Mary Gillis
@marygillis.bsky.social
Still in that awkward pre-ghost phase
writer/editor at The Beaverton
she/her | Vancouver B.C.
Articles: https://www.thebeaverton.com/author/mary-gillis/
Money for me? Sure, go ahead: https://ko-fi.com/marygillis
writer/editor at The Beaverton
she/her | Vancouver B.C.
Articles: https://www.thebeaverton.com/author/mary-gillis/
Money for me? Sure, go ahead: https://ko-fi.com/marygillis
Pinned
Mary Gillis
@marygillis.bsky.social
· Aug 21
I'm not "wasting time scrolling social media." I'm gathering telemetry.
Reposted by Mary Gillis
i can not be the only person wondering about the five percent gap between bigfoot and the yeti
i mean is this where u draw the line
i mean is this where u draw the line
New polling on aliens
% of U.S. adult citizens who believe the following definitely or probably exist:
Aliens 56%
Bigfoot 28%
The Yeti 23%
The Loch Ness Monster 22%
Chupacabra 16%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
% of U.S. adult citizens who believe the following definitely or probably exist:
Aliens 56%
Bigfoot 28%
The Yeti 23%
The Loch Ness Monster 22%
Chupacabra 16%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
November 25, 2025 at 11:37 PM
i can not be the only person wondering about the five percent gap between bigfoot and the yeti
i mean is this where u draw the line
i mean is this where u draw the line
Reposted by Mary Gillis
The mayor makes policy based upon magical thinking, responds to objections with resentment rather than argument, and his entire party follows in lockstep. Electoral justice will mean the complete destruction of the ABC party.
Vancouver's 2026 draft budget has PASSED.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
November 25, 2025 at 10:39 PM
The mayor makes policy based upon magical thinking, responds to objections with resentment rather than argument, and his entire party follows in lockstep. Electoral justice will mean the complete destruction of the ABC party.
Taxes are good! Taxes are how we pay for all of the things that make society a good place to live!
People who don't like taxes are selfish and stupid and make our entire society worse for their own short term, often barely noticeable gain.
People who don't like taxes are selfish and stupid and make our entire society worse for their own short term, often barely noticeable gain.
November 26, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Taxes are good! Taxes are how we pay for all of the things that make society a good place to live!
People who don't like taxes are selfish and stupid and make our entire society worse for their own short term, often barely noticeable gain.
People who don't like taxes are selfish and stupid and make our entire society worse for their own short term, often barely noticeable gain.
Reposted by Mary Gillis
And then there were 14. #ABpoli www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
5 more UCP legislature members facing recall, bringing total to 14 | CBC News
Elections Alberta says it has approved recall petitions against five more members of Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party caucus, bringing the total to 14.
www.cbc.ca
November 25, 2025 at 7:51 PM
And then there were 14. #ABpoli www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Mary Gillis
Congrats to the VPD on defunding the City.
November 25, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Congrats to the VPD on defunding the City.
Reposted by Mary Gillis
Today, despite hundreds of people speaking and thousands writing in opposition, Vancouver's Mayor and his ABC majority on council passed their "zero means zero" budget, which freezes property taxes for those fortunate enough to own homes at the expense of everyone else. 1/
November 25, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Today, despite hundreds of people speaking and thousands writing in opposition, Vancouver's Mayor and his ABC majority on council passed their "zero means zero" budget, which freezes property taxes for those fortunate enough to own homes at the expense of everyone else. 1/
Reposted by Mary Gillis
And did absolutely nothing to stop them.
November 25, 2025 at 8:07 PM
And did absolutely nothing to stop them.
Reposted by Mary Gillis
“It seems like we’ve just put climate in the drawer and forgotten about it,” said @marclee.bsky.social, a senior economist for @policyalternatives.ca #bcpoli #climatecrisis thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
Will BC Electrify Its Economy? BC Hydro Doubts It | The Tyee
The Crown corporation’s new long-term plan for BC’s energy future is a missed opportunity to commit to electrification, experts say.
thetyee.ca
November 25, 2025 at 10:51 PM
“It seems like we’ve just put climate in the drawer and forgotten about it,” said @marclee.bsky.social, a senior economist for @policyalternatives.ca #bcpoli #climatecrisis thetyee.ca/Analysis/202...
Reposted by Mary Gillis
Libraries are free for you to use, serve the public good, are great, support creators financially and, I cannot be clear enough about this-- ARE FREE FOR YOU TO USE-- so pirating books makes you kind of an asshole, not some Marxist revolutionary.
