ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 07/10/2026The bar I'm at in Italy employs a few deaf bartenders so they have a wall of cute little cartoon cards illustrating the sign language for every drink order. (Also the beer card looks like me which delighted the bartender) 1757
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 07/10/2026In another life, would it have been cool to study at this university founded in 1088, leafing through rare old medieval texts in the ornate Renaissance library? I guess. But I bet my own Wilfrid Laurier University would dice these kids at flip cup 1150
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Zooming into this early 1600s map of Africa by Dutch cartographers and checking out a Dutch guy's vague idea of what various African animals look like 1110
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Hell yeah OLD MAPS ROOM Curiously on this globe from 1688, all of what we would now call the US South is labeled Canada 4100
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 07/10/2026There's a room full of human skeletons with life-like wax muscles/organs that were used to train medical students in the 1800s and the final model - with all the layers of anatomy removed - is just a skeleton holding a scythe. Hell yeah 2150
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 07/10/2026The University of Bologna has a 1700s Cabinet of Curiosities of preserved specimens?? Oh this is exactly my shit 3281
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Ronaldo so mad that he's creating his own religious schism 2321
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 06/10/2026(I should warn you that if you want to visit the Huy Lieu campaign page, it quickly goes from "haha what the heck is this guy talking about" to "oh I'm not having fun anymore" to "maybe democracy was a mistake") 4130
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 06/10/2026There's also a candidate named Huy Lieu who somehow got on the ballot whose entire campaign page is just a mentally unwell ramble about being an immortal saint, George Bush turning Polish people against him, Jack Layton doing 9/11, how he wrote 90% of pop music. Also some actionable death threats 560
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 06/10/2026She's not even the only former TV personality running in this ward! There's also Karina Lemke, one of the wedding planners from the syndicated 2000s Slice TV series "Rich Bride Poor Bride", and oh brother her policies stink even worse than Sailor Moon's 270
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Sadly it appears she stinks 😔 Classic NIMBY language in her policies ("protect the character of established neighbourhoods", "thoughtful growth"), pro-cop vibes, endorsed by Joe Clark, her dad was a longtime conservative MP 3160
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 06/10/2026In odd local news: Terri Hawkes, the voice actress of Sailor Moon in the 90s English dub, is running for Toronto city council 12811
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 06/10/2026it's kind of an insane apology, he just goes "yes there is video footage of me doing a Nazi salute and yelling heil Hitler, no I will not be providing any context, I consider this matter addressed" 0151
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 06/10/2026I wonder what the Prime Minister of Samoa could be apologizing about that would— OH 1287
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 05/10/2026if I wanted to be around stupid Americans I'd go to stupid America 1270
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 05/10/2026okay but a specific "yankee go home" to the middle-aged couple from California beside us who ruined our anniversary dinner by learning we were Canadian and needling us about how (racist hack standup) Ben Bankas is the best thing to come out of Toronto because he's "brighter than the other Canadians" 1230
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 05/10/2026They used to be great but I had one recently and I kinda feel they fell off! (My problematic PC food I like is the boxed white cheddar mac & cheese) 100
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 05/10/2026canceling my day 1 follow Maple The Baby Pygmy Hippo over problematic spon deals. she chased the bag but sold out the OG MapleManiacs who supported her early content 😔 3160
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 05/10/2026I regret to inform you that the Canadian Moo Deng is now doing sponsored brand collabs with President's Choice 5497
Reposted by ℳattKristie @knairn.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Today I got to see this painting in person in Florence. It’s one of my favourite paintings in the world. It’s called Judith Slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi. If you don’t mind I’d like to tell you a bit about it. 16221
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Donatello is the tricky one of the 4. Not a lot of his stuff is in major museum collections, a lot of his work is in their original Italian churches. Uffizi didn't have any Donatellos but we were able to fill our Donatello fix (purely just to fulfill the bit) at the nearby Bargello Museum 110
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 04/10/2026I'm sorry if you are seeing an Adult Content tag on the first post, it's Bluesky's automatic AI filter, I clicked "appeal tag" and wrote "this is literally the most famous statue in history, seen by millions of children every year, also censoring Michelangelo's David is a season 2 Simpsons gag" 1240
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Having learned more about the Renaissance masters, I would say the Historically Accurate Ninja Turtles Theme would be - Donatello leads - Leonardo does machines - Michelangelo is cool but rude - Raphael is a party dude 2161
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Michelangelo's David is truly breathtaking to see in person. I don't know why but I pictured it being like, 10 feet tall? He's a gargantuan 25 feet tall. Also if you zoom in with your phone to his face, you can see his furrowed brow and pupils askance, as if he's a little scared 180
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 04/10/2026We did it. We successfully saw works by all four Ninja Turtles in one day. 39411
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Is it fair to say that if the Raiders knock off the Chiefs to go 4-0 we should actually worry about the Raiders being good? Or are they still just the Raiders until further information arises 110
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 04/10/2026That singer in the clip (at the Canada-Peru game in Montreal) might be the worst anthem performance of all time? Like, this isn't the Moldovan anthem on short notice, this is the Canadian anthem IN CANADA, and she doesn't know the basic melody. Spectacular. Even Carl Lewis kept the general tune. 1141
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 04/10/2026finally, at last, he can sleep soundly knowing that he's been surpassed 1194
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 03/10/2026The most powerful Italian conversation is replying to "prego" with "prego", it's the equivalent of the ultimate form of North American English where you can respond to "sup" with "sup" 4100
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 03/10/2026I've found the most useful word in Italy is "prego", it can mean either "you're welcome" or "go ahead" or "how can I help you" or "pardon?" or "please", when in doubt just say prego, it's Italian Aloha 1170
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 02/10/2026for the second time in a week I am once again asking Theo "huh?" 1100
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Twice today, on the streets of Rome, I've heard American tourists having full conversations with AI. Not just like, "Siri, directions to hotel". Conversations! "hi can you do me a favor..." "what do you think of..." "thanks I'll talk to you later" Like that, chatting with the robot on speakerphone 4171
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 02/10/2026We called it Asshole in private but President in polite company (if teachers/parents were around), but same game with the same rules 190
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 01/10/2026You're not allowed to take pictures inside the Sistine Chapel but here's my recreation of what the ceiling looks like 1342
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Most delightful thing to overhear in Rome: "mamma mia" (passionately) Least delightful thing to overhear in Rome: standing beside the famous Trevi Fountains and an American behind you in the crowd goes "are we in VEGAS right now?? because it's giving Vegas" 0150
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 01/10/2026I do love an authentic, organic "Mamma Mia!!" delivered by an angry cabbie though that delighted me to no end, they really do be saying mamma mia 2130
ℳatt @matttomic.bsky.social · 01/10/2026I've never been in a NASCAR race but I have been in a Roman taxi which is close enough 5180
