iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Vancouver living. Monday night: Snowboard in dumping snow with plenty of “moments of float” and a surprising number of untracked turns. Tuesday afternoon: Rainforest trail run under blue skies with yesterday’s snow cranking up the creekflow. Nice place we got here.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Greenery and gradients on Pender Island.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

The gorgonopsids and dimetrodon disappeared by the Permian extinction event, when most life died off, clearing the way for the dinosaurs to arrive and take over.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Dimetrodon. Often lumped in with dinosaurs but predated them, living from 295-272 million years ago in the early Permian. When the quadruped tree branched, these characters appeared on the synapsid branch that led to mammals. Reptiles came from the diapsid branch next door.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

On NYE I met two of my favourite proto-mammals from the Permian (pre-dinosaur) period: Inostrancevia and Dimetrodon. Inostrancevia (gorgonopsid family), one of the earliest sabre-tooth predators. Lived 259-252 million years ago in the late Permian.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Back in use after 25 years as a space filler. SWR SM-400s, Peavey 210 TX, SansAmp Bass Driver DI. This rig saw regular action in practice spaces and on stages during my Toronto years but has rarely been turned on in Vancouver. DeoxIT got the scratchies out and it sounds as good as I remember

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

Brachiosaurus enjoying some scenery in the Seychelles.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

A digital SLR was not in the budget for our Africa trip, but scoring a used Nikkor 70-210 lens for $89 gave me a way to pull the Masai Mara wildlife into range with my Nikon F80. “Pick up Velvia from the lab” day is one of the best days. Now it’s time to fire up the Nikon Coolscan.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

First skate session after three weeks in Africa. Spent the tail end of golden hour on old standards, then got into new material. Frontside noseslides are new trick #2 since joining Team 50+. Fingus the Gutter Rat needs to work on his framing.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

Awesome, thanks. I’m new to Monsieur Dutronc’s music and really digging it.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Thus, I ended up with a $100 (annoying to use) and a sheaf of $1’s and $5’s (too raggedy to use). But I could put that Benjamin on the outside and feel like the cock of the walk. Please note: Carrying a Kansas roll in Nairobi is a terrible idea.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Anatomy of a “Kansas Roll” (as defined in Miles Davis’s autobiography). Things one learns quickly in Nairobi: - USD is commonly used - ATMs default to dispensing $100 bills - Most places reject bills that are wrinkled or 10+ years old and will unload these on unsuspecting dupes at any opportunity

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

Discovered this ‘60s garage gem while watching “Roadrunner: A film about Anthony Bourdain” on a flight from Nairobi. Et moi, et moi, et moi. By Jacques Dutronc. Catchy simplicity at its best with great lyrics (I had to dig back into my high school French). youtu.be/mTj8rizW9Bg?...

youtu.be

Et moi, et moi, et moi

YouTube video by Jacques Dutronc - Topic

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

If you’ve read @waub.bsky.social’s Moon of the Turning Leaves, you’ll get the coincidence of finding this old Nat Geo beside the TV at one of our vacation stops. I recommend it if you’re interested in a different angle on post-apocalyptic storytelling (read Moon of the Crusted Snow first).

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

A day in the life of a lion pride: The lionesses take down a water buffalo and get to snacking. The male(s) ambles up to take advantage of the ladies’ hard work. Then everyone lays down in the shade for a serious nap. Masai Mara National Park in Kenya with Wildebeest Safaris.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

That female crossed right in front of us - presumably to hang with the male and female off in the distance. They’re in there, I promise. Masai Mara National Park in Kenya with Wildebeest Safaris.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Birdwatching feels different when the birds can kick your ass. I like ostriches because these weirdos are the closest I’ll get to seeing an ornithomimosaur.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

These two giraffe bulls went from sunrise posing to full-contact sparring. They’d swing their heads into the other’s body and it sounded like dropping a king-size futon off of a four-story balcony. Masai Mara National Park with Wildebeest Safaris.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

I was never much for noseslides, but my baseplate recently got into the action and now I think they sound pretty nice. Not as nice as a 50-50, of course, but you can decide for yourself…

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

A few of the books that helped me get through it all. Notably absent and the most important of the lot: “The Back Mechanic” by Stuart McGill (currently on loan to someone who needs it).

