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runsmooth

@ runsmooth @kopitalk.net

Posts
40
Comments
87
Joined
4 mo. ago

Thinker, Hoarder. I gather news and current events to outline and identify issues with a Canadian point of view.

  • Removed

    Hundreds of active-duty soldiers on standby, 2 defense officials say

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  • Apologies for the confusion then, I was following the rule to keep the original title and my comments in the body.

    I guess it doesn't help that the site is one of those live updating types with the headline adjusting.

  • Removed

    Hundreds of active-duty soldiers on standby, 2 defense officials say

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  • The US is next door, and any conflict that arises would directly impact Canada across the board. Canada can expect displacement, logistical disruption, and economic consequences. I'd say these challenges would require responses from all levels of government.

    Maybe as a good thought exercise, Canadians should turn their minds to what does American displacement even look like for us? Perhaps this can be categorized as emergency preparedness and disaster response.

    Canada's accustomed to dealing with diplomatic spats, difficult trade deals, or bad US foreign policy. But I'd suggest escalation of conflict in Venezuela, and domestically within the US, goes against the so called "firewall" strategy that North America had with the notion that the Oceans presented a natural and strategic defensive barrier. If American displacement actually happened due to regional conflict domestically, this would overturn a lot of existing assumptions.

    What does absorbing large numbers of refugees even look like, would winter serve as a natural deterrent and how long, how many people can actually be taken in on an Emergency basis? Do we even have a means or criteria for returning displaced folks to the US?

    We should confront these scenarios instead of dismiss them because the Americans appear to be steps away from them.

  • Alberta Law Foundation sees 2 directors removed, mass resignation in wake of new government powers

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  • Another example of the UCP using this power grab strategy by clearing the boards stems from CorruptCare itself:

    After her firing, Ms. Mentzelopoulos was replaced by Andre Tremblay, who was then the deputy minister of health.In her statement of claim, Ms. Mentzelopoulos alleged Mr. Tremblay had played a role in her dismissal, had put pressure on her to terminate purported critics of the government and had cancelled a scheduled meeting with the province’s Auditor-General.

    Mr. Edmonstone’s affidavit reveals that the board took steps to limit Mr. Tremblay’s executive powers after his appointment because it was concerned he was in a position of conflict of interest. “I was the one who notified Mr. Tremblay that he was being recused of oversight and decision-making” when dealing with matters related to Ms. Mentzelopoulos, her lawsuit, the probes she initiated and interactions with the Auditor-General, the affidavit states.

    Mr. Tremblay was also told he couldn’t deal with the termination or pay of employees who had been involved in those issues, the affidavit states. “Reprisal concerns arose due to senior AHS management and staff expressing concern about potential reprisal actions against them to independent members of the Board,” Mr. Edmonstone said.

    On Jan. 31, Ms. Smith’s government dismissed the entire board and replaced it by a single administrator, Mr. Tremblay.

    With some incredulity, after being outed as basically buddies with Sam Mraiche, and seeing each other at a hotel on the run up to her own election:

    When asked last week about Mr. Edmonstone’s allegations, Ms. Smith said, “I know nothing about it. So that’ll be a question for the courts.”

    https://archive.is/pB5HU

    https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-former-ahs-board-member-harassment-allegations-sandy-edmonstone/

  • Make Microsoft's CEO cry by installing Chrome's 'Microslop' extension

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  • For those thinking about the switch, and happen to game, I understand that plenty of users are going to CachyOS or Bazzite as well.

  • Iran: Internet cut off as protests spread nationwide

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  • If this were a terrible cake of mixed motives, one would be to throw out or damage the Epstein files in such a way that no one involved with those allegations can be tried.

    Second, obtain war funding (Venezeula) to secure a coup, or to at least hold a significant portion of the the US indefinitely.

    Third, in the event of complete failure, extort and move as much money out of the country that can resist tracing or recovery. Exit planning to leave the US on emergency basis.

