iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

My 9 albums, background in the alt text. my9albums.org I guess these are worth the tinnitus......

To Explain, with one notable exception (The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars) all these albums came into my life in a 3-to-4-year period. I’m a bored teenager at boarding school, my parents are overseas, so I never get to go away at weekends and there was fuck all to do weekends when I wasn’t playing Rugby. But I had a Sharp GF9191 which had phono inputs and a built-in phono stage, so I attached a turntable and got lost in these Albums over a three-to-four-year period. There were others, but these stood out as the ones I bought rather than borrowed. Every intro and every line is locked in my memory.

Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet

The Jam – All Mod Cons

Rufus ft. Chaka Khan – Ask Rufus

Blondie - Parallel Lines

The Police - Outlandos dÁmour

Elvis Costello – This Year’s Model

Joy Division – Closer

King Crimson – Discipline

I bought Ziggy before I had a record player Starman was already locked in my memory from my early childhood it just sounded like nothing on the radio at the time when it first came out.

As for the Boom Box well that’s another story…… someone bought it off my Mum in 2005..wtf?

81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

That competition already exists between some supermarket brands does not logically lead to the conclusion that restructuring cannot increase competition further. This is a non sequitur existing competition and increased future competition are not mutually exclusive. The review does not address this.

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

From the report: We don't know what they did in detail but we're gonna guess anyway.

MBIE released only the results and underlying methodology reported by Sense
Partners, with insufficient detail to allow the modelling to be replicated and its
sensitivity to key assumptions explored. Our review is therefore preliminary and
confined to what can be gleaned from the numbers as reported.

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Illusory #undulating pavement Customs St West #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa #BlueSkyArtShow Our perception is dominated by light & shade. Our eyes eyes have 20x more rods (shade) than cones (colour). The brain processes edges separately to shade, hence the illusion, which is undone by motion.

3:2, #Monochrome, Landscape: A #blackandwhite #street #photograph looking down at a paved sidewalk, shot from a low, oblique angle. The paving stones are laid in straight, rectangular rows, but broad curved bands of light and shadow sweep diagonally across them, creating a striking optical illusion: the flat, straight-edged pavers appear to ripple and undulate, as if the ground itself were bowed or wave-like rather than flat. Fine texture and grain in the stone are picked out clearly by the light, along with visible joint lines and a couple of small drainage grates set into the paving. In the upper right, a pair of legs and feet in dark trousers and shoes are cropped at the top of the frame, mid-stride. Their long shadow stretches diagonally across the pavement toward the lower left, alongside a second, rounder shadow further up the frame suggesting another figure or object just out of view, possibly carrying something overhead. On the right edge, a metal grate or drain cover with fine parallel slats is partially visible, along with a faint reflection in a glossy strip of pavement. The overall effect is stark and graphic, with deep black shadow shapes, bright sunlit stone, and the illusion of a rolling, uneven surface produced entirely by the interplay of light and shade.

#Nikon #nz #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa #BlueSkyArtShow #Undulating

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Just putting this out there... Vote early vote often Ruru!

A picture of morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae) aka Ruru a small brown owl native to Aotearoa. Shot in my suburban yard last year.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morepork

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Date yourself with a snap of your first compute.

Picture of a Honeywell 6000 series mainframe from late 1970's

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Ramp and wrapper, Te Waihorotiu Station, Wellesley Street West, #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa #BlueSkyArtShow #Minimal

3:2, #Monochrome, Landscape: A #blackandwhite photograph shows an urban walkway viewed from an elevated diagonal angle, creating a strong sense of geometry and depth. The ground is paved with rectangular tiles arranged in alternating light and dark shades, forming a repeating grid pattern that stretches across the frame. On the right side, a tall wall made of large rectangular panels runs parallel to the walkway. Each panel is illuminated by a small wall mounted light fixture, spaced evenly along the wall. These lights cast soft pools of downward light, creating a rhythmic sequence of bright ovals against the otherwise dark surface.
Near the bottom centre of the image, a discarded wrapper sits on the tiled ground. Its presence is subtle but distinct, adding a point of life within the otherwise stark architectural scene. The surrounding areas fall into shadow, emphasizing the contrast between the illuminated wall, the patterned tiles, and the solitary item. The overall mood is quiet and #minimal, defined by strong lines, repeating shapes, and the interplay of light and shadow.

#Nikon #nz #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa #BlueSkyArtShow #Minimal

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Would somewhere be the same place I shot this from? I've always considered it one of the shore's special places. It's quite something to see how many gather there to watch the sun go down.

