iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I considered that maybe this is just a more popular plane than I thought. But nope. Only 153 were made in total with the last one made in 1986. The Argentine Navy only ordered 5. And 2 were lost in the Malvinas war. patrullerasargentinas.blogspot.com/2011/06/avio...

A white SC-7 Skyvan aircraft marked “Prefectura Naval” and “PA 53,” with blue-and-white Argentine flag markings on its twin vertical tails, flying low over a body of water.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Leaving work, I have a good view of the planes landing at Billy Bishop Airport and was kind of awestruck when I saw a Skyvan SC-7 flying by. Those were the same planes infamously used by Argentina's military dictatorship during the "death flights."

FlightRadar24 screenshot showing a Short SC-7 Skyvan 3M-400 aircraft, registration C-GUWW, on the ground in Pembroke, Ontario. The flight is shown en route from Pembroke (YTA) to Toronto (YTZ), with an estimated arrival time of 5:14 p.m.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Always happy when the City of Toronto actually decides to winterize a bathroom, but I see the timeline for this one in High Park was too ambitious, I guess?

Toronto Parks and Recreation construction sign for Lower Hillside Washroom Improvements, stating that construction begins in Summer 2025 and is expected to be completed in Winter 2025. A fenced-off washroom building with a red metal roof is visible behind the sign.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

About a month before the #WorldCup, it seems very possible that Toronto stadium will be as embarassing as people were scared it was going to be.

View of Toronto stadium construction through a black metal fence, with stacked steel beams, construction materials, and the stadium structure visible under a cloudy sky.

View of Toronto stadium construction behind a tall metal security fence, with the stadium structure, cranes, and equipment visible beneath a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

This week I presented my poster presentation comparing Argentine memorial sites for Victoria College's Undergraduate Research Day. My presentation received honourable mentions in three award categories (always a bridesmaid, never a bride!) which was a cool surprise I didn't expect at all.

The author stands beside a large academic research poster in a formal hall with wood floors and oil portrait paintings on the wall. The poster is titled "Comparing the Memorial Sites of Argentina's Last Dic[tatorship]: A Conversation Between Preservation and Memorialization" by Diego Rupolo. It features sections on "Preservation of Place" and "Focus on Me[morialization]," with photographs of sites including ESMA in Buenos Aires, El Pozo in Rosario, and La Perla in Córdoba, alongside a map of Argentina and text discussing clandestine detention centers from the 1976–1983 dictatorship. The person is wearing a black button-up shirt, dark jeans, and black shoes, with purple-framed glasses.

**Alt text:**

Academic research poster titled "Comparing the Memorial Sites of Argentina's Last Dictatorship: A Conversation Between Preservation and Memorialization" by Diego Rupolo. The poster is divided into two main columns against a yellow central background. The left column, "Preservation of Place," profiles four former clandestine detention centers converted into memorial sites: ESMA (Navy School) in Buenos Aires, the Investigations Brigade in Tucumán, "El Pozo" Space for Memory in Rosario, and "La Perla" Space for Memory and Promotion of Human Rights in Córdoba — each with photographs of the buildings and bullet-point descriptions of their history and current status. The center section contains introductory text explaining the project's focus on ~762 clandestine detention centers from Argentina's 1976–1983 dictatorship, a comparative argument about spatial versus non-spatial memorialization, and a map of Argentina showing the geographic distribution of detention sites across five zones. The right column, "Focus on Memorialization," profiles three non-spatial memorial institutions: Parque de la Memoria in Buenos Aires, the Museum of Art and Memory in La Plata, and the International Museum for Democracy in Rosario — each with photographs and descriptions. A QR code in the bottom right links to additional content. Red arrows connect some site entries to their locations on the map.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Academic book releases can be so fun because they can be on niche topics you're very interested in like comparative gay print culture in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. Was great to go to this book launch and see the release from a former TA of mine, Juan Carlos Mezo Gonzalez. Excited to read it.

