iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 30/09/2026

Neither Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, nor Apple respects you. Vivaldi respects you.

You can see the new UI’s possibilities with our new default themes, such as Zen, Soria Moria, Sunset Forest and Kawaii Clouds, and our updated light and dark themes. If you can’t find something that hits the right spot for default, there are more than 7000 to choose from at themes.vivaldi.net. And if you have built a custom theme you love, you’re free to decide if you want the new look, or keep your own (Settings →Themes → Editor → Coloring mode). Of course; this is Vivaldi.
— Jon von Tetzchner, https://vivaldi.com/blog/vivaldi-on-desktop-8-0/

Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 20/09/2026

After Fiddler and Charles couldn't explain it, I had to drag out Wireshark to figure out that Winamp's Error Syncing To Stream problem is caused by it only supporting TLSv1, which has been passé for 5 years. Frustratingly, this build's from 5 years AFTER TLSv1.2 went mainstream, so it was avoidable.

Wireshark packet capture showing TLSv1.0 Alert Level Fatal, Protocol Version

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 17/09/2026

Nvidia GeForce Driver Installer Watch: currently 991 MB, sizes are accelerating, with the Big Gig now expected in December 2027 instead of 2029 as previously predicted. x.com/Aldaviva/sta...

Nvidia GeForce driver installer file size
📈

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 17/09/2026

Biting the bullet and upgrading 3 webapps from Java 8 to 25, including 9 years of breaking major version updates and numerous package and namespace changes from the Oracle javaxpocalypse. How hard could it be? In the immortally wise words of @spatula75.bsky.social, "It'll be a one-time disaster."

106 files changed, 547 insertions(+), 756 deletions(-)

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 01/09/2026

I think the new Super Star Destroyer set is the 4th-smallest scale Lego set, at 1:11,029 scale. The only three smaller are the Death Star (1:229,062), the Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit (1:4.83e11), and The Milky Way Galaxy (1:1.37e21) if you interpret that set as the galaxy and not a painting.

Lego #75457 Executor Super Star Destroyer
https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/executor-super-star-destroyer-75457

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 23/08/2026

I can't believe we've all been tricked into posting on the UnitedxJetBlue frequent flyer social network collaboration.

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 21/08/2026

Finished Need for Speed: ProStreet, which is actually amateur track racing, ironically. The only way to win is to magically know the secret tuning parameters, but luckily people have posted setups online. Surprisingly great music, and speed challenge mode is super fun. Done with 12/22 NFS games now.

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 12/08/2026

Inventory selected to optimize friend's birthday celebratory operations. Was privileged to discuss important topics like watches and knives with the gourmand, Benchmade ambassador, and horologist-philosopher @werealltubes.bsky.social. #edc #everydaycarry #gear #loadout #minimalist #tactical

Nodus Lofold leather wallet
Racketa Kopernik watch with black alligator leather band
Keyring with house key, YubiKey, SanDisk thumbdrive, AAA LED flashlight, and tritium capsule
BMW E31 8-series key and fob
Benchmade Mini Bugout S90V with carbon fiber handle

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 05/08/2026

At least the last time Spider-Man was advertised using a car it was cool.

Britec #16 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 racecar with Spider-Man 2 livery at Le Mans
https://gt3revivalseries.com/gallery.html?filter_season_id=2&filter_meeting_id=7&filter_race_id=12&filter_text=britec

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 04/08/2026

Thankfully not; there are two autosave features in desktop Office. AutoSave™ syncs the file as you type, like Google Docs, but requires OneDrive. AutoRecover™ saves the file periodically to a backup sidecar file when not on OneDrive. Apparently it's a journal/diff. Has been around since Office 97.

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 29/07/2026

Some of my original gear from the very first days I started carrying. First analog watch from 1st grade, and first multitool from 10th grade. #edc #everydaycarry #gear #loadout #minimalist #tactical

Timex quartz analog watch in purple, yellow, blue, and black
Leatherman Wave multitool (original version) and its classic brown leather case

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 26/07/2026

My little spider friend again, sitting in its web at night, learning to be more patient as I get close to it and shine lights at it. The strands of silk refract the light from the ring flash and produce a rainbow.

