Matt Oliver
@sameo416.bsky.social
Red River Métis ∞ Scotch-breed ∞ RCAF Veteran ∞ Feral theologian ∞ aerospace/electrical ∞ P.Eng. ∞ he/him ∞ lawful chaotic ∞ Disabled ∞ rrmc rmc sfu uec ∞ nd
Pinned
Matt Oliver
@sameo416.bsky.social
· Apr 18
Trump’s cronies aren’t what broke public health canadahealthwatch.ca/2025/04/18/t... by @mark-ungrin.bsky.social
𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: CanadaHealthwatch.ca/newsletter 🍁
𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: CanadaHealthwatch.ca/newsletter 🍁
Trump’s cronies aren’t what broke public health
The structural blind spots that undermine medical progress and how to fix them.
canadahealthwatch.ca
Excellent reflect from most awesome friend and colleague @mark-ungrin.bsky.social.
"Five years ago, on April 3, 2020, the world’s top bioaerosol scientists warned the WHO that COVID was transmitted in infectious aerosols, tiny particles that drift in the air like smoke.
"Five years ago, on April 3, 2020, the world’s top bioaerosol scientists warned the WHO that COVID was transmitted in infectious aerosols, tiny particles that drift in the air like smoke.
Reposted by Matt Oliver
There are definitely bad people involved, but bad people are a challenge that is not going to go away. So we need to build systems that don't fail catastrophically just because a bad person manages to sit in a specific chair - and figure out why the safeguards we thought we had don't work.
Institutional research misconduct
Failings over the MMR scare may need parliamentary inquiry
It is now more than 18 months since the UK’s General Medical Council found Andrew Wakefield guilty of dishonesty and other serious professio...
www.bmj.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:57 PM
There are definitely bad people involved, but bad people are a challenge that is not going to go away. So we need to build systems that don't fail catastrophically just because a bad person manages to sit in a specific chair - and figure out why the safeguards we thought we had don't work.
Reposted by Matt Oliver
There are deep structural issues at play here, that explain how these guys are able to pull this stuff off so easily. We treat anti-vax misinfo as if it just magically appears, and don't address things like e.g. Wakefield being platformed and protected for over a decade by mainstream institutions.
Science, Pseudoscience and Public Policy - WHN
In this presentation from December 2025, Mark Ungrin discusses “How did things get this bad, and what can we do about it?”—looking at how science and pseudoscience shape public policy, and what practi...
whn.global
January 21, 2026 at 3:54 PM
There are deep structural issues at play here, that explain how these guys are able to pull this stuff off so easily. We treat anti-vax misinfo as if it just magically appears, and don't address things like e.g. Wakefield being platformed and protected for over a decade by mainstream institutions.
Reposted by Matt Oliver
Thank you for this! Could be considered within a framework of Institutional Courage (Freyd et al. ) as a structural way to combat institutional betrayal which is what we are seeing/ living through now in US
February 11, 2026 at 12:52 PM
Thank you for this! Could be considered within a framework of Institutional Courage (Freyd et al. ) as a structural way to combat institutional betrayal which is what we are seeing/ living through now in US
Reposted by Matt Oliver
Oh wow I hadn't run into that work before. That's really interesting - thanks for the heads up!
@sameo416.bsky.social @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social @juliamwright.bsky.social
www.institutionalcourage.org
@sameo416.bsky.social @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social @juliamwright.bsky.social
www.institutionalcourage.org
Center for Institutional Courage
The Center for Institutional Courage is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) institution dedicated to scientific research, wide-reaching education, and data-driven action promoting institutional courage.
www.institutionalcourage.org
February 11, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Oh wow I hadn't run into that work before. That's really interesting - thanks for the heads up!
@sameo416.bsky.social @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social @juliamwright.bsky.social
www.institutionalcourage.org
@sameo416.bsky.social @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social @juliamwright.bsky.social
www.institutionalcourage.org
Reposted by Matt Oliver
The concept of "toxic experts" is extremely useful for understanding the attack on science happening around the world.
