Kaï Matthews 🍉
@kai-mtl.bsky.social
Musician/composer, occasional writer of screeds, gardener, urbanist, politics of empathy & sense, self-hating goy ;-) , 8th-generation Canadian/12th Amerkin/world citizen born in Europe.
He/him
He/him
¡Feliz Navidad, muchachas y muchachos!
December 25, 2025 at 6:31 PM
¡Feliz Navidad, muchachas y muchachos!
An overview of the brain drain from the US to Canada. He does omit the counter-example of Québec, which is discouraging doctors with its boneheaded Law 2, and immigrant scientists in general with Law 21.
open.substack.com/pub/charliea...
open.substack.com/pub/charliea...
Canada's Century Has Begun
There was an item in the last federal budget that didn’t get much attention but it’s a detail that has the potential to transform Canada’s place in the world.
open.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:06 PM
An overview of the brain drain from the US to Canada. He does omit the counter-example of Québec, which is discouraging doctors with its boneheaded Law 2, and immigrant scientists in general with Law 21.
open.substack.com/pub/charliea...
open.substack.com/pub/charliea...
20/20 (now I know how many of many is.)
What I have to say takes as many words as it takes, and many things lose necessary nuance and detail when they’re forced into this format. I think these short-length text and video formats which make up the bulk of apps now tend to truncate our thinking.
What I have to say takes as many words as it takes, and many things lose necessary nuance and detail when they’re forced into this format. I think these short-length text and video formats which make up the bulk of apps now tend to truncate our thinking.
December 10, 2025 at 10:37 PM
20/20 (now I know how many of many is.)
What I have to say takes as many words as it takes, and many things lose necessary nuance and detail when they’re forced into this format. I think these short-length text and video formats which make up the bulk of apps now tend to truncate our thinking.
What I have to say takes as many words as it takes, and many things lose necessary nuance and detail when they’re forced into this format. I think these short-length text and video formats which make up the bulk of apps now tend to truncate our thinking.
19/(-)
The End.
(Btw, having to break up my original long-form piece into the character-limit Blue Sky imposes, like the parable of the Bed of Procrustes, much like the Xitter it’s designed to replace, is why I don’t post much here. I dislike hacking things up for Short Attention Span Theatre.)
The End.
(Btw, having to break up my original long-form piece into the character-limit Blue Sky imposes, like the parable of the Bed of Procrustes, much like the Xitter it’s designed to replace, is why I don’t post much here. I dislike hacking things up for Short Attention Span Theatre.)
December 10, 2025 at 10:26 PM
19/(-)
The End.
(Btw, having to break up my original long-form piece into the character-limit Blue Sky imposes, like the parable of the Bed of Procrustes, much like the Xitter it’s designed to replace, is why I don’t post much here. I dislike hacking things up for Short Attention Span Theatre.)
The End.
(Btw, having to break up my original long-form piece into the character-limit Blue Sky imposes, like the parable of the Bed of Procrustes, much like the Xitter it’s designed to replace, is why I don’t post much here. I dislike hacking things up for Short Attention Span Theatre.)
18/(-)
(MLK, Jr.’s ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail’ was eye-opening to me in that regard.)
- cont.’d
(MLK, Jr.’s ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail’ was eye-opening to me in that regard.)
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 10:19 PM
18/(-)
(MLK, Jr.’s ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail’ was eye-opening to me in that regard.)
- cont.’d
(MLK, Jr.’s ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail’ was eye-opening to me in that regard.)
- cont.’d
17/(-)
Sometimes one has to be blunt, so that the depth of anger, frustration, and fear for our safety that many of us feel is conveyed as much to those who’d rather not make an overt fuss as to those causing the problem.
- cont.’d
Sometimes one has to be blunt, so that the depth of anger, frustration, and fear for our safety that many of us feel is conveyed as much to those who’d rather not make an overt fuss as to those causing the problem.
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 10:19 PM
17/(-)
Sometimes one has to be blunt, so that the depth of anger, frustration, and fear for our safety that many of us feel is conveyed as much to those who’d rather not make an overt fuss as to those causing the problem.
- cont.’d
Sometimes one has to be blunt, so that the depth of anger, frustration, and fear for our safety that many of us feel is conveyed as much to those who’d rather not make an overt fuss as to those causing the problem.
- cont.’d
16/(-)
that we share a common concern about the direness, the all-pervasiveness of the situation. It also serves to make others, who may not realize how pervasive the problem is, see that it *is* that serious, and perhaps they should be more attentive to that and those who cause the problem.
