iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

I read once that, they are your best friend for just a short time, but you are their best friend for their whole life. Pet ‘em if you’ve got ‘em. 💜

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

But I managed a couple decent pictures coming out of HND, and another as we passed over ORD. Now the trick is to stay alert for a few more hours, even though I know the jet lag will have me awake and ready for the day at 4:00 AM tomorrow, no matter when I go to bed.

A Boeing 787 wing takes up most of the image. In the background, an orange sunset with a few wisps of clouds, and Mount Fuji to the left.

An orange sunset with Mount Duhi standing prominently on the horizon.

The many runways of Chicago’s O’Hare airport are seen from above.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

"Hold Your Fire" is a #Rush album that I haven't listened to very often. I didn't own it until a year or so ago, partly because I had heard it a couple times, and it never did anything for me, so I didn't bother to buy it. It still doesn't really do anything for me. #MusicMonday

A very red cover. At the top, written in a way to give it a 3d appearance of being carved into the red, "RUSH" is written. Just underneath, "Hold Your Fire". In the middle of the image are 3 red balls, again appearing to be 3D, floating just above the red, as there are 'shadows' below each of them.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

And so now, this Boeing 787 will be my world for the next 12+ hours.

Photo of a white Boeing 787, with United printed on the side. It’s on the tarmac, with the front and rear cargo doors lifted up.

Screenshot from FlightRadar24 with the details for UA882 from Tokyo to Chicago.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

If we learned anything from “Crazy Rich Asians” …

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The previous #PinkFloyd release is often regarded as a Roger Waters solo record. Similarly, the next Pink Floyd release, "A Momentary Lapse of Reason", is often thought of as more of a David Gilmour solo effort. And for me, it's only slightly more successful than "The Final Cut". #MusicMonday

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Loved seeing ‘Trent Crimm’ wearing an Enya shirt in “Ted Lasso”!!

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

When writing about their debut a while back, I commented that everyone I knew started listening to #U2 a few albums later. When "The Joshua Tree" was released, suddenly, everyone was a U2 fan and they were inescapable. Music, posters, clothes; U2 had become a phenomenon. #MusicMonday #TopPickDiscs

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Happy Birthday! Here are a few favorites …

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Occasionally, there will be an artist in the list that might not really fit in with some of the others. #Enya is probably one of those artists. But I genuinely enjoy her music. However, her self titled debut, "Enya", was a record I had never heard until now. #MusicMonday

A wide white border surrounds a black and white photo. The image is of the artist squatting down towards the floor, in between two dogs. In the top portion of the white border, "ENYA" in printed in red letters.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Only really 2 negatives to international travel. The reminder that we can’t have good things here (good public transit, bike lanes, general kindness ffs). Brain saying, “It’s 10:30, get up! Day’s wasting away,” when it is in fact only 3:30.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

And we spend the bulk of the day on an #A330 from Copenhagen to Chicago. I do appreciate the window in the bathroom, giving a better view of the engine.

The front opening of an Airbus A330 as the plane takes off from Copenhagen, over some housing and farmland.

The side of an Air is A330 engine, with “Scandinavian” written in the side. The plane is flying over a cloudy sky.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Our second special livery flight for this trip. This time, it’s a Retro Livery on an #A319. Looks sharp! And against that green jet bridge? Feels like stepping back in time. Well done #SAS.

3/4 view of an Airbus A319 from SAS, with a green jet bridge attached. Rain dapples the window some.

Screen shot from FlightRadar24 showing details of an SAS flight from Gothenburg to Copenhagen.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I feel like Janet and Eleanor already taught us that AI will be very good at persuading us not to hit the kill switch.

Screenshot from “The Good Place.” Eleanor (back to us) is about to hit the Janet kill switch, which will. It actually hurt Janet. Janet (facing us) pleads with Eleanor not to do it, while holding a picture of … not her kids; she’s AI.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I’m in Sweden this week, and the trash / recycling process is kind of intimidating. 8 different ways to separate household waste (2x glass, plastic, 2x paper, metal, food, other trash) . Even the local fast food outlet has multiple ways to separate things after a meal. Gotta do our part!

Waster disposal station at a Max in Sweden, with receptacles for the tray, paper, food, metal, plastic, and ice and beverages.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

A few months ago, I wrote about how #LesMiserables was introduced to me through stage crew weekends in high school. Another pretty regular faculty selection was #PhantomOfTheOpera. This one however, has never become part of my very being, like Les Miz has. #MusicMonday

An all black background, with a white face mask lying down, towards the bottom. Top center in a font making it appear to be made from broken glass, "The Phantom of the Opera" is printed.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

