iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I saved up for a smart telescope recently, tonight's the first clear night for it. Set it up on our little balcony in Berlin, blipped a few app buttons not expecting too much, and HOLY SHIT

The moon. But like, exceptionally moony. Moontacular. Shot through a telescope. Faintly frightening, lots of craters and dark bits and shit.

Sweet little space guy called the dumbbell nebula. Looks a bit like an apple core. Wild stuff.

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

That's just called glasses mate

A BBC In Depth headline reading: They were labelled 'pervert glasses'. Will a camera-free version transform their image?

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Daughter made this awesome flower crown at the community festival. She then refused to wear it, so I had to do the honours, and I may finally have found my kind of headwear.

A man in a jazzy print shirt does a sort of blue steel expression but misses it and looks a bit like a duck instead. He wears a flowery wreath on his head

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Behold the mega éclair. Hark at its stately glory. Fear its untold power. #foodsky

An absolutely gigantic chocolate eclair in the process of being cut by a bread knife.

The thing is more than a foot long. It glistens with a chocolate glaze picked out in white icing, possibly some kind of ancient runes

The eclair now cut open to reveal a centre absolutely packed with chocolate cream.

It's from the Recolte patisserie near Paris by the way

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Disneyland Paris parade goes harder than I expected

An animatronic, metallic segmented dragon breathes a jet of fire, smoke swirling from its nostrils. It's backdropped by a cloudless sky

In the background a pink french townhouse style building and a small tree.

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Well yesterday was fun, wasn't it? I wrote a @eiserne-internationals.com report on that first day of the season feeling, a boat trip, and a wild game of football. NB: we're between websites, so I span this up - shout if it breaks 😀 #unveu eiserne-internationals.netlify.app/posts/union-...

eiserne-internationals.netlify.app

Lustri’s chaos pixies pull off an epic collapse and an epicer comeback against Frankfurt · Eiserne Internationals

Match reports, travel and terrace talk from the Eiserne Internationals — the international supporters of 1. FC Union Berlin.

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Reposted by Mark in Berlin

Eiserne Internationals @eiserne-internationals.com · 26/08/2026

This Friday we'll be attending the @unionberlin.bsky.social International Party, be sure to drop by! 🙂

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Eine schlechte, aber auch gute Erfahrung gestern. Mein Papa ist in Sek 4 wegen der Hitze ohnmächtig geworden (es geht ihm wieder total gut). Viele Leute sind geeilt, um zu helfen, Wasser zu geben, die Sanitäter zu holen usw. 1/

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Reposted by Mark in Berlin

Joe Bryant @awaydayjoe.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

My club @ipswichtown.bsky.social play here on Saturday… 🌳🌳🏟️🌳🌳 FC Union Berlin🔴⚪️ Very cool club, amazing fans & an iconic stadium🔥 This is what it looks like. If you’re going, say #Eisern 👋 from me. You may see my #Lego stadium! #FCUnion #itfc

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Reposted by Mark in Berlin

852dude @852dude.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Bro. People are cool as fuck.

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

All timer #sunset tonight in Berlin, shepherds must be absolutely thrilled

A fiery orange-red sunset with jagged clouds over a landscape of trees, with a gravel path leading into the distance

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Farewell, sweet Aeropress prince. 11 beautiful, caffeinated years together. We made I'd guess 5000 coffees together, all over the world. Your rubber seal thingy may have perished, but your memory never will.

An aeropress with a shit load of miles on the clock

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Hamburg bound - first time seeing Everton in person for about 15 years today! #efc

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Morning run views in the hills above St Peter - savouring this before we're back to Berlin!

A horse on the ridge of a hill in morning sunlight, with shaded hills in the distance

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Spectacular moonrise over the Black Forest tonight, phone camera never does it justice 😀

An orange moon rising framed by an apple tree and the hills of the High Black Forest

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Morning run with a view in the Hochschwarzwald! Almost worth the endless uphill slog to get up here 😀

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

"What if, instead of warmups and stuff before the game, we unleashed the biggest wave of bullshit imaginable? What could that look like?"

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Freiburg has some excellent selling points. You can be on a tram in the middle of the city, your child randomly asks to go on a cable car, and 20 minutes later...

A child looking out of a cable car window over green pastures

View from a cable car window of evergreen forests far below

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Fun fact: 80% of nations could improve their World Cup performance, by learning this one weird trick FIFA don't want you to know.

The Collins dictionary definition of the word 'defend':

defend
(dɪfend IPA Pronunciation Guide)
Word forms: defends, defending, defended
1. verb B1+
If you defend someone or something, you take action in order to protect them.
Every man who could fight was now committed to defend the ridge. [VERB noun]
His courage in defending religious and civil rights inspired many outside the church. [VERB noun]
They would have killed him if he had not defended himself. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
[Also V n against n]
Synonyms: protect, cover, guard, screen More Synonyms of defend

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Adding to the list of reasons why I think BER is actually a good airport

Public world cup viewing in the airport at Berlin Brandenburg

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Spent a few days in Italy last week and of course the food was great overall, but holy smokes this little place next to the beach in Albisola. The friendly lady who runs it turns out the most beautiful seafood from her tiny kitchen. Look at these prawns! 📍Rosa dei Venti, Albisola 🇮🇹

A view from a restaurant table of luscious green plants and a shaded pathway leading under a bridge to a beach. Wooden boats line the side of the path

A plate of the biggest, juiciest prawns just perfectly cooked with a touch of honey (Gamberi Al Miele)

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Morning run with a different vibe today! 🇮🇹

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Tired: suit bags Wired: suit duffel bags

Just a plain old black duffel bag, also the merest hint of a baby in the corner.

