Austin Corbett
@austincorbett.bsky.social
Criminal Defence Lawyer, with musings on the confluence of tech, social policy, and law. Occasionally video games.
www.bottoslaw.ca
www.bottoslaw.ca
Pinned
Austin Corbett
@austincorbett.bsky.social
· May 31
“Twenty years for nothing, well, that’s nothing new.”
Reposted by Austin Corbett
Don't call the cops on someone in a mental health crisis unless you want them dead.
Three former San Antonio police officers were acquitted on Monday of all charges related to the fatal shooting of a woman who appeared to be having a mental health crisis when they were dispatched to her apartment in 2023. nyti.ms/4qRnvvT
3 San Antonio Officers Acquitted in Fatal Shooting of Woman in 2023
Melissa Perez, 46, swung a hammer in their direction and appeared to be in distress in her home when the officers arrived, officials said.
nyti.ms
November 10, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Don't call the cops on someone in a mental health crisis unless you want them dead.
Reposted by Austin Corbett
My granny never got over the First World War. She lost so many relatives, neighbours, school mates. She shared stories of the trenches to me and my sister.
I write about her, Canada's "100 Days" and the staggering price we paid to end the First World War.
charlieangus.substack.com/p/canadas-10...
I write about her, Canada's "100 Days" and the staggering price we paid to end the First World War.
charlieangus.substack.com/p/canadas-10...
Canada's 100 Days: A Remembrance Day Reflection
On the 11th hour of the 11th month of the 11th day, everything stops in Canada.
charlieangus.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:56 PM
My granny never got over the First World War. She lost so many relatives, neighbours, school mates. She shared stories of the trenches to me and my sister.
I write about her, Canada's "100 Days" and the staggering price we paid to end the First World War.
charlieangus.substack.com/p/canadas-10...
I write about her, Canada's "100 Days" and the staggering price we paid to end the First World War.
charlieangus.substack.com/p/canadas-10...
Reposted by Austin Corbett
Teachers and unions were first (Bill 2).
Trans Albertans are next (Bill 9).
The UCP's 2025 AGM Resolutions reveal a much longer list of folks whose rights are at risk from the party's use of the notwithstanding clause.
Trans Albertans are next (Bill 9).
The UCP's 2025 AGM Resolutions reveal a much longer list of folks whose rights are at risk from the party's use of the notwithstanding clause.
November 12, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Teachers and unions were first (Bill 2).
Trans Albertans are next (Bill 9).
The UCP's 2025 AGM Resolutions reveal a much longer list of folks whose rights are at risk from the party's use of the notwithstanding clause.
Trans Albertans are next (Bill 9).
The UCP's 2025 AGM Resolutions reveal a much longer list of folks whose rights are at risk from the party's use of the notwithstanding clause.
Reposted by Austin Corbett
Every day, I become more convinced that populists are more lazy than crazy.
Pluralism requires a lot of work. Building consensus, working with divergent interests, working with checks and balances.
Populists skip all that, ginning up fear, fake majorities, and a shallow sense of the public good.
Pluralism requires a lot of work. Building consensus, working with divergent interests, working with checks and balances.
Populists skip all that, ginning up fear, fake majorities, and a shallow sense of the public good.
February 20, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Every day, I become more convinced that populists are more lazy than crazy.
Pluralism requires a lot of work. Building consensus, working with divergent interests, working with checks and balances.
Populists skip all that, ginning up fear, fake majorities, and a shallow sense of the public good.
Pluralism requires a lot of work. Building consensus, working with divergent interests, working with checks and balances.
Populists skip all that, ginning up fear, fake majorities, and a shallow sense of the public good.
A great and timely story: it's time for a change of pace in mood. Most Canadians aren't as vitriolicly angry in person as online. We just want stability and peace. Many also clocking the political games the Provincial UCP gov't has been playing!
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Doorstep concerns contrast to online vitriol, say some returning incumbents
Candidates say public mood at the doorstop very different from what was seen on social media
edmontonjournal.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:12 AM
A great and timely story: it's time for a change of pace in mood. Most Canadians aren't as vitriolicly angry in person as online. We just want stability and peace. Many also clocking the political games the Provincial UCP gov't has been playing!
