My IRL friends call me Chris
@christyceeck.bsky.social
Gardener. Former flack. Fluent in spin. I media scan, therefore I am. Mister Rogers/Mary Oliver stan. Born at 326 ppm. Old married broad. Mom. Dogs' person. Canadian. Ferenge. she/her #BlackLivesMatter #LFC #ElbowsUp
Pinned
For the time-being, many of the political news stories I share will have comments closed. I want to continue to share the stories as a service and FYI to other news junkies here but don't want negative energy in my comments right now. Apologies and thanks for understanding.
Reposted by My IRL friends call me Chris
Seeing lots of flu earlier than normal and COVID. Waiting for tests to come back BUT no matter where C19 ends up this is going to be a BAD FLU SEASON.
Mask up in public and while the shot may not turn out to be a great match it can still offer protection.
Masks on, sleeves up.
Mask up in public and while the shot may not turn out to be a great match it can still offer protection.
Masks on, sleeves up.
November 11, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Seeing lots of flu earlier than normal and COVID. Waiting for tests to come back BUT no matter where C19 ends up this is going to be a BAD FLU SEASON.
Mask up in public and while the shot may not turn out to be a great match it can still offer protection.
Masks on, sleeves up.
Mask up in public and while the shot may not turn out to be a great match it can still offer protection.
Masks on, sleeves up.
"Hello, I'm from the Canadian Government.
Now listen up, kids. Banker Daddy says we need to make some “sacrifices”. Better healthcare? No. Public services? Sorry. Fair wages? Get back to work!
Billions in subsidies for MAGA-owned projects? Oh look, that we can afford!"
Now listen up, kids. Banker Daddy says we need to make some “sacrifices”. Better healthcare? No. Public services? Sorry. Fair wages? Get back to work!
Billions in subsidies for MAGA-owned projects? Oh look, that we can afford!"
Here’s an honest government ad for my Canadian friends. Enjoy. 🇨🇦
Honest Government Ad | Watch out, Canada
YouTube video by thejuicemedia
youtu.be
November 11, 2025 at 12:31 AM
"Hello, I'm from the Canadian Government.
Now listen up, kids. Banker Daddy says we need to make some “sacrifices”. Better healthcare? No. Public services? Sorry. Fair wages? Get back to work!
Billions in subsidies for MAGA-owned projects? Oh look, that we can afford!"
Now listen up, kids. Banker Daddy says we need to make some “sacrifices”. Better healthcare? No. Public services? Sorry. Fair wages? Get back to work!
Billions in subsidies for MAGA-owned projects? Oh look, that we can afford!"
"Slot referenced the fact that Kavanagh was the same referee who allowed a similar goal to stand when John Stones scored a late winner for City against Wolverhampton Wanderers last season when Bernardo Silva was in an offside position."
#LFC
#LFC
Liverpool have contacted referees’ chief Howard Webb to raise serious concerns about Virgil van Dijk’s disallowed goal in Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.
More from @jamespearcelfc.bsky.social
More from @jamespearcelfc.bsky.social
Liverpool contact PGMOL over disallowed goal in Manchester City defeat
Liverpool have told PGMOL that they do not accept that the decision on Van Dijk's disallowed goal was arrived at for subjective reasons.
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:04 AM
"Slot referenced the fact that Kavanagh was the same referee who allowed a similar goal to stand when John Stones scored a late winner for City against Wolverhampton Wanderers last season when Bernardo Silva was in an offside position."
#LFC
#LFC
Reposted by My IRL friends call me Chris
'Better call Paul,' advocates tell families struggling with school supports for kids with disabilities www.thetrillium.ca/news/educati... #topoli #onpoli #onted
November 10, 2025 at 11:25 PM
'Better call Paul,' advocates tell families struggling with school supports for kids with disabilities www.thetrillium.ca/news/educati... #topoli #onpoli #onted
“Now we call on parents of students with disabilities who need help for their child at school to call or email Ontario’s super trustee Education Minister Paul Calandra...You better call Paul. Tell him how your school is not meeting your child’s disability related learning needs.
#OntEd
#OntEd
‘Better call Paul’: Advocates say students with special learning needs left behind by school board takeovers
Ontario school board changes: students with special learning needs left behind, advocates say
Parents of students with disabilities are warning that the removal of school board trustees is making it even more difficult to advocate for students with special learning needs within the public school system.
www.cp24.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:16 PM
“Now we call on parents of students with disabilities who need help for their child at school to call or email Ontario’s super trustee Education Minister Paul Calandra...You better call Paul. Tell him how your school is not meeting your child’s disability related learning needs.
