iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

The 9 albums that made me: www.my9albums.com

A grid of nine albums: Kiss Destroyer, Eurythmics Sweet Dreams, Bjork Debut, Nina Hagen Band Unbehagen, Lou Reed Transformer, The Smiths Meat is Murder, Sinead O'Conner The Lion and the Cobra, Gang of Four Entertainment & Talking Heads Remain in Light.

jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

No, the hot dog should be wearing a crown while he roasts one of his subjects on his trident. Yocco is the local pronunciation of "Iacocca." Lee Iacocca (the old chairman of Chrysler) grew up in the Allentown PA area where his family owned a chain of hotdog stands.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Saw Liz Phair on Sunday night in Philly. Opening acts Sleater-Kinney and Frankie Cosmos. Interesting mix of styles between the three bands, rock, riot grrrl and indie-folk.

A close up of Liz Phair playing the guitar and singing.

Sleater-Kinney playing one of their more laid-back songs.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Italian/prune plums are in season so it's time for a plum torte (more of a cake, really). Recipe from Marian Burros/NY Times. 🍽️ 🍜 #foodsky

Cake batter glopped into a springform pan and ready to be smoothed out.

Halved plums arranged on top of the batter and sprinkled with demerara sugar ready to go into the oven.

The baked cake, still in the pan cooling on a wire rack.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Looks like Mr Clean has gone hipster, moved to Williamsburg NYC and opened a curated and bespoke cleaning boutique.

A package of Mr Clean Spiced Harvest cleaning product showing him wearing a knit cap and his earring glinting in the light. A melange of autumn leaves and sparkles is in the background.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Borrowed "Small Batch Breads" from the library and gave the restaurant-style French dinner rolls recipe a try. Only took a couple of hours from start to finish and pretty good for the effort. I might try an overnight rest in the fridge next time to see if I can amp up the flavor. #breadsky 🍽️ 🍜

Bread dough in a metal bowl after the initial hour rise.

The shaped rolls on a baking sheet, sprinkled with a bit of flour and slashed with a lame waiting to go into the oven.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Fig trees in the back yard are kicking in so I made a chocolate and fig cake. An exceptionally chocolatey cake base with extra chunks of bittersweet chocolate folded in. Amazing recipe from Yossy Arefi. A gooey, deep chocolate brownie with caramelized figs on top. 🌱 #gardening #gardenSky 🍽️ 🍜

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Peanut butter tequila. Another example of the enskittlesization of the American liquor market where everything needs to be candy flavored in order to be consumed.

A bottle of peanut butter flavored tequila with a drawing of a woman with freakishly long bottom eyelashes.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

I've discovered the unspeakable eldritch horror that I believe is responsible for eating the petals off of my coneflowers as well as all of the baby eggplants. Return to the nightmare corpse-city of R'lyeh from which you arose foul beast! 🌱 #gardening #gardenSky #animalsky #animals

A baby rabbit hiding his face in the grass after being discovered.

A baby rabbit sitting in the grass and looking straight at the camera and wondering if I would be a tasty snack.

A side view of the baby rabbit staring off into the distance.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Quite happy with the way this piece turned out. Marbled several different glazes together and let it dry for a week. Broke apart into chips and stuck them on a wet, freshly glazed plate then fired @ cone 6. #pottery #ceramics #potterysky

A white plate with melted multicolored glaze chips that were placed around the outside and fired.

Ceramics glazes poured on a paper plate and marbled with the back of a brush. This will dry over the course of a week and then get broken apart into small chips.

The wet, freshly glazed plate with the marble chips stuck on the rim which will melt and run down onto the plate. This is before final firing.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Dinner last night was "garbage truck" panzanella. Plum tomatoes, roasted red pepper, cubanelle, mozzarella, Kalamata olives, sopressata, red onion, pepperoncini, some dill pickle chunks and cubes of homemade bread underneath. Basil & tomatoes from garden. 🌱 #foodsky #gardening #gardenSky 🍽️ 🍜

"Garbage truck" panzanella. Plum tomatoes, roasted red pepper, cubanelle, mozzarella, Kalamata olives, sopressata, red onion, pepperoncini, some dill pickle chunks and cubes of homemade bread underneath. Picture is before dressing, tossing and adding basil.

