"Spotify cracks down on AI-generated music.

The music industry is pushing back against the rise of AI-generated tracks, and Spotify is taking action. The streaming giant has removed millions of songs it considers 'AI slop,' as it looks to protect human artists.

… The pushback comes amid multiple lawsuits and growing legal action from major artists and music companies over AI-generated content."

Me: still skeptical, but … ok.

https://nowtoronto.com/culture/spotify-cracks-down-ai-generated-music-protect-artists-alan-cross/

#noAI

"Over 2/3 of Major Ontario Laws Passed Without the Support of Parties Representing Most Voters.

… First-Past-The-Post … enables governments to push hyper-targeted policies that often penalize opposition ridings.

Ex:

▪ Mandating the removal of bike lanes in downtown Toronto.

▪ Expropriating City Land for Billy Bishop Airport.

▪ The $100-Billion Highway 401 Tunnel.

▪ Students Plan Walkout Over OSAP Cuts Pushed by False Majority.

- FairVoteCanada

https://www.fairvote.ca/06/09/2026/over-2-3-of-major-ontario-laws-passed-without-the-support-of-parties-representing-most-voters/

#electoralReform

Below is a passionate response to yesterday's Alberta, Canada separation referundum that I didn't know I needed to see.

And the current, unofficial results are here:
https://results.elections.ab.ca/8400
(Official results must be published by late Wednesday night, fyi).

Separation is No. But I'm so disappointed that the many anti-immigrant questions were all Yes. 😥

Thanks, @jpaskaruk. https://growers.social/@jpaskaruk/117472885021586964
#ABpoli #cdnPoli #cdnPolitics

I was just wondering: how can I tell if my mail-in ballot for the #Toronto municipal election has been received?

FYI: Apparently, on election day, the poll's list should show me as "voted" … and if it doesn't, I can vote then.

Which is easy: my polling place is in our building's recreation room! 🙌 #TOpoli

FYI: 8pm local.

It will be 10pm in Toronto when the #Alberta polls close. #ABpoli

It's back! #Toronto: there are four #TorontoHenge events each year …

Feb 15 (+) sunset 5:48pm
Apr 19 (+) sunrise 6:28am
Aug 23 (–) sunrise 6:31am

➔ Oct 25 (–) sunset 6:18pm
➔ good pics for a week before

(+) good pics for a week after
(–) good pics for a week before

#photography

I just read that N Y has now banned "neonic" seed coatings (which harm pollinators). They are the first state to do so. (This is already banned in the EU, apparently).

@Karen5Lund https://mastodon.social/@Karen5Lund/116975606704769643

Canadian friends: if you are seeing that joyful Special Olympics streaming ad, I want you to know that the actors in it are all real people, with disabilities. The tall guy is a friend of my family. He did a great job! 🙌

🎉 Pete Fry to become Vancouver's 1st Green mayor, CBC News projects | CBC News

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/pete-fry-vancouver-green-mayor-9.7385492

#BCpoli #cdnPoli #cdnPolitics

Whole bunch of (no-kings supporter) accounts blocked today on BlueSky, too … today being #noKings day.

Not suspicious at all.
https://mstdn.social/@DemocracyMattersALot/117458766804642676
#usPol #censorship

Another to bookmark for your friends & fam who'll panic on election eve & bemoan a lack of good info!

"Candidate Tracker: Toronto Election 2026

reported, fact-checked biographies & platform summaries for every candidate running in the 2026 #Toronto municipal election. No AI, no campaign talking points, just a team of journalists double-checking candidate records & analyzing policies."

➔ Follow @thelocal & GOTV!
https://thelocal.to/candidate-tracker-toronto-2026/ #TOpoli #noAI

🤦‍♀️ I immediately imagined Bloor St, with no bike lanes, but jammed up with stupid Waymo taxis, blocking traffic and bumbling around. Yeah … so much better. #not 😡

(And our snow removal is so slow, so bad ... oh, this is gonna be a s***show, come February! 🙎‍♀️ )
https://mastodon.world/@TrueNorthSpice/117456089080580422
#Toronto #ONpoli #TOpoli

"Housing is central to health … #Toronto has … 5,271 units under construction and now builds dwellings for homeless patients who heavily use the ER.

… the impact of … elections [shows] in our emergency response times. Before 2023, it took up to 26 min. for a police response. Today, it’s 12 min. 911 operators used to take up to 2 min. (& sometimes 12). This interval is now 3 seconds, due to a targeted emergency services hiring blitz."
#TOpoli

#giftArticle https://www.thestar.com/gift-redeem?t=39d84367-2f05-4d4f-a2a5-012d3f4dc55f

I decided to mostly* retire this year. That brings various complications, but I must say, this whole "more time to read" thing ROCKS! 📚🤭 #bookstodon

* "mostly" = I won't compete with chatGPT for client attention. But I still happily coach every one who finds me! And I still offer one free hour, just ask. (Here's hoping the bubble bursts soon. I'll be here to help pick up the pieces, with a deeply compassionate, human touch … )
#IFScoach #lifeCoach #iLoveMyJob #noAI

I applaud the EU leveling the mail-order playing field.

But, for now, the person I spoke to at Canada Post said, we cannot ship packages by mail from Canada to Germany (& several other EU countries). FYI.

Thx @Javensbukan https://cosocial.ca/@Javensbukan/117447357461718011

Declassified Report Shows How CIA Resettled Nazis In Canada

From The Maple:
https://www.readthemaple.com/declassified-report-shows-how-cia-resettled-nazis-in-canada/

#Toronto #ONpoli #cdnPoli

So, the municipal election, and …

"Then comes the awful truth: your municipality doesn’t in fact have authority to do these things … Or rather, a higher power has the authority to undo them. Any of them.

… you did not vote for the politician now meddling in city decisions … [but] he threatens to dismantle much of what your councillors were elected to do—& it’s all perfectly legal."

Doug Ford vs. Toronto
https://thelocal.to/toronto-city-council-vs-doug-ford/

I'm generally disturbed by the tone of #gambling ads I see. But this is so much more blatant.

"Advertising like Sydney Sweeney’s Novig campaign teach women to see themselves as objects."
https://theconversation.com/advertising-like-sydney-sweeneys-novig-campaign-teach-women-to-see-themselves-as-objects-292329

#Toronto or Canada folks who mask: 😷

I have 10 child-sized kn95 masks to give away, due to a slip when I ordered. They are gray, so less obtrusive. Also very breathable (they are Breatheteq XS from CanadaStrong).
https://canadastrong.ca/collections/breatheteq-easy-breathing-kn95-made-in-canada-95-pfe

It's amazing how much easier it is to wear a mask that fits well!

Everyone masks at some time, right? When visiting Grandma, maybe?

If you'd use these, or give them to s'one who'd use, I'll mail to you for free in Canada. Or for postage cost, outside Canada.

Over the past decade, rents in Spain have almost doubled, while wages have not. Rent is estimated to constitute almost 99% of a young (under 30) person's salary.

Citizens have had enough. The eviction of an 87 year old pensioner, nicknamed Maricarmen, has become a tipping point. Folks took to the streets demanding action on housing.

So the Prime Minister called a snap election.

(Short narrated video from the CBC)
https://youtube.com/shorts/4Rpgof79y_M?si=vA60Xb6BCsK8fBkU
#housingCrisis #spain #espana