Blen
@blenblanchard.bsky.social
Reposted by Blen
It’s funny to hear this report list all the ways Chinese data collection could be a threat when the US does the same things and poses a much greater threat given Trump’s 51st state comments. There’s only a brief acknowledgement at the end that the US isn’t trustworthy either.
Will your Chinese-made EV spy on you?
YouTube video by CBC News: The National
www.youtube.com
February 16, 2026 at 1:47 AM
It’s funny to hear this report list all the ways Chinese data collection could be a threat when the US does the same things and poses a much greater threat given Trump’s 51st state comments. There’s only a brief acknowledgement at the end that the US isn’t trustworthy either.
Reposted by Blen
Still thinking about this quote.
"Our standing rule is: If one of us brings up using GenAI in any of our work, then it's safe to assume we've been assimilated by The Thing and should be burned alive by Kurt Russell," said a game design consultant in the US.
Over 50% of game developers now think generative AI is bad for the industry, a dramatic increase from just 2 years ago: 'I'd rather quit the industry than use generative AI'
The latest GDC survey also found that managers are more likely to use generative AI than their employees.
www.pcgamer.com
February 16, 2026 at 1:37 AM
Still thinking about this quote.
Reposted by Blen
In the Toronto Star I write about Toronto Police's violent corruption scandal. Will it move the needle on police reform? It's a dramatic escalation in a long history of police intimidation, bullying their critics & broken trust. I argue 3 big things have to happen, including firing this chief.
Shawn Micallef: Toronto is facing its worst police corruption scandal in decades. Here are three things that need to happen soon
The corruption revealed by Project South undermines the public trust that is the foundation of policing.
www.thestar.com
February 14, 2026 at 3:26 PM
In the Toronto Star I write about Toronto Police's violent corruption scandal. Will it move the needle on police reform? It's a dramatic escalation in a long history of police intimidation, bullying their critics & broken trust. I argue 3 big things have to happen, including firing this chief.
They’re still indiscriminately striking boats in the Caribbean without evidence.
The US has carried out 3 more extrajudicial killings yesterday (Feb. 13), launching a “lethal kinetic strike” in the Caribbean, according to US Southern Com. SOUTHCOM claimed, w/o providing evidence, that the vessel was tied to drug trafficking & operated by a designated group.
Video: @Southcom (X)
Video: @Southcom (X)
February 14, 2026 at 11:39 PM
They’re still indiscriminately striking boats in the Caribbean without evidence.
Reposted by Blen
Excellent episode of The Hatchet with @arshy.bsky.social. The recent police scandal is not “a few bad apples,” the Toronto Police have been operating like organized crime for generations. They act with impunity, refuse reform, and target and punish their critics: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
The Toronto Police Has Been a Rogue Agency for Too Long. Rein Them In.
Podcast Episode · The Hatchet · 2026-02-14 · 29m
podcasts.apple.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Excellent episode of The Hatchet with @arshy.bsky.social. The recent police scandal is not “a few bad apples,” the Toronto Police have been operating like organized crime for generations. They act with impunity, refuse reform, and target and punish their critics: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/t...
Reposted by Blen
CUPE stands in solidarity with the Cuban people and the trade union movement as the country grapples with intensified U.S. sanctions. We support the Cuban people’s sovereignty and their right to self determination.
Read the statement here: cupe.ca/solidarity-c...
Read the statement here: cupe.ca/solidarity-c...
February 13, 2026 at 8:19 PM
CUPE stands in solidarity with the Cuban people and the trade union movement as the country grapples with intensified U.S. sanctions. We support the Cuban people’s sovereignty and their right to self determination.
Read the statement here: cupe.ca/solidarity-c...
Read the statement here: cupe.ca/solidarity-c...
Reposted by Blen
🇨🇺 Feb. 13 | The UN Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed extreme worry over the “deepening socio-economic crisis” in Cuba, highlighting several key issues:
▪️ W/ over 80% of water pumping on the island dependent on electricity, power cuts are undermining access to...
▪️ W/ over 80% of water pumping on the island dependent on electricity, power cuts are undermining access to...
February 14, 2026 at 1:21 AM
🇨🇺 Feb. 13 | The UN Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed extreme worry over the “deepening socio-economic crisis” in Cuba, highlighting several key issues:
▪️ W/ over 80% of water pumping on the island dependent on electricity, power cuts are undermining access to...
▪️ W/ over 80% of water pumping on the island dependent on electricity, power cuts are undermining access to...
