My father in law worked on sound for that movie!
City man: Spacing magazine editor, walking, messy urbanism, Renaissance urban history. Also freelance editor. dylanreid.ca
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My father in law worked on sound for that movie!
Rule 94: Do a Walkability Study A walkability study helps communities make areas safer and easier for walking and biking by focusing on 4 types of walks: - the useful walk - the safe walk - the comfortable walk - the interesting walk Walkable City Rules www.amazon.com/Walkable-Cit...
A disturbingly useful vocabulary www.nytimes.com/2025/06/09/o...
“[AI] repeats the same mistakes and requires extensive context input for each session." I suspect one of the reasons AI, like computers, doesn't increase productivity as much as expected is that it actually generates additional unproductive work. www.newyorker.com/news/the-fin...
Photo passed along from a federal employee from inside the Dept of Labor building, where a giant Orwellian image of Trump's face is now draped outside. Big Brother is watching.
This ‘blue states closed schools too long’ narrative is becoming increasingly entrenched in the Polite Center but it’s arguable at best. Republican states had far more deaths during COVID and their students have roughly comparable learning loss.
In my intro to the new Waterfront themed issue of @spacing.bsky.social , I wrote: "It’s a bizarre concatenation of clashing jurisdictions, priorities, and funding that we can build an astonishing new river but can’t fix a little pedestrian bridge." spacing.ca/toronto/2025...
Thinking of the emissions alone. All those parents idling their cars for hours. Oof.
In Polish when someone provides false or unsubstantiated information with confidence, they are described as having taken it from IDzD. IDzD stands for Instytut Danych z Dupy (the Institute of Out-of-your-Ass Data).
Nice!
Renewables are rapidly displacing other electricity sources in basically every country that isn't run by fossil fuel lobbyists. Looking at you Canada.
Toronto bird folk: I have spent an hour getting warbler neck in a little glade of willow trees in Bickford Park. Least flycatchers galore, redstarts, pewees, other tiny warblers I don’t recognize… busy, busy treetops! Check out the trees in the park near you. Migration movement is on!
Gimme sugar! I love that ships deliver holds full of sugar to Toronto on a regular basis. Feed our cravings.
I'd say it was more like 1,500 years!
Remember what the @worldbollardassoc.bsky.social says: Know your Limits and Safety First!
ActiveTO was one of the bright points to come out of the pandemic. I miss it so much. #bikeTO
Definitely!
I was this many years old when i realized some fire hydrants have this awesome brand and model name. I'm imagining what a Brigadier McAvity would be like. Definitely would have a mustache.
Nice bump-out into the parking lane on Fulton across from Aldwych Park, creating shorter crossing distance for people going to the park and ensuring "daylighting" (visibility) for drivers and pedestrians at the intersection. More of this please!
And another example of a private #fountainsTO in a front yard, from the east end
It's wonderful when private homeowners supplement Toronto's overly limited supply of #fountainsTO by putting a fountain in their front yard for all to enjoy! Two examples from the east end. First one:
This is so awesome
Part of the joy of a long weekend Monday holiday is not having any "week about to begin" stress on Sunday
Especially rude since people VOTED for the (original) name, from over 150,000 entries. I will ALWAYS call it the #SkyDome. 😉
Multisolving!
British buildings weren't designed to do *anything* - they are, for the most part, badly built, leak air, and uninsulated.
The beaver is more than a buck-toothed rodent and national emblem. It turns out the revered creature could be a helpful ally in the battle against wildfires, a new study reveals. www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/natu...
Reading it because of your reference to the book in your column. Have family history in Earlscourt.
Indeed - so deeply embedded into the city. But I never realized how long or how deep. It explains a lot. Including how the first non-Orangeman mayor of the city was Jewish, Nathan Phillips.
Fascinated to learn (via Richard Harris, "Unplanned Suburbs") that Jewish people were the largest non-British-Isles-origin population in Toronto in the first half of the 20th century (about 7%).
Also in this - the inability of leaders to imagine that there can be more than one route to excellence. Instead of trying to be like an Ivy League school, why not (continue to) be excellent in a distinct way? Too many leaders are afraid to be different.
Here is Adam's delightful version (updated in 2023 in conjunction with the publication of The Big Book of Spacing). spacing.ca/toronto/2012...
Everyone's favourite Toronto History story. On @spacing.bsky.social , the 2012 story about it by @adambunch.bsky.social has been in the top 10 viewed pages *every single week since then*! Yes, for 13 years.
Quite a recovery! (Friday August 29) Wordle 1,532 4/6* ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜ 🟩🟩🟩⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
5. Historians cannot be restrained by the rigidity of citation management software
(MS Canadian English is actually just set to accept both US and UK spellings, which is annoyingly lazy but better than locking in to one or the other).
