Can you now get elected without social media?

An ex-journalist will try finding out

BetaKit @BetaKit

OneEleven’s former ED Siri Agrell explains why she’s embracing tech (but not Twitter) in her run for public office #TOpoli

betakit.comSiri Agrell explains why she’s embracing tech (but not Twitter) in her run for public officeSiri Agrell, OneEleven’s former ED who worked in the offices of John Tory and Kathleen Wynne, explains why she nixed social media for her political campaign.

Former journalist Siri Agrell has deactivated social media as she starts campaigning to become a Toronto city councillor in Parkdale–High Park against Gord Perks, who’s held a local seat since 2006. Agrell, who previously worked as an adviser to John Tory, logged off after getting snagged into a Twitter complaint.

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The 777 days of emergency

John Tory @TorontosMayor

Today, we terminated Toronto's Emergency Declaration - marking a major milestone in our pandemic response. I want to thank @epdevilla, @ChiefPeggTFS, City Manager Chris Murray for their leadership well as City staff and #TeamToronto for their dedication to serving Torontonians.

The history of Toronto will show a lucky triple number as the length of the municipal state of emergency that allowed the city to reassign staffers where needed during the pandemic. Now, the focus on getting past this phase has shifted to Canadian airports, where long lines and flight delays are the new signs of struggle.

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“The visible stonework, wooden door, and the stainless-steel door hinges and coat hook on the back of that door, which is part of the long side of the stall, all looked quite familiar.” Conservative house leader John Brassard described how he deduced Liberal MP Shafqat Ali was participating in parliament from a washroom stall. Ali apologized for his lapse in judgement in not going off camera.

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Facebook’s fight for a future

New insider scoop from Meta reveals a rethink of news partnerships in favour of a renewed focus on short-form videos à la TikTok. Last week, Facebook’s hardball with Australia over being forced to pay for those links was exposed by whistleblowers. Great Britain could be next to institute internet laws that everyday Canadians allegedly appreciate the arrival of:

Jesse Brown @JesseBrown

This is a misleading headline that could have been written by the Heritage Ministry. The fact that Canadians support greater regulation of the Internet ≠ support for the government's plan to do so. The Globe is misrepresenting its own poll.

theglobeandmail.comMajority of Canadians support federal government’s plan to regulate internet, poll showsA Nanos Research poll commissioned by The Globe and Mail found that 55 per cent of Canadians support or somewhat support greater government regulation of the internet

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Gerald Hannon dead at 77. Hannon wrote a 1977 piece about pedophilia that landed Toronto gay liberation journal The Body Politic in court, only to end up acquitted on free-speech grounds. He went on to be published in more mainstream outlets and teach journalism at Ryerson University, while making headlines of his own for moonlighting as a sex worker.

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Finally, the long tail of Dogstar

Keanu Reeves: Most Triumphant is a new effort to explain the meaning of Keanu Reeves, by culture critic Alex Pappademas. Their connection was initiated with a 2019 cover story interview for GQ, but the book appears to dive deeper into idiosyncrasies, like that time Reeves played the role of an anonymous bassist in an absolutely awful grunge act:

ABRAMS Books @ABRAMSbooks

In an exclusive @GQMagazine excerpt from the new book KEANU REEVES: MOST TRIUMPHANT, author @PAPPADEMAS traces the origins of Reeves' '90s rock band, Dogstar.

bit.lyThe True Story of Dogstar, Keanu Reeves’ Mediocre ’90s Rock Band That Toured the WorldAlex Pappademas traces the origins of an LA band that somehow ended up opening for Weezer and David Bowie—and wasn’t even the only band named Dogstar in town.