Chris Trottier

Putting the sauce in awesome! This is my fully-managed family Akkoma + Mangane server.

I primarily talk about the Fediverse, movies, books, photography, video games, music, working out, and general geekiness.

I’m a proud husband and father.

Location: Richmond, BC, Canada

Public Key

npub1e9xty8eww57a3npv2vfl5cel567cd0k4stqu89aa6l0undk0pr8shxmsz2

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsvjn9jruh820wcesk9xyl6vvl6d0vxhm2c9swrj77a0h7fkm8s3ncpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dslw8n4d

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1e9xty8eww57a3npv2vfl5cel567cd0k4stqu89aa6l0undk0pr8shxmsz2

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Last Notes

2026-08-02 21:39:04 GMT

I can *now* confirm that this *brand new* MP3 player has a REAL clickwheel!
Not just a mechanical wheel. An actual wheel with a *touch* pad that clicks for song and file navigation! And yes, the centre is a button that clicks too!
Why am I excited about this?
As we all know, Apple stopped making iPods. The iPod Classic, Nano, and Shuffle was discontinued long, long ago. And very few non-Apple MP3 players since have had clickwheels.
This one was bought off Amazon for $83.99 and has a 64GB of storage—which is slightly more than what my iPod Classic had right before it was stolen.
This also uses Rockbox firmware, which gives is an intuitive iPod-like UI and functionality. You can look at photos and watch movies on it—even read books, but who would read books on this thing? Whatever, it's here.
But there's more! This MP3 player can play lossless .flac files. Which is something my iPod couldn't do. It also has Bluetooth connectivity. And it sports an FM radio.
How does it sound, though? Well, I'm listening on Audio-Technica ATH-M50x headphones—plugged right into the 3.5mm jack—and it sounds great. As good as an iPod, perhaps better.
This thing purports to have 25 hour of audio playback with wired headphones at half volume. I'm not sure about this, but I'm testing it. Nevertheless, this is where my old iPod Classic has the edge because it offered 30 hours of audio playback.
One further benefit: it works with Linux. Nothing like iTunes is required. It's just a matter of dragging and dropping files onto the device—which makes it way more useful to me than an iPod since, well, I like to use my Bazzite desktop PC for CD ripping.
If this just *acts* like an iPod, I am very happy. And yes, since this is cheap, I expect there to be "surprises". But so far, this is a suitable—and cheap—iPod replacement!
https://atomicpoet.org/media/45ed0abad0b7d8a2ff04ce5c18b4c0d5d9703f687ea446481790524d7eda5942.jpg
#note1252…xrnv

2026-08-01 21:16:57 GMT

Finally found an MP3 player with a clickwheel—NOT MADE BY APPLE!—that works with Rockbox!
To be clear, I don’t know if this is good—I’m not endorsing this.
But it’s worth testing out to see if there’s FINALLY an affordable non-Apple MP3 player with a clickwheel.
(Not providing a link until I test this for myself)
https://atomicpoet.org/media/fed441cf9e103db9cad2d86f84985af380764d49796d6862be4b9bd17225d856.jpeg

2026-07-24 04:17:55 GMT

- reply

I have yet to see the Bandits in person, but I plan on doing that soon.

2026-07-24 03:18:42 GMT

Does anyone else find it annoying when a total stranger tries to prim and preen their way into getting you to buy them a drink?
Listen, I’m not even buying myself a drink because I value my sobriety.
So I’m not spending a single dime on you just because you interrupted a conversation I’m having with a friend so you can act like a pouty peacock.
You came to this bar willingly, so get drunk on your own paycheque.

2026-07-24 02:19:05 GMT

Today is the last day I’m hearing The Who album “Tommy” on vinyl which, though it has some good songs, is way too long because of all the god damn filler.
It’s an hour and 15 minutes long.
Like, I get that this is one of the first rock operas ever made. But just because you were first and sold gazillion copies doesn’t mean it’s not hard to sit through.
The story isn’t particularly good. It’s full of hippy dippy mystic bullshit. The main character is deaf and blind—but not really because it’s psychosomatic? Come on!
However, I haven’t seen the movie. And from Jay I hear, it’s much improved. So maybe I’ll see it later and see if that’s true.

2026-07-24 02:00:17 GMT

Just saw Vancouver Bandits vs. Winnipeg Sea Bears.
What a game! Vancouver was behind for most of the game until they got hot in the 4th quarter.
People need to support their local #CEBL team. If Canadians can build a good enough domestic league, we might succeed better at #basketball. Perhaps win a few medals at the Olympics.
Wouldn't it be good if we were good at a game a Canadian invented?
Vancouver Bandits 92-77 Winnipeg Sea Bears

2026-07-23 00:08:56 GMT

My sister doesn’t like Yes.
I tried demoing a few tracks to her but she found every one to be too maximalist.
I explained that this is a band that is all about expressing the joy of performance but she was t having it.
And I get it. Yes is like drinking a lemon ice tea. If you hate sour, astringent beverages, you’ll hate it. But for others, it hits the spot.

2026-07-19 22:05:22 GMT

SPAIN WINS IT!
They’re #WorldCup champions!
And they deserve it because they were the only team trying to win it. Argentina spent the entire match in defensive mode, only trying to score in the last five minutes.
But after many, many attempts on goal, Spain finally squeaked on through in extra time.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
#soccer

2026-07-17 05:22:01 GMT

I discovered the worst sitcom of all time l.
And sadly, it was made in Canada during the 1970s.
The deal is that the script was from a radio show made in the 40s, all the actors read it verbatim, and there was only one take. Within one season, 130 episodes were made.
Lots of bad acting, dialogue flubs, and boom mics in shots.
https://youtu.be/YM72dO6lg6s

