MelM
@melmscow.bsky.social
Australian born, Montreal based. Wrangler of words. Parent to two, homeschooling one. Not keen on Covid.
Also at Mastodon: @[email protected]
Also at Mastodon: @[email protected]
Reposted by MelM
Today I learned that NORAD’s Santa tracker started in 1955 when a Sears store in Colorado Springs ran a newspaper ad with a phone number for kids to call Santa that was, accidentally, the NORAD top secret phone line to be used by the US president, but instead had kids calling asking for Santa.
How a child's accidental call to a top-secret phone line launched NORAD's Santa Tracker | CBC News
It began 70 years ago when a five-year-old called a top-secret emergency line reserved for the U.S. president and four-star generals and asked, "Hello, is this Santa?"
www.cbc.ca
December 24, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Today I learned that NORAD’s Santa tracker started in 1955 when a Sears store in Colorado Springs ran a newspaper ad with a phone number for kids to call Santa that was, accidentally, the NORAD top secret phone line to be used by the US president, but instead had kids calling asking for Santa.
Reposted by MelM
"Capitalism has a notorious tendency to periodically come spinning apart. Each time it does, those who profit from it have to convince everyone there is really no choice but to dutifully paste it all back together again, in something like the original form."
- David Graeber
- David Graeber
December 24, 2025 at 4:45 PM
"Capitalism has a notorious tendency to periodically come spinning apart. Each time it does, those who profit from it have to convince everyone there is really no choice but to dutifully paste it all back together again, in something like the original form."
- David Graeber
- David Graeber
Reposted by MelM
Imagine my shock when I found out this guy is one of the Danish investigators doing the unethical trial funded by RFK Jr through a non-competitive grant, in which they'll deliberately withhold the hep B vaccine birth dose from babies in Guinea-Bissau even though it's a proven effective intervention
What's up with the *ACADEMICS* who lovingly praised and massively boosted RFK Jr, like this guy?
He wrote, "My prediction? RFK Jr. will be a net positive for public health in the US"😔
He is largely "in agreement" with RFK Jr 😨
My God.
[H/T @joho.bsky.social]
He wrote, "My prediction? RFK Jr. will be a net positive for public health in the US"😔
He is largely "in agreement" with RFK Jr 😨
My God.
[H/T @joho.bsky.social]
![Today’s guest column is by Dr. Frederik Schaltz-Buchholzer. He is Danish expert in vaccine science, who is supportive of US reforms. How can he possibly be enthusiastic about RFK Jr? And enthusiastic despite writing, “[Mr Kennedy] focuses on topics that are potentially important/relevant, and then unfortunately often exaggerates or distorts the facts.” So what are the facts, and what are the distortions? Why is this expert in vaccine science largely in agreement with RFK Jr’s skepticism? In my opinion, this is why Sensible Medicine exists. To take you, the reader, out of your comfort zone, and towards a more refined view of evidence based medicine. If you believe in what we are doing, subscribe.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:nuqrjelqx4a2ewqzvwekhuro/bafkreiainijyiv3327daunb5oisis4sax5zsibnr4jt2zblxvpxehucyhy@jpeg)
December 23, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Imagine my shock when I found out this guy is one of the Danish investigators doing the unethical trial funded by RFK Jr through a non-competitive grant, in which they'll deliberately withhold the hep B vaccine birth dose from babies in Guinea-Bissau even though it's a proven effective intervention
Reposted by MelM
This is wild.
Yes, collectively, we are sicker than we used to be. It’s not your imagination.
Yes, collectively, we are sicker than we used to be. It’s not your imagination.
4/ We are more sick from EVERYTHING.
These charts are stunning. No freakin' wonder healthcare is strained, workplace and school absences are up, etc.
Holy hell, this is all AIRBORNE. #MaskUp FFS. @doctorsofbc.bsky.social - are you trying to kill us?!
#bcpoli #bced @bcndp.bsky.social
These charts are stunning. No freakin' wonder healthcare is strained, workplace and school absences are up, etc.
Holy hell, this is all AIRBORNE. #MaskUp FFS. @doctorsofbc.bsky.social - are you trying to kill us?!
