Quillipede
@quillipede.bsky.social
(they/them)
QC-raised, BC-based nature photographer, indie SFF author, game designer, cat parent, home cook, plant nerd, science enthusiast
My & my work: https://linktr.ee/quillipede
QC-raised, BC-based nature photographer, indie SFF author, game designer, cat parent, home cook, plant nerd, science enthusiast
My & my work: https://linktr.ee/quillipede
Reposted by Quillipede
So what does two-tier care actually “solve”?
Not the bottleneck. Not wait times overall.
It mostly changes who waits and who can buy their way to the front – while public queues risk getting slower, not faster.
Not the bottleneck. Not wait times overall.
It mostly changes who waits and who can buy their way to the front – while public queues risk getting slower, not faster.
November 23, 2025 at 5:25 PM
So what does two-tier care actually “solve”?
Not the bottleneck. Not wait times overall.
It mostly changes who waits and who can buy their way to the front – while public queues risk getting slower, not faster.
Not the bottleneck. Not wait times overall.
It mostly changes who waits and who can buy their way to the front – while public queues risk getting slower, not faster.
I came across quite a few of these charming little flowers in the Okanagan. These are Collinsia parviflora, the small-flowered blue-eyed Mary.
#flower #plant #collinsia #macrophotography #inaturalist #bcparks #okanagan #britishcolumbia #canada
#flower #plant #collinsia #macrophotography #inaturalist #bcparks #okanagan #britishcolumbia #canada
November 22, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I came across quite a few of these charming little flowers in the Okanagan. These are Collinsia parviflora, the small-flowered blue-eyed Mary.
#flower #plant #collinsia #macrophotography #inaturalist #bcparks #okanagan #britishcolumbia #canada
#flower #plant #collinsia #macrophotography #inaturalist #bcparks #okanagan #britishcolumbia #canada
Reposted by Quillipede
A French ICC judge sanctioned by the US over the Netanyau arrest warrant says all his accounts with US companies have been closed, making it “like being sent back to the 1990s.”
“Without sovereignty – military, health, financial and digital – we can no longer guarantee the rule of law,” he says.
“Without sovereignty – military, health, financial and digital – we can no longer guarantee the rule of law,” he says.
![What can governments do?
In the face of US sanctions, European authorities can implement the "blocking statute" [a mechanism used in the past that protects EU citizens and companies from the effects of sanctions imposed by third countries]. Europe needs greater sovereignty, especially in digital and banking matters. That is the only way to reduce the impact of sanctions and, indirectly, protect the victims of international crimes. Today, there is no room for naivety. Without sovereignty – military, health, financial and digital – we can no longer guarantee the rule of law. Some European lawmakers have become aware of these issues. Still, this awareness must grow among national governments and the European Commission, because behind the sanctions against the ICC lies the entire question of the rule of law.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5rxcpjus3ple6jpbuafvm4og/bafkreiflzi2b3svul3iq3omdpk3yl4kydla7cisw7ireldm7zne2majeoq@jpeg)
November 22, 2025 at 12:55 PM
A French ICC judge sanctioned by the US over the Netanyau arrest warrant says all his accounts with US companies have been closed, making it “like being sent back to the 1990s.”
“Without sovereignty – military, health, financial and digital – we can no longer guarantee the rule of law,” he says.
“Without sovereignty – military, health, financial and digital – we can no longer guarantee the rule of law,” he says.
US tech imperialism is a real problem, and this is a great example of why.
![Social media screenshot:
Arnaud Bertrand @RnaudBertrand
In a normal world, this should be an immense scandal in Europe.
Le Monde has a long article describing the hellish life of Nicolas Guillou, a French judge at the ICC in The Hague, due to U.S. sanctions punishing him for authorizing arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant for war crimes in Gaza.
Guillou's daily existence has been transformed into a Kafkaesque nightmare. He cannot: open or maintain accounts with Google, Amazon, Apple, or any US company; make hotel reservations (Expedia canceled his booking in France hours after he made it); conduct online commerce, since he can't know if the packaging is American; use any major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex are all American); access normal banking services, even with non-American banks, as banks worldwide close sanctioned accounts; conduct virtually any financial transaction.
He describes it as being "economically banned across most of the planet," including in his own country, France, and where he works, the Netherlands.
That's the real shocking aspect of this: the Americans are:
- punishing a European citizen
- for doing his job in Europe
- applying laws Europe officially supports
- at an institution based in Europe
- that Europe helped create and fund
and Europe is not only doing essentially nothing to protect him, they're actively enforcing America's sanctions against their own citizen - European banks closing his accounts, European companies refusing him service, European institutions standing by while Washington destroys a European judge's life on European soil.