    I keep these three points in mind while looking at the Trump Administration.

  • Iran: Internet cut off as protests spread nationwide

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  • From what I understand, Venezuela, Canada, and Russia are the primary suppliers of heavy crude. Even after so-called embargoes against Russia for the Ukraine-Russia conflict, ghost ships are still able to get product to market.

    As for Iran, I'm not sure the US can even hold Iran, given their track record in Afghanistan and elsewhere. As it turns out, occupying another country requires huge troop deployments over decades.

    Also, China's built out relations through the Belts and Roads Initiative, meaning they've diversified the markets they can access.

    One alternative plan, from an outsider's point of view, is that the US has engaged in a long standing strategy of wealth transfer from its middle classes to its wealthy upper classes over decades. They're in the process of breaking down their country for sale to its billionaire classes. While on paper it looks like a coup, the structure of the US suggests that the whole thing comes down with a whimper instead of a bang.

    I suspect the billionaires are just waiting to see if they can get away with stealing the US, without the American people rising up and charging them for treason.

  • ‘Get the f**k off there’: MPs, Senators call on government to abandon X/Twitter following wave of ‘Grok porn’

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  • ‘Get the f**k off there’: MPs, Senators call on government to abandon X/Twitter following wave of ‘Grok porn’

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  • I see X users these days as the frogs in the slow boiling pots.

    I sense that some of the people who remain in X had some rationales. Those who liked what they saw in terms of abuse or bad behaviour would naturally stay for more.

    Perhaps others felt their voices would resist mis/disinformation, or contribute to greater discussion. But, those who chose to stay, regardless of reason, ended up conditioning themselves to receive or disregard abuse beyond all sense.

    Now the platform clearly violates its members, and Musk has once again affirmed publicly that he is a white supremacist. Users - including government accounts - who remain have unwittingly become members of an extremist, white supremacist website that peddles CSAM materials.

    I think it's the stuff of movies, and something a villain, like the Joker, would have done.

  • What events are you looking forward to in 2026?

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  • I'm going to jump into a Meshcore rabbit hole here, potentially converting a Raspberry Pi into a repeater if I get further in.

  • Gadgets for people who don't trust the government

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  • After reading some more experiences, and watching a few more videos, I'll be trying a WisMesh Tag with Meshcore.

    If I slip into the rabbit trail, maybe I'll build a repeater for fun. lol

  • Gadgets for people who don't trust the government

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  • Anyone have any experience with that meshtastic idea? Issues and hype?

  • Israel accuses Mamdani of antisemitism on first day as New York mayor

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  • Israel owes the people of the United States answers for what exactly Epstein was doing on their behest, and if their government was involved in human trafficking and the targeting of American government officials and socialites.

  • Things ChatGPT told a mentally ill man before he murdered his mother

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  • PieFed here, don't see the link to the article either.

    I see the image though.

  • Watch as Hockey Canada announces the men’s Olympic hockey team

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  • But he hasn't been playing well so far and may even been causing a headache for his team.

    Goaltending has been under the spot light for a lot of teams. But maybe the Oilers was a bit of a mix of team protest and actual performance issues.

  • 5th person hospitalized in E. coli outbreak linked to Pillsbury brand Pizza Pops

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  • I still miss those smaller "mini" pizzas. But I haven't had a pizza pop for years now because I always thought it was too fake to eat. I guess if there's a E.coli risk maybe there's real ingredients in there.

  • Recommendations for Canadian winter boots?

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  • Vessi does the job in typhoon or snow storm. My pair of Weekend finally busted a leak after 4 years of everyday use, but my feet stayed dry. I still use them for mild weather now.

    https://ca.vessi.com/

  • Added tag clouds on feeds and topics too

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  • Another idea was perhaps the OP can receive the request for a tag, and be given a set time to accept or decline.

    Perhaps the OP could be a bot or may not be too active, and the set time gives them a chance before the community at large have their way?

