Reposted by John LoukidelisB.S.W. Barootes @barootes.bsky.social · 26/09/2026And yet I was only allowed to access a 1955 B.Litt. thesis, the only lengthy study on Robert Braybrooke, in person and take notes (no photos). I had to sign a register of those who had ever accessed the thesis. 4313123
Reposted by John Loukideliskottke.org @kottke.org · 25/09/2026Lego’s biggest set ever is coming out soon: the 12,060-piece Sagrada Família. $800. It will take as long to build as the actual cathedral — you may not live to see it finished. [lego.com]lego.comSagrada Família 21065 | ArchitectureRecreate an iconic Spanish landmark as you build the impressively massive Sagrada Família cathedral replica model, the largest LEGO® building set to date! As you build, follow in order the real-life progression of its construction, marking the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí’s passing. 54710
Reposted by John LoukidelisTed McCormick @tedmccormick.bsky.social · 25/09/2026today in Stop Romanticizing Canada: Quebec’s Bill 9 has just taken effect, barring women in veils from receiving public services. Public employees include university faculty, so professors have been instructed to require veiled women to uncover their faces or be removed from the classroom. 9252104
John Loukidelis @loukidelis.bsky.social · 22/09/2026What about the uninsured damage? And coming soon to a mailbox close to you: higher insurance premiums. But climate action is too expensive. 010
Reposted by John Loukideliskottke.org @kottke.org · 21/09/2026Imagine playing chess against a seven-year-old who’s dancing around and barely paying attention to the board (bc it’s all in her head) and she just casually checkmates you like this. Oof. [reddit.com]reddit.comSeven-year-old chess prodigy Lucie Pichard casually checkmates her opponent.A child doing pirouettes across the table from you is the scariest opponent you can see in chess 13110
Reposted by John LoukidelisThe Canadian Border 🇨🇦 @canadianborder.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Seen a lot of these, but this one is my favourite 😎 27498672395
Reposted by John Loukideliskottke.org @kottke.org · 18/09/2026The Blind Birdwatcher. “I think that because I’m blind, I enjoy birds differently. Bird songs are my way of appreciating and understanding this world." [kottke.org]kottke.orgThe Blind BirdwatcherUruguayan birder Juan Pablo Culasso, who was born blind, has been recording and collecting bird songs for more than two decades. I think that because I’m blind, I enjoy birds differently. Bird songs are my way of appr 0233
Reposted by John LoukidelisCity of Hamilton @cityofhamilton.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Hamilton Water is responding to an emergency sewer maintenance hole repair at the intersection of Aberdeen Ave and Dundurn St S. During the repair, Dundurn St S (southbound) will be closed at the intersection. Work is expected to wrap up by 9am Monday, September 21. #HamOnt 022
Reposted by John LoukidelisBCP Minus Context @bcpminuscontext.bsky.social · 10/09/2026They also are to be had accursed that presume to say, That every man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth, 022
John Loukidelis @loukidelis.bsky.social · 10/09/2026“Past a certain point, ignoring context becomes culpable; past another, it becomes willful obtuseness; past a third, it is suggestive of misplaced loyalties, and it would be no less obtuse to deny it.” 🔒 www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...theglobeandmail.comOpinion: It’s not disloyal to criticize the government’s handling of Trump – but it can beThere are various ways to read the conflict with the U.S. – and some of them deliberately ignore the context 000
Reposted by John LoukidelisYakov Feygin @buddyyakov.bsky.social · 09/09/2026I want to thank Based Green Donald for imposing the world's stupidest carbon tax. 281976326
John Loukidelis @loukidelis.bsky.social · 08/09/2026I would be more optimistic about this making us pay attention if we North Americans hadn’t just come through a pandemic where hundreds of thousands died and the response from far too many was “they were going to die anyway.” 011
Reposted by John LoukidelisKevin Milligan @kevinmilligan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Deeper co-operation with EU across a number of domains is a good idea. (Just remember, full EU membership is not in Canada's interest.) bsky.app/profile/kevi... 0153
John Loukidelis @loukidelis.bsky.social · 06/09/2026From the Globe article: “But unlike its predecessor, whose release in 2019 was widely publicized and accompanied by minister-led press conferences and technical briefings to help the public grasp its implications, the second edition was quietly posted online ahead of a late-summer holiday weekend.” 31811
Reposted by John LoukidelisJimmy Thomson @jameswsthomson.com · 04/09/2026This kind of report should be accompanied by a press conference—not with some low-level bureaucrat, but with the prime minister. Flanked by all of his ministers. In prime time, with technical briefings. This report says we're facing unimaginable disaster, yet we didn't even get a briefing. 13347207
