Dave Tait
@davetait.bsky.social
Living in Ottawa, happy and content
One reply: 'I had no idea what the “internet” was until I Googled it. It sounds awful!'
These replies are often clever or thoughtful, but are fascinating mostly as an example of the fable of the blindfolded scholars describing an elephant: they each know only the small part of it they can touch. /1
These replies are often clever or thoughtful, but are fascinating mostly as an example of the fable of the blindfolded scholars describing an elephant: they each know only the small part of it they can touch. /1
Readers reply: should we turn the internet off?
The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions ponders the online world – from what’s despicable to what’s indispensable
www.theguardian.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:45 PM
One reply: 'I had no idea what the “internet” was until I Googled it. It sounds awful!'
These replies are often clever or thoughtful, but are fascinating mostly as an example of the fable of the blindfolded scholars describing an elephant: they each know only the small part of it they can touch. /1
These replies are often clever or thoughtful, but are fascinating mostly as an example of the fable of the blindfolded scholars describing an elephant: they each know only the small part of it they can touch. /1
Danish amb to U.S.: “The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic…
"[Denmark has increased defence spending] that can be used in the Arctic and North Atlantic…
“And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
"[Denmark has increased defence spending] that can be used in the Arctic and North Atlantic…
“And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
US attack on Venezuela raises fears of future Greenland takeover
Danish ambassador posts ‘friendly reminder’ about defence ties after provocative Maga post over territory
www.theguardian.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Danish amb to U.S.: “The Kingdom of Denmark and the United States work together to ensure security in the Arctic…
"[Denmark has increased defence spending] that can be used in the Arctic and North Atlantic…
“And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
"[Denmark has increased defence spending] that can be used in the Arctic and North Atlantic…
“And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Reposted by Dave Tait
More than a little interesting.
Is it the news organization’s duty to protect US troops even if international law is about to be broken, and a sovereign nation invaded?
Is it the news organization’s duty to protect US troops even if international law is about to be broken, and a sovereign nation invaded?
NEW: Plans for secret U.S. raid to capture Maduro leaked to the Washington Post and New York Times before it happened, but both decided not to publish to protect U.S. troops - Semafor
January 4, 2026 at 10:47 AM
More than a little interesting.
Is it the news organization’s duty to protect US troops even if international law is about to be broken, and a sovereign nation invaded?
Is it the news organization’s duty to protect US troops even if international law is about to be broken, and a sovereign nation invaded?
Not sure, but seems the "foreign principals" this applies to are those owned or directed by foreign governments. That's a good step ― but what about those that are independent of a gov't but push the ideology/agenda their gov't shares? And what of cross-border org's dominated by foreign members?
Ottawa proposes fines of up to $1M for violating foreign influence registry rules | CBC News
The federal government has proposed fining people and organizations up to $1 million for failing to comply with the requirements of its planned foreign influence transparency registry.
www.cbc.ca
January 4, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Not sure, but seems the "foreign principals" this applies to are those owned or directed by foreign governments. That's a good step ― but what about those that are independent of a gov't but push the ideology/agenda their gov't shares? And what of cross-border org's dominated by foreign members?
Great end-to-end rush ― that you, Yvan Cournoyer?
Charge defeat Frost for 4th consecutive victory
Ottawa beats Minnesota 5-2 at TD Place Arena.
www.cbc.ca
January 4, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Great end-to-end rush ― that you, Yvan Cournoyer?
"You can have it send you a text message, you can have it send you an email, you can have it trigger a flashing light. You can even have it trigger potentially what we'd call a remote deterrent. So it could trigger a strobe light [or] a certain noise that might startle a bear, all remotely…”
Arctic communities testingnew 'bear-dar' to detect wildlife threats | CBC News
Bear-dar is designed to survey the landscape and detect anything that moves. It can be used by communities as an early warning system, alerting them to a nearby polar bear.
www.cbc.ca
January 4, 2026 at 2:49 PM
"You can have it send you a text message, you can have it send you an email, you can have it trigger a flashing light. You can even have it trigger potentially what we'd call a remote deterrent. So it could trigger a strobe light [or] a certain noise that might startle a bear, all remotely…”
' An emotional research team became tearful as they described how data shows the disease was slowed by 75% in patients.
