iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 7h

In better news, some of my work friends gave me an early birthday gift. I love cookies. I love Wonder Woman. 🙂 That said I will stress that I am not YET 50… but I won’t be able to say that any more on Saturday. 🙂

An open gift box filled with individually wrapped Wonder Woman–themed cookies rests on a blue, green, and white patchwork quilt. Three cookies displayed in front feature her gold emblem, blue boots, and red-and-blue costume. Beside the box is a birthday card decorated with roller skates that reads, “You say old, we say retro!”

A hand holds open a birthday card in front of a box of Wonder Woman cookies on a patchwork quilt. Addressed to Kurt and dated 2026, the card reads, “Happy Birthday! Hope you have an amazing day and that 50 brings all kinds of exciting adventures and wonderful memories to come, especially with us!” Signed with a heart, “Sara & Cheryl.”

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 8h

Anytime I make the mistake of reading an MMA fighter’s opinion on anything other than punching people in the face I feel dumber as a result of the experience.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I've clearly entered into my cardigan years. I should have made sure the grey shirt collar wasn't all wrinkly.

School portrait of me, bald with a neatly trimmed grey beard and black rectangular glasses, smiling slightly (I don't see the smile myself, but we shall go with it I suppose) at the camera. He wears a dark cable-knit cardigan over a light grey collared shirt against a mottled blue backdrop.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Translation: “Since I’m more convinced the referendum on whether to hold a future referendum on Alberta separation isn’t going to go the way I want, I’m not going to accept the result as legitimate.” Oh Marty… I’m not angry. I’m just very disappointed in you.

A screenshot of an X post from the verified account “Martyupnorth®- Unac…” (@Martyupnorth). The post reads: “I’m starting to think that many of you are probably right. We’re not going to be able to vote our way out of this mess.” It is timestamped 7:39 a.m. on September 21, 2026.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

1/2 Well this is certainly an interesting way to spin what was done. If the separatists have to lie, one might begin to question their integrity.

Screenshot of an X post by Jeffrey Rath (@JeffreyRWRath), dated September 24, 2026. The post reads: “ALBERTA CRISIS ALERT 🚨 MARK CARNEY IS ACTIVELY CONSIDERING WAR AGAINST THE UNITED STATES! Mark Carney is a dangerous lunatic. ALBERTA’s only salvation is to vote for Independence on October 19th.” Below the text is a link preview from Apple News with the partially visible headline, “Mark Carney says he has considered possibility of US military…” The post shows approximately 2,000 views, 22 replies, 52 reposts, 199 likes, and 1 bookmark.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

1/ In news shocking no one, the pro-separatist side released a “study” based on their research claiming that leaving Canada will result a financial windfall.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

1/2 Might be the last night of the summer that I do this in 2026.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

So, someone posted this particular piece of A.I. slop unironically. I am embarrassed for him. And also on behalf of his immediate family, his extended family, his possible descendants, and probably a good portion of his ancestors.

Screenshot of a political social-media post featuring an AI-generated campaign-style image of Pierre Poilievre in a dark suit, tie, and aviator sunglasses, posed dramatically against a stormy city skyline. Large text reads, “They whispered, Pierre can’t withstand the storm,” followed by, “Pierre whispered back, I am the storm,” with “Pierre Poilievre for Prime Minister” at the bottom. The post is captioned, “He’s the storm Carney can’t handle!” and uses Guns N’ Roses’ “Civil War” as its accompanying music.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

My eyes rolled back so far I saw both the past and the future.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

5/6 I think I very wisely opted not to make my request. It was the only time in my life that I was truly star struck. A fighter from the Golden Age of boxing. A man who never once in his career kissed the canvas.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

2/6 I used to be a huge boxing fan and though the luster of the sport isn’t quite what it once was I still follow it quite closely. But George was always a hero.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

2/2 And if anyone is curious about the music.

Screenshot of a music app displaying Bill Evans’ jazz album You Must Believe in Spring (Remastered 2022). The album artwork features an abstract, muted grey-blue woodland scene with dark branching forms. Below the cover are the album title, artist name Bill Evans, “Jazz · 2022,” playback controls, and the opening tracks: “B Minor Waltz,” “You Must Believe in Spring,” and “Gary’s Theme.”

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

1/2 Last Saturday night before the students are back at school on Monday.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Also, first Friday after work of the 2026/27 school year.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Not going to lie. It is sometimes hard for me to resist going back on to Twitter. There are soooo many people there I would sort of love to troll. As a friend said “I’m a nationalist so rage, laziness, and whining are perfectly appropriate traits”.

Screenshot of an August 28, 2026 exchange on X between former Conservative Party of Canada leader Erin O’Toole and Daniel Tyrie of the white nationalist Dominion Society. Tyrie quote-posts an earlier O’Toole comment about extremist groups, writing, “This man used to run the federal ‘Conservative’ Party btw.” O’Toole responds, “Rage, laziness and whinging are not conservative traits Daniel.” Tyrie replies that he has dedicated his life to “productive political engagement,” asks O’Toole what he does anymore besides “argue with anons,” and adds, “I’m not a conservative. I’m a nationalist.” O’Toole answers, “Thank you for acknowledging you are not conservative. On that we can agree,” before mocking Tyrie’s description of his activities as productive political engagement by referring to “social media and masked rallies.”

