iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Emily Wood @ebwood.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Francisco de Zurbarán, Still Life with Lemons, Oranges and a Rose, 1633, The Norton Simon Foundation

Still life painting of a deep brown wooden shelf against an inky black background with (from left to right): four lemons stacked on a silver plate; oranges piled in a basket, with a couple branches with green leaves and delicate white flowers atop; and a white cup of water and pink flower on another silver plate.

Peter Sokolowski @petersokolowski.bsky.social · 4h

It's nice when a hack ready-or-not loud big-band trumpeter is asked to join the brass choir of a symphony orchestra to add muscle to the Janáček "Sinfonietta," as happened yesterday.

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Peter Sokolowski @petersokolowski.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I'm thrilled to announce my upcoming book: BY DEFINITION: The Surprising History of the English Dictionary To be published in February! read.macmillan.com/lp/by-defini...

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Peter Sokolowski @petersokolowski.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

RIP to arranger Marion Evans at 100 years of age. He arranged the Tony Bennett duets with Laday Gaga! Come for the swinging chart, stay for the burning Clark Terry trumpet solo (and Steve Lawrence was a great singer). www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yto...

youtube.com

Half As Much

YouTube video by Steve Lawrence - Topic

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Jesse Sheidlower @jessesword.com · 01/10/2026

Attention everyone I know! Perfectly accurate, no notes. (Forwarded to me; ultimate source unclear.)

Image headlined "WHAT YOUR FAVORITE OBSOLETE ENGLISH LETTER SAYS ABOUT YOU", with thumbnails of MSS focusing on thorn, eth, wynn, yogh, ash, insular G, and long S; each one has the label "You are a nerd."

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Gretchen McCulloch @gretchenmcculloch.com · 01/10/2026

Huh. Today in "always look up the etymology because sometimes you're just repeating a myth but sometimes it's weirder and more incredible than you could have possibly imagined" www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/c...

Screenshot of Merriam Webster etymology note for cockamamie:
By the look and sound of it, cockamamie (also spelled "cockamamy") could have something to do with a rooster and the outrageous sound it makes. But in fact, cockamamie is believed to be an altered form of the term decalcomania, which refers to the process, invented in the mid-19th century, of transferring pictures and designs from specially prepared paper to surfaces such as glass or porcelain. (The word referring to the picture or design itself, decal, is a shortening of decalcomania.) The word decalcomania comes from French, with décalcomanie combining the verb décalquer, meaning "to trace" or "to transfer by tracing," and -manie, meaning "-mania." Starting in the 1930s, painted strips of paper with images capable of being transferred to the skin were called decals or—in children's slang—cockamamies. Those familiar with today's temporary tattoos will understand quickly that these were regarded by many as silly novelties, lending the word cockamamie the necessary leeway for application to anything ridiculous.

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Peter Sokolowski @petersokolowski.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I'm thrilled to announce my upcoming book: BY DEFINITION: The Surprising History of the English Dictionary To be published in February! read.macmillan.com/lp/by-defini...

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Reposted by Peter Sokolowski

Belt Publishing @beltpublishing.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Coming January 27! Natalia Mętrak-Ruda digs into pączki's ancient origins, and how chefs are reinventing the pastry in Warsaw/Polish restaurants. It’s obviously become a celebrated staple for many of us in the Midwest, as well! Charming and informative, with both new and traditional recipes!

beltpublishing.com

The Pocket History of Pączki

By Natalia Mętrak-Ruda January 19, 2027 Pre-orders now open! The Long, Delicious Journey of Pączki From Warsaw To Polish-American Bakeries Fried dough, traditionally filled with rose hip jelly, and c...

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Simon Davies @simonfd.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

That really would be a limited edition

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The Bibliographical Society @bibsoc.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

2026 is the 550th anniversary of England's first printer, William Caxton, establishing his printing press in Westminster, London. To celebrate, the Bibliographical Society is hosting a series of videos from libraries in the UK and around the world introducing viewers to items printed by Caxton ...

youtube.com

Caxton 550 - YouTube

2026 is the 550th anniversary of England's first printer, William Caxton, establishing his printing press in Westminster, London. To celebrate, the Bibliogra...

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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Tweed is such a beautiful fabric to wear this time of year because it produces, in Dolly Parton's phrasing, a coat of many colors. Even a solid-colored brown is not just brown, but bits of red, blue, and yellow to produce something that looks lifted off the Scottish landscape.

There are two photos taped together. The top shows a brown stone building with a brown thatched roof. It's surrounded by green grass, stone walkways, and blue-gray sea. Below is a checked brown tweed that reflects the colors in the landscape above it.

There are two photos taped together. The one at te top shows a rocky hillside with green and straw-colored grass, gray rocks, and a tan sandy beach below. The blue waters are crashing at the shore. Below is a green herringbone tweed that reflects the colors in the landscape above it.

There are two photos taped together. The top shows a field of green and straw colored fields with bits of purple flowers. Below is a a series of checked brown tweed that reflect the colors in the landscape above it.

A swatch book of solid-colored tweeds. The green tweed has visible flecks of red, gold, and blue.

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Jesse Locker @jessemlocker.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Happy birthday to Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio, born on this day in 1571. Why not celebrate with glass of wine and some decaying fruit?

Caravaggio, Bacchus, c. 1596, Oil on canvas, 95 x 85 cm, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence
A painting of a model posed as Bacchus, wearing a crown of grape leaves and a toga and offering a glass of wine to the viewer as he leans on an old cushion. On the table in front of him are a decanter of wine and basket of decaying fruit

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Johnson's Dictionary Online @sjdictionary.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

JohnsonsDictionaryOnline.com is back online! The lookups work. It will be a little while longer before the "about" and "how to" pages are back. Thanks for your patience!

johnsonsdictionaryonline.com

Johnson's Dictionary Online

Supported by the University of Central Florida, NEH and Center for Humanities and Digital Research (CHDR) .