3:2, #Monochrome, Portrait: A #blackandwhite silhouetted sailboat sits docked beside a wooden pier during sunset, with the sky separated by low cloud above and a clear horizon below providing a soft graduation down to the horizon. The boat’s tall twin masts rise sharply into the sky, and its rigging lines form a delicate web of thin diagonal strokes against the backdrop. The water is calm, gently reflecting the warm light and creating a subtle shimmer around the boat’s dark outline.
To the right, several people stand spaced along the pier, all rendered as dark silhouettes. A few hold long fishing rods angled outward over the water, their lines barely visible. Their postures are relaxed, suggesting quiet concentration or casual conversation. The pier itself stretches horizontally across the frame, anchoring the composition on the right and contrasting with the vertical lines of the masts.
In the distance, low landforms appear as faint, dark shapes along the horizon, adding depth without distracting from the central silhouettes. The overall mood is peaceful and contemplative, defined by the strong contrast between the dark foreground figures and the softly illuminated sky. To those that know it this is one of the North Shore’s special places.
#Nikon #nz #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa #Boats #Sunset

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Not quite #Summer light as we are coming out of winter here in #Aotearoa but..... Light through sculptural detail off Waikokota Lane #Auckland with a #hattip to the late Jay Maisel. #Photography #BlueSkyArtShow

3:2, #Colour, Portrait: A #color photograph shows a narrow architectural corridor with a tall decorative metal panel on the right side. The panel is dark and intricately patterned with swirling, cut out shapes that resemble #koru in keeping with #aotearoa 9. Soft light filters through glass panels in the background on the left, creating glowing highlights that contrast with the deep shadows in the foreground. The glass surfaces have a faint texture and appear layered, adding depth behind the metalwork. The corridor itself feels enclosed and vertical, with the ornate panel dominating the right half of the frame while the illuminated glass creates a lighter, airy counterbalance on the left. The overall mood is quiet and atmospheric, emphasizing the interplay of shadow, filtered light, and the craftsmanship of the decorative metal design.

#Nikon #nz #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa #BlueSkyArtShow

#Summer

Not quite #Summer light as we are coming out of winter here in #Aotearoa but.....

Light through sculptural detail off Waikokota Lane #Auckland with a #hattip to the late Jay Maisel.

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

No cheating. Share the last picture of the sky from your camera roll #Photography #Aotearoa

3:2, #Monochrome, Portrait: 3:2, #Monochrome, Portrait: A high-contrast #BlackandWhite photograph dominated by sky. The bright sun sits near the upper-left corner, sending visible rays across the frame and illuminating scattered clouds with strong highlights. In the lower-right, a basketball backboard and hoop appear as a dark silhouette: the rectangular backboard, circular rim, and supporting pole are clearly defined but show other detail. The composition uses large negative space to emphasize scale and light, creating a minimalist, dramatic mood where the small, grounded hoop contrasts with the vast, luminous sky.

#Nikon #nz #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

#Chaos gives me hope in photography. In a fixed spot, within a rigid framework, chaos demands that nothing is quite the same; light and people mean every visit can yield another chance, a better frame. Walkway, Jellicoe St. #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa #BlueSkyArtShow

3:2, #Colour, Portrait: A modern atrium seen from the exterior of a multi-level glass enclosure: the structure is a grid of steel beams and large rectangular glass panels that reflect light and create repeating geometric patterns. Three people appear only as dark silhouettes against a bright blue background one person walks alone on an upper walkway near the top left of the frame, and two others walk on a lower level toward the right; none show facial features or clothing details. Strong diagonal and horizontal lines formed by the metal supports lead the eye through the image and emphasize vertical depth and scale. The overall mood is architectural and cinematic, with high contrast between the luminous blue behind the glass and the near-black figures and subtle reflections on the glass adding layered visual texture.
Why chaos?

Chaos gives me hope for photography; knowing that no matter how rigid or fixed the system, variability will emerge. It means that I could stand in the same spot at the same time every day and there would always be the possibility of a different better shot. I’ve taken many shots from this spot this is my best so far.

#Nikon #nz #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa #BlueSkyArtShow #Chaos #Color

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Wynyard footbridge reflected in the #water of Karanga Plaza Harbour (Browny's) Waterfront Pool #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa #BlueSkyArtShow

3:2, #Monochrome, Portrait: A #blackandwhite #night time view of a modern cable-stayed pedestrian bridge seen from near one end, the bridge stretching away toward a central mast. A single tall mast rises above the deck and a fan of tension cables radiates down to the walkway, forming a geometric, spoke-like pattern. Bright artificial lights line the bridge and nearby buildings, creating strong highlights that reflect as elongated, mirror-like streaks on the calm #water beneath. The bridge’s metal railings and structural lines create repeating verticals and diagonals that lead the eye toward a distant vanishing point. A low building sits beside the bridge and a lit sign on its facade reads TRADUCY, providing a human-scale reference. Concrete piers and support elements are visible where the structure meets the water. The overall mood is high-contrast and architectural, with sharp light against deep shadow and a clear sense of depth and symmetry.
#Nikon #nz #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa #Urban #BlueSkyArtShow #Water

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Name a yahoo and numpty you'd rather have at the cabinet table than Luxon?