Again, in a normal world, European leaders and citizens should be absolutely outraged about this. But we've so normalized the hollowing out of European sovereignty that the sight of a European citizen being economically executed on European soil for upholding European law is treated, at best, as an unfortunate technical complication in transatlantic
[further text missing]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:jrzyao2holfkgrsfbq2tue27/bafkreiga2xugyfyqaagrd3essidr6sktmwm72xodvy7aatg3yebuvygiyi@jpeg)
November 21, 2025 at 11:50 PM
US tech imperialism is a real problem, and this is a great example of why.
Reposted by Quillipede
@melwoods.me: We must not overcomplicate what’s going on here.
This is the Alberta government saying the rights of trans kids to receive life-saving health care, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams don’t matter as much as the Smith government’s right to dictate their lives.
This is the Alberta government saying the rights of trans kids to receive life-saving health care, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams don’t matter as much as the Smith government’s right to dictate their lives.
Danielle Smith Goes Nuclear on Trans Rights | The Tyee
Alberta’s premier is overriding Charter protections. Here’s a fact check on her claims.
thetyee.ca
November 20, 2025 at 3:02 PM
@melwoods.me: We must not overcomplicate what’s going on here.
This is the Alberta government saying the rights of trans kids to receive life-saving health care, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams don’t matter as much as the Smith government’s right to dictate their lives.
This is the Alberta government saying the rights of trans kids to receive life-saving health care, go by their own pronouns at school or play on sport teams don’t matter as much as the Smith government’s right to dictate their lives.
Reposted by Quillipede
🚨NEWS: NDP Leadership Candidate Tony McQuail had a message for his donors on my podcast today:
Don't send him any more money, for now.
Send it to fellow candidate @votetanille.bsky.social until she raises enough to survive the next cut off.
Watch as Tony made news (and almost made us all cry):
Don't send him any more money, for now.
Send it to fellow candidate @votetanille.bsky.social until she raises enough to survive the next cut off.
Watch as Tony made news (and almost made us all cry):
November 20, 2025 at 8:31 PM
🚨NEWS: NDP Leadership Candidate Tony McQuail had a message for his donors on my podcast today:
Don't send him any more money, for now.
Send it to fellow candidate @votetanille.bsky.social until she raises enough to survive the next cut off.
Watch as Tony made news (and almost made us all cry):
Don't send him any more money, for now.
Send it to fellow candidate @votetanille.bsky.social until she raises enough to survive the next cut off.
Watch as Tony made news (and almost made us all cry):
Reposted by Quillipede
🚨 LIVE AT 12:00PMET TODAY 🚨
The NDP leadership candidates will soon face off in a first debate.
I’m thrilled to welcome two of those candidates on the show: @votetanille.bsky.social and Tony McQuail.
I’m calling them The Underdogs.
That’s why you should listen — underdogs can come out on top.
The NDP leadership candidates will soon face off in a first debate.
I’m thrilled to welcome two of those candidates on the show: @votetanille.bsky.social and Tony McQuail.
I’m calling them The Underdogs.
That’s why you should listen — underdogs can come out on top.
November 20, 2025 at 3:06 PM
🚨 LIVE AT 12:00PMET TODAY 🚨
The NDP leadership candidates will soon face off in a first debate.
I’m thrilled to welcome two of those candidates on the show: @votetanille.bsky.social and Tony McQuail.
I’m calling them The Underdogs.
That’s why you should listen — underdogs can come out on top.
The NDP leadership candidates will soon face off in a first debate.
I’m thrilled to welcome two of those candidates on the show: @votetanille.bsky.social and Tony McQuail.
I’m calling them The Underdogs.
That’s why you should listen — underdogs can come out on top.
Reposted by Quillipede
Trans youth who are hurting in Alberta right now, please know SO many of us see you, care about you, and know you deserve to be protected.
We’ve got your back and will do everything we can to keep you safe in the face of attacks from craven, pathetic politicians ❤️
We’ve got your back and will do everything we can to keep you safe in the face of attacks from craven, pathetic politicians ❤️
November 19, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Trans youth who are hurting in Alberta right now, please know SO many of us see you, care about you, and know you deserve to be protected.