A hand holds up a book titled Gay Print Culture: A Transnational History of North America by Juan Carlos Mezo González in front of a brutalist concrete and glass building. The book cover features a collage-style design with a young man in a casual shirt set against tropical foliage, overlaid with excerpts of printed text in pink and blue tones.

An author wearing glasses and a dark blazer sits at a round light wood table, signing a copy of Gay Print Culture with a pen. On the table are a white water bottle, a second copy of the book facing upright, and a bouquet of knitted flowers wrapped in clear cellophane with a white ribbon bow.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

Been a very long time since I've taken Brampton Transit. I have to say that the lighting on this Zum bus is maybe the best bus lighting I've ever experienced.

Photo of interior of an articulated city bus. Bus interior is spacious with many empty seats. Overhead lighting is blue and not particularly bright.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

That being said, I might have to retire my SUFFERIN shirt if the bus is actually good now. It's a sacrafice I'm willing to make.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

We also saw this sculpture, apparently called "Vessel" in Taddle Creek Park, which was so beautiful. Also a working water feature in the City of Toronto?! In October?!?! I was shook.

A large, modern metal sculpture resembling a vase or pitcher stands in an outdoor park surrounded by fallen autumn leaves. The sculpture is made of thin vertical rods, creating a semi-transparent effect. In the background, yellow-leaved trees are brightly lit by sunlight, and a tall building is partially visible. Water appears to be flowing down the sculpture, sparkling in the light.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Like the Spadina Road Branch next door to the Native Canadian Centre that specializes in Indigenous literature. Its exterior notes the Cree word for "the lodge or place of the book", Mahsinahhekahnikahmik Or my own home branch of Parkdale that includes a library of musical instruments. So cool!

Exterior of a small library entrance with sign in cree, "Mahsinahhekahnikahmik"

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Got a chance to go on a library tour with my Built Environment & Health Class and guest lecturer @lanrickbennett.bsky.social this morning. I already loved Toronto's library system, but there are consistently more things to learn and discover. Like the many unique ways that branches specialize.

Toronto Reference Library building taken from Yorkville Ave with red brick facade, surrounded by modern high-rises, cars, and pedestrians on the street.

Old library building (Yorkville branch) with columns and steps, surrounded by modern buildings. Interlocking brick road in the foreground

Interior of Lillian H Smith Library with a tall, circular atrium featuring multiple floors and railings. Bookshelves and tables filled with books are in the foreground, along with a sign about social and crisis support services. A large round light fixture hangs from the ceiling.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

Today I made my first Canadian chocotorta. Did not have Chocolinas, of course, and the quality of the cream cheese and dulce de leche was a little suspect, but we'll see how it tastes tomorrow.

Glass container showing a dessert in a light caramel colour with crumbled dark, chocolate cookie sprinkled on top

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

The TTC is an absurd transit agency. There's not even any indication on their Twitter of any issues with the 504 line. This is apparently normal and ok?

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

This all being said, the official viewing area's playlist can only be described as "Imagine Dragons-y" and so they could likely use some help from my playlist.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

It attracts an incredibly diverse crowd of all ethnicities, ages, and ability level. The progressive urge to paint this event as anything but family friendly fun, tradition, and culture is frankly absurd. I really wish the left could stop being enemies of joy on *so many fronts*.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

The map coloured by country is obviously more full, but it's funny because I've been to 3 or more regions in almost every country I've visited. I'm not someone who usually travels to a new country just to check a box. Again... World = Big, as is every country in it (even the small ones)

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A map centred on the Americas and part of Europe with certain countries highlighted in orange. The highlighted countries include Canada, the United States, Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and one country in Europe (Italy). The rest of the countries are shown in gray, and the background is light blue. There is a small note in the bottom right corner that reads "Created with MapChart app."

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

Spent the night creating my lifetime travel map by province/state/region for no particular reason. I've been lucky enough to travel a fair bit and yet it's amazing how empty it feels. The world is huge. I know this isn't saying anything even remotely profound, but it still feels worth saying.

