iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 21/09/2026

Anyway, my olive oil cake with apple spice frosting from Modern Times was delicious.

A photo of a take-out box, showing the words “APPLE SPICE OLIVE OIL CAKE”

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 21/09/2026

Spice olive? Odd phrasing, but I’m intrigued….

A cropped photo of a take-out box, showing the word “APPLE,” and on a separate row “SPICE OLIVE.”

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 16/09/2026

Happy to live near a library that displays this flag.

A hanging flag that mixes the iconography of the Minnesota state flag (an eight-pointed white star on a dark blue field) with that of the Progress Pride flag (eleven stripes, including the six colors of the rainbow, white, pink, light blue, brown, and black). Below, a plaque identifies the location as Hennepin County’s Walker Library.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 16/09/2026

Perfect setting for a great intimate Ida show.

Looking up into the night sky, with a square brick chimney on the left and a round one on the right.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 11/09/2026

I don’t know Fancy Nancy but

A Nancy comic strip rendering the titular girl in the style and context of a work by Ricardo Levins Morales: 8 hours for work (drawing a comic strip), 8 hours for rest (lying in bed), 8 hours for what we will (reading a newspaper in a boat, with her friend Sluggo at the oars). A fourth panel shows Nancy holding an “8 hours” banner, with the text “Happy Labor Day.”

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 10/09/2026

What a satisfying read this was!

The cover of The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman, featuring an older woman holding binoculars, an ancient fort on the crest of a hill, and a donkey.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 09/09/2026

I wish this kind of customer survey had an option for “I’m dissatisfied because too much space has been made available for car parking instead of things that might benefit me”

Screenshot: “The availability of parking.” Options range from “Highly Satisfied” to “Highly Dissatisfied,” along with a “Not Applicable” option, which is checked.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 07/09/2026

I was looking for a way to comprehend these populations, and here’s what I’ve got: in the context of Minnesota, this is roughly equivalent to the metro counties of Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka, and Washington put together, vs the town of Vining (pop. 60 excluding sculptures).

A map of Vining, showing seven blocks near the junction of two minor highways, and a pop-up image of a colossal pliers at Nyberg Sculpture Park.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 07/09/2026

Got all of these follows today so I guess fake festival scammers don’t have a strong union

Screenshot showing follow notifications for four different film festivals and a “daily novel writing festival” that don’t exist.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 04/09/2026

I grew up in Minnesota and have spent about 3x time here as anywhere else (CA a distant second), but sure

A map from mydialect.us, indicating strongest dialect affinity to California (San Francisco, Los Angeles) and the Minnesota Arrowhead (Duluth). Weakest are Mississippi, Alabama, and eastern Louisiana (New Orleans).

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 01/09/2026

Addendum: Just because a bike lane isn’t open yet (and isn’t on the street) doesn’t mean Amazon drivers won’t park on it

An unoccupied Amazon delivery truck on a sidewalk-level bike lane.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 01/09/2026

“Open” feels a little optimistic. At Blaisdell it’s explicitly (if ineffectively) blocked off, there are temporary ramps everywhere, and uh I gave up at the huge pile of garbage Still exciting to see! Just not up to 8-to-80 standards yet, use at your own risk, etc

A temporary metal fence blocks access to the sidewalk-level bike lane, but not the sidewalk.

A temporary ramp connects the sidewalk/bike lane with the street. A sign indicates a detour for pedestrians.

A huge pile of garbage blocks the bike lane, next to another pedestrian detour sign.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 01/09/2026

I was in Düsseldorf this spring and although I didn’t get to explore much, I found the “Japan in Germany” vibe fascinating Photo from my hotel bathroom

A wall decorated with mementos of an imaginary “girls trip,” blending elements of German and Japanese culture: mustard, fan, fish kite, euro notes, beer, lanterns, and on and on.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 31/08/2026

Thank you for warning me about this lack of nudity, Bluesky team

Screenshot that reads: “Adult Content: Does not include nudity. Source: @moderation.bsky.app”

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 31/08/2026

I just learned about the machines this morning I’m partial to Pete Seeger’s banjo

A hand holding a banjo with lettering along the rim: “THIS MACHINE SURROUNDS HATE AND FORCES IT TO SURRENDER”

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 31/08/2026

The unrelated piece references Bug Ballet, a movement piece with puppets and masks performed at the Southern Theater this spring.

By Dre Greenheart.

A human dressed in an insect costume, rendered in red and green. Behind it is a large beige circle, possibly a sphere being carried by the bug, or the moon? Below, the words “BUG BALLET.”

Seed list: millet, barley, navy bean, wild rice, split pea.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 31/08/2026

The National Forest one references National Forest signage: the bulging rectangle shape; the brown, cream and green palette (harmonizing with colors of nature); the mix of all-caps sans serif font with stylized cursive “National Forest;” and specifically the name of Superior National Forest.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 30/08/2026

Interesting. We have a thing called a protractor, which is often used with a compass. What do you call the other thing in this picture?

A compass (little adjustable gadget that holds a pencil at a specific angle) and a protractor (clear plastic semicircle with length and degree markings).

