S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
@ashleighweeden.bsky.social
*maybe not here quite so much, as I tend to my grief and growth*
Dr. Weeden. She/Her. Rural Futurist. Feminist. Curious/Furious. Place, power, policy. Obsessed with questions like "why?" and "so what?"
Dr. Weeden. She/Her. Rural Futurist. Feminist. Curious/Furious. Place, power, policy. Obsessed with questions like "why?" and "so what?"
Reposted by S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
The moral failing in attempting to prove Hitler was the victim of a genetic something-something is the same as the moral failing in claiming Trump is mentally ill. Their acts are those of conscious adults who’ve justified them in writing — they’re very fundamentally victimizers, not victims
"The research will probably provoke controversy, both for its having been done and for its findings."
Absolutely atrocious decision by everyone involved to do this research. The findings add nothing to historical understanding or political prevention, and hold immense potential to do harm.
Absolutely atrocious decision by everyone involved to do this research. The findings add nothing to historical understanding or political prevention, and hold immense potential to do harm.
Exclusive: Adolf Hitler’s DNA has been sequenced by scientists
It has:
- shown he had a disorder which impacted his sexual development
- debunked rumours about his ancestry
- shown a high likelihood that he had a neurodivergent condition and/or bipolar disorder
www.thetimes.com/article/e728...
It has:
- shown he had a disorder which impacted his sexual development
- debunked rumours about his ancestry
- shown a high likelihood that he had a neurodivergent condition and/or bipolar disorder
www.thetimes.com/article/e728...
November 12, 2025 at 7:24 PM
The moral failing in attempting to prove Hitler was the victim of a genetic something-something is the same as the moral failing in claiming Trump is mentally ill. Their acts are those of conscious adults who’ve justified them in writing — they’re very fundamentally victimizers, not victims
This sent me down a rabbit hole... Teachers in my world: are we doing this in Ontario/Canadian schools too?! It would... explain a lot about what is showing up in the writing of post-secondary students...
ever since I learned about three-cueing I've developed infinitely more patience for replies on social media. mfers literally do not know how to read. people are walking around conjuring random meanings into words they don't know, and they don't know a lot of words. it's crazy
November 12, 2025 at 7:23 PM
This sent me down a rabbit hole... Teachers in my world: are we doing this in Ontario/Canadian schools too?! It would... explain a lot about what is showing up in the writing of post-secondary students...
Reposted by S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
Precisely why it’s so gross to see the government not only legitimizing the scammy crypto industry, but saying it will benefit the very people who will likely be some of its biggest victims.
Sports betting and crypto are not the same but there are some massive overlaps.
Sports betting and crypto are not the same but there are some massive overlaps.
“The consequences extend beyond lost money. Hazardous gambling is correlated with increased rates of anxiety and depression, and young men who engage in it are more likely to slide into a full-blown gambling addiction. Boys who frequently gamble miss more classes, perform worse in school”
The rise of sports betting is a growing public health crisis
Sports betting is more addictive than ever, and millions of young Americans are paying the price.
www.statnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Precisely why it’s so gross to see the government not only legitimizing the scammy crypto industry, but saying it will benefit the very people who will likely be some of its biggest victims.
Sports betting and crypto are not the same but there are some massive overlaps.
Sports betting and crypto are not the same but there are some massive overlaps.
Reposted by S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
AI-driven casino economy
November 12, 2025 at 6:21 PM
AI-driven casino economy
Reposted by S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
AI-driven casino economy
"we actually don't know if AI will have the positive effects we're claiming but that's ok we are starting a new program to find out & we promise the AI will fix everything"
November 7, 2025 at 5:33 PM
AI-driven casino economy
As a grieving former caregiver, that PetroCan ad needs to be thrown right in the bin. That’s an emotional grenade none of us in that position need to face at random when trying to disassociate to Bake Off.
November 12, 2025 at 5:48 PM
As a grieving former caregiver, that PetroCan ad needs to be thrown right in the bin. That’s an emotional grenade none of us in that position need to face at random when trying to disassociate to Bake Off.
