Benjamin Sharma 🇨🇦 🇺🇸
@benjamin.bsky.social
Torontonian by birth and residence. Canadian and American by nationality. Fan of history, liberal democracy, and our constitutional monarchy. Also a fan of the Leafs, Jays, Bills, and Raps. Plays video games from time to time.
Best thing we got from The Phantom Menace was Weird Al’s American Pie parody.
I have no idea what being a contributing writer to the New York Times has to do with a movie featuring Jar Jar Binks but I will continue to stand on this hill: The Phantom Menace is Bad.
November 10, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Best thing we got from The Phantom Menace was Weird Al’s American Pie parody.
Poppies were a lot easier to deal with in the 1990s, when you’d see a nice Second World War veteran in his dress uniform selling them at Toronto subway stations.
You’d walk up, say hello, drop off your donation, and he’d pin one on you.
(Usually got mine at the Yonge-Bloor interchange.)
You’d walk up, say hello, drop off your donation, and he’d pin one on you.
(Usually got mine at the Yonge-Bloor interchange.)
2025 poppy report: bought, and subsequently lost, two poppies, but also *found* two poppies, one of which I lost within the hour. So I am currently in possession of one poppy, the expected lifetime of which is around 20h.
November 8, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Poppies were a lot easier to deal with in the 1990s, when you’d see a nice Second World War veteran in his dress uniform selling them at Toronto subway stations.
You’d walk up, say hello, drop off your donation, and he’d pin one on you.
(Usually got mine at the Yonge-Bloor interchange.)
You’d walk up, say hello, drop off your donation, and he’d pin one on you.
(Usually got mine at the Yonge-Bloor interchange.)
A friend wrote this quickly about the late Vice President Dick Cheney.
I largely agree, and remain a fan of Cheney’s.
www.deseret.com/opinion/2025...
I largely agree, and remain a fan of Cheney’s.
www.deseret.com/opinion/2025...
Perspective: Dick Cheney was disliked on both sides of the aisle. Here’s why he should be lauded
The former vice president ended his life with many foes. Could that be due to his moral courage?
www.deseret.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:22 PM
A friend wrote this quickly about the late Vice President Dick Cheney.
I largely agree, and remain a fan of Cheney’s.
www.deseret.com/opinion/2025...
I largely agree, and remain a fan of Cheney’s.
www.deseret.com/opinion/2025...
So that’s textbook jury nullification.
Clearly was guilty of a misdemeanour assault (the felony charge attempt was absurd), but the jury refused to convict because they don’t like the charge.
Interesting Q: would he have been convicted had they just gone with the misdemeanour charge at the start?
Clearly was guilty of a misdemeanour assault (the felony charge attempt was absurd), but the jury refused to convict because they don’t like the charge.
Interesting Q: would he have been convicted had they just gone with the misdemeanour charge at the start?
Breaking news: A jury acquitted a D.C. man who was charged with assault after throwing a sandwich at a federal agent.
The one-sided food fight became a slapstick symbol of resistance to President Trump's" summertime takeover of local law enforcement.
The one-sided food fight became a slapstick symbol of resistance to President Trump's" summertime takeover of local law enforcement.
Jury finds D.C. ‘sandwich guy’ not guilty of assaulting officer
Sean C. Dunn admitted he flung the hoagie at a federal agent. His attorneys called it a “harmless gesture” of protest as Trump commandeered D.C. police.
wapo.st
November 6, 2025 at 8:12 PM
So that’s textbook jury nullification.
Clearly was guilty of a misdemeanour assault (the felony charge attempt was absurd), but the jury refused to convict because they don’t like the charge.
Interesting Q: would he have been convicted had they just gone with the misdemeanour charge at the start?
Clearly was guilty of a misdemeanour assault (the felony charge attempt was absurd), but the jury refused to convict because they don’t like the charge.
Interesting Q: would he have been convicted had they just gone with the misdemeanour charge at the start?
Stuff like this is what people who want to salvage continental diplomatic relations will have to cling to until 2028.
And they should be. Nobody seriously thinks a majority of Americans wish Canada ill.
But lots of 🇨🇦 will accept that every so often a 45/47 gets in.
thewalrus.ca/americans-st...
And they should be. Nobody seriously thinks a majority of Americans wish Canada ill.
But lots of 🇨🇦 will accept that every so often a 45/47 gets in.
thewalrus.ca/americans-st...
Americans Still Like Canada! Yes, Even Republicans | The Walrus
Polls show US voters overwhelmingly see us as a trustworthy ally despite Trump’s escalating trade attacks
thewalrus.ca
November 6, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Stuff like this is what people who want to salvage continental diplomatic relations will have to cling to until 2028.
And they should be. Nobody seriously thinks a majority of Americans wish Canada ill.
But lots of 🇨🇦 will accept that every so often a 45/47 gets in.
thewalrus.ca/americans-st...
And they should be. Nobody seriously thinks a majority of Americans wish Canada ill.
