iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 27/09/2026

I negotiated a settlement with a wasp that involved payment of part of my pancake in exchange for enjoying the rest of my meal in peace

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 25/09/2026

I love these old-timey mail chutes in hotels like the majestic Fairmont properties in Canada (this one at Le Château Frontenac in Québec City)

Mail chute at the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Québec City

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 19/09/2026

An inspired pop-up installation in Toronto: What should we make room for?

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 18/09/2026

The cutest amenity at the Halifax Stanfied Airport: a library book vending machine

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 17/09/2026

Thursday rant. Last night I pre-arranged an Uber to take me to the airport this morning. Upon arrival at the airport, Uber emails me that the price they charged is 10% higher than what I agreed to last night because [shrug].

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 06/09/2026

Good news about the Queen’s Park Crescent East sign: They remembered the apostrophe  Bad news: They had no idea where to put it

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 05/09/2026

Looks like you can take the girl outta the west coast but you can’t take the west coast outta the girl mydialect.us/quiz-standar...

A dialect heat map showing greatest similarity with San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle and least similarity with New Orleans, Houston, and Atlanta

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 04/09/2026

Me: I need to send a fax IT: UofT does not have an approved fax solution Me: stares into the distance If anyone needs me, I'll be embarking on a quest through time to the year 1987 to find a fax machine, to make a call from a payphone, and to rewind a VHS movie.

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 04/09/2026

Something promising on the horizon for those who suffer from repeat, severe urinary tract infections: phage therapy. An investigator "likened antibiotics to an atomic bomb being dropped onto a patient’s flora. “Phage therapy is more like a sniper system,” she said." jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

jamanetwork.com

Trials Test Phage Therapy for UTIs

This Medical News article discusses recently launched clinical trials of bacteriophage therapy for recurrent and multidrug-resistant urinary tract infections (UTIs).

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 03/09/2026

Hack for minimizing time on hold with airlines Step 1: Never change your plans Step 2: Never let the airline change your plans Follow me for more impossible travel tips

Screenshot showing current time on hold with Air Canada is 1 hour and 29 minutes

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 02/09/2026

Not a good time to go for a walk right now in Toronto

EMERGENCY ALERT /
now
ALERTE D'URGENCE
Environment Canada: DESTRUCTIVE WINDS AND VERY LARGE HAIL in this mobile coverage area.
Take immediate cover in a basement or interior room if weather threat approaches. Shelter from flying debris if outside.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning, 5:08 p.m.
EDT Wednesday 2 September ||/ Environnement Canada: VENTS ET TRÈS GROSSE GRÊLE dans votre zone actuelle de couverture cellulaire.
Réfugiez-vous sans tarder au sous-sol ou dans une pièce sans fenêtre en cas de temps menaçant. À l'extérieur, protégez-
vous des débris projetés.
Alerte d'orages violents, 17h08 HAE

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Reposted by Lisa Kramer

Canadian Paintings @canadianpaintings.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Diindiisi - Blue Jay Jim Oskineegish ~ Anishinaabe n.d.

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 31/08/2026

Lately a lot of clearly AI-generated material is finding its way in front of me. People send me content, as if it’s their own creation, when it’s clearly not. I’m finding myself increasingly exhausted by this.

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 27/08/2026

The paywall at Wired seems to suggest I ought to get my affairs in order

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 23/08/2026

Increasingly, even when talking to human customer service reps, it seems I'm actually talking to AI. Today in a chat with Bell Canada, the rep's reply began with "Here's a polished and professional version" suggesting the human agent was just an interface between me and an AI agent. Sigh.

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 22/08/2026

I listen to news headlines most mornings over breakfast. Today, CBC News led with coverage of the lack of a US-Canada trade deal, which will have major repercussions for both countries. NPR News Now didn’t even mention the matter and led with a discussion of the Whitehouse ballroom. 🤷‍♀️

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 21/08/2026

Playing hooky today in my favorite Toronto urban oasis, Tommy Thompson Park, aka The Spit. Please don’t tell anyone.

