So with vaccines in particular, it's incumbent on people who think vaccination is a public good to refrain from acting in ways that put energy into those conspiracy-imagining eigenstates present in every human mind.

While I think you have a point, especially about how badly things were handled during COVID, the nature of conspiracy theorists is such that just about anything will set them off. So while I agree we should act sensibly, I don't think walking on eggshells to avoid setting of conspiracy theorists will work.

Canada lost its measles elimination status back in 2025, because we also have our share of anti-vax nutters. Luckily, however, we are trending in the right direction in 2026. See the epidemiological curve in the linked page.

We can't relax our pressure against the anti-vax nutters, though.

Someone's grumpy because their Outlook won't load.

One explanation I heard is that some companies use Microsoft's "safe links" service to rewrite URLs. So people might click on what they think is a Slack/Facebook/whatever link, but because Microsoft's redirector is down, they report the site as down to Downdetector. Maybe that's it?

I seriously doubt so many other services are also down. I think it's more likely a bad actor is falsifying reports to downdetector.

... because even spies have their standards.

Yep, "Gulf of 'Murica" is a flashing neon troll sign.

How often do you do cross-country drives? Just because your country is big doesn't mean most Americans drive across it very often. In fact, 93% of all US car trips are under 50km (30 miles) and more than 50% are under 10km (6 miles).

Nah. The Dutch are extremely chill and friendly. They're also smart and pragmatic and really, really good at engineering. They do call out bullshit and complain when warranted, though, because they're also very direct and don't have time for nonsense. I think it's this directness that takes some people by surprise.

Putting your whole life on your phone just makes it an ever more tempting target.

In Canada, thankfully, all of our major banks still support account access through a normal web browser. I can't see that changing any time soon; I think there would be an uproar if they tried to mandate the use of mobile devices only.

Actually, you do need to use the mobile app to deposit cheques without going into the bank. But cheques are pretty much extinct in Canada nowadays.

You have a chance to start the process of internal and external repair.

What, the way Trump did?

Nah, sorry. There's only one way to deal with fascists. 100% throttle and don't take your foot off the gas until they're vanquished.

Also Canadian. I wouldn't say they mean nothing. I think they are a very encouraging sign. But I do agree that we must not for one minute let up on travel and purchase boycotts against the USA. Last night was D-Day... the beginning. We can't let up pressure until it ends the way V-E day did, with the MAGA movement decisively and permanently consigned to the scrap heap of history.

Turns out that incompetence, corruption and cruelty are unpopular. Who knew??

I use Startpage. I re-search using Google maybe one time out of twenty.

I didn't even click the link, but yes, 'twas my inspiration. Singing that song is one of the most cathartic things one can do.