Tim Dickinson

A reminder for those of us in winter: clean your heat pump's air filters. I'd let this slip longer than I should have, just cleaned them, and it's now blasting heat like a furnace.

First at Five: Medical Misinformation A new study finds Canadians are turning to artificial intelligence for medical information, and it may be causing them harm.

Whoops, I accidentally deleted a post.

Here are the two street interview video clips I did yesterday in Halifax, one for CTV local and one for Global national, both about people using AI for healthcare questions.

www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/vid...

globalnews.ca/video/116623...

People ‘must be very careful’ using AI for medical advice | Watch News Videos Online Watch People ‘must be very careful’ using AI for medical advice Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca

And then here's the segment from Global indie about 60 seconds later. 😆 #HaliSky globalnews.ca/video/116623...

a laptop with the word awareness on the bottom right ALT: a laptop with the word awareness on the bottom right

They asked about using AI. I cannot say for sure how they generated the questions. That would, indeed, be pretty meta if they used AI to generate questions to ask a human about AI.

And it looks like there's a good chance I'm on local CTV News *and* Global National News tonight (or soon). I was walking home along Spring Garden Road and reporters for each stopped to ask me AI questions. #HaliSky

Me, outside an elementary school

Many years ago I worked for the Canadian Space Agency. My 6th grader's class is doing a module on space technology, so today I talked to them about my experiences. And then answered lots of questions like, How much money could you get for a moon rock? 😆

Coffee and a brown paper bag with treat inside, on a counter on the 2nd floor of a coffee/pizza shop. Other patrons lining up for coffee below or already enjoying theirs at small tables.

Café stop after watching Saturday morning basketball.

That way lies madness and self-loathing.

The Globalization of Canadian Rage: "We're all Canadian now." Archived NYT opinion piece. archive.is/ZZouR

YouTube video by TheOneCrazyCanuck Tom Green & Organized Rhyme "Check The O.R."

It's been a while since I checked the O.R. youtu.be/ZV7aOnX7XeE?...

UK pop-punk artist Yungblud, dressed in black with arms crossed

I like rock music but I don't care for Yungblud. Do I have good taste or am I old? (Or both? 🤓)

Me, in black jacket and red pants, helmet and mask, standing on my skis atop a snowy hill

Me, mask and helmet, looking out over trees at the top of the ski hill

Going up a chair lift

Inside a busy ski lodge at lunch time

First ski of the year yesterday at Wentworth! Felt great.

Either can be a source of pride.

Screen shot of the Rotten Tomatoes review page for the film "Melania". Scores are 6% based on 16 reviews, but 99% based on "viewers"!

Nothing odd to see here.

@dcule.bsky.social 😆

Me, in winter coat and hat, wearing glasses, in a coffee shop

Mid-day run for coffee beans at Java Blend. #HaliSky

I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter on How To Torment Children.™

Extremely!

My son is at his friend's house and not home. The moral quandary: do I tell him when he gets back? 😆

Round tin full of delicious brownies

Yesterday an elderly neighbour across the street asked if she could pay my son to shovel her driveway when the snow came. I said no, we'd be happy to shovel her out. Round 1 done, round 2 tomorrow.

The neighbour just rang my doorbell to drop off this tin of homemade brownies, still warm!

Skillet of golden cornbread on my stovetop

Cornbread in a plastic bag with a wedge cut out, making it look like Pac Man

The cornbread I made last night should be chasing ghosts through a maze. #pacman

What a ridiculous take on the speeches at Davos. Even the right-wing parts of the internet that praised Trump's rambling diatribe knew better than to talk shit about Carney's speech.

Opinion | Trump Just Proved Carney’s Point

Good read. Carney was brave.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/25/o...

YouTube video by ChildishGambinoVEVO Childish Gambino - This Is America (Official Video)

Worth remembering. youtu.be/VYOjWnS4cMY?...

Google results showing a huge increase of searches for the word "hegemon" in the last few days. Canadian PM Mark Carney used this word a few times in his Davos WEF 2026 speech.

I just watched Mark Carney's Davos WEF 2026 speech, followed by Donald Trump's speech.

Canada has the right leader for this moment.

I also noted this effect of Carney's speech.

Dee Dee's Ice Cream is opening a second location in Richmond Yards

It will serve as their production facility but have a take out counter

and no fear the original location is staying on Nora Bernard

Since Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech at Davos captured the attention of the world, Trump wants even more attention and the only way he knows how to get it is inarticulate, cruel threats, so that’s his speech.*

*written before Trump’s speech because we all know what’s coming.

#Davos
#WEF

US: "We don't need trade with Canada."

Canada: "OK, we'll make other deals."

US: "Bad idea, dude."

🙄

Flying foxes die in their thousands in worst mass-mortality event since Australia’s black summer Volunteers found thousands of dead bats at Melbourne’s Brimbank park, wildlife expert says * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Thousands of flying foxes have perished in the heatwave that scorched south-east Australia last week, the largest mass mortality event for flying foxes since black summer. Extreme temperatures resulted in deaths in camps across South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. Grey-headed flying foxes, listed as vulnerable under federal environment laws, were the most affected. Continue reading...

Flying foxes die in their thousands in worst mass-mortality event since Australia’s black summer

WTF, America?

My south end Halifax home property assessment value only went up by 5% from last year. That's the smallest increase in the last 5 years, and is a better outcome than I'd hoped.

Of course I bought the house this year, so I can only stare wistfully at the previous capped assessment values...