After a couple days in Gothenburg, we’re up the coast a little, in Fjallbaka for the week. End of the season, so it’s pretty quiet. But I can imagine how crowded it could be in July and August. I’ll take the post season chill, thank you.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Purposely chose a longer layover in Copenhagen today so that we could get out and walk around a little bit. May have found some smorrebrod while we were at it. Next stop, Gothenburg, Sweden.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Everyone uses @flightradar24.com to track their inbound plane while driving to the airport, so they can catch a poor photo of it as it makes its final approach, right? Special livery plane no less; excellent! #WingWednesday

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

When #LyleLovett released his debut album, the eponymous "Lyle Lovett," I wasn't listening to much country music. And it was quite a few years / albums later before I was fully introduced to his music. But as soon as that introduction happened, I was hooked. #MusicMonday

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Based on this thread, went over for a breakfast sandwich after a little lakefront walk. That might be the best bahn mi I’ve had outside of Da Nang. My wife definitely thought that of their coffee. I really need to spend more time at places in the neighborhood, east of Broadway.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

After 8 years, much of it spent battling their record company, #Boston came back with "Third Stage." And like their previous release, it feels short, at just over 35 minutes. But it's such a great 35 minutes! #MusicMonday

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I’m okay with her being a less than great therapist.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

* This photo is from a few years (1991) after Invisible Touch was released. But I still think it’s pretty solid evidence that I was in fact, not in any way whatsoever, “too cool” for anything, ever.

I don’t even know what to say.
A kid, about 18, in a bad hair cut, glasses, white shirt, tie, and a blue graduation gown, with his eyes closed, because there was no digital camera back then, and you got one shot at it. It’s not a good photo.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Certainly the biggest album of their career, "Invisible Touch" might also be the most divisive album #Genesis released. It's a favorite of many fans who grew up with it, and actively disliked by many other fans, who see it as too pop; too commercial; not enough of their prog roots. #MusicMonday

Dominating the image, towards the left, is the silhouette of a left hand. It's primarily mostly black, with streaks of orange along the left side of the hand and wrist, and the thumb and forefinger. Behind that is a light yellow box, with a green geometric pattern scattered. Depictions of a family of 4 are within the yellow box. Above and below, "GENESIS" and "Invisible Touch" are printed within the white border.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Well that was a fun way to spend the day! Only disadvantage to taking the train somewhere is that I get a much later start on the actual riding, and don’t get home until 4:00. That really messes up the post ride meal, and all-important post ride nap schedule. But still a great morning and afternoon!

Screen shot from Strava showing the route of a bike ride. It starts in Kenosha, WI, goes west about 30 miles, and then SSE back towards Lake Michigan and into Chicago.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Little stop in Burlington, WI for a delicious muffin. Now I make the turn for home, some distance away.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Have to love a commuter train!

A sign at the Kenosha, WI Metra station.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

"So" was the next album #PeterGabriel released. His highest selling release, it spawned numerous singles, including Sledgehammer, one of the most aired videos in MTV history. This has never been a regular listen. I don't think that's going to change now, but I've enjoyed it this week. #MusicMonday

A black and white photo of Peter Gabriel.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

On one hand, I’m an avgeek, so I love the look and sound of the fast movers over Uptown. At the same time, I wonder if we really need to spend money on advertising the military these days. (That could just be me being cranky though) (Video from a previous A&W Show weekend)

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Similar to their previous release, "Master of Puppets" from #Metallica starts off with a bit of a quiet entry. But then it takes off, and there is no stopping until the end of the record. #MusicMonday #TopPickDiscs

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

“That's no ordinary rabbit! That's the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on!” The Rabbit of Caerbannog has a far reaching habitat.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Rather than an album this week, I'm going with "The Mama Tour" video release from #Genesis. If "3 Sides Live" was the album that made me a Genesis fan, this was the video that cemented it! (YouTube Link) #MusicMonday

The image of a video tape release. At the top, "Genesis live" is written in stylized cursive script. At the bottom, "the MAMA tour" is written, with 'the' and 'tour' in the same stylized cursive. 'MAMA' is block shapes: the Ms are squares with a triangle cut out of the top to give it the two points of an M, and the As are tall triangles.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

* The show really was amazing. I was very tempted to go a second time while they were here. And while Bravado was the highlight, Red Sector A is the track that’s been stuck in my head since.

Concert hall: a video screen with smoke on the display. The smoke is starting to dissipate, showing two member of the band behind. An enthusiastic crowd is on their feet by the stage.

Concert hall: a couple screens show video of the band. Yellow and white spot lights shine down on the stage.

