iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 12h

Who the hell is calling me from Romania? #NotAnswering

Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

In an effort to get away from my own head, I went for a walk today. I walked for almost 2.5 hrs, 12.5 km. Burned over 750 calories according to my exercise tracking app. Then I came home and settled back into my own head. My feet are killing me. Jury’s still out on whether it was worth it.

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Nearly six decades of listening to music, and Nemesis by @shriekback.bsky.social is still the only song I’ve ever heard that uses the word “parthenogenesis.”

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

#wipsnips #delay #scifi From my story Shadow Of Horizon. When a rover vanishes during a routine expedition from a Martian colony the colonists launch a search-and-rescue mission. As the investigation unfolds, Cmdr. Jensen begins to suspect there is more going on than a simple accident.

Jensen paused to let what had just transpired settle, before she asked "Why did you not kick this up the chain of command? If this is what actually happened, Lt. Commander Thompson needed to be notified."

Brooks shook his head, a look of disbelief on his face.

"I don't know where you got the idea that Commander Thompson gives a rat's ass about safety, or integrity, or doing the right thing. The only thing he cares about is getting this place as productive as possible as fast as possible so he can retire back to Earth and get a cushy high-paying no-show job with Celestial. Reyes writing absolute fiction in his reports lets Thompson get on with pretending like we're right on the brink of making this place a huge money-making operation. If Reyes ever put in writing just how bad things really are on the ground here, Thompson would blow a gasket himself. Probably space Reyes personally for causing delays to his schedules while the rest of us bust our asses to keep the place from being blown sky high."

Jensen sat back in her chair, thinking about what Brooks had just told her. She watched the movie screen without really seeing it. After a moment she turned back to Brooks.

"Don't take this the wrong way, Ensign, but... why are you still here? Zeigler and Simmons have rotated back to Endeavor. You're the last member of that shift that's still at Horizon and you obviously have little love for Reyes or Thompson, so why haven't you put in for a transfer back to Endeavor?"

Brooks held her gaze as he shook his head. "You think I haven't? I've put in for a transfer twice since the accident, but it's never gotten past my superior officer. He won't say it, but he wants me to stay where he can keep an eye on me to make sure I never tell anyone what I just told you."

Jensen shook her head. "Reyes?"

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

#wipsnips #observe From my #wip #scifi short story Nom de Guerre. A rookie soldier joins a unit where everyone earns their name. When the veteran called Widow takes him under her wing before his first combat the rest of the unit starts to keep their distance. There’s a reason she’s called Widow.

Herrera leaned back against a part of the collapsed wall. "Speaking of names, I guess I owe you the story of why Weston is Widow, huh?"

It took me a second to remember that Herrera had mentioned telling me about Widow's name before the bombardment started.

I shrugged and moved to sit on the ground next to him. Not that I wanted his company but the rubble he was leaning against was giving the only bit of shade within 20 meters and I was starting to cook in my armour. "If you want."
Herrera pulled a canteen off his hip and took a drink. After a minute, he started talking.

"They call me Dancer because during my first combat, I wandered into a minefield while we were attempting to capture a munitions factory at Barnard's Star. We were briefed on it and it was marked on our HUD but, idiot rookie that I was, I stumbled into it anyway." He paused to take another drink.

"Yet you're still here" I observed, stating the obvious.

He nodded. "Brilliant, newbie. Hear that Connor? Nothing gets past these new fish. This one's a regular Sherlock Holmes." He paused to take another drink before he continued. "Don't ask me how or why though because I don't remember anything about how I got out of there. A couple of the guys who saw me said that me running out of the field while trying not to let my feet touch the ground was the funniest thing they'd seen in a while."

Connor had moved closer to where we were sitting and was listening to Herrera talk. "That's why we call him Twinkletoes." She grinned as she watched Herrera, looking for a reaction.

Herrera scoffed and gave Connor a dirty look. "Hell with that. 'Dancer' I can live with."

A minute passed with nobody saying anything else. I cleared my throat. "So... what does that have to do with Widow?"

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

I just finished plotting out my latest story idea and, not gonna lie, I’m less enthusiastic about it than I was when it was just a concept on my “ideas list” #writesky

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I wonder if that whole ‘impending sense of doom’ thing that I’ve been ignoring for the past 3 months would go away if I would just uninstall all my #socialMedia and news apps?

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I bought a bottle of Glenlivet scotch today, saving it for a particular special occasion. Here’s hoping I get to enjoy it soon. 🤞

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Sitting here trying to watch French TV to recapture that feeling of being so stupid that what is even the point anymore. Cos, you know… things are going fine.

static.klipy.com

Tired Upset

Alt: Tired and annoyed.

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I love that one of the surest signs a TV show is about to jump the shark is ‘Ted McGinley joins the cast’

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

My house is the first one on a crescent. Multiple times a week, someone turns on to the crescent and pulls in to my driveway to turn around. Dude. It’s a crescent. Drive around it and in about 60 seconds you’ll end up back where you were.

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I’ve gone back to watching a handful of cable channels. Can’t help but notice that the commercials in all the channels I watch now are for things like reverse mortgages, stair lifts and walk-in bathtubs. Do the algorithms have something they’d like to tell me?

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Google Maps: Deleted. Map quest: Installed.

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I got 2 movies from the library for the weekend: #DespicableMe 4 and #Dune: Part Two. I have no idea why I’m like this, so if anyone is looking for a suitable topic for their psych doctoral #thesis, I’m available.

