Tom Ruhig
@ruhig.bsky.social
Interaction Designer | Toronto | “Guerrilla Satirist” — The Guardian
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
What's hilarious about this Brad Bradford nonsense argument is that we are paying a billion dollars and screwing up the eastern waterfront for generations to repair the east Gardiner in order to save far fewer drivers even less time!
But drivers count and transit riders don't!
#TOpoli #RapidTO
But drivers count and transit riders don't!
#TOpoli #RapidTO
"Even if the estimates are correct, I don't believe shaving as little as three minutes off the average transit trip is worth the impact on businesses, local residents and drivers — that's in keeping with Steve Munro's perspective as well," says Councillor Brad Bradford of RapidTO.
July 24, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
NDP (even some Liberals) could learn a lot in how to bring back the working class (but I don’t think either party’s establishment wants to listen or even win them).
This @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social video is absolutely INCREDIBLE. The numbers he cites, the strategy and results they produced — it’s the future. When have you heard *any* campaign talk about this, ever? (Video split in 2 to fit in Bluesky’s limits)
July 1, 2025 at 10:55 PM
NDP (even some Liberals) could learn a lot in how to bring back the working class (but I don’t think either party’s establishment wants to listen or even win them).
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
I know this is about NY, but ffs will someone in Canada (and Alberta) please pay attention?
We’re tired of “left” parties constantly adopting watered down conservative policies
We’re tired of “left” parties constantly adopting watered down conservative policies
When we run leftist candidates, those candidates win. Because leftist values ARE the values the people believe in. Respond to. Show up for.
Whatever the donor class may tell you, and however hard they may fight us, remember that. These are the policies that WIN.
Whatever the donor class may tell you, and however hard they may fight us, remember that. These are the policies that WIN.
June 25, 2025 at 2:22 AM
I know this is about NY, but ffs will someone in Canada (and Alberta) please pay attention?
We’re tired of “left” parties constantly adopting watered down conservative policies
We’re tired of “left” parties constantly adopting watered down conservative policies
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
"Moving the drainage line is difficult" is one of the main reason why so many North American cities do a lot of "paint & flexposts" street redesign projects.
But you cou can even actually plant trees in the parking lane without moving the drainage line.
But you cou can even actually plant trees in the parking lane without moving the drainage line.
June 19, 2025 at 12:08 PM
"Moving the drainage line is difficult" is one of the main reason why so many North American cities do a lot of "paint & flexposts" street redesign projects.
But you cou can even actually plant trees in the parking lane without moving the drainage line.
But you cou can even actually plant trees in the parking lane without moving the drainage line.
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
not only would i not wear one of these, i wouldn’t spend time socially with someone who does.
I’m a little disappointed this doesn’t have a shock collar
May 27, 2025 at 1:21 PM
not only would i not wear one of these, i wouldn’t spend time socially with someone who does.
Internal issues that may negate the cost savings aside – cutting a font at their scale is pragmatic, easily saving between 80-100K$/year in licensing fees (apps and web fonts are expensive!), and will make it easier to create and publish documents internally.
May 23, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Internal issues that may negate the cost savings aside – cutting a font at their scale is pragmatic, easily saving between 80-100K$/year in licensing fees (apps and web fonts are expensive!), and will make it easier to create and publish documents internally.
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
This is the other side of the bring US academics to Toronto. For 13 years I've taught along side some great people who are stuck in sessional purgatory. Or people in "teaching stream" who could be doing research too. Whole thing needs robust reinvestment.
Need not be in opposition of aims tho.
Need not be in opposition of aims tho.
Canadian universities have been facing across the board austerity for years. Talented Canadians can't get jobs because there aren't any. Why would we prioritize bringing in Americans (who already make up a significant proportion of faculty in Canada) rather than helping our own skilled academics?
The next federal government, of either party, ought to make such skilled-talent drains easier (it's actually extremely hard):
- Create a new Canada Scholars program to fund incoming faculty
- Ease the huge moving tax penalty
- Make it legally possible for them to buy a house
- Create a new Canada Scholars program to fund incoming faculty
- Ease the huge moving tax penalty
- Make it legally possible for them to buy a house
March 27, 2025 at 1:59 PM
This is the other side of the bring US academics to Toronto. For 13 years I've taught along side some great people who are stuck in sessional purgatory. Or people in "teaching stream" who could be doing research too. Whole thing needs robust reinvestment.