The "garbage truck" panzanella after dressing with olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, pepperoncini brine, salt & pepper. Torn basil leaves on top.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Today's very partial solar eclipse seen from the Northeast US. Roughly 8% coverage. Pic taken with a Seestar S30 telescope. Some sunspots showing if you zoom in. #eclipse #solareclipse

A photo of todays solar eclipse showing the maximum coverage (about 8%) here in the Northeast US.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Today's harvest! It's been an amazing year for tomatoes so far. Only disappointment is with Opalka that I'm trying out this year. All of the fruit plagued by blossom end rot, even though it's on the same watering and fertilizing schedule as the others. 🌱 #gardening #gardenSky

A basket full of freshly harvested tomatoes. Kosovo oxhearts, Beefmaster beefsteaks Andiamo plums and Cherokee/Carbon purples. Still need to harvest the cherry tomatoes.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Back from eight days in Palm Springs where temps were 110º+ so it was nice coming back to the first real tomato harvest of the summer, plus zinnias! Took three and kept the rest for the bees and butterflies. Put 'em in a vase I made. More tomato info in ALT. 🌱 #gardening #gardenSky #pottery

A hod full of plum tomatoes (Andiamos), cherry tomatoes (Sunrise Bumblebees), one Cherokee/Carbon beefsteak (seems a bit early for these) plus three zinnias.

Three colorful zinnias in a handmade vase sit on the kitchen counter.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

A Tale of Three Basils We're having a horrible Japanese beetle infestation this year. Seems they can be picky about what they eat. On the left is Thai basil (not their favorite), in the middle is lemon basil (om nom nom) and on the right is holy basil (no thank you). 🤬 🌱 #gardening #gardenSky

We're having a horrible Japanese beetle infestation this year. Seems they can be picky about what they eat. A photo of a raised garden bed. On the left is Thai basil (not their favorite), in the middle is lemon basil (om nom nom) and on the right is holy basil (no thank you).

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Saw Christeene at Joe's Pub in NYC last night. An amazing performer. Started her set with Bonnie Tyler's Holding Out for a Hero and ended with Fix my Dick. #christeene

Christeene on stage at Joe's Pub in NYC singing sweetly into a microphone.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Saw a tiger bee fly this morning. I believe it's the first time I've ever seen one here. They prey on carpenter bees, of which we have many. 🌱 #gardening #gardenSky

A tiger bee fly resting on a wooden fence with a dead leaf above it. They prey on carpenter bees. Native to the Eastern US.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

What spawn of Satan eats the petals off of coneflowers? 🤬 🌱 #gardening

Two purple coneflowers with the petals eaten off by some evil critter.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Bronze fennel flowers. I originally planted it years ago and now it's gone feral in the garden. I mostly let it be because wasps and hover flies like it (bees, not so much it seems). Also a host plant for black swallowtail butterflies. Been known to collect the pollen for cooking. 🌱 #gardening

Bronze fennel flowers with a visiting wasp, plus what looks like a hover fly in the top left.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Best STAR TREK captain. Wrong answers only.

Colonial White from the Captain Scarlet TV show.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Yellow flowers from the garden today: Winter squash and datura metel 'Ballerina Yellow'. 🌱 #gardening

A yellow winter squash blossom peeking out behind some white-veined green leaves.

A flower of datura metel 'Ballerina Yellow'.

Two datura metel 'Ballerina Yellow' flowers.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Well, well, well. Look who’s decided to bloom this time while I’m around to see it. 🌱 #gardening

A white Southern Magnolia blossom among shiny green leaves. Another flower bud is in the background.

A closeup of a white Souther Magnolia blossom.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

We'd also like AIPAC out of our politics too.

A graphic showing that Cory Booker had received, as of 03/20/25, $871,563 the pro-Israel lobby.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

I have a pop-up tomato usurping space amongst my purple salvia. 😒 🌱 #gardening

A tomato plant popping up in a bed of purple salvia.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Growing neck pumpkins this year from seed I saved from one bought last fall at an Amish market in south central PA. Actually a type of winter squash, the "neck" is all flesh, seeds contained in bulb. Makes great pie! Pic on left is mine, pic on right is from the internet. 🌱 #gardening

Two neck pumpkin vines growing in a raised bed. Photo is from my garden. Neck pumpkins are a type of winter squash.

This is what a neck pumpkin looks like when harvested. The "neck" is all flesh, seeds are in the bulb part. This photo is from the internet showing what they look like.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Garden in full swing now. Basil and parsley for Pesto di Noci e Basilico. Recipe from Lidia Bastianich. 🌱 #gardening 🍽️ 🍜 #foodsky

Green basil and parsley leaves dry on a white towel before being made into pesto.

