iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

The funniest part of Brothers . . . when McConaughey just walks up to Franklin's BBQ, and there's no line. I've had it only one time bc of lines. But lots of great BBQ in Austin. la barbeque, Interstellar. Leroy & Lewis is damn good & was the last TX BBQ we had before we moved to MD.

Matthew McConaughey walks up the food truck for Franklin's BBQ

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

After the Baltimore Comic Con, Grace & I went to Angeli’s for some excellent pizza. It's a family-owned neighborhood place on St Charles in the Federal Hill neighborhood. We've yet to find a good NY style pizza in Frederick.

Medium Della Carne with pepperoni, Italian sausage, capricola, and pancetta.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

As we walked to a bbq place for lunch, someone had their Halloween decorations out. No, I did not order ribs.

Two adult skeletons in blue metal chairs at a blue round metal table playing scrabble. A small skeleton sits in the lap of one adult skeleton.

A closeup of the words the skeletons have made in scrabble: GHOST, GHOULS, DRACULA, WIG, BLOODYMARY, GOBLIN

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

To customize the Rarebit template, I work w liquid files, Github, css, image files, etc. I tracked the work in a spreadsheet. I categorized the work, as some items were initial setup while others are after the site's live. Spreadsheet template: tinyurl.com/5ys28avn #webcomic #selfhost

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I wholly support this, to the point of being a social stigma. Anti AI culture can be powerful if it permeates into habits.

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Reposted by gary beason

Jonathan Edwards @jontofski.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

John Coltrane. Born 100 years ago today. Acrylic, ink and pencil.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

A short walkthru of testing & publishing a webcomic w the Rarebit comic template + Eleventy + Github. It's a fast process: The site updates ~5 min after I push to Github, which auto pushes files to Nekoweb (site host). With the Tapas news, this might be useful. #webcomic youtu.be/1h2qfnftiKQ

youtu.be

Webcomic Test & Publish Walkthrough

YouTube video by Gary Beason

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

With Tapas shutting down, many must look for a host. Many good options. Here’s the one @gracekb-art.bsky.social & I used. Later, I’ll post a quick demo of the publishing steps & a task list for customizing Rarebit template I made. #webcomic

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

So, if Democrats win the House and Senate, what will Trump try to hold hostage to get his demands? How much blackmail will we see?

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Bingo. I've said for a few years now that AI (esp gen AI) is technological kudzu: We've introduced something without fully understanding the ramifications.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Nice melody and tasty playing. I love the sound of the guitar, which should be excellent since it's ~$4500. 😉 He was in a band in college w John Gorka. Retired, he plays gigs in eastern PA, so I might catch him. I love discovering musicians like this on Youtube. www.youtube.com/shorts/1B_gm...

youtube.com

Lowden O-25 “cedar in the moonlight.” if you like, please subscribe🙏🙏🙏☺️#lowdenguitars

YouTube video by russ rentler

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Very nice followup from Nate (to an earlier video about Nonplayer). I bought #1 very early: It instantly grabbed me. The art & story stuck with me over the years. I like he's still working on it & his approach and mindset. Compassion & good health are important. www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3oS...

youtube.com

Only Partially Destroyed By Comics: Nonplayer From the Inside

YouTube video by Nate Simpson

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

SPX was fun. Grace sold 2x as many comics as a normal show, though fewer original character prints. And she had picked some good books. (I did, too, which I'll post later.) I enjoyed talking with Jon Allen, who was our booth neighbor. #indiecomics #comics

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I see Giants & Cowboys are playing with a Michigan clock. Several snaps have been after the play clock reads 00.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Texas Republicans are very bothered by brown foreigners assimilating. Because Rs are just racists.

A Facebook post from Dallas Entertainment, a right-wing account, with a photo of Longhorn fans of various shades of brown & diverse ethnicities celebrating the win over Ohio State. The caption reads: "This is what the University of Texas looks like now "

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Repost with your home river. Monocacy River (outside Frederick, MD)

A view of the 144 bridge over the Monocacy River

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Very excited for this show. For one, I know I'm buying a lot, incl Derf's The Dissidents. And I hope it goes well for Grace. I'll be there helping. And talking. I have the gift of gab. I can't abide air in the conversation, as Big Dan Teague would say. 🤣 I enjoy meeting folks at these shows.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I'm hooked! I thoroughly enjoyed WHO KILLED SARAH SHAW last year from White & Markiewicz.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I know the important point of this story. But good god, that's just bad writing. Even in high school journalism, we learned not to stack sentences with verb phrases & prepositions.

