Julie Penner
@julespenner.bsky.social
Musician, mother, arts worker. I play violin with Do Make Say Think, Broken Social Scene, JP Hoe, etc. Made radio/podcasts with The Vinyl Cafe and William Prince. I tend to post about Winnipeg, biking, urbanism, and politics.
https://linktr.ee/JuliePenner
https://linktr.ee/JuliePenner
Reposted by Julie Penner
Gordon Lightfoot album cover from 1978 where he looks like Bryan Cranston on Breaking Bad with a perm
November 10, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Gordon Lightfoot album cover from 1978 where he looks like Bryan Cranston on Breaking Bad with a perm
Reposted by Julie Penner
we should not be letting any company get away with blaming AI for their failures. I'm not even sure how we got to this point. people are like "it's just a tool" okay so is a forklift and we still hold somebody responsible when it goes wrong and hurts someone. this is YOUR AI!
November 10, 2025 at 4:05 PM
we should not be letting any company get away with blaming AI for their failures. I'm not even sure how we got to this point. people are like "it's just a tool" okay so is a forklift and we still hold somebody responsible when it goes wrong and hurts someone. this is YOUR AI!
Reposted by Julie Penner
Did you know that in Canada, if a budget doesn’t pass the government doesn’t shut down?
Federal workers aren’t furloughed.
Funding for social services doesn’t dry up.
Failure to pass a budget triggers an election.
It puts the politicians jobs on the line.
They get the budget passed.
Federal workers aren’t furloughed.
Funding for social services doesn’t dry up.
Failure to pass a budget triggers an election.
It puts the politicians jobs on the line.
They get the budget passed.
November 9, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Did you know that in Canada, if a budget doesn’t pass the government doesn’t shut down?
Federal workers aren’t furloughed.
Funding for social services doesn’t dry up.
Failure to pass a budget triggers an election.
It puts the politicians jobs on the line.
They get the budget passed.
Federal workers aren’t furloughed.
Funding for social services doesn’t dry up.
Failure to pass a budget triggers an election.
It puts the politicians jobs on the line.
They get the budget passed.
Reposted by Julie Penner
What a preventable tragedy caused by a disinformation grievance industrial complex. Shameful.
Canada expected to lose long-standing measles-elimination status on Monday, by @kkirkup.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/art... via @theglobeandmail.com
Canada expected to lose long-standing measles-elimination status
If the country loses its status, public-health researchers say the return of endemic measles would carry serious health consequences
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:13 AM
What a preventable tragedy caused by a disinformation grievance industrial complex. Shameful.
It’s bizarre to see all the snow in Ottawa and Toronto but hardly any in Winnipeg (yet).
This goal will be shown around the world.
November 10, 2025 at 1:54 AM
It’s bizarre to see all the snow in Ottawa and Toronto but hardly any in Winnipeg (yet).
Reposted by Julie Penner
That’s a terrible article. Detox can be medically dangerous and 24 hours may not be enough to assess a person’s psychiatric health when they’ve consumed methamphetamines.
Provided the detox centre has medical care + psych, this enables safer detox + assessment. #MBhealth
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Provided the detox centre has medical care + psych, this enables safer detox + assessment. #MBhealth
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Group of medical experts pens support letter for new 72-hour detention law | CBC News
A group of high-ranking health professionals has written a letter in support of the Manitoba government's plan to detain highly intoxicated people for up to 72 hours.
www.cbc.ca
November 9, 2025 at 7:19 PM
That’s a terrible article. Detox can be medically dangerous and 24 hours may not be enough to assess a person’s psychiatric health when they’ve consumed methamphetamines.