2026-07-16 05:10:28 GMT

The 2010s was such an odd decade for rock music.
People think it died. But I don't buy that. It's more like the innovators of rock music were no longer white hetero dudes.
For example, you can't tell me that St. Vincent isn't one of the most incredible guitarists of all time. And she is clearly making rock music because what else could this possibly be? If St. Vincent isn't a rock star, then neither is David Byrne or Kurt Cobain.
Yet people pretended that rock music was "revived" when Greta Van Fleet (LOL!) showed up—a band that just retreaded 70s cliches. Now I'm not saying a retread is inherently wrong because there's plenty of people who weren't alive in the 70s and thus haven't discovered Led Zeppelin yet. But they certainly did "revive" rock music.
Also, to anyone who cares: The Weeknd makes rock music too. If Kajagoogoo, Flock of Sea Gulls, and A-ha make rock music, so does The Weeknd.
https://youtu.be/TAdARF4rGcQ

2026-07-11 15:08:53 GMT

Every. Single. Day.
Every single day, I was in the gym. For 14 days straight. Cardio and heavy weights. That’s not counting the 10,000 or more steps a day I did exploring Seoul.
I put myself through hell. To the point that I fell asleep in the middle of the day. Before I went back to the gym.
And tomorrow, one more session.
Then I’m on a 15 hour flight. When I can hopefully recover.
I hope that this will pay dividends. I really do.

2026-07-10 04:27:24 GMT

This Korean boutique is called “DUMB IT DOWN FREEDOM”.
Their sign further says, “WE ARE COOL 100%.”
They actually have nice designs. I saw a t-shirt with a Sade portrait there.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/302d4ff1e9f3e5a7269e7f4e72dab706f121b0db8562195472ea324d0add1d76.jpeg

2026-07-01 09:41:19 GMT

The hotel I’m in is owned by Samsung.
Which means the restaurant I’m in is also owned by Samsung.
Samsung can sure cook up some fine chicken. And their rice noodles are pretty good.

2026-06-29 08:20:50 GMT

Just saw a Samsung Saturn!
Not Sega Saturn! Samsung!
https://atomicpoet.org/media/fc3291646ec884bbf3ad267023734f6349a8747d91e121b5a7c54fa6ef7966b5.jpeg

2026-06-19 21:04:33 GMT

I don't want to hear any more about how USA is terrible at #soccer.
They've just won back-to-back games at the #WorldCup and are at the top of Group D.
And they're outperforming Spain, Portugal, and Brazil—so-called soccer "superstars".

2026-06-19 00:05:04 GMT

CANADA WITH OUR FIRST EVER WORLD CUP WIN!!!
And it's one of the wildest wins ever.
Just to put this in perspective, Canada has only ever scored 7 goal in the #WorldCup. 6 of them were scored today.
Jonathan David scored a hat trick. The last time a host country ever scored a hat trick was in 1966.
Canada is now at the top of Group B—ahead of Switzerland. All we need to do is tie our next game and we move out of the group stage!
Canada 6-0 Qatar
#WorldCup #soccer
#note1jg0…4pun

2026-06-18 23:55:01 GMT

JONATHAN DAVID HAT TRICK!!!
Unbelievable. First ever #WorldCup win for Canada. And it's the best win possible.
LOL. We still have 7 minutes left.
Canada 6-0 Qatar
#WorldCup #soccer
#note15pp…gyqp

2026-06-18 23:53:43 GMT

Regulation time over. 9 minutes added. Probably should be more, but officials are likely being merciful.
#WorldCup #soccer
#note14z4…hgvz

2026-06-18 23:40:21 GMT

I'm really beginning to think that Canada wants to win this game.
#WorldCup #soccer
#note1qlj…cu94

2026-06-18 23:38:33 GMT

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!
Before this #WorldCup, Canada had never scored a single goal in the tournament. Today, we got five!
And this last goal was a Qatari own goal!
Love this for Canada, but god damn, Qatar must be crushed!
Canada 5-0 Qatar
#WorldCup #soccer
#note12ur…zmn4

2026-06-18 23:26:50 GMT

GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAL!!!
HAHA! RIGHT OFF THE FREE KICK!
Sucks what happened to Koné with his broken leg. But we're wrecking Qatar!
Canada 4-0 Qatar
#WorldCup #soccer
#note10q8…xj9v

2026-06-18 23:25:22 GMT

Qatar knows they're not winning this, so they're fouling as much as possible.
Would surprise me whatsoever if they manage yet another red card.
#WorldCup #soccer
#note1plz…3ghk

2026-06-18 23:17:27 GMT

2nd red card for Qatar after a foul results in Canadian player getting a broken leg!
It's now 11 Canadians vs. 9 Qataris.
#WorldCup #soccer
#note1f6u…jens

2026-06-18 23:15:15 GMT

Qatar foul results in a Canadian player breaking his leg!
That was absolutely brutal to see, and now there's medical staff all over the field.
Yellow card for Qatar—at least for now.
#WorldCup #soccer
#note12qw…54jw

2026-06-18 23:01:58 GMT

HALF-TIME.
Canada is looking really good. Doesn't even have our best players, Bombito and Davies. One more goal, and we're ahead of Switzerland on the leaderboard.
I'm pumped! We're winning this game big in my hometown of Vancouver! Maybe I should have spent that $1,000 on a ticket! But whatever, I'm home—drinking my tea—so this is good!
Canada 3-0
#WorldCup #soccer
#note196z…tgks

2026-06-18 22:50:14 GMT

AM I DREAMING?!
CANADA SCORES AGAIN!!!
1st Half isn't even over! This is the best #WorldCup game in Canadian history! Only way it gets better is if we score one more goal!
Canada 3-0
#WorldCup #soccer
#note1mcy…dvky

2026-06-18 22:44:13 GMT

Compared to Qatar, Canada looks like Argentina right now.
#WorldCup #soccer
#note1fsj…v7sd

2026-06-18 22:37:41 GMT

Qatar being down 2-0 and getting a red card before the 35th minute is so harsh!
It will take a miracle for them to come back from this.
#WorldCup #soccer
#note13v3…w0w4

