Sign in

Michel Pilon

@mich42.bsky.social
374 followers 147 following 3 posts

He/him. Montreal

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Henry Snow @henrys.now · 15h
"unlike my main competitor I specifically believe our products justify some suffering" is not very good marketing
30508141
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Starfire’s Deranged Neocon Foreign Policy Podcast @irhottakes.bsky.social · 2h
I get that I am biased by my career choice, but I wish people would talk about nukes more and AI less. I mean yes, I get the Terminator you imagined is scary but also:
a simulation of a 5 Mt Dong Feng-5 ICBM hitting New York City. 

Estimated fatalities: 3,096,720
Estimated injuries: 4,699,140
1414413
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Monica H Green @monicamedhist.bsky.social · 2h
#MedievalSky In case your students this week come in w/ questions about the Russian plague case currently in the news, you can tell them: 1) if this is plague (Yersinia pestis), there is nothing unusual about it (a) being in Russia or (b) being the subject of lab research. Plague is worldwide.
The opening of a 2019 study of the 20th-century Soviet system for controlling plague. Citation: Susan D. Jones, Bakyt Atshabar, Boris V. Schmid, Marlene Zuk, Anna Amramina, and Nils Chr. Stenseth. "Living with Plague: Lessons from the Soviet Union's Antiplague Syste," PNAS 116, no. 19 (6 May 2019), 9155-9163, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1817339116.
Abstract: Zoonoses, such as plague, are primarily animal diseases that spill over into human populations. While the goal of eradicating such diseases is enticing, historical experience validates abandoning eradication in favor of ecologically based control strategies (which reduce morbidity and mortality to a locally accepted risk level). During the 20th century, one of the most extensive plague-eradication efforts in recorded history was undertaken to enable large-scale changes in land use in the former Soviet Union (including vast areas of central Asia). Despite expending tremendous resources in its attempt to eradicate plague, the Soviet antiplague response gradually abandoned the goal of eradication in favor of plague control linked with developing basic knowledge of plague ecology. Drawing from this experience, we combine new gray-literature sources, historical and recent research, and fieldwork to outline best practices for the control of spillover from zoonoses while minimally disrupting wildlife ecosystems, and we briefly compare the Soviet case with that of endemic plague in the western United States. We argue for the allocation of sufficient resources to maintain ongoing local surveillance, education, and targeted control measures; to incorporate novel technologies selectively; and to use ecological research to inform developing landscape-based models for transmission interruption. We conclude that living with emergent and reemergent zoonotic diseases—switching to control—opens wider possibilities for interrupting spillover while preserving natural ecosystems, encouraging adaptation to local conditions, and usi…
24424
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Monica H Green @monicamedhist.bsky.social · 2h
2) If this is plague, then it's important to point out that plague (unlike smallpox) was never eradicated. We still live w/ it in many natural environments (including in the U.S.), & that's why we *want* on-going research. The circumstances of this Russian lab accident remain to be clarified.
Chart from a 1955 study counting known incidents of plague found in the United States between 1902 and 1951. Shown are the incidents in Colorado.
Source: Link, Vernon B. A History of Plague in the United States of America, Public Health Service monograph No. 26, 1955.
1175
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Monica H Green @monicamedhist.bsky.social · 2h
3) If they ask, "Is this related to the Black Death?," we need to (a) remind ourselves that we don't yet have specifics about this case (incl. whether this is really Y. pestis), but (b) strains descended from the late medieval proliferation of plague do still persist in the region. This is not news.
1123
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Monica H Green @monicamedhist.bsky.social · 2h
4) It is, however, an excellent time for students to educate themselves about the basics of #PublicHealth & how systems of disease surveillance work. There's a regularly updated bibliography on historical pandemics (see ALT-TEXT). And find good PH people to follow, like @helenbranswell.bsky.social.
