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Shirley Tillotson

@stillots1.bsky.social

4.4K followers 2K following 3.5K posts

Prof. Emeritus at Dalhousie/King's in Halifax, NS. Canadian history (with sources), public finance, pix of woodland and coast. Slow to anger. Stage IV MBC https://ukings.ca/people/shirley-tillotson/

ukings.ca

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Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · Jan 11

My fave political history is the backstories of politicians: the agenda-making and network building worlds of volunteering, fundraising, and policy / interest advocacy.

So I'm your dial-a- Canadian-historian on lots of specialist topics. But it's all political history.

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Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 8h

I knew Thanksgiving Sunday took quite a while to be established in Canada, but TIL that the October date was legislated nationally only in 1957!

Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 8h

Even less important in Quebec. Thanksgiving has its origin in a British empire celebration (shared by some Quebecers, but not a Catholic liturgical feast)

Part of the abstract of an article by Joseph Hardwick in the Canadian historical review, volume 98 number 4 Pages 675 to 703 in 2017. Essentially, local harvest festivals shifted in the telegraph world of the 1880s to an Empire wide Day of prayer. The article discusses why days of fasting, humiliation, and Thanksgiving were such an enduring aspect of 19th century anglo-canadian life. The answer has to do with Protestant churchmen and civil officials valuing their community - building potential

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Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 8h

Even less important in Quebec. Thanksgiving has its origin in a British empire celebration (shared by some Quebecers, but not a Catholic liturgical feast)

Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 9h

One of the authors of this book (Kevin Hall) quit his NIH research job because RFK,jr's HHS wanted him to misrepresent research in nutrition

Seems like a good reason to read it next. And 👍 to Gastropod podcast for featuring these credible authors

Book cover of Food Intelligence: the science of how food both nourishes and harms us. By Julia Belluz and Kevin Hall, PhD

Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 11h

Elstar has a bit of pear flavour in it. Mutsu is both sweet and tangy

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Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 11h

😅😅😅 I wish I could say never say never. But I do know what you mean

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Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 11h

Terri for MLA!

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Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 11h

*gave

Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 11h

Damn. I try to avoid having fancy tastes. But I visited the Hutton apple table at the market today.

Janet have me samples. And now I have to go back, again and again, because Mutsu and Elstar variety apples are my new faves

And a great price!

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Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 12h

Absolutely

Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 12h

😅 Mary Wesley is a fascinating person. First novel published in 1980s when she was in her 70s. Educated at LSE in the interwar years.

Author bio for Mary Wesley. It reads, in part, "Mary Wesley was born near Windsor in 1912. Her education took her to the London school of economics and during the war she worked in the war office. She has also worked part-time in the antique trade. Mary Wesley has lived in London, France, Italy, Germany, and several places in the West country."

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Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 13h

Both the Dunbrack/Lacewood and Herring Cove / Dentith areas have huge potential (esp HC/ D) to be great neighbourhoods for many more people

There's a real risk of injury to a small number of vulnerable ppl who live in tiny old houses around Dentith. I hope that's handled generously, with care

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Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 13h

An adventure!

Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 13h

Great opening lines (fiction edition)

@chrisneill.bsky.social's post made me think of the superbly skilled Mary Wesley. She sets a scene and a plot puzzle with gymnastic precision.

From The Camomile Lawn

(This is mong the small collection of amusing novels I have saved to re-read in old age)

The first sentence reads "Helena Cuthbertson picked up the crumpled Times by her sleeping husband and went to the flower room to iron it."

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Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 1d

😅😅😅

Reposted by Shirley Tillotson

Matthew Facciani @matthewfacciani.bsky.social · 2d

“A new study shows that receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in all age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination”
www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-...

Annual COVID Vaccines Save Lives, New Study Shows

A new study shows that receiving an updated COVID vaccine reduced people’s risk of severe disease and death in all age groups, regardless of immunity from prior infection or vaccination

www.scientificamerican.com

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Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 1d

Right? Just doesn't work in English

Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 1d

Benefits of chamber music concerts, #81

Learning new German words for moods

Such as "sehr schwungvoll"

I love it when I'm feeling sehr schwungvoll

It's onomatopoeic. "with a lot of momentum" just ain't the same.

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Reposted by Shirley Tillotson

Steve Schwinghamer🇨🇦 @sschwinghamer.bsky.social · 1d

Opposing diversity, equity, and inclusion means supporting conformity, unfairness, and exclusion.

The most transformative work I've encountered in my field (Immigration history) would be vulnerable to the sneering ignorance of "anti-DEI" machinations.

Signed, straight middle-aged white dude.

Dr Dan Shugar 🇨🇦 @watershedlab.bsky.social · 1d

Canada's House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research has been studying whether equity, diversity and inclusion should be considered in awarding grants. It's telling that the three people quoted as being against this are all men, incl Pinker. 🧪

universityaffairs.ca/news/parliam...

Parliament reviews EDI for research grants - University Affairs

Witnesses testify for and against applying diversity criteria to scientific funding.

universityaffairs.ca

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Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 1d

A great result!

Reposted by Shirley Tillotson

Jennifer Robson 🇨🇦 @jrobson.bsky.social · 1d

Announcement from PM Carney moments ago and this is good news. I've been working on this issue with @saulschwartz.bsky.social and @agenestgregoire.bsky.social for years. We've documented how many Canadians don't file and miss out on or loose benefits, .. 1/3

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Reposted by Shirley Tillotson

Jack Tripper @chadstanton.blacksky.app · 1d

“We should replace Bad Bunny with Lee Greenwood” is an also a perfect summation of the “deal” they’ve offered universities.

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Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 1d

If you don't have access to journal databases and are want to read this, send me a DM with your email and I can send you a PDF.

Or ask the author, Jeff McNairn, on here as @jlmcnairn.bsky.social

Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 1d

If you have any curiosity about the history of "Indian" taxation in Canada, there's a new, must-read article in the latest Canadian Historical Review by @jlmcnairn.bsky.social

Upper Canada, 1810s-1850s, land, law, sovereignty, property tax.

"Questions of tax are always questions of rule."

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Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 1d

Layers on layers

Shirley Tillotson @stillots1.bsky.social · 1d

🙄 Truly, there is no bottom to the depths of the 🐂💩