It means the decline you would normally expect in one year would take four years after treatment, giving patients decades of "good quality life", [said] Prof Sarah Tabrizi. '
It means the decline you would normally expect in one year would take four years after treatment, giving patients decades of "good quality life", [said] Prof Sarah Tabrizi. '
January 4, 2026 at 6:03 AM
' An emotional research team became tearful as they described how data shows the disease was slowed by 75% in patients.
It means the decline you would normally expect in one year would take four years after treatment, giving patients decades of "good quality life", [said] Prof Sarah Tabrizi. '
It means the decline you would normally expect in one year would take four years after treatment, giving patients decades of "good quality life", [said] Prof Sarah Tabrizi. '
Greenland…
Given Gen. Caine's words today on the prep that preceded the attack on Venezuela, I'd put eyes on what the 11th Airborne is up to at Forts Wainwright and Richardson near Fairbanks and Anchorage respectively.
Increased training tempo? Tighter security? Movement in? Or out to Colorado?
Given Gen. Caine's words today on the prep that preceded the attack on Venezuela, I'd put eyes on what the 11th Airborne is up to at Forts Wainwright and Richardson near Fairbanks and Anchorage respectively.
Increased training tempo? Tighter security? Movement in? Or out to Colorado?
11thairbornedivision.army.mil
January 4, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Greenland…
Given Gen. Caine's words today on the prep that preceded the attack on Venezuela, I'd put eyes on what the 11th Airborne is up to at Forts Wainwright and Richardson near Fairbanks and Anchorage respectively.
Increased training tempo? Tighter security? Movement in? Or out to Colorado?
Given Gen. Caine's words today on the prep that preceded the attack on Venezuela, I'd put eyes on what the 11th Airborne is up to at Forts Wainwright and Richardson near Fairbanks and Anchorage respectively.
Increased training tempo? Tighter security? Movement in? Or out to Colorado?
Reposted by Dave Tait
solid hit by Mayfield, honestly
January 3, 2026 at 10:30 PM
solid hit by Mayfield, honestly
Reposted by Dave Tait
Trump said those initially running Venezuela will be "the people who are standing right behind me."
Comments I've seen about this mention Hegseth, Rubio and Gen. Caine ― but also behind him were CIA director Ratcliffe and…Stephen Miller.
Miller's involvement sets the imagination racing... /1
Comments I've seen about this mention Hegseth, Rubio and Gen. Caine ― but also behind him were CIA director Ratcliffe and…Stephen Miller.
Miller's involvement sets the imagination racing... /1
January 3, 2026 at 11:56 PM
Trump said those initially running Venezuela will be "the people who are standing right behind me."
Comments I've seen about this mention Hegseth, Rubio and Gen. Caine ― but also behind him were CIA director Ratcliffe and…Stephen Miller.
Miller's involvement sets the imagination racing... /1
Comments I've seen about this mention Hegseth, Rubio and Gen. Caine ― but also behind him were CIA director Ratcliffe and…Stephen Miller.
Miller's involvement sets the imagination racing... /1
Reposted by Dave Tait
Mason Marchment had his skate blade knocked out by Tage Thompson on the far side of the ice and the odyssey back to the bench is entertaining
January 3, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Mason Marchment had his skate blade knocked out by Tage Thompson on the far side of the ice and the odyssey back to the bench is entertaining
Reposted by Dave Tait
Reposted by Dave Tait
Reposted by Dave Tait
Make sense this would be the OSINT account they follow.
Director of the CIA is in the room but you have OSINTdefender's twitter page up on the screen
January 3, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Make sense this would be the OSINT account they follow.
Reposted by Dave Tait
This cut the legs out from under her, and minutes later Trump did the same to Machado, the opposition leader who won his Nobel Peace Prize.
Coincidentally, both are women.
He'll be looking for a Strong Man as his puppet, with the emphasis on "man"... /1
Coincidentally, both are women.
He'll be looking for a Strong Man as his puppet, with the emphasis on "man"... /1
January 3, 2026 at 7:19 PM
This cut the legs out from under her, and minutes later Trump did the same to Machado, the opposition leader who won his Nobel Peace Prize.
Coincidentally, both are women.
