Val A
vainto.bsky.social
Val A
@vainto.bsky.social
Reposted by Val A
A full archive of The Hairpin (iykyk). [thehairpinarchives.com]
The Hairpin
Ladies first
thehairpinarchives.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Reposted by Val A
Happy last day of Hanukkah. Passed by here this morning. Some good Toronto history to dip into. ontariojewisharchives.org/Explore/Them...
December 22, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Send a letter to MPPs telling them that watering down protections for Lake Simcoe is a bad idea! share.nwmd.social/s/vB9Znfln
Lake Simcoe needs a local focus
share.nwmd.social
December 14, 2025 at 1:34 PM
I am biased because this is my brother's band, but if you're looking for some festive tunes, I highly recommend Astro Surf's Nutcracker Suite. Tchaikovsky, surf rock style! astrosurfrock.bandcamp.com/album/astros...
Astrosurf Presents...The Nutcracker Suite, by Astrosurf
9 track album
astrosurfrock.bandcamp.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Reposted by Val A
So they worked so much harder, and consumed so much more energy, to produce an AI piece of shit that was so shitty they had to delete it and also delete the evidence of how hard they hard to work to make that massive piece of shit
This is a since-deleted LinkedIn post from the marketing agency that created the since-deleted AI-generated McDonalds Christmas ad, and all I can think of is how the energy consumption must've been about on par with a small suburb or heavy industrial load to produce 30 seconds of slop everyone hated
December 11, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Reposted by Val A
Frog put the cookies in a box. “There,” he said. “Now we will not eat any more cookies.”

“But we can open the box,” said Toad.

“That is true,” said Frog.
December 5, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Reposted by Val A
Personal (choice) is political
November 30, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Reposted by Val A
Let’s talk about the size of trucks & SUVs in the city. My column on the virtue & status signalling of vehicle bloat.
Shawn Micallef: This truck ad shows why Toronto needs smaller vehicles — if only the carmakers wanted to sell them
A car comically overloaded with plywood? It’s a good ad for a pickup — but also a sign of the incredible amount of money, weight and energy being wasted on
www.thestar.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Once again plugging @showuptoronto.ca, which is not only a listing of ways to get involved but also a weekly beacon of light for your inbox. Politics in this city feel heavy atm (largely due to the province), and I so appreciate the hope this round-up offers. showuptoronto.ca
Show Up Toronto
Show Up Toronto brings together community organizing, mutual aid, and advocacy events from around the city. Get weekly updates or subscribe to the calendar feed!
showuptoronto.ca
November 25, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Reposted by Val A
I walked along a few kms of College St this morning before 9am. Day care drop then carried on. Watched the people push and cycle their kids around, some dad on a cargo bike waved & said hi to some tweens walking in front of me. All very Sesame Street.

And this gov't has contempt for it all.
A sad day for cyclists. Bill 60 - which prohibits the conversion of motor vehicle lanes to bike lanes (or any other prescribed purpose) - has passed Third Reading this morning which will kill various cycling projects in Toronto & across Ontario. #shame #BikeTO #BikeSky #TOpoli #ONpoli #VisionZero
November 24, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Reposted by Val A
Clean up your mess and pay your bills you greedy deadbeats.
November 24, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Reposted by Val A
Elected officials shouldn’t have the power to vote against traffic signals or lower speed limits. I don’t think this because I don’t believe in democracy; I think this because I believe in evidence-based placemaking & city-building. Safer streets shouldn’t be situational or left up to a vote.
November 14, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Reposted by Val A
I love Toronto but the fact that permitting convenience stores in residential neighbourhoods is an actual debate reminds me of how incredibly conservative the city is. Like, are people okay?
November 12, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Tenant rights are at risk on Ontario - Bill 60 will result in an increase in evictions. People will lose their homes as a result of this bill. Help us support the cause. share.nwmd.social/s/3c0qxrqH
FRPO: Hands off our rights!
share.nwmd.social
November 11, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Reposted by Val A
A broken-bat double-play grounder by Alejandro Kirk ends the game.

#Bluejays fall 5-4 in 11, but what a show they put on. It hurts now, for sure. They had the game a few times, but this World Series is going to go down as one of the greatest ever.
November 2, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Reposted by Val A
And get the rules changed in your favour
November 2, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Reposted by Val A
“We’ve got the power of friendship” - Ernie Clement
November 2, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Reposted by Val A
November 1, 2025 at 3:42 AM
I really hope someone from Corporate Sponsorships got mad about the KFC guerrilla ad and moved the Mary Brown ad right in front of the Colonel 😆
October 26, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Reposted by Val A
In the world where I spent most of my life, the president of the U.S. would be placing a friendly bet with the PM of Canada on the outcome of the World Series--a gallon of Tabasco against a gallon of maple syrup or some such

Instead, Captain Poopjet is having a hissy

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Trump Says He Will Raise Tariffs on Canada by 10% Over Ontario Ad
The measure was in response to what the U.S. president called ‘misrepresentation’ of Ronald Reagan’s comments.
www.wsj.com
October 26, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Reposted by Val A
At Yonge & Dundas Jays fans are obeying the pedestrian scramble, as is the custom & returning to sidewalk each light cycle.
October 21, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Today is September 30th, National Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada. It's been ten years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission made their 94 recommendations. Not nearly enough has been done.

Consider a making a donation to IRSSS today: www.irsss.ca/donate?bbFor...
Donate Now — IRSSS | Indian Residential School Survivors Society
Your generosity helps provide barrier-free support to IRS Survivors and their families. As a registered Canadian charity (#864829536RR0001), IRSSS relies on donors like you to continue this vital work...
www.irsss.ca
September 30, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Reposted by Val A
Massive anti hate crowd in the pits. Small Canada first group is on the run.
September 13, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Reposted by Val A
Doug Ford’s attack on speed cameras shows how good politics can make for lousy public policy

#Opinion from @shawnmicallef.bsky.social
Shawn Micallef: Doug Ford’s attack on speed cameras shows how good politics can make for lousy public policy
The premier’s comments on Tuesday should be a moment for Ontarians to think whether the province is a place of law and order or where vigilantes can influence government policy.
www.thestar.com
September 9, 2025 at 9:33 PM