iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Big fight feel at Canada Games Stadium for UNBSJ as the Seawolves take on the STU Tommies, delay in kickoff but the women's game is underway on YouTube, with the men's game to follow: youtube.com/@acaaaasc?si...

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

On the mic today at Canada Games Stadium as the UNB Saint John Seawolves take on the Crandall University Chargers! Women's team won 5-0 and the men's match is now underway. www.youtube.com/live/OLlWKQX...

Soccer teams warm up as the Operation White Heart tribute is seen at the halfway line.

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Two games two wins yesterday, and back at it again on YouTube at 1 pm and 3:15 pm AT: youtube.com/@acaaaasc?si...

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

At Canada Games Stadium on the mic for the UNBSJ Seawolves home openers! Streaming live on YouTube at 1 and 3:15: youtube.com/@acaaaasc?si...

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Was sent this photo just after 1 a.m. from Highway 97 in B.C., near the Bald Range wildfire:

A view from the passenger seat of a vehicle shows flames on top of a ridge next to Highway 97.

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Was flying out of YLW in Kelowna tonight but an attendant came out to tell travellers that the airspace is closed due to the Bald Range wildfire in Summerland: "It's out of control, this fire, so I'm sorry, we're not rebooking."

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

This is an official FIFA statement

Screenshot of instagram post credited to gianni_infantino and fifa: "Indeed, 'arguable' referees' decisions or 'strange' disciplinary rulings such as for instance potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide.

It's curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.

This FIFA World Cup celebrated humanity at its best."

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

lmao bluesky journo guy Hunter Walker, who I generally like, blocked me for politely clarifying his factcheck post regarding Ronaldo's red card ban and I was like ????

Hunter Walker‬
@hunterw.bsky.social‬
I don't disagree with the main takeaway of this story but there's a pretty big error for a sportswriter in graf 5.

The last time FIFA allowed a red carded competitor to play the next game of the World Cup wasn't 1962.

It was Ronaldo in the start of this tournament as has been widely covered.

Hunter Walker‬
@hunterw.bsky.social‬
I am going to put this here once since a few people are like debating the circumstances of these cards. I am not doing that here just noting the story had something off. Balogun just isnt the first time in 40 plus years FIFA allowed a red carded player to play their next Cup match.

Hunter Walker‬
@hunterw.bsky.social‬
I know Balogun's card was different circumstances than Ronaldo's promise! The sentence is also just wrong since a red carded player was allowed to play their next Cup match.

Andrew Bates
teambates.bsky.social

Ronaldo did serve one match of his red card ban, in that case it was the bonus matches that were waived, not the automatic one match ban.

*Post Blocked

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Well Belgium's point is "red cards are an automatic ban for us, but not for them?" And they're right. I think it's not correct to say that the red broke any rules: by the letter of the law the tackle certainly could qualify. Question is about discretion and if the card is being given consistently

Serious foul play
A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Women’s rights and also women’s wrongs

The U.S. erased three deficits in the semifinal, but the game will forever be remembered for a delay-of-game call made by Norwegian referee Christiana Pedersen on Canadian goalkeeper Erin McLeod. Reports surfaced after the game that American forward Abby Wambach was counting out the seconds as McLeod held the ball, thus influencing Pedersen in making the call.

“I think I blacked out in that moment (when the call was made),” Wambach told Sportsnet this week as the American team trained in Alliston, Ont.

“Did I think the referee was going to make that call? No, I just wanted her to hurry the goalkeeper up, you know what I mean?”

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

We are locked in at Saint John's @area506fest.bsky.social container village for Canada-Morocco #canmnt

I'm seen with Sam at the Saint John World Cup watch party

Fans line the balcony at the container village

Rows of fans in chairs watch a soccer game on a big screen

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

France versus Paraguay in the next round #worldcup

In a Simpsons screenshot, two Krustys are seen with the French flag (the "tricolor") and the Paraguay flag. Subtitle reads: "I'm seeing double here. Six couleurs."

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Just a massive day to be one of the nominees of the 2023 Ballon D'Or #worldcup

2023 Ballon D'Or results: 1st Lionel Messi, 2nd Erling Haaland, 3rd Kylian Mbappé

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Fans braving the rain at the @area506fest.bsky.social container village watch party in Saint John N.B. #worldcup #CANvQAT @thevoyageurs.bsky.social

Fans huddle under umbrellas and canopies Thursday at a Canada vs Qatar watch party

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Holy shit I just hit credits on this and it was so good

Screenshot with main pane showing Violet, an engineer wearing blue, standing in front of a window from which the shattered moon can be seen, with Rose, an engineer wearing red, visible in a second pane. On-screen text: "Rose: 'They'll be stranded in space forever, so let's make sure they've got a few good books at least?' "

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Checking out the Saint John Shamrocks #NBPSL season opener in misty Shamrock Park:

Saint John Shamrocks players in green and white go forward as Fredericton Reds players go on defence. A man in a black jacket holds a camera on the sidelines.