#bcpoli #bced @bcndp.bsky.social
December 22, 2025 at 10:18 PM
This is wild.
Yes, collectively, we are sicker than we used to be. It’s not your imagination.
Yes, collectively, we are sicker than we used to be. It’s not your imagination.
Reposted by MelM
Among the absurd claims of your poorly researched article, this stands out: that we who still avoid Covid somehow ignored "worldview-shifting science" in a 2023 Royal Society paper. Let's have a look at that paper, shall we?
(1/n)
(1/n)
December 20, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Among the absurd claims of your poorly researched article, this stands out: that we who still avoid Covid somehow ignored "worldview-shifting science" in a 2023 Royal Society paper. Let's have a look at that paper, shall we?
(1/n)
(1/n)
Reposted by MelM
One of the reasons why I go so hard on science misinformation/disinformation, is that as a working scientist it is frustrating to see your research misreported to push an agenda.
For example, consider this piece of right-wing propaganda from The Telegraph that was just published
For example, consider this piece of right-wing propaganda from The Telegraph that was just published
December 20, 2025 at 10:49 PM
One of the reasons why I go so hard on science misinformation/disinformation, is that as a working scientist it is frustrating to see your research misreported to push an agenda.
For example, consider this piece of right-wing propaganda from The Telegraph that was just published
For example, consider this piece of right-wing propaganda from The Telegraph that was just published
Reposted by MelM
CHAIR is offering to fund facility-wide installation of Upper Air UV disinfection to a select number of acute care & long-term care facilities in 🇨🇦 as part of the world’s first large-scale UV pilot project for healthcare.
chaircoalition.org
chaircoalition.org
CHAIR Canada
A coalition of members working on introducing engineered solutions to reduce HAIs.
chaircoalition.org
December 10, 2025 at 12:33 AM
CHAIR is offering to fund facility-wide installation of Upper Air UV disinfection to a select number of acute care & long-term care facilities in 🇨🇦 as part of the world’s first large-scale UV pilot project for healthcare.
chaircoalition.org
chaircoalition.org
Reposted by MelM
Intense struggles for better conditions, fair wages, & collective bargaining, led to key labour laws despite early repression.
1976 General Strike to protest wage & price controls, massive worker mobilization against government policy
What have you done lately ?
#Cdnpoli #Inequality
1976 General Strike to protest wage & price controls, massive worker mobilization against government policy
What have you done lately ?
#Cdnpoli #Inequality
December 15, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Intense struggles for better conditions, fair wages, & collective bargaining, led to key labour laws despite early repression.
1976 General Strike to protest wage & price controls, massive worker mobilization against government policy
What have you done lately ?
#Cdnpoli #Inequality
1976 General Strike to protest wage & price controls, massive worker mobilization against government policy
What have you done lately ?
#Cdnpoli #Inequality
Reposted by MelM
Retired general Mark Hertling is a smart guy: This Isn’t the End of NATO open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
This Isn’t the End of NATO
There’s a reason every previous prediction of the alliance’s dissolution was wrong.
open.substack.com
December 13, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Retired general Mark Hertling is a smart guy: This Isn’t the End of NATO open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Reposted by MelM
Call To Action: Urgent: Call Congress right now and demand that they support Al Green’s Articles of Impeachment for Trump.
Flood the lines, your voice is needed. #3E
☎️ 202-224-3121
Flood the lines, your voice is needed. #3E
☎️ 202-224-3121
Congressman Al Green Calls for a Vote to Impeach Donald Trump.
The last time he confronted Trump he was dragged out as House Republicans and Democrats sneered at him due to his criticism of Israel’s highly documented crimes against humanity in Gaza. Will they betray the United States again?
The last time he confronted Trump he was dragged out as House Republicans and Democrats sneered at him due to his criticism of Israel’s highly documented crimes against humanity in Gaza. Will they betray the United States again?
December 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Call To Action: Urgent: Call Congress right now and demand that they support Al Green’s Articles of Impeachment for Trump.
