Part of an earthenware exhibit at the MMFA, a 12th century Persian lustware bowl in a turquoise glaze, floral and arabesque design around a central figure likely of some import. This piece is notable for being one the earliest examples of side-eye memes in the world.

Dog Monkey something bronze from inside the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and beyond the Erskine and American Church, Romanesque Revival architecture more interesting than the MMFA post-modern deconstructionist structure that looks like it was built by a giant child with geometric building blocks.

A century ago a priest of the Notre-Dame Basilica would slowly climb the twisty, windy stairs to the stand under an ornate canopy, high above the nave, his voice ringing out to pews filled with parishioners, but now it’s tourists taking pictures and dust on those steps.

On the way to visit the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, we passed another religious institution, Leonard Cohen memorialized on a giant mural.

Ten days was nine days too many for Liquid Glass on macOS, though credit where credit is due. If Apple wanted to distract from AI woes, that “invisible” Menu Bar in macOS did it for me, could not stop looking at the wrongness. Rightness has now been restored.

#Apple #macOS

Double tap the top of the screen in the iPadOS 26 beta and app windows switch between full screen and the last size set, very helpful in adapting to the new windowing model.

#iPadOS

Since the iPadOS beta seems solid, the macOS beta must be too. Unsarcastically, it is so far, though, weirdly, Liquid Glass seems more jarring on the Mac right from the Desktop. An invisible Menu Bar upends 40 years of UI expectations big time.

#macOS

As iconic and polarizing as McDonalds, the Apple Store in Montreal is on brand with severe minimalism and questionable material choices. Porous limestone facade looks like ass wet. The employees were really nice.

To an American tourist like me, Montreal is best described in the negative: not violent, not loud, not filthy… not American. In Montreal they shut down streets to vehicle traffic for months, that’s about as not American as a large city can be.

I installed the iPadOS 26 public beta, no issues so far, except trying to decide between glass and tinted home screen, better wallpaper visibility or widget text legibility, real Sophie’s Choice.

#iPadOS

Starting a course of SNRIs to reset my vagus nerve 9/11, so I asked ChatGPT to help me create a new iPad wallpaper that captures the mood.

#ChatGPT

Fantasizing about a Vision Pro for my birthday–don’t judge–I noticed the order of products on the Store page (and App) being different from the Apple webpage menu. I get the consolidation of products on Apple.com, but why are iPad and iPhone reversed? This is very disturbing.

#Apple

Running outside under an umbrella in a thunderstorm, rainbow seekers that we are, my wife and I, we scored a technical double. Not getting struck by lightning was a bonus, I guess, though that’s getting to be a tougher case to make every day since November, but still—rainbow!

#rainbow

A quick pick of a northern flicker was pretty blurry, ran it through some filters, tried not to lose the unhurried alertness, the still intent.

#woodpecker

Our tomtoc Slims have arrived! Bold Ocean Blue, understated Matcha Green, cases snug and rigid for our traveling Switch Ups (Switch 2). My wife chose the blue, so good I liked the green.

#Nintendo

This was the line outside the DMV office at 05:30. Five hours later, I’m one of the lucky ones waiting inside. Others are outside where the heat index is 93°F/33.8°C.

Marriage saved!

#Nintendo

I will die on this moniker, #Nintendo.

Divorced

Wherein I get divorce.

Right on the tire track line, just sitting there, no movement, Turtle should be grateful I pay attention pulling into the garage. I put the oblivious reptile in the flower bed it was pointing towards. Make better choices, Turtle.

No joy thus far using Switch Sniper to remove a friction point between my wife and myself. I’m not saying sharing the Switch Up (I refuse to let go of the better moniker) could end 30 years of marriage, but I’m not not saying it, either.

#Nintendo #Switch2

Pay

Wherein Tim and I each confront our own painful trooth.

The new model of flower eating machines has arrived.

#rabbit

This raccoon gets up before sunset when I take in the bird feeder to try to beat me to it, also climbs a deck support beam rather than take the stairs and trip the outdoor camera light. Real ninja vibe.

#raccoon

Surprised by COVID, never again will supply chain collapse catch me without toilet paper, not even a plague of stupidity. I started stockpiling household goods when on sale in 2021 with a goal of a six-month supply, personal supplies and OTC medications too. Not happy, but prepared.

#tariffs