  • Added tag clouds on feeds and topics too

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  • I'm not sure how that may look in practice.

    Perhaps it could be just a 1 to 1 exchange, like a user can just make the proposal to the OP with a quick form.

    Or if it turns out the OP is a bot perhaps small poll can be set where a user proposes the tag, and an arbitrary number like 1-2 other votes are needed to accept the tag?

  • Added tag clouds on feeds and topics too

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  • Can users, who are not the original posters, add or propose tags to posts?

    Perhaps this can be a way to organize posts in a meaningful way?

  • Alberta @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    Country music star plans petition calling for ban on Alberta coal mining

    globalnews.ca /news/11535537/corb-lund-alberta-coal-mining-citizens-petition/
  • Buy Canadian @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    Campbell’s Soup VP mocks ‘poor people’ who buy its food in secret recording

    www.newsweek.com /campbells-soup-vp-mocks-poor-people-food-secret-recording-11097497
  • Alberta @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    Braid: UCP performing major surgery on Alberta health care

    calgaryherald.com /opinion/columnists/braid-ucp-performing-major-surgery-alberta-health-care
  • Alberta @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    Alberta prosecutors' association worried after alleged firing of two top Edmonton Crowns, calls for new employment protections

    edmontonjournal.com /news/local-news/edmonton-crown-chief-firing-prosecutors-association
  • Alberta @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    Full news conference: Alberta health-care workers serve strike notice

  • Alberta @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    Alberta's bid to privatize lab services wasted more than $100M: auditor general

    www.cbc.ca /news/canada/edmonton/auditor-general-report-dynalife-9.6985328
  • Canada @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net
    US data

    A Climate ‘Shock’ Is Eroding Some Home Values. New Data Shows How Much.

    www.nytimes.com /interactive/2025/11/19/climate/home-insurance-costs-real-estate-market.html
  • Canada @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    How ProPublica Investigated a Bird Flu Outbreak in America’s Heartland

    www.propublica.org /article/methodology-bird-flu-outbreak-ohio-indiana
  • Alberta @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    UCP MLA Apology

  • Alberta @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    Globe and Mail exposes collusion with Australian coal grubbers by Alberta Energy Regulator CEO Rob Morgan

    www.crowsnestheadwaters.ca /p/globe-and-mail-exposes-collusion
  • Alberta @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    Parts of Alberta forecast to be walloped by up to 30 cm of snow

    dailyhive.com /calgary/alberta-forecast-30-cm-of-snow-weather
  • Alberta @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    Alberta Defends Having the Country’s Lowest Minimum Wage

    thetyee.ca /News/2025/11/12/Alberta-UCP-Defends-Lowest-Minimum-Wage/
  • PieFed help @piefed.social
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    Report User - Character Limit Counter Suggestion!

  • Edmonton Oilers @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    The Cult of Hockey's "Thumping by Avs and questions about bringing back Coffey" podcast

  • Edmonton Oilers @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    Do Oilers have trust in their goaltending?

  • PieFed help @piefed.social
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    Amethyst (anarchist.nexus) Theme Colors For Clicked Links

  • Alberta @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    98% of AUPE nursing care staff vote in favour of strike

    www.cbc.ca /news/canada/edmonton/aupe-nursing-strike-vote-9.6967987
  • Alberta @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    Braid: UCP dumps auditor general as he races to finish health scandal report

    calgaryherald.com /opinion/columnists/braid-ucp-dumps-auditor-general-finish-health-scandal-report
  • Canada @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    Girl Filmed "Consent Video" After "Doing The Whole Hockey Team" Leads To SA Case Acquitted - YouTube

  • Canada @lemmy.ca
    runsmooth @kopitalk.net

    Mandatory minimum child pornography sentences unconstitutional, Supreme Court rules

    globalnews.ca /news/11505408/mandatory-minimum-child-pornography-sentences-unconstitutional-supreme-court-rules/