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Jen Whyte 🍁

@whyjenwhy

Thinker about old stuff at Duke University. I have a website and this is a link to it: https://www.jenniferlwhyte.com/

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Latest posts by Jen Whyte 🍁 @whyjenwhy

Highlight of the CAN-FIN game today was my partner (philosopher but not hockey guy) coming out of his office as I was watching the game to ask why he kept hearing stuff about 'Brandom Hegel'

21.02.2026 00:02 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I remember the Golden Goal of 2010 like it was yesterday, in part because even out in the suburbs where I was the collective victory yell of the city of Vancouver was audible and palpable. Now imagine that at 7 in the morning.

20.02.2026 18:37 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Obviously I never want Team USA to win a hockey game ever, but it would be pretty funny if the gold medal game was at a time that was maximally inconvenient for literally all of the relevant fans

20.02.2026 18:34 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

How am I supposed to just have a normal day after that hockey game. I could feel the years coming off my lifespan.

18.02.2026 19:18 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This is just what it's like living next to the CMU Philosophy department

16.02.2026 02:34 πŸ‘ 15 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Especially when you suspect that some of the the countries to which the skaters are being exported are on the 'to conquer' list. Sure, they're not counted as Russian medals *now*, but...

16.02.2026 02:33 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

If your goal is to punish the Russian Skating Federation for their many crimes, you can't leave the loophole where their skaters (trained by their coaches in their facilities) can just compete for every other country

15.02.2026 22:18 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Have we considered putting sanctions on Russian exports of figure skaters.

15.02.2026 22:11 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

'Describe the process of making bobbin lace'

16.01.2026 21:41 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

The thing is that a lot of the skaters who were really bad today were fine in the team event a few days ago, and in the short program the day before last (especially Siao Him Fa, poor guy). If there's ice trouble, it's new. I guess we'll see what happens with the Pairs on Sunday.

14.02.2026 03:48 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Yes, but I remember the speed skaters yesterday complaining that it wasn't hard enough. Perhaps it's just inconsistent?

14.02.2026 03:41 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

In an ironic way, everyone before you messing up puts more pressure on you as a skater, since you're now looking at a once-in-a-lifetime chance to punch above your weight. I imagine that's what spooked Malinin - after Kagiyama skated imperfectly, the path before him was just too clear and too easy.

14.02.2026 03:40 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I've heard some idle speculation about ice quality (both in figure and speed skating, which use the same arena), but to the best of my knowledge it is just idle speculation. Figure skating is a very mental sport, so without further information I'd say the 'nerves' explanation is sufficient.

14.02.2026 03:38 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

But not like a figure skater landing things today! Which they did not do!

14.02.2026 03:21 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I'm not sure how to translate the magnitude of this event for non-figure-skating watchers. Um. Imagine if... it was the Superbowl... and suddenly nobody could catch the football or throw the football even if they're normally pretty good at it

14.02.2026 03:11 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 0

It makes sense that so much of the focus is on Malinin (largest difference between expectation and result + US bias on this and every website) but I cannot overstate the degree to which almost everyone was fucking terrible today

14.02.2026 03:08 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

To be fair, this is what we get for putting the men’s free skate on Friday the 13th. #MilanoCortina2026

13.02.2026 22:06 πŸ‘ 136 πŸ” 23 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 2

I've been watching figure skating for a long time, and I'm not sure I've ever seen a bloodbath like that.

13.02.2026 22:30 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

Yes, I do this regularly. And you'd be surprised at how much sewing increases the amount of hang-to-dry laundry one needs to do. All fabric should be pre-washed. It's still barely a dent in the Toronto Winter Armour, but we just need to hold on until spring.

12.02.2026 00:24 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

But the humidity... Alas.

12.02.2026 00:17 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

Oh, both. The portable one was practical, the whole-home one was aspirational.

12.02.2026 00:04 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Trust me, I have watched the full Technology Connections Humidifier saga, in my desperate - perhaps vain - attempt to grow tropical plants in Toronto

12.02.2026 00:02 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

I never understood why everyone hated 'Beautiful Things' until watching the Olympics on CBC, where it's in fully half of the ads

11.02.2026 22:07 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I too immediately forgot about Coldplay as soon as they leave my field of vision

09.02.2026 15:05 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I know why this is the case but it is still remarkable to see people complaining about Bad Bunny (who is American) not being American enough for the super bowl when I didn't hear a word about The Weeknd. Or Rhianna. Or Shakira. Or Coldplay. They've had the Rolling Stones up there.

09.02.2026 14:33 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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09.02.2026 03:26 πŸ‘ 1177 πŸ” 161 πŸ’¬ 20 πŸ“Œ 8

Yeah, see, there's a reason that most tournaments do a 'best of 7' for their finals. You're basically guaranteed at least one good game that way.

09.02.2026 02:11 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

That is your perogative!

09.02.2026 01:24 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I mean, if you're counting Lewis you should probably also count Tolkein, for similar reasons.

09.02.2026 00:29 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

But I guess the time to introduce that would have been Athens 2004, so we might have missed the opportunity.

08.02.2026 23:01 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0