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Blue Note Records @bluenoterecords.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Nat King Cole's 1956 vocal jazz masterpiece "After Midnight" showcased his suave vocals & exquisite pianism while channeling the elegant swing of his beloved Trio into a relaxed jam session. A new 2LP Tone Poet Vinyl set of the complete recordings comes out Nov. 13 store.bluenote.com/products/nat...

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Jesse Locker @jessemlocker.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Cornelis Norbertus Gijsbrechts, Reverse side of a painting, 1670, Oil on canvas, 67 x 87 cm (Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen)

A trompe l'oeil painting of the back of a canvas, and a little (illusionistic) tag attached with a wax seal that says "56)

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Dr Laura Varnam @drlauravarnam.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

10/10 no notes 🤣 I once received an essay where the student didn’t realise that autocorrect had done a number on King CNUT 🤭🫣

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Chris Robinson @chris-robinson.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Because it's Trane's 100th bday, I'm re-upping this deep cut: my piece from 10ish years ago on the 50th Anniversary of A Love Supreme.

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The Religious Experience of John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme”

Fifty years on, the masterwork has come to stand for everything that is real and authentic in jazz

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Rick McLaughlin @rickmclaughlin.com · 23/09/2026

Happy 100th, Mr. Coltrane. Love this track, and the first motif of the theme is one of those frequently quoted lines that has lost its title. #music #musicsky #jazzmusic #jazzsky #johncoltrane www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfte...

youtube.com

John Coltrane - While My Lady Sleeps (Official Audio)

YouTube video by John Coltrane

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Mark Stryker @markstryker.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

For today's John Coltrane centennial, I wrote 2,000 words re: the new archival release The Tiberi Tapes. Here are 19 to whet your appetite: "When I finally heard Tiberi’s tapes, the first words that leapt to mind were “revelatory,” “electrifying,” and “holy shit!” www.tabletmag.com/sections/art...

tabletmag.com

Coltrane's Shadow - Tablet Magazine

The legendary ‘Tiberi Tapes’ reveal new sides of the master, even to his biggest fans

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Ethan Hein @ethanhein.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I'm teaching Ellington this week and it's John Coltrane's 100th birthday today so you know what has to go on the playlist www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiP7...

youtube.com

In A Sentimental Mood

YouTube video by Duke Ellington - Topic

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Peter Sokolowski @petersokolowski.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I feel like two other possible universal New Yorker cartoon captions would be: "Please like and subscribe." "And where do you get YOUR podcasts?"

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Jonathan Fruoco @jonathanfruoco.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

It's publication day!! La Légende des bonnes dames et les poèmes courts offrent une réflexion essentielle sur l’amour, l’exemplarité et l’autorité des récits dans la littérature médiévale. Please share widely. #medievalsky @classiquesgarnier.bsky.social

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Rocky N. Bullwinkle @lproulx.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

First Coltrane of the day. As sideman to the great Red Garland. Enjoy!

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Jack Lynch @jacklynch000.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

It’s the Coltrane centenary.

Black and white photo of John Coltrane on stage, c 1964.

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Josh Shepperd @joshshepperd.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Today’s John Coltrane’s centennial. Listening to his music taught me as much about thinking as Gramsci, Husserl, Hall, or Anderson. One of the very few historical figures who I’d call a hero.

m.youtube.com

India (Live From Village Vanguard/November 1,1961)

YouTube video by John Coltrane - Topic

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McKie's Disc Jockey Show Lounge @mckiesdjlounge.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Coltrane at McKie's Lounge, 1963 #Coltrane100 photo by Ray Flerlage

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Megan L. Cook @meganlcook.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The blueskiest bluesky thing is 400+ quote tweets, each of them individually pointing out that Shakespeare didn't write in Olde English but honestly R&J isn't even a good fit for Eggers, he needs Jacobean tragedy, give this man the Revenger's Tragedy or Women Beware Women and I would be SEATED

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Peter Sokolowski @petersokolowski.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

TL;DR: once the Reformation established that the Bible should be read at home, and in the home language... people needed dictionaries!

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Peter Sokolowski @petersokolowski.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

TL;DR: once the Reformation established that the Bible should be read at home, and in the home language... people needed dictionaries!

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Peter Sokolowski @petersokolowski.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Samuel Johnson has a cameo in this presentation! Complete with Joshua Reynolds portrait...

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Erin Brenner (she/her) @ebrenner.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I mean, how could you not attend? Can't wait!

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Peter Sokolowski @petersokolowski.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

le smoking ("tuxedo") le footing ("jogging") le pressing ("dry cleaning") le parking ("parking lot") le brushing ("blow drying") le shampooing ("shampoo")

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Peter Sokolowski @petersokolowski.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

"a public strumpet" was Samuel Johnson's definition about 25% of Webster's big 1828 dictionary was from Johnson, but "a public strumpet, a mere hireling" is word-for-word from Entick's 1791 dictionary, primary source for Webster Entick was looking at Johnson's 'Dictionary'

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Noah Webster's Dictionary Online - 1806, 1828 @nwdictionary.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

ANIMALCULE, n. [L. animalculum, animalcula.] A little animal; but appropriately, an animal whose figure can not be discerned without the aid of a magnifying glass; such as are invisible to the naked eye. Encyc. webstersdictionaryonline.com/1828/ai/00159

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Levi Stahl @levistahl.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

So words are things? —Better to say: things are words. —John Crowley, Endless Things

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I HAD NO IDEA! For people of a certain age -- my age -- this was one of the very funniest things ever seen on TV.

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