- ct’d
that we share a common concern about the direness, the all-pervasiveness of the situation. It also serves to make others, who may not realize how pervasive the problem is, see that it *is* that serious, and perhaps they should be more attentive to that and those who cause the problem.
- ct’d
December 10, 2025 at 10:17 PM
16/(-)
that we share a common concern about the direness, the all-pervasiveness of the situation. It also serves to make others, who may not realize how pervasive the problem is, see that it *is* that serious, and perhaps they should be more attentive to that and those who cause the problem.
- ct’d
that we share a common concern about the direness, the all-pervasiveness of the situation. It also serves to make others, who may not realize how pervasive the problem is, see that it *is* that serious, and perhaps they should be more attentive to that and those who cause the problem.
- ct’d
15/(-)
There’s no need to feel guilty about a generality in this context. It’s not meant to be literal, and the expression of frustration that it serves for each individual using it also serves to signal to the many others who feel the same
- cont.’d
There’s no need to feel guilty about a generality in this context. It’s not meant to be literal, and the expression of frustration that it serves for each individual using it also serves to signal to the many others who feel the same
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 10:14 PM
15/(-)
There’s no need to feel guilty about a generality in this context. It’s not meant to be literal, and the expression of frustration that it serves for each individual using it also serves to signal to the many others who feel the same
- cont.’d
There’s no need to feel guilty about a generality in this context. It’s not meant to be literal, and the expression of frustration that it serves for each individual using it also serves to signal to the many others who feel the same
- cont.’d
14/(-)
Even if a majority of Americans aren’t Dum (something I’m not so sure about), we have to ask why the culture of ignorance, superstition, and bigotry in the US is so widespread as to now pose a serious danger to the continued existence of what democratic functioning there is.
- cont.’d
Even if a majority of Americans aren’t Dum (something I’m not so sure about), we have to ask why the culture of ignorance, superstition, and bigotry in the US is so widespread as to now pose a serious danger to the continued existence of what democratic functioning there is.
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 10:11 PM
14/(-)
Even if a majority of Americans aren’t Dum (something I’m not so sure about), we have to ask why the culture of ignorance, superstition, and bigotry in the US is so widespread as to now pose a serious danger to the continued existence of what democratic functioning there is.
- cont.’d
Even if a majority of Americans aren’t Dum (something I’m not so sure about), we have to ask why the culture of ignorance, superstition, and bigotry in the US is so widespread as to now pose a serious danger to the continued existence of what democratic functioning there is.
- cont.’d
13/(-)
Thus the apparent over-generalization inherent in the statement serves to make a larger point: to focus on the intractability of the problem, to express our frustration at its depth and long history.
- cont.’d
Thus the apparent over-generalization inherent in the statement serves to make a larger point: to focus on the intractability of the problem, to express our frustration at its depth and long history.
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 10:10 PM
13/(-)
Thus the apparent over-generalization inherent in the statement serves to make a larger point: to focus on the intractability of the problem, to express our frustration at its depth and long history.
- cont.’d
Thus the apparent over-generalization inherent in the statement serves to make a larger point: to focus on the intractability of the problem, to express our frustration at its depth and long history.
- cont.’d
12/(-)
That highlighting also serves to distract attention away from the main problem, for we *know* there are exceptions, but the thing is they’re exceptions that prove the rule, so to speak, and thus it serves no purpose to point them out, because that omerta overrides their existence.
- cont.’d
That highlighting also serves to distract attention away from the main problem, for we *know* there are exceptions, but the thing is they’re exceptions that prove the rule, so to speak, and thus it serves no purpose to point them out, because that omerta overrides their existence.
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 10:08 PM
12/(-)
That highlighting also serves to distract attention away from the main problem, for we *know* there are exceptions, but the thing is they’re exceptions that prove the rule, so to speak, and thus it serves no purpose to point them out, because that omerta overrides their existence.
- cont.’d
That highlighting also serves to distract attention away from the main problem, for we *know* there are exceptions, but the thing is they’re exceptions that prove the rule, so to speak, and thus it serves no purpose to point them out, because that omerta overrides their existence.
- cont.’d
11/(many)
‘All Cops Are Bad’ conveys that pervasiveness far better than some long-winded sentence festooned with qualifications intended to highlight the exceptions, the good cops.
- cont.’d
‘All Cops Are Bad’ conveys that pervasiveness far better than some long-winded sentence festooned with qualifications intended to highlight the exceptions, the good cops.
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 10:07 PM
11/(many)
‘All Cops Are Bad’ conveys that pervasiveness far better than some long-winded sentence festooned with qualifications intended to highlight the exceptions, the good cops.