#OntEd
#OntEd
I'm really sorry to read this. Newly married, my husband and I spent a LOT of time eating and drinking at Rodney's, which was right next door to his office. What a character Rodney was.
“He was the original oyster man of Toronto,” Eamon said. “It’s just an amazing life that he lived.”
“He was the original oyster man of Toronto,” Eamon said. “It’s just an amazing life that he lived.”
How Rodney Clark became Toronto’s King of Oysters: ‘He was Order of Canada-big’
How Rodney Clark became Toronto’s King of Oysters: ‘He was Order of Canada-big’
Clark, the skilled storyteller and entertainer who opened Rodney’s Oyster House in the 1980s, died last week at age 75.
www.thestar.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:13 PM
I'm really sorry to read this. Newly married, my husband and I spent a LOT of time eating and drinking at Rodney's, which was right next door to his office. What a character Rodney was.
“He was the original oyster man of Toronto,” Eamon said. “It’s just an amazing life that he lived.”
“He was the original oyster man of Toronto,” Eamon said. “It’s just an amazing life that he lived.”
A lot of people like Doug. Annoying but true.
"Doug Ford continues to be the most positively viewed leader although his personal brand image has softened over the past few months. Forty-two percent of Ontarians have a positive impression of him. Thirty-seven percent have a negative view"
"Doug Ford continues to be the most positively viewed leader although his personal brand image has softened over the past few months. Forty-two percent of Ontarians have a positive impression of him. Thirty-seven percent have a negative view"
Doug Ford and the PCs continue to lead in Ontario, holding majority-level support. But beneath the surface, there are signs of voter fatigue and questions about progress on key issues.
Read the full findings: abacusdata.ca/ontario-pcs...
Read the full findings: abacusdata.ca/ontario-pcs...
Ontario PCs Still Lead by Wide Margin but Ontario NDP Rise Four in a Month - Abacus Data
%
abacusdata.ca
November 10, 2025 at 11:04 PM
A lot of people like Doug. Annoying but true.
"Doug Ford continues to be the most positively viewed leader although his personal brand image has softened over the past few months. Forty-two percent of Ontarians have a positive impression of him. Thirty-seven percent have a negative view"
"Doug Ford continues to be the most positively viewed leader although his personal brand image has softened over the past few months. Forty-two percent of Ontarians have a positive impression of him. Thirty-seven percent have a negative view"
Do you have story ideas or tips that might lend themselves to investigative journalism?
I should also reiterate: Story ideas and tips welcome. Interested in anything going untold or under-explored. DMs open. anna.mehler.paperny@gmail.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Do you have story ideas or tips that might lend themselves to investigative journalism?
Reposted by My IRL friends call me Chris
"We see massive violations of international human rights law, direct attacks on civilians, noncompliance with international humanitarian law, which regulates conduct in relation to hostilities, & that the attacks are largely on civilians." news.un.org/en/story/202... #KeepEyesOnSudan
Genocide prevention expert raises alarm over alleged Sudan atrocity crimes
The UN Special Adviser on genocide prevention has raised concerns over widespread allegations of war crimes committed in Sudan’s El Fasher last month, and plans to meet his African Union counterpart o...
news.un.org
November 10, 2025 at 9:15 PM
"We see massive violations of international human rights law, direct attacks on civilians, noncompliance with international humanitarian law, which regulates conduct in relation to hostilities, & that the attacks are largely on civilians." news.un.org/en/story/202... #KeepEyesOnSudan
Reposted by My IRL friends call me Chris
Girl Reading, Vase of Flowers, 1922
https://botfrens.com/collections/48/contents/16616
https://botfrens.com/collections/48/contents/16616
November 10, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Girl Reading, Vase of Flowers, 1922
https://botfrens.com/collections/48/contents/16616
https://botfrens.com/collections/48/contents/16616
This polling was done after Ford's ads were blamed for derailing talks with the US.
I'm not at all surprised to see this. Ford refused to apologize and struck a defiant note. He wouldn't have done this without private polling backing this strategy up.
#OnPoli
I'm not at all surprised to see this. Ford refused to apologize and struck a defiant note. He wouldn't have done this without private polling backing this strategy up.
#OnPoli
November 10, 2025 at 8:20 PM
This polling was done after Ford's ads were blamed for derailing talks with the US.
I'm not at all surprised to see this. Ford refused to apologize and struck a defiant note. He wouldn't have done this without private polling backing this strategy up.
