iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 18/09/2026

They really missed a perfect merchandizing opportunity here. These should have been on display next to the reading glasses.

Retail display for an electric razor called “PALM SHAVER”

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 14/09/2026

Lots of people had fun with Tim Neu’s vintage typewriter at our VCFMW table. VCF Midwest Cookie Recipe 1 tsp RIFA Extract 1/2 C 99% Isopropyl Alaohol 2 tsp Deoxit 2 C Barn Dust 2 1/2 C Capacitor ooze and 400 mgs of broken circuts

Index card with the following text typed on it by a vintage typewriter:

VCF Midwest Cookie Recipe
1 tsp RIFA Extract
1/2 C 99% Isopropyl Alaohol
2 tsp Deoxit
2 C Barn Dust
2 1/2 C Capacitor ooze
and 400 mgs of broken circuts

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 12/09/2026

This is the CPT Phoenix JR up and running here at #VCFMW #VintageComputing #RetroComputing

CPT Phoenix JR sitting on an exhibit table at Vintage Computer Festival Midwest

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 09/09/2026

For the first time in 7 years, I have booted the CPT Phoenix Jr. A couple hours of experimentation and investigation with a Greaseweazle last night finally allowed me to recover the only known copy of its software! #VintageComputing #RetroComputing

The CPT Phoenix Jr word processing computer booted into its word processing software.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 30/07/2026

My 4.5 year old KitchenAid dishwasher quit working. Figured out that the motor in this circulation pump had died. Thankfully a local parts distributor had a replacement in stock. Took less than 10 minutes to replace and it’s working again.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 18/07/2026

Bucket list item checked off the list. Visited the ancestral homeland.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 08/07/2026

The 9000 is the 286 that I mentioned earlier. I have the machine but don’t have the keyboard or monitor for it.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 08/07/2026

This was my computer setup back in 1993. I’ve wanted to recreate it but have never been able to find an AT case like this one. I’d appreciate any tips on identifying it. The DFI logo is a red herring. That’s a badge I put on it myself back then.

Old picture of a computer sitting on a desk with a CRT monitor, keyboard, CD-ROM drive, and a Stereo receiver.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 20/06/2026

You’ll either love it or hate it.

A Knorr beef bouillon package edited to say XOR Beef Boolean.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 29/05/2026

Chief O'Brien would like to apologize to the players of Forza Horizon 6 for today's transporter mishap.

Screenshot from the game Forza Horizon 6 showing a Ford F150 Raptor embedded in a building.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 23/05/2026

That’s four… count ‘em, FOUR MEGABYTES for your PDA back in 1994! Practically bottomless!

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 21/05/2026

Our 12 year old American Foxhound, Sadie, never had accidents in the house but she’s started having them the last couple of days so we brought her to the vet this morning. As we feared, she’s now diabetic. Luckily, we have plenty of experience with giving a dog insulin injections.

A brown and white dog laying on a dog bed.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 18/05/2026

This is my 13th gen i5 system…

Modern PC in a case that resembles a Commodore 64

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 18/05/2026

A friend of mine won this NEC PC-8300 at an auction. Really curious if anybody knows what kind of weather related activities these may have been used for. #VintageComputing

Close up of a NEC PC-8300 portable computer with a label taped to it that says

Temp and sky reading every 1/2 hr press C
Comment - C
Quit - 0
Weather - W

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 17/05/2026

Two new foster dogs. Corinne is the light colored dog. Snickers is the darker color. Snickers is only with us for a week until his regular fosters can take him.

Two dogs, each about 48 pounds. One is beige, the other is darker brown with what resembles 1980s frosted tips.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 05/05/2026

It’s a perfectly normal Monday night. Brought my VIC 20 over to a friend’s house. Now we’re playing Cheese and Onion. #VintageComputing #RetroComputing #RetroGaming #VIC20

A Commodore VIC 20 connected to a modern TV with three guys sitting around it playing Cheese and Onion.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 04/05/2026

Second new fruit tree has been installed. I hope I can keep this safe from the $&@# rabbits.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 04/05/2026

Happy Dave Brubeck Day to those who celebrate!

