1. By now I'm guessing that most of my Twitter followers are aware of the most recent threats against Trudeau and the subsequent of a suspect. I think there is an even more important story though related to the poisonous influence of social media

toronto.ctvnews.ca/rcmp-arrest-ma… 2. Dawid Zalewski was arrested for making death threats against the Prime Minister. The following video was posted to his second Facebook profile. Be warned that it may be triggering as it promotes graphic violence against the PM and others.

1. I’ve been enjoying my summer break and have not been paying a lick of attention to the Olympics. Until today however since Twitter has collectively lost the plot. 2. Earlier boxer Imane Khelif defeated her Italian opponent in the first round when Angela Carini quit after 45 seconds stating that she had never been hit so hard.

To be fair, I don’t enjoy being punched in the face either so I can at least sympathize with Carini.

1. Given what is happening in Jasper, these all seem to be especially relevant.

pressprogress.ca/albertas-ucp-g… 2. cbc.ca/news/canada/ed…

1. Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson) was arrested in Calgary on an immigration warrant apparently. He may have since been released, though he has to turn in his passport and remain in southern Alberta.

I'd prefer that he be kicked out immediately. 2. Despite claiming to have been a "political prisoner" many of Yaxley-Lennon's criminal convictions his Islamophobic "activism" and a number of convictions since have had nothing to do with his political views.

1/ It's been a while since I've done a thread here, but the recent focus on Pat King got me to wondering what was up with his own Salacious Crumb, Tyson "Freedom George" Billings.

cbc.ca/news/canada/ot…
2/ Last time I looked at Billings he was a part of the efforts to set up a permenant camp outside Ottawa so there could be daily protests, though the original plan involved surrounding the police and arresting politicians.

Suffice to say it didn't go anywhere.

1/ Though I'm not especially active these days, I'm still sometimes gobsmacked by some of the ridiculous (though sadly effective) rage farming by some on the right. Harrison Faulkner of "True North" is just a recent example of that. 2/ So a bit of background. Musical artist Karan Aujla won the 2024 TikTok Juno Fan Choice Award at the award ceremony this past weekend.

I think it was this weekend. Truth be told I don't pay a lot of attention to awards shows.

https://twitter.com/VancouverSun/status/1772444704497438953

1/ A couple of days ago self-proclaimed leaders of the "freedom movement" held a press conference in Ottawa which was about as unhinged as you might have expected.

https://x.com/_llebrun/status/1758648280303403198?s=20

2/ Apparently the person who set this up was Derek Noonan who was also one of the speakers.

That would be this guy and I shall get back to him shortly.

1. Misinformation has always been a feature on Twitter but prior to Musk's ownership there appeared to be a minimal effort (very minimal) to counter it. Those days are clearly over.

Case in point, Theo Fleury shared this with his 285.8K followers today: 2. Before I go any further, no. This is not in fact true at all and a fact check would indicate that it isn't true.

Pictured here with Chrystia Freeland is her mother and sister.

1. Tyson "Freedom George" Billings did a few live streams today that I think are rather telling.

Also, I realize that some of the clips may not appear, so at the end I'll be sure to link to a way that y'all can see the thread in it's entirety. 2. First, Billings is upset by the grifters using his name and creating fake profiles to sell "merch".

I will remind you that Billings buddy Pat King tried to set up what folks in the know suggest was a crypto scam.

1. When Mathieu Venne was booted from the camp outside of Ottawa for giving an interview with the media, he did a live stream to air grievances.

While it was a painful hour to listen to, there was a small part that I found especially interesting.

https://twitter.com/ARCCollective/status/1714483610831729116

2. I am NOT going to post a clip covering every part of the video, but I do think there are a couple that are important.

First, Venne claims that he wasn't able to be himself and had to be careful how he spoke.

1. I figure a quick thread on the antics of the FREEEEEDOOMMMMM Ottawa Occupation 2.0 is in order as today they decided to protest in front of... checking my notes...

A Shoppers Drug Mart? 2. It seems they have moved on to relitigating the Covid vaccine and are claiming it is killing people and crimes against humanity and wash rinse repeat.

