Benjamin Boles
@benjaminboles.bsky.social
I cut hair and sometimes make music. Retired music journalist.
He/they
Toronto
https://on.soundcloud.com/z1Wx4
He/they
Toronto
https://on.soundcloud.com/z1Wx4
Pinned
Benjamin Boles
@benjaminboles.bsky.social
· Nov 26
Ambient Heat
Stream Ambient Heat by benjamin boles on desktop and mobile. Play over 320 million tracks for free on SoundCloud.
m.soundcloud.com
A few months ago I decided to try making some electronic music at a much slower tempo than I’d ever worked with before. Here’s the result of those 76bpm experiments:
m.soundcloud.com/benjamin-bol...
m.soundcloud.com/benjamin-bol...
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
I’ve been running around asking tech execs and academics if language was the same as intelligence for over a year now - and, well, it isn’t. @benjaminjriley.bsky.social explains how the bubble is built on ignoring cutting-edge research into the science of thought www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
November 25, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I’ve been running around asking tech execs and academics if language was the same as intelligence for over a year now - and, well, it isn’t. @benjaminjriley.bsky.social explains how the bubble is built on ignoring cutting-edge research into the science of thought www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
So either Trump spoke to Bolsonaro about plotting to escape to the US right before the latter got caught trying to saw off his ankle monitor, or Trump imagined a conversation he didn’t have. Both scenarios are incredibly dark
An amazing new Trump controversy, Part II of II:
- Saturday afternoon: Trump says he spoke to Bolsonaro the night before and planned to see him “in the very near future”
- Monday afternoon: The Trump White House isn’t sure whether Trump actually had the conversation he referenced two days earlier
- Saturday afternoon: Trump says he spoke to Bolsonaro the night before and planned to see him “in the very near future”
- Monday afternoon: The Trump White House isn’t sure whether Trump actually had the conversation he referenced two days earlier
White House hedges on Trump’s curious claim about his call with Brazil’s Bolsonaro White House hedges on Trump’s curious claim about his call with Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro
Did the Republican president talk to Bolsonaro as the Brazilian plotted to escape? Trump said yes, but the White House isn’t so sure.
www.ms.now
November 25, 2025 at 7:28 PM
So either Trump spoke to Bolsonaro about plotting to escape to the US right before the latter got caught trying to saw off his ankle monitor, or Trump imagined a conversation he didn’t have. Both scenarios are incredibly dark
Every advertisement for cold and flu meds are basically encouraging people to be super spreaders, and it makes me insane every time I see one.
November 25, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Every advertisement for cold and flu meds are basically encouraging people to be super spreaders, and it makes me insane every time I see one.
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
When I realized that I’m like the god of my gut microbiome, I started eating in mysterious ways
November 25, 2025 at 3:06 AM
When I realized that I’m like the god of my gut microbiome, I started eating in mysterious ways
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
“let me invite Isaac Chotiner to investigate this further, I’m sure it’ll go well”
you gotta read these things back before you hit post man what are you doing
you gotta read these things back before you hit post man what are you doing
A new kind of rapid Chotining. Please appreciate the alt-text.
November 25, 2025 at 1:40 AM
“let me invite Isaac Chotiner to investigate this further, I’m sure it’ll go well”
you gotta read these things back before you hit post man what are you doing
you gotta read these things back before you hit post man what are you doing
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
maybe i am going insane
November 24, 2025 at 6:49 PM
maybe i am going insane
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
lol this rocks
taking my children to see the nativity mural painted on the olde drugstore facade downtown and accidentally giving them PTSD from a hieronymous bosch version of rudolph getting eaten by elves
taking my children to see the nativity mural painted on the olde drugstore facade downtown and accidentally giving them PTSD from a hieronymous bosch version of rudolph getting eaten by elves
November 24, 2025 at 10:15 PM
lol this rocks
taking my children to see the nativity mural painted on the olde drugstore facade downtown and accidentally giving them PTSD from a hieronymous bosch version of rudolph getting eaten by elves
taking my children to see the nativity mural painted on the olde drugstore facade downtown and accidentally giving them PTSD from a hieronymous bosch version of rudolph getting eaten by elves
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
Dear City of Toronto,
Just do whatever you want. If Doug wants to pout and cry, let him. Go to court. Run it to the Supreme Court. Make it a constitutional challenge. I don’t care anymore, this system ain’t working for anyone but a select few rich people.
