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david-tallan.bsky.social
Retired public servant. Likes long walks in Spain. Also medieval culinary research, calligraphy and illumination, and other forms of creative anachronism. Shares a collection of comics, sf and fantasy, and board games.
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I suggest that AI should replace the Prime Minister. After all, the only thing AI is good for is making ill-informed and usually wrong statements which are also curiously bland.

submitted 4 hours ago • 0 comments

A regime elected on the premise that it might have to do some unpleasant things but all in the service of low prices and a roaring stock market is now saying that we may have to bear high prices and low stock prices but all in the service of doing unpleasant things.

submitted 17 hours ago • 2 comments

My friend @stephengm.bsky.social posted about this on FB (since you can't actually post links), but I thought folks here might find this an interesting idea as well. Oh to feel like there's positive action we can take! thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025...

submitted 16 hours ago • 1 comment

I am (re-)reading Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett.

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

Follow up to my previous post. I just found out The Way, My Way will be playing matinees at Cineplex Scotiabank theatre on Richmond Street for a week starting March 7. How long it stays, and how many theatres will show it, will probably depend on how well it does this initial week. #TheWayMyWay

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

Yesterday, I went to the special screening of The Way, My Way, based on the book by the same name, a true story. It is a great way to get a taste of the #CaminodeSantiago. Wider N. American release starts next week, and I hear it will be at the Fox March 14-20. #TheWayMyWay

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

Putin emails Trump “tell me 5 things you did for me last week”

submitted 10 days ago • 7 comments

Canadian academics experienced in teaching undergrad legal subjects outside law school? We're seeking someone for a modestly paid (one virtual meeting plus reading) external reviewer role in readying Laurentian's JURI-2106EL Intro to Private Law for online. Emails to me @ laurentian PLEASE SHARE!

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

If Taxation WERE Just Like Theft Read more cartoons! ---> #PoliCartoon Help us make more! ----> patreon.com/barry

submitted 19 days ago • 1 comment

A wonderful explanation of the perils of generative AI for scholars. Research is transformative because it isn't only compilation, rather thinking through questions, sources, and possibilities. If we're not elbow-deep in the process as humans, we're likely heading far off-course!

submitted 21 days ago • 1 comment

theconversation.com/bolstering-c...

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

Of all of the absurd things that Trump has said, to suggest that Ukraine started the war with Russia has to be one of the most absurd.

submitted 21 days ago • 0 comments

I’m not sure who needs to hear this today, but In war, three-quarters turns on personal character and relations; the balance of manpower and materials counts only for the remaining quarter. That’s not my idea, it’s Bonaparte writing in Observations on Spanish Affairs, 1808. Moral:physical 3:1.

submitted 27 days ago • 1 comment

submitted 30 days ago • 0 comments

submitted 38 days ago • 0 comments

h/t Peter Westergaard Nice headline. www.404media.co/openai-furio...

submitted 41 days ago • 0 comments

Reminded by FB of this dream from 10 years ago: "I dreamt last night about a number of magic mirrors and scrying devices. My favourite was the mirror that shows you how you look to someone who is in love with you. Everyone looks like themselves in that mirror but no one looks bad."

submitted 46 days ago • 0 comments

One reason the "do diets work?" debate interests me is because so many things that are terrible for fat people (and others) rests on that foundational belief that fat people could stop being fat if they wanted to. (thread)

submitted 48 days ago • 12 comments

Things We Can Stop Saying To Fat People Already Read more cartoons! ---> #PoliCartoon Help us make more! ----> patreon.com/barry

submitted 48 days ago • 2 comments

Something to consider asking the candidates as we approach the next federal election: what is their stance on accepting trans and non-binary refugees from the United States over the next four years.

submitted 49 days ago • 0 comments

To many characters to post as a message, so here is a screen shot with alt text.

submitted 49 days ago • 0 comments

I will play: If you went to college 1. what was your career goal when you started? 2. your initial major? 3. if you changed majors, what did you change to? 4. what do you do now? 1. teach English abroad 2. English; Linguistics; & TESOL certificate 3. Library Science 4. Retired (led gov't web teams)

submitted 50 days ago • 0 comments

This is a good thread about living while bad things loom over your life.

submitted 50 days ago • 0 comments

Being a person with deadly, incurable cancer who is nonetheless still alive for an indefinite timeframe gives me an interesting metaphor that helps me deal with things like large-scale corruption in government or commerce. Bear with me for a second while I try to explain.

submitted 51 days ago • 505 comments