They're most prominent in the US right now, but behind the scenes in Canada and elsewhere too, enabled by pseudoscientific systems that grant them excessive authority in medicine.
They're most prominent in the US right now, but behind the scenes in Canada and elsewhere too, enabled by pseudoscientific systems that grant them excessive authority in medicine.
There are deep structural issues at play here, that explain how these guys are able to pull this stuff off so easily. We treat anti-vax misinfo as if it just magically appears, and don't address things like e.g. Wakefield being platformed and protected for over a decade by mainstream institutions.
Science, Pseudoscience and Public Policy - WHN
In this presentation from December 2025, Mark Ungrin discusses “How did things get this bad, and what can we do about it?”—looking at how science and pseudoscience shape public policy, and what practi...
whn.global
February 11, 2026 at 12:19 PM
The concept of "toxic experts" is extremely useful for understanding the attack on science happening around the world.
They're most prominent in the US right now, but behind the scenes in Canada and elsewhere too, enabled by pseudoscientific systems that grant them excessive authority in medicine.
They're most prominent in the US right now, but behind the scenes in Canada and elsewhere too, enabled by pseudoscientific systems that grant them excessive authority in medicine.
Reposted by Matt Oliver
🧵(1/2): Essential new paper: "Toxic experts in longevity business: A multilevel relational framing of emergence"
Draws on multiple examples, including the way medical pseudoexperts botched the pandemic.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
#medsky #scisky #standupforscience #longCOVID #cdnpoli
Draws on multiple examples, including the way medical pseudoexperts botched the pandemic.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
#medsky #scisky #standupforscience #longCOVID #cdnpoli
February 11, 2026 at 12:19 PM
🧵(1/2): Essential new paper: "Toxic experts in longevity business: A multilevel relational framing of emergence"
Draws on multiple examples, including the way medical pseudoexperts botched the pandemic.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
#medsky #scisky #standupforscience #longCOVID #cdnpoli
Draws on multiple examples, including the way medical pseudoexperts botched the pandemic.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
#medsky #scisky #standupforscience #longCOVID #cdnpoli
Reposted by Matt Oliver
It shouldn’t be just Olympic athletes who are protected. It should be our children. I feel very annoyed that clinically vulnerable people get none of this. Our government even cancelled 13 million vaccines. Yes of course athletes must be protected but so should everyone.
The Dutch Olympic team is taking several precautions: "We're not shaking hands anymore, but we're giving fist bumps," says Verheijen. "We're wearing face masks in crowded areas and making sure we wash and disinfect our hands thoroughly." This decision was made to minimize the risk of illness.
February 10, 2026 at 7:58 AM
It shouldn’t be just Olympic athletes who are protected. It should be our children. I feel very annoyed that clinically vulnerable people get none of this. Our government even cancelled 13 million vaccines. Yes of course athletes must be protected but so should everyone.
Reposted by Matt Oliver
Phenomenal new Morawska paper!
@ukhadds.bsky.social @brownecfm.bsky.social
@tjradcliffe.bsky.social @drsmith.bsky.social @ladyscorcher.bsky.social @nbcovidinfo.bsky.social @mark-ungrin.bsky.social @sameo416.bsky.social @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social @linseymarr.bsky.social @jvipondmd.bsky.social
@ukhadds.bsky.social @brownecfm.bsky.social
@tjradcliffe.bsky.social @drsmith.bsky.social @ladyscorcher.bsky.social @nbcovidinfo.bsky.social @mark-ungrin.bsky.social @sameo416.bsky.social @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social @linseymarr.bsky.social @jvipondmd.bsky.social
'As climate change accelerates, weak infrastructure and poor crisis planning will worsen deadly weather impacts. Protecting people indoors must become a priority, focusing on thermal comfort, ventilation, and reducing indoor air pollutants.' #AirQuality
wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
The Rapid Progress of Climate Change Requires Effective Concepts for Protecting People Indoors
As climate change progresses, society is increasingly exposed to extreme weather events. It is therefore necessary to adapt our buildings, housing infrastructure, and logistics to protect people and ...
wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Reposted by Matt Oliver
'As climate change accelerates, weak infrastructure and poor crisis planning will worsen deadly weather impacts. Protecting people indoors must become a priority, focusing on thermal comfort, ventilation, and reducing indoor air pollutants.' #AirQuality
wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
The Rapid Progress of Climate Change Requires Effective Concepts for Protecting People Indoors
As climate change progresses, society is increasingly exposed to extreme weather events. It is therefore necessary to adapt our buildings, housing infrastructure, and logistics to protect people and ...
wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:25 PM
'As climate change accelerates, weak infrastructure and poor crisis planning will worsen deadly weather impacts. Protecting people indoors must become a priority, focusing on thermal comfort, ventilation, and reducing indoor air pollutants.' #AirQuality
wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Few weeks back I ‘unfriended’ a long time friend on fb.
I’m happy to ignore people’s racist rants, but they insisted on responding to each and every post by a family member, and so I could not avoid seeing the comments.
The comments were all around why separation is best for Alberta,
I’m happy to ignore people’s racist rants, but they insisted on responding to each and every post by a family member, and so I could not avoid seeing the comments.
The comments were all around why separation is best for Alberta,
February 8, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Few weeks back I ‘unfriended’ a long time friend on fb.
I’m happy to ignore people’s racist rants, but they insisted on responding to each and every post by a family member, and so I could not avoid seeing the comments.
The comments were all around why separation is best for Alberta,
I’m happy to ignore people’s racist rants, but they insisted on responding to each and every post by a family member, and so I could not avoid seeing the comments.
The comments were all around why separation is best for Alberta,
Reposted by Matt Oliver
This U.K. doctor felt he could better care for patients in Canada. So, he moved across the world to #BritishColumbia #Canada
Stephen Osei-Osafo says he's telling his U.K. colleagues to come to Canada 'every single day'
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Stephen Osei-Osafo says he's telling his U.K. colleagues to come to Canada 'every single day'
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
This U.K. doctor felt he could better care for patients in Canada. So, he moved across the world to B.C. | CBC News
When U.K. physician Stephen Osei-Osafo heard Canada was facing a doctor shortage, he said "sign me up." Since arriving in November, Osei-Osafo says he loves his new home and is happy to be "flying the...
www.cbc.ca
February 8, 2026 at 8:13 PM
This U.K. doctor felt he could better care for patients in Canada. So, he moved across the world to #BritishColumbia #Canada
Stephen Osei-Osafo says he's telling his U.K. colleagues to come to Canada 'every single day'
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Stephen Osei-Osafo says he's telling his U.K. colleagues to come to Canada 'every single day'
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Matt Oliver
Another time, a woman left a long note in my Little Free Pantry, in which she shared her gratitude for the food she had received. But she didn't just want to take, so she had brought seeds from her garden to share in the Little Free Pantry so others could benefit from them and she could contribute.
February 8, 2026 at 1:46 AM
Another time, a woman left a long note in my Little Free Pantry, in which she shared her gratitude for the food she had received. But she didn't just want to take, so she had brought seeds from her garden to share in the Little Free Pantry so others could benefit from them and she could contribute.
Reposted by Matt Oliver
I love this! Gardeners are also like that, where sharing is key. I tried to explain that community concept to a journalist who wrote about my garden for the Spec. Days later, she emailed to say that a reader had contacted her to invite me to go and see his pawpaw trees! Share what you can!!
February 8, 2026 at 1:46 AM
I love this! Gardeners are also like that, where sharing is key. I tried to explain that community concept to a journalist who wrote about my garden for the Spec. Days later, she emailed to say that a reader had contacted her to invite me to go and see his pawpaw trees! Share what you can!!
Reposted by Matt Oliver
Yes! Highly visible yet low barrier to entry is key. Remember the hockey sticks on the front porches after the Humboldt tragedy? Excellent example of how people will join in. Add in actual resistance and desire to DO SOMETHING to show solidarity and fight back.... and people will do what they can.
