Meera Nair
@meeranair.bsky.social
Formerly @FairDuty at the other place.
Places where I scribble down thoughts:
https://fairduty.wordpress.com/
https://june231985.wordpress.com/
Places where I scribble down thoughts:
https://fairduty.wordpress.com/
https://june231985.wordpress.com/
Reposted by Meera Nair
Once again, folks: any deal between Alberta and Ottawa that requires a) BC's approval, and b) significant support from coastal First Nations is a deal for a pipeline that will never happen.
If Carney can get Smith to agree to ratchet up industrial carbon pricing in exchange? That feels like a win.
If Carney can get Smith to agree to ratchet up industrial carbon pricing in exchange? That feels like a win.
a man in a suit and tie is holding a pencil and says just saying
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is holding a pencil and says just saying
media.tenor.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Once again, folks: any deal between Alberta and Ottawa that requires a) BC's approval, and b) significant support from coastal First Nations is a deal for a pipeline that will never happen.
If Carney can get Smith to agree to ratchet up industrial carbon pricing in exchange? That feels like a win.
If Carney can get Smith to agree to ratchet up industrial carbon pricing in exchange? That feels like a win.
Reposted by Meera Nair
Friends, we gather to honor the dearly departed icons of the early web. 🖥️⚰️ Though they have vanished from our screens, their spirit endures both in our memory & in the Wayback Machine, preserved across 1 trillion pages of web history.
Pay your respects ⤵️
archive.org/details/in-m...
#Wayback1T
Pay your respects ⤵️
archive.org/details/in-m...
#Wayback1T
November 24, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Friends, we gather to honor the dearly departed icons of the early web. 🖥️⚰️ Though they have vanished from our screens, their spirit endures both in our memory & in the Wayback Machine, preserved across 1 trillion pages of web history.
Pay your respects ⤵️
archive.org/details/in-m...
#Wayback1T
Pay your respects ⤵️
archive.org/details/in-m...
#Wayback1T
Reposted by Meera Nair
I hate the word “impactful” - but otherwise, I am quite tickled with this honour from my Senate colleagues! #cdnpoli #SenateofCanada @senindepend.bsky.social #Alberta
'Storytime with Paula': Simons named Most Impactful Speaker in the Senate
Alberta Sen. Paula Simons, recipient of iPolitics' Most Impactful Speaker in the Senate award, said the best Senate speeches require "careful research, political passion and strong story-telling – wit...
www.ipolitics.ca
November 24, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I hate the word “impactful” - but otherwise, I am quite tickled with this honour from my Senate colleagues! #cdnpoli #SenateofCanada @senindepend.bsky.social #Alberta
From Maria Popova, @themarginalian.org.web.brid.gy:
"To dream is to dare traversing the roiling ocean between what is and what could be on a ramshackle raft of determination and luck. The price we pay for dreaming is the possibility of drowning; ... 1/2
"To dream is to dare traversing the roiling ocean between what is and what could be on a ramshackle raft of determination and luck. The price we pay for dreaming is the possibility of drowning; ... 1/2
November 24, 2025 at 3:21 PM
From Maria Popova, @themarginalian.org.web.brid.gy:
"To dream is to dare traversing the roiling ocean between what is and what could be on a ramshackle raft of determination and luck. The price we pay for dreaming is the possibility of drowning; ... 1/2
"To dream is to dare traversing the roiling ocean between what is and what could be on a ramshackle raft of determination and luck. The price we pay for dreaming is the possibility of drowning; ... 1/2
Reposted by Meera Nair
he never looks at JD that way
November 21, 2025 at 9:38 PM
he never looks at JD that way
Reposted by Meera Nair
On Nov. 21, 1950, two trains collided near Valemount, British Columbia.
The crash killed 21 people and sparked a manslaughter trial against a CNR dispatcher.
The dispatcher was defended by a lawyer named John Diefenbaker, and this trial changed Canadian history.
