Over here checking sources
@janis.bsky.social
Vancouver librarian, writer, music and radio type (etc.), often worrying about mis/disinformation and AI. I block profiles that give a weird vibe -- sorry if this leads to some errors. (Opinions are my own.)
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Did you know air pollution is the top preventable cause of premature death + ill-health in the world today: killing nearly 10 million people per year? And 2/3 of air pollution comes from burning fossil fuels?
For more surprising & powerful facts on health and climate, follow @maibached.bsky.social
For more surprising & powerful facts on health and climate, follow @maibached.bsky.social
Opinion | Air Pollution Kills 10 Million People a Year. Why Do We Accept That as Normal? (Published 2022)
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Did you know air pollution is the top preventable cause of premature death + ill-health in the world today: killing nearly 10 million people per year? And 2/3 of air pollution comes from burning fossil fuels?
For more surprising & powerful facts on health and climate, follow @maibached.bsky.social
For more surprising & powerful facts on health and climate, follow @maibached.bsky.social
Not a Bluesky expert so don't know if this is strange / bot behaviour, but it the follower count is currently jumping up and down by about 30.
February 4, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Not a Bluesky expert so don't know if this is strange / bot behaviour, but it the follower count is currently jumping up and down by about 30.
I just came across this Ursula K Le Guin quote: "I have no agenda that I’m conscious of, and I certainly don’t want to nominate any enemies.... My enemies must nominate themselves; I have no interest at all in making, finding, or knowing them."
I miss having her in this world.
I miss having her in this world.
February 4, 2026 at 5:11 AM
I just came across this Ursula K Le Guin quote: "I have no agenda that I’m conscious of, and I certainly don’t want to nominate any enemies.... My enemies must nominate themselves; I have no interest at all in making, finding, or knowing them."
I miss having her in this world.
I miss having her in this world.
679 challenges from ON, 437 from AB, 376 from BC -- and YT and QC are tied for lowest with just 1.
Did you know that there's a database of banned books across Canada?
If you've heard of a ban, the @cfetmu.bsky.social encourage all libraries (public, school, academic, and government) in Canada to add it to this online resource by completing a simple form:
cfe.torontomu.ca/databases/ca...
If you've heard of a ban, the @cfetmu.bsky.social encourage all libraries (public, school, academic, and government) in Canada to add it to this online resource by completing a simple form:
cfe.torontomu.ca/databases/ca...
The Canadian Library Challenges Database | Centre for Free Expression
The CFE-CFLA/FCAB Canadian Library Challenges Database provides access to challenges libraries have faced to items in their collection, and to displays, programs, room usage, and computer access.
cfe.torontomu.ca
February 3, 2026 at 10:46 PM
679 challenges from ON, 437 from AB, 376 from BC -- and YT and QC are tied for lowest with just 1.
Tough to believe anyone pays for LI ads when I get things like pitches to go to engineering school.
February 3, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Tough to believe anyone pays for LI ads when I get things like pitches to go to engineering school.
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Let's get Vancouver on the Vote Bus!
A new motion from Cllr @seanorr.bsky.social calls on Council to support:
- Adding a 'Vote Bus' polling station like Calgary has
- Looking at fare-free transit on E-Days
- Moving to a Ranked Ballot for Mayor
Sign up to support: vancouver.ca/your-governm...
A new motion from Cllr @seanorr.bsky.social calls on Council to support:
- Adding a 'Vote Bus' polling station like Calgary has
- Looking at fare-free transit on E-Days
- Moving to a Ranked Ballot for Mayor
Sign up to support: vancouver.ca/your-governm...
February 3, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Let's get Vancouver on the Vote Bus!
A new motion from Cllr @seanorr.bsky.social calls on Council to support:
- Adding a 'Vote Bus' polling station like Calgary has
- Looking at fare-free transit on E-Days
- Moving to a Ranked Ballot for Mayor
Sign up to support: vancouver.ca/your-governm...
A new motion from Cllr @seanorr.bsky.social calls on Council to support:
- Adding a 'Vote Bus' polling station like Calgary has
- Looking at fare-free transit on E-Days
- Moving to a Ranked Ballot for Mayor
Sign up to support: vancouver.ca/your-governm...
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you can actually watch gaiman lose followers in real time and it's lowkey hilarious
instastatistics.com/neilhimself
instastatistics.com/neilhimself
Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) — Live Instagram Follower Count
Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) live Instagram follower count — 856,863 followers.
instastatistics.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:52 AM
you can actually watch gaiman lose followers in real time and it's lowkey hilarious
instastatistics.com/neilhimself
instastatistics.com/neilhimself
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this weekend i visited a beloved local cafe/record store and they had a bathroom labeled "Gay Bathroom". when we complimented the sign the barista said sometimes shitty people ask if there's a different bathroom they can use, so they have a second one in the other room labeled "Super Gay Bathroom"
February 1, 2026 at 11:52 PM
this weekend i visited a beloved local cafe/record store and they had a bathroom labeled "Gay Bathroom". when we complimented the sign the barista said sometimes shitty people ask if there's a different bathroom they can use, so they have a second one in the other room labeled "Super Gay Bathroom"
Wordle 1,689 3/6
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(So they’re doing repeats now, and I actually remember this one!)
February 3, 2026 at 5:24 AM
Wordle 1,689 3/6
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(So they’re doing repeats now, and I actually remember this one!)
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(So they’re doing repeats now, and I actually remember this one!)
