Gary Smith
@garysmith.bsky.social
Toronto, Ontario, Canada 🍁
Web development: garysmith.ca
Writing: decompiling.ca
Painting: citypainter.ca
Web development: garysmith.ca
Writing: decompiling.ca
Painting: citypainter.ca
Pinned
Gary Smith
@garysmith.bsky.social
· Aug 29
Decompiling
A newsletter about history, travel, art, music, and the fuzzy lines that connect these topics.
www.decompiling.ca
I have officially migrated my free newsletter from the Nazified Substack to self-hosted Ghost. This is the morally correct thing to do, but it might prove disastrous for growing my meagre readership. Time will tell. Do free to subscribe if any of my ramblings interest you. www.decompiling.ca
“If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don't put it there.”
― Anton Chekhov
― Anton Chekhov
November 16, 2025 at 4:28 AM
“If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don't put it there.”
― Anton Chekhov
― Anton Chekhov
Reposted by Gary Smith
Almost everywhere in the City of Toronto has fewer people that it did 50 years ago
November 15, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Almost everywhere in the City of Toronto has fewer people that it did 50 years ago
Reposted by Gary Smith
Forcing AI on to employees is the norm for companies nowadays. Employees can't speak out against it directly, because doing so would negatively impact their performance review or perceived cultural fit, when layoffs in tech are also common.
November 15, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Forcing AI on to employees is the norm for companies nowadays. Employees can't speak out against it directly, because doing so would negatively impact their performance review or perceived cultural fit, when layoffs in tech are also common.
Reposted by Gary Smith
Councillor Moise, representing a ward where 70% are renters, says about eight of the ten people who come to his office are people looking for support in avoiding eviction and keeping their homes.
November 12, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Councillor Moise, representing a ward where 70% are renters, says about eight of the ten people who come to his office are people looking for support in avoiding eviction and keeping their homes.
For years, energy producing areas in Canada and the US pushed back against investing in green energy, said there was no point because China would just keep burning coal. But it is China that innovated. Now they will make trillions selling us tech we don't have the ability to manufacture ourselves.
A Flood of Green Tech From China Is Upending Global Climate Politics
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:14 PM
For years, energy producing areas in Canada and the US pushed back against investing in green energy, said there was no point because China would just keep burning coal. But it is China that innovated. Now they will make trillions selling us tech we don't have the ability to manufacture ourselves.
Reposted by Gary Smith
Three hundred collisions across the GTA on a major snow day seems like a lot!
… Then why doesn’t the news report that statistically there are over 130 collisions EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, just within the City of Toronto?
(Source: TPS Public Safety Data Portal)
… Then why doesn’t the news report that statistically there are over 130 collisions EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, just within the City of Toronto?
(Source: TPS Public Safety Data Portal)
November 10, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Three hundred collisions across the GTA on a major snow day seems like a lot!
… Then why doesn’t the news report that statistically there are over 130 collisions EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, just within the City of Toronto?
(Source: TPS Public Safety Data Portal)
… Then why doesn’t the news report that statistically there are over 130 collisions EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, just within the City of Toronto?
(Source: TPS Public Safety Data Portal)
Reposted by Gary Smith
Here's another bit of conventional wisdom Zohran completely blew away: His speech was at well above a 10th-grade level. It was complex, erudite, punctuated by deep and fluent references. You don't have to condescend to voters with baby talk! Part of re-establishing norms is speaking like an adult.
November 5, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Here's another bit of conventional wisdom Zohran completely blew away: His speech was at well above a 10th-grade level. It was complex, erudite, punctuated by deep and fluent references. You don't have to condescend to voters with baby talk! Part of re-establishing norms is speaking like an adult.
'“There might not be another opportunity, Radiohead is pretty old at this point,” said Luka Arreaza, 20, prompting laughter from those waiting in line beside him.'
Radiohead play career-spanning set in first concert since 2018
British quintet draw from all but one of their studio albums as they perform in Madrid on first of 20 European tour dates
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:21 AM
'“There might not be another opportunity, Radiohead is pretty old at this point,” said Luka Arreaza, 20, prompting laughter from those waiting in line beside him.'
Reposted by Gary Smith
November 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Reposted by Gary Smith
Saw a few of these guys walking around Syracuse today. Apparently the Citroën Ami is technically an electric "quadricycle."
I really appreciate the spectrum of cars in Italy. Very few people really need an F-150 to get around. This mignt not fly in Canada, but I'd love to see smaller hatchbacks.
I really appreciate the spectrum of cars in Italy. Very few people really need an F-150 to get around. This mignt not fly in Canada, but I'd love to see smaller hatchbacks.
November 3, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Saw a few of these guys walking around Syracuse today. Apparently the Citroën Ami is technically an electric "quadricycle."
I really appreciate the spectrum of cars in Italy. Very few people really need an F-150 to get around. This mignt not fly in Canada, but I'd love to see smaller hatchbacks.
I really appreciate the spectrum of cars in Italy. Very few people really need an F-150 to get around. This mignt not fly in Canada, but I'd love to see smaller hatchbacks.
Anther book for my reading list, I think.
www.nathaneberline.com/blog/a-dista...
www.nathaneberline.com/blog/a-dista...
November 1, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Anther book for my reading list, I think.
www.nathaneberline.com/blog/a-dista...
www.nathaneberline.com/blog/a-dista...
Reposted by Gary Smith
Blue Jays
Cody Houle ~ Anishinaabe
2025
Cody Houle ~ Anishinaabe
2025
October 31, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Blue Jays
Cody Houle ~ Anishinaabe
2025
Cody Houle ~ Anishinaabe
2025
Reposted by Gary Smith
In 1861, Monet served in Algeria, where he was dazzled by North Africa’s blazing light. ☀️
He later said the “richness of color” shaped everything he painted afterward.
