iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Lars @lpeds.com · 17/09/2026

Buster Crabbe, other Olympians, selling cigarettes.

Vintage illustrated Camel cigarette advertisement featuring Olympic swimmer Buster Crabbe. A comic-strip sequence shows Crabbe surfing, training, racing in the 400-meter swim, and winning by a narrow margin. Large headlines read “Buster Crabbe Makes Olympic History in the 400-Meter Swim!” and “They don’t get your wind!” The ad promotes Camel cigarettes with images of cigarette packs and endorsements from Crabbe and other Olympic champions.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 10/09/2026

My fantasy baseball team in the last week of the season as injuries mount.

A Revolutionary War scene showing three American musicians—two drummers and a fife player—marching forward through smoke and chaos beneath a tattered U.S. flag. Their expressions are animated and determined, while soldiers move through the hazy battlefield behind them. In the foreground, a wounded or fallen soldier lies among broken equipment and debris, raising an arm toward the musicians.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 27/08/2026

That’s a Wire Fox Terrier (like Asta, of The Thin Man movies). Here’s Popcorn, a WFT resident of this household, in her hiking boots:

A wire fox terrier wearing bright red booties and a purple harness stands on a dusty trail, looking up eagerly.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 25/07/2026

And next, a very clean Dodge Raider (?) that appear to be a rebadged Mitsubishi Montero? That’s a new one for me.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 25/07/2026

I’m no @tamslick.bsky.social but here are a couple of automotive curiosities from the morning walk: a semi-restored early 60s Chevy Nova. (I drove a Nova wagon of this vintage, for a time, in a teal that matches this car’s primer.)

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Lars @lpeds.com · 12/07/2026

Suddenly no longer trying to be relevant.

Screenshot of a magazine or newspaper article discussing Senator Lindsey Graham. The headline reads, “What did happen to Lindsey Graham?” The opening paragraphs describe a reporter meeting Graham in his Senate office in Washington, where he is slumped behind a cluttered desk, drinking a Coke Zero and complaining of exhaustion. Graham says, “From my point of view, if you know anything about me, it’d be odd not to do this,” and, when asked what “this” means, replies that it is “to try to be relevant,” adding that politics is about what works and produces desired outcomes. The article text is shown in a clean serif font on a white background.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 27/06/2026

The shape of things to come.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 12/06/2026

Always fun to see a slippery slope argument deployed to preserve the sanctity of the death penalty.

Screenshot of a quoted passage from Alabama Attorney General’s Office lawyers stating that a proposed ruling would be unprecedented in U.S. history because it would permanently prohibit a method of execution authorized by the legislature and broaden the concept of cruelty under the Eighth Amendment.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 15/04/2026

Some number of UPC symbols back in the day. Seventy bux on eBay today.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 07/04/2026

SpaceX Falcon 9 launch tonight as seen from coastal Orange County.

Twilight sky over a coastal neighborhood with a glowing, jellyfish-shaped rocket plume streaking across the horizon.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 27/11/2025

I think they should reboot Gunsmoke just so we can watch Jon Hamm play Marshal Dillon.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 31/10/2025

“The Procrastinator’s Monster” or “Hole Saw”

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Lars @lpeds.com · 25/10/2025

Many great things to share from this interview with the Swedish actor Skellan Skaarsgard. This one is the sweetest. www.vulture.com/article/stel...

Screenshot of a Vulture.com interview excerpt. The interviewee discusses money and family, saying they’re not interested in getting rich but enjoy spending and having fun. They describe taking their family to Italy while shooting a film. When prompted to elaborate, they explain that they bring their family and friends to make it easier socially. They recount having 43 Swedes living in Frascati outside Rome during the filming of the first Exorcist movie, working long hours as the lead actor, and seeing their family only on weekends. Despite spending much of the film’s earnings, they say it was worth it because the house was “vibrating with joy” from constant parties.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 17/10/2025

We have a 10 year old jar of whole nutmeg that’s going to be passed down for generations. Here’s a picture of it.

A small glass jar of Frontier Co-op Whole Nutmeg sits on a tiled kitchen counter. The label reads “Nutmeg Whole Hand Sorted” and includes checkmarks for “Non-GMO,” “Non-ETO,” and “Non-Irradiated.” The jar has a black lid and contains several whole nutmeg seeds visible through the clear glass.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 10/10/2025

I have accepted John Ruskin’s coinage of ‘illth’ into my priors to hold this idea place:

A smartphone screenshot displaying a passage from John Ruskin’s Unto This Last, Essay IV, p. 182 (1860). The text begins: “Wealth, therefore, is ‘The possession of the valuable by the valiant’; and in considering it as a power existing in a nation, the two elements, the value of the thing, and the valour of its possessor, must be estimated together.” The passage continues with Ruskin arguing that many considered wealthy are not truly so—they are like “pools of dead water” or “dams in a river,” inert or obstructive rather than productive. He coins the term “illth” for such destructive or stagnant accumulations, contrasting it with true wealth that benefits society.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 30/09/2025

My Garmin fitness watch is amazing. Here, in its VO2 max tracker, you can clearly see when I increased my run frequency from two runs per week to four. I’m afraid what might happen if I increase it to five.

