Ben Watts
@benwatts.me
Runner, lifter of heavy circles, baker, cocktail enthusiast, product designer in Ottawa. 🇨🇦🏳️🌈
It’s always fascinating how much people complain about sidewalks, transit, roads, pot holes, snow clearing, parks, rec centres, etc. but the majority don’t vote, and those that do, vote for the status quo.
Another 4 years of the same with a meagre ~36% turnout. Dismal, Ottawa! 🤷♂️
Another 4 years of the same with a meagre ~36% turnout. Dismal, Ottawa! 🤷♂️
October 27, 2026 at 11:47 AM
It’s always fascinating how much people complain about sidewalks, transit, roads, pot holes, snow clearing, parks, rec centres, etc. but the majority don’t vote, and those that do, vote for the status quo.
Another 4 years of the same with a meagre ~36% turnout. Dismal, Ottawa! 🤷♂️
Another 4 years of the same with a meagre ~36% turnout. Dismal, Ottawa! 🤷♂️
There’s a sticker for voting early?? ✨
October 16, 2026 at 5:09 PM
There’s a sticker for voting early?? ✨
I can’t help myself around Halloween-themed foodstuffs…
October 14, 2026 at 12:53 PM
I can’t help myself around Halloween-themed foodstuffs…
Something about these being the same price feels odd (the Apple TV seems particularly expensive for what it does?)
October 13, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Something about these being the same price feels odd (the Apple TV seems particularly expensive for what it does?)
There really is no floor for how barbaric these people can get. Death by firing squad as a public spectacle? Insane.
Hegseth says execution of Fort Hood shooter will be a public event
Officials clarified execution by firing squad of Nidal Hasan, army psychiatrist who killed 13 people, will be livestreamed
www.theguardian.com
October 8, 2026 at 10:38 PM
There really is no floor for how barbaric these people can get. Death by firing squad as a public spectacle? Insane.
Is it just me or is setting a simple timer with the new Siri AI considerably slower than it used to be? 🤦♂️
September 30, 2026 at 2:21 AM
Is it just me or is setting a simple timer with the new Siri AI considerably slower than it used to be? 🤦♂️
Reposted by Ben Watts
Tech companies suddenly decide they can, in fact, moderate content on their platforms after all
September 26, 2026 at 12:03 AM
Tech companies suddenly decide they can, in fact, moderate content on their platforms after all
This year I learned squirrels can chew through flashing 🥲
September 25, 2026 at 10:38 PM
This year I learned squirrels can chew through flashing 🥲
I really slept on iOS's "call screening" feature. It has been a game changer for avoiding spam calls
September 25, 2026 at 3:36 PM
I really slept on iOS's "call screening" feature. It has been a game changer for avoiding spam calls
Reposted by Ben Watts
Opinion | My convoy buddies didn’t pay for on-street parking so why are you, you dumb chumps?
By Alex Lawson
By Alex Lawson
September 5, 2026 at 11:46 AM
Opinion | My convoy buddies didn’t pay for on-street parking so why are you, you dumb chumps?
By Alex Lawson
By Alex Lawson
Reposted by Ben Watts
How do I explain to small business owners that the menu on the left is one billion times more appealing than the one on the right
August 19, 2026 at 3:12 PM
How do I explain to small business owners that the menu on the left is one billion times more appealing than the one on the right
Getting quotes to replace my roof, and the sales guy is telling me how wind resistant the shingles are. I mention that seems like a good thing, since we’ve been getting more tornadoes in recent years.
He decided to let me know that climate change is left wing hoax.
Interesting sales tactic. 😐
He decided to let me know that climate change is left wing hoax.
Interesting sales tactic. 😐
June 16, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Getting quotes to replace my roof, and the sales guy is telling me how wind resistant the shingles are. I mention that seems like a good thing, since we’ve been getting more tornadoes in recent years.
He decided to let me know that climate change is left wing hoax.
Interesting sales tactic. 😐
He decided to let me know that climate change is left wing hoax.
Interesting sales tactic. 😐
Reposted by Ben Watts
The Enhanced Games are bullshit. They’re still banning runners from competing using the most powerful drug of all: being in a car
May 26, 2026 at 2:51 AM
The Enhanced Games are bullshit. They’re still banning runners from competing using the most powerful drug of all: being in a car
Reposted by Ben Watts
The City of Ottawa posted the raw speed data from before and after Doug Ford banned speed cameras and the effect is so obvious it's not even necessary put a line marking when that happened.
This chart shows the percentage of drivers going 15km/h or more over the posted limit.
This chart shows the percentage of drivers going 15km/h or more over the posted limit.
