Sandy Kemsley
@skemsley.bsky.social
Engineer. Torontonian. Feminist. Public transit advocate. Car-free. Art lover. Foodie. Balcony gardener. Often-delighted observer of urban life. Tech blog at column2.com
Hydronyms: Gulf of Mexico, Lake Ontario
Hydronyms: Gulf of Mexico, Lake Ontario
I buy Highline mushrooms because they’re delicious and Canadian-grown (yes, they are owned by an Irish company which is in turn owned by a Japanese conglomerate, but not American), but also for the funky labels.
September 1, 2026 at 3:24 PM
I buy Highline mushrooms because they’re delicious and Canadian-grown (yes, they are owned by an Irish company which is in turn owned by a Japanese conglomerate, but not American), but also for the funky labels.
Last night’s dinner experiment: impact of pH changes on high heat chicken skin blistering. I swear, this was purely for scientific research purposes. Tasty, tasty scientific research.
www.seriouseats.com/the-best-buf...
www.seriouseats.com/the-best-buf...
The Best Oven-Fried Chicken Wings Recipe
This oven-fried crispy buffalo wing recipe makes baked wings that are less messy than their fried counterpart, and taste almost indistinguishable.
www.seriouseats.com
August 31, 2026 at 11:09 PM
Last night’s dinner experiment: impact of pH changes on high heat chicken skin blistering. I swear, this was purely for scientific research purposes. Tasty, tasty scientific research.
www.seriouseats.com/the-best-buf...
www.seriouseats.com/the-best-buf...
This is a pretty cool art installation, in the ruins of Ste. Anne’s church in Toronto that burned two years ago. Sadly, I never visited the church while it was standing to see the Group of Seven ceiling murals and other artworks.
www.artspin.ca/where-walls-...
www.artspin.ca/where-walls-...
Where Walls Meet Sky | Art Spin
www.artspin.ca
August 30, 2026 at 1:58 AM
This is a pretty cool art installation, in the ruins of Ste. Anne’s church in Toronto that burned two years ago. Sadly, I never visited the church while it was standing to see the Group of Seven ceiling murals and other artworks.
www.artspin.ca/where-walls-...
www.artspin.ca/where-walls-...
Reposted by Sandy Kemsley
We created this bar to keep the name Lake Ontario visible as part of our long-standing Canada Collection. “ONTARÍ’IO” is an Indigenous name that existed long before today’s borders. That history should not be erased.
peacebychocolate.ca/collections/...
peacebychocolate.ca/collections/...
August 28, 2026 at 12:24 AM
We created this bar to keep the name Lake Ontario visible as part of our long-standing Canada Collection. “ONTARÍ’IO” is an Indigenous name that existed long before today’s borders. That history should not be erased.
peacebychocolate.ca/collections/...
peacebychocolate.ca/collections/...
TIL that sometime in the past couple of years, Apple fixed their “English (Canada)” keyboard setting on iOS devices so it actually spellchecks for Canadian English. Last time I tried it, it just pretended it was the same as UK English spelling. Rise up and change your keyboard settings today! 🇨🇦 ⌨️
August 24, 2026 at 1:21 PM
TIL that sometime in the past couple of years, Apple fixed their “English (Canada)” keyboard setting on iOS devices so it actually spellchecks for Canadian English. Last time I tried it, it just pretended it was the same as UK English spelling. Rise up and change your keyboard settings today! 🇨🇦 ⌨️
At Bar Piquette a few days ago. Fresh Ontario peaches, stracciatella and anchovies. 😋
August 23, 2026 at 1:44 PM
At Bar Piquette a few days ago. Fresh Ontario peaches, stracciatella and anchovies. 😋
Loving the rain, while I sit on my (covered) balcony with a cold bevvie and cook dinner on the bbq, watching the lightning and noting that the plants along the railing are being watered without my effort. Plus the upstairs neighbours’ balcony party just got a lot quieter.
August 22, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Loving the rain, while I sit on my (covered) balcony with a cold bevvie and cook dinner on the bbq, watching the lightning and noting that the plants along the railing are being watered without my effort. Plus the upstairs neighbours’ balcony party just got a lot quieter.
