Michel Basilieres
@basilieres.bsky.social
Novelist (Black Bird, A Free Man). Writing Instructor (SCS at U of T). Still learning to keep my mouth shut.
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
I do not understand authors, broadcasters, voice artists, YouTubers, ANY creative artists using quick and cheap AI for their cover images and not realising: it will be you next.
November 18, 2025 at 8:11 AM
I do not understand authors, broadcasters, voice artists, YouTubers, ANY creative artists using quick and cheap AI for their cover images and not realising: it will be you next.
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
MONTREAL! GET READY!
I'll see you tonight at the Rocket Science Room!
I'll be joined by Liz Howard and Jessi MacEachern, with Jay Ritchie as our emcee!
Doors at 6:30.
www.facebook.com/events/18488...
I'll see you tonight at the Rocket Science Room!
I'll be joined by Liz Howard and Jessi MacEachern, with Jay Ritchie as our emcee!
Doors at 6:30.
www.facebook.com/events/18488...
October 18, 2025 at 1:14 PM
MONTREAL! GET READY!
I'll see you tonight at the Rocket Science Room!
I'll be joined by Liz Howard and Jessi MacEachern, with Jay Ritchie as our emcee!
Doors at 6:30.
www.facebook.com/events/18488...
I'll see you tonight at the Rocket Science Room!
I'll be joined by Liz Howard and Jessi MacEachern, with Jay Ritchie as our emcee!
Doors at 6:30.
www.facebook.com/events/18488...
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
Yes, we fucking can.
We can afford Canada Post, we can afford universal healthcare and prescriptions, we can afford free tuition.
You're told we can't "afford it" because industry wants all the money you pay in tax going to them instead, and our politicians keep handing it over.
We can afford Canada Post, we can afford universal healthcare and prescriptions, we can afford free tuition.
You're told we can't "afford it" because industry wants all the money you pay in tax going to them instead, and our politicians keep handing it over.
🇨🇦 Disabled people manage to pick up their mail in every community I've ever lived in because most of #Canada does not have #HomeDelivery.
#Canadians can't afford to continue subsidizing this service for a privileged few.
#CanadaPost
🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
#Canadians can't afford to continue subsidizing this service for a privileged few.
#CanadaPost
🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
September 28, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Yes, we fucking can.
We can afford Canada Post, we can afford universal healthcare and prescriptions, we can afford free tuition.
You're told we can't "afford it" because industry wants all the money you pay in tax going to them instead, and our politicians keep handing it over.
We can afford Canada Post, we can afford universal healthcare and prescriptions, we can afford free tuition.
You're told we can't "afford it" because industry wants all the money you pay in tax going to them instead, and our politicians keep handing it over.
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
Authors: you may have heard about the Bartz v Anthropic class action re authors' works being illegally used to train AI.
If you had a book published before Aug 1, 2022, you’re eligible to register basic info with the attorneys involved in the class action.
www.lieffcabraser.com/anthropic-au...
If you had a book published before Aug 1, 2022, you’re eligible to register basic info with the attorneys involved in the class action.
www.lieffcabraser.com/anthropic-au...
Anthropic Authors’ Rights Class Action – Author Contact Page – Lieff Cabraser
www.lieffcabraser.com
August 21, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Authors: you may have heard about the Bartz v Anthropic class action re authors' works being illegally used to train AI.
If you had a book published before Aug 1, 2022, you’re eligible to register basic info with the attorneys involved in the class action.
www.lieffcabraser.com/anthropic-au...
If you had a book published before Aug 1, 2022, you’re eligible to register basic info with the attorneys involved in the class action.
www.lieffcabraser.com/anthropic-au...