An isolated trail in Toronto’s Tommy Thompson Park

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 21/08/2026

I exist in a quantum state where I both want a cat and absolutely do not want a cat. I will continue living this way until someone leaves a meowing cardboard box at my doorstep.

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 18/08/2026

As my husband and I near the end of Season 2 of Resident Alien, I have discovered that we’ve been streaming the show through *my* profile on Netflix, tarnishing my (mostly) sci-fi-free viewing history and making me dread future algorithmic recommendations.

static.klipy.com

Resident Alien Bullshit

Alt: “Harry” the main alien character on Resident Alien, saying his trademark lament, “This is some bullshit”

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 17/08/2026

Well that’s not great: a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Toronto. It’s so frustrating that any vulnerable* person who lives in the vicinity of a poorly maintained rooftop cooling tower is at risk in cases like this. www.toronto.ca/news/toronto...

toronto.ca

Toronto Public Health investigating Legionnaires’ disease cases in Bathurst Street and Dupont Street area

News Release August 17, 2026 Toronto Public Health (TPH) is investigating an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in an approximately one-kilometre radius of the intersection of Bathurst Street and Dupon...

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 11/08/2026

Just met the handsome praying mantis who lives in the tiny rooftop garden where I live.

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 10/08/2026

I am so sad. I have spent so much time observing the livestream of Jackie and Shadow’s nest, watching them raise and love their eaglets, the latest of whom recently fledged. Jackie and her family of eagles will always hold a special place in my heart. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/u...

nytimes.com

Jackie, Bald Eagle in California Who Became Livestream Star, Is Dead (Gift Article)

Jackie had been receiving medical treatment since she was attacked by other eagles last month and found unable to fly near Big Bear Lake.

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 10/08/2026

Hey fellow economists, does this strike you as a little sneaky? The Lyft app offers to “let” people reveal their willingness to pay if they pay a fee! Seems like a win-win for Lyft, not so much for the rider.

A happy looking Lyft rider with a caption:

Lock in your commute price
Now, you can cap the price of rides you take regularly for just $2.99/month. Set your route and request a ride within the one-hour window of your choice. Cancel any time.
Get started

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 10/08/2026

I missed my connection back to Toronto due to thunderstorms in Chicago. The rescheduled flight is now delayed because they need to change a tire. They deplaned us passengers while they do that. But the plot thickened when a Chicago police car, ambulance, and then fire truck pulled up to the gate.

An ambulance and fire truck by a United plane at Chicago O’Hare airport

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 06/08/2026

Everywhere I go this summer, it seems wildfires have already arrived. Current coordinates: Bozeman, Montana.

A Bozeman firetruck with a wildfire-smoke infused sunset in the background

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 30/07/2026

Funk and Wagnall’s, purchased by my forward-thinking mother one volume at a time at our local grocery store

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 30/07/2026

The air quality in the Air Canada lounge at Toronto Pearson Airport ain’t the best. Why does this still happen in so many public places when it’s clearly at odds with public health standards? (CO2 should be well below 1000ppm if we want to think clearly/avoid illness.) Don’t we all deserve better?

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Reposted by Lisa Kramer

Andrew Sabl @andysabl.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Hey folks, I’m O positive and gave a double unit of red cells last Saturday. I say this not to puff myself up but just the opposite: most people can give blood; please consider it. (And please consider re-posting.)

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Reposted by Lisa Kramer

dr. thrasher, an american writer in ex(archia)(xile) @thrasherxy.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

said it for years: you don’t have to always mask. but if you masked in easy to do, non eating scenarios as much as you can bear, ie —planes —busses —trains —stores —movies —concerts —offices —HOSPITALS you’d be sick less, save lives & enjoy life much more

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 22/07/2026

I’m married to someone whose response to the question “how old are you?” is always the age he will be after his next birthday, never his current age.

static.klipy.com

Confused Math Lady Meme: Huh?

