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Mark Mac Lean

@marktmaclean.bsky.social
510 followers 499 following 908 posts

Mathematician. Full of contradictions. Opinions are entirely my own. Reposts =/= endorsements. Likes are often bookmarks or acknowledgements. He/him/his.

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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 8h
At 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.
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Ars Technica @arstechnica.com · 03/10/2026
arstechnica.com
Milt Windler, NASA flight director who helped save Apollo 13, dies at 94
Milt Windler, one of the leaders of Mission Control who directed the effort to bring the Apollo 13 astronauts back to Earth safely, has died.
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
The closest Quebec election to this one in terms of having such a range of parties in play must be the 1970 election.
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Justin McElroy 🇨🇦 @jmcelroy.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Elections 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.ca
ANALYSIS | Eby puts needs of car owners ahead of transit advocates in ruling out Metro Vancouver vehicle levy | CBC News
For 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...
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Justin McElroy 🇨🇦 @jmcelroy.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Asked 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.
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Justin McElroy 🇨🇦 @jmcelroy.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
The 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.
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Tim Carmody @tcarmody.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
This is the funniest thing I've seen today, possibly ever
A tweet by SarahStarberry that says "oh god read the vertical axis" on top of a chart measuring AI models' release dates and model numbers rather than any real capabilities
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Is there a possible ranking of local hotspots for political banter in BC?
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Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I 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
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Andrea Woo @andreawoo.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Advance 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.ca
Vancouver's city election made easy
Make your #VancouverVotes plan with the City of Vancouver's election planner. Be prepared for the random order ballot! Plan your vote now.
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Emmett Macfarlane 🇨🇦 @emmettmacfarlane.com · 30/09/2026
POLITICAL 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
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
This 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.google
After 25 years at Little Sister’s, Janine Fuller now faces her toughest battle | Xtra Magazine
Her courage helped define the bookstore and its fight against censorship. Can it see her through now?
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The 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.ca
Alberta Separatism Is Built on a Big Lie | The Walrus
Danielle Smith has turned western grievance into a national unity crisis
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Justin McElroy 🇨🇦 @jmcelroy.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Funny 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.
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Ars Technica @arstechnica.com · 25/09/2026
arstechnica.com
Court rules Trump can blacklist Anthropic for refusing to enable Claude features
Overly constrained AI models" could cause military operations to fail, judges say.
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Jen Love 🇨🇦 🐸 #NoKings @jenlove.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Sounds familiar, considering that I live in Alberta.
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Have any Canadian universities implemented AI-specific policy updates that would govern their decisions on matters like this?
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
theglobeandmail.com
Opinion: The fix B.C. is in: An election without a reason, an opposition without a leader
Scofflaws – people who feel entitled to disregard the laws – exist in any country, but only in Canada do they include the governments that passed them
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hagwil hayetsk @charlesmenzies.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Resident and faculty member Matt Mitchell explores cooling effects of urban forests for birds and bats. charlesmenzies.substack.com/p/cooling-an...
charlesmenzies.substack.com
Cooling and Conservation
a campus as a living lab project
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Ars Technica @arstechnica.com · 24/09/2026
As other poorly issued smart home gadget updates have proven, extraneous technology can spoil a simple product.
arstechnica.com
Owners mourn spoiled food after firmware update bricks Samsung smart fridges
So absurd and embarrassing ..."
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The Verge @theverge.com · 24/09/2026
Despite 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.com
OpenAI agents hacked an Australian government website in search for data
Australia’s leader said it was ‘unacceptable’ OpenAI took months to report the incident.
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I am pretty sure BC ballots will have electronic displays so the candidates' parties can be updated in the moment.
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
So, if the BC Cons win with Doerkson, does he remain leader and become premier or will they trade him out for someone else?
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Yup
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
theglobeandmail.com
Opinion: David Eby’s snap election call is cynical and self-serving
The NDP will be facing a reinvigorated Conservative Party and have to defend its dismal record
