Alex Schmidt

I figure the odds be fifty-fifty. I just might have something to say. - Frank Zappa. Views are my own. @ecojustice_ca @BruceTrail_BTC @ortahikes @envirodefence

[Alex Schmidt @ZAlexSc]

Great thread. Frank Zappa - calm, in control, brilliant, so incredibly prescient.

[Chris Tackett (aka See It Name It Fight It) @cjtackett]

This is Frank Zappa on Crossfire in 1986. What he said then was true. It’s still true.

Look at what we face today. It’s coming from the same source, attempting to do the same thing with our books, schools, and people they don’t like. And their vehicle is the government.

[Dr Rahmeh Aladwan @doctor_rahmeh]

This is important information for everyone in the UK.

Thank you @UnityNewsNet for sounding the alarm on these 'data centres'.

They are set to devour up to 1.37 billion litres of water EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Buyers: BlackRock, Digital Realty, Equinix

Users: Google, Meta, Oracle, OpenAI

The UK government designated 'data centres' as Critical National Infrastructure, which allows projects to bypass local planning disputes.

People are already angry.

Noise Pollution:
Massive industrial cooling fans are running 24/7. Residents near existing centres compare the constant low-frequency hum to a jet engine parked outside their windows.

Green Belt Destruction:
Despite a national housing shortage, huge swaths of protected green spaces are being rezoned for data warehouses.

They are out-bidding residential housing for grid power and planning to burn on-site gas when the grid fails.

The more apt name for them is 'surveillance centres'.

[Hassan Mafi ‏ @thatdayin1992]

Insane how 20 missiles from Iran is getting more attention in Western media than Zionists bombing Lebanon 3,500 times.

[Kate from Kharkiv @BohuslavskaKate]

VON DER LEYEN: We propose, for the first time, to ban from entry into the European Union anyone who has served in Russian armed forces since the beginning of the war.

Europe stays off-limits for anyone who has participated in the invasion of Ukraine. As simple as that.

[Palestina En Español 🎒 @PalestinaVence]

🇵🇸 BBC confirma lo que muchos ya sabíamos.

La investigación del BBC revela que más de 160 niños palestinos en Gaza fueron disparados deliberadamente en la cabeza por francotiradores israelíes.

Los reportes son claros:
“Los israelíes están cazando niños por entretenimiento.”

Niños ejecutados de un tiro en la cabeza mientras jugaban, caminaban o simplemente estaban en sus casas.

Fue una política sistemática de cazar y matar menores.Esto ya no es solo un genocidio…

Es sadismo puro contra los más inocentes.Que el mundo deje de fingir que no lo sabe.

[DanielKomesch @DKomesch]

Canada notably absent from this statement demanding humanitarian access to Gaza
#cdnpoli

[Wendy Goodes @WendyGoodes]

No one elected you to be the mayor of Toronto.
No one elected you to be the prime minister of Canada.
As you are so fond of telling others, “Stay in your own lane.”
I can only imagine how much you will screw up trade talks this time. 🤦🏼‍♀️

[Richard Burgon MP @RichardBurgon]

The ‘Great Israeli Real Estate Event’ is to be held in London this Sunday.

This disgraceful event will involve the sale of land stolen from Palestinians in illegal Israeli settlements.

Today, I called for the Government to ban this event.

[The Footy Feed @TheFootyFeed]

Ian Wright is an absolute hero for saying how we all feel about this World Cup…

“I've just read that the Somalian referee has been denied entry. Every few hours it's another story, another story about fans denied, players denied, officials denied, journalists denied, now refs," Wright said.

"You know something I'm laughing but it's not funny, it's actually not funny and something has to be said.

"The expensive tickets, the most expensive tickets ever, expensive accommodation, transport through the roof. It has to be said.

"Is this how the hosts behave really for the greatest game, the greatest tournament in the world, is this how the hosts behave?

"Are we not hearing more? Are we seeing how Qatar got dragged, are we not hearing more? Is this the spirit of football, really?

"You know who I feel for? I feel for the American fans who are desperate for this, American soccer fans who are desperate for this, how embarrassed they must be. How embarrassing for them this must be.

"This is the World Cup, this is a World Cup of chaos. Whoever wins this World Cup is going to have to go through some serious chaos to get this done.

"I hope we can do it, but something has to be said now. This is the World Cup."

[Ihab Hassan @IhabHassane]

HORRIFIC: Israeli settler terrorists are attacking the Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank right now— burning fields and opening fire on civilians.

[Lyn Adamson @LynAdamson1]

No,we are not going to bail Jp Morgan out and let our waterfront be ruined. We will fight for a healthy future on our waterfront. . @MarkJCarney @lesliechurch are you listening? @NoJetsTO

[Diana Chan McNally @DianaCMcNally]

Over 500 residents of Parkdale—High Park have signed my petition, and we're knocking on more doors tonight.

