iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Today’s pain point. Just filled up. Ouch.

Gas station price and gallons meter. 20.787 gallons. $105.99

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Tiny praying mantis. Blue to the left is a power cord for size reference.

Tiny praying mantis on a leaf beside an extension cord.

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Maryland could use more of these bumper stickers.

Bumper sticker, “Not a student driver, just bad at driving”

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Blue. The gift that keeps on giving. Ostensibly a rescue.

Cairn terrier slumped over the arm of the chair.

Cairn terrier resting his head on the arm of the chair.

Cairn lounging on the outdoor furniture.

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Gosh, maybe college pays off?? “Net Worth by Education Level: Just How Much Wealthier Are College Graduates?” Daniel Liberto Investopedia apple.news/AoWGKe9c_Rlm...

“Key Takeaways
Households headed by a college graduate have a median net worth that's four times higher than those with only a high school diploma.
College grads are more likely to own assets like real estate and retirement accounts that have historically multiplied wealth over time.
Homes owned by college graduates are worth more than double those owned by high school graduates.”

Excerpt From
“Net Worth by Education Level: Just How Much Wealthier Are College Graduates?”
Daniel Liberto
Investopedia
https://apple.news/AoWGKe9c_RlmXDDEzifvR_g

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Here are the undergraduate programs that pay off (and some that don’t) - The Washington Post One that gets me, but not sure if she just wasn’t fully quoted, is below. Isn’t it also useful to identify the programs that do pay off? Why only the anti-college program take?

“We do not have the capacity to replicate this analysis for all 50 states, and that’s a huge deficiency,” said Beth Akers, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank who also sits on the board of the Postsecondary Commission.

Still, Akers said the methodology could be useful for future studies to help identify college programs that aren’t helping people increase their earnings enough to justify the cost.”

Excerpt From
“Here are the undergraduate programs that pay off (and some that don’t)”
The Washington Post
https://apple.news/AUAS7x922TI2PJfBQ2YEizQ
This material may be protected by copyright.

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

My dog. Yes. He’s a bit odd. But comfy! This is Blue, our Cairn.

Sprawled out blonde Cairn terrier on the couch.

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Last vacation sunrise in Cabo San Lucas.

Photo of two clay sun faces on the wall in morning sunrise sunlight framed by shadows on the was of an iron railing and bamboo plants in a large clay pot.

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Rothko-esque skies inspired by Stieglitz.

Blue skies with two contrails left to right reminiscent of Rothko divisions.

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

And the reason this sign exists:

Sign on cart corral asking people to sort carts in large and small cart lines.

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Expansive graphic in this article. Wow. So surprising to me to see so many countries in the IndoPacific and Africa - hadn't seen as much coverage on those regions I guess. www.npr.org/2026/03/18/n...

Map showing drone use in warfare around the globe - Mexico, South America, of course the Middle East, Ukraine and Russia, but so many countries in Africa and in the Indo-Pacific surprised me.

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Yesterday, snowy landscapes in Maryland.

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

I’d bet someone was having fun and hope they don’t get fired. Probably useful for some people I can think of. Probably like The Eagles song - you can checkout anytime you like but you can never leave?

Facebook ad for Marriott self-checkin kiosk. The word Hello is obscured by a video play button and cut off to say “Hell” so it looks like you can check in and out of Hell. Guessing this could be useful to some people…

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

From the U.S. Department of Education website. Seriously.

Your application is being reviewed. You can typically expect a response in 45 days.
Dec 4, 2025
We recieved your application for review.
Dec 6, 2025
We recieved your application for review.

"Received" is spelled incorrectly.

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

Blue is (im)patiently waiting for it to be dinner time. Which is not until 5 pm.

Blue, our Cairn terrier, laying close to my feet and intermittently whining for dinner time.

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James Schmeling @jschmeling.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Success. A few parts deliver tomorrow to finish the drain lines properly. Water heater $2300. Parts about $300. Install helper $500. (These things are HEAVY! My back is paying a price.) Oh, and it has WiFi! I can monitor performance, leaks, temp, energy usage, change modes, set schedules and more!