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Donald Simmons

@donaldfsimmons.bsky.social
293 followers 235 following 1.1K posts

Resident of Toronto. Engineer, cyclist, helps to run Anime North. Loves history and science. Big lefty.

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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 23h
And now some good news. One of my favourite anime series is getting a fourth season. ASCENDANCE OF A BOOKWORM follows Myne, a librarian who dies and is reborn as a poor little girl in a fantasy world where books and literacy are rare, and sets out to fix this by changing society for the better.
share.google
Ascendance of a Bookworm Novels' Part 4 Gets TV Anime From Wit Studio
Announced after end of Part 3 anime // The staff for the anime of Miya Kazuki's Ascendance of a Bookworm (Honzuki no Gekokujō - Shisho ni Naru Tame niwa Shudan...
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Got my lawn sign. Go Olivia!
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Matt Elliott @graphicmatt.com · 29/09/2026
My @thestar.com column: Brad Bradford and Chris Alexander talk about Toronto's budget like it's some mystery we need outside experts to solve. But the mayor's spending record is all public, and tells a simple story of priorities. No mystery. Just math. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
thestar.com
Matt Elliott: There’s no mystery behind Mayor Olivia Chow’s budget record — there’s just math
Lately, the leading candidates taking on Mayor Olivia Chow in the race for mayor have taken to referring to the city’s budget like it’s some great cosmic mystery. A riddle
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Shawn Micallef @shawnmicallef.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Not putting any money on it but I’m going to hot take this: Alexander w win more votes in the election than Bradford.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Old stores starting to come down on Harbord for new townhouses. My tailor was there but fortunately relocated nearby.
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Ryan North @ryannorth.ca · 23/09/2026
Pompeii is a UNESCO world heritage site not because it was remarkable in its prime, but because it survived to our era untouched: one moment, preserved for all time. But future generations won't know what OUR world was like unless we do the same. This is why we MUST bury Toronto with a volcano
Picture of the streets of Pompeii, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pompei_-_panoramio_(26).jpg. Taken by Tanya Dedyukhina, used under CC
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
AI datacenters are catching fire, a lot, and the communities they are in are often getting stuck with all the responder costs because of sweetheart deals cut with the companies.
pivot-to-ai.com
AI data centre fires overwhelm emergency responders
In Somerset, New York, a fire broke out in one unfinished building of a data centre under construction in early June. So they called the local fire department. [Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, ar…
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Fishermen made a big catch in the Oshawa Creek this afternoon.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Got my lawn sign from Cycle Toronto. Ironically it and its wire support were a little too big for me to carry on my bike so I walked to the office and took the streetcar home. #bikeTO
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Not something you really want to see at your local restaurant.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Three Chinese office workers during rush hour in one of Beijing's recent heavy storms (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images). I want a Chinese office comedy about these guys.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Saw SHOKKEN at the ROM, a terrific exhibit on Japanese design, ancient and modern. It's not a big exhibit, but everything on display is a gem. Free with basic admission.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Trinity St. Paul's got themselves a fancy new sign!
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
The light outside right now is orange, due to wildfire smoke. I don't think I've ever seen it like this before.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Saw an advance screening of THE ODYSSEY tonight (my brother won 2 tickets from the ROM). Great film, I'd call it one of Nolan's best. And thanks to the special screening didn't have to sit thru 30 minutes of ads and previews before the three hour film.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Riding down the Welland Canal trail, found it completely blocked by trees at Thorold. Detouring thru the town, there are fallen trees, branches, litter everywhere, work crews out cleaning it up, fixing overhead wires. Guy said a storm hit 3am Saturday and the power has been out sincevv
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Saw Cory Doctorow last night, talking about his latest book about AI (The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI). He was his usual articulate, informative self. Buy his book! I've started it and it's great, in breaking down why AI is a bubble and what we can practically do about it.
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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
My latest books cartoon for @theguardian.com
Title: The Cyclops discusses his part in Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' 

Panel 1.
The cyclops wanders across his island, talking to the audience
"Most directors these days just use computers, so I appreciate that chris sailed the entire crew to a mythical island to shoot my scenes on film."

Panel 2.
He continues as he climbs the hill.
"I wasn't going to do it: The young people are all so down on cannibalism. But I called up Homer and he said "Are you an idiot?This is Hollywood money, not poetry royalties!"