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Reposted by Austin Corbett
... and tastawiyiniwak: 26.1
Again this comes after the Alberta government mandated an end to electronic vote counters edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
Again this comes after the Alberta government mandated an end to electronic vote counters edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
Bill 20: Municipalities warn Alberta ban on electronic vote counters will cost taxpayers 'millions'
The province says reverting to hand-counting will boost faith in election results, but couldn't point to any issues with electronic counters
edmontonjournal.com
October 21, 2025 at 4:12 PM
... and tastawiyiniwak: 26.1
Again this comes after the Alberta government mandated an end to electronic vote counters edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
Again this comes after the Alberta government mandated an end to electronic vote counters edmontonjournal.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Austin Corbett
Get ready - UCP is about to pass a law saying who's allowed to run in elections next time. Only the "serious" need apply. Is this partisan? No answer to that. Column.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #abpol #cdnpoli #ableg #ableg #yycvote #yyc #yyccc
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu... #abpol #cdnpoli #ableg #ableg #yycvote #yyc #yyccc
Braid: UCP will decide who can run for office next time; only the "serious" allowed
UCP plans new rules to limit who can run in provincial and civic elections. There's a bill coming soon.
calgaryherald.com
October 20, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Reposted by Austin Corbett
Premier Danielle Smith’s claims about the Wyant report into the Alberta Health Services contract scandal are contradicted by the report itself. #abpoli
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
Smith Still Faces Questions in the Dodgy Contracts Scandal | The Tyee
The premier said a report on AHS procurement practices cleared her government. It didn’t.
thetyee.ca
October 20, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Premier Danielle Smith’s claims about the Wyant report into the Alberta Health Services contract scandal are contradicted by the report itself. #abpoli
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...
Reposted by Austin Corbett
Those of you standing in long lines for municipal elections in Alberta today:
1) stay in line; your voice matters
2) the long lines are a direct consequence of the conspiracy-driven policy changes brought forward by the UCP government (and not your beleaguered election workers); be kind
1) stay in line; your voice matters
2) the long lines are a direct consequence of the conspiracy-driven policy changes brought forward by the UCP government (and not your beleaguered election workers); be kind
October 20, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Those of you standing in long lines for municipal elections in Alberta today:
1) stay in line; your voice matters
2) the long lines are a direct consequence of the conspiracy-driven policy changes brought forward by the UCP government (and not your beleaguered election workers); be kind
1) stay in line; your voice matters
2) the long lines are a direct consequence of the conspiracy-driven policy changes brought forward by the UCP government (and not your beleaguered election workers); be kind
Reposted by Austin Corbett
Yeah the tools & outputs have improved in some mediums and there’s a lot that can be done with them, but the one thing they can’t fix because it’s inherent to the tech itself is that it can’t GUARANTEE anything because it doesn’t KNOW anything. You just can’t do most types of pro work like that.
October 20, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Yeah the tools & outputs have improved in some mediums and there’s a lot that can be done with them, but the one thing they can’t fix because it’s inherent to the tech itself is that it can’t GUARANTEE anything because it doesn’t KNOW anything. You just can’t do most types of pro work like that.
Reposted by Austin Corbett
The CPC needs to be very careful here. Politicizing the judicial appointment process is not a road any country should go down. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
Conservatives pledge to appoint stricter judges as part of tough-on-crime campaign promises
Judicial appointments are not often debated or detailed on the campaign trail. The Globe asks the Liberals and Conservatives about their proposals
www.theglobeandmail.com
April 12, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The CPC needs to be very careful here. Politicizing the judicial appointment process is not a road any country should go down. www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
Reposted by Austin Corbett
For those keeping track...
