iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Picking 9 is hard! It’s weird that there’s no synth pop, but in the 80s I mostly bought pop as singles or best-ofs.

A poster of 9 album covers that were instrumental in forming my taste in music.

Computerwelt
Kraftwerk

Équinoxe
Jean Michel Jarre

Phaedra
Tangerine Dream

Orbital (brown album)
Orbital

Blue Lines
Massive Attack

Big Science
Laurie Anderson

Trilogie de la Mort
Éliane Radigue

Selected Ambient Works 85–92
Aphex Twin

Thursday Afternoon
Brian Eno

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

At least I have the means to go out and seek some pleasant distractions.

A plate of rare steak with watercress and fancy potatoes, accompanied by red wine and a book.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I’d’ve thought that “the people with the most enduring interest in children's education” were the children.

Photo of newspaper article about a parents’ lobby group:

A new group wants to give parents a stronger voice in education policy, arguing the people with the most enduring interest in children's education are missing from the debate.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

My first thought was “Wow, that IS big news!” Second thought: “Oh, they probably mean a specific one.”

Scan of a newspaper headline saying “Death ‘utterly preventable’”

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I’ve been re-reading some of my favourite Borges stories, and this passage from Funes the Memorious struck me. Maybe it’s just the parallels to my current life, but I love the way he conveys character through amusingly verbose pomposity in a way that somehow manages to be actually moving.

On the fourteenth of February, I received a telegram from Buenos Aires saying I should return immediately, because my father was "not at all well." May God forgive me; the prestige of being the recipient of an urgent telegram, the desire to communicate to all Fray Bentos the contradiction between the negative form of the message and the peremptory adverb, the temptation to dramatize my suffering, affecting a virile stoicism, perhaps distracted me from all possibility of real sorrow.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Good news! After many years Aro Café will be serving dinner as well as daytime food. Terrible news! They’re advertising it with a revolting, slimy-looking slop poster.

A screenshot of Aro Cafê’s Facebook page, showing an egregiously revolting piss-filtered slimy lumpy generic-bar-and-grill-style “AI” ad for their new Cambodian-ish dinner offering.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I’m not sure whether this is a high-concept risqué ad campaign, a very high-effort piece of street art, or someone just messing with an existing ad.

A billboard on a multi-storey car park. The board itself is blank, but there are multicoloured 3D lowercase letters on it, like giant versions of fridge magnets. The top row says “fuck it”, and below it the letters v and m are arranged seemingly randomly.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Time for a food break. This looks like a balanced diet.

Two platters: (sourdough with mustard butter, pickled chillies and Iberico Chorizo; Sardinian parchment crackers with aged Edam, port jelly and muscatels). Also: a cocktail called Man Down (Rye, Cynar and Pedro Ximenez).

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I asked for something a bit crisper and more refreshing, and from the provided options I chose a Gloria (gin, Campari, dry vermouth and curaçao). Very Negroni-esque, as one would expect, but more…playful?

A pinkish cocktail in a coupe, with a twist of orange.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Amazingly, my closest matches are in New England. Not that surprising, given that I’m from old England. But the questions are fun, partly because of the number of times I thought “What? Who the hell says THAT?!”

A heat map of the US, mostly blue but strongly red in the northeast, especially from
New York to Boston.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Followed by a Black Barrel (rum based, with sherry and Rabarbaro rhubarb amaro). Spectacular! Almost chocolatey, but balanced with lemon and subtle bitterness.

Another orange-toned cocktail, with more of the bar visible this time, and a bottle of Rabarbaro Amaro in the background.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Finally got around to buying The AI Con by @emilymbender.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social. Ironically, it was from a bookshop that specialises in esoterica. The owners must think “I’ll trust Blavatsky and Crowley, but Musk and Altman? That’s ridiculous!”

A paperback book cover, with the title “The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech's Hype and Create the Future We Want”

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Starting with a Spanish Town (an old fashioned based on spiced rum and orange curaçao). An excellent start!

A rocks glass with a giant ice cube, rich orange-brown cocktail and an orange twist.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

It’s not always great to be a gnome (at least not in Christchurch in winter).

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Thank you my friend! I’m believe this view of a destroyed table at Ombra will act as prof of my felicitude.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Luxon: “here’s some bullshit” Hipkins: “here’s some bullshit, but in red”

Quote from the Scoop article:

"For small businesses, Al has enormous potential.
It can help a plumber get quotes out faster, a retailer manage their stock, or a small exporter find new customers overseas - freeing up time to focus on the work that grows their business," Chris Hipkins said.

"We want to see small businesses get quicker off the ground and have access to the same Al support as big competitors," Labour small business spokesperson, Dan Rosewarne said.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

…you can’t get more “bog standard Tory” than this. If you wanted a Canterbury Nat from central casting, this is what they’d send you.

Excerpt from Wikipedia page.

Richard James Gerard QSO (born 20 October 1936) is a former New Zealand politician. He was a National Party Member of Parliament from 1984 to 1997.
~ Early life
Gerard was born on 20 October 1936 in Canterbury. His father was the National MP Geoff Gerard. Gerard received his education at Christ's College and then became a sheep farmer in Cheviot. He held several roles with Federated Farmers.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Some people vote for these clowns on the basis that they’re “good with numbers”.

Screenshot from the RNZ article:

Takanini MP Rima Nakhle was "128 percent" sure National would return to government, and list MP Nancy Lu said her party "will definitely be re-elected".

