Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 8hAt this point in the vote counting, it looks like a strong PQ minority with about 27% of the vote overall. Note the Liberals are now ahead in the count. It is still early, so these numbers are still in flux. 000
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanArs Technica @arstechnica.com · 03/10/2026arstechnica.comMilt Windler, NASA flight director who helped save Apollo 13, dies at 94Milt Windler, one of the leaders of Mission Control who directed the effort to bring the Apollo 13 astronauts back to Earth safely, has died. 531816519
Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 03/10/2026The closest Quebec election to this one in terms of having such a range of parties in play must be the 1970 election. 100
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanJustin McElroy 🇨🇦 @jmcelroy.bsky.social · 03/10/2026Elections have a way of clarifying who matters to political parties (car owners) and whose priorities can wait for another day (transit advocates). My dispatch from Day 1 on David Eby’s four day mid-election road trip. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...cbc.caANALYSIS | Eby puts needs of car owners ahead of transit advocates in ruling out Metro Vancouver vehicle levy | CBC NewsFor the last 18 months, a vehicle levy has been talked about by TransLink as a potential way to create a more sustainable funding model, as revenue from fuel taxes continues to decline. But all that w... 1522456
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanJustin McElroy 🇨🇦 @jmcelroy.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Asked Eby about this, and he said they have “shut the door” on a vehicle levy because of affordability concerns, and told TransLink as such. That will come as news to some mayors and folks in TransLink, but there’s another 15 months before the current funding arrangement ends. 2457
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanJustin McElroy 🇨🇦 @jmcelroy.bsky.social · 02/10/2026The Conservatives are calling a potential annual vehicle levy in Metro Vancouver a “secret plan” based on tweets by Jas Johal today. But it’s not a secret, because I first reported this was the likely option 18 months ago, and nothing has changed to make me update my reporting. 78213
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanTim Carmody @tcarmody.bsky.social · 02/10/2026This is the funniest thing I've seen today, possibly ever 41119573108
Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Is there a possible ranking of local hotspots for political banter in BC? 020
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanHisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 02/10/2026I don’t use it but now wondering what my university’s response has been to these EULA changes allowing Turnitin to train AI models using student work 062
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanAndrea Woo @andreawoo.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Advance voting opens Saturday for Vancouver election. Can cast ballot early at 59 locations (tinyurl.com/5aeby4ux) from 8 am to 8 pm on: • Saturday, Oct. 3 • Wednesday, Oct. 7 • Saturday, Oct. 10 • Tuesday, Oct. 13 City has this Plan Your Vote tool: vancouver.ca/plan-your-vo...vancouver.caVancouver's city election made easyMake your #VancouverVotes plan with the City of Vancouver's election planner. Be prepared for the random order ballot! Plan your vote now. 11911
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanEmmett Macfarlane 🇨🇦 @emmettmacfarlane.com · 30/09/2026POLITICAL SCIENCE JOB AD: Tenure-track position in International Relations at the University of Waterloo. We're *very happy* to announce this. Applications due Nov. 1st; job start date July 2027. Details here (pdf): uwaterloo.ca/arts/sites/d...uwaterloo.ca 14640
Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 28/09/2026This article is from 2016. Janine Fuller attended King Size, an all kings drag show, at The Birdhouse Saturday evening featuring her partner and 2 other drag king pioneers. After 25 years at Little Sister’s, Janine Fuller now faces her toughest battle | Xtra Magazine share.google/cBiuvyPh0Hv5...share.googleAfter 25 years at Little Sister’s, Janine Fuller now faces her toughest battle | Xtra MagazineHer courage helped define the bookstore and its fight against censorship. Can it see her through now? 010
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanThe Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 27/09/2026“This pandemic of disinformation and dishonesty, through the conduit of the Alberta separatist movement, is testing not our hospitals but our political institutions and our belief that Canada is worth fighting for.” #abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli thewalrus.ca/alberta-sepa...thewalrus.caAlberta Separatism Is Built on a Big Lie | The WalrusDanielle Smith has turned western grievance into a national unity crisis 5224105
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanJustin McElroy 🇨🇦 @jmcelroy.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Funny news in White Rock: Mayor Megan Knight, who is seeking re-election, is also now running for the Conservatives in that provincial riding. The deadline for getting off the ballot has passed. So I've asked the Conservatives if Knight is going to tell folks not to vote for her locally. 35810
