Arjun Basu
@arjun.bsky.social
Writer. Latest novel, The Reeds, out now. Proud Montrealer/Fier Montréalais. Beer league hockey. Habs. Board member Access Copyright. A "Certified Elder.” Brand/content consultant. Host a podcast about the future of magazines. https://linktr.ee/arjunbasu
I’m going out. I will drink. Maybe eat a canapé. I won’t win the award my book is up for. (There’s no way). I’ll drink some more. I’ll return home.
That’s the plan.
That’s the plan.
November 10, 2025 at 10:41 PM
I’m going out. I will drink. Maybe eat a canapé. I won’t win the award my book is up for. (There’s no way). I’ll drink some more. I’ll return home.
That’s the plan.
That’s the plan.
They started as bad actors and then kind of cared about their reputation and then they became a juggernaut and starting lying about the numbers and data and stopped caring about their reputation. They are what they are: big and rich.
If 10% of my business was based on defrauding and scamming people, and was called a "pillar of the global fraud economy", I would have some serious moral qualms about my business. Not our friends at Meta though.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show
Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, and it internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day, company documents show.
www.reuters.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:57 PM
They started as bad actors and then kind of cared about their reputation and then they became a juggernaut and starting lying about the numbers and data and stopped caring about their reputation. They are what they are: big and rich.
Stupid feels even more stupid on a Monday.
November 10, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Stupid feels even more stupid on a Monday.
Reposted by Arjun Basu
Yeah it seems like the best political move is to give into this guy
November 9, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Yeah it seems like the best political move is to give into this guy
Reposted by Arjun Basu
"Far from a peak, China's gasoline demand is estimated to have fallen 9% in October on the year to 12.5 million tons, with average daily use roughly flat with September..."
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
EVs put an end to China's usual holiday surge in gasoline use
Tianyu Jiang took a 2,000-km (1,200-mile) road trip this month during China's national holiday week, driving in his electric vehicle from the southwestern Sichuan basin to Beijing for the first time.
www.reuters.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:18 PM
"Far from a peak, China's gasoline demand is estimated to have fallen 9% in October on the year to 12.5 million tons, with average daily use roughly flat with September..."
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
China's oil demand is entering structural decline.
Reposted by Arjun Basu
The bumper says 'rugged working man'.
But the cargo bed says ‘cosplay builder with soft hands’.
Time to ban these fragile-man-mobiles from our cities.
But the cargo bed says ‘cosplay builder with soft hands’.
Time to ban these fragile-man-mobiles from our cities.
November 9, 2025 at 9:35 AM
The bumper says 'rugged working man'.
But the cargo bed says ‘cosplay builder with soft hands’.
Time to ban these fragile-man-mobiles from our cities.
But the cargo bed says ‘cosplay builder with soft hands’.
Time to ban these fragile-man-mobiles from our cities.
You should listen to this pod. It will make you feel better about things without ever forgetting that bad stuff is happening.
New pod. About a magazine that is timely and trying to break through the corporate media bubble and introduce English speakers to what’s being said elsewhere. A tall order. And a much needed one. Available below and wherever you listen to podcasts. @magazeum.bsky.social
magazeum.co/content/tran...
magazeum.co/content/tran...
Lost in Translator — Magazeum
A conversation with Translator founder Charles Emmerson.
magazeum.co
November 9, 2025 at 9:21 PM
You should listen to this pod. It will make you feel better about things without ever forgetting that bad stuff is happening.
Train Dreams is a tremendously beautiful and moving film.
(Still in the afterglow so I’m biased.)
(Still in the afterglow so I’m biased.)
November 9, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Train Dreams is a tremendously beautiful and moving film.
(Still in the afterglow so I’m biased.)
(Still in the afterglow so I’m biased.)
What we talk about when we talk about nostalgia
Madeline Horwath on two kinds of nostalgia – cartoon
Hankering after 20th-century culture just isn’t what it used to be
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:58 PM
What we talk about when we talk about nostalgia
Reposted by Arjun Basu
just feels right to be Like 666 on this historic image
November 8, 2025 at 5:38 PM
just feels right to be Like 666 on this historic image
Just when you think….
I can’t even complete the thought
I can’t even complete the thought
November 8, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Just when you think….
I can’t even complete the thought
I can’t even complete the thought
The black work of Big Oil
open.substack.com/pub/cribb/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/cribb/p/...
The black work of Big Oil
Now is the sinister time of year when the Barons of Big Oil gather together, under the auspices of the United Nations and with the blessing of most world leaders, to celebrate the 350 million needless...
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:37 PM
The black work of Big Oil
open.substack.com/pub/cribb/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/cribb/p/...
Reposted by Arjun Basu
Hi Bluesky 👋
Small life update: I’m at the centre of a multimillion dollar lawsuit in Alberta launched by a failed candidate for Jason Kenney’s UCP
It may be the longest and most expensive media trial in Canadian history
I’m ready to go public about it and I want to share more details with you 🧵
Small life update: I’m at the centre of a multimillion dollar lawsuit in Alberta launched by a failed candidate for Jason Kenney’s UCP
It may be the longest and most expensive media trial in Canadian history
I’m ready to go public about it and I want to share more details with you 🧵
November 7, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Hi Bluesky 👋
Small life update: I’m at the centre of a multimillion dollar lawsuit in Alberta launched by a failed candidate for Jason Kenney’s UCP
It may be the longest and most expensive media trial in Canadian history
I’m ready to go public about it and I want to share more details with you 🧵
Small life update: I’m at the centre of a multimillion dollar lawsuit in Alberta launched by a failed candidate for Jason Kenney’s UCP
It may be the longest and most expensive media trial in Canadian history
I’m ready to go public about it and I want to share more details with you 🧵
How many weeks did you experience in the past 7 days?