🧵 1/12
The crash killed 21 people and sparked a manslaughter trial against a CNR dispatcher.
The dispatcher was defended by a lawyer named John Diefenbaker, and this trial changed Canadian history.
🧵 1/12
November 21, 2025 at 3:01 PM
On Nov. 21, 1950, two trains collided near Valemount, British Columbia.
The crash killed 21 people and sparked a manslaughter trial against a CNR dispatcher.
The dispatcher was defended by a lawyer named John Diefenbaker, and this trial changed Canadian history.
🧵 1/12
The crash killed 21 people and sparked a manslaughter trial against a CNR dispatcher.
The dispatcher was defended by a lawyer named John Diefenbaker, and this trial changed Canadian history.
🧵 1/12
Reposted by Meera Nair
Almost a year now since I received this absolutely classic burn from the Canadian government.
November 21, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Almost a year now since I received this absolutely classic burn from the Canadian government.
" Annual surveys have highlighted the extent of the problem, with the most recent showing rural municipalities are owed $254 million in back taxes. What especially frustrates municipal representatives is that many of the tax dodgers are active and profitable companies."
November 21, 2025 at 9:35 PM
" Annual surveys have highlighted the extent of the problem, with the most recent showing rural municipalities are owed $254 million in back taxes. What especially frustrates municipal representatives is that many of the tax dodgers are active and profitable companies."
Reposted by Meera Nair
I assume this means the US government will sell its shares in Intel, etc. now, right?
BREAKING: The House of Representatives voted 285–98 in favor of a resolution condemning socialism.
Eighty-six Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Eighty-six Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
November 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I assume this means the US government will sell its shares in Intel, etc. now, right?
Reposted by Meera Nair
On this day in 1938, Gordon Lightfoot was born in Orillia, Ontario.
Considered one of Canada's greatest songwriters, he won 16 Juno Awards and has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. He had four #1 albums in Canada, most of which went platinum.
Considered one of Canada's greatest songwriters, he won 16 Juno Awards and has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. He had four #1 albums in Canada, most of which went platinum.
November 17, 2025 at 1:01 PM
On this day in 1938, Gordon Lightfoot was born in Orillia, Ontario.
Considered one of Canada's greatest songwriters, he won 16 Juno Awards and has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. He had four #1 albums in Canada, most of which went platinum.
Considered one of Canada's greatest songwriters, he won 16 Juno Awards and has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. He had four #1 albums in Canada, most of which went platinum.
Am greatly enjoying this series of talks by @authorsalliance.bsky.social and OCEAN.
Join us and OCEAN this Friday, November 21 for "Creating with AI: Copyright Issues Related to Authorship, Authenticity, and Preservation for AI-assisted Works". We'll explore copyrightability and authorship of AI-assisted creative works.
www.oceancopyright.org/event-detail...
www.oceancopyright.org/event-detail...
November 17, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Am greatly enjoying this series of talks by @authorsalliance.bsky.social and OCEAN.
"Sometimes the first domino in the chain seems almost silly. The chicken tax of 1964 is a classic case..."
Nice work (with an irresistible lure) by @deandad.bsky.social
Nice work (with an irresistible lure) by @deandad.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 7:29 PM
"Sometimes the first domino in the chain seems almost silly. The chicken tax of 1964 is a classic case..."
Nice work (with an irresistible lure) by @deandad.bsky.social
Nice work (with an irresistible lure) by @deandad.bsky.social
Mark Duggan: "I’m a huge believer in the ability of research [and universities] to make a practical, positive impact in the world. What better time for two nerdy economists to come to Canada than when the Prime Minister is an economist?"
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/educa...
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/educa...
U of T hires three top U.S. scholars, announces $24-million recruitment plan
University plans to bring on 100 postdoctoral fellows across a range of disciplines over two years
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 12, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Mark Duggan: "I’m a huge believer in the ability of research [and universities] to make a practical, positive impact in the world. What better time for two nerdy economists to come to Canada than when the Prime Minister is an economist?"