2026-06-18 22:35:33 GMT

No penalty kick, but a free kick!
Qatar just got a red card!
#WorldCup #soccer
#note1q68…kdey

2026-06-18 22:30:42 GMT

YEEEEEEEAAAAAH!
CANADA SCORES AGAIN!!!
I LOVE THIS GAME!
Canada 2-0 Qatar
#WorldCup #soccer
#note1fl7…6fzt

2026-06-18 22:18:25 GMT

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAL!!!!
CANADA SINKS IT IN AT THE 16TH MINUTE!
Canada 1-1 Qatar
#WorldCup #soccer
#note12ls…9gma

2026-06-18 22:00:34 GMT

LET'S GO!!!
CANADA VS. QATAR!
#WorldCup #soccer

2026-06-18 17:50:10 GMT

Today’s tea is Great Value Peppermint Tea, which is not a tea. It’s a tisane.
I was looking forward to a dark tea. But due to an “experiment”, I overcaffeinated myself.
So I’ll be honest. Peppermint is not something I typically drink, nor am I looking forward to this. It’s my wife’s favourite tisane, which is why we have it.
But it’s something in my pantry that I haven’t drank yet. And more importantly, it contains no caffeine.
Given that this is from a discount supermarket brand, expectations are low. Actually, it’s been in my pantry for awhile so this isn’t exactly fresh either.
Brewing from a teabag in a mug. I’ll be steeping this with boiled water for two minutes.
If I end up hating this, I have no one to blame except myself.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/7382d193408c6b0245defc4ee1777d400d6c7dff1b03859aa012e22fc7cc657e.jpeg

2026-06-17 22:35:12 GMT

Sencha green tea is neat because, when you pour water, bubbles naturally form at the top.
This is a characteristic of quality Japanese green tea, including matcha.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/de8f93741d1deb6fcdcff7afa7c552e590c6dbcbcc698586faa8207aa34c1a64.jpg

2026-06-17 21:01:24 GMT

I will always call #soccer as soccer—not football.
I know, this ain't a popular thing to say to Europeans around #WorldCup time. Especially those who believe they're purists.
But there are many forms of football, and it's worth differentiating soccer from those other forms.
If you're going to be purists, sorry. Mob football is the *real* football because it's the one played since medieval times. And it's still played today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsGYlo3xSh0
#note1fu9…nwrg

2026-06-17 20:55:21 GMT

- reply

We've been over this.
The actual name for soccer is "association football". This is to be differentiated from the *other* forms of football like rugby union football, rugby league football, Gaelic football, Aussie-rules football, American football, and Canadian football. And *all* forms of football are descended from medieval British folk football, with the most famous form—called mob football—still played in Ashbourne in England.
Anyway, to differentiate it from other forms of football, the Victorian English called it "assoccer". This was truncated to "soccer". This was imported to USA, Canada, and Australia where it is still called soccer today. But originally, it was the English who called it "soccer".
Being from Canada, I call it "soccer" because "football" refers to Canadian football. We're the country that invented the gridiron variety of football.

2026-06-17 20:41:34 GMT

Great goal by Croatia! England had no chance to save that one!
Well, I may not want them to win but at least Croatia keeps things interesting.
England 1-1 Croatia
#WorldCup #soccer
#note14c5…cn6x

2026-06-17 20:19:50 GMT

I'm cheering for England.
Not because of the Premier League or colonialism or because the #soccer was invented there. I don't even know any of the players on the English team.
Nope, the only reason I'm cheering for England is because I like this song.
https://youtu.be/Re4aDJL3heA
#WorldCup
#note10sp…3djv

2026-06-17 20:13:01 GMT

Currently watching England va. Croatia.
And how did England get two penalty kicks within 12 minutes?!
Croatia saved the first one but not the second.
England 1-0 Croatia
#WorldCup #soccer

2026-06-15 06:50:27 GMT

Wow! 😮
Just discovered classical composer Michael Nyman, and his work is as rock n’ roll as classical ever gets.
He did the film scores to The Piano and Gattaca.
However, In Re Don Giovanni is where things get really rollicking. Almost punk is in its energy.
Which actually makes a lot of sense since Michael Nyman belongs to that branch of classical called “minimalism”, which actually did have profound impact on punk rock.
https://youtu.be/wPLPoYLM_BA

2026-06-14 17:23:56 GMT

CORRECTION: I apparently order three varieties of yaupon of varying oxidation.
So today, I'll be drinking Pedernales green yaupon loose leaf "tea".
Again this is not actually tea. It's yaupon, a caffeinated beverage that's different from tea. The only plant native to North America that naturally produces caffeine.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/69b089ac41db8afda277802c96cf57616fa6595d80f64e6a1b60d529924982ee.jpg
#note195n…aw8e