November 7, 2025 at 7:37 PM
How many weeks did you experience in the past 7 days?
Reposted by Arjun Basu
"China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels. "
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
China’s clean-energy revolution will reshape markets and politics
The world’s biggest manufacturer now has an interest in the world decarbonising
www.economist.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:45 PM
"China is now making more money from exporting green technology than America makes from exporting fossil fuels. "
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
www.economist.com/leaders/2025...
New pod. About a magazine that is timely and trying to break through the corporate media bubble and introduce English speakers to what’s being said elsewhere. A tall order. And a much needed one. Available below and wherever you listen to podcasts. @magazeum.bsky.social
magazeum.co/content/tran...
magazeum.co/content/tran...
Lost in Translator — Magazeum
A conversation with Translator founder Charles Emmerson.
magazeum.co
November 7, 2025 at 5:36 PM
New pod. About a magazine that is timely and trying to break through the corporate media bubble and introduce English speakers to what’s being said elsewhere. A tall order. And a much needed one. Available below and wherever you listen to podcasts. @magazeum.bsky.social
magazeum.co/content/tran...
magazeum.co/content/tran...
Reposted by Arjun Basu
New meme just dropped
November 7, 2025 at 5:33 PM
New meme just dropped
Sam Altman’s pants are totally on fire
open.substack.com/pub/garymarc...
open.substack.com/pub/garymarc...
Sam Altman’s pants are totally on fire
Even for him, his latest whopper is something
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Sam Altman’s pants are totally on fire
open.substack.com/pub/garymarc...
open.substack.com/pub/garymarc...
The best thing about life before the internet was everyone's ignorance of practically everyone else's opinion. About anything. Not only did we not care, there was no outlet in which I had to decide whether to care or not.
the venn diagram of blue jays fans and blue jays fans who give a fuck what jason kelce thinks of their team is most likely two circles
#NEW: ‘I’m supposed to get excited about a Canadian baseball team?’: Jason Kelce slams hype over Blue Jays World Series run
November 7, 2025 at 4:18 PM
The best thing about life before the internet was everyone's ignorance of practically everyone else's opinion. About anything. Not only did we not care, there was no outlet in which I had to decide whether to care or not.
Reposted by Arjun Basu
One of the most beautiful things about the Irish is their respect for the arts. You find live music at most bars, I went to a literary pub crawl & saw monuments & museums dedicated to writers, poets, musicians, etc.
They understand the value of supporting artists & I wish Canada did, too.
They understand the value of supporting artists & I wish Canada did, too.
Ireland is locking down basic income for artists. Could Canada follow suit? | CBC Radio
Ireland has made permanent its three-year pilot program that gave monthly income payments to thousands of artists. Canadian artists are hoping to use that program's success to build momentum for guara...
www.cbc.ca
November 7, 2025 at 4:05 PM
One of the most beautiful things about the Irish is their respect for the arts. You find live music at most bars, I went to a literary pub crawl & saw monuments & museums dedicated to writers, poets, musicians, etc.
They understand the value of supporting artists & I wish Canada did, too.
They understand the value of supporting artists & I wish Canada did, too.
Reposted by Arjun Basu
You know what they say about competent authoritarians: the train ran on time
If you just cancel flights, then they're actually not late! Brilliant stuff from Sean Duffy here
November 7, 2025 at 4:12 PM
You know what they say about competent authoritarians: the train ran on time
These are the environmental programs to be cut under Carney’s first budget: thenarwhal.ca/carney-budge...
How Carney’s first budget impacts the environment | The Narwhal
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first budget scales back many Trudeau-era environmental programs and creates a youth climate corps
thenarwhal.ca
November 7, 2025 at 3:27 PM
These are the environmental programs to be cut under Carney’s first budget: thenarwhal.ca/carney-budge...
Reposted by Arjun Basu
Sudan is experiencing the largest humanitarian crisis ever recorded.
12 million people have been displaced — that is the population of the state of Georgia. And more than 635,000 people are facing famine.
We must push for an arms embargo on Sudan and get aid in immediately.
12 million people have been displaced — that is the population of the state of Georgia. And more than 635,000 people are facing famine.
We must push for an arms embargo on Sudan and get aid in immediately.
November 7, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Sudan is experiencing the largest humanitarian crisis ever recorded.
12 million people have been displaced — that is the population of the state of Georgia. And more than 635,000 people are facing famine.
We must push for an arms embargo on Sudan and get aid in immediately.
12 million people have been displaced — that is the population of the state of Georgia. And more than 635,000 people are facing famine.
We must push for an arms embargo on Sudan and get aid in immediately.
Reposted by Arjun Basu
New College is a good metaphor for the whole MAGA project
Chris Rufo/Ron DeSantis overhauled New College and made it "the most financially inefficient school in the university system"
Degree yield is 19%, 2nd-worst in Fla.
Operating funds per student at New College: $83,207
Same category at Univ of Florida: $45,765
www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/e...
Degree yield is 19%, 2nd-worst in Fla.
Operating funds per student at New College: $83,207
Same category at Univ of Florida: $45,765
www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/e...
New College of Florida shows soaring expenses as state targets 'woke waste'
A report by Florida DOGE found that Sarasota's New College is the most financially inefficient school in the university system.
www.heraldtribune.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:13 PM
New College is a good metaphor for the whole MAGA project
The latest budget out of Ottawa suuuuuuucked. For many reasons.
Real Investment in Cultural Sovereignty Missing from Federal Budget | The Writers' Union of Canada
writersunion.ca
November 7, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The latest budget out of Ottawa suuuuuuucked. For many reasons.