August Questions
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I have been curiously unmotivated, phlog-wise, the last month
or two.  Much of my mental energy (such as it is) has been
directed toward how we might move toward more digital
sovereignty in the context of Canadian academic libraries. I
have some ideas, but I don't feel quite ready to write about
them yet, even in the informal, low-stakes world of the
phlogosphere. It's a big topic.

At the same time, I'm loathe to let a whole month go by
without writing something in this space.  So, once again, I
owe a debt of thanks to Christina, whose Five Questions[1]
save me from having to think up a topic.

1. What trinket, knick-knack, collectible, etc. in your home
would you miss the most if it were gone?

There's lots of things I would miss; hard to think of what
I'd miss the most.  One that springs to mind is my Dad's
iron ring. It's a simple pinky ring made from iron taken
from debris of the old Quebec Bridge, that collapsed twice
in the early 20th century due to faulty engineering, killing
several people. The ring is a tradition of sorts among
Canadian engineers. They wear it as a reminder of the costs
of not taking due care in their work.

2. Whom do you consider a national treasure in your country?

Historically, I'd go with stalwarts like Norman Bethune and
Tommy Douglas. If we're talking living Canadians, maybe
David Suzuki?

Also, Margaret Atwood and Joni Mitchell.

3. What footwear do you prefer in summer: sandals, or
sneakers/trainers/runners/running shoes?

Mostly I wear sneakers. Historically I favoured Converse
low-tops and I still have a pair or two. More recently I've
been sporting Adidas and Cariuma low-tops.

4. If the answer is tomatoes, what is the question?

What nightshade was the title "character" in a movie Variety
once said was "not even worthy of sarcasm"?

5. What tips do you have for making friends in a new place?

Don't put up posters in your new neighbourhood saying "Want
to be friends? Call me (number below)" with little cut paper
strips with your phone number at the bottom. That seldom
works.


Reference
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1. gopher://zaibatsu.circumlunar.space:70/0/~christina/2025-08-5Q.txt

Fri 22 Aug 2025 02:26:51 PM PDT
Minor updates: Mon Aug 25 22:10:08 PDT 2025