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
I'm just blocking any account that I see sharing AI slop
Apologies to anybody who feels that's unfair, but it's a technology based on theft of labor from artists and I can't overlook that
Apologies to anybody who feels that's unfair, but it's a technology based on theft of labor from artists and I can't overlook that
August 25, 2025 at 7:41 PM
I'm just blocking any account that I see sharing AI slop
Apologies to anybody who feels that's unfair, but it's a technology based on theft of labor from artists and I can't overlook that
Apologies to anybody who feels that's unfair, but it's a technology based on theft of labor from artists and I can't overlook that
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
On Aug. 9, 1948, a group of 16 young Quebecois artists and intellectuals signed Le Refus Global.
This manifesto rejected the social and norms and values of Quebecois society and was a landmark document in the province's history.
🧵 1/8
This manifesto rejected the social and norms and values of Quebecois society and was a landmark document in the province's history.
🧵 1/8
August 9, 2025 at 1:01 PM
On Aug. 9, 1948, a group of 16 young Quebecois artists and intellectuals signed Le Refus Global.
This manifesto rejected the social and norms and values of Quebecois society and was a landmark document in the province's history.
🧵 1/8
This manifesto rejected the social and norms and values of Quebecois society and was a landmark document in the province's history.
🧵 1/8
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
Budapest's streets overflowed with Pride marchers on Saturday, despite the Orban regime's threats of legal consequences. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Hungary banned Pride events. Thousands marched anyway.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said those who attended should face “legal consequences.”
www.motherjones.com
June 28, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Budapest's streets overflowed with Pride marchers on Saturday, despite the Orban regime's threats of legal consequences. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
Absolutely incredible turnout for Budapest Pride! So proud of all the organizers, including some old friends, who estimate hundreds of thousands— major embarrassment to Orban
June 28, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Absolutely incredible turnout for Budapest Pride! So proud of all the organizers, including some old friends, who estimate hundreds of thousands— major embarrassment to Orban
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
Well done to the many thousands of people in Hungary who are defying dictator Orban by attending a massive pride march even though he banned it in the country. Heroes. 💙🏳️🌈
June 28, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Well done to the many thousands of people in Hungary who are defying dictator Orban by attending a massive pride march even though he banned it in the country. Heroes. 💙🏳️🌈
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
I'm looking for (remote) work in editorial, writing, producing, or consulting; can also be located in Prince Edward County or Toronto. I also have 5 spots open for manuscript and TV/film script evaluations this summer. Email me (first dot last at gmail) for rates.
June 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I'm looking for (remote) work in editorial, writing, producing, or consulting; can also be located in Prince Edward County or Toronto. I also have 5 spots open for manuscript and TV/film script evaluations this summer. Email me (first dot last at gmail) for rates.
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
On May 20, 1980, Quebec held its first independence referendum. Residents were asked whether the province should pursue a path toward sovereignty.
The outcome of that referendum would impact Canada for decades to come.
This is its story.
🧵1/14
The outcome of that referendum would impact Canada for decades to come.
This is its story.
🧵1/14
May 20, 2025 at 3:49 PM
On May 20, 1980, Quebec held its first independence referendum. Residents were asked whether the province should pursue a path toward sovereignty.
The outcome of that referendum would impact Canada for decades to come.
This is its story.
🧵1/14
The outcome of that referendum would impact Canada for decades to come.
This is its story.
🧵1/14
There are a few days left to register for this. We need a few more participants, so please join us. Or share to anyone who might be interested. I'm teaching Section 218, Online via Zoom. learn.utoronto.ca/programs-cou...
February 10, 2025 at 10:05 PM
There are a few days left to register for this. We need a few more participants, so please join us. Or share to anyone who might be interested. I'm teaching Section 218, Online via Zoom. learn.utoronto.ca/programs-cou...
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
ECW lets me do whatever I want and what I wanted to do was quit Twitter. So here we are!!! We are here and now, officially, not there.
January 28, 2025 at 8:56 PM
ECW lets me do whatever I want and what I wanted to do was quit Twitter. So here we are!!! We are here and now, officially, not there.