2026-06-14 17:16:55 GMT

Today’s tea is Texas Natice Yaupon Tea.
The package is a misnomer because this is not tea. It’s yaupon. And I’m excited as hell about yaupon.
You see, yaupon is the only plant native to North America that naturally produces caffeine.
It’s been consumed as a beverage by indigenous people for eons. Hell, this particular yaupon I’m holding was harvested and packaged by Native folk. There’s even a badge on the box that says “Made/Produced by American Indians”.
Yaupon should be huge. It’s a nice hardy plant that grows all over the southern USA. So why isn’t it in everyone’s pantry?
Because white people have suppressed it in favour of coffee and tea. Ridiculously, William Aiton—a British botanist acting in the interest of the royal botanical gardens—officially named the plant “Ilex vomitoria” just so everyone would think it’s disgusting when it’s clearly not.
Promoting a free, native, and abundant caffeinated alternative growing wild in the Americas? The British couldn’t have that happen. That’s a threat to their bottom line.
Now tea, something you import and must pay taxes on, that’s the mark of civilization. No way this will come back to haunt the British. Nope, not at all.
Nevertheless, the naming gambit worked. It hurt the commercial prospects for Yaupon.
The final blow came with the U.S. government’s forced removal of Cherokee, Creek, and other Southeastern tribes off their ancestral lands during the Trail of Tears. This severed many indigenous peoples’ connections with yaupon.
But you can’t keep a good caffeinated beverage down. 15 years ago, yaupon has been reclaimed by American farmers leading to a resurgence. And Native Americans are leading the way. You can’t keep now order it easily online.
This particular yaupon is USDA certified, regenerative organic certified, and kosher. And while as a Canadian, I’m not too fond of the USA right now, I will always support my indigenous brothers and sisters who are making something great.
One neat thing about yaupon is that, unlike tea, it has no tannins. Which means it’s incredibly forgiving to brew and doesn’t get bitter. You simply cannot over-steep it.
So today, I’m putting in 1tsp of yaupon into a pot, adding boiling water, and steeping it for 5 minutes. I may try gongfu some day, but again, this is not tea. I’m therefore going to see what a solid infusion gets me.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/52bfe4c9f10ea0d37252a1c11dcf635f43d7790e97452995d7de34a795fa7cf0.jpeg

2026-06-14 03:58:45 GMT

Catching Australia vs. Türkiye because that's happening in Vancouver at BC Place Stadium, the first #WorldCup match ever there.
Hmmm... I just noticed that Apple autocorrects Türkiye so that the umlaut is added and I don't like that. I think all special characters in English should be voluntary.

2026-06-13 02:18:16 GMT

HAHAHAHA!!!
Paraguay just got caught flopping! Initially, they got a free kick. But upon review, no contact was even made—and they got a yellow card as a result!
God, I'm not even cheering for USA, but this is pathetic on Paraguay's part.
#WorldCup #soccer
#note1rmg…knu6

2026-06-13 02:12:34 GMT

Sebastian Berholter plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps, so I'm happy that he made USA's #WorldCup team.
#soccer
#note1x9e…5t76

2026-06-13 02:10:12 GMT

USA's #soccer kit reminds me of Waldo.
#WorldCup
https://atomicpoet.org/media/7bda4bd8482d4b6c1e48a7982fd0acb9be708b9bfcf5de30a439ffeae3028f31.png
https://atomicpoet.org/media/b1dac9cf5750a12e0a3887718cb60fc99f957a25e1c4a843cb759af02f7df897.png
#note1tlx…6g5p

2026-06-13 02:01:05 GMT

Now joining the USA vs. Paraguay #WorldCup match, and I'm shocked that it's only half-time and USA is leading 3-0.
Absolutely disgusting lead.
#soccer

2026-06-12 23:06:51 GMT

Now watching Toronto Argonauts vs. Montréal Alouettes.
It's funny, nobody likes the Argos. Torontonians don't even like the Argos. They see the Argos as a hick team that prevents Toronto from getting an NFL team—spoiling them from having a World Class City™.
But this is why I cheer on the Argos.
As for the Alouettes, I should cheer for them since I have family in Montréal. But I also have family in Toronto—who hate the Argos. And I look being a contrarian asshole.
#CFL #football

2026-06-10 04:11:47 GMT

There’s always studies about the health benefits of tea but they don’t always give you the full picture.
It is true that green tea is high in catechins, tannins, polyphonels, and antioxidants—and this reduces heart disease risk.
But it’s also true that if you have gastrointestinal sensitivity and acid reflux, green tea can be absolutely brutal for you and a complete no go.
This is why yellow tea is worth exploring. It is similar to green tea but without the acidic edges.
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/health/other/the-best-tea-for-heart-disease-backed-by-dietitians/ar-AA22k2hI

2026-06-09 16:53:54 GMT

I was right: after big time greed on the stock market, there’s a massive correction.
Yesterday was a dead cat bounce. So far today? S&P has fallen 2.08%, and NASDAQ Composite is down a staggering 3.37%.
We are now strongly back in fear territory. What’s the catalyst for all this?
First, lots of Americans got hired recently. That’s good for the economy but not good for mega-cap tech companies. More jobs mean more people have money which means debt—which they use to fund their operations—won’t be cheap.
The other factor is SpaceX, which is set to have their IPO this week. This adds a mega-cap with a 1.7T valuation to the market. One which institutional investors must buy because a lot of ETFs are passive. So to do this, they’re likely selling off Apple or Amazon in preparation for buying SpaceX.
The question is: how far will this fall further?
https://atomicpoet.org/media/d5542ba6c36f9763738c1e04e09277f4b609b37f63d95bb46da6b2400c6b61b5.jpeg

2026-06-09 16:10:10 GMT

Plantation Simulator was advertised as a game in which you could buy and abuse black slaves. This isn’t that notable. There’s lots of edgelord games out there made for and by terrible people.
What is notable is that, two hours after it was launched—outside Steam refund window—the dev issued a patch that turned all the slaves white.
This upset a lot of awful people who bought the game with the expectation that they could enslave black people only to realize they could no longer do this. They were now stuck with white slaves. The whole thing was a rug pull.
As of May 24, the dev has since removed the game from Steam, claiming he’s said everything he wanted to say.
But before it was removed, this game had overwhelmingly negative reviews on Steam. But not because it was racist. No, it was because racists could no longer live out their fantasy.
https://kotaku.com/racist-plantation-game-trolls-valve-watches-2000698673
https://atomicpoet.org/media/d72aa531608314ebe1c4f2f63969eee62e6f581e11d5b1c7230c36e4a401489a.jpeg
https://atomicpoet.org/media/c3dac579092fcaaad2ea86aef7e681c228c08f6f9ec75d1ba6bf8b4cf1ecddd8.png

2026-06-08 21:05:40 GMT

- reply

Apparently, there’s academics like Judith Butler who defines queerness as an action.
That is, to “queer” something means to disrupt, subvert, and challenge dominant social norms.
But this means dismantling traditional patriarchy and heteronormative expectations in his personal life.
That said, I feel under qualified to have an opinion on this since I’m not a member of the LGBTQ+ community except in the sense of being an ally.

