Elithmord 🇨🇦
@jemburch.bsky.social
PhD candidate (Political Science) | Sessional Instructor (Quantitative Method) | Recovering public servant | Huge nerd (SCA, LARP, TTRPGs)
Expect posts about Canadian news (often political) and nerdy pursuits. Opinions my own and likely to be unhinged.
Expect posts about Canadian news (often political) and nerdy pursuits. Opinions my own and likely to be unhinged.
For anyone who thinks cats don't care...
I'm home sick in bed right now and our sweet kitten was crying at the door to be let in. When I obliged, she immediately lay claim to my side of the bed and attacked me when I tried to move her.
I'm home sick in bed right now and our sweet kitten was crying at the door to be let in. When I obliged, she immediately lay claim to my side of the bed and attacked me when I tried to move her.
December 30, 2025 at 3:23 AM
For anyone who thinks cats don't care...
I'm home sick in bed right now and our sweet kitten was crying at the door to be let in. When I obliged, she immediately lay claim to my side of the bed and attacked me when I tried to move her.
I'm home sick in bed right now and our sweet kitten was crying at the door to be let in. When I obliged, she immediately lay claim to my side of the bed and attacked me when I tried to move her.
Reposted by Elithmord 🇨🇦
2025 recapped
December 29, 2025 at 5:46 PM
2025 recapped
One of my students this semester opined (without any prompting from me) that people who use AI to do their assignments are only cheating themselves.
Fact is our students are worried too. Strong majorities of people under 30 think AI will make people worse at thinking creatively and forming meaningful relationships. www.pewresearch.org/science/2025...
December 29, 2025 at 12:07 AM
One of my students this semester opined (without any prompting from me) that people who use AI to do their assignments are only cheating themselves.
Reposted by Elithmord 🇨🇦
There is no situation in which I need a random recipe site to be allowed to send me notifications. None.
December 28, 2025 at 6:19 PM
There is no situation in which I need a random recipe site to be allowed to send me notifications. None.
How I’m walking out of 2025
December 28, 2025 at 8:18 AM
How I’m walking out of 2025
A mandatory question on my course evaluation asked whether I'd taught students this.
My "instruction" on the subject was limited to asking them not to use AI to cheat, and promising help if they were struggling.
The vast majority of my students reported that I had done a good job. Students know.
My "instruction" on the subject was limited to asking them not to use AI to cheat, and promising help if they were struggling.
The vast majority of my students reported that I had done a good job. Students know.
One thing that I’ve become increasingly certain of over the course of this year:
As an academic, I do not have (and never will have) a responsibility to teach students to use Gen AI ‘ethically’ (as if that were possible).
The idea that academics should be doing this is a blight on the sector.
As an academic, I do not have (and never will have) a responsibility to teach students to use Gen AI ‘ethically’ (as if that were possible).
The idea that academics should be doing this is a blight on the sector.
December 28, 2025 at 2:03 AM
A mandatory question on my course evaluation asked whether I'd taught students this.
My "instruction" on the subject was limited to asking them not to use AI to cheat, and promising help if they were struggling.
The vast majority of my students reported that I had done a good job. Students know.
My "instruction" on the subject was limited to asking them not to use AI to cheat, and promising help if they were struggling.
The vast majority of my students reported that I had done a good job. Students know.
Reposted by Elithmord 🇨🇦
“According to historians and political scientists who study protest: very. From emancipation to women’s suffrage, from civil rights to Black Lives Matter, mass movement has shaped the arc of American history.” @justprotest.bsky.social
How effective is protesting? According to historians and political scientists: very
From emancipation to women’s suffrage, civil rights and BLM, mass movement has shaped the arc of US history
www.theguardian.com
December 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
“According to historians and political scientists who study protest: very. From emancipation to women’s suffrage, from civil rights to Black Lives Matter, mass movement has shaped the arc of American history.” @justprotest.bsky.social
As someone who once tried to quantify the total amount of federal fossil fuel subsidies, it seems to me that accounting in this field is often "unconventional."
thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
Is Trans Mountain’s Profitability an Accounting Illusion? | The Tyee
How the finances of Canada’s government-owned pipeline may look better than they are.
thetyee.ca
December 25, 2025 at 9:22 PM
As someone who once tried to quantify the total amount of federal fossil fuel subsidies, it seems to me that accounting in this field is often "unconventional."
thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
Reposted by Elithmord 🇨🇦
Merry Christmas from me and my man-eating polar bear Jeffrey
December 25, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Merry Christmas from me and my man-eating polar bear Jeffrey
Reposted by Elithmord 🇨🇦
Godzilla Earth, Megalon, Manda, and Lil Godzilla Jr are hyped for the holidays!
December 25, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Godzilla Earth, Megalon, Manda, and Lil Godzilla Jr are hyped for the holidays!
Reposted by Elithmord 🇨🇦
We talked about running these numbers at UM soc when it became so obvious that women TAs got more complaints for the same classes. Glad someone tested it formally.
Experimental evidence that students are more likely to contest grades when they are delivered by an evaluator with a female-sounding name.
"These findings suggest that women in evaluative positions face disproportionate resistance when delivering negative assessments."
"These findings suggest that women in evaluative positions face disproportionate resistance when delivering negative assessments."
December 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM
We talked about running these numbers at UM soc when it became so obvious that women TAs got more complaints for the same classes. Glad someone tested it formally.
Swedish Christmas Poem - "Tomten" [English Translation]
YouTube video by Fäderneslandet
www.youtube.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:44 PM
“When you see ideology getting into these judgments and the judges, they don’t face the electorate the way we do.”
Would that be the same electorate that has filed over 20 recall petitions - most citing the use of the notwithstandin clause - against your MPs?
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Would that be the same electorate that has filed over 20 recall petitions - most citing the use of the notwithstandin clause - against your MPs?
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Alberta's Smith says notwithstanding clause increasingly likely amid unpopular court rulings
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in a year-end interview she's increasingly willing to use the notwithstanding clause.
edmontonjournal.com
December 24, 2025 at 6:02 PM
“When you see ideology getting into these judgments and the judges, they don’t face the electorate the way we do.”
Would that be the same electorate that has filed over 20 recall petitions - most citing the use of the notwithstandin clause - against your MPs?
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Would that be the same electorate that has filed over 20 recall petitions - most citing the use of the notwithstandin clause - against your MPs?
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Yikes.
Congratulations to Stephen Macedo & Frances Lee, whose book In Covid's Wake has been recognized as:
⭐ A @newyorker.com Best Book of the Year
⭐ An @economist.com Book of the Year
⭐ A @wsj.com Best Book of the Year
Learn more about this eye-opening book: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
⭐ A @newyorker.com Best Book of the Year
⭐ An @economist.com Book of the Year
⭐ A @wsj.com Best Book of the Year
Learn more about this eye-opening book: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
December 24, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Yikes.
Weird Aunt, reporting for duty!
I like being an uncle for the holidays because: Mom and dad are responsible, and will discipline you. Grandpa and Grandma are indulgent, and will coddle you. But the uncle... the uncle is unpredictable. The niece and nephew cannot know what the uncle will do, because the soul of the uncle is CHAOS
December 24, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Weird Aunt, reporting for duty!
Reposted by Elithmord 🇨🇦
Just want to put out feelers for a TTRPG writer/dev or two who would be interested in collaborating on a pulpy scifi/fantasy project in 2026 with myself and another artist/writer. Ideally someone who'd fuck with "Frank Frazetta but queer" as an aesthetic. Would love 2 chat if this sounds interesting
December 24, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Just want to put out feelers for a TTRPG writer/dev or two who would be interested in collaborating on a pulpy scifi/fantasy project in 2026 with myself and another artist/writer. Ideally someone who'd fuck with "Frank Frazetta but queer" as an aesthetic. Would love 2 chat if this sounds interesting
Reposted by Elithmord 🇨🇦
Being Canadian means we are treacherous because we made an incompetent hater look "silly."
In case you missed it, please watch the CBS documentary.