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/educa...
www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/educa...
Canadians are willing to sacrifice; will the provinces step up as per today's editorial from @globeandmail:
"Provincial governments must cease their bickering and work together."
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
"Provincial governments must cease their bickering and work together."
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
November 12, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Canadians are willing to sacrifice; will the provinces step up as per today's editorial from @globeandmail:
"Provincial governments must cease their bickering and work together."
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
"Provincial governments must cease their bickering and work together."
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
"Love in the time of tariffs."
Heartwarming.
A good day to appreciate one another. #RemembranceDay #Canada #UnitedStates
www.cbc.ca/radio/asitha...
Heartwarming.
A good day to appreciate one another. #RemembranceDay #Canada #UnitedStates
www.cbc.ca/radio/asitha...
Alabamian who mistakenly ordered from N.S. burger joint sends cash and apology by mail | CBC Radio
The owners of Bentley’s Burgers and Fries in West Chezzetcook, N.S., were gobsmacked this week when they received a handwritten apology letter all the way from Alabama, along with $40 US in cash to pa...
www.cbc.ca
November 11, 2025 at 2:01 PM
"Love in the time of tariffs."
Heartwarming.
A good day to appreciate one another. #RemembranceDay #Canada #UnitedStates
www.cbc.ca/radio/asitha...
Heartwarming.
A good day to appreciate one another. #RemembranceDay #Canada #UnitedStates
www.cbc.ca/radio/asitha...
Reposted by Meera Nair
Sigh. I took down my Senate Instagram account a few months ago. A mistake, perhaps, since there is now a fake Insta account pretending to be me - and well meaning but confused folks are tagging it. If you are still on Instagram, could you please do me a favour and report it as a fraud?
November 11, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Sigh. I took down my Senate Instagram account a few months ago. A mistake, perhaps, since there is now a fake Insta account pretending to be me - and well meaning but confused folks are tagging it. If you are still on Instagram, could you please do me a favour and report it as a fraud?
Reposted by Meera Nair
50 years ago today, Nov. 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank beneath the waves of Lake Superior during a massive storm.
The sinking took the lives of all 29 men on the ship, and became immortalized in Gordon Lightfoot's song.
This is the story of this terrible tragedy.
🧵1/20
The sinking took the lives of all 29 men on the ship, and became immortalized in Gordon Lightfoot's song.
This is the story of this terrible tragedy.
🧵1/20
November 10, 2025 at 2:03 PM
50 years ago today, Nov. 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank beneath the waves of Lake Superior during a massive storm.
The sinking took the lives of all 29 men on the ship, and became immortalized in Gordon Lightfoot's song.
This is the story of this terrible tragedy.
🧵1/20
The sinking took the lives of all 29 men on the ship, and became immortalized in Gordon Lightfoot's song.
This is the story of this terrible tragedy.
🧵1/20
Agreed. Writing is about more than processing information from explicit sources--our lives are in the background of every sentence. Writing is a pleasure--those brief moments of finding clarity in a small corner in the messiness of living.
Agree with this. Writing is one of my favorite things to do. It's not something I want to outsource to an LLM.
I lift the silly weights in the gym. I will mess around with my own words and sentences and thoughts out of it. See where it all takes me.
November 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Agreed. Writing is about more than processing information from explicit sources--our lives are in the background of every sentence. Writing is a pleasure--those brief moments of finding clarity in a small corner in the messiness of living.
Reposted by Meera Nair
While researching my current column, I had trouble finding something PM Carney said in a speech in either Factiva or Google, so I tried asking ChatGPT-5 to search for it. This was its internal response.
It hallucinates in basic searches. It can't write truth. It can't copyedit. What is it good for?
It hallucinates in basic searches. It can't write truth. It can't copyedit. What is it good for?
November 7, 2025 at 1:42 PM
While researching my current column, I had trouble finding something PM Carney said in a speech in either Factiva or Google, so I tried asking ChatGPT-5 to search for it. This was its internal response.