Concert hall: multiple white spot lights shine down on the stage and front rows of the audience. Behind the stage, a video board shows the Rush Starman symbol; a red circle with a 5 pointed star inside. A man stands in front, with his arm held high, as if opposing the force of the star / circle.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

For their next release, #Rush put out their #PowerWindows record. Having just seen Rush on their #FiftySomething tour a week or so ago (absolutely amazing! *), it's feels disloyal(?) to say that this is really not one of my favorites. #MusicMonday

Top left in the photo, "RUSH" is printed in big block letters, with "POWER WINDOWS" much smaller and below.
The image depicts a room with a blue-grey walls, and a brown wooden floor. On the right wall, a window is cracked, with a very dark sky, and maybe some brightly lit steam or edge of a cloud. Sitting in a chair facing the window, with his head turned towards 'us' is a young boy. Three old style tube based televisions are arranged in the room, on the left of the image.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Lots of good answers in the thread. But I immediately thought of Rear Window.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

This week, I've been listening to the second half of the #BillyJoel "Greatest Hits" album. Like the first half a few months ago, these songs are classics, and part of the great American songbook. #MusicMonday

A black and white photo of Billy Joel, sitting at a piano. He's wearing a plaid sport coat, and has his hand up in his hair, supporting his head as his elbow rests on the piano. "Billy Joel Greatest Hits Volume I and Volume II" is written in the upper left corner.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Well that was pretty excellent!! Great mix of song from throughout their catalog, from Working Man all the way to The Garden. Bravado was the highlight for me though; love that song. #Rush #FiftySomething

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Let’s Go!! Excited to be seeing Rush back in Chicago again! (And getting a little bonus #Genesis Dance with the Moonlit Knight in the warm up music) #Rush #FiftySomething

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

The 80s sound was a big part of my thoughts last week, and it really impacted how I thought of that record. Is there more of an 80s song that #DireStraits Money For Nothing off their "Brothers in Arms" record? It's not a favorite track of mine, but it's VERY 80s in a different way. #MusicMonday

A sku blue border surrounds the cover, more pronounced top and bottom and thinner on the sides. Top left, "DIRE STRAITS" and top right, "BROTHERS IN ARMS" is printed. Central is a photograph. On the left is a blue sku, and right and bottom are white clouds. The right half of the photo is dominated by the steel body of a National Resonator guitar.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Day 3, and our last of this stage. A little bit of wind, but mostly dodged the rain. Pretty rough construction zone, just as it was really heating up; less than ideal. But an even better pastie in Menominee!! 250 miles in 3 days, and just one leg left for our Lake Michigan Circle Tour.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Day two is in the books! As expected, the winds were definitely not in our favor. What we didn’t expect was the 20 miles of road construction. If you’re up here, get to Foxy’s Den and talk to John; great stories! And get a pasty from Gram’s (probably some other places too).

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Love getting to ride with these guys! Resuming our trek around Lake Michigan, this year crossing the UP. Gustafson’s smelled amazing, but not sure a whole smoked fish would fit in a jersey pocket. Strong recommend MooFinFries if you’re in Naubinway! Burger and fish were delish!

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

The next solo release from #PhilCollins is his "No Jacket Required" album. This is another record that I am listening to for the first time, for this project. Sure, I knew all of the singles that made it to the radio, but I've never heard any of the other tracks until now. #MusicMonday

A black cover, with a very red / orange photo of Phil's face. No smile, no specific emotion; just Phil looking right down the barrel of the camera lens.
Lower left, "No Jacket Required" is printed, and lower right, "Phil Collins" is printed, as if his signature.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Spent the day driving up through Michigan and then across the Mackinac Bridge, for an evening in St Ignace. Tomorrow, we switch to more of a happy place: 🚴‍♀️

Photo from a “scenic lookout” in northern Michigan, with many green trees below, and a wispy clouded blue sky above.

A photo from a moving car across a couple empty lanes of traffic, to see a glimpse of Lake Michigan.

A view out the front windscreen of a car, of the twin towers of the Mackinac Bridge.

A late afternoon picture of a dark blue Lake Huron, blue sky above, and Mackinac Island on the horizon.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Do just the engines count?

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

The next release from #U2 is "The Unforgettable Fire". Ironically, I've always found the album to be forgettable. It's never been one that I wanted to listen to, other than as a catalog play-through. And while I do think I've been missing some, I still think it's lacking something. #MusicMonday

A black and white photograph of a castle ruins. The castle is covered in ivy, and there are wispy clouds above. The band members are hard to discern, but are in the picture. Below is a small rust-red border. Above, a larger rust-red border, with "U2 The Unforgettable File" written in stylized script.

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Second year doing the #TourDeChi, and definitely one of the highlight rides of the season. 145+ miles, getting into all 77 of Chicago’s Community Areas. 130 cyclists at the start this morning? So much fun!! Thanks Ben O’Malley for organizing. And a huge thank you to his family for the support!

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Andrew @drw4d.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Going into this, "Ride the Lightning", the second release from #Metallica, wasn't one that I listened to regularly. I think that in my mind, it was just always overshadowed by their next record. But this is so good in its own right! #MusicMonday

A very dark blue cover. At the top, "Metallica" is printed in their specific font, stylized to appear 3D. At the bottom, "Ride the Lightning". Central to the image is an electric chair. Thin bright bolts of lightning emanate from the "Metallica" both to the chair, and through the cover. The background is a dark blue, with dark clouds around.

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