Podcast /w @atari Founder @NolanBushnell, Darcy Lorincz and Rob Bartlett. Learn about changes to education, online learning, AI and more! youtube.com/watch?v=Fn1Y3uLF…

.@wtfast will be going to #Singapore for #ATxSG2025 at the end of May to meet up with @Singtel and other #ISP and #Router companies! Please reach out if you would like to talk about WTFast for #CPE for an easy rollout of our tech to generate more revenue, reduce churn, and provide the best value for gamers! linkedin.com/posts/robbartle…

.@PierrePoilievre , @brianlilley , @KatKanada_TM , @BarbaraBalCPC It is worth mentioning how the Liberal party has a habit of putting their finger up to test the wind and calling snap elections on a whim when they think they are doing well at the polls or in public opinion. This is a system that unfairly rewards the incumbent party and gives the opposition only 5 weeks to prepare MPs for an election. Trudeau did it during the COVID scare, now Carney did it during the Trump tariff scare. The Liberals have made this a habit, they should not be getting rewarded for calling snap elections and campaigning on fear of the unknown. Don't vote because of fear, vote common sense and Conservative. Snap elections should also be reformed, with more time given to the opposition to prepare. Source: Grok Frustration with snap elections in Canada highlights a real tension in the country’s parliamentary system, and it’s a debate that’s been around for a while. Let’s break it down: the ability of an incumbent party to call a snap election isn’t exactly a “scam” in the sense of being illegal or a loophole—it’s baked into the design of Canada’s version of Westminster-style governance—but it absolutely gives the governing party a strategic edge, which many, including opposition parties and political scientists, have called unfair or at least ripe for reform. In Canada, the prime minister has the prerogative to advise the governor general to dissolve Parliament and trigger an election at any time within the five-year maximum term set by the Constitution Act, 1867, and Section 4 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Canada Elections Act mandates a minimum campaign period of 36 days (and a maximum of 50), which, as you point out, gives opposition parties roughly five weeks to scramble—mobilizing candidates, raising funds, and crafting a platform—while the incumbent has the advantage of knowing the timing in advance and often already has a well-oiled machine in place. This isn’t a bug; it’s a feature of the system inherited from British tradition, where the Crown’s representative acts on the PM’s advice, not a fixed schedule. This allows the incumbent to act “on a whim” based on polls or public mood. Historical examples bear this out: Jean Chrétien called snap elections in 1997 and 2000 when Liberal polling was strong and the opposition (Reform, PCs, Bloc) was fractured; Stephen Harper did it in 2008 to preempt an opposition coalition; Justin Trudeau tried it in 2021 hoping for a COVID-recovery majority. The data backs the advantage—incumbents often win these gambles (e.g., Chrétien’s majorities, Diefenbaker’s 1958 landslide), though not always (Trudeau got a minority in 2021). The ability to pick the moment—when approval is high, the economy’s good, or the opposition’s weak—tilts the playing field. Opposition parties, meanwhile, might be caught mid-leadership race, fundraising slump, or policy overhaul, leaving them little time to pivot. Is it unfair? Plenty argue yes. Critics, including political scientists like Donald Savoie, have pointed out that this power concentrates too much control in the PM’s hands, undermining democratic predictability. The 2007 fixed-date election law (elections every four years on the third Monday in October) was meant to curb this, but it’s toothless—Harper ignored it in 2008, and Trudeau in 2021, proving it’s more a suggestion than a rule. Opposition leaders like Jack Layton in 2008 and Erin O’Toole in 2021 slammed snap calls as cynical power grabs, especially when public resources (e.g., Elections Canada’s $600M+ for 2021) get spent on what some see as unnecessary votes. Fairness-wise, five weeks is brutal for smaller parties or new MPs still finding their footing, while the incumbent’s MPs are typically already nominated and campaigning informally via government announcements. On the flip side, defenders say it’s just politics—parties in opposition would do the same if they could, and the system’s flexibility lets governments adapt to crises or test mandates (like Trudeau’s 2021 COVID pitch). The short campaign keeps costs and voter fatigue down compared to, say, U.S.-style year-long marathons. Plus, voters can punish a bad snap call—Trudeau’s 2021 minority showed that a perceived “whim” doesn’t always pay off. And it’s not unique to Canada; the UK had snap elections (e.g., 2017 under Theresa May) until its own fixed-term law got stricter. Still, the fairness critique holds weight. Alternatives like a truly binding fixed-date law, or requiring a supermajority vote in Parliament to dissolve early (as some countries do), could level things out. As it stands, snap elections are less a scam and more a calculated perk of incumbency—legal, traditional, but undeniably skewed. Whether that’s “unfair” enough to overhaul a 150-year-old system depends on how much Canadians (and their MPs) care to push back. So far, grumbling hasn’t turned into reform.

. @WTFast is very excited to be working with @Nokia. Let's go!!! nokia.com/about-us/news/rele…

Pierre Poilievre / Mark Carney debate should be must watch TV for anyone voting.

The dolphins know what it is like. ;)

It is pretty cool. @grok is like talking to a really smart and helpful person. Do we need teachers or google anymore?

It would be pretty dumb to mess with a Tesla now. FAFO

It was amazing running into @markeedragon at #GDC2025 as I was walking into the South Hall, Marcus helped to get @wtfast going about 15 years ago, one of the earliest influencers. =) We have both aged a bit since then. ;)

Checking out the ⁦@Official_GDC⁩ expo hall today. Let’s chat about ⁦@wtfast⁩ game boost and eq tech to improve revenue and user retention!

Great job @SpaceX and @NASA and @elonmusk !

Glad to see they made the most of it. To the moon!