The opening page of an #OpenAccess, regularly updated bibliography on the Second Plague Pandemic (Black Death), which is followed by a similar bibliography on the First Plague Pandemic (Justinianic Plague). Here's the link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x0D_dwyAwp9xi9sMCW5UvpGfEVH5J2ZA/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104263744463668175127&rtpof=true&sd=true
1114
Reposted by Michel Pilon
billkittle.bsky.social @billkittle.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
9450681949
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Matthew Gertz @mattgertz.bsky.social · 1h
This is so unsurprising that the NY Times miscounted the number of Trump press secretaries to join Fox News. Leavitt makes 3, not 2: Kayleigh McEnany is a current host, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders was a Fox contributor between the end of her WH tenure in 2019 and her 2021 run for Arkansas gov.
41583128
Reposted by Michel Pilon
André Picard @picardonhealth @picardonhealth.bsky.social · 1h
Measles Outbreak in Amish Country Forces Some to Rethink Vaccines. The spread of measles in Pennsylvania and Ohio is largely affecting Amish communities where vaccinations levels are low, by Anemona Hartocollis, @madeleinehordinski.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/10/04/u... via @nytimes.com
nytimes.com
Measles Outbreak in Amish Country Forces Some to Rethink Vaccines
The spread of measles in Pennsylvania and Ohio is largely affecting Amish communities where vaccinations levels are low.
163
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 13h
FFS… Is it really an accident anymore at this point?
1120161305732
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Crip Dyke @cripdyke.bsky.social · 13h
Seconded. Evil is distinct from crazy.
0247
Reposted by Michel Pilon
ebisback.bsky.social @ebisback.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Insanity 😡
19292433190
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Hemry, Local Bartender @bartenderhemry.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
as near as i can tell from watching the whole exchange, tucker's contention is that the UK becoming a conquered territory of the nazi reich would increase the possibility of hypothetical fascist vassal uk ruling india for longer & this is obviously preferable to hosting allied us troops
1316030
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Hemry, Local Bartender @bartenderhemry.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
we should be clear-eyed about this, this thing where rightwingers take it as a given that global nazi domination is self-evidently better than non-white people self-governing or non-white immigrants existing
213419
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Hemry, Local Bartender @bartenderhemry.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
they are fucking nazis! we're fighting nazis again! i wish it need not have fucking happened in my time!
513415
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Cheryl Rofer @cherylrofer.bsky.social · 14h
Now there's a man who's never been pregnant!
718942
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Christian McIntire @christianmcintire.com · 13h
What an utter idiot. PENGUINS?
Bad AI art of "Trump" with his back to the viewer, snowy mountain in the background, with many penguins dressed in tacky American shit and holding American flags walking toward him, with the word, "Greenland" above the image.
13748
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Amy Kief @mangobee.bsky.social · 13h
Every word of this thread.
04310
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Le Monde in English @english.lemonde.fr · 21h
Heatwaves killed over 8,000 people in France this year. Here are some of their stories
lemonde.fr
Heatwaves killed over 8,000 people in France this year. Here are some of their stories
The French health authorities reported that 8,124 deaths were related to the extreme heatwaves between late May and late August in France. Le Monde spoke to the friends and families of 11 of the victims to find out about the lives behind those numbers.
34873470
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Crawford Kilian @crof.bsky.social · 14h
Worst news of the week:
311220
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Colin Peters (spoopy version) @colinpeters.bsky.social · 14h
“I asked ChatGPT and it told me I didn’t do a sexual harassment.”
422153
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Alan @gammacounter.bsky.social · 18h
I can answer for you this headline's question without even reading the article
screen mri, early detection vs over diagnosis
8664
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Oliver Willis @owillis.bsky.social · 14h
We’ve been hearing for 20 years plus how we should just sit down and have a meal with people who think black, Latino and LGBTQ people are subhumans who must be killed. No.
561530247
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Chronic Illness Humor @chronicillness.bsky.social · 16h
Artist: Roz Chast from The New Yorker
The image shows a black-and-white cartoon titled "The Mind-Body Problem" drawn by Roz Chast for The New Yorker.
