Lee Henderson
@bornsnippy.bsky.social
I make art about death. But don’t worry, it’s funny the way ‘King Lear’ is funny.
Also writer, inventor, teacher, and malvivant. Toronto & Montréal.
Also writer, inventor, teacher, and malvivant. Toronto & Montréal.
Audre Lorde:
“The difference between poetry and rhetoric
is being ready to kill
yourself
instead of your children.”
“The difference between poetry and rhetoric
is being ready to kill
yourself
instead of your children.”
Which lines of poetry live rent-free in your head?
December 6, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Audre Lorde:
“The difference between poetry and rhetoric
is being ready to kill
yourself
instead of your children.”
“The difference between poetry and rhetoric
is being ready to kill
yourself
instead of your children.”
Sigh. Stop expecting artists to “explain” their work (etymologically: to squish it out onto a flat surface), or indeed to suggest anyone should. “Explanations” can only neuter and disappoint.
Instead, ask them to contextualize, position, reframe, present, open, offer, historicize, psychoanalyze…
Instead, ask them to contextualize, position, reframe, present, open, offer, historicize, psychoanalyze…
Perplexed by Avant-Garde Dance? Let This Choreographer Explain.
www.nytimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Sigh. Stop expecting artists to “explain” their work (etymologically: to squish it out onto a flat surface), or indeed to suggest anyone should. “Explanations” can only neuter and disappoint.
Instead, ask them to contextualize, position, reframe, present, open, offer, historicize, psychoanalyze…
Instead, ask them to contextualize, position, reframe, present, open, offer, historicize, psychoanalyze…
Omgomgomg… so much to say
1-This robot really puts the Mock in Mockba
2-It tripped and fell right into the uncanny valley
3-My favourite part is when the engineers can’t operate a simple Emergency Shame-Curtain
4-Did this get Peter Boyle’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz” stuck in anyone else’s head?
1-This robot really puts the Mock in Mockba
2-It tripped and fell right into the uncanny valley
3-My favourite part is when the engineers can’t operate a simple Emergency Shame-Curtain
4-Did this get Peter Boyle’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz” stuck in anyone else’s head?
November 13, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Omgomgomg… so much to say
1-This robot really puts the Mock in Mockba
2-It tripped and fell right into the uncanny valley
3-My favourite part is when the engineers can’t operate a simple Emergency Shame-Curtain
4-Did this get Peter Boyle’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz” stuck in anyone else’s head?
1-This robot really puts the Mock in Mockba
2-It tripped and fell right into the uncanny valley
3-My favourite part is when the engineers can’t operate a simple Emergency Shame-Curtain
4-Did this get Peter Boyle’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz” stuck in anyone else’s head?
Sending someone a spotify* playlist is like handing them an ailing puppy**: it’s not a present, it’s an obligation to spend both time and money.
——
*or insert stupid parasitic streaming service of your choice
**except the puppy may one day love you; the megacorp never will
——
*or insert stupid parasitic streaming service of your choice
**except the puppy may one day love you; the megacorp never will
October 29, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Sending someone a spotify* playlist is like handing them an ailing puppy**: it’s not a present, it’s an obligation to spend both time and money.
——
*or insert stupid parasitic streaming service of your choice
**except the puppy may one day love you; the megacorp never will
——
*or insert stupid parasitic streaming service of your choice
**except the puppy may one day love you; the megacorp never will
Maybe ballooning class sizes (as managers hire more managers & fewer faculty) and doggedly treating students as “customers” are why students feel like their presence doesn’t matter…
“The students — there are 761 enrolled this term — pack into a historic wood-paneled theater…”
“The students — there are 761 enrolled this term — pack into a historic wood-paneled theater…”
Harvard Students Skip Class and Still Get High Grades, Faculty Say
www.nytimes.com
October 8, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Maybe ballooning class sizes (as managers hire more managers & fewer faculty) and doggedly treating students as “customers” are why students feel like their presence doesn’t matter…
“The students — there are 761 enrolled this term — pack into a historic wood-paneled theater…”
“The students — there are 761 enrolled this term — pack into a historic wood-paneled theater…”
Educated guess: post-sec administrators will—without regard for student needs/faculty expertise—lustily roll out “partnerships” requiring prescriptive uses of a paid megacorp AI. Faculty will be asked to incorporate that AI brand into teaching—first gently, then under threat of reprisal.
Welcome to Campus. Here’s Your ChatGPT.
www.nytimes.com
June 9, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Educated guess: post-sec administrators will—without regard for student needs/faculty expertise—lustily roll out “partnerships” requiring prescriptive uses of a paid megacorp AI. Faculty will be asked to incorporate that AI brand into teaching—first gently, then under threat of reprisal.
This headline/quote/simile is reckless and wrong. The US did not invade Japan unprovoked in WWII, capture its territory, and then refuse to negotiate while murdering and raping its people.