Flood the lines, your voice is needed. #3E
☎️ 202-224-3121
Flood the lines, your voice is needed. #3E
☎️ 202-224-3121
Reposted by MelM
“Quebec is doing nothing, absolutely nothing," said Innu Nation caribou lead Guy Bellefleur. "The communities with knowledge of the caribou are realizing that they have to take responsibility for the species that has always been their symbol."
www.aptnnews.ca/featured/inn...
www.aptnnews.ca/featured/inn...
Innu Nation forum slams Quebec government for caribou inaction
Innu Nation forum slams Quebec government for inaction to protect endangered woodland caribou and collapsing George River herd
www.aptnnews.ca
December 10, 2025 at 10:20 PM
“Quebec is doing nothing, absolutely nothing," said Innu Nation caribou lead Guy Bellefleur. "The communities with knowledge of the caribou are realizing that they have to take responsibility for the species that has always been their symbol."
www.aptnnews.ca/featured/inn...
www.aptnnews.ca/featured/inn...
Reposted by MelM
💔 A European Parliament interpreter could not hold back tears during the speech of 11-year-old Roman Oleksiv from Lviv.
The boy survived a missile strike on Vinnytsia on July 14, 2022, which killed his mother - it was the last time he saw her alive.
The boy survived a missile strike on Vinnytsia on July 14, 2022, which killed his mother - it was the last time he saw her alive.
December 10, 2025 at 9:34 PM
💔 A European Parliament interpreter could not hold back tears during the speech of 11-year-old Roman Oleksiv from Lviv.
The boy survived a missile strike on Vinnytsia on July 14, 2022, which killed his mother - it was the last time he saw her alive.
The boy survived a missile strike on Vinnytsia on July 14, 2022, which killed his mother - it was the last time he saw her alive.
Reposted by MelM
Yeah. We know. Which is why I find it weird the Prime Minister is not calling for some sort of emergency economic, art, and science council. I also find it weird the majority of national media and public broadcasters are still talking about a single pipeline mirage.
Trump’s Terrifying New Security Doctrine Turns Canada into a Target | The Walrus
The 29-page blueprint casts us as expendable
thewalrus.ca
December 10, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Yeah. We know. Which is why I find it weird the Prime Minister is not calling for some sort of emergency economic, art, and science council. I also find it weird the majority of national media and public broadcasters are still talking about a single pipeline mirage.
Reposted by MelM
Read this as an American woman and then go break something.
December 8, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Read this as an American woman and then go break something.
Reposted by MelM
The End of the Affair
Revisiting my Marci Shore interview on Trump’s public surrender to Putin and what it means for Europe; plus my new Beginner’s Guide to Russian influence interview in Byline Radio with Adrian Goldberg
Revisiting my Marci Shore interview on Trump’s public surrender to Putin and what it means for Europe; plus my new Beginner’s Guide to Russian influence interview in Byline Radio with Adrian Goldberg
The End of the Affair
Revisiting my Marci Shore interview on Trump’s public surrender to Putin and what it means for Europe; plus my new Beginner’s Guide to Russian influence interview in Byline Radio with Adrian Goldberg
www.bettedangerous.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The End of the Affair
Revisiting my Marci Shore interview on Trump’s public surrender to Putin and what it means for Europe; plus my new Beginner’s Guide to Russian influence interview in Byline Radio with Adrian Goldberg
Revisiting my Marci Shore interview on Trump’s public surrender to Putin and what it means for Europe; plus my new Beginner’s Guide to Russian influence interview in Byline Radio with Adrian Goldberg
Reposted by MelM
Convergent revolution > convergent evolution.
December 5, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Convergent revolution > convergent evolution.
Reposted by MelM
Westerners are lucky to have never lived under Ru occupation so they don't fear it. They imagine it as a distant, theoretical limit that doesn't affect individuals' lives. The leftists imagine it can't be worse than living in/under the American empire. In reality...
December 5, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Westerners are lucky to have never lived under Ru occupation so they don't fear it. They imagine it as a distant, theoretical limit that doesn't affect individuals' lives. The leftists imagine it can't be worse than living in/under the American empire. In reality...
Reposted by MelM
“Though the Legault government refers to Bill 9 as ‘Secularism 2.0,’ this law completely betrays the definition and goals of secularism: neutrality of the state in all matters of religion.”