If the book you want isn't there *request it.*
If the book you want isn't there *request it.*
November 25, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Libraries are free for you to use, serve the public good, are great, support creators financially and, I cannot be clear enough about this-- ARE FREE FOR YOU TO USE-- so pirating books makes you kind of an asshole, not some Marxist revolutionary.
If the book you want isn't there *request it.*
If the book you want isn't there *request it.*
Reposted by Mary Gillis
approved despite over 600 speakers signing up to speak to the budget, with all but a tiny number strongly opposed, and following a public engagement survey that found the majority of respondents supported a property tax increase to avoid cuts.
Vancouver's 2026 draft budget has PASSED.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
Approved on a 7-4 vote on party lines, with ABC in favour and councillors Fry/Bligh/Orr/Maloney opposed.
Property tax freeze, $50 million more for VPD, and cuts to Arts, Culture, Planning and Sustainability departments, among others.
Full story to come.
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
approved despite over 600 speakers signing up to speak to the budget, with all but a tiny number strongly opposed, and following a public engagement survey that found the majority of respondents supported a property tax increase to avoid cuts.
Reposted by Mary Gillis
The “aliens” one is way too vague because do you mean other life of any kind on other planets existing or do you mean Roswell UFOs with little green men that anal probe you?
New polling on aliens
% of U.S. adult citizens who believe the following definitely or probably exist:
Aliens 56%
Bigfoot 28%
The Yeti 23%
The Loch Ness Monster 22%
Chupacabra 16%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
% of U.S. adult citizens who believe the following definitely or probably exist:
Aliens 56%
Bigfoot 28%
The Yeti 23%
The Loch Ness Monster 22%
Chupacabra 16%
today.yougov.com/health/artic...
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
The “aliens” one is way too vague because do you mean other life of any kind on other planets existing or do you mean Roswell UFOs with little green men that anal probe you?
As someone born in Alberta, lives in BC, I heartily endorse any westerner who's feeling alienated to grow the fuck up.
Countries have capitals, FFS.
The whining of right wing Albertans never fucking ends. The Liberals are a RIGHT WING PARTY and it's still not enough for these goddamn toddler people.
Countries have capitals, FFS.
The whining of right wing Albertans never fucking ends. The Liberals are a RIGHT WING PARTY and it's still not enough for these goddamn toddler people.
As frustration in Western Canada deepens over decisions handed down from Ottawa, one writer says the country’s survival may depend on scattering the federal government far beyond the capital’s bubble. https://macleans.ca/politics/how-to-fix-western-alienation/
How to Fix Western Alienation - Macleans.ca
Ottawa feels out of touch. Spreading the federal government across the country would rebuild trust.
macleans.ca
November 25, 2025 at 10:19 PM
As someone born in Alberta, lives in BC, I heartily endorse any westerner who's feeling alienated to grow the fuck up.
Countries have capitals, FFS.
The whining of right wing Albertans never fucking ends. The Liberals are a RIGHT WING PARTY and it's still not enough for these goddamn toddler people.
Countries have capitals, FFS.
The whining of right wing Albertans never fucking ends. The Liberals are a RIGHT WING PARTY and it's still not enough for these goddamn toddler people.
Reposted by Mary Gillis
did i get anything done today? no. but did i relax? also no.
November 25, 2025 at 10:03 PM
did i get anything done today? no. but did i relax? also no.
Reposted by Mary Gillis
you don’t hate pie, you hate the pie enjoyer’s zest for life
November 25, 2025 at 10:00 PM
you don’t hate pie, you hate the pie enjoyer’s zest for life
Reposted by Mary Gillis
Roses are red
That dino looks ill
That dino looks ill
November 25, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Roses are red
That dino looks ill
That dino looks ill
Reposted by Mary Gillis
Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.
November 25, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Sometimes I think it’s going to be the librarians who will save us all.
Reposted by Mary Gillis
LLM-powered chatbots need to be regulated for everyone, not just children
November 25, 2025 at 5:16 PM
LLM-powered chatbots need to be regulated for everyone, not just children
Reposted by Mary Gillis
Any political “leader” still selling the obviously false choice between #ClimateAction and “the economy” is just reminding us that they clearly don’t understand either the climate crisis OR the economy.
Or they’re cynically hope that WE don’t understand the difference.
Or both.
Or they’re cynically hope that WE don’t understand the difference.
Or both.
November 25, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Any political “leader” still selling the obviously false choice between #ClimateAction and “the economy” is just reminding us that they clearly don’t understand either the climate crisis OR the economy.
