Out this week, @tmbg.bsky.social ‘s John Flansburgh on the music and videos of They Might Be Giants. @revpermovie.bsky.social out now on any podcast app.

More positive chaser from this tale actually predates it by a few hours, when we visited a sort of petting zoo w/ no pretext to being any sort of café, & had encounters w/ meerkats & lemurs (pictured) but also capybaras, armadillos, tortoises, ducklings, axolotls, & a few other creatures, @Aqua City

I've been leaving that paused on the TV set of our den, hoping that my kid will unpause it & experience whatever impact results—good or bad. Took like 2 years for a digital copy to to turn up after requesting it for our Plex server.

First time really losing a wallet since I fumbled one on Haight at Steiner at 2am one March leading up to my 21st birthday. A dude promptly grabbed it & sprinted away. I was due to drive a friend's car out to NYC days later, which was then more of an adventure than it would have been w/ a wallet.

My kid w/ the item I'd most recently bought, an inflatable frog balloon acquired at Tiger Kingdom Copenhagen in the Aqua City Mall. My wallet,meanwhile, turned up at the lost and found of Joypolis, despite my having not pulled it out at any point there aside from apparently dropping it there somehow

Visited lost & found bureaus at 2 of the malls. Communication issues, & my translation-device battery failing. Ended up camping to charge phone at the food court in Aqua City Mall while my wife went off on a walk. She returned w/ my money clip, cash intact. Lost & Found at a 3rd mall we'd cut thru.

Same-day reservations terminal showing a 173-minute wait at the DiverCity Mall's sporting complex / arcade around 3pm yesterday, just before I discovered my wallet was missing

Family pricing on weekends way better than what we would have paid yesterday in any event, but unlikely my wife will sign off on our doing this

The wait for the 1st arcade—which also has bowling, & go-karts, etc.—was around 3 hours, I mention by way of illustrating the sheer number of people w/ whom we were crossing paths. So w/ no wallet, had to change from fun plan to a hopeless-feeling slog retracting steps from site of last purchase.

Total nightmare yesterday: on taking my kid around malls of Oidaba in Tokyo, w/ intent to pay for a block of time at one of the mega-arcades here, I discovered my money clip w/ my ID & lots of cash & all my credit cards, etc. was missing. And my phone was almost dead.

"In the 1970s, the Toronto bars still closed at midnight, and so, to accommodate their fellow bohemian night owls, Aykroyd and O’Hara launched a speakeasy at 505 Queen Street East."

Let’s talk about sedition and treason, because the most powerful yet inadequate man in the world is having a tantrum about it, and his soulless, spineless sycophants are boosting his message.

/1

Before the midterms of 1866, President Andrew Johnson called his congressional opponents traitors and said they should be hanged.

Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.

Swedish Deputy PM: Sweden needs to pick its friends wisely, and we are choosing Canada… So when we come to America, we come to Canada now.

Terrific

Lots of shit, on a luggage cart

Lady Liberty & little old me

Incurred like $250 in fees & shipping btwn a large box of books shipped this AM, a folding bike, & 2 big bags. But I'm on the plane & about to take off; until next time, Toronto, I'll miss you! 🍁❤️‍🔥🍁

Bill Viola - Anthem (1983).avi YouTube video by José María Miranda Pérez

Leaving Toronto & flying to LAX today if everything goes as planned. In the event that I am subjected to a social-media review at the border & this profile is somehow involved, maybe we can view this old short together since I won't be watching it just now; as a memo, it's ANTHEM by Bill Viola. #🇺🇸

Shows The Ultimate Strokes Experience. Tickets on sale now.

Thanks for the Spanish cover here 🙏🏻

I knew that Hammond wrote it, but was in the process of forgetting he'd released it first, & hadn't ever heard the Phil Everly version. A Toronto friend I'd met when he was v. young now heads a cover band called The Brokes, doing songs by Hammond's son's band… 😂

Not with the car alarm going off, and also not if some valet-proofing option has been toggled. I do think there's also a way to lock the back seats, so thank goodness this hadn't been done.

This didn't post before; got into car. Add to the list: 1st time having a native Chinese speaker respond to a call for auto service. Had to go thru back seat to the trunk in this Jetta, which is how my own Jetta got robbed the 1 (?) time this ever happened to a car of mine… glad no security update!

