Writes about music, books and politics. https://linktr.ee/richieassalyhttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mriblosb7c2cTake some time to read this if you haven’t yet, or bookmark it for later https://www.equator.org/articles/moral-stupidity-gaza-palestine-abdaljawad-omar25 Jul 2026 16:21 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mriblosb7c2chttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mri3ushfck2kWhen Odysseus hears the Siren’s Song25 Jul 2026 14:39 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mri3ushfck2khttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mrayqvrxak2bThe Israeli military has killed 568 soccer players, coaches and officials since Oct. 2023. Meanwhile, six clubs in the Israeli Football Association are based in illegal West Bank settlements. Organizers are calling out FIFA's hypocrisy and inaction. https://www.thegrindmag.ca/resistance-through-sport-behind-the-scenes-of-torontos-palestinian-football-exhibition/22 Jul 2026 18:55 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrayqvrxak2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mr663ges7s2zForget Ossington or Dundas West, all the cool kids are hanging out in York this summer. New in The Grind, a handy guide for eating and drinking your way through Oakwood Village, via @bodybuzzrecs.bsky.social @thegrindto.bsky.social https://www.thegrindmag.ca/?p=644721 Jul 2026 15:52 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr663ges7s2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mr46tq4zs22rHelped produce this interview with Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi. Lotta interesting stuff in here, give it a listen [contains quote post or other embedded content]20 Jul 2026 21:00 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr46tq4zs22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mqzlw5lxek24Not on my bingo card19 Jul 2026 20:16 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqzlw5lxek24https://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mqzgkimqq224Ten years after Honest Ed’s closed, its scrappy neighbour PRICE WAR is calling it quits. Sad times19 Jul 2026 18:40 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqzgkimqq224https://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mqrvinds6c2eAs the country burns, Carney writes a $2 billion cheque for a subsidiary of an American-owned military company to build 190 armoured combat vehicles. https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/mark-carney-names-ontario-defence-company-as-strategic-partner-awards-nearly-2b-contract/article_a405cbd7-8a8a-4231-a1c5-fbd9562730a1.html16 Jul 2026 18:46 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqrvinds6c2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mqmyu257ec2pReviewed the phenomenal new record from Kelala, one of pop’s most exhilarating experimentalists. @exclaimdotca.bsky.social https://exclaim.ca/music/article/kelela-new-avatar-album-review14 Jul 2026 20:03 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqmyu257ec2phttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mqmyu257ec2pReviewed the phenomenal new record from Kelala, one of pop’s most exhilarating experimentalists. @exclaimdotca.bsky.social https://exclaim.ca/music/article/kelela-new-avatar-album-review14 Jul 2026 20:03 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqmyu257ec2phttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mqmv67upfs2i [contains quote post or other embedded content]14 Jul 2026 18:57 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqmv67upfs2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mqmut4q5fc2iI don’t wanna live like this14 Jul 2026 18:51 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqmut4q5fc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mqfddampa22oBluesky humour ⬇️ [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 Jul 2026 18:49 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqfddampa22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mqf75rdx2c2hFor the Toronto Star, I spoke to some record shop owners “the second vinyl revival,” a trend largely driven by young people who are tired of streaming. “We’re definitely seeing a technological backlash taking place,” one owner told me. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/best-record-stores/article_9f16ad72-c0b9-4334-a95a-ff4505173689.html11 Jul 2026 17:35 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqf75rdx2c2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mqcrdttxbs2aToronto's best Nepali food is at Lali Gurans, a mom-and-pop restaurant and community hub in Parkdale. I went behind the scenes for the @westendphoenix.bsky.social https://www.westendphoenix.com/stories/todays-special-samay-baji10 Jul 2026 18:22 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqcrdttxbs2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mq5bfn46622nAlso killed two boys, 8 and 10, and their taxi driver [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Jul 2026 13:54 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq5bfn46622nhttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mq2zgcmdxs25“I cannot think of another country that stands so firmly on the wrong side of international law, yet continues to enjoy normal relationships with Canada,” —Professor Michael Lynk [contains quote post or other embedded content]07 Jul 2026 16:25 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq2zgcmdxs25https://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mpwlcjbsrc2mI’m an eighth Norwegian. Time to lean into it05 Jul 2026 22:02 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpwlcjbsrc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mpljr5afxs2aAnd scapegoating immigrants/refugees [contains quote post or other embedded content]01 Jul 2026 12:35 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpljr5afxs2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mpjrdcid7c2tWHAT IT DO BABY30 Jun 2026 19:45 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpjrdcid7c2thttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mpi2meoiqk2yMark Carney can prance around in Canada jersey all he wants but until he gives us a national holiday I’m not buying it [contains quote post or other embedded content]30 Jun 2026 03:26 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpi2meoiqk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mphnniwy7c2sMOOD29 Jun 2026 23:34 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mphnniwy7c2shttps://bsky.app/profile/rdassaly.bsky.social/post/3mpgytxgykk2cCompletely uncontroversial list of the Top 25 Toronto Songs in the Star last weekend. I blurbed songs by Drake, The Weeknd, Mustafa, Suakrates and Charlotte Cornfield. https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/these-are-the-25-greatest-toronto-songs-of-all-time/article_35bb5b6f-80f0-4409-aca2-640c21bd3714.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=copy-link&utm_campaign=user-share29 Jun 2026 17:22 +0000at://did:plc:lfn2ztey2o7rr537s3jqg7a2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpgytxgykk2c