Just do whatever you want. If Doug wants to pout and cry, let him. Go to court. Run it to the Supreme Court. Make it a constitutional challenge. I don’t care anymore, this system ain’t working for anyone but a select few rich people.
November 24, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Dear City of Toronto,
Just do whatever you want. If Doug wants to pout and cry, let him. Go to court. Run it to the Supreme Court. Make it a constitutional challenge. I don’t care anymore, this system ain’t working for anyone but a select few rich people.
Just do whatever you want. If Doug wants to pout and cry, let him. Go to court. Run it to the Supreme Court. Make it a constitutional challenge. I don’t care anymore, this system ain’t working for anyone but a select few rich people.
A completely predictable outcome, just like the increased death rate we are guaranteed to see next
NEW: Months after many supervised injection sites were shut down, Toronto is reporting an increase in “visible substance use on the street" and “open use of substances in public spaces.” #ToPoli #ONpoli
globalnews.ca/news/1154127...
globalnews.ca/news/1154127...
Toronto reports more visible drug use after supervised injection sites closed down - Toronto | Globalnews.ca
The City of Toronto is reporting an increase in visible drug use in the wake of the Ford government's decision to pull funding for several safe-injection sites earlier this year.
globalnews.ca
November 25, 2025 at 12:09 AM
A completely predictable outcome, just like the increased death rate we are guaranteed to see next
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
honestly really devastated that i didn’t know about the gay sheep situation
November 24, 2025 at 11:36 PM
honestly really devastated that i didn’t know about the gay sheep situation
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
A motorcycle ... with an electric motor, so it never needs fuel ... and two foldable solar panels, so it can recharge while parked, thus needing no outlet.
Effectively infinite range. Total freedom.
Effectively infinite range. Total freedom.
self-charging solar motorcycle by MASK architects frees riders from fuel and power networks
www.designboom.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:37 PM
A motorcycle ... with an electric motor, so it never needs fuel ... and two foldable solar panels, so it can recharge while parked, thus needing no outlet.
Effectively infinite range. Total freedom.
Effectively infinite range. Total freedom.
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
A sad day for cyclists. Bill 60 - which prohibits the conversion of motor vehicle lanes to bike lanes (or any other prescribed purpose) - has passed Third Reading this morning which will kill various cycling projects in Toronto & across Ontario. #shame #BikeTO #BikeSky #TOpoli #ONpoli #VisionZero
November 24, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
Former CEO of his dad's company has job search tips for the general public.
November 24, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Former CEO of his dad's company has job search tips for the general public.
I saw some posts about French and Italian espresso being bad coffee, and while those people are very wrong, it did make me think about how our ideas of how things are supposed to taste are completely shaped by our personal histories. All styles of espresso taste bad until you are used to them.
November 24, 2025 at 5:40 PM
I saw some posts about French and Italian espresso being bad coffee, and while those people are very wrong, it did make me think about how our ideas of how things are supposed to taste are completely shaped by our personal histories. All styles of espresso taste bad until you are used to them.
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
This is who Carney outsourced his innovation policy development to.
Shopify rocked by sales fraud scandal that led to ultimatums and firings - The Logic
Shopify salespeople were inflating the value of the deals they were closing. When management found out, they told staff to own up or face the consequences.
thelogic.co
November 24, 2025 at 1:40 PM
This is who Carney outsourced his innovation policy development to.