- cont.’d
‘All Cops Are Bad’ conveys that pervasiveness far better than some long-winded sentence festooned with qualifications intended to highlight the exceptions, the good cops.
- cont.’d
10/(many)
even if they themselves don’t behave abusively, so that there’s a de facto code of omerta, of a complicit silence.
- cont.’d
even if they themselves don’t behave abusively, so that there’s a de facto code of omerta, of a complicit silence.
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 10:05 PM
10/(many)
even if they themselves don’t behave abusively, so that there’s a de facto code of omerta, of a complicit silence.
- cont.’d
even if they themselves don’t behave abusively, so that there’s a de facto code of omerta, of a complicit silence.
- cont.’d
9/(many)
doesn’t do much at all to counter, and in fact that culture is so ingrained that most good cops either are too intimidated by the bad ones or don’t dislike the culture enough to object (and ones who do speak up find themselves driven out of the force),
- cont.’d
doesn’t do much at all to counter, and in fact that culture is so ingrained that most good cops either are too intimidated by the bad ones or don’t dislike the culture enough to object (and ones who do speak up find themselves driven out of the force),
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 10:04 PM
9/(many)
doesn’t do much at all to counter, and in fact that culture is so ingrained that most good cops either are too intimidated by the bad ones or don’t dislike the culture enough to object (and ones who do speak up find themselves driven out of the force),
- cont.’d
doesn’t do much at all to counter, and in fact that culture is so ingrained that most good cops either are too intimidated by the bad ones or don’t dislike the culture enough to object (and ones who do speak up find themselves driven out of the force),
- cont.’d
8/(many)
that every last cop in existence is evil, but I am saying that there’s a pervasive culture of contemptuous superiority and bigotry endemic in police culture which the existence of decent cops, however many or few,
- cont.’d
that every last cop in existence is evil, but I am saying that there’s a pervasive culture of contemptuous superiority and bigotry endemic in police culture which the existence of decent cops, however many or few,
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 10:02 PM
8/(many)
that every last cop in existence is evil, but I am saying that there’s a pervasive culture of contemptuous superiority and bigotry endemic in police culture which the existence of decent cops, however many or few,
- cont.’d
that every last cop in existence is evil, but I am saying that there’s a pervasive culture of contemptuous superiority and bigotry endemic in police culture which the existence of decent cops, however many or few,
- cont.’d
7/(many)
Another example: ‘All Cops Are Bad’: when I hear about or see yet another incident of some swaggering, hair-trigger temper, uniformed (and uninformed) asshole’s asshole being abusive to people and react with that phrase, I’m not literally saying
- cont.’d
Another example: ‘All Cops Are Bad’: when I hear about or see yet another incident of some swaggering, hair-trigger temper, uniformed (and uninformed) asshole’s asshole being abusive to people and react with that phrase, I’m not literally saying
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 10:00 PM
7/(many)
Another example: ‘All Cops Are Bad’: when I hear about or see yet another incident of some swaggering, hair-trigger temper, uniformed (and uninformed) asshole’s asshole being abusive to people and react with that phrase, I’m not literally saying
- cont.’d
Another example: ‘All Cops Are Bad’: when I hear about or see yet another incident of some swaggering, hair-trigger temper, uniformed (and uninformed) asshole’s asshole being abusive to people and react with that phrase, I’m not literally saying
- cont.’d
6/(many)
when I hear “men are pigs” now, I have to consider whether there are aspects of piggishness in my own character, and/or whether I’ve been too dismissive at times of the seriousness of other men’s piggishness.)
- cont.’d
when I hear “men are pigs” now, I have to consider whether there are aspects of piggishness in my own character, and/or whether I’ve been too dismissive at times of the seriousness of other men’s piggishness.)
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 9:58 PM
6/(many)
when I hear “men are pigs” now, I have to consider whether there are aspects of piggishness in my own character, and/or whether I’ve been too dismissive at times of the seriousness of other men’s piggishness.)
- cont.’d
when I hear “men are pigs” now, I have to consider whether there are aspects of piggishness in my own character, and/or whether I’ve been too dismissive at times of the seriousness of other men’s piggishness.)