We’ve got your back and will do everything we can to keep you safe in the face of attacks from craven, pathetic politicians ❤️
We’ve got your back and will do everything we can to keep you safe in the face of attacks from craven, pathetic politicians ❤️
I recently replaced my "smart" wall plug that I was using for lighting schedules with an old-fashioned mechanical outlet timer, and it's been a vast improvement over the smart device. No need to worry about software issues, app compatibility, wifi network changes, etc.
Just discovered the reason we've not had heating for 24h is that Google discontinued our Nest thermostat (?!) I am so angry about 'smart' devices: we had nothing but trouble with our Nest. Time to connect a good fashioned thermostat to the boiler with a wire, like we should have done originally.
November 19, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I recently replaced my "smart" wall plug that I was using for lighting schedules with an old-fashioned mechanical outlet timer, and it's been a vast improvement over the smart device. No need to worry about software issues, app compatibility, wifi network changes, etc.
Go Tanille! I'm really looking forward to this. Not only is it extra important to shine a spotlight on the candidates that don't have big political machines backing them, but these are both great candidates with distinct and compelling approaches and views. #cdnpoli #canada
November 19, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Reposted by Quillipede
Use of the notwithstanding clause is a betrayal of the duty of a government to its people. If you can't enact your agenda without violating the rights of your citizens, you are either stupid and unimaginative or vicious and cruel.
November 18, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Use of the notwithstanding clause is a betrayal of the duty of a government to its people. If you can't enact your agenda without violating the rights of your citizens, you are either stupid and unimaginative or vicious and cruel.
Reposted by Quillipede
Wondering why the UCP is waiting until Wednesday to strip trans rights using the notwithstanding clause?
The Auditor General is releasing his report into the Dynalife fiasco on Wednesday. www.oag.ab.ca/news-section...
They don't think Albertans can chew gum and walk at the same time.
The Auditor General is releasing his report into the Dynalife fiasco on Wednesday. www.oag.ab.ca/news-section...
They don't think Albertans can chew gum and walk at the same time.
November 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Wondering why the UCP is waiting until Wednesday to strip trans rights using the notwithstanding clause?
The Auditor General is releasing his report into the Dynalife fiasco on Wednesday. www.oag.ab.ca/news-section...
They don't think Albertans can chew gum and walk at the same time.
The Auditor General is releasing his report into the Dynalife fiasco on Wednesday. www.oag.ab.ca/news-section...
They don't think Albertans can chew gum and walk at the same time.
I attended portions of the excellent @bcgreens.bsky.social convention over the weekend. Tons of positive energy in the room, and lots of great people!
November 17, 2025 at 2:32 PM
I attended portions of the excellent @bcgreens.bsky.social convention over the weekend. Tons of positive energy in the room, and lots of great people!
I must say, "no meaningful management experience" feels like a selling point to me, not a criticism.
There are lots of individual managers who are great people and do good work, but the structure and ideology of "management" as I've experienced it is not one I find conducive to good outcomes.
There are lots of individual managers who are great people and do good work, but the structure and ideology of "management" as I've experienced it is not one I find conducive to good outcomes.
You guys realize that taxing people to pay for services isn't socialism, right? This is just how governments work.
November 17, 2025 at 2:24 PM
I must say, "no meaningful management experience" feels like a selling point to me, not a criticism.
There are lots of individual managers who are great people and do good work, but the structure and ideology of "management" as I've experienced it is not one I find conducive to good outcomes.
There are lots of individual managers who are great people and do good work, but the structure and ideology of "management" as I've experienced it is not one I find conducive to good outcomes.
Reposted by Quillipede
I guess my most woke opinion is that the concept of "earning your living" is outdated to the point of being inhumane. The way technological progress is going, we will either accept that we should provide decent living for everyone for the good of all society, or continually descend into nightmare.
November 14, 2025 at 3:02 PM
I guess my most woke opinion is that the concept of "earning your living" is outdated to the point of being inhumane. The way technological progress is going, we will either accept that we should provide decent living for everyone for the good of all society, or continually descend into nightmare.
Reposted by Quillipede
"UBI-related experiments consistently find evidence that no participant responds to UBI experiments by dropping out of the labor force. Yes, some people reduce their hours of work, but the decline in work effort (if any) is clearly within a sustainable range."
A nice piece. Basic income is good because people won’t have as many problems. We are wrong to worry about people working less or more.
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-fatal-tr...
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-fatal-tr...
The Fatal Trap UBI Boosters Keep Falling Into
To win the argument for universal basic income, advocates must confront the myth that less work means less worth.
