Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
@henrikbechmann.bsky.social
Retired software dev. he/him.
I sometimes discuss City of Toronto budget design and support issues.
IMO government is a collective enterprise, and should be fully transparent and forcefully managed for all, and for the health of the planet.
I sometimes discuss City of Toronto budget design and support issues.
IMO government is a collective enterprise, and should be fully transparent and forcefully managed for all, and for the health of the planet.
Pinned
I think one of the key responsibilities of government is to promote, and if necessary enforce, equity.
The result imo is a more prosperous, happier, and yes more productive society.
I think equity, in essence, is what "woke" means, and we progressives should embrace that.
The result imo is a more prosperous, happier, and yes more productive society.
I think equity, in essence, is what "woke" means, and we progressives should embrace that.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
Canadian COVID Forecast Nov 8 - Nov 21, 2025
CANADA
VERY HIGH [no change]
About 1 of every 118 people is infected.
Compared to lowest point of pandemic in Canada:
-Infections: 7.6 x higher
-Long COVID: 6.0 x higher
-Hospitalizations: 10.4 x higher
-Deaths: 12.2 x higher
CANADA
VERY HIGH [no change]
About 1 of every 118 people is infected.
Compared to lowest point of pandemic in Canada:
-Infections: 7.6 x higher
-Long COVID: 6.0 x higher
-Hospitalizations: 10.4 x higher
-Deaths: 12.2 x higher
![This image describes the Canadian COVID Forecast for the fourteen-day period between Nov 8 - Nov 21, 2025, which is produced by COVID-19 Resources Canada. Canada’s COVID Forecast outlook is VERY HIGH [no change] with a COVID INDEX SCORE of 10.1
About 1 of every 118 people is infected.
Estimated infections this week: 583,200-806,200
What these numbers mean: MODERATE 1-5, HIGH 5-10, VERY HIGH 10-15, SEVERE >15 COMPARED TO THE LOWEST POINT IN THE COVID PANDEMIC IN CANADA
How much higher are key indicators compared to the lowest point in the COVID pandemic in Canada?
Waste water, infections: HIGH; 7.6X higher
Long COVID: HIGH; 6.0X higher
Hospitalizations: VERY HIGH; 10.4X higher
Deaths: VERY HIGH; 12.2X higher
HOW TO HELP:
EVERYONE:
UPDATE vaccines every 6 months
WEAR N95-type masks
AVOID indoor social gatherings
AVOID crowded non-essential places
Who is HIGH RISK?
People 60 and older, babies < 1 year, pregnant
ALL AGES: immunocompromised OR medically at-risk OR no vaccine or infection in the last 6 months
Recommendations are based on the COVID-19 Risk Index from the Peterborough ON Public Health Unit
COVID-19 Resources Canada is a grassroots organization of volunteer scientists supporting Canadian COVID responses. Sources, data and methods for the COVID Index are available at www.Covid19Resources.ca](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qbuobwdie7rzq4fburk63aft/bafkreigcayvfpw3riiwc5ff4taetmai2egkpb4dyvp7ghhtvqirbpzm2vu@jpeg)
November 10, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Canadian COVID Forecast Nov 8 - Nov 21, 2025
CANADA
VERY HIGH [no change]
About 1 of every 118 people is infected.
Compared to lowest point of pandemic in Canada:
-Infections: 7.6 x higher
-Long COVID: 6.0 x higher
-Hospitalizations: 10.4 x higher
-Deaths: 12.2 x higher
CANADA
VERY HIGH [no change]
About 1 of every 118 people is infected.
Compared to lowest point of pandemic in Canada:
-Infections: 7.6 x higher
-Long COVID: 6.0 x higher
-Hospitalizations: 10.4 x higher
-Deaths: 12.2 x higher
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
Absolutely brilliant exposition of what is happening *RIGHT NOW* across Ontario and Canada, thank you @danyaalraza.com .
Health care is in crisis, the solutions are obvious, and governments everywhere are looking away from what is happening.
Gift link:
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Health care is in crisis, the solutions are obvious, and governments everywhere are looking away from what is happening.
Gift link:
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
November 10, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Absolutely brilliant exposition of what is happening *RIGHT NOW* across Ontario and Canada, thank you @danyaalraza.com .
Health care is in crisis, the solutions are obvious, and governments everywhere are looking away from what is happening.
Gift link:
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Health care is in crisis, the solutions are obvious, and governments everywhere are looking away from what is happening.
Gift link:
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
This seems significant.
"U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025 was almost entirely driven by investment in data centers and information processing technology, according to Harvard economist Jason Furman."
"U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025 was almost entirely driven by investment in data centers and information processing technology, according to Harvard economist Jason Furman."