Quebec’s Bill 9 is legalized discrimination
An editorial by @mtltoula.bsky.social.
#polqc
Quebec’s Bill 9 is legalized discrimination
An editorial by @mtltoula.bsky.social.
#polqc
Quebec's Bill 9 is legalized discrimination
The government of Quebec tabled a new secularism bill today aiming to build on Bill 21 — more legalized discrimination from the CAQ.
cultmtl.com
November 30, 2025 at 9:21 PM
“Though the Legault government refers to Bill 9 as ‘Secularism 2.0,’ this law completely betrays the definition and goals of secularism: neutrality of the state in all matters of religion.”
Quebec’s Bill 9 is legalized discrimination
An editorial by @mtltoula.bsky.social.
#polqc
Quebec’s Bill 9 is legalized discrimination
An editorial by @mtltoula.bsky.social.
#polqc
All of a sudden I'm expected to know what the word 'intertie' means.
November 29, 2025 at 5:11 AM
All of a sudden I'm expected to know what the word 'intertie' means.
Reposted by MelM
I think if Canada wants to have a strong cultural identity we need to go back to doing what we're best at, making the weirdest fucking TV shows you've ever seen
November 26, 2025 at 7:33 PM
I think if Canada wants to have a strong cultural identity we need to go back to doing what we're best at, making the weirdest fucking TV shows you've ever seen
Reposted by MelM
On rappelle que le Québec (163 $) et l'Alberta (100 $) sont les seules provinces où le vaccin est payant pour les moins de 65 ans.
Belle promotion des vaccins par notre équipe de santé publique!
Belle promotion des vaccins par notre équipe de santé publique!
Faut faire des choix dans la vie. Je pensais me gâter un peu avec le vendredi fou mais je serai plus sage...
Je préfère un Noël et un hiver en santé que de jouer sur une nouvelle console malade ou de courir le risque d'avoir la covid longue. 🖕Quach
@nancydelagrave.bsky.social
@respire.bsky.social
Je préfère un Noël et un hiver en santé que de jouer sur une nouvelle console malade ou de courir le risque d'avoir la covid longue. 🖕Quach
@nancydelagrave.bsky.social
@respire.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 10:08 PM
On rappelle que le Québec (163 $) et l'Alberta (100 $) sont les seules provinces où le vaccin est payant pour les moins de 65 ans.
Belle promotion des vaccins par notre équipe de santé publique!
Belle promotion des vaccins par notre équipe de santé publique!
Reposted by MelM
This is of course fucking grim and all I can say is that Satan will be going to work in a snow plow before I turn a student away from my class for wearing niqab or anything else.
Fuck that forever.
(great column by @nolore.bsky.social)
open.substack.com/pub/noralore...
Fuck that forever.
(great column by @nolore.bsky.social)
open.substack.com/pub/noralore...
Quebec's new secularism bill expands the scope of who the government officially hates
Today, the Coalition Avenir Québec is introducing, An Act respecting the reinforcement of laicity in Québec (the name is better in French, surely).
open.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:48 PM
This is of course fucking grim and all I can say is that Satan will be going to work in a snow plow before I turn a student away from my class for wearing niqab or anything else.
Fuck that forever.
(great column by @nolore.bsky.social)
open.substack.com/pub/noralore...
Fuck that forever.
(great column by @nolore.bsky.social)
open.substack.com/pub/noralore...
Reposted by MelM
A.
Public.
Service.
Cannot.
Lose.
Money.
how much did the military 'lose' last year?
how much did Health Canada 'lose' last year?
how much did the highway system 'lose' last year?
smdh...
Public.
Service.
Cannot.
Lose.
Money.
how much did the military 'lose' last year?
how much did Health Canada 'lose' last year?
how much did the highway system 'lose' last year?
smdh...
November 24, 2025 at 11:22 PM
A.
Public.
Service.
Cannot.
Lose.
Money.
how much did the military 'lose' last year?
how much did Health Canada 'lose' last year?
how much did the highway system 'lose' last year?
smdh...
Public.
Service.
Cannot.
Lose.
Money.
how much did the military 'lose' last year?
how much did Health Canada 'lose' last year?
how much did the highway system 'lose' last year?
smdh...