Oh yeah. Not just for the sake of the Québécois, but for all of us in the ROC who love that Quebec is part of us.
I really can’t get over what a rookie mistake it is to look the Government of Canada in the eye and say “We’re gonna need you to piss off Quebec.”
August 22, 2026 at 10:39 PM
Oh yeah. Not just for the sake of the Québécois, but for all of us in the ROC who love that Quebec is part of us.
Afternoon refreshments at Bandit Brewery
August 15, 2026 at 11:56 PM
Afternoon refreshments at Bandit Brewery
I responded on the shitty question framing (albeit in more polite language), and how it could impact responses. In spite of this, there was ample space to express my views on the issues. Hopefully they will listen if enough people get past the bad question and just put their thoughts there.
@mark-carney.bsky.social this so-called public consultation breaks every rule of balanced polling the main question lists all so-called benefits and none of the detriments. It is a biased push-poll. I expected better form this government
June 9, 2026 at 3:14 PM
I responded on the shitty question framing (albeit in more polite language), and how it could impact responses. In spite of this, there was ample space to express my views on the issues. Hopefully they will listen if enough people get past the bad question and just put their thoughts there.
Reposted by Sandy Kemsley
So, you didn't get the long form census? Same. 😡
That's why I've made The Long Form Census We All Wanted.
It asks the REAL questions that Statistics Canada was too afraid to!
70+ questions across 9 categories.
And yes, I will publish the full results.
✅ Take it now at census.todmaffin.com
That's why I've made The Long Form Census We All Wanted.
It asks the REAL questions that Statistics Canada was too afraid to!
70+ questions across 9 categories.
And yes, I will publish the full results.
✅ Take it now at census.todmaffin.com
May 13, 2026 at 8:30 PM
So, you didn't get the long form census? Same. 😡
That's why I've made The Long Form Census We All Wanted.
It asks the REAL questions that Statistics Canada was too afraid to!
70+ questions across 9 categories.
And yes, I will publish the full results.
✅ Take it now at census.todmaffin.com
That's why I've made The Long Form Census We All Wanted.
It asks the REAL questions that Statistics Canada was too afraid to!
70+ questions across 9 categories.
And yes, I will publish the full results.
✅ Take it now at census.todmaffin.com
Reposted by Sandy Kemsley
NEW: That didn’t take long. It looks like freedom of information requests relating to ministers and their offices are already being knocked back by some FOI departments really only hours after the budget received royal assent. #OnPoli
April 25, 2026 at 9:23 PM
NEW: That didn’t take long. It looks like freedom of information requests relating to ministers and their offices are already being knocked back by some FOI departments really only hours after the budget received royal assent. #OnPoli
Spotted: a reclusive two-legged utility box
April 24, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Spotted: a reclusive two-legged utility box
Every once in a while, you see a rare indoor #DinoGarden
April 23, 2026 at 2:29 AM
Every once in a while, you see a rare indoor #DinoGarden
Garage door mural of cat with third eye chakra #StreetArt
April 20, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Garage door mural of cat with third eye chakra #StreetArt
A rare late-spring sighting of a #HockeyGarden sprouting! With the Leafs out of the playoffs, usually these winter-hardy buds wither away.
April 19, 2026 at 7:47 PM
A rare late-spring sighting of a #HockeyGarden sprouting! With the Leafs out of the playoffs, usually these winter-hardy buds wither away.
Dinosaur in tree. Part of my #DinoGarden series.
April 19, 2026 at 2:28 AM
Dinosaur in tree. Part of my #DinoGarden series.
Garage door Mandalorian
April 13, 2026 at 1:24 AM
Garage door Mandalorian
Spring has officially arrived: local dinosaur garden
April 12, 2026 at 2:58 AM
Spring has officially arrived: local dinosaur garden
Be afraid. Be very afraid. #CobraChicken
April 9, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Be afraid. Be very afraid. #CobraChicken
February 27, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Reposted by Sandy Kemsley
he’s so close to getting it
February 22, 2026 at 12:52 AM
he’s so close to getting it