Tip for Canadian writers: if you're mostly publishing in Canada, set your Microsoft Word default language setting to Canadian English. I get so many submissions set as US English, where Canadian spellings are marked as an error. #amediting
Skilled heritage trade training is being closed down just as climate change calls for more restoration of existing buildings rather than demolition, and AI means young people are once again interested in trades it can't replace, says @lloydalter.bsky.social lloydalter.substack.com/p/why-traini...
Words I'll keep in mind! "The main lesson I’ve taken away from this is that if you’re only going to be successful in one half of your career, make it the second half. If it’s the first half, that’s a tragedy. But the second half is a happy ending.” www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books/a...
Interesting story. It's heartening that solutions like better education about the dangers are working. kyivindependent.com/as-russia-re...
Aagh! So close! (Thursday August 28) Wordle 1,531 4/6* 🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟨🟨🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Rule 90: Break Up Big Buildings Big buildings can overwhelm a street, but “demise lines” breaks the facade conceptually into smaller units, helping the large buildings look like a collection of smaller structures built independently. Walkable City Rules www.amazon.com/Walkable-Cit...
We're moving in September, and you know what that means: Sales! Our Rummage Sale, clearing out the books that have piled up in our basement over 36 years, is on now! Drop by and check it out!
The TTC is considering capping monthly fares and making trips after 40 trips free each month. If instituted, this would be automatic for all riders, meaning wouldn’t need to buy a full monthly pass at the beginning of each month. YES PLEASE #TOpoli
I would not have expected much from a management consultant’s story about Disneyworld, but I think this really captures how the increasing inaccessibility of entertainment experiences contributes to feelings of inequality. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/o...
Cool! Or rather, hot!
There’s an old Russian joke about how a peasant with one cow was given a wish by a genie and his wish was to kill one of his neighbor’s two cows. A lot of people in the US have exactly this mentality
A non-zero-sum worldview is, in my mind, the core of what it means to be "on the left." You believe that through cooperation & solidarity, we can *all* benefit. Indeed, if you look back through history, you find that non-zero-sum cooperation is the root of pretty much every human advance!
The City of Toronto has a survey about expanding retail options on major streets and in neighbourhoods (destinations for walks!). Let the City know what you think. ca.mar.medallia.com?e=455879&d=e...
If a ravine doesn't lead to a popular destination or house municipal infrastructure, does anyone notice its problems? @johnlorinc.bsky.social investigates the case of Yellow Creek. spacing.ca/toronto/2025...
MAHA
The long battle for Yellow Creek — the ravine has finally found its way onto City Council's radar, but is there real money there to fix damage inflicted by climate change? Senior editor @johnlorinc.bsky.social explores the erosion of soil & money. spacing.ca/toronto/2025... #TOpoli #ONpoli
Politicians may also listen to activists claiming traffic cameras undermine privacy or equity. But 10+ city transport leaders told me residents seldom voice such concerns. In DC, cameras are most popular in low-income, Black Wards 7 & 8 where people are esp likely to die in a crash. Makes sense!
Most Americans appreciate the benefits of automatic enforcement. Researchers consistently find that a majority of people (including in cities as well as suburbs) back traffic cameras. Democrats are hugely supportive and Republicans almost evenly split. doi.org/10.1080/1538...
Yes, fix the prime Minister's residence for goodness sake.
It's also worth remembering that Juvenal was condemning the bread along with the circuses. BOTH were used to distract the masses from their civic engagement. Nowadays "bread" would be consumer goods and high-fructose corn syrup? Anyway, the "bread not circuses" idea misses the point in that way too.
I love that Orwell included among his pleasures in life "scraps of useless information." Those are one of my great pleasures too. www.meditationsinanemergency.com/circuses-vs-...
There’s a widespread myth that Americans hate traffic cameras. It’s simply not true. On the contrary, researchers have consistently found that Americans broadly support using automatic enforcement to curb crashes. And for good reason: It works. Me, in Bloomberg 🧵
How China Influences Elections in America’s Biggest City www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/n...
Don't get it twisted. Trump is having the National Guard pick up trash to debase them. He hates the military. He is incapable of understanding anyone who would make sacrifices for the greater good. He thinks they are suckers and losers, and he's treating them as such.
remember folks, we cant have gun restrictions because if we do the federal government will occupy our streets, imprison people without due process, ship dissidents to foreign gulags and things of that nature
A traffic sign for cars is blocking part of the sidewalk full of people while an entire lane is dedicated to empty parked cars, most of which brought just one person into the neighbourhood. Meanwhile, two streetcars with 50-180 people each are stuck behind 1-2 people making a left turn in their car
This is kind of delightful
He is literally trying to destroy the world.