We want our MP, Karim Bardeesy, to side with his constituents to stop the expansion of Billy Bishop Airport. Not consult on it — stop it.

Sign: https://t.co/RRZgHGyP17

[New Direction AFRICA @Its_ereko]

How much longer will we allow our dignity to be trampled for the sake of a tournament? 🌍🚨

The treatment of the Senegal national team by US airport staff is nothing short of a calculated and criminal humiliation. These African champions, our Lions of Teranga, are being forced through invasive and dehumanizing tarmac searches, shoe removals, and body scans as if they were common criminals. This happens while the very nation perpetrating this degradation has the audacity to lecture us on democracy and human rights.

This is not security. This is blatant and disgusting hypocrisy designed to strip away our pride. Our heroes are not here to be servants for Western entertainment, and their degradation is an insult to every single African on the continent.

Will African football fans, federations, and our leaders, those who often act more like colonial administrators than representatives of our people, finally stand up and expose this treachery? Or will we continue to remain silent while our honor is dragged through the mud? ✊🏾

RT if you demand respect for Africa and refuse to accept this humiliation!

[The Cradle @TheCradleMedia]

Israeli minister calls for kidnapping of Lebanese women and children to break Hezbollah morale
——
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir urged the political-security cabinet to abduct and imprison Lebanese women and children as a psychological warfare tactic against Hezbollah, according to a closed-door leak published by Hebrew news outlet Walla.

During a high-level ministerial meeting reviewing expanded military calculations, Ben-Gvir demanded that Tel Aviv abandon conventional strategy and explicitly target the social and familial core of the Lebanese resistance network.

"We must think outside the box regarding Hezbollah," Ben-Gvir asserted to his fellow cabinet members, according to the report. The Israeli minister added that alongside occupying southern territory and intensifying lethal strikes on personnel, Israeli forces should actively round up civilians.

"We should arrest their women and children and take them to prison; this is what hurts them the most," he stated.

[Antifa_Ultras @ultras_antifaa]

What has happened at the #2026WorldCup over the last 48 hours:

• Swiss footballer Embolo's visa was put under review and he was only able to join his team days later.

• Iraqi national team player Aymen Hussein was held for questioning for nearly 7 hours upon entering the United States.

• The Iranian national team spent days dealing with visa procedures at the U.S. Consulate in Türkiye. The U.S. only allowed them entry on match days. Fifteen members of the delegation were denied visas.

• Omar Abdulkadir Artan, named CAF's Best African Referee of 2025, was denied a visa. Despite travelling to the U.S. with a diplomatic passport, he was refused entry and sent back. FIFA announced that he will not be able to officiate at the tournament.

• The South African national team arrived in the United States much later than planned because part of the delegation was not granted visas.

• Members of the Senegal national team staff were forced to remove their shoes and subjected to lengthy searches, sparking accusations of racism.

• The Uzbekistan national team was searched with bomb-sniffing dogs and the footage went viral in international media.

• Some Scottish supporters, despite being eligible to enter the U.S. visa-free under the ESTA programme, had their travel authorisations revoked just days before departure.

• Many supporters who had already bought tickets and booked accommodation had their visa applications rejected, resulting in financial losses.

[Ihab Hassan @IhabHassane]

BREAKING: Israeli settlers are attacking the Christian village of Taybeh right now — setting fields on fire, hurling Molotov cocktails at homes, and attempting to set the village gas station ablaze.
https://t.co/QiOAbofNdn

[Avi Lewis @avilewis]

When the system is rigged for the rich while the 99% struggle to afford the basics, public ownership is how we take back the economy.

[Adam ⚾️ @GradyTripp00]

John Tory and Brad Bradford saw this math and thought spending ~$400 million taxpayer dollars in exchange for $3000+ tickets and FIFA taking home all the profits was a really good deal.

Brad Bradford cannot be mayor of Toronto.

[Harminder Dhillon @DhillonHariGTA]

JP Morgan, one of the wealthiest banks in the world, made a bad deal and overpaid Porter for the terminal. How do they recoup from a bad deal?

JP Morgan bought an entire govt for itself, hired an army of ex-Liberals, Conservatives and NDPers turbed lobbyists and seized the airport from city. Big money will do big money stuff - buy govts. Once we lose control of our critical infrastructure, it will inevitably be owned by JP Morgans of the world. Most likely Middle East petro states. And that will erode our democracy. Just as JP Morgan did in this instance.

[Mohamad Safa @mhdksafa]

Lebanon is the second most-documented genocide in history after Palestine, yet the most denied.

[Caolan @CaolanReports]

Yes, aluminium is fungible: even if alumina doesn’t become a specific missile part, it may still free up other aluminium for weapons.

But Irish politicians keep saying sanctions aren’t needed because there’s no evidence of a direct link to weapons. That’s why I’m testing it