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanArs Technica @arstechnica.com · 25/09/2026arstechnica.comCourt rules Trump can blacklist Anthropic for refusing to enable Claude featuresOverly constrained AI models" could cause military operations to fail, judges say. 52514
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanJen Love 🇨🇦 🐸 #NoKings @jenlove.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Sounds familiar, considering that I live in Alberta. 032
Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Have any Canadian universities implemented AI-specific policy updates that would govern their decisions on matters like this? 020
Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 25/09/2026www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...theglobeandmail.comOpinion: The fix B.C. is in: An election without a reason, an opposition without a leaderScofflaws – people who feel entitled to disregard the laws – exist in any country, but only in Canada do they include the governments that passed them 010
Reposted by Mark Mac Leanhagwil hayetsk @charlesmenzies.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Resident and faculty member Matt Mitchell explores cooling effects of urban forests for birds and bats. charlesmenzies.substack.com/p/cooling-an...charlesmenzies.substack.comCooling and Conservationa campus as a living lab project 021
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanArs Technica @arstechnica.com · 24/09/2026As other poorly issued smart home gadget updates have proven, extraneous technology can spoil a simple product.arstechnica.comOwners mourn spoiled food after firmware update bricks Samsung smart fridgesSo absurd and embarrassing ..." 1310331
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanThe Verge @theverge.com · 24/09/2026Despite the breach happening in June, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the tech giant only notified the government about the incident earlier this month and did so via an email to a generic “public mailbox.”theverge.comOpenAI agents hacked an Australian government website in search for dataAustralia’s leader said it was ‘unacceptable’ OpenAI took months to report the incident. 1111423760
Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 23/09/2026I am pretty sure BC ballots will have electronic displays so the candidates' parties can be updated in the moment. 010
Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 23/09/2026So, if the BC Cons win with Doerkson, does he remain leader and become premier or will they trade him out for someone else? 110
Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 23/09/2026www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...theglobeandmail.comOpinion: David Eby’s snap election call is cynical and self-servingThe NDP will be facing a reinvigorated Conservative Party and have to defend its dismal record 110
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanMontreal Gazette @mtlgazette.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Mulcair: Fractured race reflects a divided Quebec montrealgazette.com/opinion/colu... 021
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanFaine Greenwood @faineg.com · 22/09/2026Folks, it's OK that OpenAI President and co-founder Greg Brockman donated $25 million to the MAGA Inc Trump super PAC - he's doing it for the sake of *humanity*: “We are embarking on a journey to develop this technology that's going to be the most impactful thing humanity has ever created."wired.comOpenAI’s President Gave Millions to Trump. He Says It’s for HumanityIn an interview with WIRED, Greg Brockman says his political donations support OpenAI's mission—even if some employees at the company disagree. 1014325
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanABC News Australia @news.abc.net.au · 22/09/2026Smart glasses to be banned in all WA public schoolsabc.net.auSmart glasses to be banned from WA public schoolsWestern Australia's education minister announces smart glasses will be banned from all state schools. 02104537
Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 22/09/2026www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...theglobeandmail.comOpinion: Is David Eby about to gamble away his government?It would be cynical for Eby to call an election while the opposition flails – but any party would do the same 010
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanRachel Gilmore @rachelgilmore.bsky.social · 21/09/2026A reporter asked the government about the Trumpian tactic of flooding the zone with this bill (it’s an omnibus!) and the ministers appear outraged. They balk at a question that…accurately characterizes what they’re doing. If you don’t like it, don’t do it! 11336107
Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 22/09/2026There really should be a Nobel Prize for political cartooning. 030