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

The reason I drove across the country & back in 2 weeks was to deliver a bunch of my daughter’s stuff, including her #telescope, to her before we sell the house. Last night she sent me this #photo she took of the lunar #eclipse with it.

A photo of the lunar eclipse taken through a telescope.

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Driving through Cobden Ontario this month, I noticed the recurring references to astrolabes: Astrolabe Road, Astrolabe Lake, and then an historical marker titled “Champlain’s Astrolabe”

en.wikipedia.org

Cobden, Ontario - Wikipedia

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Reposted by Former Earthling

MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 22/08/2026

Carney on the US: We cannot accept what they’ve offered, and we will not give what they’ve asked.

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Another house showing, another speedrun cleaning and then trying to figure out what to do for an hour away from my home space.

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I found the charger for the #hoverboard our kid got for Christmas several years ago and left behind when he moved away. It’s charging now. Tune in tomorrow to learn exactly how badly I’m about to injure myself. 🤪

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Week 1: list house for sale Week 2: get inundated with mail from every moving & storage company on the planet.

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

11+ hours driving today wasn’t a lot of fun, but at least I got to miss the Great Bluesky Outage Of 2026.

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Today’s leg of our (mostly) Cross-Canada road trip took us from Sudbury to Thunder Bay, where #TerryFox was forced to abandon his Marathon Of Hope in 1980. I was fortunate to see Terry Fox in person when I was 12 years old, as he ran along Manawagonish Road in my hometown.

en.wikipedia.org

Terry Fox Memorial and Lookout - Wikipedia

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

The number of Québec cars that tailgate me at 115 km/h and slow to 105 km/h when they get in front of me is too damn high! Then I pass them and we do it again. Ad infinitum.

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Since #Horizon is the name of the outpost in my Martian murder mystery duology I have literally a couple hundred of them, lol. In book 2, Cmdr. Jensen has her first meeting with the new corporate director. It doesn’t go well. #wipsnips #writesky #scifi

Markel held Jensen's gaze, unreadable, then sighed as if this were all very regrettable.
"We're obviously coming at this from two different perspectives, Commander," he said finally. "You see risk. I see unrealized potential. But diverse perspectives are a good thing, correct? I want you to know that I respect your position."
He stood, straightening his jacket, calmly authoritative. "I'll get back to preparing my team for a productive quarter. If you need me, I'll be in my office, doing what I can to help move Horizon forward. I trust you'll do the same to the best of your ability."
His voice was smooth, but there was no mistaking the challenge in his comment.
He left without another word, the door sliding shut behind him.
Once the silence had lasted long enough to start seeming awkward, Patel glanced at Jensen. "If this is how meetings go, I'm guessing the equipment isn't the only thing that's broken around here."
Jensen huffed, leaning back in her chair. "Welcome to Horizon, Lieutenant. I can already see you're going to fit in here just fine."

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

According to this Reddit thread, some registered voters in Alberta have mysteriously been removed from the voter registration list. Mine’s still there but I’ll be checking it periodically in the lead up to the referendum. I wonder what ridings those affected are in? #abpoli

reddit.com

From the alberta community on Reddit

Explore this post and more from the alberta community

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

This might be my last trip through rural northern New Brunswick so we’re taking a 45 minute detour to visit the tiny hamlet where my mother was born. With a stop at the local cemetery. We’ll see how I feel afterwards. My guess: Not great.

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

#RoadTrip day 4: Sudbury to Québec City. Ottawa is crazy humid. For the 37th consecutive year, Montréal remains under construction. 🚧

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Day 2 of our road trip. Stopped in a small northern Ontario town for food & fuel (“Eat here, get gas!”) While fueling up, the guy at the other pump was filling a Jerry can ON THE DECK OF HIS PICKUP while the guy standing next to him LIT A CIGARETTE!!!! 😳 #LivedToTellTheTale

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

* cuts onion * Why do people complain about onions so much? It’s not that bad. * rubs eye * AAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!!

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Reposted by Former Earthling

Rose❤️🇨🇦Part owner of Canada.🇨🇦❤️ @scotfreeme.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

My blood just pumps and my heart rate increases, EVERY TIME I hear this song... Scotland the Brave. There is no other sound as majestic to my ear, anywhere on this planet... More than the sound of the bagpipes. 1000 of them playing all at once, could easily own my soul for eternity. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Scotland.💙

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Well. The house goes on the market tomorrow. 18 years here (a couple of which involved travelling back and forth to France). I’m not a sentimental guy for the most part but this is the house my kids grew up in. Lotta memories that are gonna be physically detached going forward.

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

I should’ve known the seppies would be out in full force to display their idiocy on Heritage Day. #NoToTheNine #Canadian 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 #OnGuardForThee

A bunch of Alberta independence idiots waving flags on a street corner.

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Takes “Which #Simpsons character are you?” quiz … LENNY?!?! I demand a recount. Principal Skinner at the very least.

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Yeah, but have you ever been eaten by a grue? #IYKYK

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Prepping for our move & found an old photo album. In it was (among other things) my great-grandfather’s discharge papers from 1919. That led me down a rabbit hole to the govt of #Canada #archives where I found his entire #WWI service record. #fascinating Now I’m even more behind on the move.

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Former Earthling @former-earthling.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Mildly interesting: My city’s “What goes where” page that tells us how to sort #recycling, #compost and trash has an entry for “nuclear waste” In between Notepads and Nutella.

Website showing a list of items to inform readers how to sort recycling, compost and trash, with ‘nuclear waste’ listed in between ‘notepads’ and ‘Nutella’

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