Reposted by Over here checking sources
Join us in Calgary on February 23, 2026 for Freedom to Read week for our panel and banned books Open Mic! This event is in partnership with the Writers' Union of Canada. You can learn more here: writersguild.ca/freedom-to-read-panel-banned-books-open-mic-calgary/
January 20, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Join us in Calgary on February 23, 2026 for Freedom to Read week for our panel and banned books Open Mic! This event is in partnership with the Writers' Union of Canada. You can learn more here: writersguild.ca/freedom-to-read-panel-banned-books-open-mic-calgary/
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The Writers Union of Canada calls for Alberta to reverse the prejudicial directive targeting published work for removal from school libraries.
Writers’ Union Condemns Alberta Book Removals | The Writers' Union of Canada
writersunion.ca
February 2, 2026 at 7:55 PM
The Writers Union of Canada calls for Alberta to reverse the prejudicial directive targeting published work for removal from school libraries.
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It's the Onion, but I do have a serious Groundhog Day recommendation: in countries as big as ours, it makes no sense to have one national groundhog.
Obviously we need an official Pacific Coast marmot, plus one for the Prairies, another for the Maritimes, another for the Great Lakes region, etc.
Obviously we need an official Pacific Coast marmot, plus one for the Prairies, another for the Maritimes, another for the Great Lakes region, etc.
February 2, 2026 at 7:36 PM
It's the Onion, but I do have a serious Groundhog Day recommendation: in countries as big as ours, it makes no sense to have one national groundhog.
Obviously we need an official Pacific Coast marmot, plus one for the Prairies, another for the Maritimes, another for the Great Lakes region, etc.
Obviously we need an official Pacific Coast marmot, plus one for the Prairies, another for the Maritimes, another for the Great Lakes region, etc.
Not sure I should have enjoyed that as much as I did. (But I did.)
instead of listening to Post Malone you could just revisit this @passionweiss.bsky.social banger: www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/po...
Review | Post Malone is the perfect pop star for this American moment. That’s not a compliment.
A dispatch from the inaugural Posty Fest, where the 23-year-old rapper showed what’s behind his massive success — a whole lot of nothing.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:00 AM
Not sure I should have enjoyed that as much as I did. (But I did.)
Well, well, well. War Pigs.
February 2, 2026 at 3:49 AM
Well, well, well. War Pigs.
I don't get out much, so maybe this is a dumb question, but can someone tell me what Trevor Noah is wearing at the Grammys?
(It looks like a Liberty pattern to me?)
(It looks like a Liberty pattern to me?)
February 2, 2026 at 1:35 AM
I don't get out much, so maybe this is a dumb question, but can someone tell me what Trevor Noah is wearing at the Grammys?
(It looks like a Liberty pattern to me?)
(It looks like a Liberty pattern to me?)
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An actually funny political sketch from SNL
Mom Confession - SNL
YouTube video by Saturday Night Live
www.youtube.com
February 1, 2026 at 3:35 PM
An actually funny political sketch from SNL
Reposted by Over here checking sources
Just noticing there is no wikipedia page for Little v. Llano County books as government speech case. Maybe cause it's only a 5th circuit case but it's cited outside of that and is pretty important for future legislation.
February 1, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Just noticing there is no wikipedia page for Little v. Llano County books as government speech case. Maybe cause it's only a 5th circuit case but it's cited outside of that and is pretty important for future legislation.
Wordle 1,688 3/6
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February 1, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Wordle 1,688 3/6
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Come on now. We know who our heroes are.
Today's front pages from Canada's national scope newspapers. Spot the American-owned one.
January 31, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Come on now. We know who our heroes are.
Me: I could use some cheerful distraction today.
Checks TCM listings: The Searchers, Deliverance, and Midnight Cowboy.
Me: Okay, I'm going to finish my book and go for a walk in the rain!
Checks TCM listings: The Searchers, Deliverance, and Midnight Cowboy.
Me: Okay, I'm going to finish my book and go for a walk in the rain!
January 31, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Me: I could use some cheerful distraction today.
Checks TCM listings: The Searchers, Deliverance, and Midnight Cowboy.
Me: Okay, I'm going to finish my book and go for a walk in the rain!
Checks TCM listings: The Searchers, Deliverance, and Midnight Cowboy.
Me: Okay, I'm going to finish my book and go for a walk in the rain!
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National Social Impact Study on urban public #libraries in Canada. culc.ca/project/soci...
Social Impact Study – Canadian Urban Libraries Council
On January 30, 2026 CULC/CBUC released a first-of-its-kind National Social Impact Study on urban public libraries in Canada, exploring the role public libraries
culc.ca
January 30, 2026 at 8:28 PM
National Social Impact Study on urban public #libraries in Canada. culc.ca/project/soci...
Wordle 1,686 4/6
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January 31, 2026 at 1:56 AM
Wordle 1,686 4/6
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Reposted by Over here checking sources
Let it be known that I was grumbling at an app where an AI button had appeared, and when I finally asked the AI tool how to get rid of the button, it actually told me how -- and it worked.
(In case anyone thinks I just post AI hate. This counts as good, right?)
(In case anyone thinks I just post AI hate. This counts as good, right?)
January 31, 2026 at 1:42 AM
Let it be known that I was grumbling at an app where an AI button had appeared, and when I finally asked the AI tool how to get rid of the button, it actually told me how -- and it worked.
(In case anyone thinks I just post AI hate. This counts as good, right?)
(In case anyone thinks I just post AI hate. This counts as good, right?)