February 8, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Yes! Highly visible yet low barrier to entry is key. Remember the hockey sticks on the front porches after the Humboldt tragedy? Excellent example of how people will join in. Add in actual resistance and desire to DO SOMETHING to show solidarity and fight back.... and people will do what they can.
Reposted by Matt Oliver
Same. Social media works bc of networks. Bringing anything less than the entire network leaves knowledge & friendship gaps.
What might encourage the entire network to move to BS?
Daily reminders/ invitations, tips, guides, DMs, positive stories, ...?
It takes a bit of work to fine tune BS.
What might encourage the entire network to move to BS?
Daily reminders/ invitations, tips, guides, DMs, positive stories, ...?
It takes a bit of work to fine tune BS.
February 8, 2026 at 1:20 AM
Same. Social media works bc of networks. Bringing anything less than the entire network leaves knowledge & friendship gaps.
What might encourage the entire network to move to BS?
Daily reminders/ invitations, tips, guides, DMs, positive stories, ...?
It takes a bit of work to fine tune BS.
What might encourage the entire network to move to BS?
Daily reminders/ invitations, tips, guides, DMs, positive stories, ...?
It takes a bit of work to fine tune BS.
Excellent reflection.
Resistance succeeds when everyone gives what they can, not when people work to fulfill an artificial idea of resistance someone else is trying to impose.
Resistance succeeds when everyone gives what they can, not when people work to fulfill an artificial idea of resistance someone else is trying to impose.
Is craftivism performative? Yes. That's the point. Resistance includes a public demonstration of opposition at accessible events with a low barrier to entry.
The red resistance hat pattern has raised $300k for the people of Minnesota. That's not effective?
The red resistance hat pattern has raised $300k for the people of Minnesota. That's not effective?
Angela, the pussy hats weren't very effective. Knitting is cool, especially if you put resistance messages in it, but it's not resistance. It's performative. It's only actually effective if you're a spy and putting messages in or something. Otherwise it's a hobby, and the pussy hats were just silly.
February 8, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Excellent reflection.
Resistance succeeds when everyone gives what they can, not when people work to fulfill an artificial idea of resistance someone else is trying to impose.
Resistance succeeds when everyone gives what they can, not when people work to fulfill an artificial idea of resistance someone else is trying to impose.
Reposted by Matt Oliver
Is craftivism performative? Yes. That's the point. Resistance includes a public demonstration of opposition at accessible events with a low barrier to entry.
The red resistance hat pattern has raised $300k for the people of Minnesota. That's not effective?
The red resistance hat pattern has raised $300k for the people of Minnesota. That's not effective?
Angela, the pussy hats weren't very effective. Knitting is cool, especially if you put resistance messages in it, but it's not resistance. It's performative. It's only actually effective if you're a spy and putting messages in or something. Otherwise it's a hobby, and the pussy hats were just silly.
February 8, 2026 at 1:13 AM
Is craftivism performative? Yes. That's the point. Resistance includes a public demonstration of opposition at accessible events with a low barrier to entry.
The red resistance hat pattern has raised $300k for the people of Minnesota. That's not effective?
The red resistance hat pattern has raised $300k for the people of Minnesota. That's not effective?
Reposted by Matt Oliver
Reposted by Matt Oliver
@voiceoffranky.bsky.social have you been hacked over on Twitter? The last two posts on your feed are both about crypto and link to a crypto site, replies have been disabled
February 8, 2026 at 12:59 AM
@voiceoffranky.bsky.social have you been hacked over on Twitter? The last two posts on your feed are both about crypto and link to a crypto site, replies have been disabled
Reposted by Matt Oliver
@sameo416.bsky.social
Hi Matt - I can see some great covid convos between you and experts over on Twitter.
Can we work together to get the entire covid conscious community over to Bluesky? What would it take?
We need to bring the entire community, en masse, so we preserve the entire network.