A line graph showing VO₂ max values from July 9 to September 30. The graph is flat at about 40 from July through early September, then drops steadily in mid-September to around 37 by September 26. The x-axis shows dates (July 12 through September 26) and the y-axis ranges from 36 to 40.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 29/09/2025

Caught a rare one today.

A digital trading card featuring the North American T-6 Texan aircraft, shown in a top-down silhouette with darkened wings. The card is labeled “Rare” at the top. Statistics are displayed: first flight in 1935, wingspan 13 meters, 2 seats, rarity 7.40, speed 181 knots, weight 2.55 tons. At the bottom are indicators: “Paper,” 4,701 XP, a camera icon with 98%, and a cloud icon with 84%.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 31/07/2025

Who knew so much technology went into your morning cup of coffee?

Diagram of a Melitta coffee filter highlighting its features. Left side labels: ‘100% chlorine and bleach free,’ ‘40% bamboo, 100% pure coffee flavor,’ ‘certified compostable,’ and ‘gluten free and kosher certified.’ Right side labels: ‘microfine flavor-enhancing perforations,’ ‘double crimped design helps protect against bursting,’ and ‘thicker paper traps impurities for a smoother cup.’ Background text describes Melitta’s innovation for a rich and flavorful coffee experience.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 28/07/2025

Here’s Popcorn testing her new hiking boots. No cuts, no stickers, no burrs. No complaints.

A wire fox terrier wearing a purple harness and red dog boots stands alert on a sandy trail, with a red leash leading out of the frame. The background shows a dirt embankment with dry brush and plants.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 20/07/2025

Free Robert Irwin ⬇️

A rectangular opening in a wall frames a view of a sidewalk, green lawn, and trees on a college-like campus. Two people walk hand-in-hand down the path, away from the viewer. The image is taken from inside a shaded space, emphasizing the bright, framed outdoor scene. This artwork, titled Window Wall by Robert Irwin, uses architectural framing to create a visual composition resembling a photograph or painting.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 23/06/2025

Here’s a picture of my dog not caring about the news.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 29/05/2025

ChatGPT screws it up, too. The o3 ‘thinking’ model cleaned it up, after 33 seconds of cogitation:

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Lars @lpeds.com · 14/05/2025

Quote post this with a picture of an airplane you’ll accept as a bribe.

A vintage tri-motor airplane, specifically a Ford Trimotor, is flying over a body of water. The aircraft has a polished metal exterior with a blue nose and cockpit area. Three radial engines with spinning propellers are mounted on the wings and nose. The view is from above and slightly in front, capturing the aircraft in mid-flight against a backdrop of calm blue water.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 09/05/2025

Ehh, forgot to share the billboard:

A post from Seth Miller (@wandrme.paxex.aero) includes a photo of a billboard and reads:
“On the plus side, I now have a much better image of the billboard.
Of course, now they can also file a copyright claim/DMCA on this post since they took the photo. [eye-roll emoji]”

The billboard in the photo says:
“Does your vacation support their deportation? Just say avelo”
With “no” overlaid in red to make “avelo” read as “aveNO.”
Text below says: “Paid for by Avello Action Alliance - aveNO.com”
The billboard features a yellow and orange sunburst background and a partial image of an airplane tail.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 04/05/2025

His brain is stew meat but he speaks the truth. Let’s apply it to the nation’s billionaires. “They don’t need a billion dollars. They can have three dollars.”

Here is the alt text for the image:

A quote from a man speaking on NBC reads: “I’m just saying they don’t need to have 30 dolls. They can have three. They don’t need to have 250 pencils. They can have five.” The passage explains that he focused on certain aspects of the economy — including energy prices — and dismissed rising costs in other areas. He is also quoted saying, “When you say strollers are going up, what kind of a thing? I’m saying that gasoline is going down. Gasoline is thousands of times more important than a stroller.”

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Lars @lpeds.com · 03/05/2025

You can trust it with the alt text, though.

Alt text: A screenshot of a ChatGPT interface. ChatGPT says, “Would you like a short poem built around that idea?” The user responds, “I’ll handle the poetry writing in this relationship. You lack the necessary piece.”

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Lars @lpeds.com · 01/04/2025

Speaking of gainsaying, I think this post shows that the marginal cost of a new article on the NY Times’ website is close to $0.

A photo of a shared bed with two separate blankets and pillows. The left side has beige bedding, and the right side has pink bedding, illustrating the concept of the Scandinavian sleeping method where each partner uses their own blanket.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 30/03/2025

This classic airship features a pneumatic bumper (for hard landings?).