Without data centers, GDP growth was 0.1% in the first half of 2025, Harvard economist says | Fortune
Is a U.S. without data centers a country without GDP growth?
fortune.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:26 PM
This seems significant.
"U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025 was almost entirely driven by investment in data centers and information processing technology, according to Harvard economist Jason Furman."
"U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025 was almost entirely driven by investment in data centers and information processing technology, according to Harvard economist Jason Furman."
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
🚨 THIS 🔽🔽🔽
“When climate disasters decimate the lives of millions, when we already have the solutions, this will never, ever be forgiven.” www.theguardian.com/environment/...
“When climate disasters decimate the lives of millions, when we already have the solutions, this will never, ever be forgiven.” www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘It will never be forgiven’: UN climate chief warns world to act or face disaster
Faltering governments will be blamed for famine and conflict abroad, and face stagnation and inflation at home, says climate chief at start of Cop30
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:23 PM
🚨 THIS 🔽🔽🔽
“When climate disasters decimate the lives of millions, when we already have the solutions, this will never, ever be forgiven.” www.theguardian.com/environment/...
“When climate disasters decimate the lives of millions, when we already have the solutions, this will never, ever be forgiven.” www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
When deception’s more profitable than honesty, users lose.
Internal documents suggest that Meta earns $3.5B(!) every 6 mo. from scam ads, revealing a deeper systemic problem: the economic incentive to tolerate “higher legal risk” content still outweighs any penalty. www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Internal documents suggest that Meta earns $3.5B(!) every 6 mo. from scam ads, revealing a deeper systemic problem: the economic incentive to tolerate “higher legal risk” content still outweighs any penalty. 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 7, 2025 at 4:14 AM
When deception’s more profitable than honesty, users lose.
Internal documents suggest that Meta earns $3.5B(!) every 6 mo. from scam ads, revealing a deeper systemic problem: the economic incentive to tolerate “higher legal risk” content still outweighs any penalty. www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Internal documents suggest that Meta earns $3.5B(!) every 6 mo. from scam ads, revealing a deeper systemic problem: the economic incentive to tolerate “higher legal risk” content still outweighs any penalty. www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
We should care about getting to the end of the month not things that might happen in a few decades time.
Oh.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Oh.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
England facing drastic measures due to extreme drought next year
Government and water companies are devising emergency plans for worst water shortage in decades
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:44 AM
We should care about getting to the end of the month not things that might happen in a few decades time.
Oh.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Oh.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
We may see a more serious flu season this year, for several reasons, including record numbers already seen in Australia this year, the potential for the H3N2 strain to be less well-matched to vaccines, and the rise of vaccine hesitancy due to misinformation.
www.cbc.ca/news/health/...
www.cbc.ca/news/health/...
Canada could face ‘worst kind’ of flu season as experts warn evolving strain may be mismatch for vaccine | CBC News
With flu cases now rising in Canada, medical experts are bracing for a difficult influenza season linked to the global spread of an evolving H3N2 strain that could be a mismatch for this year’s vaccin...
www.cbc.ca
November 9, 2025 at 12:42 PM
We may see a more serious flu season this year, for several reasons, including record numbers already seen in Australia this year, the potential for the H3N2 strain to be less well-matched to vaccines, and the rise of vaccine hesitancy due to misinformation.
www.cbc.ca/news/health/...
www.cbc.ca/news/health/...
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
Reuters investigation: Internal documents show Meta is earning billions of dollars from a deluge of fraudulent ads www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11... #media
Meta forecast $24b revenue from scam ads, internal documents show
Users of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp are exposed to fraudulent e-commerce and investment schemes, illegal online casinos, and the sale of banned medical products.
www.abc.net.au
November 8, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Reuters investigation: Internal documents show Meta is earning billions of dollars from a deluge of fraudulent ads www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11... #media
Good conversation between Krugman and Morris -- a respected pollster.
My takeaway: voters are most influenced by their economic experience, and less by specific policy positions.
Also by their perceptions of "the system", which, um, has issues.
paulkrugman.substack.com/p/after-the-...
My takeaway: voters are most influenced by their economic experience, and less by specific policy positions.
Also by their perceptions of "the system", which, um, has issues.
paulkrugman.substack.com/p/after-the-...
After the Dem Sweep: Talking with G. Elliott Morris
My polling guru on what just happened.
paulkrugman.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Good conversation between Krugman and Morris -- a respected pollster.
My takeaway: voters are most influenced by their economic experience, and less by specific policy positions.
Also by their perceptions of "the system", which, um, has issues.
paulkrugman.substack.com/p/after-the-...
My takeaway: voters are most influenced by their economic experience, and less by specific policy positions.