Two plates of pasta covered with basil/parsley/walnut pesto (Pesto di Noci e Basilico).

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

If you’d like, post one photo of a painting that you took with your very own hands. Diego Rivera. One of his designs for a Pan-American Ballet.

A legged mermaid plays a guitar. Her calves are rainbow colored scales, her hair is green and her face is heavily made up with red rouge.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

It's lily bloom time in the garden. Most of the oriental lilies are coming on strong, daylilies just beginning. 🌱 #gardening

A bright pink oriental lily flower stalk against a gray wooden fence.

An orange oriental lily flower stalk against a gray wooden fence.

A reddish-orange oriental lily flower stalks against a gray wooden fence.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Seen at a campground pool. Words to live by.

A sign posted at a campground pool that says "CAUTION DO NOT BREATHE UNDER WATER."

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Beautiful! Unfortunately the first thing that came to mind when seeing them was this:

A Martian woman from the movie "Mars Attacks" with a large blonde beehive hairdo curing up on the ends

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Last bloom on the Dr Ruppel clematis, now it's all about the Multi-Blue. Plus it looks like a good crop of red currants this year. Enough for both jelly and the birds. 🌱 #gardening

The last bloom of a Dr Ruppel clematis. Large pink flowers with a hot pink strip down the center of each petal. Brown and white "crown" at the center.

Several Multi-Blue clematis flowers on the vine. Purple petals with large blue puffy centers.

Several strigs of red currants ripening on the bush.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

It would appear we also have interference in NJ-12 from Florence Avenue Initiative, a Texas-based dark money group. Only seems to be going after Sue Altman at the moment. @atnj.org @njindivisible.bsky.social @acindivisible.bsky.social @indivisiblecentnj.bsky.social

A mailer from a Texas-based dark money group attacking a candidate in NJ-12

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

The figs are looking particularly lush this year with lots of tiny figlets forming. Due to the climate here, I need to grow them in large pots and haul them in and out of the garage every year. 🌱 #gardening

A picture of fig leaves showing how dense the foliage is.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Found some amazing strawberries at the farmers market. Added 'em to some rhubarb from the garden and made a crumb-topped pie. Homemade vanilla ice cream on the side. And, yes, my rhubarb is green, not red. I don't want to talk about it. 🌱 #gardening #foodsky 🍽️ 🍜

A bowl full of ruby red strawberries and green rhubarb in a bowl waiting to be turned into pie.

The baked strawberry-rhubarb pie cooling on a sheet pan.

A slice of the pie on a white plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream next to it.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Hoping my squirrel-fu is strong. Covered the zinnia and dill seeds with plastic trays anchored with sticks. Borage went under pots. It kept the little 🤬 from digging up the peas when I planted them in early spring. Parsley growing in a cage in case the 🤬groundhog returns. 🌱 #gardening

A raised bed with five plastic trays covering areas planted with zinnias and dill. Some basil top left and a wire cage containing parsley

A green flower pot protects borage seeds from being dug up by squirrels. I'll remove it once they germinate.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Spent a couple of days in Portland the other week. Benson Bubbler (contrary to popular belief they bubble water, not tattoo ink), Herring under a Fur Coat @ Kachka (not as bad as I thought it would be), Voodoo Doughnut (did't need to step over junkies this time) and the Butte Hotel (because "heh")

A Benson Bubbler water fountain with four fountains (contrary to popular belief they bubble water, not tattoo ink).

Herring under a Fur Coat @ Kachka (not as bad as I thought it would be). A layered salad, from the base up: potatoes, pickled herring, carrots, beets, beet mayonnaise and sieved hard boiled eggs.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Not sure how well valerian will hold up as a cut flower, but I finally found a use for the vase I made that only holds a single stem (not sure what I was thinking when I did that) 🌱 #gardening #herbs #pottery

A sprig of valerian flowers in a handmade blue and black glazed vase

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Some herbs blooming in the garden: Rue, valerian (nice vanilla scent) and chives growing next to the bee balm. 🌱 #gardening #herbs

White valerian umbels. They have a nice vanilla scent.