2026-06-08 20:54:55 GMT

The other day, I met a cis straight man who claims to be heteroqueer.
He told me that, although he feels no gender dysphoria and is only attracted to women, he’s culturally queer in the sense that he identifies with the LGBTQ+ community.

2026-06-07 08:37:14 GMT

Neon Space Ultra is a Space Invader-style fixed screen shooter, but with more enemy varieties and patterns.
It’s also a game I’ve owned for 10 years, and has now been delisted from Steam—so you can’t legally buy it.
It’s about what you’d expect: a simple arcade game with retro graphics and nice music. I don’t mind it at all.
And I miss the days when so much of PC gaming was a clone of arcade games. If you were around during the shareware era, you know what I’m talking about. Playing some variant of an Atari game was practically a rite of passage.
You can still find games like this on Steam, but they’re no longer as popular.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/9a238751ccfca8c5025ebac11ac94040d7e032bb18ecaf741cae9d2ecbf94030.jpeg

2026-06-07 07:04:48 GMT

The Flaming Lips - Race For The Prize (Running)
My favourite Flaming Lips song ever, and it's practically perfect. The two main characters of the song are two competing athletes locked in a lifelong marathon. And while they're scientists, the song visualizes their work as a gruelling and physical—side-by-side sprints—pushing their hearts and lungs to the absolute limit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs56ygZplQA
#note1lam…yg94

2026-06-07 06:58:30 GMT

The Super Bowl Shuffle – Chicago Bears Shufflin' Crew (Football)
The Shufflin' Crew is actually players from the Chicago Bears doing their best to rap along to a 80s synth-funk backing track. And you know what? It actually works. I don't think you can make a better song about football.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnwmxJ6RDHw
#note1afs…xtes

2026-06-07 06:53:58 GMT

The Legend of Chavo Guerrero – The Mountain Goats
This song is about watching watching the legendary Chavo on a fuzzy television screen, executing a perfect dynamic dropkick off the ropes, and defending his title against "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. But it is also about surviving a difficult childhood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9YvDfiAXT8
#note1zn9…n25g

2026-06-07 06:48:32 GMT

The Boxer – Simon & Garfunkel (Boxing)
One of my favourite Simon & Garfunkel songs ever. It's just a great story about a resilient fighter, but also about the isolation of the big city. I actually have this song on vinyl.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVPruOUlIkM
#note170c…plf2

2026-06-07 06:38:03 GMT

Fast Car – Tracy Chapman (Auto Racing)
Okay, I know Tracy Chapman wasn't exactly singing about auto racing and it's a metaphor for something else completely. But I still can't help but associate it with racing because, come on, it's about a fast car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIOAlaACuv4
#note1wzd…fawp

2026-06-07 06:35:15 GMT

De Ghuma Ke – Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy (Cricket)
Listen, if I'm going to share a cricket song, it will be the one that India commissioned for the 2011 Cricket World Cup. And it just so happens to be an absolute banger with an infectious beat. Almost like Jamaican dancehall—that's how hard it goes. There's even a guitar solo!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zfgi0pFNdMU
#note1zp2…pjs3

2026-06-07 06:27:25 GMT

World in Motion – New Order (Soccer)
Every time the #WorldCup happens, algorithms send me this song—and I never complain because it's such a banger. I'm a huge fan of New Order anyway and *love* their albums. But even if I wasn't fan, this is just a world class song about soccer. Also, John Barnes does the rapping in this song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re4aDJL3heA
#note1yea…zrp6

2026-06-07 06:23:00 GMT

Basketball – Kurtis Blow (Basketball)
This isn't just a basketball song, it's a time capsule to the 80s when hip hop was a baby, and we got to witness some of the best basketball ever committed to court. Because who can forget Dr. J, Moses Malone, Bird, and Magic?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_shxzlTRK44
#note1qc0…ua0y

2026-06-07 06:19:35 GMT

The Hockey Song – Stompin' Tom Connors
This song is an institution in Canada. Even covered by punk bands. It really gets to the rollicking, high octane nature of the sport. If you don't get why people go crazy for hockey, you need to hear this song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxJvrD80nJ4
#note1jq6…76a2

2026-06-07 06:17:05 GMT

Today, let's talk about pop songs about sports.
And actually, I'm doing a whole thread about this theme where I talk about 10 songs about 10 unique sports.
Let's go!

2026-06-07 05:05:51 GMT

"Come Back to Erin" was a massive 19th century hit—composed by Claribel, the woman who arguably invented pop music itself.
But once you strip away the bright, pleasant major-key melody typical of Victorian parlour songs, this is such a dark and devastating song that actually chokes me up.
Because it *seems* hopeful, but it's actually about loss.
The chorus rests entirely on a desperate plea:
> Come with the shamrocks and spring-time... and its Killarney shall ring with our mirth."
Erin, the character singing, is comforting himself with the idea that this separation from his beloved Colleen is just a temporary, seasonal hitch. He likens it to a long winter that will inevitably end when the weather warms up.
But back in the 1860s, when young working-class Irish women left for England or America, it wasn't a holiday. Remember, Ireland was still reeling from the Potato Famine. So if you were leaving it was forever, and it was find work as a domestic servant, factory worker, or a labourer.
So Erin is begging for a homecoming that, statistically and financially, is never going to happen.
It's the final verse where it gets incredibly heavy:
> When by the fireside I watch the bright embers... Cravin' to know if my darlin' remembers, Or if her thoughts may be crossin' to me.
Erin is frozen in time, trapped in the exact same physical space they’ve always occupied, staring into a dying fire. Meanwhile, Colleen is in "beautiful England". And Erin is realizing that she might be moving on.
Thus, Erin is powerless. He stands on the shore, watching the "white sail" disappear until a "grey curtain" of rain cuts off their vision entirely. He can't follow her. He has no control over her safety, which is why he has to "consign to the keepin'" of angels to watch over her.
And when he sings:
> Sure, when we lent ye to beautiful England...
Colleen isn't being lent. "Lent" implies a voluntary, neighbourly loan. But the Irish didn't "lend" their youth to England out of generosity. They were forced out of the land of their birth—to the country that caused their hardship and grief.
And Erin is putting a brave, polite face on it all by calling it "beautiful England."
The song has a cheerful, catchy melody. But it's to drown out the terrifying knowledge that his "jewel" is gone forever.
https://youtu.be/EXiHAqfPt7M

2026-06-07 03:49:40 GMT

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It’s basically W.H. Auden tag-teaming with New York Pro Music Antiqua. He reads some verse, then some old Elizabethan music is played and sung.