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

3/3 These are the people who want to run a country based purely on pissing people off they have been instructed not to like.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

2/3 And the supporters’ response is disappointing by the fact that they don’t at all disappoint. All too predictable

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

1/3 I mean it has been mask off from the moment this stupidity started, but the separatists once again confirm that theirs is a movement of trolls, unjustified grievance, and slavish obedience towards authoritarian wannabe strongmen. Case #12582 in point:

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

I know I shouldn’t be surprised by the delusions of the Alberta separatists… and I’m really not. A landlocked petrostate shy of 5 million people would most certainly not get a “better deal”. They would be eaten alive.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

6/7 There is a very good chance I have a bit of a crush on the drummer on the far right of the video.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

4/7 Yeah, this group was all sort of awesome.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Not a large harvest at all, but considering I’m growing only one Roma tomato and one cherry tomato (and I have harvested the cherry tomato regularly) AND they are still producing fruit, not bad. These are getting roasted with garlic cloves and rosemary.

A basket of Roma tomatoes and cherry tomatoes sitting on a table on a deck in the beautiful summer sun.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

5/5 So in that sense he serves as a warning, or at least should. Any person who finds themselves on this path, this is all you will find for yourself at the end. And it is a profoundly lonely and hopeless place.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Experiment. Smoking chillies on a grill with mesquite wood.

A large outdoor barbecue grill with its lid open. Dried red chili peppers are spread across the upper warming rack, while a foil packet filled with smoking wood chips rests on the lower cast-iron grate, creating smoke to dry and flavour the peppers.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Well if you too are disgusted as I am by pederastic, incel, racists, here is a palate cleanser for the ick from earlier. Managed to get a fair number of chilli peppers from the two plants I decided to grow. I’ll probably dry these ones and powder them. Might try to smoke ‘em first.

A shallow woven wicker basket sits on a glass-top patio table, filled with a freshly harvested assortment of glossy red chili peppers in a range of sizes, from small, slender peppers to larger curved varieties. A pair of black-handled kitchen scissors rests across the basket, suggesting the peppers have just been picked from the garden. The bright green stems contrast with the deep red fruit, while the outdoor wicker patio furniture and soft reflections of nearby trees in the glass tabletop create a relaxed backyard harvest scene in natural afternoon light.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Tonight on the menu, grilled maple glazed pork chop, garden salad (cherry tomatoes and greens from my backyard) and roasted pumpkin seeds with a homemade vinaigrette, and beer in my Cthulhu stein.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

On the menu today. Grilled top sirloin (medium rare), roasted potatoes with home made herb butter, and a French red. And four weeks before I’m back at work for my 25th year; five weeks until the students arrive back in class.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

1/2 Y’all can probably hear the wind more than anything but I forgot Loud as Hell was taking place this weekend.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Oh Pierre!!! I’ve seen a lot of really good examples of the saying “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones” but I do believe you have topped that list with this!

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

8/ And even then the damage control effort has been especially effective.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

7/ And even amongst the core base, there will be some who will not be assuaged by this and the DS will be tainted as a result. This really was a lose-lose situation for them.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

6/ The racists and homophobes who supported the DS might now be assuaged, but they were already the core of their supporters. How do they manage to build beyond that core base and convince people of their big lie now? In short, the mask is definitively off.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

1/ Well that was quick. Either Wycliffe was thrown under the bus…

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

I would still usually be sleeping in at this point in the morning but I have someone who is coming to replace my security system. I was told between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm… 🫤 At least the morning outside is lovely.

A handmade mustard-yellow Huronia Pottery mug, produced during the studio’s mid-20th-century operation (c. 1950s–1969), sits on a sunlit glass patio table filled with morning coffee. In the background, a black outdoor fireplace, flowering planters, and a well-tended garden create a quiet backyard retreat, while long early-morning shadows and warm golden light give the scene a peaceful, reflective atmosphere.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

9/ And this claim is being accepted as fact as per a few illustrative examples

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

8/ That isn’t really surprising. It is the second part that is concerning as they are laying the groundwork for rejecting any referendum that they don’t win by claiming the process was corrupted.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

7/ Today my theory has had some confirmation. First, the claim that support for remaining in Canada is an astroturf campaign and that the separatists are the REAL majority, though likely silent.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

2/2 Sadly I grilled the tuna a bit too long (4 minutes each side) given the heat in my grill. Will try 3 minutes on each side next time.

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Kurt Phillips (ARC Collective) @arccollective.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

1/2 Today’s dinner. Grilled tuna with a garden salad (greens and tomatoes from my garden) and home made balsamic vinaigrette.

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