing. And for behaviour I actually thought was quite reasonable, too (even as described by a hostile witness). She described how she told colleagues to avoid them like it was a public service.
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I was telling some of my students about my memories of the early internet. They said it seemed nice.
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Gonna do my bit by eating medically inadvisable amounts of cheese. For patriotic reasons.
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
It's all fun and games until someone has to express themselves in writing.
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Kai Arzheimer @kai-arzheimer.com · 28/09/2026
#tbp "While secularism as a political and philosophical concept has existed for centuries and while there is a plethora of measures for individual religiosity, there is no established instrument for measuring political secularism at the micro-level"
cambridge.org
A Short Scale for Measuring Political Secularism | Politics and Religion | Cambridge Core
A Short Scale for Measuring Political Secularism - Volume 15 Issue 4
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Denis Cohen @denis-cohen.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
📄 New paper in @electoralstudies.bsky.social: “From the center to the fringes: A comparative test of attitudinal explanations for mainstream-to-challenger defection” 👥 with @krausewe.bsky.social and @aigneranna.bsky.social 🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.el...
doi.org
Redirecting
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Indivisible Vancouver @indivisiblevan.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The group reportedly arrived on Sunday morning. Photos posted on social media show them wearing white masks and matching uniforms bearing shoulder patches similar to those of the Second Sons, a white nationalist group that has held demonstrations in Canada before. www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...
ctvnews.ca
‘Disgraceful, disgusting behaviour’: Political leaders condemn white nationalist demonstration on Indigenous land near Kamloops
Provincial political leaders have spoken out, condemning an apparent white nationalist demonstration at Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc native reserve near Kamloops, B.C.
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Mad (Social) Scientist 🇨🇦 @jemburch.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
To ask 'but why should people in [x field] have to study history???' is almost to answer it.
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Canadian History Ehx @cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
On March 26, 2000, the song Blame Canada from South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut was nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars. But that night something also debuted that became an immediate hit. The I Am Canadian Rant. This is the story. 🧵 1/10
Joe Canada standing center stage, singing into a microphone with mouth open and arms slightly outstretched before a large red maple leaf on a white backdrop.
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Bill Comeau 🇨🇦 @bill-comeau.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
The revelations coming out of Quebec should remind us that the US is still a member of the United Nations. Its charter explicitly forbids the use of threats against Canada's territorial integrity or interventions in our domestic jurisdiction. #Canada #cdnpoli #tariffs #CanadaStrong #UnitedNations
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Cheryl in Nova Scotia 🇨🇦🍁🍁 @minibubbly.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Allegations of political interference from the US dominated the 30th day of Quebec's election campaign on Friday as Coalition Avenir Québec Leader Christine Fréchette expressed concerns that Americans were trying to help sovereigntists take control of the province. 🤬🤬 www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Federal intelligence agency contacted as U.S. interference claims swirl in Quebec election | CBC News
Quebec's incumbent premier says she is "very concerned" about possible interference in the provincial election by the United States.
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Musicology Duck @musicologyduck.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
incidentally i think these guys are the patron saints of bluesky
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cait (and adonis) @cait.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
the "iced coffee at a job interview" discussion is obviously stupid but also a great representation of the fact that every single HR person/recruiter has their own different made up rules for candidates and all of them think they are absolutely correct
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