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A world map centered on the Americas, with certain regions highlighted in purple. In North America, several states in the United States (including Texas, New York, Ohio, Tennessee and others), as well as several provinces in Canada, are colored purple. In Latin America, parts of Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Uruguay and Cuba are highlighted. In Europe, only a region of Italy is colored purple. The rest of the world is shown in grey with country and region borders visible, and the background is light blue. The map includes a small note in the bottom right corner: "Created with MapChart app."

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

#AIFA in Mexico City is an underrated airport. I get that it's super far from the city itself, but it's honestly the best airport I've ever been to and it's not particularly close.

Exterior view of Felipe Ángeles International Airport with a sign for "La Chicharrita" restaurant under a partly cloudy sky.

Modern outdoor courtyard area at Felipe Ángeles International Airport, featuring landscaped gardens, benches, palm trees, and a circular plaza between glass-walled buildings. Elevated walkways connect the structures under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

Spacious airport terminal with blue seating, high ceilings, and directional signs; a few people are sitting and waiting.

Statue of a person on horseback (Glorieta a Felipe Ángeles) next to a large Mexican flag, set on a landscaped roundabout with grass and flowers under a bright blue sky.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Not only did it include a beautiful public amphitheatre, skate park, and more, but I was so impressed by the running track. In red low impact paving, lit for the evening, and often accompanied next to a seprarate bike path (and plenty of walking path space nearby as well)

A person wearing a blue shirt jogs on a red running track in the park, surrounded by trees and modern high-rise buildings.

Two large pink gates frame the entrance to a red running track in the park, with tall grass, trees, and a modern high-rise apartment building in the background

In the foreground, a red running path runs alongside a sidewalk, both bordered by a black railing with a continuous strip of warm yellow-orange lighting along its base, illuminating the path in the early evening. A modern cityscape with several unique high-rise buildings is in the background.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Just had a chance to visit Parque #LaMexicana, one of the most impressive parks I've ever visited. This park in the wealthy Santa Fe neighbourhood of #MexicoCity was unique to me in its combination of public green space, activity space, and retail

La Mexicana park at dusk with a large red stage, grassy hill with some built in seating, and tall modern buildings in the background.

A large outdoor sign displays a map and legend for **La Mexicana Park** (El Parque de Todos) in Mexico City. The map shows the park’s layout with lakes, green areas, paths, and icons marking entrances, restrooms, services, restaurants, shops, playgrounds, and other amenities. Below the map is a detailed legend listing walking entrances, parking areas, services, shops, pavilions, areas, restaurants, and facility symbols. There are also QR codes for more information. The sign is mounted on a dark stand

Tall modern skyscrapers rise behind the park with tall grasses and trees. In the foreground, there is a small building with colorful, reflective glass walls that display rainbow hues.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Can anyone explain the newfound trend in busses and planes to remove the pouch on the back of seats and replace it with tension straps that hold absolutely nothing? We all love the pouch! There was nothing wrong with the pouch!

Back of a bus seat, showing 2 tension straps in the place of what would have once been a pouch for you to store your belongings during your trip.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

When in #Tucumán, their bigger CDC's were listed on the tourism website but seemingly not maintained at all for visitors. Tourism offices knew nothing of them.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

This is a frustration of visiting these spaces, often run by volunteers and with less and less funding, especially under Milei. I tried one of the larger detention centres in this area a few blocks away. Despite being set up for visitors, I found out it was only open for pre arranged group tours.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

Another day, another memorial site visit, this one in #LaPlata, Argentina. #CasadelosConejos was a small headquarters of some Montoneros who were killed here in 1976, with plenty of bullet holes still to show for it.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