Every day in summer we celebrate the watermelon!
It's all based on slippery slope fears arguments
Look what they did to Notepad. Shut the fuck up. This is Notepad. You are not welcome here. Oh yeah "Let me use Copilot for Notepad". "I'm going to sign into my account for Notepad". What the fuck are you talking about. It's Notepad.
WB Bloor bike lane CLOSED at Symington for personal vehicles of workers. "Where else would they park," paid duty officer asks, claiming @toronto.ca parking enforcement issued a permit - despite no work in bike lane! Say it ain't so .... #CityOfTO @alejandrabravo.bsky.social #biketo
I remember this one from when I was a kid and have been thinking about it often recently.
Here's the super charming typewriter video in the wild (thx @syncros.bsky.social )
Aha, thanks.
Gee, what an effective use of law enforcement resources. 🙄
But wouldn't wind farms disrupt drone attacks?
A bit of a leap in the dark but it worked out (Tuesday August 26) Wordle 1,529 4/6* 🟩⬜⬜⬜🟨 🟩🟩⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩⬜⬜🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Check out the charming video! (p.s. how is it @thestar.com doesn't make their own video easily shareable in itself? It's like they're not even trying to get people to watch.) www.thestar.com/news/gta/thi...
I'd go further and say this is the issue a lot of theoretically progressive media is having: calling it accurately sounds like hysterical lefty hyperbole, and places like the NYT are so addicted to the pretense of impartiality that they can't report accurately because it'll *feel* impartial.
This is sort of annoying because CBC Gem is pretty good and the kind of thing a public broadcaster should do. I expect their non-paid viewership numbers are actually quite good, and really what is important.
107 years ago today: Lieutenant A. Dunstan in Curtiss JN-4 Canuck "Winnipeg", AUg. 26, 1918 - The first airmail flight from R.A.F. Camp Leaside to Ottawa, Ontario. 📸: Library and Archives Canada #OnThisDay #OTD #1910s #airmail #leaside #aviation #torontohistory #toronto #canada #jeremyhopkin
“Her findings showed that #economies will be less #innovative and less #productive when #governments don’t ensure their citizens’ #safety.” www.nytimes.com/2025/08/23/b... #LisaCook #Trump #Fed
The huge difference between average and median wealth for the US is really telling. www.visualcapitalist.com/wealth-per-p...
trump very clearly sees any attempt to hold a criminal head of state accountable as a threat to his own standing
Reading an article titled "Why didn't Brazilian democracy die?" and a key part of the story is a Supreme Court that actually did its job
upper admin: "let's cut humanities and focus on workforce outcomes. from www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Anyway, happy Monday! The Dean is shutting down my department - Religion & Culture, the only 1 of is kind in the country & home to the innovative Major in Humanities for Public Service. There is no immediate budgetary or political pressure for this decision
I got quoted on Toronto etiquette in Liisa Ladouceur's piece about "How to Be Polite in Canada: A World Cup Guide to Canadian Etiquette", aimed at upcoming visitors to Toronto for World Cup games. #publicetiquette matadornetwork.com/read/etiquet...
the thing I love about Zohran’s campaign is that instead of “this place fucking sucks and I alone can fix it” his message is “being a New Yorker rules, we live in the best city in the world, let’s make it even better together” show some damn pride in the places you want to govern
A 3! Haven't been getting a lot of those lately, nice to get one. (Sunday August 24) Wordle 1,527 3/6* ⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜ 🟨🟨🟩⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
We fail to respect or enforce traffic laws to the point that people don’t actually perceive ignoring them to be breaking the rules. It’s just normal driving. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Visited the Bruegel-Bosch Bus by Kim Adams on a day trip to Hamilton and its art gallery today. What a fabulous crazy piece! A kind of crazed toy town. And still in progress, living art.
Yes, that's the fun I was referring to, but wondering if we have a straight up classic big one like this.
The complete ignorance of recent history required to say this is astonishing.
I had a professor of Jewish Studies at UChicago who made the administration very angry because every year he made a proposal for the university to create an on-campus memorial to the worldwide victims of the UChicago economics department.
Trip to Hamilton - admired this magnificent #fountainsHAM - we have some great and fun #fountainsTO in Toronto but do we have a classic big one like this?
Great to see "Messy Cities" in The City &The City Books in Hamilton!
Tl;dr is it's mostly Republicans making up things they claim Democrats say, but that Democrats don't actually say.
Privilege - used way more by Republicans
I'd rather my daughter ride the New York subway alone than be alone in a room with Andrew Cuomo.
An excellent 80s test!