What revisionist idiots are saying it’s Russia’s “pearl harbor”, anyway? And how much were they paid?
What revisionist idiots are saying it’s Russia’s “pearl harbor”, anyway? And how much were they paid?
"Russia's Pearl Harbor"—Ukraine surprise drone attack hits nuclear bombers
More than 40 aircraft were struck by the Ukrainian assault.
www.newsweek.com
June 1, 2025 at 7:50 PM
This headline/quote/simile is reckless and wrong. The US did not invade Japan unprovoked in WWII, capture its territory, and then refuse to negotiate while murdering and raping its people.
What revisionist idiots are saying it’s Russia’s “pearl harbor”, anyway? And how much were they paid?
What revisionist idiots are saying it’s Russia’s “pearl harbor”, anyway? And how much were they paid?
They don’t make ‘em like Syd Mead, anymore (…er, which also means they no longer make ‘em like Syd Mead made ‘em).
May 19, 2025 at 3:52 AM
They don’t make ‘em like Syd Mead, anymore (…er, which also means they no longer make ‘em like Syd Mead made ‘em).
Listening to Rebecca Winthrop here is both exciting and depressing. She confirms what I’ve been saying for years, years even before widespread AI: we fail our students if we don’t let them drive their own learning through curiosity.
Educating Kids in the Age of A.I. | The Ezra Klein Show
YouTube video by The Ezra Klein Show
www.youtube.com
May 16, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Listening to Rebecca Winthrop here is both exciting and depressing. She confirms what I’ve been saying for years, years even before widespread AI: we fail our students if we don’t let them drive their own learning through curiosity.
Screens in cars contravene stupidly basic UX/UI design fundamentals—a button you can feel beats one you can’t.
Isn’t it funny how often enshittification is wrapped in the regalia of being a “new” “advanced” “feature”? Did -anyone- think touchscreens were a good idea (vs a merely profitable one)?
Isn’t it funny how often enshittification is wrapped in the regalia of being a “new” “advanced” “feature”? Did -anyone- think touchscreens were a good idea (vs a merely profitable one)?
Rejoice! Carmakers Are Embracing Physical Buttons Again
Amazingly, reaction times using screens while driving are worse than being drunk or high—no wonder 90 percent of drivers hate using touchscreens in cars. Finally the auto industry is coming to its sen...
www.wired.com
May 9, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Screens in cars contravene stupidly basic UX/UI design fundamentals—a button you can feel beats one you can’t.
Isn’t it funny how often enshittification is wrapped in the regalia of being a “new” “advanced” “feature”? Did -anyone- think touchscreens were a good idea (vs a merely profitable one)?
Isn’t it funny how often enshittification is wrapped in the regalia of being a “new” “advanced” “feature”? Did -anyone- think touchscreens were a good idea (vs a merely profitable one)?
This is the fault primarily of Uni administrators (ballooning classes; sessionals instead of tenures; favouring “metrics” and “consistency”; treating students as “customers”, degrees as “products), and secondarily of Uni faculty (for drinking admin koolaid; lazily using ‘50s methods/evaluation).
“Massive numbers of students are going to emerge from university with degrees, and into the workforce, who are essentially illiterate…Both in the literal sense and in the sense of being historically illiterate and having no knowledge of their own culture, much less anyone else’s.”
Everyone Is Cheating Their Way Through College
ChatGPT has unraveled the entire academic project.
nymag.com
May 7, 2025 at 3:09 PM
This is the fault primarily of Uni administrators (ballooning classes; sessionals instead of tenures; favouring “metrics” and “consistency”; treating students as “customers”, degrees as “products), and secondarily of Uni faculty (for drinking admin koolaid; lazily using ‘50s methods/evaluation).
Dear leftist pals who are mad/sad about your faves losing seats to the Libs: yes, it’s a compromise. HOLD THE RULING PARTY’S FEET TO THE FIRE for the next ___ years to push for the policies you need, and organize productively (ie on the ground, not in the cloud) to elect the party you actually want.
April 29, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Dear leftist pals who are mad/sad about your faves losing seats to the Libs: yes, it’s a compromise. HOLD THE RULING PARTY’S FEET TO THE FIRE for the next ___ years to push for the policies you need, and organize productively (ie on the ground, not in the cloud) to elect the party you actually want.
At least we know what Bill Maher ate for that dinner—obviously it was the vichyssoise.
April 25, 2025 at 3:33 PM
At least we know what Bill Maher ate for that dinner—obviously it was the vichyssoise.
I’m trying to think of a joke, pun, or sarcastic witticism, but this is the intellectual equivalent of when all of Mr. Burns’ infirmities are keeping each other from ending him.
April 14, 2025 at 12:59 PM
I’m trying to think of a joke, pun, or sarcastic witticism, but this is the intellectual equivalent of when all of Mr. Burns’ infirmities are keeping each other from ending him.
