iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Emily C Taylor

Relatedly, I firmly believe the fastest way to improve your worldbuilding tools is to make your tools engineer sit next to a Worldbuilder for a day and just watch them use it. Worldbuilders are used to suffering in silence. Sometimes, tools engineers need to experience shame.

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Dr. Jenny Morber @jrmorber.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

It’s fun to finally have a little social experiment on “what if we try helping people”

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Mal-coal miner's ghost @themalcolmtent.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

what if the shaders just, like, stayed compiled. did no one ever think of that

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Kaldannan is too tired for this @kaldannan.myatproto.social · 28/09/2026

My provincial gov't slashed my monthly disability income by $200, which is all I need for the month's groceries. I also want Immi's pawprints tattooed over my heart, and need special ink from Engrave Ink, which will be custom made with her cremains. Anything helps. 💜 ko-fi.com/kaldannan/go...

ko-fi.com

Support Kaldannan

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Possibly dangerous though as companies tend to try and skew formulas to what they think is local taste, which is why Marmite in Australia is genuinely awful and they're not wrong to say Vegemite is better, and Kraft Dinner and Dairy Queen soft serve in Canada taste way better than the US versions. 🤔

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Apparently quite a few annoyed people on Reddit, and enough for the Toronto Star to publish an article about it, if my searches are anything to go by! 😅

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Discovered an unsuspected crisis in Edmonton today. Why are the news media sleeping on this?! One article from the Toronto Star in April and nothing since??? #marmite

Screenshot of the results from a Google search that asked “is there a marmite shortage?”

Answer:

Yes, Marmite is experiencing a widespread shortage and disappearance from shelves in 2026.

(link to Toronto Star article https://www.thestar.com/opinion/the-curious-case-of-the-vanishing-marmite/article_8e20d8a1-3be9-4aed-8020-999d05f5921f.html)

Current Shortage Status

• Canada: Shoppers report that major grocery chains like Superstore, Safeway, Sobeys, Walmart, and FreshCo have faced difficulties stocking or have delisted the product, leading to empty shelves in regions including Edmonton.

• Global & Regional Impact: Similar vanishings and delistings have been reported internationally, including in Singapore and Malaysia, where regional distributors noted the product was delisted.

• Availability: Stock remains frequently out of stock on online platforms like Amazon or is heavily limited to specialty import stores.

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

More #EQLegends fun last night with @druidsfire.bsky.social, this time rampaging around Blackburrow. Teeny tiny shenanigans ensued once we looted an item that had a 'shrink' clicky effect. 😆

A screenshot from EverQuest Legends with a very small froglok and high elf on the left, and a relatively enormous (twice the height) Sabertooth Overseer and other blue-and-green-armored, black-skinned gnolls on the right. The high elf paladin/wizard is shown mid-spellcast so a fiery spell effect surrounds her mace and trails backwards.

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Quarantegan @quarantegan.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

📣 Oct 1 #ThreatModelCovid: US's Covid surge still surging, Long Covid in prison, 5th measles death in PA, & more 🦠 Please share & support 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙡 newsletters (𝘛𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 #infosec / 𝘛𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 #covid) & their author, investigative journalist @violetblue.bsky.social www.patreon.com/violetblue/p...

patreon.com

Pandemic Roundup: October 1, 2026 | Threat Model

This newsletter is an inclusive, curated selection of new findings and fresh perspectives on Covid-19, dedicated to finding the highest qual

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Finally, the kind of sports news that interests me 🤣

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Adrian Tchaikovsky @aptshadow.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The war with the bicycles was over and the humans had won.

Black and white wall photo at Leeds station showing a bunch of people on a hillside with a lot of bicycles lying around.

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This Many Years Ago @thismanyyearsago.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

260 years ago, on the 2nd of October 1766, ‘Cheese Riots’ broke out at the Nottingham Goose Fair after Lincolnshire merchants had bought large quantities of cheese with the intent to sell it back home. The residents of Nottinghamshire did not want food to leave their county. #otd #history 🗃️

A satirical cartoon depicting a fat 'forestaller' being dragged along by a rope round his neck by a chain of countrymen, to the cheers of a crowd. On of them shouts: “How much now you rogue in grain?” Illustration by Isaac Cruikshank

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Jane Austen First Drafts @austen1stdrafts.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a novelty popcorn bucket that I can really love… spoke too soon.

