Deb Merriam needs to log off
@debmerriam.bsky.social
DebMerriam on all other SM. Ex-academic bluenoser in Treaty 6, past chair of the Local Good (YEG), fibre artist, solarpunk, earth-centred inclusive beliefs. She/they,🏳️⚧️parent, mom friend, trying to make a difference.
Pinned
Hey pocket friends! Reintroduction: I’m an ex-biochemist from NS living in amiskwaciwaskahikan (Treaty 6, Canada). I’m interested in solar-punk, slow design & community-focused solutions to the climate crisis - and a textile artist. You may know me from The Local Good / Green Drinks YEG …
Reposted by Deb Merriam needs to log off
Reposted by Deb Merriam needs to log off
Appreciation post for Dr G, who seems to be carrying most of the weight of "yo, maybe we should still try to reduce fossil fuels" and "yo, maybe it's urgent to do that" on her back
Just a few things I'd like to say about this @hausfath.bsky.social piece.
The first is that every 10th of a degree of heating over 2C raises risks for multiple irreversible catastrophes MORE than every 10th of a degree of heating under 2C.
That's why the 2C target exists. It's not random.
🧵
The first is that every 10th of a degree of heating over 2C raises risks for multiple irreversible catastrophes MORE than every 10th of a degree of heating under 2C.
That's why the 2C target exists. It's not random.
🧵
January 5, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Appreciation post for Dr G, who seems to be carrying most of the weight of "yo, maybe we should still try to reduce fossil fuels" and "yo, maybe it's urgent to do that" on her back
Reposted by Deb Merriam needs to log off
Canada has to defend this vital part of its infrastructure from America. Here are three steps Mark Carney can take #Opinion
Canada has to defend this vital part of its infrastructure from America. Here are three steps Mark Carney can take
Too much of our national interest is in the hands of U.S. big tech.
www.thestar.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Canada has to defend this vital part of its infrastructure from America. Here are three steps Mark Carney can take #Opinion
Youngest went through a phase where he wanted to watch My Neighbour Totoro every night before bed. Eldest looked for Totoro holes at bases of trees in every park. Trees and people as friends. Miyazaki-sensei has given us such gifts with his films.
January 5, 2026 at 7:58 PM
Youngest went through a phase where he wanted to watch My Neighbour Totoro every night before bed. Eldest looked for Totoro holes at bases of trees in every park. Trees and people as friends. Miyazaki-sensei has given us such gifts with his films.
Reposted by Deb Merriam needs to log off
This is really great news. Kudos to all city councillors who fought for this progressive result.
NEW POST
While cities across North America struggle with housing shortages, Edmonton is proving that zoning reform works.
In 2025, for the first time in history, the number of homes permitted in 5-8 unit rowhomes surpassed detached homes. 🧵
#yeg #yegcc #yimby
www.jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/zb...
While cities across North America struggle with housing shortages, Edmonton is proving that zoning reform works.
In 2025, for the first time in history, the number of homes permitted in 5-8 unit rowhomes surpassed detached homes. 🧵
#yeg #yegcc #yimby
www.jacobdawang.com/blog/2026/zb...
2025: The year Edmonton built the missing middle – Jacob Dawang
Edmonton’s zoning reform is working. In 2025, newly legalized eight-home rowhomes drove a record increase in homebuilding, achieved by redeveloping only 0.39% of properties in mature neighbourhoods.
www.jacobdawang.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:20 PM
This is really great news. Kudos to all city councillors who fought for this progressive result.
Reposted by Deb Merriam needs to log off
me and my dad went into a used bookstore the other day and saw a book of "fresh, untold dad jokes" and my dad was like *scoff* amateurs. only a faux pas would buy that
it is apparently dad joke day here on the butterfly app and I am here for it
If you are mean to the Nazgûl
on purpose it means you are wraithist
on purpose it means you are wraithist
January 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM
me and my dad went into a used bookstore the other day and saw a book of "fresh, untold dad jokes" and my dad was like *scoff* amateurs. only a faux pas would buy that
Reposted by Deb Merriam needs to log off
Just wanted to mention, there's another great reason to accelerate the move to renewable energy
Forty percent of all shipping cargo consists of fossil fuels
Cargo ships schlep thousands of millions of tons of cargo around the world every year
qz.com
January 3, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Just wanted to mention, there's another great reason to accelerate the move to renewable energy
Rolling my eyes at the Globe & Mail’s assertion that expanding markets for Canadian oil will in any way bolster our sovereignty. What, by funnelling more profits to US ownership? Please be serious.
January 4, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Rolling my eyes at the Globe & Mail’s assertion that expanding markets for Canadian oil will in any way bolster our sovereignty. What, by funnelling more profits to US ownership? Please be serious.
Reposted by Deb Merriam needs to log off
"The motivation is simple, and ancient: empire."
Canada needs to move faster to reassert its sovereignty. And calls for provincial succession from Alberta's Danielle Smith's UCP government should be looked at as treasonous.