Provided the detox centre has medical care + psych, this enables safer detox + assessment. #MBhealth
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Provided the detox centre has medical care + psych, this enables safer detox + assessment. #MBhealth
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Julie Penner
New Yorkers! Hear Standing Together leaders Sally Abed and Alon-Lee Green in conversation with NYC Comptroller Brad Lander on November 12. Tickets: standtog.org/NYC
💜 Dear Fellow New Yorkers
Sally and @alonlee.bsky.social are coming to the city next week, and they’ll be meeting with @bradlander.bsky.social to talk about the partnership (here and there), how they see the current situation, and what absolutely needs to be done🧵👇
@standing-together.bsky.social
Sally and @alonlee.bsky.social are coming to the city next week, and they’ll be meeting with @bradlander.bsky.social to talk about the partnership (here and there), how they see the current situation, and what absolutely needs to be done🧵👇
@standing-together.bsky.social
November 9, 2025 at 8:21 AM
New Yorkers! Hear Standing Together leaders Sally Abed and Alon-Lee Green in conversation with NYC Comptroller Brad Lander on November 12. Tickets: standtog.org/NYC
Lots to think about here.
When you're endorsed by the far-right National Post, it's time to change direction: you're most certainly doing something wrong. I'd be curious to know how many card-carrying Mb NDP members are happy with Mr. Kinew's lurch to the right. #MbPoli
nationalpost.com/opinion/np-v...
nationalpost.com/opinion/np-v...
NP View: The federal NDP needs Wab Kinew
Bill to detain meth addicts shows that Manitoba premier is a realist
nationalpost.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Lots to think about here.
Reposted by Julie Penner
This breaks some people’s brains.
In most cities, Costco stores fuel sprawl & car dependency.
In Vancouver, our full-sized downtown Costco has residential towers above & a skytrain station next door. LOTS of customers don’t drive to it.
We live a block from it. We call it “the convenience store.”
In most cities, Costco stores fuel sprawl & car dependency.
In Vancouver, our full-sized downtown Costco has residential towers above & a skytrain station next door. LOTS of customers don’t drive to it.
We live a block from it. We call it “the convenience store.”
November 8, 2025 at 3:03 AM
This breaks some people’s brains.
In most cities, Costco stores fuel sprawl & car dependency.
In Vancouver, our full-sized downtown Costco has residential towers above & a skytrain station next door. LOTS of customers don’t drive to it.
We live a block from it. We call it “the convenience store.”
In most cities, Costco stores fuel sprawl & car dependency.
In Vancouver, our full-sized downtown Costco has residential towers above & a skytrain station next door. LOTS of customers don’t drive to it.
We live a block from it. We call it “the convenience store.”
Reposted by Julie Penner
Pesky e-bike riders delivering food to people should be ticketed... @tps.ca there appears to be a double standard here because stopping in for some Jerk King, although delicious is not actively responding to an emergency.
The use of the lights here, while clever, is certainly inappropriate.
The use of the lights here, while clever, is certainly inappropriate.
November 7, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Pesky e-bike riders delivering food to people should be ticketed... @tps.ca there appears to be a double standard here because stopping in for some Jerk King, although delicious is not actively responding to an emergency.
The use of the lights here, while clever, is certainly inappropriate.
The use of the lights here, while clever, is certainly inappropriate.
Reposted by Julie Penner
This is the facility that I and many others have been protesting. We’ve been hit, thrown, gassed, and shot with pepper bullets but none of that holds a candle to what is being done to people *in* the actual facility.
Read this thread. Don’t look away. Keep your eyes and the pressure on Broadview.
Read this thread. Don’t look away. Keep your eyes and the pressure on Broadview.
A family friend was telling us about what her husband shared about his experience in Broadview before he was deported back to Mexico. She's been sharing to friends and family because she's just in disbelief & horror what her husband told her. She wasn't able to talk to him until he was in Mexico.
November 7, 2025 at 3:29 PM
This is the facility that I and many others have been protesting. We’ve been hit, thrown, gassed, and shot with pepper bullets but none of that holds a candle to what is being done to people *in* the actual facility.
Read this thread. Don’t look away. Keep your eyes and the pressure on Broadview.
Read this thread. Don’t look away. Keep your eyes and the pressure on Broadview.
This is so confusing.