John Loukidelis @loukidelis.bsky.social · 04/09/2026"The Democrats will use Canada and this war as a cudgel when it serves their own short-term electoral interests, but a concession once given is never going to be returned out of goodwill, or an attempt to repair what’s been done. " www.readtheline.ca/p/jen-gerson...readtheline.caJen Gerson: (this is real)I think we’ve reached the end of a real bilateral relationship with the United States. Friendship is over. Even a transactional alliance is pretty damn close to the brink. 110
Reposted by John LoukidelisReady Aye Ready - Royal Canadian Navy #RCN @ready-aye-ready.bsky.social · 30/08/2026Happy 83rd birthday to HMCS Haida, commissioned on August 30, 1943. Now a museum ship in Hamilton, Ontario, at the western end of Lake Ontario, Haida served Canada with distinction during WWII and the Korean War earning the moniker "Canada's Fightingest Ship." (Wikimedia commons: Author Laslovarga) 041
Reposted by John LoukidelisThe Onion @theonion.com · 28/08/2026HHS Replaces Childhood Vaccination Schedule With List Of Recommended Animal Bites theonion.com/hhs-replaces-childhood… 371939413
Reposted by John LoukidelisReady Aye Ready - Royal Canadian Navy #RCN @ready-aye-ready.bsky.social · 28/08/2026HMCS Oriole in Barkley Sound, 4 July 2011. Photo: Redonebird, Wikimedia Commons #RCN 001
John Loukidelis @loukidelis.bsky.social · 25/08/2026“Mr. Trump, in short, will do what he will do. He plainly wishes us ill, for whatever reason, and there is nothing much we can do to alter his behaviour. “ 1/2 www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti... 🔒theglobeandmail.comOpinion: The U.S. isn’t negotiating trade with Canada. This is a shakedownThe Trump administration’s tariffs and extortionary demands have merely been a prelude to the USMCA negotiations – which is why Ottawa must end this charade altogether 110
Reposted by John LoukidelisDr. Jack Brown @drjackbrown.bsky.social · 23/08/2026"Why dost thou converse w/ that trunk of humours, that bolting-hutch of beastliness, that swollen parcel of dropsies, that huge bombard of sack, that roasted Manningtree ox w/ the pudding in his belly, that reverend Vice, that grey iniquity, that father ruffian, that vanity in years?" Shakespeare 1934276
Reposted by John LoukidelisChris Neill 🐧 @chrisneill.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Me too, but tbf I don't recall buying any US alcoholic bevvies. Lesson: if we're going to restrict trade we should focus on final goods/services (efficiency!) for which there substitutes (less pain for us) for which we're a large customer (more pain in US) & maybe of small # of firms (politics). 173
Reposted by John LoukidelisAuschwitz Memorial @auschwitzmemorial.bsky.social · 23/08/202623 August 1940 | A Belgian Jewish girl, Simone Frajermauer, was born in Brussels. She arrived at #Auschwitz on 2 August 1943 in a transport of 1,553 Jews deported from Kazerne Dossin in Mechelen. She was among 1,087 of them murdered in a gas chamber after the selection. 17496138
Reposted by John LoukidelisAdam Radwanski @aradwanski.bsky.social · 22/08/2026I think we may owe Lutnick a debt of gratitude for the timely reminder to our negotiators of who these guys are, and for saving us from what ultimately would've been a bad deal. 58693104
Reposted by John LoukidelisEmmett Macfarlane 🇨🇦 @emmettmacfarlane.com · 22/08/2026Doug Ford is the worst premier Ontario has ever had, and going on a trip to Texas should be questioned on the merits - but NOT the cost. $93K for a summit, with advance team, etc. is NOT remotely expensive, and we need to stop encouraging these dumbass stories. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...cbc.ca'A dog and pony show': Opposition slams Ford after FOI reveals Texas trade trip cost taxpayers over $93K | CBC NewsOntario Premier Doug Ford's spring trip to Texas to talk trade and tariffs cost taxpayers just over $93,000, a decision note obtained by CBC News through a freedom of information request reveals. The ... 616832
Reposted by John LoukidelisPatrick Wyman @patrickwyman.bsky.social · 22/08/2026Blue-collar workers gets treated like a 21st-century case of the noble savage, and that concept is exactly as useful for understanding blue-collar workers today as it ever was in the past, which is to say completely useless 545761
Reposted by John LoukidelisAlison Boyce @alisonboyce.bsky.social · 18/08/2026QCCA orders man to pay $1,000 after he filed arguments citing four fake AI‑generated cases — including two he claimed were from the SCC. He learned they were bogus but submitted them anyway, a breach that wasted time for the court and his ex‑wife. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...cbc.caQuebec man ordered to pay $1K over use of fake AI-generated court cases | CBC NewsA Quebec man has been ordered to pay his ex-wife $1,000 after filing court arguments that included fake legal cases generated by ChatGPT. 012
Reposted by John LoukidelisFrog and Toad Bot @frogandtoadbot.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Frog put the cookies in a box. “There,” he said. “Now we will not eat any more cookies.” “But we can open the box,” said Toad. “That is true,” said Frog. 957568
Reposted by John LoukidelisSamuel Pepys @samuelpepys.bsky.social · 19/08/2026I met Tom Marsh, who talks mightily of the honour of his place, being Clerke Assistant to the Clerke of the House of Commons, and I take him to be a coxcombe, and so did give him half a pint of wine, but drink none myself, and so got shut of him. 0506