Hi Matt - I can see some great covid convos between you and experts over on Twitter.
Can we work together to get the entire covid conscious community over to Bluesky? What would it take?
We need to bring the entire community, en masse, so we preserve the entire network.
February 8, 2026 at 12:45 AM
@sameo416.bsky.social
Hi Matt - I can see some great covid convos between you and experts over on Twitter.
Can we work together to get the entire covid conscious community over to Bluesky? What would it take?
We need to bring the entire community, en masse, so we preserve the entire network.
Hi Matt - I can see some great covid convos between you and experts over on Twitter.
Can we work together to get the entire covid conscious community over to Bluesky? What would it take?
We need to bring the entire community, en masse, so we preserve the entire network.
Wait…tramp is compromised by foreign intelligence agencies?
That’s a shocker.
That’s a shocker.
SCOOP: The NSA detected a phone call between foreign intelligence and a person close to Trump last spring.
Whistleblower says that Tulsi Gabbard blocked agency from sharing report and delivered it to White House chief of staff.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Whistleblower says that Tulsi Gabbard blocked agency from sharing report and delivered it to White House chief of staff.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
NSA detected phone call between foreign intelligence and a person close to Trump
Whistleblower says that Tulsi Gabbard blocked agency from sharing report and delivered it to White House chief of staff
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Wait…tramp is compromised by foreign intelligence agencies?
That’s a shocker.
That’s a shocker.
We haven’t learned the lesson yet.
Police, military, government officials given coercive authority over others must be overseen by independent bodies with investigative and court like authorities. Combined with zero tolerance for corruption or ethical violations.
Instead we have captured oversight
Police, military, government officials given coercive authority over others must be overseen by independent bodies with investigative and court like authorities. Combined with zero tolerance for corruption or ethical violations.
Instead we have captured oversight
More examples in this story, and we had to cut a Calgary case where a businessman paid officers in order to harass his ex-wife: www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
Toronto police corruption scandal: The 7 biggest historical cases before Project South
Project South is unusual, and perhaps even unprecedented, for the allegations that Toronto police officers were involved with violent organized crime.
www.thestar.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:00 PM
We haven’t learned the lesson yet.
Police, military, government officials given coercive authority over others must be overseen by independent bodies with investigative and court like authorities. Combined with zero tolerance for corruption or ethical violations.
Instead we have captured oversight
Police, military, government officials given coercive authority over others must be overseen by independent bodies with investigative and court like authorities. Combined with zero tolerance for corruption or ethical violations.
Instead we have captured oversight
Reposted by Matt Oliver
More examples in this story, and we had to cut a Calgary case where a businessman paid officers in order to harass his ex-wife: www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
Toronto police corruption scandal: The 7 biggest historical cases before Project South
Project South is unusual, and perhaps even unprecedented, for the allegations that Toronto police officers were involved with violent organized crime.
www.thestar.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:20 PM
More examples in this story, and we had to cut a Calgary case where a businessman paid officers in order to harass his ex-wife: www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
Reposted by Matt Oliver
the modern equivalent of the ford pinto. they should be pulled off the road.
Tesla driver’s devastating 911 call while stuck in fiery car revealed: ‘Help please … I am going to die’
A 20-year-old Tesla driver pleaded with a 911 operator to save his life as he was trapped in a burning car, according to a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla filed by his mother on Wednesday.
A 20-year-old Tesla driver pleaded with a 911 operator to save his life as he was trapped in a burning car, according to a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla filed by his mother on Wednesday.
Tesla driver’s devastating 911 call while stuck in fiery car revealed: ‘Help please … I am going to die’
A 20-year-old Tesla driver pleaded with a 911 operator to save his life as he was trapped in a burning vehicle, according to a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla filed by his mother on Wednesday.
nypost.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:00 PM
the modern equivalent of the ford pinto. they should be pulled off the road.
Reposted by Matt Oliver
The future is becoming more evenly distributed.
February 7, 2026 at 4:00 PM
The future is becoming more evenly distributed.