I have more, but in excess of 3 minutes so will have to upload to YouTube first ✌🏻

Die Spitz directing those present to make room for a mosh pit near the front of a sellout crowd last night at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto:

Interview with Canadian Cartoonist, Seth | Remarque Art Consulting

I did meet Seth once, in an upstairs lobby of the Bloor Cinema at a Chris Ware/Charles Burns/??? event, predictably in the company of Chester Brown. I mentioned being a friend of Joe Matt's in L.A, & a fan of the work of [the Toronto 3.] None of which would have made my finding his house less creepy

Seth's Dominion YouTube video by NFB

My probably-dashed plans involved a possible trip to a park in the rain, finding a large military surplus store I figure should be nearby selling a giant/cheap duffle bag for my flight (also could use some tactical gloves), & maybe trying to hone in on any hip local who has hot goss about Seth👇🏻. 🤷🏻‍♀️

A day full of firsts! I don't recall ever locking keys inside a vehicle or domicile. I have—mostly 2+ decades ago—run out of gas (multiple times), crashed cars, etc. Currently waiting on a CAA truck with an estimated arrival time of 5:15pm, ie 19 minutes from now. Hypothesis: CAA better than AAA…

Yes, a AAA card is useful in Canada for US members through a reciprocal agreement with the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), providing benefits like roadside assistance and discounts on hotels and attractions.

《Yes, a AAA card is useful in Canada for US members through a reciprocal agreement with the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), providing benefits like roadside assistance and discounts on hotels and attractions.》 says the AI that told me the resto I'm in serves breakfast til 3 (it's actually 2.)

《KEEP GUELPH BEAUTIFUL Enjoy a Picnic at Riverside Park... We've got you covered! Free Drink Cups & Paper Plates with every Pizza Pickup Order! Whether you're heading to Riverside Park or just love eating outdoors, we'll make it easy and clean. Just ask at pickup No extra charge But Please Don't Leave a Mess!》

Busch Bullets 222ml in each, when a cup = 240ml =8oz. So basically the same amount as a tiny Sapporo of yesteryear (or today in Japan)

Ontario proud since 1927

Champions of Beer Featured prominently in photo is some kinda retro Old Milwaukee

I seem to have just locked my rental car's keys in its trunk, next to some "Busch Bullet" tiny beers I ran back in light rain from The Beer Store. This is a first, and I guess I'll now find out if the AAA card in my wallet is of any use in Canada. Would prefer not to call the indy rental car company

The outside window of Halibut House Fish & Chips in Guelph advertises a breakfast special. This is served from 8am-2pm, FYI. In the background, the Ontarian institution that is The Beer Store

The menu at Halibut House tells their story: 《EST. 2004 Halibut House is a proudly Canadian company founded in the charming town of Port Perry, Ontario in 2004. The founding couple, Julie and Ken, arrived in Canada as refugees, and dedicated themselves to bettering their lives. Julie arrived from Cambodia when she was seventeen in search of the Canadian dream. She spent her time learning the Canadian way of life while working several jobs to make a living. She eventually found her love in food service resulting in the eventual creation of the Halibat House. Together with her husband, they worked firelessly for years perfecting their craft, often working seven days a week, and over fourteen hours a day. Hard work, learning, and passion has continued to be an emphasis for their business and their commitment to providing a quality experience has led to the growth of the Halibut House chain. Today, Halibut House sources only quality ingredients using local Ontario potatoes for their fresh cut fries and using only wild and sustainably caught, chemical free fish. Our fish is then lightly battered to give our customers that juicy satisfaction of taking that great crisp bite. Being a family business, family has continued to be the core value of the Halibut House brand. Every single location is run by a member of their local community, who genuinely care and are always looking to improve. Halibut House is a place to see friendly faces for quick service and great quality food. Thank you for coming in to visit our family today. CATCH YOU AGAIN SOON!》

The kids' menu includes a halibut option, which is pretty exciting as far as kids' menus go

The halibut lunch portion, pictured in front of some very functional luncheonette ketchup & tartar sauce dispensers

Just housed a delicious meal of halibut & chips from a newish chain called Halibut House. Likely to be a thread, albeit not one I'll fully type out now: Canadian fast food is so much better than its American counterpart. If you have info or strong feelings on this topic, feel free to pipe in.

A boxed Nintendo Alarmo being sold by a kid through his dad to support a summer camp fund. Or so goes the plausible story; only met the dad, in a Tim Horton's parking lot in Guelph.

A sign indicating an exit from the 401 to take the 6 to Guelph

A trucking company called CAT, not to be confused with the American company or the international ferry btwn Bar Harbor, Maine & Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. This one has a website I suppose I'll be visiting, at www.cat.ca

An electric & bilingual freeway sign indicating that speeding laws are enforced. Better was the non-electric sign indicating that the max fine for speeding is $10,000 —I'm so glad I got driving across Canada out of my system before this was a thing, or at least without getting caught (dunno.)