But lots of 🇨🇦 will accept that every so often a 45/47 gets in.
thewalrus.ca/americans-st...
If you’re trying to watch a major event time-shifted, you need to turn off notifications, avoid all chat apps, and just stay offline until you’re done watching.
A reader in the UK commented that they had recorded the game to watch this morning but saw my Extra newsletter in the inbox when they woke up (headline: "Cup of Coffee Extra: Dodgers Win The Series") and that I had spoiled it.
Is that a thing? Can you spoil a live event with an email news update?
Is that a thing? Can you spoil a live event with an email news update?
November 2, 2025 at 12:56 PM
If you’re trying to watch a major event time-shifted, you need to turn off notifications, avoid all chat apps, and just stay offline until you’re done watching.
The only reason I’m not out on the ledge right now as a Jays fan is I was around for 1992 and 1993.
I remember not-this.
I remember not-this.
November 2, 2025 at 5:54 AM
The only reason I’m not out on the ledge right now as a Jays fan is I was around for 1992 and 1993.
I remember not-this.
I remember not-this.
This one wasn’t a curse, it just was … victory was inches away on a number of occasions, and then it was gone.
Been a Toronto sports fan for four decades and I think that’s the single most heart-breaking loss I’ve ever witnessed.
November 2, 2025 at 4:39 AM
This one wasn’t a curse, it just was … victory was inches away on a number of occasions, and then it was gone.
Great season, lousy ending.
November 2, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Great season, lousy ending.
It was up but then it got down just in time.
Spent five minutes yelling “his foot was up, we actually won”, then saw the later replay, and IKF was legit out.
Spent five minutes yelling “his foot was up, we actually won”, then saw the later replay, and IKF was legit out.
If this goes the wrong way Blue Jays fans will be saying “his foot was up” for 50 years.
November 2, 2025 at 3:49 AM
It was up but then it got down just in time.
Spent five minutes yelling “his foot was up, we actually won”, then saw the later replay, and IKF was legit out.
Spent five minutes yelling “his foot was up, we actually won”, then saw the later replay, and IKF was legit out.
Yeah that’s where we’re at.
If you’re a Jays fan here your heart bursts or it breaks, not much in-between, here it comes
November 2, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Yeah that’s where we’re at.
The Sportsnet app went down for the country, this is the workaround I think?
PSA: if your feed is out, go to www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/...
Watch Live: World Series Game 7 on Sportsnet
www.sportsnet.ca
November 2, 2025 at 2:56 AM
The Sportsnet app went down for the country, this is the workaround I think?
Three outs to go, but razor-thin margin.
Let’s get some insurance.
Let’s get some insurance.
November 2, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Three outs to go, but razor-thin margin.
Let’s get some insurance.
Let’s get some insurance.
They won a couple games the Jays probably should’ve won, it happens.
A very famous World Series had the losing team outscore the winning team 55-27…
A very famous World Series had the losing team outscore the winning team 55-27…
The dodgers have been thoroughly outplayed in this World Series yet find themselves within three runs of winning it with three innings to go.
Baseball is wild.
Baseball is wild.
November 2, 2025 at 2:31 AM
They won a couple games the Jays probably should’ve won, it happens.
A very famous World Series had the losing team outscore the winning team 55-27…
A very famous World Series had the losing team outscore the winning team 55-27…
FWIW SkyDome’s 2025 ground rules are explicit, Barger’s ball was a ground rule double. (See pics in GR4.)
Would a run have scored without it? Probably. Would Barger still have gotten doubled off on a misread of Giménez’s broken-bat blooper? Probably.
img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/i...
Would a run have scored without it? Probably. Would Barger still have gotten doubled off on a misread of Giménez’s broken-bat blooper? Probably.
img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/i...
img.mlbstatic.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:47 PM
FWIW SkyDome’s 2025 ground rules are explicit, Barger’s ball was a ground rule double. (See pics in GR4.)
Would a run have scored without it? Probably. Would Barger still have gotten doubled off on a misread of Giménez’s broken-bat blooper? Probably.
img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/i...
Would a run have scored without it? Probably. Would Barger still have gotten doubled off on a misread of Giménez’s broken-bat blooper? Probably.
img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/i...
The most stressful games I attended were the 2016 AL Wild Card Game and Game 7 of the 2025 ALCS.
Go to Game 1 for low(er) stress. :)
Go to Game 1 for low(er) stress. :)
I didn't anticipate that it would be stressful when I bought the tickets.
I thought it would be fun.
I thought it would be fun.
November 1, 2025 at 2:33 AM
The most stressful games I attended were the 2016 AL Wild Card Game and Game 7 of the 2025 ALCS.
Go to Game 1 for low(er) stress. :)
Go to Game 1 for low(er) stress. :)
Trouble is, players aren’t playoff dawgs/stone cold k*llers until they are.
Vladdy had a .100 career playoff batting average entering this month. Kyle Lowry had a playoff game with the Raps where he scored literally zero (0) points, without even a free throw.
Which was Shanahan’s point, funnily.