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanStephen Quinn @cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social · 22/09/2026Hey all! We don't usually produce a podcast on Mondays, but when @jmcelroy.bsky.social & Dan Fumano got back from The ABC platform launch, we jumped into the studio and recorded a special bonus episode for you. Please share & thanks as always for your support! podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...podcasts.apple.comWhat is in ABC Vancouver's election platform?Podcast Episode · This is Vancouver · September 21 · 22m 0265
Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 21/09/2026static.klipy.comDrawing a Circle in PaintALT: Drawing a Circle in Paint 010
Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 21/09/2026I think there are two time scales in this calculus: (1) can any coalition of conservatives converge quickly enough to win an election in mid-October? and (2) would an election be more winnable for Eby a year from now? 000
Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 21/09/2026static.klipy.comStephen Colbert Eating Popcorn with 3D GlassesALT: Stephen Colbert Eating Popcorn with 3D Glasses 020
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanTyler Olsen @tyolsen.bsky.social · 20/09/2026tl;dr of the tl;dr The competent/cynical right-wing political party overdid the politics, got briefly trumped by a bunch of newbie idealistic online conservatives who briefly had some momentum, who have self-sabotaged thanks to ideology & a fundamental misunderstanding BC politics. 3192
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanJason Markusoff @markusoff.bsky.social · 20/09/2026Food inspection. Borrowing rates. Disaster bailouts. Joining the WTO. A new report breaks down the many smaller dilemmas for a breakaway Alberta that folks might want to think about before the referendum. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...cbc.caANALYSIS | The tangled what-ifs of Alberta separation — from trade and treaties to currency and disaster costs | CBC NewsHere's some of what to expect when you're extracting the province from Canada. 75427
Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 19/09/2026I am pretty sure my research on Lie groups would get flagged. 020
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanThe Beaverton @thebeaverton.com · 19/09/2026Carney government promises upcoming "Operation Strike Destroyer" legislation won't discourage future strikesthebeaverton.comCarney government promises upcoming "Operation Strike Destroyer" legislation won't discourage future strikesOTTAWA — After multiple labour sources warned that the Federal government would likely be issuing binding mediation legislation as early as next week, Mark Carney personally assured Canadians that eve... 9425143
Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 19/09/2026I received the notice I am a registered voter for the Vancouver civic election. So did my mother, in spite of the fact she has never lived in BC. She is in long-term care in another province. Her registered CRA tax address is in another province, but her mailing address with the CRA is my home. 030
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanAlex Usher @alexusherhesa.bsky.social · 18/09/2026monitor.civicus.orgNorth Korea: Students executed for watching foreign videos as surveillance and restrictions intensify - Civicus Monitor 111
Reposted by Mark Mac Leanc0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Brilliant mathematician Emmy Noether was initially barred from teaching at University of Göttingen because she was a woman. She taught for 4 years as a "guest lecturer" under David Hilbert's name. Hilbert, exasperated at the stupidity of the rule: "Gentlemen, this is not a bathing establishment."artsci.tamu.eduFrom Algebra to Airplane Crashes, Emmy Noether’s Lasting Influence on MathematicsEmmy Noether, whom some consider the “Mother of Modern Mathematics,” continues to shape modern research and the studies of mathematicians today; including research into the investigation of airplane c... 161302512
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanArs Technica @arstechnica.com · 18/09/2026The people had received IV drips containing glutathione, which is sold—without evidence—for purposes like detoxification, immune support, increased energy, and skin brightening.arstechnica.comIV drips used for "detoxification" actually filled with toxins; dozens poisonedThe IV drips included glutathione, which was not made to be injected. 49600277
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanRachel Gilmore @rachelgilmore.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Cool, another big pro-corporate, anti-worker move from our Conservative prime minister! I am becoming The Joker Source: www.ctvnews.ca/politics/art... 2233498
Reposted by Mark Mac LeanJustin McElroy 🇨🇦 @jmcelroy.bsky.social · 18/09/2026When was the last time provincial and local elections were next to each other? What issues could it cause for administration and staffing? And could we see last minute switches of council candidates becoming MLA candidates? Here's my look at some of the weirdness ahead. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...cbc.caMunicipal and provincial elections at the same time in B.C.? Local politicians argue that's a bad idea | CBC NewsEvery Union of B.C. Municipalities convention ends on a Friday morning with an address from the premier of British Columbia — but it’s a speech David Eby might make in the days following the conferenc... 1344