"The president posted again several hours later, with what appeared to be an A.I. video of him placing a label with the word “America” over “Mexico” on a “Welcome to New Mexico” road sign."

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

About a mile from me, the good people of Frederick stood up to the secret police thugs, who still terrorized a family and violently attacked people. Thanks to my neighbors.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

The Big10 says the 1-second ruling for Michigan was right. Says the conference with a counting problem.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

This is an art zine of many great characters from pirate fiction. Like knights & cowboys, pirates are an enduring fiction type. But they seem to have a resurgence in recent years. #comics #art #fanart

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Black Tower #1 is a great read. Feels like a Vertigo book. And reminds me of a lesser known series from DC: Night Force. Perkins art even has Colan-esque blacks. ;) It's impressive when an issue can be a setup piece but still surprise you. @therightram.bsky.social www.dc.com/blog/2026-05...

dc.com

Black Tower: The Raven Conspiracy | DC

On August 26, the award-winning team of Ram V and Mike Perkins reunite for Black Tower: The Raven Conspiracy #1, the start of an all-new six-issue recurring DC Vertigo comic book series.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Very nice (new to me) find. Talented folks doing great work all over.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Some homemade chorizo with fresh ground pork to marinade for a few hours. For tortas tonight. And a little freshly ground Mexican cinnamon in my Coke Zero . . . mmmmmmm. Getting oaxaca cheese is little bit of a quest in central Maryland. But I got it.

a pound and a third of ground pork mixed with various dried chilis & chili powders, coriander, cumin, cayenne, salt, freshly ground black pepper, Mexican oregano, thyme, garlic, onion

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I'm down 35+ lbs since the start of my summer o' surgeries in early June. That's good since I needed to lose the weight. But getting more of an appetite would be good. I appreciate the short-term disability benefit, to take the time to recover. I'm very lucky, and I wish others who needed had it.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Just backed this. Looks great. Another 11 hours to go.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Wed is comics day! Check out the latest page. It’s a new scene with a young Borr & Shaggat on their 1st job together. #webcomic #comic #art

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Nice cover of an Everly Bros classic. Chet Atkins' guitar work on it isn't exactly trivia. But I like how it shows how versatile he was. Very ambient guitar work IMO.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I had robotic assisted surgery on Monday. When they rolled me into the operating room, I saw a large machine with many arms. Of course, my head went immediately to the hospital scene with Dr Octopus in Spider-Man 2. I was halfway through a joke reference to it when the anesthesia took me out.

A nurse in surgery gown and room adjusts one of several robotic arms penetrating a man’s stomach

Dr Octopus with backlighting as he looks up and yells in the aftermath of the operating room scene in Spider-Man 2

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I think it's a well established fact that a dog helps with surgery recovery. The dog vibe of, come let's rest together. Laurel once again is taking good care of me.

An older brown and white beagle mix sleeps on the bed with me.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Originally this scene had more text. But it seemed better to focus on the visual storytelling, to leave more to the reader. I like Grace’s expression for Morgen. I love those moments in movies, like Marge in Fargo, who has many great reaction shots. #webcomic #fantasy #art #comic

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

As Grace prepares Love & Pickpockets #2 for print, here's an issue summary draft for the back cover. We've refining the story outline for 12 issues. We've had the ending in mind since the beginning. But the path has changed (for the better). #webcomic #comics #oc

Writing a romance-adventure novel is hard work. But dealing with street thugs and Erwin’s jabs is tougher. Morgen prods into Erwin’s past, only to get a cryptic parable over a bowl of mashed potatoes and acorns.

Back in the past, the ruins hold more threats for the thieves, and a journey down the Purple Road becomes educational in more ways than one.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Tremolo is good. Lots of tremolo is better.

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Peter Conrad Comics @peterconradcomics.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Did you know that PSHAW is a word, but ASIAN isn't? What does that mean? What's your secret word for the day? Fixed image below.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I'm at this con ... and it's so weird because no one's doing cosplay. I'm waiting for the session to start--Dark Deceit & Monstrous Waters with Silvia Moreno-Garcia & Hannah Whitten. I've not read their novels but am very interested.