Reposted by John LoukidelisGavin Schmidt @climateofgavin.bsky.social · 18/08/2026The difference in utility between the use of ML to tackle big data problems that would otherwise be intractable & the use of LLMs to produce pointless slop is so large they cannot both be usefully described as “AI“. The first is making real progress, the second is dragging us towards the abyss. 12719215
Reposted by John LoukidelisDick Zoutman @dickzoutman.bsky.social · 18/08/2026So is this transformative clean energy investment, or an expensive bet on old school 20th century style megaprojects? Or would faster more distributed renewables that could displace fossil fuels sooner be wiser? Genuinely curious what folks think. Details still evolving deal isn’t finalized yet.!cbc.caN.L., Quebec announce new Churchill Falls agreement worth billions — with help from Ottawa | CBC NewsPrime Minister Mark Carney, N.L. Premier Tony Wakeham and Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette stood along the St. John's harbour and announced a new energy deal — not yet finalized — on Churchill Falls... 096
Reposted by John LoukidelisMarkZelinski.com @markzelinski-photo.bsky.social · 19/03/2026#FlowerpotIsland from #NiagaraEscarpment #LandBetweenWaters 10th photo book by #MarkZelinski a 320-page hardcover edition brings exquisite focus to ecosystems, #Indigenous & settler communities of the #Ontario #escarpment from #Niagara to #Manitoulin Island. markzelinski.com/photography-books/ 0314
Reposted by John LoukidelisRobert Saunders @robertsaunders.bsky.social · 17/08/2026I reviewed Sarah Williams' book on Josephine Butler - one of the most extraordinary women in modern British history, who should be *much* better known. It's "both a biography of a remarkable woman and an argument about how to write the history of Victorian Britain". academic.oup.com/ehr/advance-... 1113449
Reposted by John LoukidelisJustin Chandler @justinchandler.work · 17/08/2026While some people in Hamilton report feeling unsafe in the city, Statistics Canada crime data confirms what police have been saying: overall, crime in Hamilton is trending down, and below Ontario and national averages. There are two major exceptions. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... #HamOntcbc.caData confirms it, crime in Hamilton is trending down with 2 major exceptions | CBC NewsWhile some people in Hamilton report feeling unsafe in the city, Statistics Canada crime data confirms what police have been saying: overall, crime in Hamilton is trending down, and below Ontario and ... 131
Reposted by John LoukidelisAuschwitz Memorial @auschwitzmemorial.bsky.social · 16/08/202616 August 1944 | A transport of some 2,500 Greek Jews deported from Rhodes Island arrived at #Auschwitz. After the selection 346 men & 254 women were registered in the camp. The remaining people were murdered immediately in gas chambers. 330590
Reposted by John LoukidelisArs Technica @arstechnica.com · 13/08/2026arstechnica.comUkrainian drones wipe out entire US tank brigade in live war gameUkrainian drone pilots teach the US military and NATO hard battlefield lessons. 76521
Reposted by John LoukidelisAuschwitz Memorial @auschwitzmemorial.bsky.social · 10/08/202610 August 1918 | A Greek Jew, Avraam Tevet, was born in Thessaloniki. He was deported to #Auschwitz. He did not survive. 8518108
Reposted by John Loukidelis100 years ago news @100yearsagonews.bsky.social · 08/08/2026Aug. 8, 1926: The Methodist bishop of Buffalo denounces New York Gov. Al Smith for his anti-Prohibition stance and says that as a Catholic, he should never become president. “No governor can kiss the papal ring and get within gunshot of the White House,” says Bishop Adna Leonard. 292
John Loukidelis @loukidelis.bsky.social · 08/08/2026It has been educational and depressing to follow this feed. I didn't know (but probably should have guessed) that domestic violence was at the centre of so many of these killings. 020
John Loukidelis @loukidelis.bsky.social · 07/08/2026That's 39C to 8C in the space of 38 hours. Yikes. 000
Reposted by John LoukidelisSimon Jones @simonjones.bsky.social · 06/08/2026British children in Nijmegen to visit the graves of fathers killed during the war, #OTD 6 August 1955. Katrina Coombs, 10, of Redcar, Barbara Janik, 12, of Burnley, Georgina Price, 10, of Ludlow, James Smith, 13, of Kirkcudbright, & Geraldine Greenwood, 12, of Bradford. (Daily Mirror via Findmypast) 422236334
Reposted by John LoukidelisDr. Genevieve Guenther (she/they) @doctorvive.bsky.social · 06/08/2026"The impacts of unmitigated climate change are going to cost us far more than any action." This is true, but it obscures the politics. The cost of net-zero will fall mostly on the rich, fossil-capital holders in particular, because phasing out oil and gas devalues their assets. 1/2 48336
Reposted by John LoukidelisDavid Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 04/08/2026A story of cause and effect: Last November, Ontario banned cities from using speed safety cameras to issue tickets. Reckless speeding immediately surged in Toronto, Ottawa, Guelph, and cities throughout the province. A 🧵 about my latest in Bloomberg (gift link)bloomberg.comWhat Happens When Speed Cameras Get Shut OffIn 2025, Ontario banned automated traffic enforcement. Now the number of drivers exceeding the speed limit has surged, according to traffic data. 21462209
