iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Last week I saw Brian Henson's Puppet Up and it was a very fun improv show that was fascinating to watch. It also made me miss the @pftompkins.bsky.social tv show No You Shut Up. Especially when they brought out the hot dog puppets.

Patrick Bristow in a suit standing on stage in front of dozens of Henson-style puppets hanging on a wall and in bins waiting to be used.

ogre-g 👹 @libidinalspaces.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I found them from Crucial Tracks and like at least 5 songs from their album even though they aren't quite what I usually listen to

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Reposted by Kyle McCowin

she's got that joie de leave

A thin, red leaf on concrete. It's on its side such that it looks like a pair of lips

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I was assigned Song of Solomon and Slaughterhouse-Five in my Virginia public school. It led me to reading pretty much everything Vonnegut ever wrote. It showed me that "classic" wasn't always a synonym for "boring"

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I'd already decided that last year was almost certainly my last Awesome Con and this isn't exactly winning back my business.

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Crucial Track for October 7, 2026: "Sun Salute" by 50 Foot Wave New to me thanks to a recent Bandcamp Friday #CrucialTracks www.crucialtracks.org/profile/cortj…

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I was a Real Sugar Pepsi drinker and miss it a lot. But those other sweeteners have always tasted awful to me and I can't tell if they taste fine to others or what. But I've also never acquired a taste for coffee, wine, or beer.

I was referring to how little the ring was used in general. It wasn't really noticeable while watching and I only realized in retrospect.

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like did you have to choke down a bunch of Coke Zero before you acquired the taste and started to actually enjoy it or did it actually taste good to you from the first sip?

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For things like aspertame/splenda/sucralose/stevia do people get accustomed to the absolutely vile taste or do they just not taste overwhelmingly terrible to other people? I'm always frustrated when I pick up a beverage that looks interesting then see one of those in the ingredients.

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I have no connection to the character beyond Super Friends but I thought it was really good despite being a Surf Dracula

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I know the comics dipped into this with at least a Chicago franchise but it would be a fun premise for a movie.

Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Crucial Track for October 6, 2026: "Burn, Don't Freeze! (2014 Remaster)" by Sleater-Kinney Today's prompt: What’s your favorite deep cut from an album? #CrucialTracks I haven't actually known what songs are singles for quite some time www.crucialtracks.org/profile/cortj…

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Crucial Track for October 5, 2026: "6 Underground" by Sneaker Pimps Today's prompt: What song makes you feel like you're in a different country? #CrucialTracks Just because I kept seeing the album when visiting London www.crucialtracks.org/profile/cortj…

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Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I have to hand it to you, that is the best/least bad Funko Pop I've ever seen, pushing KC Green's to the #2 slot

Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Crucial Track for October 4, 2026: "Levitate Me" by Pixies Today's prompt: Share a song you feel was ahead of its time. #CrucialTracks www.crucialtracks.org/profile/cortj…

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Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Whoever was handing out fliers at the Alexandria Republicans booth today had real "debate me" energy. When he tried to hand me a flier I gave my standard reply "republicans don't exist, they're made up to scare children into behaving" but he tried to talk to me about autism for some reason.

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Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Crucial Track for October 3, 2026: "Here I Come" by The Courettes Today's prompt: What’s the last song you discovered and loved instantly? #CrucialTracks www.crucialtracks.org/profile/cortj…

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Reposted by Kyle McCowin

Josh Gondelman @joshgondelman.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Has everyone seen this??? I had not and I loved it!

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Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Crucial Track for October 2, 2026: "Brave New Baby" by Mary Prankster Today's prompt: What’s a lyric that resonates deeply with you and why? #CrucialTracks This prompt is probably always going to be Mary www.crucialtracks.org/profile/cortj…

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Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I was just able to watch a video with no ads so I'm hoping this is a just you or has already been fixed thing

Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Crucial Track for October 1, 2026: "Mine's Not a High Horse (2023 Remaster)" by The Shins Did everybody own the Garden State soundtrack but me? #CrucialTracks www.crucialtracks.org/profile/cortj…

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Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Crucial Track for September 30, 2026: "Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head" by They Might Be Giants I'm seeing Brian Henson's Puppet Up tonight so I have puppets on the brain. #CrucialTracks www.crucialtracks.org/profile/cortj…

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Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I think something is wrong with the Bluesky posting. The hashtag is highlighting weird and the link isn't a link. I've had similar issues with the hashtags on my own CT posts recently.

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Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Crucial Track for September 29, 2026: "One Day" by Caro Emerald Today's prompt: How do you discover new music, and what’s the latest gem you’ve found? My last couple new-to-me bands were from #CrucialTracks posts www.crucialtracks.org/profile/cortj…

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Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Oh my god, whose music is that?

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Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Crucial Track for September 28, 2026: "Whatever" by The Beths Today's prompt: Post a song you'd love to hear for the first time again. #CrucialTracks www.crucialtracks.org/profile/cortj…

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Always appreciative of a grocery store with a food court in it to keep me from shopping hungry. Today I had a spicy pork kimbop and talked myself out of a fruit tea I didn't actually need.

Oh dang, I haven't seen him sing in years. I couldn't tell if he was performing less or if it was just because I'm attending way fewer soccer games.

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Crucial Track for September 27, 2026: "Walk Like an Egyptian" by The Bangles Today's prompt: What’s the first song you’d play at a party? #CrucialTracks I guess 2nd song since I already answered this prompt www.crucialtracks.org/profile/cortj…

Crucial Track for September 26, 2026: "Gimme That" by Sloan On shuffle #CrucialTracks www.crucialtracks.org/profile/cortj…

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Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

It was really frustrating that they just let it happen. I figure the other guy was just trying to make himself a villain for the sake of the cameras

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In wrestling it's not uncommon for a group to walk out to just the biggest star's music and Mistico is the biggest of those three by far. He's an icon. In lucha removing a mask is an instant DQ and is considered dirtier than a kick to the groin. That guy earned himself no fans.

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Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I was so hoping that when they introduced him as a contestant that they'd play his song in the room, just to see the reactions. 97 athletes all in real time going "oh my god, that's Mistico's music!"

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I was really worried that the international versions of the show would lack the positivity of the original Korean series and was pleasantly surprised by both Italy and Mexico. I did hope that they were going to play Mistico's music in the room before he first entered.

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Crucial Track for September 25, 2026: "The Negotiation Limerick File" by Beastie Boys Today's prompt: A song from your senior year of high school. #CrucialTracks My favorite song from this album www.crucialtracks.org/profile/cortj…

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Oh no, I didn't realize episode 8 was the finale of this season of Guy-Mont Spelling Bee. I thought it was 10 episodes. I was enjoying my Thursdays with Trek, Spelling Bee, and Taskmaster

Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Crucial Track for September 24, 2026: "Fire Water Burn" by Bloodhound Gang Today's prompt: What’s a guilty pleasure song? #CrucialTracks I still say "party people" because of this song www.crucialtracks.org/profile/cortj…

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Pretty good now that I am 239,000 miles from The Cure.

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Reposted by Kyle McCowin

AP Stylebook @apstylebook.com · 23/09/2026

Artificial intelligence systems do not think, feel, want or understand. Avoid language that gives them human characteristics.

apnews.com

https://apnews.com/article/openai-safety-ai-framework-089e75b95bc935af092da7b79d92706d

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Kyle McCowin @cortjstr.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Crucial Track for September 23, 2026: "Beds Are Burning" by Midnight Oil Today's prompt: What’s a song you’ve had on repeat recently? #CrucialTracks I don't use repeat but this has been in my head. www.crucialtracks.org/profile/cortj…