The colorful program cover for National Book Festival

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Page 10! One thing Grace & I focused on for this comic is to have at least every odd page end with some tension, question, or suspense, however minor or subtle. It's a nice rhythm to settle into. It's a fun feature of the medium, not unlike page layouts. #webcomics #fantasy #comic #art

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Grace KB @gracekb-art.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Critical Role ladies that I sketched over the weekend 💛 I think each character brings a certain amount of chaos wherever they go… [ #criticalrole #criticalrolefanart ]

Pic of 3 colored sketch cards, an assortment of D&D dice around them

Bust drawing of a fairy, Thimble (critical role campaign 4)

Drawing of Fearne Calloway (critical role campaign 3)

Drawing of Jester Lavorre ( critical role campaign 2/ The Mighty Nein )

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

My friend & coworker Peter will be at SF Zine Fest with his comics. Good stuff. Drop by if you're in the area. It's FREE to attend! #comics #webcomics #zines

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

I dismissed George Michael in the Wham! days. But this one started to change my mind. Nice R&B song.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

As mentioned on Tue, here's the comic script template in GDoc I use with Love & Pickpockets. It takes from a couple of others. It has boilerplate lines & a look I enjoy writing in. If you like it, save a copy. [ #WebComics #comics #ComicWriting ] @gracekb-art.bsky.social bit.ly/3S1PrAF

bit.ly

Comic Script Template

Comic Title Issue #N “Issue Title” Written by Firstname Lastname Page 1 Summary: Setup - Conflict - Complication - Reveal - Denouement A #-panel layout. Panel 1: Description Panel 2: Description Pan...

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

bit.ly

Comic Script Template

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

From the man who said windmills cause cancer, Trump has declared UK brass instruments are a national security threat & set a proposed 25% tariff on top of an existing 16.6% tariff. Conn-Selmer is closing its US plant to produce instruments in China. www.classicfm.com/music-news/d...

classicfm.com

Trump administration declares brass instruments a national security threat

Critics are shocked by the brass neck of it.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I love the 5th panel of this page, for the composition and the coloring. As for Morgen's recitations in this issue, I will say one is inspired by Lyle Lovett. 🤣 #webcomic #fantasy #comic

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Grace KB @gracekb-art.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Swinging through the city! 🗽 [ #spiderman #marvel #spidermanbrandnewday ]

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Tomorrow we publish p9 of Love & Pickpockets. The script went thru major changes. p9 has one of my favorite panels of issue #1. This is the p9 script. It uses a template I created, which I'll share on Thu. [ #WebComics #comics #ComicWriting ] @gracekb-art.bsky.social

Page 9
6 panels
Panel 1: More than an hour later, the shadows are longer as it’s late afternoon now. MORGEN is last in line with A PRETEEN GIRL now in front of her.
MORGEN: Good luck, Marci. You can do it!
Panel 2: MARCI stands before the three with the paper.
MARCI: SohTAYkal effaWHO mannaGETyi ker thi jorgoomMA.
Panel 3: MORGEN holds the paper and reads it intently, as she memorizes and practices the lines in her head.
Panel 4: As MORGEN speaks the lines, the word balloon resembles those when she performed in the tavern. Her gestures go with the lines, and her expression is somewhat exaggerated and dramatic. This panel might show her from the perspective of the three, focused on her from the front.
FONT: CC Dreamland Display
MORGEN: Slumbering light
Reach for your faraway kin in the sky
And shout, “Here am I!”
Panel 6: A burst of lights like fireworks shoot from the ground 30 feet into the air and explode. MORGEN beams. Everyone stares in awe at the display. The three Sodalists, though, look at MORGEN, leaning in towards each other.
JISSA: We finally found one.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

One of history's greatest blunders was Kaiser Wilhelm's blank check to Austria-Hungary, as it subordinated German geopolitical autonomy to a weaker, unstable ally. It was no small cause for WWI. When I see the rhetoric around US unconditional support for Israel, I think of this.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

My daughter built a Lego version of my & Penny from the Lego store while she & my wife were in NYC to see The Jellicle Ball & Every Brilliant Thing (w Tracee Ellis Ross). I stayed home with Penny. Since she's 12, I like to avoid boarding her when we can. There'll always be NYC.

A Lego person with grey hair, blue pants, and green zip hoodie with a little Lego dog.

Penny at the park yesterday, smelling around a large tree. First time in a while she's had the energy to walk the full block to the park.

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gary beason @gbeason.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

My wife & daughter are in NYC in August. This sign at Jefferson Market Library in Greenwich Village:

Sign at Jefferson Market Library in Greenwich Village:

Saturday August 8
What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps one in a continual state of inelegance.
- Jane Austin

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