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rexdalish.bsky.social

@rexdalish.bsky.social
921 followers 3.2K following 1.9K posts

Husband, Father, Christian, Canadian. Super-nerd for visual astronomy, aviation, and matters geomorphological.

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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 9h
Even in the 1980's at U of T, campus police were called the "mice" (derisive). But they did have a reasonable understanding of student culture and were comfortable with dealing with hijinks via persuasion.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
I drove a rented DS (Citoen up-branded, I gather) diesel in France. Quality vehicle. Nice cabin design. Deserves more NA support and appreciation.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Fair point. We walked tons in most places. But it's hard to get to things in the countryside by public transit, so you eventually need to get a car and drive out of the city, then back in to do the return.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
In comparison, driving in Italy - even Rome - was a snap, and rural France mostly made sense. It's just Paris.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Depends where you are. I am currently in Paris. It makes my brain hurt. And, for a world city, it street signage is abysmal. Their provisions for cycling are something to be envied, though.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
No joke. Leo Major, despite epic levels of insane bravery never won a VC or MC. Largely, I think, because he was often iffy on the "good military order and discipline" thing. Also, is it a good idea to encourage people who aren't Mozart-level mayhem artists to take crazy risks?
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Which is basically how a Bradley took out the top of the line Russian MBT a couple years ago. Just strafe it with 25mm chain cannon shells until its optics and sensors are gone and the crew is deaf and track bits start failing. A mission kill is still valuable.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
F-47 Bonespur.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The other question is what are we spending those defence $ on, and are they the right tools for the most pressing local threat.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Especially box lacrosse. Field lacrosse is relatively slow, like soccer with cross-checking. Box is played in a hockey rink w/o ice. That heavy ball bounces off the boards, and there is just waaaay more physical contact because it is in a contained space. I played it. I know.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Officially, it's lacrosse or, originally, "baggataway" which literally means 'little brother of war'. It is also a very, very rough sport. Which, tbh, still supports the OP's point. Hockey is just the effective national sport. A situation which is also stereotypically Canadian.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
No money? Seize it for back taxes and anything left over gets added on to Stellantis' tax bill in perpetuity. Then hand it to BYD. Or Roshel, or whoever...
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Yes, BUT if you live right next door to said hegemon you need to be able to show a credible 'poisonous shrimp' defence capability big enough to convince them the attempt isn't worth it. That capability costs real money, whether or not the hegemon tries it on.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
I assume there's a vizier or two around who could figure it out.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Yup. Carney and Zelensky. Tag-team of the free world.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Heck, we even had submarines taking sneaky periscope pictures of Portuguese trawlers to show they were breaking fishing rules.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The US Security Strategy document made that perfectly plain. CDA linking with the EU without prior US consent infringes on the self-proclaimed Donroe Doctrine. Too bad, so sad. Who cares?
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The sun never sets on the EU Associate Members, or something like that?
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
I fear it may be too late for that. The wilful arson of US soft power continues at wildfire pace. As others have said, few countries worldwide find the US polity reliable. What if in 4 more years this happens again?
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Yeah, like 'hydronyms'!
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
That Man? No, of course not. But 'Strategy Cheese' and other viziers absolutely will.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Yeah, vassalage has its drawbacks, eh? It's astonishing how much the Trump regime has constituted a wilful arson of US soft power.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
THIS! Wait until the regime starts trying to digest the implications of the "Dominance is the arrogance of the hegemon" line in the EU speech.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
That line about "Dominance is the arrogance of the hegemon" is the one that'll get under the Trump regime's skin. Good. Dominance forms the foundation of the US Security Strategy. It must be resisted. It will not be easy.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Well, he's not entirely wrong. He's just willfully ignoring the fact that it was him who started swinging first. And now that his intended victim is landing punches back, it's all "you're so hostile!". Yeah, so?
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
As have we all. It's exhausting.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Interesting that both the Putin and Trump regimes disparage the ICC. I wonder why? (S/) As for the drone thing, I am going to be flying in Europe a fair bit starting this weekend. Is there really that much going on? It seems mainly in Holland and Germany so far.. which is still bad....
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Guess how it feels in Toronto....you at least don't have to worry about occupation.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
As with bears, you just have to be faster than the last guy...
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Even if the process takes years, or never really happens, the sheer panicked discomfiture it is causing Trump and his minions is entirely delicious. They just couldn't imagine anyone outsmarting them. They are very smart boys, don't you know? (s/)
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Well, when the neighbours go off their meds, you start looking for new friends.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Not to mention a 'tired and emotional' Bernard Landry yelling "I suppose you're happy!?" at a befuddled hotel check-in clerk ( who happened to be a Latina immigrant, to make it worse...)
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Not likely to be of much effect unless accompanied by a credible threat of impeachment.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Oppositional Defiance disorder for ostensible adults.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
So now we see where the idea for the character 'Edna Mode' in 'The Incredibles' came from. Even the glasses are similar....
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
That, or maybe a patch in Walcheren, Apeldoorn or a park on Leo Majorlaan in Zwolle....
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Absolutely historic. I mean, you look at Norway, and Alberta could have been that.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
They'd be in a much more comfortable position now if they hadn't blown the Heritage Fund up for treats...
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Yeah, but they'll get easy access to Ungava gin, so they've got that going for them....
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I have seldom been as infuriated as I was when the Harpaer government started playing destructive, silly games with StatsCan. Only someone with no intention of delivering good government would mess with foundational socio-economic data. It still grind my gears, decades later....
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Well, if they're up for it...maybe it solves some of their problems, especially since Canada is one of the least centralized federations around....
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Iirc, the former Bundesliga club St. Pauli has long had a sausage train. Similar idea, different foodstuff.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Good heavens. Do we not have enough trouble with separatists in PQ and AB with out adding ones from Scotland and Wales? And what on earth to do about the two parts of IRL?
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
My bad. Zoomed right over my head....
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Could try the somewhat less gendered "Fusilier".....I know there should probably be a final 'e' on there for a woman, but.....it kinda works in English.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
In the words of Groucho Marx, "I resemble that remark!" Sans the retirement hone, but still...
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
As I have said elsewhere, Red Tory is pretty much the Canadian civil servant factory default setting. Maybe even the default Canadian citizen setting....
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
I think the Maple Leaf is better song but - and I say this as a descendant of Ontario Orangemen- there is absolutely no way on earth I would expect the Quebecois to accept a song that in its original referred to "Wolfe, the conquering hero". Nope. Not gonna do it....
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Watching it on TV as a former pilot, I had the horrific realization, as the second one made the turn in, that the pilot deliberately flew it in. That flight profile could never have been accidental.
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rexdalish.bsky.social @rexdalish.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Going somewhere Campbell's can't follow?
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