Also by their perceptions of "the system", which, um, has issues.
paulkrugman.substack.com/p/after-the-...
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
You know what? There's actually a tested solution to this! it is brilliantly simple, and it WORKS.
I would love to see @bsky.app and @support.bsky.team test this out.
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2023/ju...
I would love to see @bsky.app and @support.bsky.team test this out.
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2023/ju...
November 7, 2025 at 5:33 PM
You know what? There's actually a tested solution to this! it is brilliantly simple, and it WORKS.
I would love to see @bsky.app and @support.bsky.team test this out.
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2023/ju...
I would love to see @bsky.app and @support.bsky.team test this out.
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2023/ju...
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
"Conservative Party voters are the most likely to believe disinformation."
November 8, 2025 at 3:22 PM
"Conservative Party voters are the most likely to believe disinformation."
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
Young people who are neither in school nor working face challenges that can lead to lower lifetime earnings, poorer health, and lower socioeconomic outcomes.
Who are these "disconnected" youth? And what early-life factors precede disconnection? https://bit.ly/4qIgIo7
Who are these "disconnected" youth? And what early-life factors precede disconnection? https://bit.ly/4qIgIo7
Predicting Disconnection Among American Youth
About 15 percent of young people in middle and high school become disconnected—that is, not engaging in school, training, or work—by ages 18 to 24. What early-life factors precede and might explain th...
bit.ly
November 8, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Young people who are neither in school nor working face challenges that can lead to lower lifetime earnings, poorer health, and lower socioeconomic outcomes.
Who are these "disconnected" youth? And what early-life factors precede disconnection? https://bit.ly/4qIgIo7
Who are these "disconnected" youth? And what early-life factors precede disconnection? https://bit.ly/4qIgIo7
A particularly good episode of Good Talk hosted by Peter Mansbridge, with Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson. I'm a huge Hebert fan.
Short story:
- PP is cooked
- Maybe more crossovers from Conservatives to Liberals
- The Con. party has become a toxic environment
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci1m...
Short story:
- PP is cooked
- Maybe more crossovers from Conservatives to Liberals
- The Con. party has become a toxic environment
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci1m...
Good Talk -- Conservative Chaos Hurts Poilievre, Helps Carney
YouTube video by The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge
www.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:49 PM
A particularly good episode of Good Talk hosted by Peter Mansbridge, with Chantal Hebert and Bruce Anderson. I'm a huge Hebert fan.
Short story:
- PP is cooked
- Maybe more crossovers from Conservatives to Liberals
- The Con. party has become a toxic environment
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci1m...
Short story:
- PP is cooked
- Maybe more crossovers from Conservatives to Liberals
- The Con. party has become a toxic environment
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci1m...
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
Although we're not where we should be, we're on a significantly better trajectory than we were 10 years ago.
10 Years After the Paris Climate Agreement, Here's Where We Are (Gift Article)
Has anything really changed in the decade since the Paris Agreement was reached? Actually, quite a lot.
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Although we're not where we should be, we're on a significantly better trajectory than we were 10 years ago.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
The US supports an EU plan to use about €185B in frozen Russian sovereign assets to help Ukraine and push for an end to the war, Reuters reports.
If there is a follow-through, this is big news that will hit Putin hard.
If there is a follow-through, this is big news that will hit Putin hard.
November 7, 2025 at 6:34 PM
The US supports an EU plan to use about €185B in frozen Russian sovereign assets to help Ukraine and push for an end to the war, Reuters reports.
If there is a follow-through, this is big news that will hit Putin hard.
If there is a follow-through, this is big news that will hit Putin hard.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
From @theathletic.com: Florida’s 7-foot-9 freshman Olivier Rioux became the tallest college basketball player of all time when he entered the Gators’ 104-64 victory over North Florida on Thursday.
Florida’s 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux becomes tallest college basketball player ever
The Montreal native entered the Gators' blowout victory over North Florida late in the second half Thursday.
nyti.ms
November 7, 2025 at 2:55 PM
From @theathletic.com: Florida’s 7-foot-9 freshman Olivier Rioux became the tallest college basketball player of all time when he entered the Gators’ 104-64 victory over North Florida on Thursday.
Help! I've gotten hooked on YouTube Shorts (www.youtube.com/@YouTube/sho...), particularly late at night on my Android.
Today there was a ton on Mamdani, and as usual a ton on Taylor (who is... impressive)
Today there was a ton on Mamdani, and as usual a ton on Taylor (who is... impressive)
YouTube
like & subscribe
www.youtube.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Help! I've gotten hooked on YouTube Shorts (www.youtube.com/@YouTube/sho...), particularly late at night on my Android.