The Sense and Sensibility book stack popcorn tin

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The Feast of Bears begins TODAY in #SpiritCrossing! It’s a 2 week seasonal event that’s all about our lovable square bears🐻. Get bear ears or a bear onesie! I’m super proud of this event which was the brainchild of yours truly. Wishlist and play on Steam today! store.steampowered.com/app/2321960/...

store.steampowered.com

Spirit Crossing on Steam

From the makers of Cozy Grove: Glide through pastel clouds, help lost spirits along the way, and design your own home nestled high on a mountain peak. Befriend strangers around a warm campfire, or sha...

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Thank you! I have eaten birthday buns, and I have a cherry pie and a chocolate cake awaiting 🤤

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I am pretty sure we have many more favourite authors in common if we compared notes 😄 And thank you for the good wishes!

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Tried “birthday buns” for the first time at dim sum brunch today with friends and they are charming little tear-shaped buns dusted with pink and filled with sweet lotus paste. Considering my close-to-20-year fondness for dim sum, how had I never tried these before? 😮 #YEGfood

A table covered with dim sum takeout containers and strewn with fortune cookies in between, and one open container holding 10 small teardrop-shaped white buns, dusted with pink.

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Reposted by Emily C Taylor

MMORPG.com @mmorpg.com · 26/09/2026

Content creator (and sometimes MMORPG contributor) @druidsfire.bsky.social sat down with the #DDO team to talk all things U82. www.mmorpg.com/videos/exclu...

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Other than Danielle Smith, presumably.

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Verdict: it was ok but nothing I’d reorder. The peanut butter was noticeable but unoffensive; the jam was not at all obvious. The mayo seemed superfluous to the theme. The friends I was with were not tempted to try it another time. The fries, however, were consistently excellent.

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Thank you, that’s certainly quite the intro of me 🤣

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Reposted by Emily C Taylor

Violet Blue® @violetblue.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

The agency is literally getting people killed with measles and food parasites, also preventable, so okay let's everyone trust them with deciding acceptable risks

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Brianne Battye 🦇 @briannebattye.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

New flash fiction is up on my Patreon! "the swan" is about the passage of time and the things that haunt you along the way. Available to all Lost Pages members. You can check out the preview here: www.patreon.com/posts/170408...

patreon.com

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Boo-rad Shankar @bradshankar.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Jennifer Hale once told me Canadians need to champion ourselves more. I wholeheartedly agree. Over the past few months, I reached out to dozens of Canadian devs to learn their favourite Canadian games. Their varied responses offer a wonderful spotlight on some of the incredible talent we have here.🍁

mobilesyrup.com

These are must-play Canadian games, according to Canadian devs

As Canadians, we don't champion ourselves enough, so we asked dozens of game developers to do just that.

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I also found you through your Star Trek books - you and Janet Kagan wrote the very best of them. And then went on to read much of your other work.

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Living on the wild side - finally trying the PB&J burger at The Next Act 😮 #YEGfood

Photo of a plate with burger and a large helping of fries

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Rob Delaney @robdelaney.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

If you or someone in your house is not trans, the only thing you should ever think about trans kids is “How might I brighten their day should I come across one?” Beyond that, you’re a fucking weirdo who is extremely useful to nazis.

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Yes, except then they would be far more likely to outlive US more often, and I wouldn’t wish the heartbreak or the grief of incomprehensible abandonment on them. This way it is ours to bear, at least in most cases.

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Pansy has been getting all the delicious roast chicken and aged cheddar cheese she wants, for the first time in a very long time. But tomorrow it is time to say goodbye. 😭 Hug your fur babies today on Pansy’s behalf - they’re never with us long enough, and it always ends so suddenly. 💔

Photo of a short-haired dark tortoiseshell cat, the only visible part of whom is a head poking over the edge of a blue velvet cat bed which is underneath a couch. The cat’s pink tongue is sticking out slightly as she licks scraps of roast chicken off an open human palm.