Black and white picture of a man with thick framed glasses leaning against a piano

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 04/05/2026

This used to be a beautiful crabapple tree. I will be drying this wood and then using it in my smoker. I hear smoked rabbit is delicious.

Badly chewed trunk of a formerly beautiful crabapple tree.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 01/05/2026

"Mayday! Mayday!" "What the heck is that?" "Why, that's the Russian New Year! We can have a parade and serve hot hors d'oeuvres!"

The character Johnny from the movie Airplane standing in front of reporters.

An annual tradition.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 17/04/2026

Probably my favorite fictional band ever.

Screenshot from the Homestar River “Cool Things” toon showing the band Cool Tapes consisting of Strong Mad, The Cheat, and Marzipan.

020

Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 16/04/2026

Our newest foster dog Duncan Doo. He was literally saved from the euthanasia room at the last moment. His matting was so severe that it took over three hours to groom him. The grooming revealed some painful sores that had been concealed by the matting. He’s now happy and healing. #Dogs #RescueDogs

Badly matted black labradoodle in a stainless steel shelter kennel.

Freshly groomed black labradoodle sitting next to a sofa with a happy look on his face and a wagging tail.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 26/03/2026

Last weekend I picked up hundreds of Minidiscs. They all had stuff recorded on them, including a bunch of Japanese music so I've been having fun listening to those. So far I've been introduced to the following groups: Mongol800 Chemistry Dreams Come True Shakalabbits #PhysicalMedia

A stack of Minidiscs next to a Sharp MD-MT15 Minidisc Recorder. A Commodore US*8 calculator can be seen in the background.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 23/03/2026

Go ahead. Call me a control freak.

Vintage Magnavox “Phantom” remote control.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 22/03/2026

Gilbert would like to draw your attention to the fact that this bowl is empty. #Dogs

Black and white dog laying on a dog bed holding an empty a stainless steel dog bowl in his mouth.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 22/03/2026

Hello, I’m your Uber driver, Mabel. Help yourself to a Milkbone. #Dogs

Two black dogs sitting in a car. One is in the backseat. The other is sitting in the driver’s seat.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 14/03/2026

Anyone in Minnesota willing to open their heart to a sweet little 16 year old Morkie? JayJay here doesn’t need much, she just wants a safe lap, a warm blanket, and love. She’s stuck in a noisy animal shelter right now and desperately needs to be rescued. #RescueDogs #SeniorDogs #ShelterDogs #Dogs

16 year old white Morkie dog wearing a pink sweater and a pink bow.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 12/03/2026

Forecast for Minneapolis this weekend is predicting a full Canadian Rap Album.

Screenshot of this weekend’s weather forecast in Minneapolis predicting 12 inches of snow.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 08/03/2026

This is some serious 80s productivity right here. #Marchintosh

Apple Macintosh Plus with a Radius Full Page Monitor.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 04/03/2026

Belt surgery successful. My old Walkman can play tapes again!

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 01/03/2026

I bought this with Mr. Underhill’s American Express card. #NowPlaying #PhysicalMedia

The Fletch movie soundtrack CD sitting next to a Sony D-T24 Discman.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 27/02/2026

Sitting in the dark, listening to the classics.

Brent Spiner’s CD “Ol’ Yellow Eyes is Back” sitting next to a vintage Sony Discman.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 16/02/2026

Remember when Lily Savage was on Star Trek?

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry as Lwaxana Troi on Star Trek the Next Generation.

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Matthew Sparby @cloudscout.com · 12/02/2026

Bud Cort had many roles but the first one that always comes to mind is his performance as the voice of Edgar the Computer in the 1984 movie Electric Dreams. RIP Bud Cort.

Image from the movie Electric Dreams showing the character Miles sitting in front of the computer naked Edgar.

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