Smaller spider web today, so it doesn't act as much like a sail in the wind. Mostly hung from above with no lower guy-wire strands to touch tripod legs. This lets me get closer and achieve 1:1 magnification. I most use natural or continuous light, but sometimes a ring flash is exactly what you need.

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 22/07/2026

Is there a common origin to the "ti" suffix for Nvidia and BMW model names, like RTX 5070 Ti and 2002ti? It turns out the answer is no. Nvidia started in 2001 with the GeForce2 Ti, meaning Titanium. BMW started in 1967 with the 1600ti, meaning Touring International, but Alfa Romeo used it earlier.

BMW 2002tii rear badge (the fuel-injected variant of the 2002ti) complete with round tail lights and orange paint

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 22/07/2026

So can I search or not?

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 20/07/2026

Yesterday it got spooked and fled, but today the little spider either didn't notice me or didn't care. It's frustrating how much a giant 7' web like this will catch the nonexistent, 0.2 MPH wind and constantly flap past the shallow focal field.

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 18/07/2026

Here's a cropped version to make up for the Bluesky app's shortcomings.

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 18/07/2026

This tiny little spider has decided that the best place to spin webs is directly outside my door, where I almost run face-first into them every day.

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 17/07/2026

It's exhausting to be constantly vigilant for opportunities to slice things into smaller things, copy electronic files, or read a book, but this is the burden of those of us who take the EDC pledge. #edc #everydaycarry #gear #loadout #minimalist #tactical

CRKT Drifter recurve drop-point pocket knife
Sandisk Cruzer 4GB USB thumb drive
Kobo Clara BW e-reader, showing Terry Pratchett's Men At Arms

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 11/07/2026

Had to use all of these extensively today, good thing I was prepared. Watch was a gift from my brother, box cutter came with my first Leatherman, and breath mints are safe and secure in an impregnable titanium vault. #edc #everydaycarry #gear #loadout #minimalist #tactical

Skagen Hagen watch with white dial and Milanese band
QuickBlade box cutter with extra internal blade storage
CountyComm Dual Pass Through Titanium Cache Gen2 containing spearmint Breath Savers

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 10/07/2026

Took a little while to figure out that if Bridge ≥ 16.0.4 crashes during launch on Windows 10 with the error "Entry Point Not Found" for EnumResourceNamesA, you can use CC's Other Versions dialog box to downgrade to 16.0.3. Then be sure to disable auto-updates to prevent recurrence.

$--------------------------- Adobe Bridge.exe - Entry Point Not Found --------------------------- The procedure entry point EnumResourceNamesA could not be located in the dynamic link library C:\Programs\Design\Adobe\Adobe Bridge 2026 16.0.4\Adobe Bridge.exe. --------------------------- OK ---------------------------$ Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop app → Apps → Bridge → … → Other versions → Bridge (16.0.3) → Install

Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop app → Apps → Bridge → … → Other versions → Bridge (16.0.3) → Install

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 10/07/2026

I love the design of Bauhaus-style watches. And to cover all remaining bases when choosing the ultimate Every Day Carry kit, you never know when you might need to cut something, or non-invasively measure its electrical current. #edc #everydaycarry #gear #loadout #minimalist #tactical

Junkers Bauhaus 6046-5 watch
Spyderco Tenacious pocket knife
Klein CL390 clamp multimeter

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 06/07/2026

When you ignore the gadget hype and really stop to think about it, all you really need to carry every day is a pen, a set of lockpicks, and some screwdrivers. Everything else is just superfluous. #edc #everydaycarry #gear #loadout #minimalist #tactical

Ballpoint pen that says "Without this pen your life is meaningless"
Lockpick set with three picks and a wrench
Two stubby screwdrivers, one Phillips and one flathead

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 01/07/2026

The US–Bosnia-Herzegovina World Cup match is about to start in my city, which means I've been listening to this news helicopter putter around for hours.