#OnPoli
I'm not at all surprised to see this. Ford refused to apologize and struck a defiant note. He wouldn't have done this without private polling backing this strategy up.
#OnPoli
LFC friends, don't hate me but this is actually funny.
November 10, 2025 at 8:03 PM
LFC friends, don't hate me but this is actually funny.
"It was the visitors who took the lead when defender Fraser Aird converted a penalty kick around the half-hour mark. The celebration was cut short when home fans threw snowballs at the visiting players (no joke)"
That was quite a goal.
That was quite a goal.
David Rodríguez no olvidará jamás un gol que ya es historia del fútbol canadiense.
El gol de una vida
Imagen de un encuentro bajo la nieve que David Rodríguez siempre recordará. Todo aficionado tiene en su mente ese gol mágico que jamás olvid...
cafefutbol.blogspot.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:49 PM
"It was the visitors who took the lead when defender Fraser Aird converted a penalty kick around the half-hour mark. The celebration was cut short when home fans threw snowballs at the visiting players (no joke)"
That was quite a goal.
That was quite a goal.
Reposted by My IRL friends call me Chris
Believe the floor crosser ... not the apple crunching, CBC avoiding, poorly behaved CON party whose leader thought that Trudeau should be jailed and brought snacks to the Ottawa convoy.
Brouhaha over N.S. MP’s floor crossing descends into he-said/they-said story … whom to believe? albertapolitics.ca/2025/11/brou... #cdnpoli #abpoli #ableg
Brouhaha over N.S. MP’s floor crossing descends into he-said/they-said story … whom to believe? - Alberta Politics
The brouhaha over the departure of Acadie-Annapolis MP Chris d’Entremont from the Opposition benches in the House of Commons to the government side has now descended into a he-said/they-said story. Mr...
albertapolitics.ca
November 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Believe the floor crosser ... not the apple crunching, CBC avoiding, poorly behaved CON party whose leader thought that Trudeau should be jailed and brought snacks to the Ottawa convoy.
Reposted by My IRL friends call me Chris
General bookings for COVID-19 vaccines opened — in theory — three weeks ago in Alberta.
I still haven't been able to book any for my children.
Just tried again this morning and got hung up on again by Alberta's 811 HealthLink, with an automated message blaming "higher than expected call volume."
I still haven't been able to book any for my children.
Just tried again this morning and got hung up on again by Alberta's 811 HealthLink, with an automated message blaming "higher than expected call volume."
The only way to book COVID vaccines for young children in Alberta is by calling 811 / HealthLink.
Bookings opened Monday.
It’s now Friday and the system is still saying call volumes are too high and auto-hanging-up on callers. 🙃
(They also cost $100 a pop, if you can ever get through.)
Bookings opened Monday.
It’s now Friday and the system is still saying call volumes are too high and auto-hanging-up on callers. 🙃
(They also cost $100 a pop, if you can ever get through.)
November 10, 2025 at 4:24 PM
General bookings for COVID-19 vaccines opened — in theory — three weeks ago in Alberta.
I still haven't been able to book any for my children.
Just tried again this morning and got hung up on again by Alberta's 811 HealthLink, with an automated message blaming "higher than expected call volume."
I still haven't been able to book any for my children.
Just tried again this morning and got hung up on again by Alberta's 811 HealthLink, with an automated message blaming "higher than expected call volume."
Reposted by My IRL friends call me Chris
"On Oct. 1, the provincial minimum wage increased by 40 cents to $17.60 per hour...
That increase still pales in comparison to what the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN) says is needed for full-time workers to comfortably live in the GTA, which is $27.20 per hour..."
#OnPoli #ToPoli
That increase still pales in comparison to what the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN) says is needed for full-time workers to comfortably live in the GTA, which is $27.20 per hour..."
#OnPoli #ToPoli
What is the ‘living wage’ across Ontario and how much do you need to earn to make ends meet?
Toronto’s living wage is about $10 more than Ontario’s minimum rate: report
There is nearly a $10 difference between Ontario’s minimum wage and the hourly rate workers need to be able to comfortably live in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), according to a new report.
www.cp24.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Reposted by My IRL friends call me Chris
Maybe we would see a different pattern if the federal government had taken seriously proposals to foster a broader “national dialogue” (A. Roberts), e.g. by establishing something like a Royal Commission for the 21st century.
policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/03/roya...
policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/03/roya...
November 10, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Maybe we would see a different pattern if the federal government had taken seriously proposals to foster a broader “national dialogue” (A. Roberts), e.g. by establishing something like a Royal Commission for the 21st century.
policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/03/roya...
policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/03/roya...