Need not be in opposition of aims tho.
Need not be in opposition of aims tho.
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
If you want a picture of the future, imagine Hakeem Jeffries saying "What leverage do we have?" — forever.
March 14, 2025 at 9:24 PM
If you want a picture of the future, imagine Hakeem Jeffries saying "What leverage do we have?" — forever.
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
“But it won’t be affordable,” neighbours in $2M homes complain about a proposed apartment building
If it TRULY was used ever to prevent gentrification, we would have laws preventing mansions, not apartments. We would have city fees that charged more for mansion-building, not less. We would have bylaws making social and supporting housing BY RIGHT.
That is not what they do. They do the opposite.
That is not what they do. They do the opposite.
March 14, 2025 at 2:31 PM
“But it won’t be affordable,” neighbours in $2M homes complain about a proposed apartment building
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
It's crucial to differentiate: Yes, #AIslop is inherently reactionary. The default aesthetics of Midjourney & Grok are not politically neutral, & the fascists are using these tools exactly as they were designed: as narcissistic whishfulfilment machines & amplifiers of racist & sexist stereotypes
1/
1/
"While we are theorizing about 'fascist slop aesthetics', the right is conquering the visual space of the 21st century".
Yes. This. Analysis of regressive nostalgias inherent to AI aesthetics is important, but so is pushing boundaries of what is possible with these visual latent spaces.
Yes. This. Analysis of regressive nostalgias inherent to AI aesthetics is important, but so is pushing boundaries of what is possible with these visual latent spaces.
Ist «AI Slop» inhärent rechts codiert, oder wäre es gerade ein strategischer Fehler, Midjourney & Co. den Faschisten zu überlassen?
Annekathrin Kohout @kohouta.bsky.social heute in der @taz.de mit einer bedenkenswerten Intervention in die Debatte
#PlatformRealism
taz.de/!6071540/
Annekathrin Kohout @kohouta.bsky.social heute in der @taz.de mit einer bedenkenswerten Intervention in die Debatte
#PlatformRealism
taz.de/!6071540/
March 11, 2025 at 9:23 AM
It's crucial to differentiate: Yes, #AIslop is inherently reactionary. The default aesthetics of Midjourney & Grok are not politically neutral, & the fascists are using these tools exactly as they were designed: as narcissistic whishfulfilment machines & amplifiers of racist & sexist stereotypes
1/
1/
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
Looks like someone took it upon themselves to update the product descriptions in at least one Toronto location.
(Via Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/ontario/co... )
(Via Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/ontario/co... )
March 11, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Looks like someone took it upon themselves to update the product descriptions in at least one Toronto location.
(Via Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/ontario/co... )
(Via Reddit: www.reddit.com/r/ontario/co... )
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
Interracial marriage did not cross 50% approval in the US until 1996, when I was 30 years old. Good political messaging drives opinion, it doesn't follow it.
March 6, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Interracial marriage did not cross 50% approval in the US until 1996, when I was 30 years old. Good political messaging drives opinion, it doesn't follow it.
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
New from @policyalternatives.ca: By approaching disability as an individual issue, are we unintentionally creating the conditions for greater privatization in education? By
Dr. Gillian Parekh and Paulie McDermid #cdned www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Dr. Gillian Parekh and Paulie McDermid #cdned www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
The cost of inclusion - CCPA
In August 2018, The Globe and Mail published a piece on the gap between what schools can offer students with disabilities and what they need to be successful.
www.policyalternatives.ca
February 21, 2025 at 9:20 PM
New from @policyalternatives.ca: By approaching disability as an individual issue, are we unintentionally creating the conditions for greater privatization in education? By
Dr. Gillian Parekh and Paulie McDermid #cdned www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Dr. Gillian Parekh and Paulie McDermid #cdned www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
“Founded in 2020, the company develops software that uses AI to adjust a speaker’s accent in real-time.”
“adjust”
“adjust”
Sanas taps AI to change call center workers' accents in real time | TechCrunch
The demand for voice and speech recognition technologies is massive — and growing. An analysis by market research firm Markets and Markets found that the
techcrunch.com
February 19, 2025 at 5:17 PM
“Founded in 2020, the company develops software that uses AI to adjust a speaker’s accent in real-time.”