Alt: A woman looking like she is doing intense computations in her mind with an overlay of rapidly changing math symbols

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 20/07/2026

It’s the second time this month that other people weren’t logged out of their streaming services when they checked out of a hotel before my stay. This makes me extra attentive about logging out of my own accounts prior to checkout!

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Reposted by Lisa Kramer

🍁Mel🇨🇦 @melhathnofury.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Here’s instructions on building your own Corsi-Rosenthal box.

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Reposted by Lisa Kramer

Canadian Paintings @canadianpaintings.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Canadian Wildfires Kim Dorland 2023

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Reposted by Lisa Kramer

Matthew Borus @matthewborus.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

This is a helpful read.

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 15/07/2026

It’s the first time I’ve seen Claude Code credits as the award in a research grant competition

Data Sciences Institute – Claude API Credit Award

July 15, 2026 • Reply to OSI Research
The University of Toronto Data Sciences Institute (DSI) is pleased to announce our Claude API Credit Award competition.

OVERVIEW

Claude Code Projects: Up to $10,000 worth of API credits

Claude Research Projects: Up to $100,000 worth of API credits

Duration: 1 year

Purpose: Claude API Credit Awards provide access to Anthropic’s Claude API to support multi/interdisciplinary training and collaborative research in data sciences that include faculty from the University of Toronto and funding partner research institutions.

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 12/07/2026

Never would have predicted vector autoregression would become such an important a consideration in football (niche post)

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 11/07/2026

The Pacific Northwest has something to say about the pronunciation of England footballer Bellingham’s name

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 11/07/2026

I’m at the “OK fine, I’ll pay for a sports channel in 4K” point in my life

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 11/07/2026

I stopped watching the #FIFA #WorldCup after Canada was eliminated. Yesterday my mom sent me a highlight reel of Erling Haaland scoring and I confidently told her it was clearly AI. Imagine being humbled by both a Norwegian striker and your mother in one day.

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 10/07/2026

Someone at the Apple Store wants to make sure his human doesn’t forget to pick up the latest mouse accessory

A cat in a kennel on the Genius Bar counter at an Apple Store.

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 02/07/2026

This week in northern Ontario I learned the difference between a horse fly and a stable fly. Do not recommend.

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 01/07/2026

Took a boat to Flowerpot Island, in Fathom Five National Marine Park. Happy Canada Day!

Big Flowerpot in the foreground, a boat in the background

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 30/06/2026

Took this ferry from Manitoulin Island to Tobermory today

An Ontario ferry that takes cars and passengers across Georgian Bay (Lake Huron)

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 30/06/2026

I’m staying at a hotel on Manitoulin Island and the TripAdvisor reviews definitely neglected to mention the spiders

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 29/06/2026

The most adorable squirrels call Philosopher’s Walk, on UofT campus, home. One is all blonde. Three (juvenile siblings?) with blonde tails love to chase and play.

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 27/06/2026

To earn the privilege of booking an overpriced flight, Air Canada now makes passengers complete 10 bizarre little puzzles. Get one wrong? Complete 10 more bizarre little puzzles. I suspect this may not be the most inclusive way to check for a human.

"Use the arrows to pick the image where the character is pointing at the shortest road, as shown in the leftmost image (4 of 10)"

"That was not quite right. Make sure the icon that the character is pointing to, is the same icon on the key image, for the shortest path"

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 21/06/2026

I’m reading a medical microbiology textbook and I’m realizing it might change the way I look at everything 🦠

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Lisa Kramer @lisakramer.com · 19/06/2026

I just somehow managed to put my desktop computer on airplane mode, locking myself out of being able to deactivate airplane mode because my mouse and keyboard rely on Bluetooth. Yes, it's about time for the weekend to begin.

static.klipy.com

Minion Otto's Muddy Trip and Fall

Alt: A distracted minion trips and lands in a pile of mud

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