#cdnpoli #abpoli
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/e4386cd...
Canada needs to move faster to reassert its sovereignty. And calls for provincial succession from Alberta's Danielle Smith's UCP government should be looked at as treasonous.
#cdnpoli #abpoli
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/e4386cd...
The Sunday Editorial: Venezuela’s fate is a warning for Canada
The U.S. military action to seize Nicolás Maduro marks the formal debut of an imperial America
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:50 PM
"The motivation is simple, and ancient: empire."
Canada needs to move faster to reassert its sovereignty. And calls for provincial succession from Alberta's Danielle Smith's UCP government should be looked at as treasonous.
#cdnpoli #abpoli
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/e4386cd...
Canada needs to move faster to reassert its sovereignty. And calls for provincial succession from Alberta's Danielle Smith's UCP government should be looked at as treasonous.
#cdnpoli #abpoli
www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/e4386cd...
Uh guys, what will the Prairies do for drinking water when glaciers don’t feed the rivers? Has anyone run the numbers on how much rooftop water collection will support?
“We’re no longer on the gentle part of the hill. We’re on a much, much steeper portion of that hill. So we think that the projections perhaps are a bit too conservative, and that we will see disappearance of ice much, much quicker.”
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...
Glaciers in Western Canada shrank at near record rates in 2025
Western Canada glaciers lost around 30 gigatonnes of ice, marking one of the worst annual losses on record
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 4, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Uh guys, what will the Prairies do for drinking water when glaciers don’t feed the rivers? Has anyone run the numbers on how much rooftop water collection will support?
Reposted by Deb Merriam needs to log off
I sure would hate to be an oil-rich country whose sovereignty the US doesn't recognize within easy striking distance of US soil. That would be scary!
January 3, 2026 at 4:34 PM
I sure would hate to be an oil-rich country whose sovereignty the US doesn't recognize within easy striking distance of US soil. That would be scary!
Deleted post because it broke my own ”don’t repost twitter screenshots” rule. :-/ For transparency, it was a screenshot of our current federal opposition leader’s deplorable reaction to the invasion of Venezuela, and I called him “PPpuppet”.
January 3, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Deleted post because it broke my own ”don’t repost twitter screenshots” rule. :-/ For transparency, it was a screenshot of our current federal opposition leader’s deplorable reaction to the invasion of Venezuela, and I called him “PPpuppet”.
Also, Jaysus H Murphy, esteemed national broadcaster, it is absolutely embarrassing that when I search up an article headline so I can repost it, the only post I can find is from someone who has no profile or header pics (so may be a bot). How do you not have an official presence here yet?
January 3, 2026 at 2:11 AM
Also, Jaysus H Murphy, esteemed national broadcaster, it is absolutely embarrassing that when I search up an article headline so I can repost it, the only post I can find is from someone who has no profile or header pics (so may be a bot). How do you not have an official presence here yet?
Clicked through from this CBC article to read the NS climate risk report. Is it vague and possibly over optimistic? Yes. Do I wish Alberta had anything comparable? Also yes.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... Lower water quality a new climate change risk facing Nova Scotia
Updated climate change risk assessment shows counties with greater need to adapt
Updated climate change risk assessment shows counties with greater need to adapt
Lower water quality a new climate change risk facing Nova Scotia | CBC News
As climate change continues to have an impact on Nova Scotia and the rest of the world, a report from the provincial government identifies a new top risk and parts of the province that stand to have g...
www.cbc.ca
January 3, 2026 at 2:01 AM
Clicked through from this CBC article to read the NS climate risk report. Is it vague and possibly over optimistic? Yes. Do I wish Alberta had anything comparable? Also yes.
Really interesting pilot project that puts PV panels on land that has an orphaned well or that cannot be irrigated. #abpoli
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... Micro solar farms aim to repurpose Alberta's oil and gas well sites
Solar grids could generate enough energy to power 90% of Alberta homes, RenuWell official says
Solar grids could generate enough energy to power 90% of Alberta homes, RenuWell official says
Micro solar farms aim to repurpose Alberta's oil and gas well sites | CBC News
Through a pair of pilot projects just outside Taber, Alta., RenuWell is trialing micro solar grids as part of a reclamation process for inactive oil wells.
www.cbc.ca
January 3, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Really interesting pilot project that puts PV panels on land that has an orphaned well or that cannot be irrigated. #abpoli
Reposted by Deb Merriam needs to log off
Climate advocates lost some political battles in North America last year, but technology and economics are winning the war everywhere else.
2026 will make the inevitability of the energy transition even more difficult to ignore.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/01/02/o...
2026 will make the inevitability of the energy transition even more difficult to ignore.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/01/02/o...
How to (still) be a climate optimist
2025 was a year defined by climate policy retreats in North America — and climate technology expansion in the rest of the world. Good news: Nothing stops this train.
www.nationalobserver.com
January 2, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Climate advocates lost some political battles in North America last year, but technology and economics are winning the war everywhere else.
