Today's News: Odds and ends

Just a batch of somewhat-random tweets tonight, sorted into some topic areas. 

  Ontario Election:

I didn't watch the debate but I saw a few funny tweets coming out of it:

Michael De Adder: Debate notes https://t.co/6b4fWU0u0g via @torontostar

— Deb Lindenas 😷 💉💉💉 (@deblindenas) May 17, 2022

“This is the job you signed up for.” Del Duca to Ford #onpoli

— Amelia Libertucci 💉💉💉 (she/her) (@amelialibertuc1) May 16, 2022

The only thing more unbelievable than Doug Ford claiming to work 24/7 is his wife wanting to spend more time with him.

— Dean from Winnipeg (@Dean_Winnipeg) May 17, 2022

I am hopeful that Del Duca is going to keep on rising in the polls, hopefully this debate will help. 

Ukraine: What a photo:

This picture from #Azovstal! #SaveAzovstal #SaveMariupol pic.twitter.com/C7ADl6STyx

— Anonymous Operations (@AnonOpsSE) May 16, 2022

The Battle of Mariupole is over:

“The Mariupol garrison has fulfilled its combat mission,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in the statement early Tuesday. “The Supreme Military Command ordered the commanders of the units stationed at Azovstal to save the lives of their personnel.” (2/4)

— Vivian Salama (@vmsalama) May 17, 2022

Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Mallar says evacuations from the steel factory have begun...264 service members, 53 of them “seriously injured,” have been taken by bus to the town of Novoazovsk, in Russian-controlled Ukraine, she said. (4/4)

— Vivian Salama (@vmsalama) May 17, 2022

My story off this news -- https://t.co/NQAjyYsOX2

— Vivian Salama (@vmsalama) May 17, 2022

The Azovstal defenders pinned Russian forces in Mariupol until Ukraine won in Kharkiv. Encirclement of Kyiv’s troops in Donbas is now highly unlikely. Their contribution to the county’s freedom is immense. Their sacrifice should be celebrated as heroic. It will become historic.

— Maxim Tucker (@MaxRTucker) May 16, 2022

And here's a Canadian moment:

“Thanks to 🇨🇦 for its help to 🇺🇦. I say this from my ❤️,” said Col. Roman Gryschenko, commander of the 127th Territorial Defence Brigade, in an interview. “We can confirm that we effectively use the equipment that you send. It’s not being wasted.”

💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽 https://t.co/iWDcZgGojS

— Larisa Galadza - Лариса Ґаладза (@LGaladza) May 16, 2022

In this tweet, military specialist Mark Hertling has referenced a lengthy Mick Ryan tweet thread yesterday about the Severskyi Donets river crossing failure - worth checking out. 

But I particularly wanted to share Hertling's conclusions:

It appears the RU Army thought they could just go in and destroy & kill.

They've been criminally good at that.

But they are also destroying themselves - and their nation - in the process, as evidenced by the action at Severskyi Donets. 18/18 pic.twitter.com/GAi9hL3iBw

— Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) May 16, 2022

Some fascinating threads about the implications of Finland joining NATO - what Russia is really afraid of:

Baltic Thread About NATO 1/

So as Finland & Sweden join NATO, some are looking aft the land border but few are talking about the sea lane. A FAR worse problem for Russia. The Baltic Sea stops being a free passage to the Atlantic, and becomes a NATO lake without free passage pic.twitter.com/i8X9hKlG7Q

— Tomi T Ahonen Stands With Ukraine (@tomiahonen) May 15, 2022

Coca Kola Thread 1/

So where is the biggest pain to Putin, when Finland joins NATO? Let's study the map a little bit. Let's do some Coca Cola. Or.. Kola. As in Kola peninsula

This place: pic.twitter.com/I7zckCm9oj

— Tomi T Ahonen Stands With Ukraine (@tomiahonen) May 15, 2022

Buffalo massacre:

It took CNN anchors over three minutes to list all the US cities where 201 mass shootings have killed or wounded four or more people this year … and it’s only May.

Text READY to 644-33. pic.twitter.com/08Y0rJG6Pn

— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) May 16, 2022

Rest well this night, my relations. White supremacy is dying in front of us and we save our pity for its victims. It deserves nothing, not even for us to observe it as it kicks and screams into it's own darkness. Sending everyone love and so much care this night. Ekosi 🪶❤️

— Debbie ᑳᑫᓯᒧᑐᑕᐁ (@ironbow) May 17, 2022

This. We all need to wake up and smell the fascism. https://t.co/fznYig2Lv3

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) May 16, 2022

I'm seeing a lot of calls for the House GOP to renounce replacement theory, racism, and white supremacy, which is ridiculous. Besides those being foundational principles for them, everything they say is performative or a lie, so it will make no difference.

— Phil Plait (@BadAstronomer) May 16, 2022

Your periodic reminder that two of the most devastating right wing ‘insults’ — Virtue Signaller and Social Justice Warrior — when you break them down, actually seem like elements of simply being a good person?

— Tamara Hinz (@hinz_tamara) May 17, 2022

Brexit: 

If you've got 7 minutes, here's why Britain is now in such difficulty now with Northern Ireland and the EU. The worst decision Britain ever made was Brexit:

7 mins on the Northern Ireland Protocol to start the day? It's the Brexit issue that is still refusing to resolve. And the UK government says it's now a matter of 'peace and security'. pic.twitter.com/fB0pfk4T2W

— Ros Atkins (@BBCRosAtkins) May 13, 2022

Funny:

MARY SHELLEY: inspired by Lord Byron, I’ve written a story

BYRON: I’m flattered!

MARY: it’s about the world’s dumbest monster

BYRON:

MARY: hideous, illiterate monster

— Owl! at the Library 😴🧙‍♀️ (@SketchesbyBoze) May 16, 2022