Red 2008 Bell 206L-4 LongRanger helicopter, presumably operated for NBC

Flight path: https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n42sl#4075636d

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 29/06/2026

Everything you need to be prepared, and nothing you don't. The number one Rule of Everyday Carry is to pick only the essentials so you don't weigh yourself down with unnecessary frivolities. #edc #everydaycarry #gear #loadout #minimalist #tactical

Google Pixel 5a
BMW key fob with classic leather keychain
Hand saw with wooden handle and interchangeable blade

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 26/06/2026

My boots are totally secure from all threats, vulnerabilities, and malicious actors.

Brown hiking boots with permutation lock

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 25/06/2026

A wallet from my grandpa. The leather is nice and thin and it's no larger than needed, unlike modern giant ones. Be the ultimate survivalist badass by taking your daily vitamins. Wharncliffe blades are cool, but this one is heavy and slippery. #edc #everydaycarry #gear #loadout #minimalist #tactical

Amity brown leather wallet
CountyComm Titanium Tube-A-Ton Gen 2 Skinny containing 7 Nature Made daily multivitamin pills
CRKT Jettison pocket knife

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 25/06/2026

99% done (86/87 championships). I figured out the secret of why TOCA 3 seems so difficult, and how to make it easier without adjusting CareerDiff in Mods.ini. You just have to not skip qualifying, because it's quick (you don't have to do all 3 laps), easy (the AI qualifies badly), and pole = win.

Championship Completed
You did it. You have completed the BMW WilliamsF1 Team Challenge. Nice Driving!

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 23/06/2026

Flora and fauna. Zeiss Apo Sonnar is an absolute monster.

Honeybee preening pollen from her head on a pomelo leaf

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 23/06/2026

One-handed watches are less weird than they seem, and this Miansai is super thin too. My primary package opening knife's Hawk Lock makes very cool clicking noises; the guy at the store described it like a spider's legs articulating. #edc #everydaycarry #gear #loadout #minimalist #tactical

Miansai M24 one-hand watch
Black Diamond Storm headlamp
Kershaw Induction pocket knife

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 22/06/2026

Now I finally have all ATS achievements again.

Achievements
You've unlocked all achievements! 130/130 (100%)

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 22/06/2026

I never thought I would be able to legitimately earn all 3 stars in 15 scenarios for an extremely difficult achievement in American Truck Simulator's Driving Academy: Truck Driving Proficiency course, but it turns out I am good enough.

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 22/06/2026

Today's kit embodies the EDC Motto: measure twice, cut once, then post online about all the essential equipment you're toting around. #edc #everydaycarry #gear #loadout #minimalist #tactical

Leatherman Skeletool CX (upgraded 150CM blade steel, onyx color)
CountyComm titanium 6"/15cm precision ruler with decimal conversion table on reverse
Blistex Triple Tropical Fruit Smoothies SPF15 lip balm (pineapple, mango, and watermelon flavor), kept safe in a CountyComm waterproof delrin 18650 battery locker

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 20/06/2026

Untangle any knots: knife, comb, marlinspike My most carried knife is a gift from my dad, the same he carries daily. Perfect size, bulletproof, the best weapon against oranges. Oar blade keychain with my initials from being crew team coxswain. #edc #everydaycarry #gear #loadout #minimalist #tactical

Victorinox Executive Swiss Army Knife, oar blade keychain with BJH initials engraved on it
Kent 4T hand-finished comb
CountyComm Knot Commander titanium marlin spike

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 18/06/2026

Today's kit is optimized to cover the four major widely-accepted Pillars of Preparation: illumination, financial, skincare, and manicure. Remember to practice preparedness every day. #edc #everydaycarry #gear #loadout #minimalist #tactical

Manker E12 2AA LED flashlight
Money clip holding some US dollars, with my initials BJH engraved on them in case I need to prove my identity
Trader Joe's SPF15 spearmint lip balm, to combat chapping and sunburn
Inox 2620 nail clipper and file

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 15/06/2026

Just the essentials: traveling light today using a slim wallet without cash because the phone has NFC payments. Every ounce matters. #edc #everydaycarry #gear #loadout #minimalist #tactical

Google Pixel 5a in Spigen Thin Fit black case
CountyComm Leather Essentialism dual pocket black leather wallet showing California driver's license
Kidde 5-B:C 3lb. dry chemical fire extinguisher

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 14/06/2026

At least someone's hobby is getting funded.

