Jen Whyte 🍁
@whyjenwhy.bsky.social
Thinker about old stuff at Duke University. I have a website and this is a link to it: https://www.jenniferlwhyte.com/
The line we're trying to hold is that writing is a work product - a thing that necessarily comes from somewhere and for which that somewhere must not be effaced. And we're right to hold that line.
But the same challenge happened to the photographers first, and we have by and large not helped them.
But the same challenge happened to the photographers first, and we have by and large not helped them.
November 11, 2025 at 4:46 PM
The line we're trying to hold is that writing is a work product - a thing that necessarily comes from somewhere and for which that somewhere must not be effaced. And we're right to hold that line.
But the same challenge happened to the photographers first, and we have by and large not helped them.
But the same challenge happened to the photographers first, and we have by and large not helped them.
That's just how old-school I am. My first academic-adjacent job was digitizing literal slides in a literal slide deck (from an oceanography dissertation in the 80s) and I have simply never stopped calling them that.
November 11, 2025 at 4:29 PM
That's just how old-school I am. My first academic-adjacent job was digitizing literal slides in a literal slide deck (from an oceanography dissertation in the 80s) and I have simply never stopped calling them that.
"Oh, but it's just a background image to set the right tone" would the photographer say that. Could you make that argument to your students. Is it alright for them to slap an unsourced quote in their papers to "set the right tone".
November 11, 2025 at 4:24 PM
"Oh, but it's just a background image to set the right tone" would the photographer say that. Could you make that argument to your students. Is it alright for them to slap an unsourced quote in their papers to "set the right tone".
That and mercury. Hey guys, here's the coolest thing imaginable. Liquid metal. Don't you want to play around with it? Don't you want to watch it eat gold? Don't you want to make a huge pool of it so the heaviest stuff you can build can float freely? You can, but watch out!
November 7, 2025 at 3:53 PM
That and mercury. Hey guys, here's the coolest thing imaginable. Liquid metal. Don't you want to play around with it? Don't you want to watch it eat gold? Don't you want to make a huge pool of it so the heaviest stuff you can build can float freely? You can, but watch out!
And finally, the only possible right answer:
1. Octopussy - now *that's* a hockey team. Threatning. Exciting. Slightly confusing. Implies the reach and flexibility of true champions. Imagine the logo. Imagine the mascot. There's a cephalopod team and there's a cat team, but there's never been both.
1. Octopussy - now *that's* a hockey team. Threatning. Exciting. Slightly confusing. Implies the reach and flexibility of true champions. Imagine the logo. Imagine the mascot. There's a cephalopod team and there's a cat team, but there's never been both.
November 6, 2025 at 7:34 PM
And finally, the only possible right answer:
1. Octopussy - now *that's* a hockey team. Threatning. Exciting. Slightly confusing. Implies the reach and flexibility of true champions. Imagine the logo. Imagine the mascot. There's a cephalopod team and there's a cat team, but there's never been both.
1. Octopussy - now *that's* a hockey team. Threatning. Exciting. Slightly confusing. Implies the reach and flexibility of true champions. Imagine the logo. Imagine the mascot. There's a cephalopod team and there's a cat team, but there's never been both.