Not only has Microsoft added AI to Word and made it difficult or impossible to remove, now they've removed the thesaurus and Smart Lookup. So they added crap no writer wants, took away a feature I used every day, and want us all to pay more. Not sure how many more straws my camel's back can bear.
January 29, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Not only has Microsoft added AI to Word and made it difficult or impossible to remove, now they've removed the thesaurus and Smart Lookup. So they added crap no writer wants, took away a feature I used every day, and want us all to pay more. Not sure how many more straws my camel's back can bear.
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
Misinformation isn't random - it's strategic. 🧵
In the first cross-national comparative study, we examine 32M tweets from politicians.
We find that misinformation is not a general condition: it is driven by populist radical right parties.
with @julianachueri.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1177/1940...
In the first cross-national comparative study, we examine 32M tweets from politicians.
We find that misinformation is not a general condition: it is driven by populist radical right parties.
with @julianachueri.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1177/1940...
January 14, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Misinformation isn't random - it's strategic. 🧵
In the first cross-national comparative study, we examine 32M tweets from politicians.
We find that misinformation is not a general condition: it is driven by populist radical right parties.
with @julianachueri.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1177/1940...
In the first cross-national comparative study, we examine 32M tweets from politicians.
We find that misinformation is not a general condition: it is driven by populist radical right parties.
with @julianachueri.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1177/1940...
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
Disappointing but not surprising. Not with this government.
No Copyright Act amendments for the book sector announced in the Fall Economic Statement
Copibec and Access Copyright are deeply concerned following the tabling of the Fall Economic Statement on December 16, 2024. Once again, the government has dismissed repeated calls from the book secto...
www.accesscopyright.ca
December 18, 2024 at 11:36 PM
Disappointing but not surprising. Not with this government.
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
Raymond Souster lived in Toronto for almost 90 years, and during most of them, he wrote poems. About the city, its people, its weather, its sports, its garbage, its gardens, its stories and lies and shames. His collected works are the city's 20th century saga.
neglectedbooks.com/?...
neglectedbooks.com/?...
December 8, 2024 at 3:30 PM
Raymond Souster lived in Toronto for almost 90 years, and during most of them, he wrote poems. About the city, its people, its weather, its sports, its garbage, its gardens, its stories and lies and shames. His collected works are the city's 20th century saga.
neglectedbooks.com/?...
neglectedbooks.com/?...
Resistance is futile.
Your Bluesky Posts Are Probably In A Bunch of Datasets Now
After a machine learning librarian released and then deleted a dataset of one million Bluesky posts, several other, even bigger datasets have appeared in its place—including one of almost 300 million ...
www.404media.co
December 5, 2024 at 3:45 AM
Resistance is futile.
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
Reposted by Michel Basilieres
Find us here this Sunday in Toronto
Indie Lit Market
RSVP now to join Meet the Presses and 35+ independent Canadian presses at the Cecil Centre for the 2024 Indie Lit Market on Sunday, November 17th!
events.humanitix.com
November 15, 2024 at 8:44 PM
Find us here this Sunday in Toronto
I'll be teaching online: Writing Short Fiction: Introduction, October 21 - December 9, on Mondays from 6:30 to 9 PM. Not only will your writing improve with the ideas and techniques we'll cover, but you'll end up enjoying your reading more, too. learn.utoronto.ca/.../1680-wri.... (Section 210).
1680 - Writing Short Fiction: Introduction
If you want to write short stories, meet other writers and learn basic literary technique, this course is for you. You'll learn the building blocks of the writing process by writing and reviewing stor...
learn.utoronto.ca
October 9, 2024 at 6:17 PM
I'll be teaching online: Writing Short Fiction: Introduction, October 21 - December 9, on Mondays from 6:30 to 9 PM. Not only will your writing improve with the ideas and techniques we'll cover, but you'll end up enjoying your reading more, too. learn.utoronto.ca/.../1680-wri.... (Section 210).