- cont.’d
5/(many)
(although it is an opportunity for self-examination to try to discover if in fact one has at least some of that negative attribute in one’s own character or is complicit in its minimization, in trivializing its importance:
- cont.’d
(although it is an opportunity for self-examination to try to discover if in fact one has at least some of that negative attribute in one’s own character or is complicit in its minimization, in trivializing its importance:
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 9:57 PM
5/(many)
(although it is an opportunity for self-examination to try to discover if in fact one has at least some of that negative attribute in one’s own character or is complicit in its minimization, in trivializing its importance:
- cont.’d
(although it is an opportunity for self-examination to try to discover if in fact one has at least some of that negative attribute in one’s own character or is complicit in its minimization, in trivializing its importance:
- cont.’d
4/(many)
There’s no need to take it personally or be outraged on others’ behalf. If the shoe doesn’t fit, there’s no need to go out of one’s way to put it on
- cont.’d
There’s no need to take it personally or be outraged on others’ behalf. If the shoe doesn’t fit, there’s no need to go out of one’s way to put it on
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 9:55 PM
4/(many)
There’s no need to take it personally or be outraged on others’ behalf. If the shoe doesn’t fit, there’s no need to go out of one’s way to put it on
- cont.’d
There’s no need to take it personally or be outraged on others’ behalf. If the shoe doesn’t fit, there’s no need to go out of one’s way to put it on
- cont.’d
3/(many)
Those of each general category who aren’t dumb or pigs will, or should, understand that such a statement is a rhetorical device, not a literal truth, intended always to express a certain emotional vehemence: of frustration, exasperation, etc.
- cont.’d
Those of each general category who aren’t dumb or pigs will, or should, understand that such a statement is a rhetorical device, not a literal truth, intended always to express a certain emotional vehemence: of frustration, exasperation, etc.
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 9:54 PM
3/(many)
Those of each general category who aren’t dumb or pigs will, or should, understand that such a statement is a rhetorical device, not a literal truth, intended always to express a certain emotional vehemence: of frustration, exasperation, etc.
- cont.’d
Those of each general category who aren’t dumb or pigs will, or should, understand that such a statement is a rhetorical device, not a literal truth, intended always to express a certain emotional vehemence: of frustration, exasperation, etc.
- cont.’d
2/(many)
There’s no need to protest that “not all Americans…” any more than one need say “Not all men…”
- cont.’d
There’s no need to protest that “not all Americans…” any more than one need say “Not all men…”
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 9:52 PM
2/(many)
There’s no need to protest that “not all Americans…” any more than one need say “Not all men…”
- cont.’d
There’s no need to protest that “not all Americans…” any more than one need say “Not all men…”
- cont.’d
1/(many):
This is a screed of mine I’ve been meaning to repost from FB, whose bots have objected to certain statements of mine:
On the usage of “All ___ are ___” and the usual objection to it (“Not all…”)
‘Amerkins R Dum’ doesn’t need qualification any more than ‘men are pigs’.
- cont.’d
This is a screed of mine I’ve been meaning to repost from FB, whose bots have objected to certain statements of mine:
On the usage of “All ___ are ___” and the usual objection to it (“Not all…”)
‘Amerkins R Dum’ doesn’t need qualification any more than ‘men are pigs’.
- cont.’d
December 10, 2025 at 9:50 PM
1/(many):
This is a screed of mine I’ve been meaning to repost from FB, whose bots have objected to certain statements of mine:
On the usage of “All ___ are ___” and the usual objection to it (“Not all…”)
‘Amerkins R Dum’ doesn’t need qualification any more than ‘men are pigs’.
- cont.’d
This is a screed of mine I’ve been meaning to repost from FB, whose bots have objected to certain statements of mine:
On the usage of “All ___ are ___” and the usual objection to it (“Not all…”)
‘Amerkins R Dum’ doesn’t need qualification any more than ‘men are pigs’.
- cont.’d
Quatorze pour samedi le 6me. Chaque année, tous les années.
IYKYK.
IYKYK.
December 4, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Quatorze pour samedi le 6me. Chaque année, tous les années.
IYKYK.
IYKYK.
Atwood said that she didn’t put anything in The Handmaid’s Tale that hadn’t already happened somewhere. It just hadn’t happened to white Americans yet, for the most part. I still remember the first time I heard “Black people already live in a police state.” Indeed.
www.facebook.com/reel/1502525...
www.facebook.com/reel/1502525...
44K views · 12K reactions | With all that that happened this year, it might feel like America is becoming a dystopia, but for some people, it always has been!
If you want more stories that flesh out ...
With all that that happened this year, it might feel like America is becoming a dystopia, but for some people, it always has been!
If you want more stories that flesh out this take go to...
www.facebook.com
November 27, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Atwood said that she didn’t put anything in The Handmaid’s Tale that hadn’t already happened somewhere. It just hadn’t happened to white Americans yet, for the most part. I still remember the first time I heard “Black people already live in a police state.” Indeed.
www.facebook.com/reel/1502525...
www.facebook.com/reel/1502525...