Photo of a short-haired dark tortoiseshell cat whose head and front paws are poking out over the edge of a blue velvet cat bed which is underneath a couch. The cat’s pink tongue is licking her lips. Directly below her head, an open human palm offers scraps of roast chicken.

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Nicolas Hénin @nicolashenin.net · 17/09/2026

Nice campaign by the Norwegian Consumer Council about the declining lifespan of products. Enjoy!

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Just lending @druidsfire.bsky.social a quick hand in the Estate of Unrest this evening ... literally... #EverQuestLegends

A screenshot from EverQuest Legends, set in a ruined bedroom in the Estate of Unrest. The tiled marble floor is browned with dirt and torn, cobwebbed once-red curtains hang in tatters around a window in the background. A blonde high elf with her hair in a ponytail and wearing a black and dark red robe is swinging a large metal mace in the direction of a giant disembodied hand, which is pointing its gold-ring-wearing middle finger at her while it uses its other fingers and thumb to walk. Its wrist ends in a gold metal cuff. Behind the hand, an armoured froglok is holding a sword.

Another screenshot of a room in the Estate of Unrest in EverQuest Legends, with dirty marble tiled floor and torn curtains in the background. An armored green-skinned froglok (but with bare green flippers) wielding two swords is attacking a disembodied hand, this time seen from the front as it rears up to attack, showing that the palm of the hand has a gaping mouth with a lot of teeth on it. A short distance behind the froglok, a blonde pony-tailed high elf holding a wooden round shield and a mace is casting a spell. The characters' names are Froufrou (the froglok) and Phoenix (the elf), fighting "a reanimated hand".

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Sadly it is not good news for Pansy, the ultrasound revealed 2 tumours, and there is nothing that can be safely done about them given her age and other health issues, so just trying to keep her comfortable until the end.😢 Anyone posting that stupid rainbow bridge poem will probably be blocked.

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Holly is amazing and stealing her was the smartest thing WoW has done in a very long time.

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Much poking and prodding has happened. Now getting ready for the ultrasound. Opinions are being Had, clearly. #CatsOfBlueSky

A grey fabric cat carrier open at the top with the head of a short-haired dark tortoiseshell cat looking out accusingly at the person holding the camera, who also has one hand reaching reassuringly into the carrier. A whiteboard in the background reads:
Welcome
*Pansy*

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Pansy’s getting an ultrasound today as she’s peeing blood and her vet found a growth in her bladder. She can't make it up onto the bed any more so I have been sleeping on a foam pad on the floor for the last week to be close, and the only thing that hurts more than my back right now is my heart. 💔

A fairly recent photo of a short haired dark tortoiseshell cat lounging in a blue plush cat bed with front and back legs hanging over the edge. There is an olive green throw in the background and a red, orange and green crocheted afghan in the foreground.

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

The awkward thing about having worked at SOE for ~10 yrs is that it's highly likely I know at least some of the people who made and/or approved the female dark elf "sexy lingerie armour" look. It feels uncomfortably like knowing what kind of porn/kinks your coworkers like. 😬 #yikes

A screenshot from Everquest Legends showing two female dark elves fighting in the basement of Befallen. The character in the foreground is "A Teir'Dal rogue" and has her back to the camera. She is bowed slightly forward as she has just taken a hit. She is blue skinned with white hair, holding a rapier and wearing brown leather "armour" - this looks like leather strips with no supporting straps wrapped around the middle third of her torso (a "boob tube"), revealing bare back below and bare back and shoulders above. Her legs are covered with brown leather pants, but there are large cut outs at the back so that blue butt cheeks are entirely bare with only a small leather thong between them. The dark elf in the background is wearing full black/blue platemail armor.

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I finally got Dark Plate Leggings that fully cover female dark elf butt! I then asked in general chat if anyone knew where I could get a matching breastplate so as to be actually clothed. Another female-elf-player mailed me an Enameled Black Chestplate in sympathetic solidarity. 😂 #EverQuestLegends

A screenshot from EverQuest Legends. Two female dark elves face each other in battle in a basement room of Befallen. Checkered dark and light marble floor tiles and a large fallen rock are in the background. On the left is a "Teir'Dal priestess" with blue skin, white hair, and light gold plate armour, wielding a mace and shield. On the right is "Didi the Legend", also with blue skin and white hair, but wielding two swords and in fully black platemail armour. The priestess is losing the battle.

