iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 02/10/2026

If your book club meets at the Nazi Bar, you’re in the Nazi Book Club

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Tim Carmody @tcarmody.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

This is the funniest thing I've seen today, possibly ever

A tweet by SarahStarberry that says "oh god read the vertical axis" on top of a chart measuring AI models' release dates and model numbers rather than any real capabilities

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 30/09/2026

Finally getting the hang of the Ricoh GRIIIx HDF. Slagged in reviews, but it just has a steep comfort curve, and then it punches where it should Check out the reds in these unedited pics, amazing richness without bleeding or losing detail #photography #ricohgriiixhdf #nybg #bronx

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 29/09/2026

Okay, VW bus at the Botanical Garden, go hard on this Tuesday afternoon

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 29/09/2026

My local bagel favorite A.M. Bagels is hilarious because they have like 'sausage, egg, and cheese' and 'pork roll...' sandwiches and then weekly they do one special that is always the greatest, most off-the-chain bagel sandwich ever. Here is this week's special

The Special Sandwich at A.M. Bagel (surrounded by pumpkins and Halloween decor) is steak, egg and white cheddar with caramelized onions, pickled jalepenos, arugula, and brown butter sage cream cheese

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 28/09/2026

How can you have a Substack called “Against All Enemies?” Should be “Against All Enemies (except that big one, you know who)”

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 28/09/2026

Trump is like The Great Gatsby if you realize Trump is Gatsby and Daisy and also Tom, and we are the narrator, Nick, and Trump also thinks he’s Nick

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Reposted by Phil Berne

Kevin Gannon (now a Moo Deng fan account) @thetattooedprof.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Fellow GenXers: remember how often we were bombarded with images of late-period USSR? Old, decrepit men in charge, clinging to an ossified ideology. Political repression, nakedly false propaganda, empty shelves, food shortages, inadequate health care, deep-seated cynicism, crumbling infrastructure

static.klipy.com

Ironic Star Wars Moment

Alt: A smirking emperor palpatine says "ironic."

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 26/09/2026

When I ran InfoSync I was interviewing a new writer who asked if he could postpone because his audition ran long and he was still in costume and makeup He was auditioning for American Idol. I said get over here now I hired him immediately and he ran the site when I left years later

Mike Perlman’s American Idol Wiki entry. He is dressed like an 80’s Rock legend with awesome big hair and face lightning bolts and holding a silver boom box

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 26/09/2026

I don’t usually root for law enforcement, but this is my hometown team so…

A quote from a CT Insider story that says: “I’ll catch you outside and rip your face off,” one judicial marshal allegedly told ICE agents, according to the statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE.

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 26/09/2026

After Trump is done, does Putin release the Kompromat or hang onto it forever?

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 25/09/2026

PETA euthanizes an obscenely high number of animals at its shelters, so many that the American Kennel Club issued a statement www.akc.org/press-center...

akc.org

AKC and VVMA Express Outrage at PETA Approach to Euthanasia in Animal Shelter

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Greg Pak @gregpak.net · 24/09/2026

You know who can afford not to know their own address or phone number? Tiny little babies and fucking billionaires. These tech freaks are not normal people and their ideas undermine the lives of normal people. Reject them and their predatory ideology and technology at every opportunity.

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Alex Brown 🇵🇸 (they/them) @bookjockeyalex.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I cannot imagine in 2026, with the full breadth of the internet available to you, choosing to move your newsletter to substack. There are so many other platforms out there that don't directly put money in the pockets of fascists.

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 22/09/2026

Literary adaptation hill I will happily die upon: Baz Luhrmann makes the best movie adaptations and you will never improve on his Romeo and Juliet Also his Gatsby is pretty much flawless, and an incredibly faithful adaptation But I’ll see Eggers’s movie anyway

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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Enjoyed this article about the growing number of men adopting cats, bucking gender stereotypes. Apparently Mamdani is allergic to cats, but has been getting allergy shots because his wife wants to adopt one. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/s...

nytimes.com

Dave Franco, Jordan Poole and Other Everyday Cat Dads Are Redefining Gender Stereotypes (Gift Article)

We’re living in the age of the “cat dad” and he’s being used to sell premium cat products and talk about healthy masculinity.

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 20/09/2026

I saw this with my 17 yr old and my father and we all really liked it and none of us played the stupid games Though my dad, who says “Intendo” instead of Nintendo, knew this was a PlayStation title?! Anyway, Austin Abrams was a nonstop delight

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 16/09/2026

How. How do you fuck up soap?

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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

A friend of mine works in AI and thinks bad things are about to happen. He sold his home and moved his family out the country. He said that if you own a home in a walkable San Francisco neighborhood near a taqueria with good veggie options, you should sell your home for super cheap right now.

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 14/09/2026

And then 10 years later they’ll be like “I discovered the most amazing old movie - Donnie Darko” and you have to pretend you didn’t show them Donnie Darko when they were 10

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Luke O'Neil @lukeoneil47.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

"I am for the dignity and safety and equal rights of trans people everywhere. Fuck you. The end." "I do not believe you care about this issue. You are lying. In fact you're a straight up weirdo for fixating on kids' genitals so much. That is odd behavior. Let kids run around with their friends."

welcometohellworld.com

I do not believe you care about this

You are lying

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Hamilton Nolan @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

There is zero reason for politicians to be talking about "trans issues" except as a result of a 100% bad faith campaign of bullying and bigotry and it is important to point that out whenever the topic is raised, or you grant bigots legitimacy they don't deserve. www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/you-have-t...

hamiltonnolan.com

You Have to Call Bigots What They Are

Stop treating trans people’s rights as a legitimate issue to debate.