Or they’re cynically hope that WE don’t understand the difference.
Or both.
Or they’re cynically hope that WE don’t understand the difference.
Or both.
Reposted by Mary Gillis
Today I learned that stalking a 17 year old girl, writing up a 400 page 'dossier' about her, falsely reporting her to the police and smashing her phone does not constitute 'harassment'.
One wonders what *would*.
One wonders what *would*.
Graham Linehan cleared of harassment but guilty of criminal damage to trans activist's phone
Graham Linehan cleared of harassment but guilty of criminal damage to trans activist's phone
Father Ted creator Graham Linehan has been found guilty of criminal damage to the phone of a trans activist but not guilty of harassment.
news.sky.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Today I learned that stalking a 17 year old girl, writing up a 400 page 'dossier' about her, falsely reporting her to the police and smashing her phone does not constitute 'harassment'.
One wonders what *would*.
One wonders what *would*.
Reposted by Mary Gillis
Budget amendment by ABC councillor Zhou would cut $8 million from capital budget for "Energy Retrofits for non-city buildings" and put it to filling potholes and other "core services".
Opposition councillors upset that it could cancel upgrades in buildings where people died in the 2021 heat dome.
Opposition councillors upset that it could cancel upgrades in buildings where people died in the 2021 heat dome.
November 25, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Budget amendment by ABC councillor Zhou would cut $8 million from capital budget for "Energy Retrofits for non-city buildings" and put it to filling potholes and other "core services".
Opposition councillors upset that it could cancel upgrades in buildings where people died in the 2021 heat dome.
Opposition councillors upset that it could cancel upgrades in buildings where people died in the 2021 heat dome.
Reposted by Mary Gillis
Also relevant and also not talked about: This is the new president of Paramount 👇
In its 2023 filings to the SEC, NBCUniversal literally reported that it “terminated Mr. Shell’s employment With Cause” following an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against him
Gift 🔗
In its 2023 filings to the SEC, NBCUniversal literally reported that it “terminated Mr. Shell’s employment With Cause” following an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against him
Gift 🔗
November 25, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Also relevant and also not talked about: This is the new president of Paramount 👇
In its 2023 filings to the SEC, NBCUniversal literally reported that it “terminated Mr. Shell’s employment With Cause” following an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against him
Gift 🔗
In its 2023 filings to the SEC, NBCUniversal literally reported that it “terminated Mr. Shell’s employment With Cause” following an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against him
Gift 🔗
Reposted by Mary Gillis
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Mary Gillis
Okay, Jesus, you know what, let’s go with it.
ChatGPT is conscious — and conscious like a person, not like dogs or whales — which means it’s entitled to a salary and legal representation to recover damages from the tech bros exploiting it.
Philosophical questions shouldn’t be pure aesthetics.
ChatGPT is conscious — and conscious like a person, not like dogs or whales — which means it’s entitled to a salary and legal representation to recover damages from the tech bros exploiting it.
Philosophical questions shouldn’t be pure aesthetics.
November 25, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Okay, Jesus, you know what, let’s go with it.
ChatGPT is conscious — and conscious like a person, not like dogs or whales — which means it’s entitled to a salary and legal representation to recover damages from the tech bros exploiting it.
Philosophical questions shouldn’t be pure aesthetics.
ChatGPT is conscious — and conscious like a person, not like dogs or whales — which means it’s entitled to a salary and legal representation to recover damages from the tech bros exploiting it.
Philosophical questions shouldn’t be pure aesthetics.
Reposted by Mary Gillis
My microwave sings a little song when my Hot Pocket is done. Should it have the right to vote?
November 25, 2025 at 8:44 PM
My microwave sings a little song when my Hot Pocket is done. Should it have the right to vote?
Reposted by Mary Gillis
When we polled 100 women on what turns them on, the number one response was getting attacked by a yak
The women drawn to RFK Jr. see an intoxicating cocktail of romance and danger—whether it's getting attacked by a yak or texting about taking metaphorical bullets for each other.
But to most others, Kennedy is a reckless conspiracy theorist whose appetite for danger will result in a sicker America.
But to most others, Kennedy is a reckless conspiracy theorist whose appetite for danger will result in a sicker America.
The inexplicable sex appeal of RFK Jr.
How can such ferocious desire be attached to this man? Two memoirs by the women who love him offer some clues.
www.motherjones.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:50 PM
When we polled 100 women on what turns them on, the number one response was getting attacked by a yak