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Big day for disciples of Kiss Me To The Moon #paradisekiller

LADY LOVE DIES: May you always live in the shadow.
SAM DAY BREAK: And may you reach the moon.

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Weathergirl by @flavorfoley.bsky.social except the weather looks like snow

Weathergirl from the Flavor Foley MV except she is wearing earmuffs and a scarf and mitts and holding a shovel

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Just saw What We Dreamed of Then, filmed in Saint John, and it was really, really, good. A well-told personal story about an unraveling and a really sensitive portrayal of unseen homelessness. Elements of Nomadland and The Last Five Years, NB looked great on screen but I think it could play anywhere

Director Taylor Olsen speaks on stage for a Q&A following a screening of What We Dreamed Of Then at Saint John's Imperial Theatre Thursday.

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

Another thing about this framing that's so busted is that the part that was "expected to provoke" is that he's not white/Anglo. It's often the targets of bigotry depicted as acting out, when in fact it's bigots driving the conversation and the targets are just existing, putting out bangers

washingtonpost.com bluesky post: "Analysis: Weeks before he set foot on the stage, Bad Bunny’s halftime performance had already become a media event. But if you were looking for political commentary, the closest that you got was when he said “God bless America” in English."
Link headline: "Analysis | Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show was expected to provoke. Did it?"
Link subhead:
"The Bad Bunny Super Bowl show nodded to injustices in Puerto Rico but mostly evoked wholesome family values that meshed with the more sentimental commercials."

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

How is this going to affect the market for imaginary MLS prospect Cayden Brayden-Grayden

Screenshot of a tweet from BC_Bryson on May 11, 2023: There was a tweet a while back about Major League Soccer that was something to the effect of "MLS absolutely bangs because every week some 19-year old named Cayden Brayden Grayden will pull out some world-class shit and then literally Gonzalo Higuaín will miss a sitter"

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

I cannot believe they thought the one thing metroid was missing was a shitty little guy who yells "eek!" every time a monster shoots at you

The new Metroid Prime 4 ally character MacKenzie is seen in a screenshot superfluously reminding you that "it might be a good idea to check the map."

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

Samus is a magical girl in this one confirmed

Samus is surrounded by glittering purple psychic energy in a transformation sequence from Metroid Prime 4

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

I was like "what does it mean by horse lobby" and then, when I saw it, it seemed obvious

Watcher is seen in front of a directional sign in a staircase indicating "Horse Lobby" in a screenshot from 1000xResist

Watcher is seen in the Horse Lobby, looking at a silver statue of a horse standing alone in the centre of a circular room in a screenshot from 1000xResist

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Just did a playthrough of @despelote.game and it's very pretty, one of the more cinematic games I've ever played, in that it's very intentional about what it's showing you but interpretive for the viewer. Recommended for anyone who likes both soccer and art. Here's my attempt at drawing a frog:

A screenshot of a video game shows papers on the ground with childlike drawings, one of which you are drawing as the player

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

My YouTube Music recap, which I assume just collects what I would have watched on YouTube because I don't use the streaming service, is great, got rekt by @jamies.page

YouTube Music screenshot: "Your top songs of 2025: 1. Static, FLAVOR FOLEY, 69 minutes. 2. Machine Love, Jamie Paige. 3. BIRDBRAIN, Jamie Paige. 4. Radiant Revival, Jamie Paige. 5. ROT FOR CLOUT, Jamie Paige and Visualeyes."

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

Massive massive moments for the Caps in the conference semis versus LAFC LET'S GOOOOO #vwfc

Bates wearing Whitecaps jersey and Southsiders scarf with Caps paraphernalia in the background

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

lmao @mls.bsky.social's bracket challenge is gated to the U.S., love this both for fans of Canadian teams and the idea that they're trying to market to fans in Mexico through Leagues Cup

Onscreen text reads: "UNABLE TO ACCESS
It looks like you're outside the USA and therefore unable to participate in this year's MLS Cup Bracket Challenge. There's still plenty of MLS Cup Playoffs action to follow along - learn more to keep up with the latest."

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Big win for UNBSJ women's Seawolves, who hand MSVU their first loss of the season 2-0 and set up a last-day showdown with UKC tomorrow for an #ACAA playoff spot. Men's Seawolves now 1-0 up against the Mystics in the first half

Players for the UNBSJ women's soccer team celebrate in a huddle on the field as referees walk off in the foreground.

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Tight finish in the first half of a UNBSJ-STU double header as the Seawolves women's team wins 3-2 after leading at halftime. Men's teams just kicked off for game 2 #acaa

St. Thomas University sends in a corner late in the second half.

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Not all the photos are there but here's some Folks I Remembered @defector.com

Immaculate Footy x Defector's Some Players I Remember: Edgar Davids, Rob Friend, Paul Stalteri, Joe Cannon, Sophie Schmidt, Melissa Tancredi, Kei Kamara, Tim Parker, Julian Gressel

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Ruben Amorim just driving around Manchester in loops right now listening to Bobycageon by the Tragically Hip

Photo of Ruben Amorim with the news headline: "Amorim thinks about quitting Man United: 'Sometimes I hate my players' "

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Garrett's reign continues unabated

Graph shows the leader at 988 efforts in the last 90 days, with the next runner up in the 250-effort range

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Looking around for local events and found this delightful one: Stop Garrett

Event page titled Stop Garrett, Sunday at 6 PM. Photo of a stop sign and a man's face.