May 11, 2026 at 1:45 PM
The City of Ottawa posted the raw speed data from before and after Doug Ford banned speed cameras and the effect is so obvious it's not even necessary put a line marking when that happened.
This chart shows the percentage of drivers going 15km/h or more over the posted limit.
This chart shows the percentage of drivers going 15km/h or more over the posted limit.
Reposted by Ben Watts
i see a horse has won the kentucky derby again. this is beginning to feel rigged
May 2, 2026 at 11:27 PM
i see a horse has won the kentucky derby again. this is beginning to feel rigged
The world of bathroom hardware is insane.
In what world does a single towel hook have a MSRP of $269.00??
In what world does a single towel hook have a MSRP of $269.00??
April 28, 2026 at 6:52 PM
The world of bathroom hardware is insane.
In what world does a single towel hook have a MSRP of $269.00??
In what world does a single towel hook have a MSRP of $269.00??
I'd like to announce that I too am pivoting to AI. Money pls 🫴
Struggling shoe retailer Allbirds makes bizarre pivot from shoes to AI, stock explodes more than 700%
Allbirds announced a deal with American Exchange Group to sell its intellectual property and other assets for $39 million in March.
www.cnbc.com
April 15, 2026 at 5:14 PM
I'd like to announce that I too am pivoting to AI. Money pls 🫴
Spring is refusing to arrive with any haste, so I’ve been learning glass blowing in the hot shop at the Ottawa Glassblowing Co-op this week. 🥵
Two days in: zero burns! ✅
Two days in: zero burns! ✅
March 24, 2026 at 11:23 PM
Spring is refusing to arrive with any haste, so I’ve been learning glass blowing in the hot shop at the Ottawa Glassblowing Co-op this week. 🥵
Two days in: zero burns! ✅
Two days in: zero burns! ✅
Tfw when the city unexpectedly shows up to replace your water shutoff valve for some reason.
March 12, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Tfw when the city unexpectedly shows up to replace your water shutoff valve for some reason.
I wish the dog could understand that if it's raining in the backyard, it'll be raining if we leave through the front door on a walk 😂.
He was super reluctant to go into the rain to pee in the backyard, but thinks it will somehow be better on a walk (...we didn't make it far)
He was super reluctant to go into the rain to pee in the backyard, but thinks it will somehow be better on a walk (...we didn't make it far)
March 11, 2026 at 4:50 PM
I wish the dog could understand that if it's raining in the backyard, it'll be raining if we leave through the front door on a walk 😂.
He was super reluctant to go into the rain to pee in the backyard, but thinks it will somehow be better on a walk (...we didn't make it far)
He was super reluctant to go into the rain to pee in the backyard, but thinks it will somehow be better on a walk (...we didn't make it far)
Reposted by Ben Watts
This is the warning on the blood pressure monitor my dad just got.
Exceptional work. Anybody know what the fuck it’s supposed to mean?
Last line is especially ominous
Exceptional work. Anybody know what the fuck it’s supposed to mean?
Last line is especially ominous
March 9, 2026 at 1:36 PM
This is the warning on the blood pressure monitor my dad just got.
Exceptional work. Anybody know what the fuck it’s supposed to mean?
Last line is especially ominous
Exceptional work. Anybody know what the fuck it’s supposed to mean?
Last line is especially ominous
I'm not gonna pretend I knew tobi well during the decade I was at Shop, but jfc I don’t recall him being this juvenile? I *generally* thought he was a reasonable person (tornadoes™ notwithstanding). So this comment feels suuuuper offbeat to me. Billionaires, man... *yeesh*
March 4, 2026 at 12:57 AM
I'm not gonna pretend I knew tobi well during the decade I was at Shop, but jfc I don’t recall him being this juvenile? I *generally* thought he was a reasonable person (tornadoes™ notwithstanding). So this comment feels suuuuper offbeat to me. Billionaires, man... *yeesh*
Sat down at my desk and... there's definitely something scurrying in the wall/ceiling right now. It's all I can hear. There goes focusing on anything else today.
a picture of a raccoon with its mouth open and the words aa aa aa aa aa
ALT: a picture of a raccoon with its mouth open and the words aa aa aa aa aa
media.tenor.com
February 18, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Sat down at my desk and... there's definitely something scurrying in the wall/ceiling right now. It's all I can hear. There goes focusing on anything else today.
Reposted by Ben Watts
i just saw someone say "Kid Rock makes music for the people who have tattoos of their kids but not custody" and hol up i need a minute
February 9, 2026 at 4:22 AM
i just saw someone say "Kid Rock makes music for the people who have tattoos of their kids but not custody" and hol up i need a minute