@pixelatedboat:
Guy at the CIA who loves making little models: Ive got an idea
https://x.com/pixelatedboat/status/1554334832317960192

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 14/06/2026

I am prepared for any situation because I carry this essential equipment in my pockets every day. #edc #everydaycarry #gear #loadout #minimalist #tactical

Leather bifold wallet (Nodus Lofold chestnut brown)
Keyring (CountyComm titanium split ring) with door key, YubiKey 5, SanDisk Extreme Go thumbdrive, CountyComm tritium glow fob, and UltraTac K18 AAA flashlight)
⅜" socket wrench (Husky) with 5 English sockets (1", ¾", ⅝", ⁷⁄₁₆", ¼")

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 04/06/2026

We'll redesign the context menu so you can't customize it, they said. It'll be clean and minimal instead of tall and full of third-party garbage, they said. And yet, they are actually both equally tall and crammed full of first-party garbage.

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 03/06/2026

This setting was difficult to find, but the ability to prevent Gboard from suggesting specific words from its built-in dictionary is not in Suggestions, it's actually in Privacy for some unintuitive reason. The description is wrong or misleading too.

Gboard settings → Privacy → Personalize For You

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 28/05/2026

Finished Underground 2, which introduced open world and try-hard track racing to Need for Speed but kept the selection of shitty cars and some great music. I'm 73% done with the series, and running out of NFS games worth playing.

Cingular
Incoming Mobile Message

From: Rachel
Subject: Congratulations!

Congratulations - you have completed the game! You have unlocked all performance and visual upgrades in Quick Race mode. There are no more events to complete in the world - return to your Garage to re-race any events from your Career.

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 27/05/2026

Wrong again bucko! The only people who don't think software can be rushed to market, poorly tuned, haphazardly built, or difficult to service either have never used any software in their entire lives, or are oblivious morons. Those are leadership/finance/engineering problems, not hardware problems.

It was also notorious for being rushed to market, having tuning problems, failing power supplies, being haphazardly built, and exceedingly difficult to service. Things that aren’t really an issue for software.

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 26/05/2026

288 GTO. Proof that Ferrari used to know how to design a beautiful car, especially the rear end.

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 26/05/2026

Can't forget the 250 GT's sibling, probably the most valuable car I've ever laid eyes on in real life, the 1963 250 GTO.

Red 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO Scaglietti Berlinetta, chassis 4293GT. Class winner in the 1963 24 Hours of Le Mans.

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 26/05/2026

The 1968 275 GTS/4 Scaglietti NART Spyder is super gorgeous too.

Gray 1968 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 Scaglietti NART Spyder at Pebble Beach 2017

1968 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 Scaglietti NART Spyder

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 26/05/2026

I must take advantage of this opportunity to join in on everyone shitting all over a new disgusting electric car by posting my favorite Ferrari, the 1962 250 GT Scaglietti Berlinetta.

Dark gray 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Scaglietti Berlinetta at Pebble Beach 2017

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 25/05/2026

Vivaldi continues to be the best. There's so much extension code I didn't have to write to do this. It's also the only browser that lets you customize the context menus so the TV option looks naturally integrated and not like some bolted-on nonsense at the bottom like other browsers.

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 25/05/2026

At some point Vivaldi added the ability for Command Chains to be called from the custom context menus of pages and links, and to pass those URLs in placeholders. This makes it even nicer and easier to use my self-designed self-hosted cross-platform "send any page to my TV" system, without Google BS.

Browser hyperlink context menu with "Send to Living Room TV" selected

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Ben Hutchison @aldaviva.com · 22/05/2026

CONFIDENTIAL. Not to be copied or disclosed.

Lego BMW E30 M3 with Confidential overlay, from the official public Lego website the day the set was announced. https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/bmw-m3-e30-77263?galleryOpen=true&galleryView=1&galleryTab=images

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