He'll be looking for a Strong Man as his puppet, with the emphasis on "man"... /1
Coincidentally, both are women.
He'll be looking for a Strong Man as his puppet, with the emphasis on "man"... /1
All the action straight from the Situation Alcove...
oh my god he posted so many action shots from the makeshift mar a lago situation room and they were just looking at tweets together on a gigantic screen
January 3, 2026 at 7:11 PM
All the action straight from the Situation Alcove...
Reposted by Dave Tait
Not going to pretend to bring in a legitimate leader. At least not today
Trump on María Corina Machado: "I think it'd be very tough for her to be the leader. She doesn't have the support or the respect within the country. She's a very nice woman but she doesn't have the respect."
January 3, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Not going to pretend to bring in a legitimate leader. At least not today
People heard this from Rubio today as a warning to Cuba or Colombia, but I suspect the audience he was really addressing was...Denmark.
Not kidding.
Not kidding.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio: 'Don't play games with this president'
YouTube video by WFAA
youtu.be
January 3, 2026 at 7:07 PM
People heard this from Rubio today as a warning to Cuba or Colombia, but I suspect the audience he was really addressing was...Denmark.
Not kidding.
Not kidding.
Not one journalist at Trump's press conference asked about what is known about casualties on the Venezuelan side in last night's attack.
Rubio laid the goundwork for claiming Maduro's guards were all Cubans, but no interest at all was shown by anyone about lives that weren't American.
Rubio laid the goundwork for claiming Maduro's guards were all Cubans, but no interest at all was shown by anyone about lives that weren't American.
January 3, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Not one journalist at Trump's press conference asked about what is known about casualties on the Venezuelan side in last night's attack.
Rubio laid the goundwork for claiming Maduro's guards were all Cubans, but no interest at all was shown by anyone about lives that weren't American.
Rubio laid the goundwork for claiming Maduro's guards were all Cubans, but no interest at all was shown by anyone about lives that weren't American.
This is going to get very confusing when they change the name of the Department of Justice to the "Department of Wrath"...
How will we know which "DoW" department is doing what?
The logical solution will be to combine the two departments into one, and call it the Department of War and Wrath.
How will we know which "DoW" department is doing what?
The logical solution will be to combine the two departments into one, and call it the Department of War and Wrath.
US AG Bondi general says Maduro and his wife have been indicted
January 3, 2026 at 4:23 PM
This is going to get very confusing when they change the name of the Department of Justice to the "Department of Wrath"...
How will we know which "DoW" department is doing what?
The logical solution will be to combine the two departments into one, and call it the Department of War and Wrath.
How will we know which "DoW" department is doing what?
The logical solution will be to combine the two departments into one, and call it the Department of War and Wrath.
...said with a straight face...
Russian FM:
"We call for immediate clarification of this situation. Such actions, if they did indeed take place, constitute an unacceptable violation of the sovereignty of an independent state, respect for which is a key principle of international law," the ministry said in a statement.
"We call for immediate clarification of this situation. Such actions, if they did indeed take place, constitute an unacceptable violation of the sovereignty of an independent state, respect for which is a key principle of international law," the ministry said in a statement.
January 3, 2026 at 4:15 PM
...said with a straight face...
Reposted by Dave Tait
Additional footage from Caracas shows the aftermath of U.S. airstrikes, including the destroyed Venezuelan Buk-M2E air defense system.
January 3, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Additional footage from Caracas shows the aftermath of U.S. airstrikes, including the destroyed Venezuelan Buk-M2E air defense system.
Got it: The acts of war were necessary to protect the ground forces sent in to commit acts of war, so weren't really acts of war...
To quote Humpty Dumpty, Article Two "means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less."
Thank you, Mike Lee, for keeping me apprised.
To quote Humpty Dumpty, Article Two "means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less."
Thank you, Mike Lee, for keeping me apprised.
This is how Sen Mike Lee (R-UT) understands the congressional war powers are exercised
January 3, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Got it: The acts of war were necessary to protect the ground forces sent in to commit acts of war, so weren't really acts of war...
To quote Humpty Dumpty, Article Two "means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less."
Thank you, Mike Lee, for keeping me apprised.
To quote Humpty Dumpty, Article Two "means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less."
Thank you, Mike Lee, for keeping me apprised.