Dave Tait
@davetait.bsky.social
Living in Ottawa, happy and content
We had a deeper snow a while back that then gradually disappeared ― but the one we woke to today seems like it's the real thing: Winter has arrived. Welcome, old friend.
November 24, 2025 at 3:16 AM
We had a deeper snow a while back that then gradually disappeared ― but the one we woke to today seems like it's the real thing: Winter has arrived. Welcome, old friend.
…but wait! The "grander" one in Paris IS the makeshift one in the Le Monde article!
This 1881 sketch makes clearer than the photo that it's a sit-down desk up on a low table.
I'd assumed it was custom-made, but it's just a classic "guy" job! If they'd had it then, he'd have used duct tape too! /3
This 1881 sketch makes clearer than the photo that it's a sit-down desk up on a low table.
I'd assumed it was custom-made, but it's just a classic "guy" job! If they'd had it then, he'd have used duct tape too! /3
![A sketch of an elderly Victor Hugo at work standing up at what is clearly a writing desk set up on a low table or shelf. It's from the book “Victor Hugo et Son Temps [Victor Hugo and His Times]” (1881) by Alfred Barbou.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hqek5tdjqvkfjnq2efwoo77j/bafkreidxs7rfvz2rn6gdnvc3msfdu4imobgscadpxurbqp225jrxj2nrja@jpeg)
November 24, 2025 at 1:40 AM
…but wait! The "grander" one in Paris IS the makeshift one in the Le Monde article!
This 1881 sketch makes clearer than the photo that it's a sit-down desk up on a low table.
I'd assumed it was custom-made, but it's just a classic "guy" job! If they'd had it then, he'd have used duct tape too! /3
This 1881 sketch makes clearer than the photo that it's a sit-down desk up on a low table.
I'd assumed it was custom-made, but it's just a classic "guy" job! If they'd had it then, he'd have used duct tape too! /3
On a whim, I dropped this "aphorism" into Google to see if it had already been thunked by someone else ― and got back this bit of AI gold that in its way helps explain why loneliness persists (although it's not wrong about squirrels).
Also, "squirrels in your attic" is my new go-to term... /3
Also, "squirrels in your attic" is my new go-to term... /3
November 23, 2025 at 5:58 PM
On a whim, I dropped this "aphorism" into Google to see if it had already been thunked by someone else ― and got back this bit of AI gold that in its way helps explain why loneliness persists (although it's not wrong about squirrels).
Also, "squirrels in your attic" is my new go-to term... /3
Also, "squirrels in your attic" is my new go-to term... /3
Q: "What is your greatest fear?"
A: "Being known. By anyone — the public. That stems from being in residential school. We were hushed. We had no voice. They tried to kill the voice in me. So my mentality at that time was, it’s best that I’m invisible. I had to find my voice."
/1
A: "Being known. By anyone — the public. That stems from being in residential school. We were hushed. We had no voice. They tried to kill the voice in me. So my mentality at that time was, it’s best that I’m invisible. I had to find my voice."
/1
November 23, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Q: "What is your greatest fear?"
A: "Being known. By anyone — the public. That stems from being in residential school. We were hushed. We had no voice. They tried to kill the voice in me. So my mentality at that time was, it’s best that I’m invisible. I had to find my voice."
/1
A: "Being known. By anyone — the public. That stems from being in residential school. We were hushed. We had no voice. They tried to kill the voice in me. So my mentality at that time was, it’s best that I’m invisible. I had to find my voice."
/1
Add invented foreign threats and wrap it in the flag, and none dare call it treason.
That's a nod to this book that I found in the early '70s on a cottage's back bookshelf. To me as an early teen, it was fascinating and persuasive…
…until it crossed lines luckily already firmly drawn in me. /3
That's a nod to this book that I found in the early '70s on a cottage's back bookshelf. To me as an early teen, it was fascinating and persuasive…
…until it crossed lines luckily already firmly drawn in me. /3
November 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Add invented foreign threats and wrap it in the flag, and none dare call it treason.
That's a nod to this book that I found in the early '70s on a cottage's back bookshelf. To me as an early teen, it was fascinating and persuasive…
…until it crossed lines luckily already firmly drawn in me. /3
That's a nod to this book that I found in the early '70s on a cottage's back bookshelf. To me as an early teen, it was fascinating and persuasive…
…until it crossed lines luckily already firmly drawn in me. /3
Here's an irony: JD's tweet on Canada's failings was based on a graph posted by this gentleman comparing GDP per person for Canada, the U.S. and the U.K.
Almost a year ago, perhaps flush with Christmas cheer, he posted an alternate measure of the wealth of nations…
How does Canada do by this list?
Almost a year ago, perhaps flush with Christmas cheer, he posted an alternate measure of the wealth of nations…
How does Canada do by this list?