Today there was a ton on Mamdani, and as usual a ton on Taylor (who is... impressive)
Today there was a ton on Mamdani, and as usual a ton on Taylor (who is... impressive)
Budget Analysis: How Is The Federal Government Tackling Digital Nation Building? @codeforcanada.bsky.social
The panel (and moderator) bursting with brains and experience.
Grounded analysis of Canada's stated goal of digital improvements.
Recommended
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVdu...
The panel (and moderator) bursting with brains and experience.
Grounded analysis of Canada's stated goal of digital improvements.
Recommended
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVdu...
Budget Analysis: How Is The Federal Government Tackling Digital Nation Building?
YouTube video by Code for Canada
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Budget Analysis: How Is The Federal Government Tackling Digital Nation Building? @codeforcanada.bsky.social
The panel (and moderator) bursting with brains and experience.
Grounded analysis of Canada's stated goal of digital improvements.
Recommended
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVdu...
The panel (and moderator) bursting with brains and experience.
Grounded analysis of Canada's stated goal of digital improvements.
Recommended
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVdu...
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
Let me just spell this out.
A teenage girl left Ukraine with her mother in 2022 after Russia invaded. Her mental health suffered greatly as a result.
And then ChatGPT advised her on how to kill herself.
A teenage girl left Ukraine with her mother in 2022 after Russia invaded. Her mental health suffered greatly as a result.
And then ChatGPT advised her on how to kill herself.
November 6, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Let me just spell this out.
A teenage girl left Ukraine with her mother in 2022 after Russia invaded. Her mental health suffered greatly as a result.
And then ChatGPT advised her on how to kill herself.
A teenage girl left Ukraine with her mother in 2022 after Russia invaded. Her mental health suffered greatly as a result.
And then ChatGPT advised her on how to kill herself.
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
Like a week ago the CFPB dropped its investigation into Meta over stuff like this, btw
“Meta internally projected late last year that it would earn about 10% of its overall annual revenue – or $16 billion – from running advertising for scams and banned goods, internal company documents show.🚨🚨🚨
Meta's fraud problem: The social media giant projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, documents seen by @Reuters show reut.rs/4qJTpdH
November 6, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Like a week ago the CFPB dropped its investigation into Meta over stuff like this, btw
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
It's significant but it's not huge. It's certainly not enough to warrant people fleeing the country in any numbers worth fearing. They don't even do it at the state level here.
Do Millionaires Move Across States to Avoid Taxes? | American Sociological Association
The view that the rich are highly mobile has gained much political traction in recent years and has become a central argument in debates about whether there
www.asanet.org
November 6, 2025 at 4:09 PM
It's significant but it's not huge. It's certainly not enough to warrant people fleeing the country in any numbers worth fearing. They don't even do it at the state level here.
City of Toronto Financial Planning Division has obviously abandoned its open sourcing of City of Toronto budgets.
Too bad because there was a lot of interesting detail in there.
OTOH the open source spreadsheet hasn't balanced for years (in spite of my notifying them), and it has a lot of ...
Too bad because there was a lot of interesting detail in there.
OTOH the open source spreadsheet hasn't balanced for years (in spite of my notifying them), and it has a lot of ...
November 6, 2025 at 4:05 PM
City of Toronto Financial Planning Division has obviously abandoned its open sourcing of City of Toronto budgets.
Too bad because there was a lot of interesting detail in there.
OTOH the open source spreadsheet hasn't balanced for years (in spite of my notifying them), and it has a lot of ...
Too bad because there was a lot of interesting detail in there.
OTOH the open source spreadsheet hasn't balanced for years (in spite of my notifying them), and it has a lot of ...
Reposted by Henrik Bechmann (Toronto) 🇨🇦 #staywoke
Canada making international news:
"Alberta’s top government doctor was stopped from speaking publicly about the problem, according to interviews... Conservative premier Danielle Smith has championed personal choice, calling the unvaccinated Alberta’s “most discriminated-against group.”
#GiftLink 🎁
"Alberta’s top government doctor was stopped from speaking publicly about the problem, according to interviews... Conservative premier Danielle Smith has championed personal choice, calling the unvaccinated Alberta’s “most discriminated-against group.”
#GiftLink 🎁
Canada Is About to Lose Its Status as Having Eliminated Measles
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Canada making international news:
"Alberta’s top government doctor was stopped from speaking publicly about the problem, according to interviews... Conservative premier Danielle Smith has championed personal choice, calling the unvaccinated Alberta’s “most discriminated-against group.”
#GiftLink 🎁
"Alberta’s top government doctor was stopped from speaking publicly about the problem, according to interviews... Conservative premier Danielle Smith has championed personal choice, calling the unvaccinated Alberta’s “most discriminated-against group.”
#GiftLink 🎁