Reposted by S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
I recently met a researcher studying Indian farmers displaced for Big Solar. This ⬇️ is about Chinese solar on Uighur homelands. And of course Canada's energy transition has huge implications for Indigenous rights. Possibly it's "worth it" - but who decides? atmos.earth/political-la...
November 12, 2025 at 1:06 AM
I recently met a researcher studying Indian farmers displaced for Big Solar. This ⬇️ is about Chinese solar on Uighur homelands. And of course Canada's energy transition has huge implications for Indigenous rights. Possibly it's "worth it" - but who decides? atmos.earth/political-la...
I dated someone for a long time who worked for a large food band network and this was always his message too: material goods make the donor feel good, but money helps the organization actually do good.
spoke with the executive director of my local food bank today and got this really incredible line: "if you donate 1 can of green beans, we can give away 1 can of green beans. but if you donate a dollar, we can give away 6 cans of green beans"
November 11, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I dated someone for a long time who worked for a large food band network and this was always his message too: material goods make the donor feel good, but money helps the organization actually do good.
In the early days of the (continuing) COVID-19 pandemic, all of a sudden every think-tank-type was suddenly an expert on rural development in Canada. Now, as the word 'sovereignty' gets thrown around so much it's lost all meaning, I'm seeing a lot of immediate experts in food systems....
November 11, 2025 at 9:06 PM
In the early days of the (continuing) COVID-19 pandemic, all of a sudden every think-tank-type was suddenly an expert on rural development in Canada. Now, as the word 'sovereignty' gets thrown around so much it's lost all meaning, I'm seeing a lot of immediate experts in food systems....
I wasn't quite expecting today to feel so heavy. Although always a somber day in my world, it was also always a day of meaning and connection with my Dad. Grief has hit like a tidal wave today (as it often does, because I am so lucky to have loved & been loved by some truly incredible people). OOf.
November 11, 2025 at 7:09 PM
I wasn't quite expecting today to feel so heavy. Although always a somber day in my world, it was also always a day of meaning and connection with my Dad. Grief has hit like a tidal wave today (as it often does, because I am so lucky to have loved & been loved by some truly incredible people). OOf.
Reposted by S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
It’s very clear that projections about how fast things would get bad were overly optimistic and it’s happening faster than expected and we are literally on a very short timeline for not having *even more* catastrophic ecosystem collapse and transformation and death
November 11, 2025 at 6:13 PM
It’s very clear that projections about how fast things would get bad were overly optimistic and it’s happening faster than expected and we are literally on a very short timeline for not having *even more* catastrophic ecosystem collapse and transformation and death
Reposted by S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
Not to be negative but this is apocalyptic
Ahead of midterms, climate policy has become a wedge issue splitting Democrats. After last week's electoral victories, some Democrats will only talk about expanding clean energy through lens of affordability. Others believe talking about climate change will win voters. www.eenews.net/articles/ret...
Retreat or recast? Democrats debate future of climate politics.
Democratic election wins last week reignited arguments on how — or if — candidates should discuss climate change on the campaign trail.
www.eenews.net
November 11, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Not to be negative but this is apocalyptic
For the first time in a long time, weather kept me from Paisley, where we lay a wreath in honour of Keith and Gordon Weeden - and for the first time ever, Jim Weeden isn't here to share his memories of those great men, their sacrifices and their service, but we carry those memories and we remember.
November 11, 2025 at 4:29 PM
For the first time in a long time, weather kept me from Paisley, where we lay a wreath in honour of Keith and Gordon Weeden - and for the first time ever, Jim Weeden isn't here to share his memories of those great men, their sacrifices and their service, but we carry those memories and we remember.
Reposted by S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
"The question now is whether democratic societies can recognize this formation for what it is—and build alternatives before the infrastructure of control becomes too deeply embedded to dislodge."
The Authoritarian Stack: how tech billionaires are building a post-democratic America and why Europe is next.
My new project is an interactive investigation and open data platform to expose tech authoritarianism and mobilize collective power for democratic alternatives.
www.authoritarian-stack.info
My new project is an interactive investigation and open data platform to expose tech authoritarianism and mobilize collective power for democratic alternatives.
www.authoritarian-stack.info
The Authoritarian Stack
How Tech Billionaires Are Building a Post-Democratic America — And Why Europe Is Next
www.authoritarian-stack.info
November 8, 2025 at 2:47 PM
"The question now is whether democratic societies can recognize this formation for what it is—and build alternatives before the infrastructure of control becomes too deeply embedded to dislodge."