Legend has it that on James Rolfe Sports Field in Quispamsis, a local runner - Garrett - is responsible for over 50% of the Strava activity on that location. (That means he is running so much on that location that he clocks majority of the laps that are completed there, OVER EVERYBODY ELSE COMBINED.)

While Garrett, the Mr Fantastic of frisbee, is a thoughtful, supportive and fun person, this inequality cannot stand - because reasons.

The purpose of this event is to get all of us to run/walk the James Rolfe Sports Field and upload their activity to Strava for the month of August to ruin Garrett's statistics with the goal of bringing down his activity contribution to that location to 10% or less. Ideally less.

This is challenging, Garrett knows we are doing this, so he will up the ante, but I think we can do it.

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

Other moments (or locations) in my personal Cars Where They Shouldn't Be Hall of Fame:

2016 Ubyssey article titled "Another day, another car on the stairs" showing a van stranded on the steps outside of the Totem Park residence at UBC Vancouver

2018 Toronto Life article titled "Nine times drivers couldn't resist the pull of the Queens Quay streetcar tunnel" with a photo of a Ford SUV stuck in there

2023 quote tweet by me reads "Cars Where They Shouldn't Be: The Movie" over a video of a Nissan Micra which drove through a train station in Italy and onto the tracks

2023 post shows SUV high-centred on a bright yellow barricade in Vancouver

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

NB Housing Minister @davidhickey.bsky.social to Saint John Pride: "I want to reassure you that you now have a provincial government that is going to stand up for this community"

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Mayor Donna Reardon to Saint John Pride: "That's growing every year ... that visibility drives the change we need"

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Cross-border message from Bangor Pride to Saint John Pride:

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Saint John Pride! More than 300 marchers, including the mayors of Saint John and Grand Bay-Westfield. Stunning vibes at the parade and at the Area 506 village after

Saint John Mayor Donna Reardon, right, with Coun. Mariah Darling and others in the city's Pride parade float.

Marchers with TD carry a large Progress flag down St. Patrick's Street in Saint John during the 2025 Pride parade.

Representatives from Grand Bay-Westfield, including Mayor Brittany Merrifield, march in Saint John's 2025 Pride parade

Saint John Pride attendees watch the parade marshall's speech at the Area 506 Container Village.

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

Death from Above 1979 and Cancer Bats were also great Saturday, the loudest of the three lineups by far

Death from Above 1979 play Saturday at Area 506

Liam Cormier runs onstage for the Cancer Bats set

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

Saturday pics from Area 506: Alexisonfire brought happiness by the kilowatt to the waterfront

Fans put their hands in the air for Alexisonfire

George Petit sings during the Alexisonfire set

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

Oh and here’s the shot of Matt Mays onstage with Broken Social Scene to do Sweetest Kill

Matt Mays, right, Kevin Drew, Hannah Georgas and Andrew Whiteman sing on Broken Social Scene’s “Sweetest Kill”

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

It was my first time seeing Matt Mays and he was extremely good, had the crowd in the palm of his hand (literally!) Also made it for Last Call and Kingston Collective, who were great #area506

Matt Mays sings to the crowd while standing on the fence at Area 506

Matt Mays hollers on the microphone at Area 506

Will Maber sings as The Last Call from Saint John play Friday.

The Kingston Collective are seen on stage at Area 506 Friday.

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 02/08/2025

My Area 506 weekend story is up: tj.news/saint-john-s... On night one, Broken Social Scene split the coast in half with Hannah Georgas (and, briefly, Matt Mays!)

Charles Spearin and Evan Cranley of Broken Social Scene holler before jumping in on horns

Andrew Whiteman of Broken Social Scene croons as Brendan Canning plays on

Hannah Georgas jumped on the female lead vocals with Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene

Wide shot shows the crowd in the Area 506 tent during Broken Social Scene

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Andrew Bates @teambates.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

Good media news: New Brunswick Media Guild members in Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John have voted to ratify a new three-year contract with Postmedia

We would like to announce our successful ratification vote for a new three year contract between New Brunswick Media Guild CWA Canada Local 30664 and Postmedia. The local includes pressroom staff in Moncton and reporters in the Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John newsrooms.

It was a long, tough bargaining cycle. Many thanks to our dedicated and hard-working bargaining team Alan Cochrane Christian Slaunwhite Patrick Legay Steve Llewellyn.

This new agreement combines three existing contracts in New Brunswick into one and offers solid gains for both parties. Our membership will receive two per cent annual increases over the three year deal.

We are pleased to have reached a deal which will provide some stability for our members and we are proud to continue serving citizens of New Brunswick with quality journalism.

David Arsenault
President CWA Local 30664
New Brunswick Media Guild

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