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
The next generation of magazine fact checkers is born.
Two years ago I had lunch with the dean of a department at one of Toronto’s major universities and she told me she had instructed all her profs teaching first-year classes to do exactly this. It sounded sensible and I wonder if it’s now more widely applied
November 24, 2025 at 4:08 AM
The next generation of magazine fact checkers is born.
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
do you have any idea how much you have to piss somebody off to make them change their gauge
#Finland will begin to #Russia - proof its rail network, integrate with EU train infrastructure.
The Finnish government has announced the conversion of its rail network from Russian gauge (1,524 mm) to European standard (1,435 mm).
www.trenvista.net/en/news/flas...
The Finnish government has announced the conversion of its rail network from Russian gauge (1,524 mm) to European standard (1,435 mm).
www.trenvista.net/en/news/flas...
November 23, 2025 at 4:40 PM
do you have any idea how much you have to piss somebody off to make them change their gauge
I think he meant “boxes”, right?
Bluesky, how big is your box of old cables? If you know you know.
November 24, 2025 at 2:37 AM
I think he meant “boxes”, right?
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
Same, kid. Same.
November 24, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Same, kid. Same.
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
What about a show where you see different bands play but then you cut them open and they're Cake
November 24, 2025 at 12:18 AM
What about a show where you see different bands play but then you cut them open and they're Cake
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
Today is Doctor Who Day, which honours the day that Doctor Who premiered on the BBC in 1963.
The TARDIS, The Doctor and many other aspects of the show are thanks to its co-creator, Sydney Newman of Toronto.
This is his story.
🧵 1/12
The TARDIS, The Doctor and many other aspects of the show are thanks to its co-creator, Sydney Newman of Toronto.
This is his story.
🧵 1/12
November 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Today is Doctor Who Day, which honours the day that Doctor Who premiered on the BBC in 1963.
The TARDIS, The Doctor and many other aspects of the show are thanks to its co-creator, Sydney Newman of Toronto.
This is his story.
🧵 1/12
The TARDIS, The Doctor and many other aspects of the show are thanks to its co-creator, Sydney Newman of Toronto.
This is his story.
🧵 1/12
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
This feels like one of those video game notes you find on an ancient computer in the abandoned science lab bunker
Holy shit Bannon was CEO and lived in the Biosphere. I totally forgot about that place.
November 24, 2025 at 12:17 AM
This feels like one of those video game notes you find on an ancient computer in the abandoned science lab bunker
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
hollllllllly. shit.
beautifully written piece, too, finding absolute poetry in our mad times
@nickhunebrown.bsky.social I am now a FAN
beautifully written piece, too, finding absolute poetry in our mad times
@nickhunebrown.bsky.social I am now a FAN
This is an incredible read about how one editor at a Toronto publication uncovered the fact that a prospective freelancer was a fraud who's been getting AI-generated articles published across the globe.
The kicker says a lot, too. Just give it a read. Amazing from @nickhunebrown.bsky.social.
The kicker says a lot, too. Just give it a read. Amazing from @nickhunebrown.bsky.social.
Investigating a Possible Scammer in Journalism’s AI Era | The Local
A suspicious pitch from a freelancer led editor Nicholas Hune-Brown to dig into their past work. By the end, four publications, including The Guardian and Dwell, had removed articles from their sites.
thelocal.to
November 24, 2025 at 12:53 AM
hollllllllly. shit.
beautifully written piece, too, finding absolute poetry in our mad times
@nickhunebrown.bsky.social I am now a FAN
beautifully written piece, too, finding absolute poetry in our mad times
@nickhunebrown.bsky.social I am now a FAN
Reposted by Benjamin Boles
The artist formerly known as Prince was a beta tester for the first Oregon Trail (he was in third grade at the school near the developers)
July 13, 2025 at 8:48 PM
The artist formerly known as Prince was a beta tester for the first Oregon Trail (he was in third grade at the school near the developers)