Reposted by S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
UK government project using AI to find benefit fraud resulted in:
- A 46% false fraud rate
- Anguish for families who were wrongly accused of fraud and had benefits stopped
- Months of additional work for government, setting up a hotline, correcting false fraud
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
- A 46% false fraud rate
- Anguish for families who were wrongly accused of fraud and had benefits stopped
- Months of additional work for government, setting up a hotline, correcting false fraud
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
HMRC trial of child benefit crackdown wrongly suspected fraud in 46% of cases
Exclusive: Almost half of families flagged as emigrants based on Home Office travel data were still living in UK
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:11 PM
UK government project using AI to find benefit fraud resulted in:
- A 46% false fraud rate
- Anguish for families who were wrongly accused of fraud and had benefits stopped
- Months of additional work for government, setting up a hotline, correcting false fraud
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
- A 46% false fraud rate
- Anguish for families who were wrongly accused of fraud and had benefits stopped
- Months of additional work for government, setting up a hotline, correcting false fraud
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
Buried in the Doug Ford govt's fall budget are changes that would remove parts of Wasaga beach from provincial protection. As I reported in August, those parts are 60% of the world’s longest freshwater beach and the main nesting area for the endangered piping plover: thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
November 10, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Buried in the Doug Ford govt's fall budget are changes that would remove parts of Wasaga beach from provincial protection. As I reported in August, those parts are 60% of the world’s longest freshwater beach and the main nesting area for the endangered piping plover: thenarwhal.ca/wasaga-beach...
Reposted by S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
Policies like these — and the budget is rife with them — are incremental and reactive. They are the opposite of transformational. Canada is facing three intertwined crises: US instability, the climate emergency, the digital economic revolution. Old, incremental thinking simply won‘t cut it.
November 11, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Policies like these — and the budget is rife with them — are incremental and reactive. They are the opposite of transformational. Canada is facing three intertwined crises: US instability, the climate emergency, the digital economic revolution. Old, incremental thinking simply won‘t cut it.
10+ years of banging my head against this particular wall over here…
If building out digital capacity is so important, why rely on inducements and hope for the best (while paying a premium in the form of private firms’ profit margins) instead of just building it yourself?
November 11, 2025 at 12:50 PM
10+ years of banging my head against this particular wall over here…
Reposted by S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
Every time someone’s like “put that in the louvre,” my head now goes “and then steal it from the louvre, the security password is louvre”
November 11, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Every time someone’s like “put that in the louvre,” my head now goes “and then steal it from the louvre, the security password is louvre”
Reposted by S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
Absolutely brilliant exposition of what is happening *RIGHT NOW* across Ontario and Canada, thank you @danyaalraza.com .
Health care is in crisis, the solutions are obvious, and governments everywhere are looking away from what is happening.
Gift link:
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Health care is in crisis, the solutions are obvious, and governments everywhere are looking away from what is happening.
Gift link:
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
November 10, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Absolutely brilliant exposition of what is happening *RIGHT NOW* across Ontario and Canada, thank you @danyaalraza.com .
Health care is in crisis, the solutions are obvious, and governments everywhere are looking away from what is happening.
Gift link:
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Health care is in crisis, the solutions are obvious, and governments everywhere are looking away from what is happening.
Gift link:
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Reposted by S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
We also got information this week about intimate partner violence in Toronto.
Conclusion? Victims/survivors are failed across this province every single day.
Conclusion? Victims/survivors are failed across this province every single day.
Toronto police release detailed data on intimate partner violence for the 1st time | CBC News
The number of intimate partner violence occurrences in Toronto each year has remained steady over the last decade, ranging from about 17,200 to 19,300 a year, according to new data from Toronto police...
www.cbc.ca
November 10, 2025 at 2:16 PM
We also got information this week about intimate partner violence in Toronto.
Conclusion? Victims/survivors are failed across this province every single day.