It hallucinates in basic searches. It can't write truth. It can't copyedit. What is it good for?
It hallucinates in basic searches. It can't write truth. It can't copyedit. What is it good for?
"The New York Times found that at critical points, as measles was gaining new footholds in Canada, provincial politicians stopped public health officials from speaking out about the value of getting vaccinated."
The province under discussion in the article by the @nytimes.com is Alberta...
The province under discussion in the article by the @nytimes.com is Alberta...
Alberta is calling!
"So far this year, Alberta has recorded nearly 2,000 cases...and the United States nearly 1,700.
Canada is set to be the first Western country since the coronavirus pandemic to lose its elimination status, according to W.H.O. data."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/w...
"So far this year, Alberta has recorded nearly 2,000 cases...and the United States nearly 1,700.
Canada is set to be the first Western country since the coronavirus pandemic to lose its elimination status, according to W.H.O. data."
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/06/w...
Canada Is About to Lose Its Status as Having Eliminated Measles
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:54 PM
"The New York Times found that at critical points, as measles was gaining new footholds in Canada, provincial politicians stopped public health officials from speaking out about the value of getting vaccinated."
The province under discussion in the article by the @nytimes.com is Alberta...
The province under discussion in the article by the @nytimes.com is Alberta...
"Why do we still rely on a country that has threatened our sovereignty to investigate our citizens and collect and retain their private and biometric information?"
If Canadians, travelling domestically, want to use the "good" security line at the airport, they need a NEXUS card, even if they aren't going to the US. And they need the blessing of Donald Trump's Homeland Security apparatus to get one. I'm calling on Canada to end this absurdity. #Canada #NEXUS
Why we need a Made-In-Canada Verified Traveller Program
YouTube video by Senator Paula Simons
youtu.be
November 6, 2025 at 2:30 PM
"Why do we still rely on a country that has threatened our sovereignty to investigate our citizens and collect and retain their private and biometric information?"
Reposted by Meera Nair
A simplified US take on the Canadian budget: Carney has decided to be the FDR kind of left-wing (creating economic revival and employing many people through big public-funded works) but opposed to the LBJ kind of left-wing (Carney is paring back fed offices with redistributive functions)
November 4, 2025 at 11:04 PM
A simplified US take on the Canadian budget: Carney has decided to be the FDR kind of left-wing (creating economic revival and employing many people through big public-funded works) but opposed to the LBJ kind of left-wing (Carney is paring back fed offices with redistributive functions)
Enjoyed this. Clear and compelling with a surprise ending. Read on...
Getty Images v Stability AI: A landmark High Court ruling on AI, copyright, and trade marks
The much-awaited decision in the lawsuit between stock photography giant Getty Images and AI developer Stability AI has now been released, see: Getty Images v Stability AI EWHC 2863 (Ch). I've discussed…
The much-awaited decision in the lawsuit between stock photography giant Getty Images and AI developer Stability AI has now been released, see: Getty Images v Stability AI EWHC 2863 (Ch). I've discussed…
Getty Images v Stability AI: A landmark High Court ruling on AI, copyright, and trade marks
The much-awaited decision in the lawsuit between stock photography giant Getty Images and AI developer Stability AI has now been released, see: Getty Images v Stability AI EWHC 2863 (Ch). I've discussed this case before, but these are the facts as presented by Smith J in her introduction: Getty Images, an image company that licenses high-quality photographs, videos, illustrations and related metadata through various platforms.
www.technollama.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Enjoyed this. Clear and compelling with a surprise ending. Read on...
Reposted by Meera Nair
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity
Australia's extensive solar power penetration makes so much energy that the government wants to offer free electricity at peak hours.
electrek.co
November 6, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
laughter on demand
Took the cats out for a walk with my brother and accidentally created a 90s Britpop album cover
November 6, 2025 at 1:30 PM
laughter on demand