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu
November 15, 2025 at 2:30 AM
"UBI-related experiments consistently find evidence that no participant responds to UBI experiments by dropping out of the labor force. Yes, some people reduce their hours of work, but the decline in work effort (if any) is clearly within a sustainable range."
Reposted by Quillipede
BC billionaires hoard more wealth every year — and it’s making life worse for…literally everyone else. 2 minutes on how we got here and our game plan to fund the future⚡️Share & join us: bcgreens.ca/join/
November 14, 2025 at 12:28 AM
BC billionaires hoard more wealth every year — and it’s making life worse for…literally everyone else. 2 minutes on how we got here and our game plan to fund the future⚡️Share & join us: bcgreens.ca/join/
Reposted by Quillipede
Much like UBI, wealth taxes are another policy where evidence keeps piling up that they don't have the negative effects scaremongers use to argue against them, and often have more positive effects than anticipated.
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Much like UBI, wealth taxes are another policy where evidence keeps piling up that they don't have the negative effects scaremongers use to argue against them, and often have more positive effects than anticipated.
Companies like X will twist themselves into all kinds of knots to avoid complying with the law, even when there would seem to be a clear ethical imperative.
X (formerly Twitter) has filed for a judicial review after it was fined $100,000 for refusing to delete a non-consensual intimate image of a B.C. woman.
X files challenge of B.C. fine over failure to delete a non-consensual intimate image
X (formerly Twitter) has filed for a judicial review after it was fined $100,000 for refusing to delete a non-consensual intimate image of a B.C. woman.
cheknews.ca
November 14, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Companies like X will twist themselves into all kinds of knots to avoid complying with the law, even when there would seem to be a clear ethical imperative.
Reposted by Quillipede
The US straight up saying that fascism is a foundation of Western civilisation wasn't on my bingo card but OK
November 13, 2025 at 10:11 PM
The US straight up saying that fascism is a foundation of Western civilisation wasn't on my bingo card but OK
Reposted by Quillipede
I saw this illustration by @annafollies.bsky.social on Tumblr today and instantly lost it. Still missing Fergus every day. 💔 www.tumblr.com/annafollies
November 13, 2025 at 5:47 PM
I saw this illustration by @annafollies.bsky.social on Tumblr today and instantly lost it. Still missing Fergus every day. 💔 www.tumblr.com/annafollies
A cool beetle, probably Ptomister!
#ptomister #beetle #insect #invertebrate #macro #macrophotography #inaturalist #bcparks #okanagan #britishcolumbia #canada
#ptomister #beetle #insect #invertebrate #macro #macrophotography #inaturalist #bcparks #okanagan #britishcolumbia #canada
November 13, 2025 at 9:25 PM
A cool beetle, probably Ptomister!
#ptomister #beetle #insect #invertebrate #macro #macrophotography #inaturalist #bcparks #okanagan #britishcolumbia #canada
#ptomister #beetle #insect #invertebrate #macro #macrophotography #inaturalist #bcparks #okanagan #britishcolumbia #canada
Reposted by Quillipede
Union Presidents Say Federal Government is “Scapegoating” Public Servants For the Deficit
“This government is not on your side,” says Canadian Association of Public Employees president
pressprogress.ca/union-presid...
“This government is not on your side,” says Canadian Association of Public Employees president
pressprogress.ca/union-presid...
Union Presidents Say Federal Government is “Scapegoating” Public Servants For the Deficit
“This government is not on your side,” says Canadian Association of Public Employees president
pressprogress.ca
November 13, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Union Presidents Say Federal Government is “Scapegoating” Public Servants For the Deficit
“This government is not on your side,” says Canadian Association of Public Employees president
pressprogress.ca/union-presid...
“This government is not on your side,” says Canadian Association of Public Employees president
pressprogress.ca/union-presid...
Reposted by Quillipede
Vancouver residents are having a huge, negative reaction to Mayor Ken Sim's proposed 2026 budget and alleged plans to eliminate the city's sustainbility department. More than 630 people registered to speak and the meetings will likely stretch into next week www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/13/n...
Citizens rally against Vancouver mayor’s budget
An unprecedented 630 people registered to speak Wednesday against Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s controversial proposed budget that could allegedly spell the end of the city's sustainability department.
www.nationalobserver.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Vancouver residents are having a huge, negative reaction to Mayor Ken Sim's proposed 2026 budget and alleged plans to eliminate the city's sustainbility department. More than 630 people registered to speak and the meetings will likely stretch into next week www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/13/n...