👋🏻 from Guelph; my 1st visit. Here for a 2nd-hand Nintendo Alarmo—a gift for my kid; gifts this year tailored to help her deal w/ an inherited aversion to school & waking for it in the AM. I'm now free to do whatever until tonight; a Beijing friend living in Winnipeg is playing a gig in Toronto.

Die Spitz - Full Performance (Live on KEXP) YouTube video by KEXP

Scored an unexpected walk-up ticket to see Die Spitz at The Horseshoe Tavern on Queen Street West; they're on at 10pm & I'm now out maybe picking up some discount earplugs from a nearby drug store… and also a snack & a weird milk tea 🤷🏻‍♀️

My newest folding bike is not especially lightweight or even as comfortable a ride as those I've gotten previously procured in Toronto—both more than a decade ago, and both long since disappeared first in Beijing & then in L.A—but its looks are up there w/ the much-missed previous bikes… shown is a gold & chrome folding bike w/ whitewall tires, reflectors in the spokes, & a black seat & handlebars

Me astride the first folding bike I brought back from Toronto, supposedly of Hungarian origin. I got this from Igor Kenk, after a BMX I acquired in Queens, NY and brought to Toronto was stolen in broad daylight while locked on Dundas for less than an hour one morning in summer, 2007? I'm pretty sure this pic is from 2007, and I'm happy to report I haven't had so much as a toke off a cigarette since 2009. Here I'm in Beijing outside a Jiaodaokou bike shop where I actually bought a very lightweight Dahon bike for the birthday of my girlfriend there, who had the sense to have as her criteria that we get the lightest possible bike (which was also the quickest to fold and the smallest to stow in a trunk or even bring in the cab of a taxi with us.) Hanging from my trusty Chrome bag—which I have with me in Toronto as I write this, incidentally—is a megaphone, such as I tended to keep at the ready in those days if only to be able to talk to people in cars.

Me on a bike I got off Toronto Craigslist from a tall apartment building in Etobicoke, I believe. Here pictured in the woods near a friend's cottage north of the Canadian shield.

Apparently the bike's brand is GRAND PRIX, & it has this cute little Canadian flag symbol suggesting it was made here (which might help explain why I only seem to find these at reasonable prices here)

It's my kid's 8th bday next week. I'll be returning to California on Monday as planned. I'm concerned about my airline baggage allowance, as I've acquired winter wear, gifts for the kid, Canadian catering for her birthday party & future school snacks… and my 3rd Toronto-sourced vintage folding bike:

The farmhouse fry skillet, after a bite or two has been taken. I sat at the bar, since solo dining. Salt & pepper shaker have the word PARIS emblazoned on them. Utensils extremely satisfying in their grip & weight distribution, among the best I've ever encountered! The menu describes this dish as 《A twist on poutine! House made mixed potato hash with sautéed onions, Quebec cheese curds, bell peppers, chorizo sausage, crisp bacon, jalapenos, and house made peppercorn gravy (individual or family style). Sub hollandaise for gravy $2 Add an egg on top $4》

An aspect of a Christmas tree installation in front of an indoor mural in a corner of the restaurant. The tree is pink, while its ornaments—including one that represents "farm fresh eggs"—are gold. There's a pink streetlamp off to one side, and the Eiffel Tower is visible in the black-and-white (pen and ink looking) mural.

A menu aspect, before I noticed that they do actually have a new high tea service from 3-8pm. This is an image of the BRUNCH TOWER FOR TWO, which the menu describes as Our fan favourite 2-stack pancake with white chocolate and pistachio tartufo. Choice of 3 protein, grilled tomato, home hash, 3 eggs cooked to your liking, choice of 2 toasts》 Price listed is $60 Canadian, which for the time-being is a mere $43 or so US.

A photo I turned around and snapped when some sunlight came through the window, but I'm not really seeing the pretty autumnal sunlight effect that had been there a moment before; im a pretty quick draw w/ my camera, so go figure.

Peak fancy breakfast achieved for this trip. I'm one of the few men at a very high-tea feeling brunch bistro—that also serves dinner, actually—called Tiarré's, at 1980 Queen Street East in The (chic/evolving) Beaches 'hood of Toronto. I got the pseudo-poutine farmhouse fry, w/ an egg over-medium. 👩🏽‍🍳💋

The Great Canadian Ostrich Standoff How the plight of a few hundred birds in Canada became an all-out fight for freedom

"A 58-acre ostrich farm in rural Canada becomes an unexpected battleground when bird flu triggers a clash between government agents, "Big Pharma", local farmers, and public health "skeptics." [RFK Jr]

www.theatlantic.com/science/2025...