Conclusion? Victims/survivors are failed across this province every single day.
Reposted by S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
I'm from Northern Ontario. I've done extensive research and advocacy with survivors in rural, remote and Northern communities.
Frankly, the only thing that surprises me about this report is that it's getting so much media attention outside of the region. I'm glad because it's about time!
Frankly, the only thing that surprises me about this report is that it's getting so much media attention outside of the region. I'm glad because it's about time!
Report finds survivors face barriers to getting sexual assault evidence kits in northern Ontario | CBC News
A new report by Sudbury group She Matters reveals that northern Ontario sexual assault survivors face significant barriers to timely access to sexual assault evidence kits because of distance and unde...
www.cbc.ca
November 10, 2025 at 2:13 PM
I'm from Northern Ontario. I've done extensive research and advocacy with survivors in rural, remote and Northern communities.
Frankly, the only thing that surprises me about this report is that it's getting so much media attention outside of the region. I'm glad because it's about time!
Frankly, the only thing that surprises me about this report is that it's getting so much media attention outside of the region. I'm glad because it's about time!
Reposted by S. Ashleigh Weeden, PhD
Mark Carney's budget will make Trump and Canada’s corporate class happy, but it does little for working people.
Martin Lukacs and @desmondcole.bsky.social break down the Liberals' Stephen Harper-esque moves, from public service layoffs to corporate handouts. breachmedia.ca/a-budget-for...
Martin Lukacs and @desmondcole.bsky.social break down the Liberals' Stephen Harper-esque moves, from public service layoffs to corporate handouts. breachmedia.ca/a-budget-for...
A budget for tanks, banks, and oil barons ⋆ The Breach
Martin Lukacs and Desmond Cole discuss the Liberal government’s Harper-esque budget
breachmedia.ca
November 6, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Mark Carney's budget will make Trump and Canada’s corporate class happy, but it does little for working people.
Martin Lukacs and @desmondcole.bsky.social break down the Liberals' Stephen Harper-esque moves, from public service layoffs to corporate handouts. breachmedia.ca/a-budget-for...
Martin Lukacs and @desmondcole.bsky.social break down the Liberals' Stephen Harper-esque moves, from public service layoffs to corporate handouts. breachmedia.ca/a-budget-for...
After a truly banoodles week, as almost every day since we decided to build a life together, I am so, so grateful for a fabulous partner. It took me a long time to choose, but I chose well. I’m a tough cookie but admittedly would be a total puddle half the time if I didn’t have Ian…
November 9, 2025 at 5:28 PM
After a truly banoodles week, as almost every day since we decided to build a life together, I am so, so grateful for a fabulous partner. It took me a long time to choose, but I chose well. I’m a tough cookie but admittedly would be a total puddle half the time if I didn’t have Ian…
We’ve been here before. It didn’t work then. It won’t work now.
(I was in high school/post-sec and the daughter of a nurse and a civil servant in Ontario’s Harris years and Canada’s Chrétien/Martin/Harper years… I had a front row seat.)
(I was in high school/post-sec and the daughter of a nurse and a civil servant in Ontario’s Harris years and Canada’s Chrétien/Martin/Harper years… I had a front row seat.)
If the government continues down its current path, it will be repeating the mistakes of the 1990s: favouring extreme austerity with no consideration for the consequences.
That approach was a disaster in 1994, and it would be worse today.
That approach was a disaster in 1994, and it would be worse today.
Public Sector Job Cuts Undermine the Federal Government’s Commitment to Canadians | Perspectives Journal
There are easy solutions for the government to both raise revenue and rein in spending in a way that is fair and beneficial for Canadians, and that doesn’t compromise services.
perspectivesjournal.ca
November 8, 2025 at 2:07 PM
We’ve been here before. It didn’t work then. It won’t work now.
(I was in high school/post-sec and the daughter of a nurse and a civil servant in Ontario’s Harris years and Canada’s Chrétien/Martin/Harper years… I had a front row seat.)
(I was in high school/post-sec and the daughter of a nurse and a civil servant in Ontario’s Harris years and Canada’s Chrétien/Martin/Harper years… I had a front row seat.)