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I'm already in a guild in #EQLegends, but gotta admit these sound like a fun bunch 🤔🤣

Screenshot of part of a chat window from EverQuest Legends, purple text on black.

Forrn tells NewPlayers: 1, 'I like Brutall he's cool'
Texicus tells NewPlayers: 1, '<Antoniocan Secret Service> is recruiting! We're a loose collection of Wine Moms and people who identify as Wine Moms -or- 1972 AMC Gremlins. We're LGBTQ+ friendly. You will be issued a license to ill within 48 hours of joining.'

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Goodness, how scary! Glad you're okay and were with people who could help!

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Bilwise 🏴‍☠️ @snackcart.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Interesting thread on U-Boats and game theory. ⚓

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Alexei Pepers @apepers.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Oh hey since this is going around again - while the GDC talk is still trapped in the vault, I re-presented it at last year’s @roguelike.club preview event! So if you want the presentation instead of the paper, check it out :) m.youtube.com/watch?v=H5EU...

m.youtube.com

Alexei Pepers - Designing for System Suspense

YouTube video by Roguelike Celebration

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

In retrospect, maybe going to fight the Muglwump as a froglok seems slightly wrong? But, it did attack first. And did not say "mama?" when it saw me. Also, it tried to eat the high elf first, which is clearly a sign of common sense. 😁@druidsfire.bsky.social #EverQuestLegends

Screenshot from EverQuest Legends showing a huge tadpole-like creature called "The Muglwump" with two front legs attempting to eat a high elf in a black and red robe who is ducking behind her round shield so only her flying blond ponytail is visible above it. At the tail end of the creature, a green-skinned and orange-eyed froglok in a black platemail chestplate and white leggings is stabbing its tail with a sword. Several kobolds are also joining the fight. The muddy ground beside the pond that formerly held The Muglwump is highlighted by a very large bright red target ring, as the creature is level 25 and the pair fighting it are only level 11.

A screenshot taken some time after the previous one, the high elf and the froglok stand looking at The Muglwump's corpse, which is now lying on the ground with its eyes closed, resembling a giant tadpole but with one webbed front foot visible beside its cheek.

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

#TFW you are a froglok (a natural master of swimming skill), but need to get a high elf (who's only encountered water by accidently falling into fountains) across the Toxxulia Forest river. Steal a boat!! Shame I wasn't playing my bard at the time, for the full gondolier vibe. #EverQuestLegends

A long narrow greyish wood boat on greenish-blue water with a yellow-brown sky in the background. In the middle of the boat sits Froufrou, a froglok in plate armour (who is steering the boat), and standing behind her in the boat is Phoenix, wearing an elegant red and black robe and holding a mace and shield. All graphics are in the polygonal, 25-year-old style of original launch EverQuest.

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Now seems apropos to mention I am eagerly awaiting my new Pebble Round smartwatch - repebble.com - and its up-to-weeks of battery life. See more from @ericmigi.com

repebble.com

Pebble Smartwatch — Official Store

Pre-order the new Pebble Time 2 and Pebble Round 2 e-paper smartwatches and the Pebble Index 01 smart ring.

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Reposted by Emily C Taylor

Cindy Phan @cindyphanauthor.com · 09/09/2026

Deep cut but without our Crown Royal where will Americans keep their dice?

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Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

A THREAD, which I am calling 'Some Of The Many Reasons Lichen And Moss Are Fucking Brilliant'. 1. They make public seating super comfy.

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

#Caturday Pansy photo. She is 20 years old now and sadly losing a lot of weight and not doing well recently, but I’ve been her human for the last 19 years and I’m trying to keep her as happy and comfortable as possible while she’s still with me. 💔 #CatsOfBluesky

A short-haired dark tortoiseshell cat lying in a blue plush cat bed with one front and one hind paw draped over the edge and her head resting on the edge against a round grey pillow. Her eyes are closed and she looks very relaxed. A green cotton throw is in the background and a green and orange crocheted blanket in the foreground.

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Emily C Taylor @pentapod.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Can confirm it is an excellent book (and sapient pillbug, though I had to explain to my English aunt that pillbug = woodlouse)😃

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