Reposted by Blen
whenever i clean my apartment my dog just stands perfectly still in the middle of whatever room i'm in and stares at me like this
February 14, 2026 at 12:15 AM
whenever i clean my apartment my dog just stands perfectly still in the middle of whatever room i'm in and stares at me like this
Reposted by Blen
"wages have been flat for decades" is an extremely simple, obviously true concept that explains about 80% of all handwringing op-eds and for some reason they just won't say that
"zoomers are killing the bar industry" oh interesting was it zoomers who decided a drink should cost seventeen dollars
February 13, 2026 at 10:04 PM
"wages have been flat for decades" is an extremely simple, obviously true concept that explains about 80% of all handwringing op-eds and for some reason they just won't say that
As the Mexican navy provides humanitarian aid to Cuba, the lack of action on Canada’s part is showing that Carney’s speech at Davos were just empty words.
Canada is uniquely positioned to break the siege of Cuba—we should be leading a regional coalition to ship oil and aid to Cuba, and prevent the humanitarian crisis that U.S. regime is attempting to deliberately trigger.
I wrote about it, and the history of the blockade, for @policyalternatives.ca
I wrote about it, and the history of the blockade, for @policyalternatives.ca
Send Canadian oil to Cuba - CCPA
The United States is attempting to deliberately trigger a humanitarian crisis in Cuba. Canada must act in concert with regional allies to defy the blockade.
www.policyalternatives.ca
February 13, 2026 at 4:35 PM
As the Mexican navy provides humanitarian aid to Cuba, the lack of action on Canada’s part is showing that Carney’s speech at Davos were just empty words.
Reposted by Blen
What do Chappell Roan, Orville Peck and the Dropkick Murphys have in common? They’re all saying hell no to working with anyone associated with Epstein.
Chappell Roan and Orville Peck were the first two artists to separate from the Wasserman Music agency when CEO Casey Wasserman was revealed to be in the Epstein files. Others have left the agency now too (Dropkick Murphys), but it's good the queer artists led the way.
February 13, 2026 at 4:06 PM
What do Chappell Roan, Orville Peck and the Dropkick Murphys have in common? They’re all saying hell no to working with anyone associated with Epstein.
Reposted by Blen
As governments cut public services, assisted death risks becoming a policy substitute for care and dignity.
Megan Linton argues that Canada’s expansion of medically-assisted narrows how we imagine disability, and the possibilities of a more just future. breachmedia.ca/disabled-can...
Megan Linton argues that Canada’s expansion of medically-assisted narrows how we imagine disability, and the possibilities of a more just future. breachmedia.ca/disabled-can...
Disabled Canadians want options for life—not medical assistance in dying ⋆ The Breach
Scholar Megan Linton argues that Canada’s expansion of medically-assisted dying reflects a deeper neoliberal logic
breachmedia.ca
February 12, 2026 at 9:11 PM
As governments cut public services, assisted death risks becoming a policy substitute for care and dignity.
Megan Linton argues that Canada’s expansion of medically-assisted narrows how we imagine disability, and the possibilities of a more just future. breachmedia.ca/disabled-can...
Megan Linton argues that Canada’s expansion of medically-assisted narrows how we imagine disability, and the possibilities of a more just future. breachmedia.ca/disabled-can...
Reposted by Blen
At Google, speech critical of ICE is censored from the company's internal platform, employees who speak out are served with warnings, and leadership refuses to acknowledge a petition that's now gotten 1,200 employee signatures.
Inside the worker-led push to get ICE out of Google:
Inside the worker-led push to get ICE out of Google:
Google is stifling anti-ICE speech in the workplace as 1,200 employees call on the company to cut ties
The search giant has made it harder and riskier to protest its policies. Workers are still fighting back. Plus: A community takes down a data center, QuitGPT, and the 5 worst Super Bowl AI ads.
www.bloodinthemachine.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:23 PM
At Google, speech critical of ICE is censored from the company's internal platform, employees who speak out are served with warnings, and leadership refuses to acknowledge a petition that's now gotten 1,200 employee signatures.
Inside the worker-led push to get ICE out of Google:
Inside the worker-led push to get ICE out of Google:
Reposted by Blen
I discovered Israeli government procurement documents showing a Canadian group that's sending right-wing media personalities on free trips to Israel was granted funds from Israel's foreign ministry
The funding came through an arm of the ministry focused on managing “public perception of Israel”
The funding came through an arm of the ministry focused on managing “public perception of Israel”
February 12, 2026 at 9:26 PM
I discovered Israeli government procurement documents showing a Canadian group that's sending right-wing media personalities on free trips to Israel was granted funds from Israel's foreign ministry
The funding came through an arm of the ministry focused on managing “public perception of Israel”
The funding came through an arm of the ministry focused on managing “public perception of Israel”
Reposted by Blen
Back when it was Telehealth Ontario, callers could speak with a nurse within seconds or minutes. Now that the service has been replaced by Health811, the average wait time can be many hours #onthealth
Health811 is touted as a way to provide Ontarians with free, 24/7 health advice, writes @wencyleung.bsky.social. But data obtained by The Local shows wait times have risen dramatically since 2022, and it’s unclear where callers end up once they do speak with someone. thelocal.to/health811-te...