2026-06-07 03:34:36 GMT

Look what I found for $2 at a thrift store!
No one cares about classical vinyl, especially old vinyl—never mind something as obscure as this.
But it features both New York Pro Musica Antiqua and W.H Auden, and I’m such a sucker for this kind of antiquarian weirdness.
I suspect whoever bought this previously acquired it simply as a status symbol because the vinyl is unplayed. But I’m giving it a solid listen for the next week.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/6ea3000504ee1479903efc840a8eeefd2f2ee229836e10d24fc292d514d20938.jpeg

2026-06-06 20:36:28 GMT

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The other side is King Charles’ portrait.

2026-06-06 20:11:59 GMT

My wife actually spent 2 hours in line at a post office because she thought I’d love this World Cup limited edition loonie.
I appreciate the gift.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/b17d160ec28bf8d30b5724d6b1a943bca40828d68d6bcc5f5baddd1d46750dba.jpeg

2026-06-06 19:52:58 GMT

"How does this ultra-obscure post-punk song have so many views?"
*listens to the music*
Okay, now I get it.
https://youtu.be/IENH6f2Cz0g

2026-06-06 19:35:05 GMT

People are getting into literal fights over LEGO.
https://youtu.be/1L__h8BGF7M

2026-06-06 18:48:06 GMT

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Sorry, that was meant to be a reply, not a quote boost.
Anyway, I don't agree with catcalling. No "ifs" or "buts" about that.
I actually don't think anyone should be talking to anyone they don't know unless they've somehow blatantly signalled that they want to be approached. And some women *do* want to be approached, they just don't often have a socially acceptable mechanism for this signal.

2026-06-06 18:40:35 GMT

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You don't have to convince me—I avoid teabags. That doesn't stop people from giving me teabags as gifts.
Anyway, in Vahdam's defence, at least they don't use plastic. But plastic or not, I still don't like teabags.

2026-06-06 18:25:41 GMT

So this is why it's often worth busting open teabags, extracting the leaves so they can go loose leaf in a teapot.
I was given Imperial Himalayan white tea as a Christmas gift. I knew, looking at the leaves inside the bag, they didn't deserve this insult.
Now I realize that tea companies often advertise pyramid bags as somewhat better than the old fashioned flat pillow cases of yesteryear. This is actually only true for CTC-style tea, but it's not true for whole leaf or broken leaf tea—which I have right here.
Tea leaves demand expansion. And here's a case in point.
Even though it doesn't look like I have that much leave in here, after a two minute infusion, notice how much the leaves expand—which wouldn't have been possible if I kept it in a teabag.
The end result is actually a fine white tea. Not exceptional, but more drinkable than if it were left in the teabag.
I suspect this is a white tea made in Darjeeling, or somewhere close to it, because it has that signature Darjeeling taste—but as a white tea. Less woodsy than a Chinese white tea, and more floral. Zero harshness or astringency. Now *this* is a delicate tea!
If I ever order this from Vahdam, I'll make damn sure to keep things loose leaf.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/dcd8ecf901c15a64a62cc5088f562566294f16320d02a8b1b4756fb996b19d22.jpg
https://atomicpoet.org/media/d2d7ec3781b1b38d24f09ec66333f40260fe3292d564613863d84bf5abe9c41a.jpg
https://atomicpoet.org/media/a0fba7116b56cea69f312cabe6087fe8f3ae562b0f33467613ae709102ae228a.jpg
https://atomicpoet.org/media/ca02bf5ec43dbb4de28b19438b0d97ec2ddf21953158d2eff3e2d83b1fa12c49.jpg

2026-06-06 08:35:52 GMT

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I don’t know. There’s a lot of shovelware with no love. And you can tell.

2026-06-06 08:08:54 GMT

In PC gaming, there’s a genre called Slavjank—so-called because Eastern Europeans are known for this.
It’s basically budget games that try their best to feel like the big leagues, and in some way they succeed, but corners have been cut to make it happen.
Three Heroes is a game I’ve owned for 10 years, and it is a clear example of Slavjank. You got beautiful graphics, a compelling soundtrack, a neat world. But the controls are wonky as hell and you start wondering why they chose Comic Sans as the UI font.
You can tell this was made with love. Someone put their heart into it. But again, corners were cut.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/c589ef6da980961818dab8be32532460d6e52de7b067ac020721488dc8cf0d8b.jpeg

2026-06-06 08:00:40 GMT

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Why is this even a political topic at all? To me, there is nothing political about being clear and precise about intentions.

2026-06-06 05:10:23 GMT

I had an argument with female friend of mine who says that men should approach women in public if there are “micro-green flags” like a glance that lasts a second too long, a genuine smile, or open body language.
My stance is that are notoriously bad at detecting “micro-green flags”.
How the hell does anyone know if a look is lingering or they’re just zoning out?
Listen, I’m generally not a fan of arbitrary romantic or sexual signals. It is a bad idea to expect people you are interested in to be mind readers.

2026-06-01 23:31:39 GMT

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Because a rinse gets rid of fannings and dust which can create over extraction, especially if tea is stored for 5 or more years, which is often the case for stuff like pu’ehr.
You can feed the water to plants. They love it.

