(and most people under the age of 35 are most familiar with Randy Newman as 'the Toy Story guy', so you can really lure them in to that punchline)

(if anyone's in need of a new karaoke standard, especially if you are - like me - a pretty poor singer, this one's a winner. Doesn't need a huge range or good intonation, lots of fun inflections, not very long)

I wish to be counted!

On the one hand, it's been a bit of a rough week. On the other, my karaoke rendition of Randy Newman's 'Political Science' has never got a bigger reaction than it did on Tuesday.

Highlight of the CAN-FIN game today was my partner (philosopher but not hockey guy) coming out of his office as I was watching the game to ask why he kept hearing stuff about 'Brandom Hegel'

I remember the Golden Goal of 2010 like it was yesterday, in part because even out in the suburbs where I was the collective victory yell of the city of Vancouver was audible and palpable. Now imagine that at 7 in the morning.

Obviously I never want Team USA to win a hockey game ever, but it would be pretty funny if the gold medal game was at a time that was maximally inconvenient for literally all of the relevant fans

How am I supposed to just have a normal day after that hockey game. I could feel the years coming off my lifespan.

This is just what it's like living next to the CMU Philosophy department

Especially when you suspect that some of the the countries to which the skaters are being exported are on the 'to conquer' list. Sure, they're not counted as Russian medals *now*, but...

If your goal is to punish the Russian Skating Federation for their many crimes, you can't leave the loophole where their skaters (trained by their coaches in their facilities) can just compete for every other country

Have we considered putting sanctions on Russian exports of figure skaters.

'Describe the process of making bobbin lace'

The thing is that a lot of the skaters who were really bad today were fine in the team event a few days ago, and in the short program the day before last (especially Siao Him Fa, poor guy). If there's ice trouble, it's new. I guess we'll see what happens with the Pairs on Sunday.

Yes, but I remember the speed skaters yesterday complaining that it wasn't hard enough. Perhaps it's just inconsistent?

In an ironic way, everyone before you messing up puts more pressure on you as a skater, since you're now looking at a once-in-a-lifetime chance to punch above your weight. I imagine that's what spooked Malinin - after Kagiyama skated imperfectly, the path before him was just too clear and too easy.

I've heard some idle speculation about ice quality (both in figure and speed skating, which use the same arena), but to the best of my knowledge it is just idle speculation. Figure skating is a very mental sport, so without further information I'd say the 'nerves' explanation is sufficient.

But not like a figure skater landing things today! Which they did not do!

I'm not sure how to translate the magnitude of this event for non-figure-skating watchers. Um. Imagine if... it was the Superbowl... and suddenly nobody could catch the football or throw the football even if they're normally pretty good at it

It makes sense that so much of the focus is on Malinin (largest difference between expectation and result + US bias on this and every website) but I cannot overstate the degree to which almost everyone was fucking terrible today

To be fair, this is what we get for putting the men’s free skate on Friday the 13th. #MilanoCortina2026

I've been watching figure skating for a long time, and I'm not sure I've ever seen a bloodbath like that.

Yes, I do this regularly. And you'd be surprised at how much sewing increases the amount of hang-to-dry laundry one needs to do. All fabric should be pre-washed. It's still barely a dent in the Toronto Winter Armour, but we just need to hold on until spring.

But the humidity... Alas.

Oh, both. The portable one was practical, the whole-home one was aspirational.

Trust me, I have watched the full Technology Connections Humidifier saga, in my desperate - perhaps vain - attempt to grow tropical plants in Toronto

I never understood why everyone hated 'Beautiful Things' until watching the Olympics on CBC, where it's in fully half of the ads

I too immediately forgot about Coldplay as soon as they leave my field of vision

I know why this is the case but it is still remarkable to see people complaining about Bad Bunny (who is American) not being American enough for the super bowl when I didn't hear a word about The Weeknd. Or Rhianna. Or Shakira. Or Coldplay. They've had the Rolling Stones up there.