Reposted by My IRL friends call me Chris
I have all kinds of thoughts here. But this is also a marker of public belief in conspiracy theories and rejection of science and we should all be very concerned.
BREAKING: "The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has notified the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) that Canada no longer holds measles elimination status."
Statement from the Public Health Agency of Canada on Canada’s Measles Elimination Status
Following over 12 months of transmission across the country, PAHO confirms Canada's loss of measles elimination status. We are coordinating efforts with provinces and territories to restore the status...
www.canada.ca
November 10, 2025 at 2:44 PM
I have all kinds of thoughts here. But this is also a marker of public belief in conspiracy theories and rejection of science and we should all be very concerned.
BREAKING: "The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has notified the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) that Canada no longer holds measles elimination status."
Statement from the Public Health Agency of Canada on Canada’s Measles Elimination Status
Following over 12 months of transmission across the country, PAHO confirms Canada's loss of measles elimination status. We are coordinating efforts with provinces and territories to restore the status...
www.canada.ca
November 10, 2025 at 2:36 PM
BREAKING: "The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has notified the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) that Canada no longer holds measles elimination status."
Even if it's not a perfect match, the "vaccines should still reduce severity!"
It looks like flu will possibly hit a bit earlier this year. So get your flu shot to protect yourself, those around you, and the healthcare system.
It looks like flu will possibly hit a bit earlier this year. So get your flu shot to protect yourself, those around you, and the healthcare system.
14/ My guess is that the K variant is here and that cases will start rising consistently in the US in the coming weeks. We'll want to watch the UK closely as they are effectively a couple weeks ahead of us.
The vaccines should still reduce severity!
I'd get mine now if you haven't already.
The vaccines should still reduce severity!
I'd get mine now if you haven't already.
November 10, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Even if it's not a perfect match, the "vaccines should still reduce severity!"
It looks like flu will possibly hit a bit earlier this year. So get your flu shot to protect yourself, those around you, and the healthcare system.
It looks like flu will possibly hit a bit earlier this year. So get your flu shot to protect yourself, those around you, and the healthcare system.
Reposted by My IRL friends call me Chris
1/ A concerning flu "variant" may be driving an early rise in cases in the UK.
The virus is an H3N2, but has mutations that suggest it may evade some prior immunity.
We're not seeing much activity in the US, but that may be changing.
A 🧵 on what signals I'm watching.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The virus is an H3N2, but has mutations that suggest it may evade some prior immunity.
We're not seeing much activity in the US, but that may be changing.
A 🧵 on what signals I'm watching.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
New flu virus mutation could see ‘worst season in a decade'
Leading flu experts say they will not be surprised if this year's is the worst flu season for a decade.
www.bbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:16 AM
1/ A concerning flu "variant" may be driving an early rise in cases in the UK.
The virus is an H3N2, but has mutations that suggest it may evade some prior immunity.
We're not seeing much activity in the US, but that may be changing.
A 🧵 on what signals I'm watching.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The virus is an H3N2, but has mutations that suggest it may evade some prior immunity.
We're not seeing much activity in the US, but that may be changing.
A 🧵 on what signals I'm watching.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
The Ford govt turned down the FOI request, refusing "to share even a redacted version of the report, claiming it would mean publishing cabinet records, advice to government and third-party data, as well as posing a risk to the province’s economy."
#OnPoli
#OnPoli
November 10, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The Ford govt turned down the FOI request, refusing "to share even a redacted version of the report, claiming it would mean publishing cabinet records, advice to government and third-party data, as well as posing a risk to the province’s economy."
#OnPoli
#OnPoli
Reposted by My IRL friends call me Chris
A single shared source of truth is essential for a functioning democracy.
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Why American-style polarisation is spreading across the west
New research shows how incentives in the modern media ecosystem help explain rising division and negativity
www.ft.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
A single shared source of truth is essential for a functioning democracy.
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Without it you’re left with fragmentation, polarisation and a perpetual culture war where the discourse focuses on what divides us rather than what we have in common.
My column from last week: www.ft.com/content/5060...
Reposted by My IRL friends call me Chris
A study earlier this month found that America’s more fragmented media landscape — particularly the takeoff of cable news — accounts for fully one third of the increase in cultural conflict in the US since the year 2000.
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
A study earlier this month found that America’s more fragmented media landscape — particularly the takeoff of cable news — accounts for fully one third of the increase in cultural conflict in the US since the year 2000.