2026-06-01 05:45:44 GMT

What your favourite type of tea says about you:
* **Black tea** – you are a creature of habit who wishes they were drinking coffee, but you prefer curry over tacos and have accepted this as your fate
* **Green tea** – you follow whatever health craze is popular this month, eat a suspicious amount of sushi, and have strong opinions about rock gardens
* **White tea** – you're a nudist, or you would be if your skin didn’t react to sunlight like a Victorian child seeing a ghost
* **Oolong tea** – you feel weirdly attracted to mountains, and you own at least 1 goat hair sweater you describe as “honest”
* **Pu'ehr tea** – you're obsessed with kung fu and believe you can harness the power of chi, mostly by hanging out in a damp wooden basement
* **Yellow tea** – you're a god damn hipster who quit drinking IPAs because it went way too mainstream so you're obsessed with anything similar to a damp Victorian cloth
Here’s a version closer to the style of the list:
Anyway, no matter what tea you drink, the real problem is that you own a kettle and have started treating it like a small metal family member. You probably think someone is going to steal it, which is completely unhinged, because who the hell is breaking into your house for a boiled water heater?

2026-05-30 16:24:40 GMT

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Yes, you do this with Chinese tea. But this is not Chinese tea. It's finely ground Ceylon tea, which comes from Sri Lanka. The reason it's Hong Kong-style is because of how it's used in Hong Kong.
You don't rinse this tea with hot water because the purpose of a rinse is to open the leaves. But since this is practically dust, you can't open anything. The moment water hits this, all the tannins immediately get activated.
Which is why I don't go gongfu style with this and instead use an Aeropress, brewing this exactly how I make coffee.

2026-05-30 16:12:00 GMT

Here's what Hong Kong-style tea looks like.
And if you think this looks like coffee, yeah, you're right. Which is why I brew this with an Aeropress—exactly how I make coffee.
To be sure, this is *not* coffee. It's finely ground tea leaves. But it is so strong, even a 30 second steep is overpowering. It's actually more overpowering than coffee.
Which is why *everyone* drinks this with milk. Let me emphasize again—everyone drinks this with milk because drinking it by itself is actually insane. And even with thick condensed or evaporated milk, boy oh boy, it will knock your socks clean off.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/ea5ba2438e9dac5cc520d3e580ab153816f5c3e63fbc4fc661244a7c30a0659f.jpg
#note1jae…udy5

2026-05-30 16:03:17 GMT

Today’s tea is Hong Kong-style tea, which is actually 100% Ceylon black tea—but not the kind you likely know.
In my attempt to drink all the tea in my house, I’m now imbibing in one of the most ridiculous teas I own. Let me explain.
This tea is ultra fine. So fine that it causes particulates to fly when you open the lid. But I assure you this is neither matcha nor instant tea powder.
No, you are supposed to steep this. But not for long. You cannot go gongfu with this. Nor can you go Western-style with a teabag. In Hong Kong, they use a filter that resembles pantyhose to work with this.
I, of course, do not have such a filter. So I just tried an experiment: using an Aeropress—making this exactly how you make coffee.
And it actually worked. Because, you don’t want to steep this for long. Even at 30 seconds, it’s strong.
So I dumped two teaspoons into the Aeropress. Then I added boiling water. I timed for 30 seconds, then I used the Aeropress plunger to compress the finely ground leaves.
What’s hilarious about this is that it made an even more compressed puck than my coffee.
But how does it taste? Let me tell you, even at 30 seconds, you do not want to drink this by itself. Milk is absolutely required.
So I put in 2tbsp of condensed milk. And finally, this thing worked well as a beverage. Which is totally fine—nobody in Hong Kong drinks this without milk.
Now many of you wonder if I hate “strong” teas, preferring delicate green and oolong instead. But this—this absolutely puts your English Breakfasts and a builder’s brews to shame. It is so strong that even a 30 second steep makes it stronger than coffee.
I’m not joking. In fact, in Hong Kong, they often combine Hong Kong-style tea with coffee to make a mutant beverage known as yeunyeung. And believe it or not, the coffee takes the edge off of tea.
I actually quite like this tea a lot. But it’s because it’s an example of Chinese people—colonized by the British—looking at English tea and going, “You think that’s a knife? No, this is a knife.”
Trust me, this tea will knock your socks off.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/354cda028d4c0b86622030a0a9cd374d57bc2ad42e9504c9dd9db84de0935c64.jpeg

2026-05-27 20:12:00 GMT

Today’s tea is ChaTraMue Brand Thai Tea Mix (Extra Gold).
In my quest to drink all the tea in my house, many of you might find this a shocking departure from the pu’ehr and oolongs I’ve been showing off recently.
This is a finely milled, heavily flavored commercial blend designed to punch through a lot of sugar, milk, and ice.
ChaTraMue is most famous for its standard "Red Tin," which produces the vibrant, neon-orange Thai iced tea found in restaurants worldwide. But this Extra Gold version I have represents their premium blend. It uses a higher grade of Assam black tea and is formulated to have a much more robust, earthy tea flavour.
Typically, I don’t like teabags. But there are exceptions. This is one of them because the tea is deliberately astringent so it can survive the spices and flavours: star anise, crushed tamarind seed, cardamom, and vanilla.
Extra Gold is often used for iced teas. But today, I’m drinking this hot with condensed milk.
First, I put a teabag in a mug.
Then I pour the boiling water directly over them and let it steep for 4 to 5 minutes. Before removing the teabags, I press them firmly against the side of the mug with a spoon to extract the concentrated, dark tea and the remaining spices. Afterwards, discard the bag.
While the tea is still piping hot, I add two teaspoons of condensed milk.
This makes for a wonderful dessert tea.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/4e990cbecaa5cdc11d9471cf9a36510a7a4312dfb06db910e58e04c14ce463bf.jpeg

2026-05-27 18:57:41 GMT

My wife and I have vastly different tastes when it comes to female singers.
She prefers singers like Adele while I prefer singers like Hope Sandoval.
In terms of technique, I understand that Adele is next level.
But there's something about Hope Sandoval that's so intensely feminine that she can sing literally anything and—no matter the effort—you *must* stop and listen to her. She doesn't need vocal acrobatics. She doesn't need runs or a whistle register. She can just sing and it means something.
https://youtu.be/o4m5jQy5A2U

2026-05-26 01:46:05 GMT

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I’m constantly chasing raccoons out of my yard. They’re hissing at me and all I want is to enjoy a beer.