It depicts a person slouching on a couch who says "No" in a speech bubble while their mind or head, leaning back, says "Get up."
9797159
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · 13h
We murdered four more people in a boat today
U.S. southern Command: On October 4, under the direction of #SOUTHCOM, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere executed a lethal, kinetic strike on a go-fast vessel operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean. Confirmed intelligence revealed the vessel's active involvement in narco-trafficking. The operation killed four narco-terrorists. @DeptofWar
1032187945
Reposted by Michel Pilon
crooksandliars.bsky.social @crooksandliars.bsky.social · 12h
dlvr.it
Best-Selling Christian Authors From Texas Arrested For Child Abuse And Sexual Abuse
We're starting to see a pattern here, #NotADragQueen #MAGA #Christian
87034
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Jessica Price @delafina777.bsky.social · 14h
This should be so obvious that it doesn’t need to be said, but given what kind of weekend it’s been on here, apparently it does: If you don’t want old rapists running the world, in office, in the board room, making decisions for all of us get comfortable with “ruining” young rapists’ lives
1543081142
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Jessica Price @delafina777.bsky.social · 13h
Stop normalizing sexual assault. Fucking shun people who have done it. Start acting like the victims fucking MATTERED.
376981
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Funranium (AKA Phil Broughton) @funranium.bsky.social · 10h
Ah yes, the classic Lord Farquaad “Some of you may die, but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.” FOR THE GREATER GOOD!
610417
Reposted by Michel Pilon
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 10h
Internet Watch Foundation reports huge rise in AI child sexual abuse material
theguardian.com
Internet Watch Foundation reports huge rise in AI child sexual abuse material
Abuse material monitor says number of AI images assessed this year is already 40% higher than last year’s total AI-generated child sexual abuse material is proliferating online, with the amount of illegal material investigated this year already exceeding the total for 2025. Analysts at the Internet Watch Foundation have found more photorealistic child sexual abuse material in the first half of 2026 than for the whole of the prior year. The UK-based IWF, which monitors abuse material globally, said it had assessed 6,310 AI images that met the legal definition of child sexual abuse, 40% higher than last year’s total of more than 4,500. Continue reading...
914584
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Paul J. Dauenhauer @pauldauenhauer.bsky.social · 22h
The amount of genius insight to human psychology in this 1.5 minute bit is incredible www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgf4... @mariabamford.bsky.social @pattonoswalt.bsky.social
youtube.com
Maria Bamford: "Why does everything have to be so good?" | Aug. 19, 2023
YouTube video by The Kennedy Center
837138
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Mr. Joshua @pantspants.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
A man stands at the ticket counter of a movie theater. An employee asks if he’d like to upgrade his ticket. “Would you like to upgrade to Cinema VIP? You can pause the film for bathroom breaks.”  Our man is intrigued by the offer. Next slide. Inside the movie theater. The film has been paused and the movie screen lets the audience know: “PAUSED FOR VIP.” Our man stands at the center of the theater with his hands raised and a VIP badge attached to a lanyard around his neck. He’s part of the Cinema VIP program but at what cost? The other patrons have become increasingly upset with the pauses. A chorus of angry voices rain down on the VIP from around the theater. “Sit down, toilet boy,” one woman yells. She’s had enough of his potty breaks. “Oh COME on.” “Get this guy outta here.” “He ruined the trailers, too.” “Take his badge.” “3 times?!” “Put a diaper on.”
243241706
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 12h
It’s confusing that @theatlantic.com described this man as a “a lifelong Democrat who had voted for Trump for the first time in 2024” who when these are some of his very easily findable FB posts:
12949601079
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Michelle says: Be kind. Always. ❤️ @snarkysillysad.bsky.social · 22h
Specifically for @gizmosspace.bsky.social and #AGoodPlace Source: www.reddit.com/r/BeAmazed/s...