Vladdy had a .100 career playoff batting average entering this month. Kyle Lowry had a playoff game with the Raps where he scored literally zero (0) points, without even a free throw.
Which was Shanahan’s point, funnily.
We're collectively shitting on the TML the further the Jays go. Truth is the two sports are night and day. Vladdy likely wouldn't fight for the middle of the ice or take a punch to the face for a teammate either. The issue is, TML was better positioned 8 years ago and got squat.
That's what's hard.
That's what's hard.
October 30, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Trouble is, players aren’t playoff dawgs/stone cold k*llers until they are.
Vladdy had a .100 career playoff batting average entering this month. Kyle Lowry had a playoff game with the Raps where he scored literally zero (0) points, without even a free throw.
Which was Shanahan’s point, funnily.
Vladdy had a .100 career playoff batting average entering this month. Kyle Lowry had a playoff game with the Raps where he scored literally zero (0) points, without even a free throw.
Which was Shanahan’s point, funnily.
Diplomacy is diplomacy.
October 30, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Diplomacy is diplomacy.
Listening to the morning show, the hosts are talking about the secondary market for Game 6 of the World Series.
Talking about the price for the “worst seat”, describes essentially the seat I had for Game 1. And yeah it’s almost exactly 3x what I paid.
Potential historic moment, that’s life.
Talking about the price for the “worst seat”, describes essentially the seat I had for Game 1. And yeah it’s almost exactly 3x what I paid.
Potential historic moment, that’s life.
October 30, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Listening to the morning show, the hosts are talking about the secondary market for Game 6 of the World Series.
Talking about the price for the “worst seat”, describes essentially the seat I had for Game 1. And yeah it’s almost exactly 3x what I paid.
Potential historic moment, that’s life.
Talking about the price for the “worst seat”, describes essentially the seat I had for Game 1. And yeah it’s almost exactly 3x what I paid.
Potential historic moment, that’s life.
So yeah, one game away from an unexpected title.
(Or two games away from the most scarring moments in Toronto sports history.)
(Or two games away from the most scarring moments in Toronto sports history.)
October 30, 2025 at 11:44 AM
So yeah, one game away from an unexpected title.
(Or two games away from the most scarring moments in Toronto sports history.)
(Or two games away from the most scarring moments in Toronto sports history.)
Sometimes I’ll look at a proposal from Queen’s Park, raise my eyebrows, and remind myself that the premier is a populist.
This isn’t one of them. Support all these reforms, going back to the full old system. Fixed-date election laws are an Americanism that makes politics seasonal.
This isn’t one of them. Support all these reforms, going back to the full old system. Fixed-date election laws are an Americanism that makes politics seasonal.
Ford government is scrapping fixed election dates (which they'd already ignored once) and abandoning its pre-writ spending limits (which were found unconstitutional.) news.ontario.ca/en/release/1...
Ontario Newsroom
news.ontario.ca
October 27, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Sometimes I’ll look at a proposal from Queen’s Park, raise my eyebrows, and remind myself that the premier is a populist.
This isn’t one of them. Support all these reforms, going back to the full old system. Fixed-date election laws are an Americanism that makes politics seasonal.
This isn’t one of them. Support all these reforms, going back to the full old system. Fixed-date election laws are an Americanism that makes politics seasonal.
FYI for BlueSky Blue Jays fans — the Jays are selling tickets for a watch party for Game 5 of the WS.
It’s down to upper-level 500s now, but $15 donation to their foundation for a fun place to watch the game. (Games 3 & 4 sold out.)
I assume they’re just selling the infield, not the full stadium?
It’s down to upper-level 500s now, but $15 donation to their foundation for a fun place to watch the game. (Games 3 & 4 sold out.)
I assume they’re just selling the infield, not the full stadium?
October 27, 2025 at 9:07 PM
FYI for BlueSky Blue Jays fans — the Jays are selling tickets for a watch party for Game 5 of the WS.
It’s down to upper-level 500s now, but $15 donation to their foundation for a fun place to watch the game. (Games 3 & 4 sold out.)
I assume they’re just selling the infield, not the full stadium?
It’s down to upper-level 500s now, but $15 donation to their foundation for a fun place to watch the game. (Games 3 & 4 sold out.)
I assume they’re just selling the infield, not the full stadium?
Task of the day complete.
(Didn’t get one last night, got one today tho I did not attend.)
(Didn’t get one last night, got one today tho I did not attend.)
October 26, 2025 at 4:55 AM
Task of the day complete.
(Didn’t get one last night, got one today tho I did not attend.)
(Didn’t get one last night, got one today tho I did not attend.)
In all the previous winning final rounds for Toronto teams during my lifetime (2019 Raptors, 1993 Jays, 1992 Jays), the series went to 1-1.
People should calm down.
People should calm down.
October 26, 2025 at 4:12 AM
In all the previous winning final rounds for Toronto teams during my lifetime (2019 Raptors, 1993 Jays, 1992 Jays), the series went to 1-1.
People should calm down.
People should calm down.