Mandy Gull-Masty calls Senate’s push to end the second-generation cutoff ‘racism’ www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...
ISC Minister asks Senators to drop amendment
Senators are considering broad amendments to Bill S-2 that would effectively end government's control over legal identity based on testimony
www.aptnnews.ca
November 7, 2025 at 9:22 PM
This is so confusing.
Reposted by Julie Penner
While researching my current column, I had trouble finding something PM Carney said in a speech in either Factiva or Google, so I tried asking ChatGPT-5 to search for it. This was its internal response.
It hallucinates in basic searches. It can't write truth. It can't copyedit. What is it good for?
It hallucinates in basic searches. It can't write truth. It can't copyedit. What is it good for?
November 7, 2025 at 1:42 PM
While researching my current column, I had trouble finding something PM Carney said in a speech in either Factiva or Google, so I tried asking ChatGPT-5 to search for it. This was its internal response.
It hallucinates in basic searches. It can't write truth. It can't copyedit. What is it good for?
It hallucinates in basic searches. It can't write truth. It can't copyedit. What is it good for?
Good critique of the proposed Wellington Crescent bike lanes. Although I suppose this is why the lanes are temporary - they can be tested out. #BikeWpg
I appreciate why this is being done in a (relative) hurry and why the folks designing it have ended up proposing what they have… but as a cyclist and a driver that frequents this area I really don’t love what’s being offered here.
I’d love to see a more drastic change.
I’d love to see a more drastic change.
The City of Winnipeg is seeking feedback on a proposed temporary bike lane design for Wellington Crescent.
November 7, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Good critique of the proposed Wellington Crescent bike lanes. Although I suppose this is why the lanes are temporary - they can be tested out. #BikeWpg
Reposted by Julie Penner
These changes would have made the difference in Rob Jenner living or dying in the summer of 2024. They might make the difference in keeping my family or yours alive, too. We have until December 12th to share how important these changes are to us. Let’s get it done.
The City of Winnipeg is seeking feedback on a proposed temporary bike lane design for Wellington Crescent.
Feedback sought on Wellington Crescent bike lanes
The City of Winnipeg is seeking feedback on a proposed temporary bike lane design for Wellington Crescent.
www.winnipegfreepress.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:59 AM
These changes would have made the difference in Rob Jenner living or dying in the summer of 2024. They might make the difference in keeping my family or yours alive, too. We have until December 12th to share how important these changes are to us. Let’s get it done.
Whoa, bad design! Between the streetcar rails and the sewer grates…
Harbord cyclists beware: in the new lanes some sewer grates have been put in the death position by contractors. This @ Manning just ate my tire but luckily was coming to a stop. Jarring still. At speed I’d be over the handlebars. There were others along way.
November 7, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Whoa, bad design! Between the streetcar rails and the sewer grates…
Reposted by Julie Penner
First Nations women who’ve spent a lifetime fighting for the right to belong in their own communities have been again travelling to Parliament Hill this fall, repeating their calls for change.
My latest on the second-generation cut off (no paywall!) ⬇️
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
My latest on the second-generation cut off (no paywall!) ⬇️
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
Decades-long fight to repeal discriminatory second-generation cut-off rekindled on Parliament Hill
First Nations women who’ve spent a lifetime fighting for the right to belong in their own communities have been again travelling to Parliament Hill this fall, repeating their calls for change and thei...
www.winnipegfreepress.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:00 PM
First Nations women who’ve spent a lifetime fighting for the right to belong in their own communities have been again travelling to Parliament Hill this fall, repeating their calls for change.
My latest on the second-generation cut off (no paywall!) ⬇️
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
My latest on the second-generation cut off (no paywall!) ⬇️
www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews...
Reposted by Julie Penner
Excited to see the narrative flip from curtailment to empowerment. This is one of the benefits of renewable energy --> it produces near-zero marginal-cost power at peak hours!
What could we do with that superpower?
What could we do with that superpower?