SURPRISE the duffel bag is actually a suit bag

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Berlin, Berlin, wir fliegen aus Berlin!

View from a plane window shortly after take off. A green landscape with a field of solar panels, and a rainbow on the horizon

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

A gorgeous run through the Wuhlheide in the cool after rain tonight. Berlin's green spaces are something quite special.

A verdant meadow bordered by trees in full bloom. A gravel path with a distant cyclist winds through the middle.

Clouds bubble in the evening light above

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

I need to inform you that Séfi is at it again #fcunion www.reddit.com/r/soccer/com...

Girlfriend meme with the guy (labelled Andras Schäfer) looking at a girl labelled Long Range Thunderbastards and ignoring his girlfriend, labelled Tap Ins

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Sure, we could line up the crossing signals, that's one option. But we could also

A German pedestrian crossing with 3 sets of signals. The middle one is green. The nearest and furthest are both red.

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Imagine being the person who discovered bread. "Hey what if I put this beige puffy ball in a hot place for half an hour oh that looks good oh that tastes good holy shit." I repeat: magic.

A loaf of freshly baked bread on a countertop

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

There are few things in life more pleasing than a nicely risen ball of dough. Looks nice, smells nice, feels nice, and magically turns into bread.

A nicely risen ball of white bread dough in a bowl

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

A stunning day in South Wales ☀️, the running up here was less fun 🥵 but still sort of fun.

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Run with a scenic view this morning

Caerphilly castle with moat, under clear skies

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Lots of drama across the Bundesliga on the last day, but I think the English Championship takes the prize. Southampton beat Middlesbrough in the playoff semi final last week, but just got kicked out, because they sent this master of disguise to spy on them before the game...

Headline text from a website:

Southampton expelled from Championship play-offs over 'spygate' with Middlesbrough reinstated

The spy, incredibly visibly filming Middlesbrough training, only barely hidden behind a tree.

Later revealed to be a Southampton employee

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

A fun report to write, for the first and last time this season! What a brilliant day that was. www.unionberlin.international/blog/fcu-fca... #fcunion #fcufca #unveu

unionberlin.international

Match Report: Augsburg (H)

Sweet dreams are made of these

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Lol who is this team playing beautiful confident football #fcunion

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Today's game of spot the Ritter Keule

View of a child looking through the fence onto the pitch

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

This little corner of the Wuhlheide looking particularly vibrant at the moment

A woodland path with a naturally growing arch of green plants with long, lilac blooms. Wisteria?

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Well this turned out pretty nicely!

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

A draw dragged from the jaws of defeat. Not an easy watch, but that Burcu rocket sparked the most chaotic celebration I can remember in a long time. Eisern!

Stadion and Der Alte Försterei tifo in Red and White check

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

I made bread and maybe just maybe the tin was too small

A loaf of bread with what can only described as a hairstyle. And not a good hairstyle.

The haircut scene from Fleabag, where Claire gets an asymmetric bob and then absolutely loses her shit over it.

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

We finally get an actual road surface, but much more importantly, we get to gaze in hushed reverence at this thing.

A fucking awesome road making machine. How do I describe this majestic beast?

At the very front is a full on articulated lorry with a trailer full of what I guess you would call pre-tarmac?

It lifts up to pour the asphalt into the hungry maw of the main machine, which looks like the sleek lovechild of a tank and a tractor.

It has it's own smelter on the front because why the fuck not. Stones for breakfast.

Then it shits out road at a perfect height, smooth and beautiful. It has a crew of 3, and a fancy control panel that I never saw anybody touch. I will be part of this crew one day.

A guy came with a steamroller afterwards but it was totally unnecessary due to the perfect work of the RoadGod 9000

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

No particular love for either team, but I am in favour of the rule changes for PSG vs Bayern being more widely implemented: 1. All teams to contain at least 5 showboating flair pixies 2. Defending to be actively avoided until the ball is inside your own penalty area

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Because I, extremely casual runner, only understand running numbers in the context of Strava, I checked the Sawe marathon km pace. It works out as 2:49/km. For 42km 🤯 That's a marathon and a sprint!

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Seems to be 'taste of home' weekend! Made a steak and ale pie as a birthday request for a guest. I found that Beinscheibe is an incredible, cheap cut for slow cooked beef dishes like this. Getting it out of the tin in one piece was nerve-wracking! #foodsky

A pie on a board, with a puff pastry crust

The pie being cut open with a (fairly blurry to be honest) beef filling. The picture is blurry. The filling is not blurry.

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

Bit of a faff to make here in Germany, but some Saturday mornings just beg for a Full English! #foodsky

A full English breakfast, with bacon, roast tomato, hash brown, a fried egg, silly little Nürnberger Rostbratwurst because they're the closest thing to a breakfast sausage, mushrooms, and myriad baked beans

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Beautiful Wednesday evening in Köpenick. Look how packed it is here!! #fcunion

A view through the Sektor 2 fence of the alte Försterei for union Vs Bayern in the Frauen-Bundesliga

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Featuring the loudest 'Fußballgöttin' imaginable, a media circus, two beautiful goals at the wrong end, and the greatest jacket ever seen on a toddler. www.unionberlin.international/blog/fcu-wob...

unionberlin.international

Match Report: Wolfsburg (H)

The more things change, the more they stay the same

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Mark in Berlin @markjb.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

Spotted on a recent road trip! If they weren't made in the Thüringen town of Lederhose, they're technically not Lederhosen. They should instead be called Sparkling Trousers.

A German motorway sign with signs for Berlin Leipzig Erfurt and Lederhose

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