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

- 9 skate sessions. Countless ollies, FS/BS 50-50s, slappies, and BS noseslides. FS noseslides added to the repertoire. - 8 trail runs. Totals: 77.6km and 2140m elevation gain. - Misc. hiking/walking/kayaking (not noted), plus body maintenance exercises.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Since May 22: - 1x Jiu-jitsu. Thanks @gapcsu for letting me and my nephew drop in. My first rolls in a long time were beyond satisfying (even if it took my body two weeks to bounce back).

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Final three pages of log entries before starting book 4. In 2016 I started tracking my recovery from a bulged disc / pinched femoral nerve and my notes turned into a long-term habit. I was walking with a cane and taking 3 kinds of drugs to get out of bed back then, so I’m calling this progress…

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

The Dawn Patrol Trailrunning Club is small and our judgement is questionable. 18km and home by 9:50 on the longest day of the year. The trail didn’t live up to its name, but there was a surprising quantity of bear doodie.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

This is a great one with tons of backstory potential. Did a fourth grader write that? A teacher? Parent? Sixth grader?

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

In my interview for my current job they asked why I was interested. My first answer was, “Connection to the area.” Exhibit A: Some photos from my lunchbreak trail runs. I like the DIY river crossing in #2 - check out the iron handrail that some crafty person mounted to the far right.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Allosaurus lived about 150 million years ago during the late Jurassic period - roughly 80 million years before late-Cretaceous dinos like triceratops, tyrannosaurs rex, and ankylosaurus. I’m sure there’s a joke to be had in here about 50-year-old skateboarders.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Up is down and down is up, Alice.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Slappies, noseslides, and swerving around on my Polarizer in the shadow of the Creeper Bus.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Crikey! Are they trying to ruin my reputation or PeePee’s?

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Post session (check the kingpin)

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Mixed media on concrete. Wax, moss, aluminum, and a touch of grade 8 steel.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Screechy screechy. My kingpin took some heat while I broke in a new section of curb.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Deciding which to read first is tough. Moon of the Turning Leaves is post-apocalyptic (sequel to Moon of the Crusted Snow), Riley Black’s palaeontology writing is excellent (previous book = Last Days of the Dinosaurs), and Stephan is an outdoor adventurer/ BJJ black belt who writes very well.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Recent bookstore scores: Perseverance @stephankesting.bsky.social Moon of the Turning Leaves @waub.bsky.social When the Earth Was Green @restingdinoface.bsky.social Nomeansno: From Obscurity to Oblivion. Jason Lamb & Paul Prescott. Excellent octopus notebook cover art by Ernest Swanson.

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Reposted by Jeff Chan

Stephen King @stephenking.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Alina Habbard posted: NOTHING CAN STOP THIS MAN FROM FIGHTING FOR HIS COUNTRY. David Simon had a succinct 2-word response: “Bone spurs.”

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

My local just let me know that my copy has arrived. Looking forward to it.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

That reminds me of my last winter in Toronto - when Mel Lastman called in the army to help dig us out.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

I have it on order at my local. I loved Last Days of the Dinosaurs and am really looking forward to this new one.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Judge societies by how they treat their most vulnerable. Children don’t choose to be born trans. But an obscenely high number of these kids choose to commit suicide after being bullied by adults (and children who learned hate from those adults) because of how they were born. Protect vulnerable kids

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Breaching the pentagenarian boundary. In late 2024, the VPD, carnotaurus, barapasaurus, and a fellow nocturnal skate fiend swung by to commemorate my final slappies of my 40s. A few weeks later, slappy nosegrinds became my first trick of my 50s. I gratefully accept this gift from the skate gods.

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Jeff Chan @jeffchanimal.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Curb bashing swag courtesy of Darkslide Of The Curb. www.instagram.com/darkslideoft...

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