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity
Australia's extensive solar power penetration makes so much energy that the government wants to offer free electricity at peak hours.
electrek.co
November 6, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Excited to see the narrative flip from curtailment to empowerment. This is one of the benefits of renewable energy --> it produces near-zero marginal-cost power at peak hours!
What could we do with that superpower?
What could we do with that superpower?
Reposted by Julie Penner
The way all of these people convinced themselves that Mamdani is antisemitic is a subject far more worthy of media examination than any of the ‘groupthink on campuses!’ thinkpieces we’ve been subjected to
November 5, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The way all of these people convinced themselves that Mamdani is antisemitic is a subject far more worthy of media examination than any of the ‘groupthink on campuses!’ thinkpieces we’ve been subjected to
Rama Duwaji (Zohran Mamdani’s wife):
“I believe everyone has a responsibility to speak out against injustice,” she added, “and art has such an ability to spread it. I don’t think everybody has to make political work, but art is inherently political in how it’s made, funded, and shared.”
“I believe everyone has a responsibility to speak out against injustice,” she added, “and art has such an ability to spread it. I don’t think everybody has to make political work, but art is inherently political in how it’s made, funded, and shared.”
November 5, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Rama Duwaji (Zohran Mamdani’s wife):
“I believe everyone has a responsibility to speak out against injustice,” she added, “and art has such an ability to spread it. I don’t think everybody has to make political work, but art is inherently political in how it’s made, funded, and shared.”
“I believe everyone has a responsibility to speak out against injustice,” she added, “and art has such an ability to spread it. I don’t think everybody has to make political work, but art is inherently political in how it’s made, funded, and shared.”
Reposted by Julie Penner
A root problem with the immigration proposal -- using permanent immigrants rather than temporaries to fulfil the "nation-building" goals of the larger budget -- is that Canada's main immigration pathways, Express Entry and PNP, select for FAR too high skill/education levels for our economic needs
November 5, 2025 at 1:38 PM
A root problem with the immigration proposal -- using permanent immigrants rather than temporaries to fulfil the "nation-building" goals of the larger budget -- is that Canada's main immigration pathways, Express Entry and PNP, select for FAR too high skill/education levels for our economic needs
Reposted by Julie Penner
In terms of _content_, as we see with nods to Debs and Nehru, he's deeply comfortable with socialism. This makes sense not just because of his father's work, but also the cultural heritage on his mom's side; the region of India our families are from has always been a hotbed of leftist activism.
November 5, 2025 at 5:34 AM
In terms of _content_, as we see with nods to Debs and Nehru, he's deeply comfortable with socialism. This makes sense not just because of his father's work, but also the cultural heritage on his mom's side; the region of India our families are from has always been a hotbed of leftist activism.
Reposted by Julie Penner
An interesting budget provision for the creative industry: An Artist's Resale Right. It's apparently meant for paintings that get resold for lots of money, but could the logic be extended to other works of art? We'll see what "eligible sale" will mean.
November 5, 2025 at 4:29 AM
An interesting budget provision for the creative industry: An Artist's Resale Right. It's apparently meant for paintings that get resold for lots of money, but could the logic be extended to other works of art? We'll see what "eligible sale" will mean.
Reposted by Julie Penner
Brad Lander is at the victory party and, folks, he has the custom one-of-one “GOOD FUCKING RIDDANCE” shirt.
November 5, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Brad Lander is at the victory party and, folks, he has the custom one-of-one “GOOD FUCKING RIDDANCE” shirt.
Reposted by Julie Penner
I knew that Mamdani had it; he had the people and did the work, and has been the clearest and most lucid in rejecting the untenable current state of things. But the vile, bigoted shit against him was so constant, and I am conditioned to that working better than I want. This feels like an exorcism.
November 5, 2025 at 3:45 AM
I knew that Mamdani had it; he had the people and did the work, and has been the clearest and most lucid in rejecting the untenable current state of things. But the vile, bigoted shit against him was so constant, and I am conditioned to that working better than I want. This feels like an exorcism.