Purple chive flowers growing amongst the bee balm.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Watched a Babish video on YouTube the other day where he rated some pizza shops in NYC. Been to Scarr's and they definitely deserve the high rating. Too bad about Roberta's and L&B Spumoni Garden. Guess I have some new places to check out next time I'm in the city. #pizza #pizzanerd #foodsky

A screenshot from YouTube showing the ratings that Babish gave to NYC pizza shops based on their pepperoni slices.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Hand built a Japanese-style lantern from stoneware clay. The topknot was broken off and the top detached from the base during bisque firing 🤬. Used a couple of coats of rusted iron glaze which also glued the top and base back together. Pleased with the result. #pottery #potter #beginnerpotter

A greenware Japanese-inspired lantern before being fired

The bisque fired lantern covered with rusted iron glaze and ready to go in the kiln for the final firing.

The finished piece. The glaze ran during firing which stuck the piece to the cookie. You can see a bit under the right leg. Had to use the grinding wheel to take it off

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Variegated Solomon's seal blooming nicely, with a Columbine photobomb in the background. 🌱 #gardening #wildflower

A thicket of blooming green and white solomon's seal with a lone Columbine flower in the background.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Had some sourdough discard to use up so I made a loaf of Boston brown bread yesterday. Half for now and half for the freezer. No cream cheese, but we did have mascarpone. Some home made red currant jelly from the backyard bushes on top. 🌱 #foodsky 🍽️ 🍜 #gardening

Two slices of Boston brown bread cut from the loaf and sitting on a wooden cutting board.

A slice of the brown bread with a schmear of mascarpone and home made red currant jelly on a white plate.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Cool, gray & wet morning. Since I couldn't get outside to work in the garden I decided to bake a half batch of triple chocolate buckwheat cookies (recipe from @nigella.bsky.social) instead. Intensely chocolatey with a bit of chew from the buckwheat flour. Will be making again. 🍽️ 🍜 #foodsky

A parchment-line tray of cookies waits to go into the oven. I moved two around so that's why the parchment looks a bit smeary in places.

The baked cookies waiting for 10 minutes before being moved off to a cooling rack.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Moved the garden plants out of the nice warm basement from under grow lights to acclimate them to the cold, cruel world. Peppers, eggplants and basils still under lights; now moved outside; Tomatoes, salvia and datura; Both trays moved into the garden and into a squirrel-proof cage. 🌱 #gardening

A tray of seven different types peppers, two different kinds of eggplant and five types of basil still under lights and waiting to be moved outside.

The same tray as the last picture, now moved outdoors.

Seven tomatoes, blue salvia and yellow datura moved from the basement grow room to the outdoors.

The two trays of garden plants now living under a squirrel-proof cage, because #*$S@#!! squirrels

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Some pictures from a hike yesterday at a local wildflower preserve: Group shot of golden ragwort, purple phlox and Virginia bluebells; eastern shooting star; a patch of yellow trilliums; Meehan's mint. 🌱 #wildflower #gardening

Group shot of yellow ragwort, purple phlox and bluebells. All native wildflowers growing on a hillside

A tall stem of white eastern shooting star taking against a background of gray, lichen covered rocks

Purple flowers of Meehan's mint growing out of brown leaves

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Friday night pizza. Asparagus season in the garden so we're trying to eat it as fast as we can. Topped the pie off with arugula that overwintered. Plus a pepperoni, because you have to have a pepperoni pie. Both NYC thin crust. Recipe from @wordloaf.org . More info in the alts. 🌱 #gardening 🍽️ 🍜

White pizza with asparagus and red onion. Base is ricotta thinned with a bit of heavy cream, mozzarella, provolone and Romano. After a drizzle of olive oil the pie is ready to go into the oven.

The baked asparagus/red onion pizza topped with some arugula from the garden waiting to be cut.

Red-sauced pepperoni and garlic pizza cools on a wire rack. Had some red onion left over from the asparagus pie so threw those on top too.

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jlfire @jfire.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Hike today on Baldpate Ridge. Also, spring hiking with me: Wait, stop! Black cohosh. Wait, stop! cutleaf toothwort. Wait, stop! jack-in-the-pulpit. Wait, stop! pennywort gentian. Wait, stop! yellow violet, wood anemone, spring beauty, butterfly! Husband's response: 🙄 🌱 #wildflower

Black cohosh growing out of the forest floor.

Cutleaf toothwort, a spring ephemeral that's only around for about a month. Most had finished blooming at this point.

A rather blurry picture of a jack-in-the-pulpit.

Pennywort gentian. I've rarely seen this when hiking. It's a symbiotic with a mycorrhizal fungus, which in turn is also symbiotic with another plant according to the internet.

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