Burgess Meredith as "The Penguin" and Cesar Romero as "The Joker" in the 1960's version of Batman

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Post your last two brain cells

Two Jaegers fighting in Pacific Rim: Uprising

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Share a TV show you love from the 1960s. 📺 (if you feel like it)

Title panel from the 1969 TV Series Randall & Hopkirk Deceased. As a kid I remember laughing so so much at the psychiatrist/hypnosis episode and the fight directed by Marty in a dodgy German accent.

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

My anticipated fashion look for the apocalypse. What's yours?

Noel Coward in "We Were Dancing" from Coward's Tonight at 8:30

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Mostly for this Pink and White combo as well as what follows>

Jack Nicholson as Daryl Van Horne aka. The Devil in a Pink and White combo in The Witches of Eastwick

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Without stating your age post your favourite film released the year you turned 18.

A still from The Draughtsman's Contract by Peter Greenaway here we see three 17c fops in various states of feigned surprise and amusement.

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Transition, Commercial Bay Arcade, Queen Street #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa

1:1, #Monochrome: A #BlackandWhite indoor shot of a person walk stepping into a contrasty, textured, futuristic corridor with metallic textured walls illuminated by vertical light strips. A bright “LIFT” sign glows in the background, contrasting with the dark, atmospheric surroundings. The right-hand side of the shot is in fact a reflection of the feature wall opposite, so I got a nice angle and immersive texture. Then I had to wait, it was late evening close to closing, and this was the only person I got for the shot. Which as you can see was quite fortunate.
#Nikon #nz #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa #Urban

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

I guess not that #odd in the scheme of things, but the cart is a very long way from home. Supermarket trolley, McFetridge Park, #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa #BlueSkyArtShow

16:9, #Monochrome, Landscape: A #BlackandWhite #night time #photograph shows a single empty shopping cart sitting on a patch of short grass in the foreground. The cart faces slightly to the right, its metal frame catching a faint sheen from distant lights. Behind it, several tall streetlights glow through a layer of mist or fog, creating soft halos that fade gradually into the dark sky. Their light spills across the field, illuminating patches of grass and casting faint, diffused shadows. In the background, barely visible through the haze, are the silhouettes of trees, a small shed like structure, and the rectangular outline of a soccer goal. I guess not that #odd in the scheme of things, but that cart is a long way from home.
#Nikon #nz #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa #Urban #BlueSkyArtShow #odd

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Yeah backyard gardens... talk to me about that.... In fairness we could forage for grapefruits (they're round the corner), but then we would be competing with our local avian mafia......

Picture of a verdant back yard made up of carefully curated native regeneration plants reared with care over the last decade. There's no f**cking way we are going to rip this sh*t up. Quite apart from anything else, there is now the possibility that if cleared, our yard would disappear down the hill in heavy rain.

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Last Manu of Summer? Not even close...... A Manu sequence at Karanga Plaza Harbour Pool #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa #Kikorangi

Wide, Colour, Landscape: A four-panel photographic sequence shows a person entering an outdoor swimming pool from a narrow concrete platform. All four images are framed from the same position under low, directional light. The pool water is a deep blue-green, and behind it, wide horizontal stone steps rise across the entire background, creating layered bands of shadow and light.
In the first panel, the person is just about to make contact with the pool in a V shape, behind first, close to a pair of vertical metal pool ladders fixed to the platform. The person’s body is upright and partially silhouetted against the darker water.
In the second panel, the person has moved forward into the pool. The body is angled downward and partly submerged, and a small, bright splash forms where the body meets the water. Ripples spread outward across the pool surface.
In the third panel, the person is almost entirely below the surface. A larger splash rises vertically, forming a dense burst of pale, textured water droplets that contrast with the darker pool and background steps.
In the fourth and final panel, the person is no longer visible above the water. The splash has expanded upward and outward, filling much of the right side of the frame with fine droplets and spray. The metal ladder remains fixed and unchanged throughout the sequence, and the stone steps in the background remain empty, emphasizing the single action unfolding over time.
Last Manu of Summer? Not a chance……
New Zealand colloquial usage, a “manu” is a bomb or cannonball jump into water, done with the aim of creating the biggest possible splash.
#Nikon #nz #Auckland #Aotearoa #Photography

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

I've been using this as my meetings background for a while now.

16:9, Colour, Landscape: #Night photograph of neon signage: the word WHATEVER in glowing rainbow colours (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple) stacked above white neon WORKS and DEPOT on a dark building façade. #Nikon #nz #Auckland #Aotearoa #Urban #Photography

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81st Column @81stcolumn.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Dior providing a silhouetted #background for urban life at the bottom of Queen St. #Auckland #Photography #Aotearoa #BlueSkyArtshow

3:2, Colour, Portrait: #Night shot of a storefront window display for Dior. On the left a dressed mannequin in a brown-toned outfit holds a handbag amid stacked boxes under warm lighting; on the right a large illuminated geometric panel reads Dior in black, and a silhouetted pedestrian walks past the bright panel in the #background, creating contrast between the static luxury display and urban life. #Nikon #nz #Auckland #Aotearoa #Urban #Photography #BlueSkyArtshow #background

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