Gary Smith
@garysmith.bsky.social
Toronto, Ontario, Canada 🍁
Web development: garysmith.ca
Writing: decompiling.ca
Painting: citypainter.ca
Web development: garysmith.ca
Writing: decompiling.ca
Painting: citypainter.ca
Reposted by Gary Smith
One of the myriad reasons I despise Waymos is that they are *deeply* antisocial. Instead of building safe and reliable mass transit, we're given hermetic pods that increase congestion and cause wear and tear on the infrastructure we all pay for.
Waymo privatized another public street:
Chanel approaching 4th, San Francisco
Possibly queued for a Billie Eilish show at Chase Center ~half mile away.
The light rail train on 4th seen passing in front of this roboherd has more passenger capacity than all of them combined.
OP: .tiktok.renaspam18
Chanel approaching 4th, San Francisco
Possibly queued for a Billie Eilish show at Chase Center ~half mile away.
The light rail train on 4th seen passing in front of this roboherd has more passenger capacity than all of them combined.
OP: .tiktok.renaspam18
November 24, 2025 at 11:11 PM
One of the myriad reasons I despise Waymos is that they are *deeply* antisocial. Instead of building safe and reliable mass transit, we're given hermetic pods that increase congestion and cause wear and tear on the infrastructure we all pay for.
Reposted by Gary Smith
Edward Hopper, Sun in an Empty Room - 1963
October 26, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Edward Hopper, Sun in an Empty Room - 1963
Reposted by Gary Smith
Vilhelm Hammershøi, 1864-1916
Dust Motes Dancing in Sunbeams
Dust Motes Dancing in Sunbeams
November 21, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Vilhelm Hammershøi, 1864-1916
Dust Motes Dancing in Sunbeams
Dust Motes Dancing in Sunbeams
Reposted by Gary Smith
To paint snow, Monet used pale blues, pinks, and violets—not white.
He said, “White does not exist in nature.
He said, “White does not exist in nature.
November 24, 2025 at 12:17 AM
To paint snow, Monet used pale blues, pinks, and violets—not white.
He said, “White does not exist in nature.
He said, “White does not exist in nature.
Reposted by Gary Smith
#Finland will begin to #Russia - proof its rail network, integrate with EU train infrastructure.
The Finnish government has announced the conversion of its rail network from Russian gauge (1,524 mm) to European standard (1,435 mm).
www.trenvista.net/en/news/flas...
The Finnish government has announced the conversion of its rail network from Russian gauge (1,524 mm) to European standard (1,435 mm).
www.trenvista.net/en/news/flas...
November 23, 2025 at 4:11 PM
#Finland will begin to #Russia - proof its rail network, integrate with EU train infrastructure.
The Finnish government has announced the conversion of its rail network from Russian gauge (1,524 mm) to European standard (1,435 mm).
www.trenvista.net/en/news/flas...
The Finnish government has announced the conversion of its rail network from Russian gauge (1,524 mm) to European standard (1,435 mm).
www.trenvista.net/en/news/flas...
Reposted by Gary Smith
Disable is your choice here.
November 21, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Disable is your choice here.
"Security are telling us to leave and it's really understandable why," says guy standing beside an enormous fire and not leaving.
COP30 fire: BBC at the scene of 'intense' blaze
Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt was at the UN climate talks in Brazil when a fire broke out.
bbc.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:52 PM
"Security are telling us to leave and it's really understandable why," says guy standing beside an enormous fire and not leaving.
Reposted by Gary Smith
You tell me!!
Stop AI-Shaming Our Precious, Kindly Em Dashes—Please
Human writers have always used the em dash. In fact, it’s the most human punctuation mark there is.
www.theringer.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:08 PM
You tell me!!
Reposted by Gary Smith
Goodluck, Ontario
Ridership on Paris region transit systems is now generally at or higher than pre-pandemic levels. Bike use is much higher than pre-pandemic.
At the same time, car traffic in Paris and on its ring highway is substantially lower than it was pre-pandemic. www.institutparisregion.fr/mobilite-et-...
At the same time, car traffic in Paris and on its ring highway is substantially lower than it was pre-pandemic. www.institutparisregion.fr/mobilite-et-...
November 18, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Goodluck, Ontario
'“It should be as easy to cancel a service as it is to sign up for one,” he said.'
‘We are experiencing extremely high call volumes’ — 7 words that enrage Rogers customers | CBC News
Rogers customers say they’re furious about what they say is a lack of customer service — spending hours and hours trying to cancel services or fix bills — as workers who handled Rogers customer servic...
www.cbc.ca
November 17, 2025 at 6:03 PM
'“It should be as easy to cancel a service as it is to sign up for one,” he said.'
Condo developers bought up two blocks on King East near Sherbourne and evicted all the long-term businesses, including Betty's bar. Three years later the vacant buildings sit there waiting for the market to improve, stinking of dead rats, eyesores in an otherwise vibrant neighbhourhood.
Why hundreds of empty Toronto condo lots are stuck in limbo — attracting the anger of their neighbours
They may one day be home to towering condos, but for now, they are unkempt empty lots that attract pests and garbage — and the anger of nearby neighbours.
www.thestar.com
November 17, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Condo developers bought up two blocks on King East near Sherbourne and evicted all the long-term businesses, including Betty's bar. Three years later the vacant buildings sit there waiting for the market to improve, stinking of dead rats, eyesores in an otherwise vibrant neighbhourhood.
“If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don't put it there.”
― Anton Chekhov
― Anton Chekhov
November 16, 2025 at 4:28 AM
“If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don't put it there.”
