benfsinger.bsky.social

I can never get enough of this magnificent dinosaur bird the Shoebill… 🐦 ❤️

HAPPENING NOW: a group of New York rabbis are being arrested at a protest outside the Israeli consulate calling for bringing food into Gaza, an end to the war, and return of all hostages

@newjewishnarrative.bsky.social

Interesting point. I feel like caving to the "X" rebranding, given that most still use the platform in more or less the same way (despite the changes) is sort of a concession to Musk and his idiocy. It's not like Twitter, pre-Musk, was some kind of panacea either. But I am fine with either!

How about Skydome?

I explained my issue& the agent immediately cut the $37 in half to $18/month. I said no, and she said she would just check if a lower offer was available ("let me ask my manager" vibes) and lo and behold, $8/month appeared! And for a year, compared to my earlier 4-month promo. 2/2

I subbed to the @theglobeandmail.com's digital offering for $9/month last year. That was a short term promotion, which I forgot about, and realized I've been paying $37/month since October. Rich for my blood. I called to cancel my subscription, as you can't online, and that was interesting... 1/2

In My Opinion: Need for protected cycle tracks on Jones Avenue must be made clear to local councillor – Beach Metro Community News The Jones Avenue bike lane looking north between Queen Street East and Dundas Street East is seen in this photo. Photo by Alan Shackleton. By LANRICK

Notable back-and-forth between @lanrickbennett.bsky.social and Councillor Paula Fletcher here. Lanrick makes good argument for protected bike lanes on Jones Ave, as previously approved by council. Fletcher says that plan takes away too many parking spaces. beachmetro.com/2025/06/05/i...

Ford isn't directly doing it, but his anti bike lane laws and statements have emboldened the vocal groups of carbrains, and scared elected officials into listening to them. But yes at some point we need to point the fingers at those directly involved.

How Costco Hacked the American Shopping Psyche

Great NYT dive into the Costco phenomenon. I've watched it go beyond a bulk-temple for suburban soccer parents to enthrall even Gen Z shoppers. I know some who organize group trips and rock Kirkland logo clothes. Cult-like for sure. But also incredibly smart. www.nytimes.com/2024/08/20/d...

The lives lost in Gaza: A closer look at those killed in the conflict so far The death toll from the war already dwarfs the numbers killed in previous bouts of fighting between Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza over many decades.

“Reuters examined the data from the Gaza Health Ministry to look more closely at those who have died.

It found that more than one-fifth of those killed in the territory were children under the age of 12. More than 1,200 families were completely wiped out”

Really important question: Why do Brits invariably pronounce L.A. as "Los AngeLEEs." It's not implied in the spelling or in the Spanish roots of the word.

Closer to home, they also say WinnYpeg. But I can forgive that as it's a bit more obscure. Do they just dislike the schwa?

Most likely just a bored person with misled ideas, who is taking it out on me and everyone else on here. Also could be one the confused business owners being coached to frame bus lanes as the apocalypse. But I try not to engage with those anon types. I've blocked them. Movin on.

I don't believe anything you say, to be honest, because you're a fake person, with a fake name and no picture on the internet who comments profusely, while adding nothing. I will now take my own advice and block you. All the best.

I am equating them to what they are: a mid-sized business, serving the wealthiest elites of Toronto, desperate to protect their Land Rover parking at all costs. They are no mom and pop shop. If you don't get it, I can't help you.

Misinformed? Hardly. I am just more clear on the mentality such businesses can get into that allows them to be corralled into such "protests" by more powerful, savvy interests. Look at the fake AI videos this astroturf campaign has on social media. Anyone buying what they're selling is a fool.

Both an amazing & disturbing thread. Shawn shows that this supposedly "small business" "grassroots" campaign opposing transit lanes on Bathurst, is using AI tools to create videos of a fake person, spewing fake concerns. This will be more and more common. Call it out. Shut it down.

So: the “Protect Bathurst / Dufferin” astroturf campaign run by Summerhill Market had videos of a guy talking about the neighborhood & RapidTO proposal. Real grassroots feel. Took a screenshot & put it into google image search. Guess what?

Is it AI? Is this guy just a paid actor?

toronto doesn't do cafes in parks unless it's the rubbish Grenadier, granted a decades long exclusive deal to serve less than mediocre fare, while actively trying to get more cars back in the park. So there!

I have been for years, but mainly because it's overpriced, posh and not particularly good. now I just have a valid moral reason as well.

You can't even spell ableist, never mind understanding what it means. The city has specified accessible parking will be retained. Many poor and disabled people use transit. You are either unintelligent, or just making bad faith arguments to protect the wealthy by pretending to care about disability.

No one is bullying small businesses. Also, the leader in this campaign is Summerhill which has 500 employees. how quaint. They also serve the wealthiest portion of Forest Hill and Rosedale residents. Few people. Lots of money. so I guess that gives them the right to stop needed transit lanes.

Seems like a right easy block.

Your public service announcement that the Wikipedia page on Ontario's tolled Highway 407, which runs just 150km across Toronto's northern burbs, is 44 printer pages long. #goodreadin

16-year-old shot by Toronto police dies, body-cam footage appears to show exchange of gunfire Bodycam footage obtained by the Star on Tuesday appears to show an exchange of gunfire between Toronto police and an occupant in the back seat.

This is a tragedy in numerous ways, but how did the Star get this cop's bodycam so fast. No way it was released given the SIU investigation... unless someone on the force wants to bolster a narrative it was necessary self defence. Also, why is it vertical? www.thestar.com/news/gta/16-...

poster that says "Coffee with a Cop" with text reading Come meet our local police officers! April 22, 2025, from 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Sponsor logos include Pizza Hut, Popeye's and Fairbank Village BIA.

With all due respect, I can't imagine many things I'd rather attend less.

It’s time for a comprehensive national civic uprising. It’s time for Americans in universities, law, business, nonprofits and the scientific community, and civil servants and beyond to form one coordinated mass movement. Trump is about power. The only way he’s going to be stopped is if he’s confronted by some movement that possesses rival power.

Guys, this is David Brooks in the NY Times. If it's like this 90 days into this presidency with people who wouldn't be caught dead saying it last year, imagine it in two years. Something good is happening, we just have to lift everybody up so they can see it.

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/o...

There are trans Americans right now looking out at this world and wondering if anyone is going to stand up for them and for their simple right to exist.

Well, I am. We are. We will.

I prefer to wear mine. It looks goofy but it's one less thing to carry!

Mistaken identity: not a doughnut shop, boys.