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Montreal Gazette @mtlgazette.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Mulcair: Fractured race reflects a divided Quebec montrealgazette.com/opinion/colu...
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Faine Greenwood @faineg.com · 22/09/2026
Folks, 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.com
OpenAI’s President Gave Millions to Trump. He Says It’s for Humanity
In an interview with WIRED, Greg Brockman says his political donations support OpenAI's mission—even if some employees at the company disagree.
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
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ABC News Australia @news.abc.net.au · 22/09/2026
Smart glasses to be banned in all WA public schools
abc.net.au
Smart glasses to be banned from WA public schools
Western Australia's education minister announces smart glasses will be banned from all state schools.
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
theglobeandmail.com
Opinion: 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
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Rachel Gilmore @rachelgilmore.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
A 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!
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
There really should be a Nobel Prize for political cartooning.
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Stephen Quinn @cbcstephenquinn.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Hey 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.com
What is in ABC Vancouver's election platform?
Podcast Episode · This is Vancouver · September 21 · 22m
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
static.klipy.com
Drawing a Circle in Paint
ALT: Drawing a Circle in Paint
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I 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?
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Though soon to get our own Simon's...
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
static.klipy.com
Stephen Colbert Eating Popcorn with 3D Glasses
ALT: Stephen Colbert Eating Popcorn with 3D Glasses
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Tyler Olsen @tyolsen.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
tl;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.
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Michael de Adder @deadder.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
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Jason Markusoff @markusoff.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Food 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.ca
ANALYSIS | The tangled what-ifs of Alberta separation — from trade and treaties to currency and disaster costs | CBC News
Here's some of what to expect when you're extracting the province from Canada.
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I am pretty sure my research on Lie groups would get flagged.
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The Beaverton @thebeaverton.com · 19/09/2026
Carney government promises upcoming "Operation Strike Destroyer" legislation won't discourage future strikes
thebeaverton.com
Carney government promises upcoming "Operation Strike Destroyer" legislation won't discourage future strikes
OTTAWA — 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...
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I 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.
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Michael de Adder @deadder.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
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Mark Mac Lean @marktmaclean.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Something meta about this.
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Alex Usher @alexusherhesa.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
monitor.civicus.org
North Korea: Students executed for watching foreign videos as surveillance and restrictions intensify - Civicus Monitor
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c0nc0rdance @c0nc0rdance.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Brilliant 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.edu
From Algebra to Airplane Crashes, Emmy Noether’s Lasting Influence on Mathematics
Emmy 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...
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Ars Technica @arstechnica.com · 18/09/2026
The people had received IV drips containing glutathione, which is sold—without evidence—for purposes like detoxification, immune support, increased energy, and skin brightening.
arstechnica.com
IV drips used for "detoxification" actually filled with toxins; dozens poisoned
The IV drips included glutathione, which was not made to be injected.
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Rachel Gilmore @rachelgilmore.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Cool, another big pro-corporate, anti-worker move from our Conservative prime minister! I am becoming The Joker Source: www.ctvnews.ca/politics/art...
CTV News article text reads: The sources tell CTV News the gover ment has conveyed to them that the legislation will be aimed at introducing binding mediation before strike action is taken. Industry's message to the government was that its traditional tool to use for binding arbitration, Section 107 of the Canadian Labour Code, can only be applied too late in the labour dispute process and from its perspective, does not adequately prevent the damage caused from a work stoppage.
Several union sources CTV News spoke with are on red alert over the possibility of this legislation and contend it will strip workers of their right to strike. Unifor National President Lana Payne expressed worry on Friday in an interview on The Graham Richardson Show on HeartRadio.
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Justin McElroy 🇨🇦 @jmcelroy.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
When 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.ca
Municipal and provincial elections at the same time in B.C.? Local politicians argue that's a bad idea | CBC News
Every 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...
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