1322036
Reposted by Michel Pilon
The Vertlartnic @thev.bsky.social · 5h
Is It Time To Stop Avoiding The Plague Like The Plague
A happy scientist
Headline:
Is It Time To Stop Avoiding The Plague Like The Plague
STory by Verity Verity Isayuntothee and Grant Mestrength

Photo from Adobe
010329
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 13h
I really hope whatever is happening in Russia stays in Russia, because the Trump admin isn’t equipped for a public health emergency. 📌 A worker at an anti-plague research institute in Siberia died after developing pneumonia of unknown origin. Nearly 200 people are reportedly under observation
1231571546
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 14h
If you’ve been paying attention, it appears that Trump has had at least one stroke. Possibly a few. And the bulges and strange posture we have been seeing are because he’s wearing an exoskeleton.
1151206426
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 04/10/2026
Calling alleged rape “bad decisions” isn’t a defense of due process. It’s victim-blaming dressed up as an op-ed. If anyone thinks the Cornell 7 are experiencing an unfair rush to judgment, imagine if they were Black men. There would be another Trump-style Central Park Five ad. Or worse.
501052352
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 04/10/2026
(Above Left: Social media headline. Above Right: once you open it) You can believe in the presumption of innocence w/out putting the victim on trial.
113924
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Melissa @melissa1968.bsky.social · 23h
A woman wrote this? I bet SHE would want to be believed. Holy shit. This is awful.
1151
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Jenz @jenzunleashed.bsky.social · 20h
Well… Andrew Tate’s rape victim was an influencer who has previously said that rape victims should take responsibility for getting drunk and having sex. Then it happened to her. She initially didn’t want to come forward because it would be bad for her brand/ career.
042
Reposted by Michel Pilon
dinerlee.bsky.social @dinerlee.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
No one denies that Jane Doe was drunk and drugged, and semi- or unconscious over a 7-hr period. No one denies that in that state, she was purveyed to an entire fraternity as “free pussy upstairs.” Anything that happened to her during that time is rape.
3537
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 04/10/2026
I guess it’s just a coincidence that Elon Musk comes out of the woodwork before every major election and gets handed a government position with major consequences for the American people. 🤔
1001923878
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Sarah Taber @sarahtaber.bsky.social · 19h
Right? That's a culture of sweeping it under the rug. You can also simply let Uncle John pop off, and then find out everyone thinks he's an asshole. Use him as a teaching moment for the kids. Or "sure John you can talk about lizard people, but only when you're doing dishes."
518126
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Sarah Taber @sarahtaber.bsky.social · 19h
There are SO many ways for siblings & heads of family to set real boundaries on what is acceptable behavior. A whole lot of people just opted for "sweep it under the rug" instead. And then we act surprised that the rug is now lumpy as hell & approximately at eye level.
214917
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Sarah Taber @sarahtaber.bsky.social · 19h
And if you're thinking "You can't just let Uncle John pop off!" because deep down you know a lot of the family agrees with him, See my original point: "There have always been a lot of cranks."
2892
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin @ecmclaughlin.bsky.social · 5h
I still remember getting my first email address as a freshman in college. It was the coolest thing ever and no one was screaming YOU BETTER ADOPT THIS OR WE’RE ALL DEAD.
1278394
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Sarah Taber @sarahtaber.bsky.social · 20h
YES. Jefferson, noted human trafficker, had his friends write about how Adams was "mentally deranged….a hideous hermaphroditical character" Cranks have been with us all along folks
1022927
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Sarah Taber @sarahtaber.bsky.social · 19h
But even more impressive, people actually went for it. This is a non-trivial part of how Jefferson became president of the US. To paraphrase Obi-Wn Kenobi, Who's the bigger crank... the crank, or the crank who follows him?
2895
Reposted by Michel Pilon
Jean-Michel Connard @torriangray.bsky.social · 12h
Meta claims they just can’t do anything to deal with accounts posting a constant flood of obvious bigotry, but suddenly they’re super villains when it comes to identifying and censoring LGBTQ content.
1559