A vintage, black-and-white cutaway diagram of the U.S. Navy airship “Shenandoah.” The illustration shows multiple labeled views, including an exterior side view with six attached gondola cars, a head-on view, and a detailed interior cross-section. Text labels identify the keel corridor, gas cells, control car, power cars, and other components. Various annotations explain the airship’s length, diameter, and arrangement of key systems like fuel tanks, ballast, and steering mechanisms.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 28/03/2025

Tucked in there is one I hadn’t seen earlier (BitMEX founders):

Mr. Trump also this week pardoned the three founders of the cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, who had pleaded guilty in 2022 to violations of the bank secrecy act, one of the people familiar with the matter said, as well as Trevor Milton, who was convicted by a federal jury in 2022 of defrauding investors in the electric truck maker Nikola.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 15/03/2025

@nytimes.com hey I’m a subscriber. Whenever I visit your site, I’m greeted by a pushy pop up advertisement prompting me to use your smartphone app. (see attached). Can you switch it off? It’s distracting and I don’t want to read your paper via an app. Thank you.

The image shows a partially visible news article from The New York Times, written by Mitch Smith, reporting from Des Moines on March 14, 2025. The visible portion of the article states that the Justice Department moved on Friday to dismiss its Biden-era challenge of an Iowa law that made it a state crime for some undocumented immigrants to enter. A pop-up overlay appears at the bottom, encouraging readers to continue reading in the app, stating that it offers benefits like staying logged in, receiving customized notifications, and easier article exploration. The pop-up includes two options: a button that says “Read this article in the app” and a smaller “Not right now” link underneath.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 31/01/2025

YOU ARE HERE——⤵️

A black-and-white scene from It’s a Wonderful Life showing a neon “POTTERSVILLE” sign at night. A man in a coat and scarf stands nearby, looking at it. Snow covers the ground, and buildings with lit windows are in the background.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 01/01/2025

If we taxed our billionaires, we could have holiday decorations all the year ‘round.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 13/12/2024

Can’t argue with that.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 06/12/2024

a movie you’ve never seen that everyone else has #filmsky

The movie poster features the title “Titanic” prominently at the bottom, with the bow of the Titanic ship pointing directly forward in the center. Above the ship, a romantic image shows Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet embracing tenderly, with their faces close together. The tagline reads, “Nothing on Earth could come between them.” The credits and production details are listed below the title, with James Cameron noted as the director.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 01/12/2024

This guy (John Ruskin) had Musk and the rest of our wreckless billionaire class dead to rights all the way back in 1860:

The image contains text from Unto This Last by John Ruskin, specifically from Essay IV, page 182 (1860). The highlighted portion discusses the concept of “illth,” which Ruskin contrasts with wealth. He critiques those commonly considered wealthy but whose accumulation of wealth acts as “accidental stays and impediments,” causing “various devastation and trouble around them in all directions.” Ruskin argues that such “illth” is not genuine wealth but rather a source of harm or stagnation in society.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 14/11/2024

Well she’s a good looking dog. When we were between dogs a few years ago we considered looking for an Irish Terrier. We wound up choosing another Wire Fox Terrier. Thanks for sharing so many pix of Mabel! Here’s one of Popcorn:

A small, fluffy white terrier with curly fur is perched on two orange cushions on a blue couch. The background shows a bright, mid-century modern living room with white brick walls, a colorful painting, and a glimpse of a dining area.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 13/11/2024

Private. Here’s a screenshot:

The image presents a list of political appointments made by President-elect Donald Trump on November 11 and 12, 2024, for his upcoming administration. The appointments include:
• White House Counsel: William McGinley
• Department of Government Efficiency: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy
• Department of Defense: Pete Hegseth
• Central Intelligence Agency: John Ratcliffe
• Department of Homeland Security: Kristi Noem
• Environmental Protection Agency: Lee Zeldin
• White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy: Stephen Miller

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Lars @lpeds.com · 12/11/2024

Pat Haden After college he was featured in a Scholastic book fair book called Football’s Fantastic Four (Haden, Dorsett, Bert Jones, and Sweetness; no idea why Haden was included). There were a lot of ‘SC fans in the family, so I started young.

The image shows an American football player wearing a red jersey with yellow numbers, specifically the number 10. The player appears to be on the field during a game, standing in a quarterback position, preparing for a play. He is wearing a helmet and white pants with red and yellow stripes. The background shows other players and a blurred crowd, indicating a live game setting. The credit for the image is given to George Long.

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Lars @lpeds.com · 08/11/2024

Great hockey player. Too bad about the fascism.

The image shows two photos side by side.
• Left photo: A group of five people is standing indoors, dressed formally except for one man wearing casual clothing, including a red “Make America Great Again” cap, a white shirt, and grey sweatpants. The others are dressed in suits and gowns, posing for a photo.
• Right photo: Two men are standing outdoors at night. One of them is wearing a black suit and a “Make America Great Again” cap, while the other man, also dressed formally, smiles for the camera.

The caption below the image states: “Wayne Gretzky’s politics have shocked some Canadians, while others aren’t at all surprised. (Credit: Paulina Gretzky/Instagram, Larry Glick/Instagram).”

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Lars @lpeds.com · 31/10/2024

Happy Halloween. Look who’s here to tax a billionaire.

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