"Alberta Strong and Free": United Conservative Party
"Canada Strong and Free Network": New name for what used to be known as the Manning Centre
"Strong and Free": Alberta's new licence plates
"Truly Strong and Free": Republican Party of Alberta
"Alberta Strong and Free": United Conservative Party
"Canada Strong and Free Network": New name for what used to be known as the Manning Centre
"Strong and Free": Alberta's new licence plates
"Truly Strong and Free": Republican Party of Alberta
October 16, 2025 at 4:35 PM
For those keeping track...
"Alberta Strong and Free": United Conservative Party
"Canada Strong and Free Network": New name for what used to be known as the Manning Centre
"Strong and Free": Alberta's new licence plates
"Truly Strong and Free": Republican Party of Alberta
"Alberta Strong and Free": United Conservative Party
"Canada Strong and Free Network": New name for what used to be known as the Manning Centre
"Strong and Free": Alberta's new licence plates
"Truly Strong and Free": Republican Party of Alberta
Reposted by Austin Corbett
HOT NEWS: Rondo just flipped the switch on the world's largest industrial heat battery. 100 MWh delivering continuous high-pressure industrial heat/steam with storage temperatures over 1000°C and 97% round-trip efficiency. The energy transition is heating up.
October 16, 2025 at 3:37 PM
HOT NEWS: Rondo just flipped the switch on the world's largest industrial heat battery. 100 MWh delivering continuous high-pressure industrial heat/steam with storage temperatures over 1000°C and 97% round-trip efficiency. The energy transition is heating up.
Amazing achievement in cryptography that's also practical and user-friendly.
arstechnica.com/security/202...
arstechnica.com/security/202...
Why Signal’s post-quantum makeover is an amazing engineering achievement
New design sets a high standard for post-quantum readiness.
arstechnica.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Amazing achievement in cryptography that's also practical and user-friendly.
arstechnica.com/security/202...
arstechnica.com/security/202...
EXACTLY! (Same goes for Canada)
the actual story here, which the media never talks about, is that police in this country have become a discrete right-wing political operation. the story isn't about cops leaving (they're lying about that), it's about the police trying to exert influence over elections.
Lmao is this supposed to be a bad thing?
October 13, 2025 at 1:13 AM
EXACTLY! (Same goes for Canada)
Reposted by Austin Corbett
Seriously, Judges *do no do things like this*
They don't give their opinion to the media
They don't criticize how SCOTUS works
This is them breaking the emergency glass, folks
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
They don't give their opinion to the media
They don't criticize how SCOTUS works
This is them breaking the emergency glass, folks
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
Federal Judges, Warning of ‘Judicial Crisis,’ Fault Supreme Court’s Emergency Orders
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Seriously, Judges *do no do things like this*
They don't give their opinion to the media
They don't criticize how SCOTUS works
This is them breaking the emergency glass, folks
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
They don't give their opinion to the media
They don't criticize how SCOTUS works
This is them breaking the emergency glass, folks
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/u...
Reposted by Austin Corbett
This farce has been enabled by the federal government refusing to take Bills 96 and 4 to court and have them struck, and by the federal Department of Justice participating in constitutional vandalism by recognizing those change in its own consolidation of the constitution.
October 10, 2025 at 5:33 PM
This farce has been enabled by the federal government refusing to take Bills 96 and 4 to court and have them struck, and by the federal Department of Justice participating in constitutional vandalism by recognizing those change in its own consolidation of the constitution.
Reposted by Austin Corbett
Letitia James criminally charged in Trump’s latest effort to punish rivals
Letitia James criminally charged in Trump’s latest effort to punish rivals
Prosecutor who sought charges was installed amid Trump frustrations with pace of investigations against rivals
*
US politics live – latest updates
A federal grand jury indicted Letitia James, the New York attorney general, for bank fraud on Thursday, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Lindsey Halligan, the US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, personally presented the case to the grand jury on Thursday, the person said. US attorneys do not typically present to a grand jury. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
October 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Letitia James criminally charged in Trump’s latest effort to punish rivals
Reposted by Austin Corbett
David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)
October 9, 2025 at 4:42 AM
David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)
Reposted by Austin Corbett
BREAKING: Apple removed an app for preserving TikToks, Instagram reels, news reports, and videos documenting abuses by ICE
🔗 www.404media.co/apple-banned...