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Evan Urquhart @evanurquhart.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

If you're trying to propose to people with trans children in their lives that their lives are a worthwhile sacrifice for other Democratic priorities, consider whether you'd be convinced that your children should be sacrificed for the greater good of someone else's family.

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 09/09/2026

My publisher just kept my byline up and adds additional contributors as they add new content, but I’m apparently still driving a ton of traffic for a company that cut its US unionized editors

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Rob Delaney @robdelaney.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Initially I was frustrated with the rise of self-checkout but I appreciated how stores passed the savings on to me rather than pocket the money, fire armies of workers & make me do a job I suck at. It’s also why I’m optimistic about AI! I have been kicked in the head by several horses.

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Jesse Raub @jesseraub.online · 08/09/2026

PEOPLE WITH LIBERAL ARTS DEGREES: so while i see there is utility to the system, i’m more or less morally opposed to their current constructs and have big concerns over the business structure and environmental impact WEB CODER: so i met God today,

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Scott Fitzgerald Gray @scottfgray.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

The number of people still seemingly unaware that Substack has a Nazi problem means it’s apparently worth mentioning yet again that Substack has a fucking Nazi problem.

theguardian.com

Revealed: How Substack makes money from hosting Nazi newsletters

Exclusive: Site takes a cut of subscriptions to content that promotes far-right ideology, white supremacy and antisemitism

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 06/09/2026

New constitutional amendment that the only thing you can legally show before a movie are previews for other movies (With a grandfather clause for Alamo)

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 04/09/2026

Should you ride a floating bear? Experts say if it’s Black, jump on its back If it’s Brown, you’re gonna drown

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 04/09/2026

How do I subpoena an AI prompt

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Gabrielle Gozo @gabriellegozo.com · 03/09/2026

CHATGPT AND CLAUDE ARE DOWN!! Teachers, time for an exam

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Preeti Chhibber @runwithskizzers.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

i love that this has had literally no impact on my day lol

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 03/09/2026

Here’s what we must do about Lake America - ignore it There are more important things going on and returning the original name later will be all the more satisfying

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 02/09/2026

If you’re a grown adult looking for a similar fix, go to The Magicians. The books are great and the entire TV series is worth watching. It’s incredibly fun and sexy and goofy and compelling

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 02/09/2026

I really appreciate The Verge taking an unequivocal stance on this Many tech outlets report the outrage as news while also telling you how to watch the show and the best phone to buy to match your favorite character

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Mr. Blabalino 🇳🇴🇺🇸💙 @blabalino.com · 02/09/2026

Remember this going into the midterms.

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 02/09/2026

So true, this AI stuff is gross. And we should also highlight the foundational reasons why AI is bad (AI is theft, it destroys creativity) I made my muffin photo using Gemini, it is AI and I’d eat it. Also AI image generation is bad for society and shouldn’t exist, probably

AI IMAGE! A half dozen delicious looking chocolate chip muffins on a slab countertop, beside a muffin tin with another muffin in it. The photo does not have many of the hallmarks of AI, like overly dramatic lighting, centered close up subjects with soft focus backgrounds, and disgusting food. But it’s still an evil AI image that I made for demonstration purposes, and I would never use commercially

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JLMeyer @jenniferlmeyer.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

If you don’t own the game you should be hitting a Rent button instead of a Buy button.

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 31/08/2026

Yes! As an English teacher I'd tell students this all the time If you mispronounce a word it means you are using words people around you don't use regularly It's a good thing!

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Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

In the midst of an awful lot of ever-so-sophisticated equivocating and oh-so-thoughtful-chin-stroking and too-clever-by-half-over-thinking, I just want to say, simply and unequivocally and for the record: The Resistance Libs Were Right.

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 27/08/2026

This 1000% looks like one of those new-fangled digital weed pipes. 'Hey Stoners, don't you love getting your weed from concentrated pods?! Now you can have your coffee the same way!"

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 27/08/2026

When Trump got elected, people advised taking note of what is normal Like Dolly Parton, activist. Dolly wasn't 'political,' but today her blessings look like things only the Left would do That's not normal. Sending kids books, funding marching bands esp. in majority-Black districts, generosity...

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Asher needs 11 more wins @asherball.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The A's just did one of the coolest things I've seen in their broadcast: Just unfiltered audio of the live director calling a Lawrence Butler plate appearance...that went about as well as they could have hoped for.

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 26/08/2026

Buc-ees is the prepared foods and snack section of a pretty good Texas grocery story (the state invented Whole Foods they know grocery), stuck on the highway 3 hours from every other pretty good grocery store That’s why there’s no Buc-ees in Plano. They have Central Market

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 25/08/2026

While shooting the lotus flowers at the New York Botanical Garden, I accidentally snapped this fantastic shot of a bee coming in for a landing. One of those 'didn't see it until later' photos #photography

A yellow lotus flower pod amidst white and pink petals. There is a black blob hovering at the top of the image, and on the seed pod there is a perfect shadow of a bumblebee, with its cute little antenna and wings and thick little body

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 25/08/2026

So many times people I root for report their wins on Substack, a platform that promotes Nazi content I just don’t get it

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Phil Berne @philipberne.com · 25/08/2026

Exactly 1 year ago I pulled these furry fang-beasts out of a trash bag and gave them a bath and they haven’t left my house since then (except for the vet)

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