Both were confident they would keep their seats on current polling.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

I was on my way to lunch, then oops, I fell into a Zinefest.

Various zines and artworks, including an illustration of Pegasus Books, two little zines by @birbdog, and one with an ominous black & white cover, based on The Call of Cthulhu.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

More seriously, here’s the latest update from WREMO (whose only social media presence appears to be on Facebook and Xitter).

Partial screenshot from Wellington Region Emergency Management Office Facebook page, 55 minutes ago.

SEVERE WEATHER UPDATE 26 JUNE
...
9.30AM UPDATE
We have started to see some impacts from the weather warnings today, including power outages, flights and ferries cancelled, and reports of trees downs and roofs lifting.
We are working closely with our local councils and emergency services partners to actively monitor and manage the situation. Please continue to follow their channels for local updates.
We urge the public to take caution if they are out and about today, and to stay home if possible.

Rain
- Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.
- Take extra care on the roads.
- Clear stormwater drains to help prevent surface flooding if it is safe to do so.

Wind
- Strong wind gusts like these have already started damaging trees and powerlines.
- We would encourage people to avoid parks and reserves due to the danger presented by falling trees and branches.
- If you haven't already and it is safe to do so, you should secure any outdoor items like wheelie bins, trampolines and outdoor furniture that may blow around.

Screenshot continued

Swells
- Take care walking or driving along roads exposed to the sea today. There is a risk of water and debris coming onto the roads around Wellington and Wairarapa's south coast.
- We would strongly encourage people to not head out on their boats today.

Followed by an alert symbol and “Severe Weather Wellington Region” in large text.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

There’s an old saying that “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes”. Unfortunately, today in Wellington the right clothes would look like this:

Black and white photo of an old-timey diving suit.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Oh not at all! (see bookshelf snapshot for proof). I’m just thinking there’s a distinction between being in a genre looking out and being outside a genre looking in, if that makes sense.

Corner of a bookshelf full of Ballard, Winterson and others.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Typical! After half a dozen revisions I spend a few hundred dollars on printing some copies to share with friends…and there’s a typo on the first page.

A stack of spiral-bound A4 printouts containing an infeasibly thicc novel. The cover is the same as in the previous post, with the title “Beyond the Flame”. Not shown: embarrassing typo on first page.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Steps 4 and 5 done! Well, it vaguely resembles a book cover and will do for now. I can start sending EPUB versions to friends, and in the next couple of days I’ll print out an A4 version for those without e-reader devices.

An iPad showing an ebook reader app with the cover of my book “Beyond the Flame”. It shows the title in bold sans serif capitals over an ominous sky, with a city skyline merging into a pattern of interlocking circles and some sort of mysterious symbol. The colours are fiery shades of red, orange and yellow.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

I guess this is MetLink’s way of saying “computer says no”.

MetLink’s journey planner web app, showing top “suggested routes” with travel times of 1579 and 473 minutes.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

I do love a Moist Owlette. But here: have a warm leveret. Warm. Leveret.

Stock photo of a leveret (young hare) in warm weather.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Step 1 of the above is now complete. I have a rough EPUB export on my iPad so that I can do some line and copy editing at my leisure. This feels weird: like it’s really happening.

Photo of parts of an iPad screen showing a reader app, with the title “Beyond the Flame draft 2.4 manuscript” and a few snippets of actual text featuring nonsense about verandahs and rain on asphalt and crashing waves.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

I don’t want to start any blasphemous rumours but I think that God has a sick sense of humour and when I die I expect to find him laughing

Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music, playing acoustic guitar and singing to children in an alpine meadow.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

On one level, it’s lovely to see people swimming near Oriental Bay on a lovely still, sunny day. On the other hand, it’s only 2 weeks to the winter solstice, and this feels weird.

Freyberg beach, looking north towards the Newlands hills. Several people are swimming near the beach or out by the dive platform. In the foreground: golden sand. In the background: mostly blue skies with a hint of sun flare.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Accidental BlueSky juxtaposition provided an amusing (though almost certainly wrong) answer to this question.

Screenshot of BlueSky, showing the post in question (about PorHub dedicating its main page to which vegetable), preceded by a post from MetService comparing severe ocean swell to the 7.5m tall Ohakune carrot.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Well, if anyone would pay me to sit in Loretta drinking wine and reading weird books, then…that.

A restaurant table, with an almost empty glass of red wine and a book about Baphomet.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

There’s a pop up vintage shop on Taranaki St near Vivian, and I have the feeling some of this might appeal to some of you.

Carved wooden kava bowl held aloft by a wooden octopus.

All sorts of vintage crockery and kitchenware, including Temuka stoneware in its box.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

*cough* unfortunately mostly gathering dust since I switched to other projects, but for many years it brought me lots of inspiration and pleasure, and (contrary to the memes) got me making more music than I had done in ages.

A wall of Eurorack modular synths and other audio gear.

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newimprovedtom.bsky.social @newimprovedtom.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

I know it’s trivial compared to the downpours elsewhere, but it feels utterly unheimlich when the temperature is pushing 19° in Wellington at 10am in June.

Heavy grey skies over a light industrial landscape, with ominous shafts of rain and ragged low cloud in the distance.

MetService graph for 1 June, showing the temperature at 18°C in the early morning, peaking at 18.5 at 10am.

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