To illustrate this point they brought with them pictures of people they claim were injured or killed by the vaccine.

1. I decided to take a peak at Ottawa Occupation 2.0 (such that it is) and watch a stream posted by Gordon Berry.

It was, in fact, one of the more enlightening videos I've watched in a bit. Here is a preview. 2. Today it was the CBC's turn to deal with the chants of "fake news" and claims that the media was complicit in murders as a result of the vaccine that the conspiracy proponents believe have killed 10s of thousands in this country alone.

Spoiler. Not actually a true.

1. I'm going to do this as a blog post as well, but I think it's time to look at the "Save the Children East Meets West" convoy again.





2. First a quick update. It appears that there what have been described as convoys from Quebec today that began today. Norman Blanchfield, who began his drive in Alberta, is currently broken down on the roadside 17 hours away.

1. As I was at work I didn't have time to keep up on the events of the day as much as I would have liked. During my lunch and prep, as well my prep, I was able to check in on the news to see what was happening.

Some of my observations: 2. First, the rage farming and fear it causes has borne fruit. We had been discussing what the new outrage was going to be since covid and vaccinations fell off the radar. Clearly the thing is targeting the LGBTQ+ community.

1. So there is another convoy in the works for the end of August (though the organizers are very secretive about any firm dates).

Not because of Covid, but because the believe in a vast cabal of the elite abusing children, harvesting adrenochrome, and hunting them for sport.



2. None of this is especially new as these claims have been the stock-in-trade for QAnon adherents. However right now it is also being combined with attacks on the LGBTQ+ community and drag performers. And we are reaching potentially explosive and dangerous levels of paranoia.

1. I'm not a Liberal and am generally ambivalent regarding the PM, but I remember the day after the election the people I watch started to demand Trudeau step down and that they would never accept him as the PM.

https://twitter.com/gtlem/status/1682785162726109184

2. They would be enraged by even small issues such as, on Canada's 150th birthday, when he briefly forgot Alberta in a speech about the provinces.

And I mean briefly. Probably no more than 5 seconds.

The far right were apoplectic.

1. By this point it has become pretty common knowledge who the dude in the "Hold Fast" hat is berating the Prime Minister.

https://twitter.com/MickeyDjuric/status/1682198408163995649?s=20

2. The man goes by the name ED KC and not surprisingly is among the long term regulars at events such as these stretching back to the beginning of the pandemic.

1. A council meeting in Leduc went south yesterday when a group of anti-LGBTQ+ conspiracy promoters, led by Phil "Reddog" McDavid turned it into a bigoted farce.

If the name "McDavid" is familiar, it is because it is this guy.

https://twitter.com/ARCCollective/status/1563700943946158081?s=20

2. But we will get back to this in a moment.

Phil McDavid, a QAnon flat earther who believes vaccines are killing people, the fires in Canada are a government conspiracy, and a host of other beliefs, was involved in the Coutts blockade.

He is also a "Chris Sky" supporter.

1. We are only a few short days away from the Alberta Election. As such, here is one last reminder of who Take Back Alberta, a group that Danielle Smith may be beholden to is she and the UCP win:

"... we are no longer asking for the policies we want, we are telling them". 2. In reference to Danielle Smith's ridiculous claim that the unvaccinated the most discriminated against segment of society, David Parker, founder of Take Back Alberta, is totally on board.

1. In this thread I happily take up Artur Pawlowski's challenge (starting on tweet 4).

So Pawlowski's "press conference" today...

I'm going to call bullshit on most of what he said which was, in large part, just an excuse to be a misogynistic asshat towards Smith and Notley. 2. Smith has a LOT of real baggage that should disqualify her for any office (including her communication with Pawlowski in the first place), but the Pawlowski rally masked as a "press conference" strained credulity past the limits of believability.

1. Currently at the forum in Drumheller. The Solidarity candidate spent the first half of the event praising Artur Pawlowski.

Also, 15 minute cities conspiracy because of course. 2. She really doesn’t like 15 minutes cities.

Also, she is pulling out Pawlowski “lion” rhetoric.

Lying about the NDP and claiming the party was going to drag people out of their homes.

“I rest my case”

This isn’t a four madame.