2026-05-23 16:58:38 GMT

First trying English dust tea without milk and sugar.
Best I can say is it’s tolerable. But if I brewed this for longer than 2 minutes, it would be intolerable.
The key taste is astringency. It’s basically just tannins.
I would rather drink coffee black than drink this tea without milk and sugar.
#note1mmj…c55f

2026-05-23 16:50:29 GMT

So the big question that nobody is asking:
Can I improve English tea dust by brewing it loose leaf in a teapot, putting it in an equalizer—before pouring into a mug?
#note1thu…tntd

2026-05-23 16:40:47 GMT

This is why I have such low expectations for this English tea.
Opening the tin, I immediately see dust.
Not even CTC. Actual dust.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/a4da0936a84a91cdb128bf5839219f55045ecdd81a7c36194cbb8aabcf01b9ce.jpeg
#note1edw…06m0

2026-05-23 16:36:28 GMT

Today’s tea is London Icon Telephone Box black tea by Richmond Tea.
In my quest to drink all the tea in my house, I’m now trying this English tea in a novelty canister that was gifted to me by someone who wanted to share their favourite with me.
I appreciate a gift.
Yet I won’t lie, I’m also dreading this. I am not a fan of so-called English tea—which is really just re-branded Indian or Kenyan tea but not high quality
But I’ll try everything once. Give it an honest opinion—even admit when my expectations were wrong. Which happened two days ago when I tasted North Indian green tea.
So I’ll make this the “honest” way. Put a teaspoon in a clay teapot, brew with boiling hot water for two minutes. But I’m also going to add sugar and milk because no tastebuds should be sacrificed in an experiment for which the expected results are likely.
English tea fans, just remember that I’m trying.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/591c0c230acfb8143f01a8f5cedca233b62a1791c1b134677a30ad2d9b5f9cd6.jpeg

2026-05-22 22:42:45 GMT

Just discovered a ghost kitchen in an industrial warehouse—right on No. 6 Rd in Richmond, BC, Canada.
They make Japanese, Vietnamese, and Taiwanese food. Uber Eats and DoorDash sees this as six unique restaurants, but all the food is made right here.
Surprisingly, they have a sit down area for dining in. So I’m trying this out. Just ordered their Yuzu Shio Ramen.
https://atomicpoet.org/media/b5344c5f28e72d48b7a0636fe9ca79b519e749c861cd94a9b3fcda3fe98572fb.jpeg

2026-05-21 05:49:08 GMT

I just had to go for a walk because, listen, the stock market is a stress-inducing yo-yo.
NASDAQ Composite fell after hours after Nvidia beat earnings yet again. But then Nikkei 225 is up 4% today.
Stock market is up. Yet bond market is spooked. Call options are higher than puts. McLellan Volume is down.
It is 10:48PM and this is what I’m thinking about.

2026-05-21 02:17:45 GMT

Those were great #PWHL playoffs. Historic for more reasons than one.
Maybe the Vancouver Goldeneyes will win it next year. I can only hope.
Nevertheless, what did you all think of Montréal Victoire winning the 2026 Walter Cup?
#note1ymu…qxyf

2026-05-21 02:02:52 GMT

WHAT A MOMENT!
Seeing the Montréal Victoire holding the Walter Cup is so special.
#PWHL #HNOM #hockey
#note15p2…l88f

2026-05-21 01:42:35 GMT

MONTREAL VICTOIRE WIN THE WALTER CUP!!!
First Canadian team to do it!
What a game! What a series! Both teams putting it all out there!
Montréal Victoire 4-0 Ottawa Charge
#PWHL #HNOM #hockey
#note1hhq…tfgw

2026-05-21 01:36:12 GMT

2 minutes left in the gameand empty net for Ottawa Charge!
#PWHL #HNOM #hockey
#note1klk…wr5p

2026-05-21 01:34:05 GMT

Lina Ljungblom seals the deal for Montréal Victoire with a deke in front of the net.
Or it should seal the deal. I’ll eat my hat if Ottawa Charge come back.
Montréal Victoire 4-0 Ottawa Charge
#PWHL #HNOM #hockey
#note1tzd…p3l4

2026-05-21 01:28:51 GMT

OH. MY. GOD.
Bomb from the blue line gets Montréal Victoire their 3rd goal! Maggie Flaherty with the beautiful slap shot!
Ottawa has no answer so far and time is running out!
Montréal Victoire 3-0 Ottawa Charge
#PWHL #HNOM #hockey
#note15ec…p9s7

2026-05-21 01:20:27 GMT

Well, that’s wild!
Short-handed goal from Abby Roque which gets Marie-Philip Poulin out of the penalty box! Jail break!
Less than 10 minutes left! Can Ottawa actually pull a rabbit out of a hat like they did last time? Or are they cooked?!
Montréal Victoire 2-0 Ottawa Charge
#PWHL #HNOM #hockey
#note1fq0…dyzd

2026-05-21 00:45:20 GMT

End of 2nd period.
Game is way more interesting as Ottawa Charge pours on the pressure and just doesn't let up. Montréal Victoire goalie Ann Renée Desbiens has been a wall. But will she break?
Montréal Victoire 1-0 Ottawa Charge
#PWHL #HNOM #hockey
#note12mt…n00z