Trump has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court and dropped sanctions on Putin's diesel exports.

What kind of man does that, and what kind of country has a ruler like that?

Angry French students take to the streets. British students don’t – and I think I know why | Kitty Sayers | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/10/angry-french-students-protests-british-dont-why

> I grew up in France, where all children are taught about the revolutionary roots of their nation and the responsibility of the state towards its citizens.

Applies especially to the USA, right now. In spite of its revolutionary origins.

#AuxArmesCitoyens !

Logging took the trees that bears called home. The Haida Nation is building them new dens | Canada's National Observer: Climate News

https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/10/06/news/logging-coastal-black-bears-haida-bc?nih=ycA6pw-qOYqS7AlX65wFK_4-Jod2GKX9QFrkk0wV3K8

> With centuries-old trees disappearing due to logging, the Haida Nation is crafting artificial dens from stumps to shelter coastal black bears for the upcoming winter, while hoping the effort doesn’t become an excuse for clear-cutting to continue unchecked.

Empathy Is An Essential Skill

Question: What’s the most underrated life skill? Answer: Empathy is essential for decent human society and a learned skill #empathy

http://ericlawton.org/2026/10/07/empathy-is-an-essential-skill/

Ottawa gives defence buying agency more muscle — and more independence | CBC News

And far less accountability.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/defence-equipment-purchases-military-crown-corporation-9.7371612?cmp=rss

#CDNPoli

RE: https://rssfeed.media/@guardianfeeds/117388778656821662

US capitalism: a system in which "free speech" is enshrined in its constitution but applies to money spent on political donations but not to words printed in books.

#failedDemocracy #SocialSystems

Schoolboy, 15, loses hand after picking up police stun grenade during French school protests | France | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/05/schoolboy-loses-hand-police-stun-grenade-french-school-protests

> PM orders ministers to tackle students’ five major demands, including organising replacement teachers and school repairs

There was no violence until the police provoked it.

Without the protests, the PM would have done nothing.

It's not just that #ACAB, it's also that they are used to protect governments against the people.

It rained, after a couple of dry weeks.

Our "lawn" is suddenly full of mushrooms.

#fungi

Overnight, Meta deleted all her accounts. AI customer service won’t let her reach a human | CBC News

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/meta-accounts-deleted-ai-customer-service-9.7364543?cmp=rss

> Toronto resident Jasmine Ault says Meta disabled her accounts overnight, without giving her a reason, and that she's been unable to get past their AI chatbots to speak to a human to resolve the error. Experts say without regulation enforcing the right to speak to a human, this will keep happening.

Yes we need this for corporations in general, but for corporate social media, we need to abandon them altogether.

Starting with all government accounts.

‘Page one of repressive playbook’: critics warn of Trump’s conspiratorial attacks | Donald Trump | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/01/trump-conspiratorial-attacks-repressive-playbook

> President’s outlandish and extensive conspiracy theories endanger US freedoms, health and science, experts say

Trump’s extensive use of conspiracy theories is the hallmark of an authoritarian leader that has weakened trust in the coming midterm elections, dangerously ignored scientific evidence, and often pushed for prosecutions of his political enemies in ways that seriously erode civil liberties,

RE: https://flipboard.com/@bbcnews/top-stories-hc55lmo2z/-/a-ZFSFRU-9R4uJDXm0a1-R-g%3Aa%3A3199692-%2F0

Why does the BBC couch this as a blind man threatening the British Museum, rather than the museum forcing a blind man into risk and expense to gain access to a public good?

#WordsMatter

Key Parts of Canada’s Drug Laws Found Unconstitutional as Judge throws out Charges Against Founders of Vancouver ‘Compassion Club’

https://pressprogress.ca/key-parts-of-canadas-drug-laws-found-unconstitutional-as-judge-throws-out-charges-against-founders-of-vancouver-compassion-club/

> Drug User Liberation Front (DULF) co-founders won’t go to jail as BC Supreme Court judge rules CSDA violates members’ “right to life and security”

On the basis that the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) violates DULF members’ right to life and security of the person and right to equality on the ground of disability

A victory for people with all forms of disability.

Cities keep shelling out taxpayer money for sports stadiums, yet the economics almost never makes sense

https://theconversation.com/cities-keep-shelling-out-taxpayer-money-for-sports-stadiums-yet-the-economics-almost-never-makes-sense-292058

> Communities almost never see a boost in job or income growth after taxpayers subsidize a new sports facility.

From ancient Rome, bread and circuses.

Grave of boy who vanished at residential school found decades later, First Nation looks for others like him | CBC News

https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/sturgeon-lake-cree-nation-residential-school-search-9.7359102?cmp=rss

> The family of 11-year-old Johnny Kiyawasew, who never came home from St. Francis Xavier residential school, spent decades searching for answers. Now, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and the University of Alberta say they're doing extensive research to uncover the stories of other children like Johnny who went to residential school but never made it home.

#TruthAndReconciliation

Ram’s new 777-horsepower super truck can launch its three-tonne frame to 96 km/h in just 3.5 seconds

https://www.thestar.com/life/autos/ram-s-777-horsepower-super-truck-is-the-modern-american-sports-car/article_981d7a60-0e46-41d0-9eab-3b0e617495fe.html

Obscene.

#carPorn for #carBrain

Bad language: profane Trump brings presidential swearing out into open | Donald Trump | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/27/trump-swearing-president-bad-language

It's about escalating violent emotions, mostly anger and hate, instead of reason and love.

Trump says he and Xi have forged a ‘truly great friendship’ as he welcomes Chinese leader to White House for talks – live

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/sep/24/trump-xi-jinping-china-ai-trade-summit-latest-news-updates

Basing policy on personal friendship between heads of states isn't a good thing, it's a reinforcement of the personal power of oligarchs.

Snack names influence how filling we imagine they will be — new research

https://theconversation.com/snack-names-influence-how-filling-we-imagine-they-will-be-new-research-291133

> Most people are likely unaware of how the sounds of brand names affect them.

When are we going to get over the idea that we are rational beings, making fully informed choices. It's not possible for limited beings.

We are subject to many kinds of exploits of our evolved brains. We even fund university research on how to do it, mostly to help advertisers to trick us into buying products.

#marketing

There are as many apples on the ground as on the tree, I should have picked them sooner.

The next tree is a crab apple. I don't have time to make jelly from them and my friends who used to pick them are not well enough to do it either.