2026 will make the inevitability of the energy transition even more difficult to ignore.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/01/02/o...
2026 will make the inevitability of the energy transition even more difficult to ignore.
www.nationalobserver.com/2025/01/02/o...
Reposted by Deb Merriam needs to log off
It is to Canada's shame we have not spoken out or supported a Canadian judge being sanctioned by the US
Her life is frozen. She cannot use credit cards, travel, move money, or access email. This is not sustainable
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Her life is frozen. She cannot use credit cards, travel, move money, or access email. This is not sustainable
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘It’s surreal’: US sanctions lock International Criminal Court judge out of daily life
Canadian judge Kimberly Prost is unable to use credit cards, transfer money or book everyday services in what she calls an attack on the independence of the judiciary
www.irishtimes.com
January 2, 2026 at 7:26 PM
It is to Canada's shame we have not spoken out or supported a Canadian judge being sanctioned by the US
Her life is frozen. She cannot use credit cards, travel, move money, or access email. This is not sustainable
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Her life is frozen. She cannot use credit cards, travel, move money, or access email. This is not sustainable
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Reposted by Deb Merriam needs to log off
Cool data viz...
A picture is worth 1000 words...
This appeared on the BBC News today, showing the increase in solar electric generation in the UK.
Not sure who produced it, but genuinely think this is a genius piece of scientific communication - the construct and choice of colour scale is near-perfect.
Chapeau!
This appeared on the BBC News today, showing the increase in solar electric generation in the UK.
Not sure who produced it, but genuinely think this is a genius piece of scientific communication - the construct and choice of colour scale is near-perfect.
Chapeau!
January 2, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Cool data viz...
This post wins “funniest commenters” prize of the day:
January 1, 2026 at 11:21 PM
This post wins “funniest commenters” prize of the day:
One of my new year’s resolutions is to spend less time online. Think I’ll be spending any online time unfollowing people who bring screenshots here. Stop it, you are doing the neonazis’ work for them by sharing their propaganda.
January 1, 2026 at 3:00 AM
One of my new year’s resolutions is to spend less time online. Think I’ll be spending any online time unfollowing people who bring screenshots here. Stop it, you are doing the neonazis’ work for them by sharing their propaganda.
Reposted by Deb Merriam needs to log off
Hey Albertans interested in the Coal Petition.. follow: bsky.app/profile/coal...
bsky.app
December 31, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Hey Albertans interested in the Coal Petition.. follow: bsky.app/profile/coal...
Reposted by Deb Merriam needs to log off
And speaking about myths regarding medieval peasants...
The "medieval peasants worked less than you do" myth is going around again, and it's one of the things that prompted me to write this series, so...🧵
1) No, they didn't. Work worked differently, but medieval elites exploited commoners until they were stopped. Sources are pretty consistent on this.
1) No, they didn't. Work worked differently, but medieval elites exploited commoners until they were stopped. Sources are pretty consistent on this.
With today's gentry playing at being feudal despots, it's worth remembering the many, many ways medieval commoners organized, resisted and fought back against the rulers of their day.
Forget stereotypes about docile peasants, the truth is *a lot* more interesting:
www.patreon.com/collection/1...
Forget stereotypes about docile peasants, the truth is *a lot* more interesting:
www.patreon.com/collection/1...
December 29, 2025 at 10:54 PM
And speaking about myths regarding medieval peasants...
Reposted by Deb Merriam needs to log off
This thread is amazing
I used to manage wine programs for movie theaters and I am in the extremely unique position to say with professional certainty that the answer here is a crisp Albariño.
asking the sommelier which wine pairs best with swedish fish
December 29, 2025 at 7:45 PM
This thread is amazing
Reposted by Deb Merriam needs to log off
And if you've heard the shot doesn't match the strain this year, you should know that the shot still offers a ton of protection (especially from severe complications).
www.cbc.ca/news/health/...
www.cbc.ca/news/health/...
December 29, 2025 at 5:27 PM
And if you've heard the shot doesn't match the strain this year, you should know that the shot still offers a ton of protection (especially from severe complications).
www.cbc.ca/news/health/...
www.cbc.ca/news/health/...
Reposted by Deb Merriam needs to log off
Hopefully there is some focused clearing overnight but if you're working tomorrow, be aware #yegbike.
Conditions aren't great across much of the city.
Conditions aren't great across much of the city.
#yegbike report extrapolated from a daily run in my SW ngbhood:
Side roads - ✅ nicely packed
Residential walks - ✅ >80% shovelled
City-maintained walks (72h standard) - ❌ absolutely abysmal, impassable. Safer to walk on the road. Walking a bike would be extremely difficult.
#yeg #yegsnowstories
Side roads - ✅ nicely packed
Residential walks - ✅ >80% shovelled
City-maintained walks (72h standard) - ❌ absolutely abysmal, impassable. Safer to walk on the road. Walking a bike would be extremely difficult.
#yeg #yegsnowstories
December 29, 2025 at 5:47 PM