Third Quarter - 2026

Work

The biggest news is, naturally, my imminent departure, as of today, from KO_OP.

I wrote a bit about it, and I’m not sure what else to add. I’m still… in between. Updates when and where applicable, I suppose.

Yeah.

Cape Breton

Happier: in the first week of September, I took my folks on a road trip around Cape Breton, and the Cabot Trail.

They lived together in Sydney for a few years, before moving back to Montréal, before moving to Toronto, before moving to Halifax just a few years ago. During one of my recent Hali visits, we were drinking wine and talking travel (a family pastime), and they were remarking on their renewed proximity to the Cabot Trail, which we’d visited as a family back in 1992 (I remember mostly pictures).

A few months later, I was behind the wheel, and it was an amazing tour.

A whale surfacing just 3-4 metres from our zodiac Pilot whales

God rays breaking through dramatic clouds, over mountains and a lake Cape Breton goes for it

A lobster roll, which is mostly lobster Most of a sea-beast, on a bun

A boardwalk over a watery bog Cape Breton's famous Bog Trail

Me leaning against a railing, with the Cabot Trail extending to the horizon Rare image of the author

Topic Lords

I was invited to speak about Topics on September 23rd—the episode should air on National Deviled Egg Day (November 2nd).

This is my third invite! You can listen to my first and second episodes, though frankly I’ve never done so myself. You could pay me to listen to my own voice, but the price would not be insignifcant.

Why I keep getting invited back is a mystery.

Film

Photo of Hemela Pourafzal as a young girl Hemela

I watched Hemela at the Cinéma du Musée. It’s a wonderful story, with wonderful people (and a surprise Québ cameo), and I really do want to go back to eat at Byblos. Let me know if you’re headed that way.

I saw The Odyssey, finally. Probably my favourite Nolan since The Dark Knight, though as usual the spectacle does a lot to paper over the fairly thin characterization. The soundtrack, however, is sublime. I hesitate to listen to it more than once because I know it’s going to take me places.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service was fun! A lot more interesting than I think people give it credit for. Only tangentially related, but I’m sure I remember George Lazenby moving on to have a career as a Twitter philosopher, unless it was a completely different George Lazenby. Can’t seem to find any trace, alas.

Games

Screenshot from Anachronox Mesmerizing

Anachronox is charming me in a way I was not expecting from the Quake II engine. I saw someone compare it to Mass Effect, and I’m not sure I’m there yet, but it’s a unique little thing—like the most famous TC you’ve never heard of. I think I’ll be chipping away at this one for a while.

Big Walk is real nice, surprising no one.

Bike & bouffe

If you follow me on Komoot (you don’t), you might have noticed a bunch of “Bike & bouffe” activities. There are a number of restaurants and other food establishments that I’ve been meaning to visit over the years, and I’ve been taking advantage of nice whether, when available, to bike out and pay them each a visit. Over the past two months or so, I’ve finally crossed the last ones (for now) off my list!

These include: Boom J’s in Verdun/The Pointe for jerk chicken; Smoke Meat Pete and Delibee’s for, well, smoked meat sandwiches; Panda Donuts for, well, donuts; and Casse-croûte Sissi & Paul for a very generous Haitian griot. Really great stuff, and I’m glad I made the time.

Of course, this means I’ll have to go back to biking for the simple joy of the activity itself, which is a terrifying thought.

Special shout-out to Quai des glaces. I’ve been there before, but it was on my way back from Smoke Meat Pete. Granted, the four hours of biking beforehand primed me to enjoy it, but the lemon-basil sorbet was genuinely one of the best things I’ve ever tasted.

Sorbet on an ice cream cone Magnificent

I’m really enjoying this album.

ok bye!

♥🖖