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 29/08/2026

A stranger came up a little close to me with a secret-sharing grin, said “Me too,” and gave me a fist bump

A middle-aged white man wearing a purple shirt that says “I REALLY ENJOY THE MINNESOTA STARE FAIR”

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 29/08/2026

Creative Activities isn’t as political as crop art, but these quilts-on-a-stick had some opinions

Small quilts: a Revolutionary War soldier says “Democracy is worth a fight” and “No kings.” Another quilt says “RIP DEMOCRACY 1776-2026.” And a collection of patriotic symbols along with a peace sign, a rainbow, and other symbols.

Small quilts: “Land Back, 250 years of colonization on Turtle Island” and a patchwork of historical protest signs including “Silence = Death,” “No Kings,” and “Keep Abortion Legal.”

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 25/08/2026

This is good background.

"We are an open book here," said Heather Honey, an official at the Department of Homeland Security, who previously worked to push election falsehoods before her current post. "We are acting in very good faith. And we just want to help you!"

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 25/08/2026

@chrisjuhn.bsky.social took this great photo from the opposite angle. I suspect the one above is by someone else.

A photo of right-wing creep Jake Lang hiding behind a cross from Spider-Man, who is about to punch him. Charles Miles, a Black man in camo gear, is next to Lang holding a U.S. flag.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 24/08/2026

At least I’ve got the blue sky! Difference between me and Elon Musk.

A photo of Nicollet Mall, a street in downtown Minneapolis. There are buses, trees, a public clock, somebody else’s bike, and a stack of clouds stretching up across the otherwise blue sky.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 24/08/2026

Someone stole the bag from my bike while I was picking up a prescription at CVS.

A blue folding bike on a sidewalk with a black bag attached to the rear rack.

The same bike on a different sidewalk with no bag.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 24/08/2026

(I was like, how is Minnesota in the middle after all we’ve been through? But we’re not, we’re over on the left with California and New York. It’s just that none of us can compete against a region with no rural areas, especially with Trump’s lieutenants right in their midst every day.)

A map showing Trump’s net approval by state. Idaho, Wyoming, and West Virginia are bright red (0 to 10). Washington and a couple of other states are indigo (-40 to -50). Minnesota is purple (-30 to -40). You’d have to zoom in to find the bright blue District of Columbia.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 23/08/2026

Not quite as bad but this one really bugs me Can’t even blame cars, mostly

A screenshot of Google Maps showing two walking routes (9 and 13 minutes) between Center and Strike Theater in Minneapolis. Train tracks and possibly some large industrial buildings are the big obstacles.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 23/08/2026

Drivers who can’t interpret traffic signs really ruin traffic signs for the rest of us

A photo of a sign, intended to direct drivers around the pedestrian median on which it once stood. The sign has been knocked flat, presumably by a driver who drove straight into said median.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 18/08/2026

TIL there are MAGA bike racks

A round metal bike rack sporting a ULINE sticker.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 17/08/2026

The anti-weekend candidate

“Mark's rural-upbringing taught him at a very young age that a work week was not 40 hours, nor did it only have 5 days. He will work very hard for the people he serves.”

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 16/08/2026

TIL (at the Weisman Art Museum)

Minnesota is home to the largest number, per capita, of adopted Korean children in the United States as well as to many immigrants from Korea.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 15/08/2026

We have one more performance of Doozy, tomorrow at 5:30 at Open Eye!

A poster advertising Doozy by Dolly Who: “a good friend never forgets.” Featuring BRItt JOHnsOn, CODY MADiSOn, DeANNA Pistono, and DEStiny Davison.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 14/08/2026

Tripped the no-go on 11th over the freeway Just for a few seconds, in the bike lane Still didn’t like it

A map showing a scooter no-go zone that extends well past the freeway’s footprint, as well as a no parking zone on the bridge.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 12/08/2026

NYT has the breakdown I’m looking for: Flanagan was +7 even in rural counties, +4 even in Trump ones. Of course, way fewer DFL voters total in those areas. Also, what’s up with Le Sueur County? www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

A map of Minnesota showing vote share by county in the 2026 DFL primary. Urban areas were strongest for Flanagan, but so were many rural counties; only two counties were strongly for Craig.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 11/08/2026

Serious question: is the mission of “Democratic Turnout Project” to make people hate Democrats? Because I’m starting to

Screenshot of a text message: “Our records show you never signed Obama's birthday card! Are you abandoning him?!“

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 11/08/2026

Sincerely enjoy that Metro Transit is asking this about the bus I’m on.

A screenshot of the Transit app asks “Are there tags, etchings or graffiti?” Options are “Yes it's vandalism,” “Not really,” and “Yes but it's art.”

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 09/08/2026

Coincidentally today in Minneapolis I encountered a marked bike lane that ran between the bus and the waiting passengers! (If there had been any)

A view out the door of a bus: a striped bike lane, and past that, the bus stop shelter.

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Erik Ostrom @erikostrom.com · 06/08/2026

Maybe you remember this tweet, which is no longer available (at least to me)

Freyas Chosen @FreyasChosen

Minnesota Hip Hop Abusers. Could have been raped physically or mentally, but these people need to get exposed. Please R/T.

Muja Messiah
Mod Son
DJ Tillillip
DJ Fundo
Abbal Muse
Toussiant Morrison
Graham Gardner Adam of 3 Kings
Darnel Dtech Jameson
DJ Double Cities
Kris King

4:23 PM - 6/22/20 - Twitter for iPhone

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