Panel 3.
He sits on a rock and looks out to sea.
"So I got to meet Matt Damon, which was cool."
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
At Toronto Comic Arts Festival at Maple Leaf Gardens. It's free! Running 9-5 Saturday and 10-5 Sunday.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
Backyard bunny. Set out food or set a snare?
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Big crowd this afternoon in Trinity Bellwoods park.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Excellent turnout at community meeting with Councillor Bravo and Metrolink about the delays on the West Railpath trail.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
This version of ROBIN HOOD, with a 20 year old Uma Thurman as the meanest Maid Marion ever, is my gold standard for Robin Hood films.
theguardian.com
‘The aim was to give Kevin Costner’s version a good kicking’: director John Irvin on his anti-Thatcher Robin Hood
Rush-released in the same year as Prince of Thieves blockbuster, this gritty British movie battled winter weather and chronic illness – and it still holds up
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OK Slacker @okslacker.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Black and white still frame of Ebeneezer Scrooge leaning out a window calling down to the street below. Caption reads:
YOU BOY
 ARE THE STRAITS OF HORMUZ
 OPEN OR CLOSED TODAY
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
ANOTHER floor crossing?!? Look, it's allowed, and Harper certainly benefited from them (and had Jason Kenney ridicule an NDP motion to ban them) but maybe this is getting a little out of hand? I dunno.
cbc.ca
Conservative MP Marilyn Gladu crosses floor to Liberals | CBC News
The Liberals have picked up another Conservative floor-crosser, bringing them one seat closer to a majority government.
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Stephen Kotowych 🇨🇦 @ourmankoto.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
It's live! IT'S LIVE! The Kickstarter for Year’s Best Canadian F&SF: Volume Four is now LIVE! Award-winning series, best of 2025, and (with your help) the biggest volume yet. Can you back early enough to land The Canucklehead tier and get to choose the dedication for the book?? Pls SHARE WIDELY!
kickstarter.com
Year's Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume 4
Award winners. Award nominees. Hidden gems. All Canadian. All in one anthology.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
Voted in the University -Rosedale by election.
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Nolan Hicks @ndhapple.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
if 1967 had live blogs
Liveblog of NASA Moon Launch, liveblog of War in the Middle East
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Attended the All Candidates Meeting for the University - Rosedale by-election last night. Full house, good discussion. My full notes are at the link. Leaning NDP after strong performance by Serena Purdy.
drive.google.com
All_Candidates_April_26.txt
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Last bit of snow (if I can call it that) in my neighborhood.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Board game night last night! One we played was a 5-player game of SANTIAGO, which is about planting and irrigating crops, but is really about capitalism and corruption. I usually get skunked in this game, and 5 players it's especially cut-throat, but I got second place which I am very pleased with.
youtube.com
Santiago — How to Play, and Why It's a Gem
YouTube video by Board Gems
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The Daily Beast @thedailybeast.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
Thieves made off with more than 12 tons of KitKat bars in a chocolate heist that has left Nestlé scrambling.
trib.al
Chocolate Heist Leaves Stores Scrambling Before the Holidays
The company said thieves may have taken ‘have a break, have a Kit Kat’ a little too seriously.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
Anti-Ford demo at Queen's Park today.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
My annual plug for Studio Tax for Canadian tax submission. It's $17.50 but for that you can up to ten different submissions for 2025, and it's free if your income is under 20K. I've used it for years and I stand by it.
studiotax.com
StudioTax - Canadian Personal Income Tax Software
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
French language school in downtown Toronto. Love how the street address is in the French format.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Happy St. Paddy's Day!
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Damien Owens @damienowens.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
The latest White House thinking on the Strait of Hormuz.
Screenshot from 1960s Japanese movie Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster. A serious-looking man in a suit is explaining his latest idea. Subtitle reads 'It may sound primitive and unscientific, but through the fairies, we could ask Mothra to help.'
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
Participated in a Don't Mess with the Don garbage pick up this morning, under the Gardiner east of Cherry. Over 100 bags picked up. I was going to wimp out thinking it would be too cold and wet but my brother (also there) shamed me into doing it.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
The social damage being done by legalizing on-line gambling, making it available to essentially everyone 24 hours a day without leaving your home massively outweighs the problems of illegal gambling it was supposed to fix.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
One of these days I'm going to have to set up a simulation to try and figure out why the wind loves to leave a little pile of leaves right at the bottom of my steps.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
If Matt Berry is hosting the Oscars I might actually watch for once.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Was at the Reference Library tonight for a talk (future of public knowledge, quite good). After I was checking out some of the table displays of books (like New Fiction) and saw a book left face down. Turned it over and it was the bio of Musk with his face on the cover. Left it face down.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
The snow at your curbside may have melted, but Toronto has six snow mountains scattered about the GTA, and the amount of salt in them is a real problem.
theguardian.com
Peak interest: Toronto’s snow mountains that refuse to melt are a toxic hazard
Reaching up to 100ft, these massive piles contain tonnes of salt that keep roads clear but pose environmental and health risks
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
It's just amazing to think about how many dump truck loads of fill have gone into the Spit.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
That didn't take long! The byelection here in University Rosedale was just announced two days ago (April 13) and campaign signs are already going up.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
All Tory ever wanted to do was maintain the status quo and go to baseball and basketball games as The Mayor.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Just saw BLADE OF THE GUARDIANS, a righteous old-school wuxia wonder from Yuen Woo-Ping. A big screen must see!
rogerebert.com
Blades of the Guardians review: Yuen Woo-ping delivers another wuxia wonder
A boisterous, but unhurried action-adventure that never feels sloppy.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
My friend Colin at the Meridian Arts Center last night for the performance of some of his music.
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
Kim Ju-ae may or may not be the next ruler of North Korea, but she wears the Black Trenchcoat of Evil very well.
theguardian.com
North Korea’s ‘most beloved’ child: what the key congress revealed about Kim Jong-un’s succession plans
Many observers believe North Korean leader has decided daughter Kim Ju-ae will succeed him, but others say gender politics could block her path to power
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Donald Simmons @donaldfsimmons.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
I mourn the loss of the mass-market paperback because you only have so much shelf space!
theguardian.com
‘We’re losing accessibility’: America says goodbye to the mass-market paperback
The so-called ‘pocket book’ sold in supermarkets is being phased out across the US, the latest sign of an ongoing shift in how people are choosing to read
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