“adjust”
“adjust”
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
fwiw, if you see a douche in a cybertruck stuck in the snow like this, you are morally obligated to
a) stand unhelpfully and shoot video
b) throw snowballs at the windshield, or
c) shoot video of your friend lobbing snowballs at the windshield
a) stand unhelpfully and shoot video
b) throw snowballs at the windshield, or
c) shoot video of your friend lobbing snowballs at the windshield
February 17, 2025 at 3:55 PM
fwiw, if you see a douche in a cybertruck stuck in the snow like this, you are morally obligated to
a) stand unhelpfully and shoot video
b) throw snowballs at the windshield, or
c) shoot video of your friend lobbing snowballs at the windshield
a) stand unhelpfully and shoot video
b) throw snowballs at the windshield, or
c) shoot video of your friend lobbing snowballs at the windshield
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
Fighting for a just Canada, which so many of us have been doing for so long, assumes there's a Canada to fight for in the first place.
I'm in for a fight against the Trump regime, because we get to decide how we want to live together.
www.davidmoscrop.com/p/confession...
I'm in for a fight against the Trump regime, because we get to decide how we want to live together.
www.davidmoscrop.com/p/confession...
Confessions of a Reluctant Nationalist
I'd throw a punch to fight for Canada's sovereignty while reserving and exercising my right to criticize this country. That's a fine form of patriotism.
www.davidmoscrop.com
February 3, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Fighting for a just Canada, which so many of us have been doing for so long, assumes there's a Canada to fight for in the first place.
I'm in for a fight against the Trump regime, because we get to decide how we want to live together.
www.davidmoscrop.com/p/confession...
I'm in for a fight against the Trump regime, because we get to decide how we want to live together.
www.davidmoscrop.com/p/confession...
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
Message to Liberals in Ontario & Canada (if they’re able to hear it … 50/50 chance)
We will never out republican republicans.
Democrats should be the party that helps people- and starts with those struggling the most for the common good.
Anyone missing this point should be fired from “strategizing” for the party.
Democrats should be the party that helps people- and starts with those struggling the most for the common good.
Anyone missing this point should be fired from “strategizing” for the party.
January 25, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Message to Liberals in Ontario & Canada (if they’re able to hear it … 50/50 chance)
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
Ha. Toronto will be doing dozens of these and the city’s environmentalist leaders and staff are dead silent.
If Chicago actually allows a skyscraper demolition in a climate crisis, then everything the city has ever said about the environment is a lie.
The gloriously postmodern 311 South Wacker as the "world's tallest teardown" is a very concerning prospect... According to veteran commercial real estate reporter Ryan Ori, Hines is considering various redevelopment scenarios, including demolishing the 65-story tower.
www.costar.com/article/1731...
www.costar.com/article/1731...
January 14, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Ha. Toronto will be doing dozens of these and the city’s environmentalist leaders and staff are dead silent.
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
I wrote this 6 months ago and (quite depressingly) it's as fresh as ever. The NDP doesn't want to win. medium.com/@joshuahind/...
The NDP doesn’t want to win.
The NDP have traded a reasonably impressive set of bi-partisan achievements for oblivion.
medium.com
January 13, 2025 at 5:25 PM
I wrote this 6 months ago and (quite depressingly) it's as fresh as ever. The NDP doesn't want to win. medium.com/@joshuahind/...
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
Canadian architecture is in rough shape. Our governments can - and must - do better. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
November 22, 2024 at 9:24 PM
Canadian architecture is in rough shape. Our governments can - and must - do better. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by Tom Ruhig
The Toronto version of neighbourhood character planning has achieved none of its social or economic aims. Much less delivered good architecture.
This is downtown, 200 m from a subway. Bring on the apartment buildings
This is downtown, 200 m from a subway. Bring on the apartment buildings
November 19, 2024 at 7:02 PM
The Toronto version of neighbourhood character planning has achieved none of its social or economic aims. Much less delivered good architecture.
This is downtown, 200 m from a subway. Bring on the apartment buildings
This is downtown, 200 m from a subway. Bring on the apartment buildings