November 22, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Here's an irony: JD's tweet on Canada's failings was based on a graph posted by this gentleman comparing GDP per person for Canada, the U.S. and the U.K.
Almost a year ago, perhaps flush with Christmas cheer, he posted an alternate measure of the wealth of nations…
How does Canada do by this list?
Almost a year ago, perhaps flush with Christmas cheer, he posted an alternate measure of the wealth of nations…
How does Canada do by this list?
From his White House press conference on March 24, 2020. Easter Sunday that year was April 12, less than three weeks away.
"THE PRESIDENT: I just thought it was a beautiful time. It would be a beautiful time, a beautiful timeline. It’s a great day." /2
trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-st...
"THE PRESIDENT: I just thought it was a beautiful time. It would be a beautiful time, a beautiful timeline. It’s a great day." /2
trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-st...
November 21, 2025 at 10:46 PM
From his White House press conference on March 24, 2020. Easter Sunday that year was April 12, less than three weeks away.
"THE PRESIDENT: I just thought it was a beautiful time. It would be a beautiful time, a beautiful timeline. It’s a great day." /2
trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-st...
"THE PRESIDENT: I just thought it was a beautiful time. It would be a beautiful time, a beautiful timeline. It’s a great day." /2
trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-st...
A week prior to his inauguration, Trump's DJT stock was at $42.91...and it's now at $10.75ish...
...so it's lower than it was then.
...so it's lower than it was then.
November 19, 2025 at 2:36 AM
A week prior to his inauguration, Trump's DJT stock was at $42.91...and it's now at $10.75ish...
...so it's lower than it was then.
...so it's lower than it was then.
One way to test if you can trust a novelist (or journalist) when they write about things you don't know is to look at where they've written about something you do know. Are the details right? The actions? The feelings? Do they capture what you knew to be true?
Yup. Lee has my trust.
/2
Yup. Lee has my trust.
/2
November 17, 2025 at 4:19 PM
One way to test if you can trust a novelist (or journalist) when they write about things you don't know is to look at where they've written about something you do know. Are the details right? The actions? The feelings? Do they capture what you knew to be true?
Yup. Lee has my trust.
/2
Yup. Lee has my trust.
/2
Again, no big claim about this game. SC has caved on big leads before.
But it made me wonder and look around, and it's no surprise there's lots of proof this is real.
I was surprised, though, that ambiguous incidents can throw someone off their game even more than blatant racism. That matters.
/4
But it made me wonder and look around, and it's no surprise there's lots of proof this is real.
I was surprised, though, that ambiguous incidents can throw someone off their game even more than blatant racism. That matters.
/4
November 16, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Again, no big claim about this game. SC has caved on big leads before.
But it made me wonder and look around, and it's no surprise there's lots of proof this is real.
I was surprised, though, that ambiguous incidents can throw someone off their game even more than blatant racism. That matters.
/4
But it made me wonder and look around, and it's no surprise there's lots of proof this is real.
I was surprised, though, that ambiguous incidents can throw someone off their game even more than blatant racism. That matters.
/4
Time for Mike to start practising his delivery...
November 12, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Time for Mike to start practising his delivery...
So...I just had a thought: Anyone know if Trump ever saw the movie High Plains Drifter, about a stranger who returns to a gold-mining town to rain down vengeance and humiliation on its people...?
...because the plot parallels are striking...
"What if we offered you anything you want?"
...because the plot parallels are striking...
"What if we offered you anything you want?"
November 8, 2025 at 5:56 PM
So...I just had a thought: Anyone know if Trump ever saw the movie High Plains Drifter, about a stranger who returns to a gold-mining town to rain down vengeance and humiliation on its people...?
...because the plot parallels are striking...
"What if we offered you anything you want?"
...because the plot parallels are striking...
"What if we offered you anything you want?"
We usually hear "exemplary" as meaning something is worthy of praise…but its secondary meanings may be more to the point here:
They are establishing a pattern of operations for the future, and are making an example of those who stand up to them now as a warning to others who may dare do so. /1
They are establishing a pattern of operations for the future, and are making an example of those who stand up to them now as a warning to others who may dare do so. /1
November 6, 2025 at 4:20 PM
We usually hear "exemplary" as meaning something is worthy of praise…but its secondary meanings may be more to the point here:
They are establishing a pattern of operations for the future, and are making an example of those who stand up to them now as a warning to others who may dare do so. /1
They are establishing a pattern of operations for the future, and are making an example of those who stand up to them now as a warning to others who may dare do so. /1
So had "Burry" already become the verb "to burry"?
As in, "I had my budget all worked out and then boom, it got burried"?
That was quick...
As in, "I had my budget all worked out and then boom, it got burried"?
That was quick...