The Argentine train system is by no means ideal. It took 30 hours for a trip that takes about 17 by bus and 2 by plane. I still enjoyed those 30 hours from Buenos Aires to Tucumán much more than my flight back. And importantly, the price is great and it's actually hard to get tickets as a result.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Results like this in Nanaimo-Ladysmith are so depressing. An NDP incumbent coming in 4th and the Conservatives somehow winning the seat when clearly the people would vote very differently under a different electoral system. The problem with strategic voting is that people are *terrible* at it.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Truly useless. Completely contradictory information, "written" with such confidence that it is no wonder so many kids and teens in school are fooled by this nonsense. For the record, I've never actually tried to use AI in research, but thought this is something it could excel at. I was very wrong.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Was using an AI search engine for the very early stages of a research project to get me started. It completely fabricated the existence of a painting by Xul Solar. It's shocking how terrible AI can be and yet I'm only using it as my starting point because Google has also become terribly useless.

Screenshot of text from AI search engine saying: "It appears that I made an error regarding the existence of the painting "La Ciudad de los Cielos" by Xul Solar. After reviewing the search results and considering your note, it seems that there is no widely recognized painting by that title attributed to Xul Solar."

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Despite him being in the military, knowing of the site, and working just across the street much of this time, taking me there as my Uber driver would be the first time he had actually ever been to La Perla.

Photo of the road leading to La Perla former clandestine detention centre and current memory site and museum. This photo is the end of that long road and would be where my driver would leave me, his only exposure to the site despite being a fighter pilot in the airforce who often works just across the street.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

La Cuadra (or The Block) was where detainees spent most of their time, on the floor, after being tortured for information. Today there are tributes to victims, left by family and friends. There are also carvings on the walls, often with a victim's name and "Presente", reclaiming their identity.

Wide shot of La Cuadra with its shiny red tiled floor as it can be found today

Sketched depiction of La Cuadra when it was used as a clandestine detention site. Approximately 15 people are sketched lying on the floor, tied up, and blindfolded. In the foreground, a blindfolded man is being led away by a soldier in uniform.

A vase of red paper flowers left as tribute. A black and white photo of a young woman is in the vase, likely one of the Deseparecidos. Also in the vase are sticks with the symbol of the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo. In front of the VSE is a white bandana taped to the shelf. NUNCA MÁS (never again) is written in red bloc letters on this bandana.

Photo of a carving or graffiti on the wall of La Cuadra. It says
Mercedes
Santucho
PRT ERP
PRESENTE
AYOMPLA [SIC]

The ERP were one of the militant revolutionary groups that the dictatorship seeked to eradicate and also used as an excuse to justify their so called "Dirty War". After the end of the dictatorship, there was some erasure of victims' political identities. How much focus should be on "innocent" victims of the dictatorship and how much should be on all victims remains a contentious subject even today

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

My favourite was the poem "Las Pisadas Ausentes" by Héctor Kunzmann, a survivor of the site. The poem refers to the area prisoners were kept and its striking red tiles (or in Kunzmann's metaphor, steps)

Photo of Kunzmann's poem as displayed at La Perla. The poem is located on a brick wall of one of the buildings opposite of the location depicted. Beside the poem is a drawing showing the red tiles and also a black and white cheese board on that same floor

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

In another contrast to ESMA, which is kept almost entirely as original as possible, La Perla deftly mixes its history with artwork. These pieces can be found within and across the campus.

Large painting of three older women, representing Madres de las Plaza de Mayo and painted black and white photos of their loved ones, the deseparecidos. The painting is displayed outside.

Art piece of black and red strings all across an indoor/outdoor room so that you cannot walk through. Some white rags with writing are hanging from some of the strings.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

The site was the 2nd most active of the ~600 across the country (this number has changed often as new ones are discovered) with up to 3000 people being disappeared here. They were more likely killed by firing squad than the infamous death flights here because it was likely easier.

A guard tower is seen on La Perla site, a simple square concrete structure. Behind it is vast green plains and hills/low mountains in the background

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

#ESMA in CABA is the most famous of these sites for many reasons. With ~5000 people disappeared there, it was the most active. It is also located in a very busy and urban area. La Perla in Córdoba is the opposite. It is in the middle of nowhere and it was difficult to find transportation there.