Here is the link:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jieh...
Btw... waiting for another Christmas threat from Trump.
He's losing it.
In case you missed it, please watch the CBS documentary.
Here is the link:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jieh...
Btw... waiting for another Christmas threat from Trump.
He's losing it.
December 24, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Being Canadian means we are treacherous because we made an incompetent hater look "silly."
In case you missed it, please watch the CBS documentary.
Here is the link:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jieh...
Btw... waiting for another Christmas threat from Trump.
He's losing it.
In case you missed it, please watch the CBS documentary.
Here is the link:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jieh...
Btw... waiting for another Christmas threat from Trump.
He's losing it.
"Santa Notwithstanding Clause" 🤣
What's Santa bringing Premier Danielle Smith, PM Mark Carney, Pierre Poilievre, and President Donald Trump this Christmas? We go straight to the source on a special edition of #RealTalkRJ... 🤣
📺 FULL: rtrj.info/122225Randy
🎧 FULL: rtrj.info/122225 @supriya.bsky.social #cdnpoli
📺 FULL: rtrj.info/122225Randy
🎧 FULL: rtrj.info/122225 @supriya.bsky.social #cdnpoli
December 24, 2025 at 7:55 AM
"Santa Notwithstanding Clause" 🤣
Reposted by Elithmord 🇨🇦
Instead of spending big money to recruit a few dozen academics from outside of Canada, I wish the Liberals invested in the outstanding talent coming out of our PhD programs. Postdocs could be extended (#, duration) for large numbers for the same price. It is top-down, headline seeking politics.
December 23, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Instead of spending big money to recruit a few dozen academics from outside of Canada, I wish the Liberals invested in the outstanding talent coming out of our PhD programs. Postdocs could be extended (#, duration) for large numbers for the same price. It is top-down, headline seeking politics.
Thrilled to have discovered my one true broth type. Was it accurate? Goodness no. But it would take a stronger will than mine to resist a bonkers soup quiz.
big-way-mbti.pages.dev/results
big-way-mbti.pages.dev/results
Big Way Hot Pot MBTI Quiz
Discover which of Big Way's delicious soup bases fits your personality and MBTI the best!
big-way-mbti.pages.dev
December 23, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Thrilled to have discovered my one true broth type. Was it accurate? Goodness no. But it would take a stronger will than mine to resist a bonkers soup quiz.
big-way-mbti.pages.dev/results
big-way-mbti.pages.dev/results
With Christmas just around the corner, I'm sure there are many parents who will fantasize about doing something similar...
12.22.25 Moo Deng (Khao Kheow Open Zoo) update - at 6pm, the keepers gave Moo a bubble bath in her tubbie, she dunked her head in the water, was moisturized, not bouncy, and unbothered~btw mama Jonah bit the red ball and broke it💜
December 23, 2025 at 11:04 PM
With Christmas just around the corner, I'm sure there are many parents who will fantasize about doing something similar...
I've been there. Please know that my thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
I’m sorry for my previous outburst. It turns out I hadn’t eaten any cheese in the past two days. My bad, won’t happen again.
December 23, 2025 at 8:36 PM
I've been there. Please know that my thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
jemburch.bsky.social's Bluesky Wrapped 2025
Check out jemburch.bsky.social's year on Bluesky!
www.madebyolof.com
December 23, 2025 at 8:30 PM
In Alberta, only the UCP's separatist base are allowed to make 'frivolous applications'.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
Breakenridge: Smith's government makes 'mockery' of direct democracy
The UCP government's bills and orders open the gate for separatists but close it to all others, writes columnist Rob Breakenridge.
calgaryherald.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:43 PM
In Alberta, only the UCP's separatist base are allowed to make 'frivolous applications'.
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...
Reposted by Elithmord 🇨🇦
I kind of like this whole “We won’t buy your liquor but we will air your state-suppressed news stories” niche that Canada’s apparently carved out.
December 23, 2025 at 12:20 AM
I kind of like this whole “We won’t buy your liquor but we will air your state-suppressed news stories” niche that Canada’s apparently carved out.