He later said the “richness of color” shaped everything he painted afterward.
October 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
In 1861, Monet served in Algeria, where he was dazzled by North Africa’s blazing light. ☀️
He later said the “richness of color” shaped everything he painted afterward.
He later said the “richness of color” shaped everything he painted afterward.
Reposted by Gary Smith
I regret to inform everyone that my pedantic brain couldn’t let me live until I knew whether or not dodger blue and blue jays blue are the same blue. They are ONE PANTONE NUMBER APART.
October 29, 2025 at 2:18 AM
I regret to inform everyone that my pedantic brain couldn’t let me live until I knew whether or not dodger blue and blue jays blue are the same blue. They are ONE PANTONE NUMBER APART.
Reposted by Gary Smith
1992 Atlanta 🤝 2025 Los Angeles
October 26, 2025 at 10:58 PM
1992 Atlanta 🤝 2025 Los Angeles
Now look what you've done. You've made the Pope lament.
Pope Leo laments U.S.-Canada 'difficulties' after Trump ends trade talks | CBC News
Pope Leo lamented on Friday the frictions roiling relations between the United States and Canada, in a likely reference to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to cut off trade talks.
www.cbc.ca
October 25, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Now look what you've done. You've made the Pope lament.
Reposted by Gary Smith
October 25, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Reposted by Gary Smith
Today In 1992: The Toronto #BlueJays become the first team from #Canada to win the World Series! #MLB #History #WANTITALL #WorldSeries
October 24, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Today In 1992: The Toronto #BlueJays become the first team from #Canada to win the World Series! #MLB #History #WANTITALL #WorldSeries
Reposted by Gary Smith
Toronto’s sidewalks are for pedestrians 🚶, so don’t ride on them!
E-bikes & other rideables (excluding assistive mobility devices) on sidewalks endanger pedestrians, especially seniors, children, & people with disabilities.
Learn the rules at: toronto.ca/Rideables
E-bikes & other rideables (excluding assistive mobility devices) on sidewalks endanger pedestrians, especially seniors, children, & people with disabilities.
Learn the rules at: toronto.ca/Rideables
October 24, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Toronto’s sidewalks are for pedestrians 🚶, so don’t ride on them!
E-bikes & other rideables (excluding assistive mobility devices) on sidewalks endanger pedestrians, especially seniors, children, & people with disabilities.
Learn the rules at: toronto.ca/Rideables
E-bikes & other rideables (excluding assistive mobility devices) on sidewalks endanger pedestrians, especially seniors, children, & people with disabilities.
Learn the rules at: toronto.ca/Rideables
Reposted by Gary Smith
On Sunday I'm giving a gallery talk then neighbourhood walk at Koffler Gallery on Shaw Street. Very cool exhibition by Berlin artist Tracey Snelling. If you dig cities you gotta see it.
www.kofflerarts.org/more/public-...
www.kofflerarts.org/more/public-...
October 17, 2025 at 9:45 PM
On Sunday I'm giving a gallery talk then neighbourhood walk at Koffler Gallery on Shaw Street. Very cool exhibition by Berlin artist Tracey Snelling. If you dig cities you gotta see it.
www.kofflerarts.org/more/public-...
www.kofflerarts.org/more/public-...
This course at Johns Hopkins should be mandatory for all of us before we are allowed to use the internet.
Enchanting Imposters - JSTOR Daily
Johns Hopkins University’s Bibliotheca Fictiva Collection of Literary and Historical Forgery shows that humans have been creating fan fiction and fake news for millennia.
daily.jstor.org
October 18, 2025 at 5:44 PM
This course at Johns Hopkins should be mandatory for all of us before we are allowed to use the internet.
Reposted by Gary Smith
Dear Toronto: We will stop scoring runs this game if Doug Ford agrees to stop tearing out bike lanes. Until then, the runs will continue.
October 13, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Dear Toronto: We will stop scoring runs this game if Doug Ford agrees to stop tearing out bike lanes. Until then, the runs will continue.
Reposted by Gary Smith
Begun in 2009, Bixi was commissioned with the support of public money by the City of Montreal. Just this week it was named by Time Magazine as one of the top inventions since 2025. The bike system can be found in NYC, London, DC, Rio, Buenos Aires, Madrid, Barcelona, Dubai, Monaco, and more.
Bixi bike-sharing program among the top 25 inventions in 25 years, TIME Magazine declares
The list also includes the iPhone and the Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest particle accelerator.
montrealgazette.com
October 13, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Begun in 2009, Bixi was commissioned with the support of public money by the City of Montreal. Just this week it was named by Time Magazine as one of the top inventions since 2025. The bike system can be found in NYC, London, DC, Rio, Buenos Aires, Madrid, Barcelona, Dubai, Monaco, and more.
"It is the result of a very long epidemic of selfishness and cowardice in public life, a hollowness at the heart of our rhetoric about democracy that has, at last, ushered in a chaos agent that will make us pay for all of it at once."
Fragility Is Getting Scary
The opposite of risk management.
open.substack.com
October 13, 2025 at 4:28 PM
"It is the result of a very long epidemic of selfishness and cowardice in public life, a hollowness at the heart of our rhetoric about democracy that has, at last, ushered in a chaos agent that will make us pay for all of it at once."
"The Points of Interest of Beautiful Toronto are best seen from the Palatial Coaches of the Toronto Transportation Commission" (1926)
October 9, 2025 at 7:53 PM
"The Points of Interest of Beautiful Toronto are best seen from the Palatial Coaches of the Toronto Transportation Commission" (1926)