Gary Smith

@garysmith

Toronto, Ontario, Canada 🍁 Creator of torontowalks.ca, helping visitors and locals explore downtown Toronto, and pedestrians.ca, live mapping pedestrian collisions in Ontario. Freelance web development portfolio: garysmith.ca

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Gary Smith@garysmith· 2d

Carney is far from perfect, but these disingenuous attacks irritate me. The words of someone who's never heard of Trump or seen how he operates. "No concessions" and a "tariff-free deal" is not going to happen for any country. Using Canada's predicament as a political attack angle is gross.

A screen grab of two Google News headlines.

The first from CTV News reads: "Conservative Leader urges prime minister to get tariff-free deal for Canadian goods"

The second from Global News reads: "‘No more caving’: Poilievre urges against concessions in U.S. trade talks"

Gary Smith@garysmith· 11d

As I searched for help with a programming task, Google's AI piped up to suggest I install a "completely fictional" Node.js package. That's its own words, not mine. Thanks, Mr. AI, I'll just figure it out ye olde fashioned way.

A screengrab of a Google AI search result that reads: "My apologies for giving you a package name that doesn't exist on npm—@maplibre/shp-write is completely fictional and that is why you are hitting that 404 registry error."

Gary Smith@garysmith· 18d

When does "deceptive" become "bald-faced lying"? Trying to generate a privacy policy for a simple website I'm building. Of course once I went through their wizard I could not download/use the generated policy until I put in my email address, which then created an account for me and demanded $. Lame.

Gary Smith@garysmith· Jul 12

The Keating Channel Pub is like revisiting the 90s in all the best possible ways.

A pub patio with tables and umbrellas on the left, with a tree in the middle, and a waterway on the right. In the background there are buildings and bridge.

Gary Smith@garysmith· Jul 12

The Toronto skyline from Biidaasige Park. We enjoyed a beautiful but shadeless walk. The trees need to grow faster.

A skyline of Toronto skyscrapers seen across a grassy marshland beneath a bright blue sky.

Gary Smith@garysmith· Jul 7

It looks like you can still respond and choose one of these options, maybe 'visitor' or 'other'.

A screen grab of survey text stating:

"What is your relationship to the Church-Wellesley Village?

The Church Wellesley Village is generally bounded by Bloor Street East to the north, Yonge Street to the west, Jarvis Street to the east, and Carlton Street/Gerrard Street East to the south.
I live in the area
I work in the area
I go to school in the area
I visit friends or family in the area
I visit the area for retail/restaurants/entertainment
I travel through the area when going to other places
No relationship to the area
Other (please describe): [ ]"

Gary Smith@garysmith· Jul 7

Tremendous!

Gary Smith@garysmith· Jul 7

hydration break

An image of the painting commonly known as "The Absinthe Drinker" created by Edgar Degas. It portrays two sad-looking people, a woman and a man, sitting in a cafe with alcoholic beverages on the tables in front of them.

Gary Smith@garysmith· Jun 16

The Simpsons did the joke better 9 years earlier with their "wave after wave of Chinese needle snakes" bit.

joejohnson on July 8, 2011 | parent | context | favorite | on: Cobra effect

This reminds me of that Simpson's episode "Bart the Mother". The town gets overrun with Bolivian tree lizards:

Skinner: Well, I was wrong; the lizards are a godsend.

Lisa: But isn't that a bit short-sighted? What happens when we're overrun by lizards?

Skinner: No problem. We simply release wave after wave of Chinese needle snakes. They'll wipe out the lizards.

Lisa: But aren't the snakes even worse?

Skinner: Yes, but we're prepared for that. We've lined up a fabulous type of gorilla that thrives on snake meat.

Lisa: But then we're stuck with gorillas!

Skinner: No, that's the beautiful part. When wintertime rolls around, the gorillas simply freeze to death.

Gary Smith@garysmith· Jun 11

Sneaky Dee's was never one of my main hangouts, but those are mostly all gone already, so we should keep something from Toronto's original grunge heyday. (via Reddit)

City of Toronto development notice signage defaced by people who wrote over it in marker the phrases "DESTROYING CULTUARE FOR INVESTOR $$$" and "FUCK YOU I GREW UP HERE STOP BEFORE WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT"

Gary Smith@garysmith· Jun 9

Whenever something flares up in Belfast I drop by /r/belfast and read some of the hilarious comments, which somehow have an Irish accent even in written form. It's a good reminder that he idiots doing this stuff are in the strong minority.

"That's immigration halted now well done lads, make sure you grab a wee Chinese on your way home" and similar comments mocking far-right rioters in Belfast.

Gary Smith@garysmith· May 30

Plaques to commemorate the natural 1841 shoreline of Lake Ontario are beginning to appear along Esplanade and Front St E. This is a very informative one near Berkeley/Hahn. I think it is part of this SLNA initiative: www.slna.ca/original-sho...

A photo of a street corner with two commemorative plaques installed, one rectangular and one round

Gary Smith@garysmith· May 24

Pencil written on the back of an old photo:

"from the back of a train from Kingston to Tor. Leo"

Gary Smith@garysmith· May 24

"From the back of a train from Kingston to Toronto" A photo taken by my grandfather in 1941 or 1942 when he was on leave from training with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals at Vimy Kingston, before his deployment to Europe.

A black and white photo of train tracks receding into hills in the distance, with a telegraph pole.

Gary Smith@garysmith· May 23

The KPMB Architects office on the 12th floor of the Globe & Mail building also gives nice (if rainy) views of the progress on the Ontario Line subway station formerly known as Corktown, now known as Distillery District. Big holes both north and south of Front St East. #doorsopen #dot26

Subway excavation progress in the block bounded by King Street East, Parliament Street, Front Street East, and Berkeley Street, May 2026.