6. The Living Daylights - I kind of love this one. Don't know what it means, but I love it.
5. Goldeneye - Ok, but not very evocative.
4. Diamonds are Forever - too long, but that's what I mean by evocative
3. Moonraker - Hell yes
2. Spectre - I'd prefer 'The [Place] Spectres', but it's still solid
5. Goldeneye - Ok, but not very evocative.
4. Diamonds are Forever - too long, but that's what I mean by evocative
3. Moonraker - Hell yes
2. Spectre - I'd prefer 'The [Place] Spectres', but it's still solid
November 6, 2025 at 7:34 PM
6. The Living Daylights - I kind of love this one. Don't know what it means, but I love it.
5. Goldeneye - Ok, but not very evocative.
4. Diamonds are Forever - too long, but that's what I mean by evocative
3. Moonraker - Hell yes
2. Spectre - I'd prefer 'The [Place] Spectres', but it's still solid
5. Goldeneye - Ok, but not very evocative.
4. Diamonds are Forever - too long, but that's what I mean by evocative
3. Moonraker - Hell yes
2. Spectre - I'd prefer 'The [Place] Spectres', but it's still solid
10. The World is Not Enough - too long, but finally the right sentiment
9. Casino Royale - sounds like a brand sponsored team. Like the Timbits. But for gambling.
8. Dr. No - I suppose I've never seen a medical theme for a team before.
7. Goldfinger - good name, wrong sport.
9. Casino Royale - sounds like a brand sponsored team. Like the Timbits. But for gambling.
8. Dr. No - I suppose I've never seen a medical theme for a team before.
7. Goldfinger - good name, wrong sport.
November 6, 2025 at 7:34 PM
10. The World is Not Enough - too long, but finally the right sentiment
9. Casino Royale - sounds like a brand sponsored team. Like the Timbits. But for gambling.
8. Dr. No - I suppose I've never seen a medical theme for a team before.
7. Goldfinger - good name, wrong sport.
9. Casino Royale - sounds like a brand sponsored team. Like the Timbits. But for gambling.
8. Dr. No - I suppose I've never seen a medical theme for a team before.
7. Goldfinger - good name, wrong sport.
15. Quantum of Solace - imagine the logo
14. Die another Day - could work in the playoffs
13. Skyfall - again, good name, wrong sport. But less obviously wrong this time
12. On Her Majesty's Secret Service - kinda cute?
11. From Russia with Love - only works for a very specific team composition
14. Die another Day - could work in the playoffs
13. Skyfall - again, good name, wrong sport. But less obviously wrong this time
12. On Her Majesty's Secret Service - kinda cute?
11. From Russia with Love - only works for a very specific team composition
November 6, 2025 at 7:34 PM
15. Quantum of Solace - imagine the logo
14. Die another Day - could work in the playoffs
13. Skyfall - again, good name, wrong sport. But less obviously wrong this time
12. On Her Majesty's Secret Service - kinda cute?
11. From Russia with Love - only works for a very specific team composition
14. Die another Day - could work in the playoffs
13. Skyfall - again, good name, wrong sport. But less obviously wrong this time
12. On Her Majesty's Secret Service - kinda cute?
11. From Russia with Love - only works for a very specific team composition
20. You Only Live Twice - not really a good name for anything
19. Tomorrow Never Dies - ditto
18. No Time to Die - actually, you have 60 minutes plus overtime
17. The Spy who Loved Me - what, all 23 of them?
16. License to Kill - more like 'license for a 10 minute game misconduct'
19. Tomorrow Never Dies - ditto
18. No Time to Die - actually, you have 60 minutes plus overtime
17. The Spy who Loved Me - what, all 23 of them?
16. License to Kill - more like 'license for a 10 minute game misconduct'
November 6, 2025 at 7:34 PM
20. You Only Live Twice - not really a good name for anything
19. Tomorrow Never Dies - ditto
18. No Time to Die - actually, you have 60 minutes plus overtime
17. The Spy who Loved Me - what, all 23 of them?
16. License to Kill - more like 'license for a 10 minute game misconduct'
19. Tomorrow Never Dies - ditto
18. No Time to Die - actually, you have 60 minutes plus overtime
17. The Spy who Loved Me - what, all 23 of them?
16. License to Kill - more like 'license for a 10 minute game misconduct'
25: Live and Let Die - Does not imply team wants to play hockey
24: The Man with the Golden Gun - Poor team spirit. Why just one?
23: For Your Eyes Only - Are you aware this sport is televised?
22. A View to a Kill - Ideally this does not happen in hockey
21: Thunderball - Good name, wrong sport
24: The Man with the Golden Gun - Poor team spirit. Why just one?
23: For Your Eyes Only - Are you aware this sport is televised?
22. A View to a Kill - Ideally this does not happen in hockey
21: Thunderball - Good name, wrong sport
November 6, 2025 at 7:34 PM
25: Live and Let Die - Does not imply team wants to play hockey
24: The Man with the Golden Gun - Poor team spirit. Why just one?
23: For Your Eyes Only - Are you aware this sport is televised?
22. A View to a Kill - Ideally this does not happen in hockey
21: Thunderball - Good name, wrong sport
24: The Man with the Golden Gun - Poor team spirit. Why just one?
23: For Your Eyes Only - Are you aware this sport is televised?
22. A View to a Kill - Ideally this does not happen in hockey
21: Thunderball - Good name, wrong sport
There is some irony in the fact that Limerick doesn't scan right to be used in one
November 3, 2025 at 5:22 PM
There is some irony in the fact that Limerick doesn't scan right to be used in one
At least a lot of other sports have team names that describe frightening animals or concepts. How am I supposed to spook up a tiny bird
October 31, 2025 at 5:24 PM
At least a lot of other sports have team names that describe frightening animals or concepts. How am I supposed to spook up a tiny bird
It's kind of hard to see, honestly
October 30, 2025 at 7:21 PM
It's kind of hard to see, honestly
The only person on this whole website saying 'Nosavage'
October 30, 2025 at 2:38 AM
The only person on this whole website saying 'Nosavage'
No, you see, his pitches have to refract upon contact with the dirt. That's Snell's Law.
October 30, 2025 at 2:15 AM
No, you see, his pitches have to refract upon contact with the dirt. That's Snell's Law.
Indeed, I bet you'll be able to relax for a whole pitch... oh, never mind
October 30, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Indeed, I bet you'll be able to relax for a whole pitch... oh, never mind