🔗 www.404media.co/apple-banned...
Apple Banned an App That Simply Archived Videos of ICE Abuses
Eyes Up's purpose is to "preserve evidence until it can be used in court." But it has been swept up in Apple's crackdown on ICE-spotting apps.
www.404media.co
October 8, 2025 at 7:12 PM
BREAKING: Apple removed an app for preserving TikToks, Instagram reels, news reports, and videos documenting abuses by ICE
🔗 www.404media.co/apple-banned...
🔗 www.404media.co/apple-banned...
We are seeing the abuse of these technologies in real-time, and misinformation from the police and the companies involved to try to justify this abuse:
www.404media.co/police-said-...
www.404media.co/police-said-...
Police Said They Surveilled Woman Who Had an Abortion for Her 'Safety.' Court Records Show They Considered Charging Her With a Crime
Court records show that the narrative Flock and a Texas Sheriff's Office has told the public isn't the whole story, and that police were conducting a 'death investigation' into the abortion.
www.404media.co
October 7, 2025 at 4:17 PM
We are seeing the abuse of these technologies in real-time, and misinformation from the police and the companies involved to try to justify this abuse:
www.404media.co/police-said-...
www.404media.co/police-said-...
Reposted by Austin Corbett
so the US government just forced a tech company to delete an app it doesn’t like, which is totally normal stuff
www.404media.co/iceblock-own...
www.404media.co/iceblock-own...
ICEBlock Owner After Apple Removes App: ‘We Are Determined to Fight This’
Apple removed ICEBlock reportedly after direct pressure from Department of Justice officials. “I am incredibly disappointed by Apple's actions today. Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never t...
www.404media.co
October 3, 2025 at 2:38 AM
so the US government just forced a tech company to delete an app it doesn’t like, which is totally normal stuff
www.404media.co/iceblock-own...
www.404media.co/iceblock-own...
This is the right answer to help reduce some deaths at the Edmonton Remand Centre.
edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/s...
edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/s...
Judge recommends random staff searches after pair of fentanyl overdoses at Edmonton Remand Centre
The Edmonton Remand Centre should subject employees and visitors to random searches for drugs, a judge says after pair of overdoses.
edmontonjournal.com
October 1, 2025 at 9:12 PM
This is the right answer to help reduce some deaths at the Edmonton Remand Centre.
edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/s...
edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/s...
Reposted by Austin Corbett
SCOOP: Two senior Alberta Health Services procurement officials were also briefly directors in a numbered company linked to MHCare, a supplier that has been awarded $$$ in business, The Globe and Mail has found
By @tomcardoso.bsky.social, @hoserlibrarian.bsky.social and friend
By @tomcardoso.bsky.social, @hoserlibrarian.bsky.social and friend
Alberta health officials were also directors at a company linked to a supplier
Corporate filings reveal further links between Alberta Health Services procurement staff and private firms
www.theglobeandmail.com
September 29, 2025 at 1:16 PM
SCOOP: Two senior Alberta Health Services procurement officials were also briefly directors in a numbered company linked to MHCare, a supplier that has been awarded $$$ in business, The Globe and Mail has found
By @tomcardoso.bsky.social, @hoserlibrarian.bsky.social and friend
By @tomcardoso.bsky.social, @hoserlibrarian.bsky.social and friend
The actions of the Edmonton Police Service in releasing a letter criticizing the Alberta Crown trampled over the important separation of power between them. Thousands of Crown prosecutors across the country agree:
edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/c...
edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/c...
Group representing thousands of prosecutors condemns Edmonton police criticism of Crown in child homicide case
A group representing thousands of Crown prosecutors across Canada has come out against the Edmonton Police Service's decision to publicly criticize a plea agreement in a child homicide case.
edmontonjournal.com
September 28, 2025 at 9:22 PM
The actions of the Edmonton Police Service in releasing a letter criticizing the Alberta Crown trampled over the important separation of power between them. Thousands of Crown prosecutors across the country agree:
edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/c...
edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/c...