Subway excavation progress in the block bounded by Front Street East, Parliament Street, Parliament Square Park and Berkeley Street, May 2026.

Gary Smith@garysmith· May 23

Also many cool architectural models at the KPMB Architects offices at King East and Berkeley. In the 12th floor of the Globe & Mail building, open today for Toronto's Doors Open event. #doorsopen #dot26

Wooden architectural models of skyscrapers in front of a window with real skyscrapers in the distance.

Gary Smith@garysmith· May 23

KPMB Architects in the Globe & Mail building at King East and Berkeley looks like a stunning place to work. But I think I'd be perpetually distracted by the views.

View north from 12th floor of Globe & Mail Centre, May 2026.

View south from 12th floor of Globe & Mail Centre, May 2026.

View northeast from 12th floor of Globe & Mail Centre, May 2026. Shows two streetcars passing each other at the intersection of King St East and Berkeley St.

Gary Smith@garysmith· May 22

Also "start over".

Gary Smith@garysmith· May 22

Also "ignore"

Gary Smith@garysmith· May 22

Also "forget"

Gary Smith@garysmith· May 15

Layers of Toronto. From Corktown looking east.

A photo of a city view showing smaller old houses in the foreground, warehouses in the middle ground, and shiny new skyscrapers in the distance, all in front of a bright blue sky.

Gary Smith@garysmith· May 14

An important operational notice buried in a Nov 20, 1943 memo distributed to troops of the 1st Canadian Corps of Signals stationed in Sicily.

"8. THE LOCAL WINE The local wine contains a high percent of alcohol. It must not be confused with beer. It has a delayed action effect so that there is a great tendency to take excess. This wine may result in persons developer a very vindicative (sic) nature while under It's (sic) influence, and already on this island some very unfortunate things have occurred. It is therefore important that moderation be observed. In this way our deportment in public will be maintained."

Gary Smith@garysmith· May 10

In case you thought catfishing required the internet to exist, think again. Apparently it was a problem during WW2, as per this guide sent to officers in 1943. publications.gc.ca/collections/...

"Pen Pal Correspondence"

Written in ignorance or in complete disregard of Security, “pen pal”
letters present a very real problem in the Canadian Army.

After all, what guarantee is there that the stranger, who invites letters
from soldiers, is the beautiful and innocent-looking blonde she pretends to be? What assurance is there that the correspondent is even a girl ? What is the evidence that the “pen pal”, to whom the soldier is asked to tell all his troubles, is not one of Hitler’s agents? Yes, she sends a picture; what does that prove? It may not be an actual photograph of the glamourous correspondent. It is a known fact that most of these “Exchanges” are conducted by men, regardless of the alluring photo.

It isn’t only his own skin he risks when a soldier replies to a "pen pal" ad or letter. He also risks the safety of his pals, his unit, the Army itself. That’s why regulations forbid “pen pal” correspondence, punishments are provided for those who take a chance.

DON’T WRITE “PEN PAL” LETTERS — DON'T WRITE TO STRANGERS!

Gary Smith@garysmith· May 1

Funny, I just saw many people "driving as they please" at Front St E and Jarvis. It ended in this smash, with other drivers aggressively squealing their tires to go around it in the crosswalks. All this type of "disobedience" does is endanger people who aren't in cars, who didn't cause the gridlock.

Two black vehicles stopped in the middle of the Front St E and Jarvis St intersection in Toronto after a minor collision. One driver has exited his vehicle. Another black vehicle is driving around them.

Gary Smith@garysmith· Apr 7

The American president is threatening to commit war crimes on a massive scale. The president's wife was wearing Ralph Lauren on the weekend. Serious times call for serious journalism.

A screen grab from the New York Times website front page. On the left is the headline "Trump Calls to Wipe Out a 'Whole Civilization' as Iranians Reject Threats". On the right is the headline "Melania Trump's Unexpected Easter Look".

Gary Smith@garysmith· Mar 27

Well, it's nice to know some people have money. I'll be enjoying the @bluejays.com home opener from home tonight, wearing a normal shirt. www.cp24.com/photos/2026/...

A photo taken from a CP24 news article about changes at the Rogers Centre, showing a 50th Anniversary Blue Jays jersey and its price tag of $537.50.

Gary Smith@garysmith· Mar 25

Also, despite the advent of AI, advertising algorithms still lack context and irony detection. This ad for a $57K CAD monster pickup truck is perfectly juxtaposed with text describing this hard working woman's impoverishment due to gas prices and a 50-mile roundtrip commute.

A paragraph of text excerpted from a CNN article, describing a woman's 50 mile commute and complaints about high gas prices, right above an advertisement for a RAM pickup truck priced at $56,995 CAD.

Gary Smith@garysmith· Mar 19

In Canada, many emailers from Canadian companies are bilingual, with content in one language first (usually English) repeated below in the second language (usually French). Google's Gmail, developed by unilingual Americans, is baffled by this and puts this notice at the top of every damn email.

A screen grab of a Gmail notification message that says "It looks like this message is in French" follwed by the link text "Translate to English".

Gary Smith@garysmith· Mar 16

Struck him out on ball 4 to ruin a decent baseball game.

A screen grab of MLB Gameday for the last WBC at bat between Dominican Republic and USA showing the 8th pitch of the at-bat below the strike zone yet called a strike.

Gary Smith@garysmith· Mar 5

“I threw those two creeps out on their ass! Then they followed me home, beggin’ me to take a test drive. And let me tell you, talk about roomy. The Rivian combines the smooth handling of a European sports car with the rugged drivability of a sturdy 4×4.”