If the finale of The White Lotus affected you emotionally, well, cool… But you can’t argue that it made any logical sense.
April 7, 2025 at 3:21 AM
If the finale of The White Lotus affected you emotionally, well, cool… But you can’t argue that it made any logical sense.
“I don't think there's any point in being Irish if you don't know that, eventually, the world is going to break your heart.” —Daniel Patrick Moynihan
March 18, 2025 at 2:47 AM
“I don't think there's any point in being Irish if you don't know that, eventually, the world is going to break your heart.” —Daniel Patrick Moynihan
The level of civilization I attribute to any city I visit is inversely proportional to the amount of urine on its men’s room seats.
March 11, 2025 at 12:38 AM
The level of civilization I attribute to any city I visit is inversely proportional to the amount of urine on its men’s room seats.
Starting research on a project about depictions of Canada in American comics and quite glad to've just stumbled across this article by @annapeppard.bsky.social :
comicsxf.com/2025/03/02/m...
comicsxf.com/2025/03/02/m...
I'm afraid of Canadians: Marvel Comics, the Trudeaus and how we perceive our neighbors - COMICSXF
Let’s look back at some iconic depictions of Canada in Marvel comics, focusing on portrayals of the Trudeaus.
comicsxf.com
March 8, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Starting research on a project about depictions of Canada in American comics and quite glad to've just stumbled across this article by @annapeppard.bsky.social :
comicsxf.com/2025/03/02/m...
comicsxf.com/2025/03/02/m...
If you’ve also gotten unsolicited broadcast emails or messages from D0ug F0rd, remember that spam is illegal under CRTC guidelines and you can report it via ised-isde.canada.ca/site/canada-...
Report Spam form
ised-isde.canada.ca
February 23, 2025 at 12:10 AM
If you’ve also gotten unsolicited broadcast emails or messages from D0ug F0rd, remember that spam is illegal under CRTC guidelines and you can report it via ised-isde.canada.ca/site/canada-...
“‘The crazy thing is, this technology is so advanced, and nobody’s doing shit with it,’ Zayner says. ‘That’s kind of our motto: Let’s do stuff with it.’”
Wow. A pity Oppenheimer liked the Bhagavad Gita so much, or he might have come up with something as profound.
(And to this company: please stop.)
Wow. A pity Oppenheimer liked the Bhagavad Gita so much, or he might have come up with something as profound.
(And to this company: please stop.)
Your Next Pet Could Be a Glowing Rabbit
Biohacker Josie Zyner’s new company, Los Angeles Project, is creating a new generation of gene-edited pets.
www.wired.com
February 21, 2025 at 4:55 AM
“‘The crazy thing is, this technology is so advanced, and nobody’s doing shit with it,’ Zayner says. ‘That’s kind of our motto: Let’s do stuff with it.’”
Wow. A pity Oppenheimer liked the Bhagavad Gita so much, or he might have come up with something as profound.
(And to this company: please stop.)
Wow. A pity Oppenheimer liked the Bhagavad Gita so much, or he might have come up with something as profound.
(And to this company: please stop.)
Shelby Fenlon and I created an extended, 4.5-song music video with Shelby Fenlon, for Jane Inc.—it launches Monday! A thousand thanks to the amazing and brilliant Carlyn Bezic, and the whole crew.
February 20, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Shelby Fenlon and I created an extended, 4.5-song music video with Shelby Fenlon, for Jane Inc.—it launches Monday! A thousand thanks to the amazing and brilliant Carlyn Bezic, and the whole crew.
“You can’t fight City Hall, but you can goddamn sure blow it up.” —George Carlin (in a quote I now understand as a warning, rather than a suggestion.)
"That you can't fight City Hall, is a rumor being spread by City Hall."
- Audre Lorde
- Audre Lorde
February 11, 2025 at 6:07 PM
“You can’t fight City Hall, but you can goddamn sure blow it up.” —George Carlin (in a quote I now understand as a warning, rather than a suggestion.)
Kinda enchanted by how the hand-sanded plexi lets the honeycomb of the laser-bed glow when the beam flares…
February 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Kinda enchanted by how the hand-sanded plexi lets the honeycomb of the laser-bed glow when the beam flares…
This Friday, Ian Carr-Harris is launching an anthology of 45 years of his writing—“Tracings: Writing Art 1975-2020”, published by Concordia University Press, launches at De Stiil (351 Duluth) Jan 24 at 6pm. If you’re in Montréal, come hang out!
January 20, 2025 at 1:17 AM
This Friday, Ian Carr-Harris is launching an anthology of 45 years of his writing—“Tracings: Writing Art 1975-2020”, published by Concordia University Press, launches at De Stiil (351 Duluth) Jan 24 at 6pm. If you’re in Montréal, come hang out!