― Anton Chekhov
― Anton Chekhov
Reposted by Gary Smith
Almost everywhere in the City of Toronto has fewer people that it did 50 years ago
November 15, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Almost everywhere in the City of Toronto has fewer people that it did 50 years ago
Reposted by Gary Smith
Forcing AI on to employees is the norm for companies nowadays. Employees can't speak out against it directly, because doing so would negatively impact their performance review or perceived cultural fit, when layoffs in tech are also common.
November 15, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Forcing AI on to employees is the norm for companies nowadays. Employees can't speak out against it directly, because doing so would negatively impact their performance review or perceived cultural fit, when layoffs in tech are also common.
Reposted by Gary Smith
Councillor Moise, representing a ward where 70% are renters, says about eight of the ten people who come to his office are people looking for support in avoiding eviction and keeping their homes.
November 12, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Councillor Moise, representing a ward where 70% are renters, says about eight of the ten people who come to his office are people looking for support in avoiding eviction and keeping their homes.
For years, energy producing areas in Canada and the US pushed back against investing in green energy, said there was no point because China would just keep burning coal. But it is China that innovated. Now they will make trillions selling us tech we don't have the ability to manufacture ourselves.
A Flood of Green Tech From China Is Upending Global Climate Politics
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:14 PM
For years, energy producing areas in Canada and the US pushed back against investing in green energy, said there was no point because China would just keep burning coal. But it is China that innovated. Now they will make trillions selling us tech we don't have the ability to manufacture ourselves.
Reposted by Gary Smith
Three hundred collisions across the GTA on a major snow day seems like a lot!
… Then why doesn’t the news report that statistically there are over 130 collisions EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, just within the City of Toronto?
(Source: TPS Public Safety Data Portal)
… Then why doesn’t the news report that statistically there are over 130 collisions EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, just within the City of Toronto?
(Source: TPS Public Safety Data Portal)
November 10, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Three hundred collisions across the GTA on a major snow day seems like a lot!
… Then why doesn’t the news report that statistically there are over 130 collisions EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, just within the City of Toronto?
(Source: TPS Public Safety Data Portal)
… Then why doesn’t the news report that statistically there are over 130 collisions EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, just within the City of Toronto?
(Source: TPS Public Safety Data Portal)
Reposted by Gary Smith
Here's another bit of conventional wisdom Zohran completely blew away: His speech was at well above a 10th-grade level. It was complex, erudite, punctuated by deep and fluent references. You don't have to condescend to voters with baby talk! Part of re-establishing norms is speaking like an adult.
November 5, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Here's another bit of conventional wisdom Zohran completely blew away: His speech was at well above a 10th-grade level. It was complex, erudite, punctuated by deep and fluent references. You don't have to condescend to voters with baby talk! Part of re-establishing norms is speaking like an adult.
'“There might not be another opportunity, Radiohead is pretty old at this point,” said Luka Arreaza, 20, prompting laughter from those waiting in line beside him.'
Radiohead play career-spanning set in first concert since 2018
British quintet draw from all but one of their studio albums as they perform in Madrid on first of 20 European tour dates
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:21 AM
'“There might not be another opportunity, Radiohead is pretty old at this point,” said Luka Arreaza, 20, prompting laughter from those waiting in line beside him.'
Reposted by Gary Smith
November 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Reposted by Gary Smith
Saw a few of these guys walking around Syracuse today. Apparently the Citroën Ami is technically an electric "quadricycle."
I really appreciate the spectrum of cars in Italy. Very few people really need an F-150 to get around. This mignt not fly in Canada, but I'd love to see smaller hatchbacks.
I really appreciate the spectrum of cars in Italy. Very few people really need an F-150 to get around. This mignt not fly in Canada, but I'd love to see smaller hatchbacks.
November 3, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Saw a few of these guys walking around Syracuse today. Apparently the Citroën Ami is technically an electric "quadricycle."
I really appreciate the spectrum of cars in Italy. Very few people really need an F-150 to get around. This mignt not fly in Canada, but I'd love to see smaller hatchbacks.
I really appreciate the spectrum of cars in Italy. Very few people really need an F-150 to get around. This mignt not fly in Canada, but I'd love to see smaller hatchbacks.
Anther book for my reading list, I think.
www.nathaneberline.com/blog/a-dista...
www.nathaneberline.com/blog/a-dista...
November 1, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Anther book for my reading list, I think.
www.nathaneberline.com/blog/a-dista...
www.nathaneberline.com/blog/a-dista...
Reposted by Gary Smith
Blue Jays
Cody Houle ~ Anishinaabe
2025
Cody Houle ~ Anishinaabe
2025
October 31, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Blue Jays
Cody Houle ~ Anishinaabe
2025
Cody Houle ~ Anishinaabe
2025
Reposted by Gary Smith
In 1861, Monet served in Algeria, where he was dazzled by North Africa’s blazing light. ☀️
He later said the “richness of color” shaped everything he painted afterward.
He later said the “richness of color” shaped everything he painted afterward.
October 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
In 1861, Monet served in Algeria, where he was dazzled by North Africa’s blazing light. ☀️
He later said the “richness of color” shaped everything he painted afterward.
He later said the “richness of color” shaped everything he painted afterward.
Reposted by Gary Smith
I regret to inform everyone that my pedantic brain couldn’t let me live until I knew whether or not dodger blue and blue jays blue are the same blue. They are ONE PANTONE NUMBER APART.
October 29, 2025 at 2:18 AM
I regret to inform everyone that my pedantic brain couldn’t let me live until I knew whether or not dodger blue and blue jays blue are the same blue. They are ONE PANTONE NUMBER APART.