Satellite map overview of the La Perla site in Cordoba. The current museum is shown with very little surrounding it, simply greenery and one small road from the highway leading to the location

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Can anyone in #BuenosAires explain why all sidewalks look like this all the time?

Photo of an intersection in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The sidewalk area is ripped up on all 3 corners in the photo with the area of construction blocked off by temporary wood fencing.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

The war did indeed help bring down the dictatorship. The propaganda claiming they were winning followed by a quick and stunning loss hit the nation like a ton of bricks. But Argentines of all political stripes still wanted and want their islands back. This issue is universal.

Photos of various magazines in Argentina during the war (notably from Gente Magazine) stating "We saw the English surrendering", "We are winning", and "We continue winning". Old televisions of the era are also shown in this art exhibit that demonstrates the role of media propaganda during the war

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

I was pleasantly surprised that the museum is a lot more nuanced than that and explains the Argentine preoccupation in a much more understandable context. This explanation of sort from Argentine/Latin American Boom writer Julio Cortázar was particularly helpful.

Printed fragment of Cortázar's book "Argentina, Años de Alambradas Culturales", which recognizes (in Spanish text) the importance of the Malvinas Islands to Argentine culture and identity while also recognizing the cynical timing of the war and that those fighting for the islands (the military dictatorship) would not be fighting for other rights of Argentines

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Today I visited the Museo #Malvinas in Buenos Aires, a museum to the (also named) #FalklandIslands. Argentina's focus on these islands is fascinating and is something I did not fully understand. "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" is literally printed on just about every public bus in the city!

Photo of a Cessna plane called the Don Luis Vernet in the Museo Malvinas in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This is the original plane used for an act of resistance from an Argentine in fighting for these islands.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

When I visited ESMA I was amazed and surprised to see it there (my photo below), not knowing it had only been there for about a year. Before that? It was found in Florida (!) where it was used for Skydiving (!!!)

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

This was the next morning in #Oaxaca. Just an amazing amount of culture wherever you look (or don't) in that city!

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

The Kentucky Distillers' Association's response to Canadian tariffs and removing of bourbon from the shelves is so remarkably absurd and tone deaf that I wonder if they gave any thought at all to what Canadians are thinking right now

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

#Oaxaca, Mexico does public space and rich, accessible culture like almost no other place I've ever been.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 25/02/2025

Visited #SanMiguelDeAllende over the weekend, and it is one of the most beautiful places I've been in my life. Here is simply a selection of some of my favourite doors, of all things.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Why was Wayne #Gretzky our "honourary captain" at last night's #4NationsFinal? I've seen this question asked a lot over the last day, but I would like to hear an actual answer and think Canadians deserve one. I've asked Hockey Canada. You should too: www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/corpor...

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Kinda reminds me of Buenos Aires' Congreso building!

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

My apartment is within walking distance from #OntarioPlace so I would love to personally enjoy it. But I took these photos in January 2018, before #DougFord came to power. It has been a dilapidated dump for more than a *decade* and I'm tired of seeing progressive in the city pretend otherwise.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

The architectural beauty of the library were apparent before ever even visiting. The cool, unique, almost industrial look combined with plentiful natural light could be seen in any tourist guide. But the sheer usability? Sometimes that's something that can only be discovered in a visit.

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

...This often falls flat because it ignores why people go to the library in the first place. To access resources they cannot access at home, and for quiet (and sometimes even secluded!) study spaces. Biblioteca Vasconcelos is famous for its floating bookshelves that are, in fact, filled with books!

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Diego Rupolo @diegorupolo.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Got a chance to visit #BibliotecaVasconcelos in #MexicoCity, one of the places I was most excited to see in the city. It's as incredible as the photos show it to be, but many of the things that impressed me about it were surprising. 🧵

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