iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Keith Barry

Consumer Reports @consumerreports.org · 22h

You're not imagining it — energy bills are skyrocketing while many households are struggling to make ends meet. 🧵

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Going to need to take the rest of the day off work, there’s Steely Dan car news

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

You could put so much life and laundry in a Gladstone bag in that trunk

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

If you’ve lost your special sauce you need

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

It’s 2026 and I’m still learning about which songs Luther Vandross sang backup on

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Based on what I overheard on board this United retrojet, a 2009-built 737 painted in a classic Continental livery, many passengers thought it was actually a very, very old plane that had a new interior. Even after the flight attendant explained, people were still asking questions.

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

In 2023 I got really sick while traveling and was stuck at a lousy Travelodge in Ashford until I was well enough to fly home. Every day my Deliveroo order got assigned to the same driver. He always wore a suit and tie and had a Tonale just like this.

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Reposted by Keith Barry

Emily St. James @emilystjams.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

They're also almost always about women and queer people in left-leaning spaces, which says whom we reflexively think of as toxic or annoying. I guarantee some fantasy football league is falling apart over some petty asshole, but he doesn't become a symbol for the annoying left. He can just be Jeff.

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Reposted by Keith Barry

Dr. Stephanie @punkrockscience.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The fact that every major news outlet includes vocal tics and hesitations when it’s a woman saying “like” and not when it’s a man saying “um” is itself wicked telling.

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

"Isn't there someone you forgot to ask?" (It's Karl Benz.)

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Kadison always gave me that "barely secular version of an Hour of Power soloist" vibe but after some research about what he's up to now I regret to inform you that he's a Cool Dude

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Nostalgia aside, I would’ve done the same thing if I’d owned one then. SUV design and tech had made some serious strides from ‘91 to ‘09.

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Special edition? Yes. No more “Cape Cod” or “Floridian” Grand Marquis-es with vinyl roofs. But mainstream cars loaded up with dealer-added puddle lights, $80 USB cables, door edge guards, etc. for a huge markup are sadly common.

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Sure doesn’t look like a Buick…

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

That’s why they needed that Harry Nilsson song!

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I’m holding out for one of the product placement cars. Every millennial cared about three things in the mid-2010s: Craft beer, bacon, and the unique features available on new Ford vehicles.

Schmidt saying “it coaches you to drive more efficiently”

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

These musicians and producers would go on to define the soft rock sound of the late 70s and 80s and beyond. David Foster WAS 20th century adult contemporary radio. But in 1976, they all played on a private press album by a big band singer that only sold a few thousand copies. (4/4)

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

The musicians? A few guys from Tower of Power and a few guys from the Seawind Horns. Some legendary string arrangers from the big band era. Ray Parker, Jr., Jay Graydon, AND Lee Ritenour on guitar. Harvey Mason and Jeff Porcaro on drums. (3/4)

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Morgan was 45 years old, and labels weren’t interested in a comeback album. So she used her own money and started her own record label. The songs were new (like that Earth Wind & Fire cover) and her sound was sultry and soulful. It was Foster’s first big solo project. (2/4)

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Jaye P. Morgan died last week at 94. Most people who remember her only know the infamous Gong Show appearance, or her early career as a jazz singer. But in 1976, she hired a little-known producer named David Foster to record an album that changed the history of pop music: (1/4) youtu.be/tEmGUnsMtNc

youtu.be

JAYE P MORGAN CAN'T HIDE LOVE

YouTube video by TheRAREGROOVEMAN

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

The Ransommobile! The logo could be made from individual letters cut out of newspaper headlines.

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Not having the word "old" in the brand name. When you need an ad campaign to counter that association ("the NEW generation of OLDS," "Not your father's Oldsmobile") you've already lost. The name is also full of consonants and hard to pronounce. Most people just said "Ozemobile."

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Mondaine sells a SBB/CFF wall clock with the sweep/delay second hand, but it’s IoT connected garbage and absolutely cannot be set manually, so mine will occasionally just change to the totally incorrect time or stop entirely.

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I am breaking my “never engage with a hot take” rule to say, E-tron GT and original A5?

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Two old wordmarks (including one that’s unexpected in the U.S.) hiding under the hood of the 2026 Kicks

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

One way to avoid the problem entirely: Hybrid everything!

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Because of where the store is located, we get all the New England brands and all the NY brands. Moxie and Eclipse, but Zaro’s and Hotel Bar, too. But this is unusual.

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I want to know the entire backstory of how these Food Lion store brand tortilla chips ended up on the shelves of an IGA in Connecticut

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Reposted by Keith Barry

Chris Person @papapishu.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Sorry chatbot lovers but the waning of Boolean operators in most search functions on websites has made my life actively worse. You can't find anything, you can only have things suggested to you.

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Car dealerships are now using voice agents to make cold calls. They’re programmed to not take no for an answer, they can make a lot more calls in a day than any human, and they’re endlessly optimistic. www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-mai...

consumerreports.org

How Car Dealerships Are Using AI to Upsell Service - Consumer Reports

Whether it's a human or a chatbot, here's how to resist sales pitches from the service desk.

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Note: If you’re looking to make a good investment, pick an everyday classic that people will actually remember.

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

“Q. Why are you closing? A. Low sales, raised rent, online shopping, etc.”

A “why we are closing” FAQ from a Hallmark store

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Reposted by Keith Barry

Luke O'Neil @lukeoneil47.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Of all the fake things people gas themselves up about that are going to kill them how is just driving or walking to the store not the main thing? That is, quite literally, how they get you.

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

I sent that one in mostly because of the pastels

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Always had a soft spot for these, but I’ve never actually driven one. Based on what I’ve heard, those two statements may be related?

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Is it "rear interior door handles that are easy to open manually"? (No, it is not.)

2027 Rivian R1S finally gets its 'most requested' interior feature

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Yup! Sometimes a transatlantic shipment is cheaper than a domestic one, too.

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

If you've ever wanted to race on the Consumer Reports test track in CT, now you can! Just, not in a car. You'll also get to see some of the work we do and meet the people who do it: cr.org/5k

runsignup.com

Consumer Reports 5K

The Consumer Reports 5K is on Saturday October 17, 2026. It includes the following events: Consumer Reports 5K - Run/Walk at the Auto Test Track, Virtual 5K, and Spectator.

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Car dealership AI platforms now brag that they can robocall owners whose cars have open recalls and positive equity, then prompt sales staff to hard sell them on a new car while they wait for a fix. "Turning a safety event into a sales event," one company says.

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Keith Barry @itskeithbarry.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

I have found that the “Do not accept rides from drivers who approach you” sign at the airport is also the best way to deal with all cold calls and sales pitches.

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