Health811 Promises 24/7 Health Advice—If You Can Wait | The Local
Data obtained through freedom of information requests show wait times have increased dramatically since Health811 replaced Telehealth Ontario, peaking at a monthly average of more than 11 hours.
thelocal.to
February 12, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Back when it was Telehealth Ontario, callers could speak with a nurse within seconds or minutes. Now that the service has been replaced by Health811, the average wait time can be many hours #onthealth
Reposted by Blen
Likely-historic photo by NBC News of all the Epstein victims asked to raise their hands if they've not yet been asked to meet with the DOJ as Bondi testifies in foreground
February 11, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Likely-historic photo by NBC News of all the Epstein victims asked to raise their hands if they've not yet been asked to meet with the DOJ as Bondi testifies in foreground
Reposted by Blen
aw does widle baby need a nudder wound of funding uwu
Experiments conducted with the A.I. system Claude are producing fascinating results—and raising questions about the nature of selfhood. Gideon Lewis-Kraus reports from inside the company that designed it, Anthropic. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/rOfXjg
February 11, 2026 at 4:49 PM
aw does widle baby need a nudder wound of funding uwu
Reposted by Blen
Hey y’all! Today is the 45th anniversary of the release of MY BLOODY VALENTINE in the US. Since I wrote about it recently, I decided to celebrate ‘80s Canadian Slashers to celebrate: from-the-desk-of-the-horror-chick.ghost.io/blood-in-the...
Any shares & subs (free/paid) are greatly appreciated! 🙏
Any shares & subs (free/paid) are greatly appreciated! 🙏
Blood in the Snow: Celebrating the Canadian Slashers of the 1980s
Exploring horror, film, and pop culture, all while celebrating the creators, history, and artistry that keep the genre alive.
from-the-desk-of-the-horror-chick.ghost.io
February 11, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Hey y’all! Today is the 45th anniversary of the release of MY BLOODY VALENTINE in the US. Since I wrote about it recently, I decided to celebrate ‘80s Canadian Slashers to celebrate: from-the-desk-of-the-horror-chick.ghost.io/blood-in-the...
Any shares & subs (free/paid) are greatly appreciated! 🙏
Any shares & subs (free/paid) are greatly appreciated! 🙏
Reposted by Blen
no more numbers, for anyone, ever again. all numbers are gone. worry not about numbers.
thehill.com/homenews/med...
thehill.com/homenews/med...
Gallup will no longer measure presidential approval after 88 years
Gallup will no longer track presidential approval ratings after more than eight decades doing so, the public opinion polling agency confirmed to The Hill on Wednesday. The company said starting thi…
thehill.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:42 PM
no more numbers, for anyone, ever again. all numbers are gone. worry not about numbers.
thehill.com/homenews/med...
thehill.com/homenews/med...
Reposted by Blen
Jeff Bezos’ Washington Post is now saying Trump is right to roll back climate science and pollution protections at the EPA.
February 11, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Jeff Bezos’ Washington Post is now saying Trump is right to roll back climate science and pollution protections at the EPA.
Reposted by Blen
Flashback to how these same folks reacted to vaccine cards...
Markwayne Mullin defends "show me your papers": "If you're here legally, there's nothing to hide. Most people already are walking around with a government-issued ID, meaning your Real ID or your driver's license. If you go board a train here, you gotta show your ID."
February 11, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Flashback to how these same folks reacted to vaccine cards...
Shocking that the speculative insider trading platform is also ambiguous on what defines a payout.
Federal regulators have reportedly already received a complaint over prediction market Kalshi’s Super Bowl halftime show market.
February 11, 2026 at 3:24 AM
Shocking that the speculative insider trading platform is also ambiguous on what defines a payout.
Reposted by Blen
“Trump endorsed the bridge as a priority project in 2017, issuing a joint statement with then-prime minister Justin Trudeau calling it a "vital economic link between our two countries."”
Still can’t understand why Carney hasn’t managed to make any good deals with this very stable genius.
Still can’t understand why Carney hasn’t managed to make any good deals with this very stable genius.
Trump threatens to block opening of new bridge between Ontario and Michigan | CBC News
U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to block the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge, poised to become the newest border crossing between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit.
www.cbc.ca
February 10, 2026 at 12:52 AM
“Trump endorsed the bridge as a priority project in 2017, issuing a joint statement with then-prime minister Justin Trudeau calling it a "vital economic link between our two countries."”
Still can’t understand why Carney hasn’t managed to make any good deals with this very stable genius.
Still can’t understand why Carney hasn’t managed to make any good deals with this very stable genius.