November 6, 2025 at 2:28 PM
So had "Burry" already become the verb "to burry"?
As in, "I had my budget all worked out and then boom, it got burried"?
That was quick...
As in, "I had my budget all worked out and then boom, it got burried"?
That was quick...
And this from the AP story above:
/2
/2
November 4, 2025 at 11:56 PM
And this from the AP story above:
/2
/2
Grateful for this -- really interesting and useful.
In following up, I also found this little insight into publishing strategies of the 1930s:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolin...
In following up, I also found this little insight into publishing strategies of the 1930s:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolin...
November 4, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Grateful for this -- really interesting and useful.
In following up, I also found this little insight into publishing strategies of the 1930s:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolin...
In following up, I also found this little insight into publishing strategies of the 1930s:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolin...
That is, of course, a magic number for Neo-Nazis and their fans, and there were several trades leading up to that week's final close that seemed to target that precise number.
Note in particular the trade at 19:58:33 @ $14.88 for 777 shares. Triple-7 is a South African neo-Nazi emblem. /2
Note in particular the trade at 19:58:33 @ $14.88 for 777 shares. Triple-7 is a South African neo-Nazi emblem. /2
November 4, 2025 at 3:07 PM
That is, of course, a magic number for Neo-Nazis and their fans, and there were several trades leading up to that week's final close that seemed to target that precise number.
Note in particular the trade at 19:58:33 @ $14.88 for 777 shares. Triple-7 is a South African neo-Nazi emblem. /2
Note in particular the trade at 19:58:33 @ $14.88 for 777 shares. Triple-7 is a South African neo-Nazi emblem. /2
There's more reporting on the shocking use of an Auschwitz gate replica on a school's Halloween parade float in Hanover, Pa.
Seems it's maybe artistic overreach, rather than creeping Nazism. Big mistake, but there's an innocence here that deserves understanding.
There but…grace of God…etc... /1
Seems it's maybe artistic overreach, rather than creeping Nazism. Big mistake, but there's an innocence here that deserves understanding.
There but…grace of God…etc... /1
November 2, 2025 at 3:19 PM
There's more reporting on the shocking use of an Auschwitz gate replica on a school's Halloween parade float in Hanover, Pa.
Seems it's maybe artistic overreach, rather than creeping Nazism. Big mistake, but there's an innocence here that deserves understanding.
There but…grace of God…etc... /1
Seems it's maybe artistic overreach, rather than creeping Nazism. Big mistake, but there's an innocence here that deserves understanding.
There but…grace of God…etc... /1
:-(
But what an incredible team, and what an incredible season.
Thank you. Hugely.
But what an incredible team, and what an incredible season.
Thank you. Hugely.
November 2, 2025 at 4:37 AM
:-(
But what an incredible team, and what an incredible season.
Thank you. Hugely.
But what an incredible team, and what an incredible season.
Thank you. Hugely.
So I have a nominee for (Non-Playing) Star of the Series: the Blue Jays dog in one of the Rogers ads who appears as they say "...coast to coast to coast..."
An attempt at credit info below... /1
An attempt at credit info below... /1
November 1, 2025 at 7:32 PM
So I have a nominee for (Non-Playing) Star of the Series: the Blue Jays dog in one of the Rogers ads who appears as they say "...coast to coast to coast..."
An attempt at credit info below... /1
An attempt at credit info below... /1
The McCullin piece also has this with a photo entitled "Homeless Irish man, London, 1969":
'There are social wars on your doorstep. People used to write me letters, saying, “I want to be a war photographer.” I’d say: “Help yourself – it’s in your cities.” ' /5
'There are social wars on your doorstep. People used to write me letters, saying, “I want to be a war photographer.” I’d say: “Help yourself – it’s in your cities.” ' /5
October 31, 2025 at 3:26 PM
The McCullin piece also has this with a photo entitled "Homeless Irish man, London, 1969":
'There are social wars on your doorstep. People used to write me letters, saying, “I want to be a war photographer.” I’d say: “Help yourself – it’s in your cities.” ' /5
'There are social wars on your doorstep. People used to write me letters, saying, “I want to be a war photographer.” I’d say: “Help yourself – it’s in your cities.” ' /5
"What I tell patients a lot of times, is when you’re in a situation where you can’t think whether you should be terrified, think of a wise person who you trust. What would this person tell you in that moment? That helps us remove ourselves from the emotion and be more logical." /2
October 30, 2025 at 6:14 PM
"What I tell patients a lot of times, is when you’re in a situation where you can’t think whether you should be terrified, think of a wise person who you trust. What would this person tell you in that moment? That helps us remove ourselves from the emotion and be more logical." /2
Post a perfect album from 1989, a perfect music year
October 29, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Post a perfect album from 1989, a perfect music year