iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

The Vilna Gaon (eighteenth century Jewish thinker, commentator, and judge) was actually given the name "Martin" at birth. But he changed his name to Eliyahu to avoid being referred to as מרדי גרייא ! חודש טוב!

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

Sometimes it helps to NOT know the source material. I watched The Electric State last night. I really enjoyed it. Are we talking Oscar-worthy material? No. But not Razzie material either. Lots of flaws, plot holes, and such - but it was fun and there were some good lines. Glad I watched.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

View just after sunset, Netanya.

View to the west just after sunset overlooking Seasons Beach and the Mediterranean, Netanya. There are trees in the foreground along paved paths. The sky is yellow and orange close to the horizon, fading to pink and purple into darkness above.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Feelin' kinda Kohelet today....

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

Let me be among the most-delayed to comment about Antifa being labeled a terrorist organization: I just want to visit Antifa headquarters and shake hands with the Chief Antifascist themselves. I think that would be an amazing selfie-opp. What? There is no Antifa headquarters? Well, shoot.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

Dawn from our apartment window. Facing east over Netanya. That's the moon, Jupiter, and Venus in the triangle in the middle. I love this view in the morning. (It's also great at night.)

City skyline with dawn on the horizon. The Moon, Jupiter, and Venus appear in a triangle in the top-center of the shot. Tall buildings under construction in the middle distance. Construction cranes top some of the buildings.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

Famous spy and pillar of his community.

A bollard with a face, hair, and beard drawn. There is text that says "Jonathan Bollard."

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

I have discovered that, for me, a nice piece of hard cheese cures my munchies when nothing else has. To be fair, it may not be the cheese, but that I'd noshed on a bunch of other stuff before, in a vain attempt to stem my munchies. This requires further investigation. Stay tuned.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

For those keeping track in the "I didn't think the leopard would eat MY face" Bingo Game: You know who gets screwed in this Coca Cola nonsense? Corn farmers - prime MAGA-Base folks. And they will act all surprised and chagrined when this happens, as it has been happening since the election.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Happy Bastille Day, everybody! Time to start filling out your own, personal "Send them to the Guillotine" lists! Winners will be chosen seemingly at random, but you know that the fix is in!

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

I find it amusing and ironic that people are applying the phrase "Don't mess with the Zohran" to someone who hates Israel.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

As a recent migrant to Israel, having made the conscious choice to live the remainder of my life here, I accept the circumstances. This doesn't mean I am as tough and resilient as many native Israelis are - but neither are many Israelis, truth be told. But I'm here, I'm not leaving. 1/

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

Is anyone surprised that someone with the names "Vance" and "Luther" (close enough to "Luthor") would be evil?

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

Been a week. Thank G-d it's Shabbat! Shabbat Shalom, everyone, Good Shabbos, a blessed, restful day to you all! See you in about 25 hours.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

Must have heard this song a million times. This time the lyrics just kinda got me, in a good way: "It's hard to dance with a devil on your back, so shake it off...." Thank you, Florence. open.spotify.com/track/4lY95O...

open.spotify.com

Shake It Out

Florence + The Machine · Ceremonials (Deluxe Edition) · Song · 2011

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Hey, all! Tonight is the festival of Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks! It runs for 25 hours, from sunset tonight to full dark tomorrow night. (Outside of Israel it's a two-day holiday.) We celebrate the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai, and we eat cheesecake. Because cheesecake. Chag Sameach!

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

It's almost the Sabbath here in Israel, and we are preparing. So Shabbat Shalom, Good Shabbos, a peaceful day to everyone. See you in 26 hours or so.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Shabbat Shalom, everyone! A good Shabbos! See you in 25 hours or so....

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Distracted musings. I am having a Utopian socialist moment today. AI is garbage, and the future belongs to the free flow of resources. Is "jazz composition" an oxymoron? What is the deal with androids? Why are companies so eager to make human-shaped robots? What is the advantage?

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Very excited! Our daughter and her boyfriend are coming to visit us here in Israel! Because of flight diversions, they first flew to Athens. They will remain in Greece until a crispy, golden brown, and once thoroughly drained, they will continue to Israel.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Today is Lag B'Omer, the 33rd day of a period of mourning - we don't shave and we don't have weddings or listen to live music during this time. But today I get to shave! Take a look at the before and after pictures!

A man with glasses and a very scruffy beard.

A man with glasses and a neat, closely trimmed beard and a shaved head.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Regarding the Eric Lipton comment, am I wrong, but the Emoluments Clause doesn't require a quid pro quo or a bribe. Accepting the gift is prohibited in and of itself, absent Congressional approval, right? So it's corruption even if it's not a bribe, right? What am I missing?

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

The goal is the rehabilitation of Qatar's reputation. They have harbored the leadership of Hamas since the war started. They have funneled a billion dollars to the terrorists. Now, a hostage gets paraded through Doha, so Qatar looks like the hero. Funny what $400M buys you.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

No disrespect intended, but doesn't His Holiness Leo XIV look a lot like Lee Iacocca? What if it IS Lee Iacocca? Never seen them in the same room together, I'll wager. Also: Lee, Leo... coincidence? I think not. Will the PopeMobile be a Chrysler product now?

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Pierbattista Pizzaballa in a taxi honey, better be ready about half past eight, don't be late, wanna be there when the band starts playin'.....

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Mazel Tov and Hatzlachah Rabbah to his Newly Minted Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, formerly of Chicago. (Is it deadnaming to call him by his birth name? I remember hearing Pope Francis referred to by his birth name, so I'm guessing it's OK; I will not take a chance. It's out there if you care to look).

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

To be unnecessarily fair to Nancy Mace, my mom had worked out kind of a road map of gas station bathrooms - she had some GI troubles later in life - and knew which ones were clean, which ones typically had toilet paper.... Mom was not a member of Congress, of course. Too smart for that.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Rumor has it that all three of the Super Hornet losses occurred because SecDef was sending cat videos to the Anti-Houthi Pilot Bros chat on Signal.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

I usually find washing dishes to be a pretty relaxing, almost Zen experience. Tonight I say: F*** Zen. Tonight I'm in a bad mood - my kids are struggling, so I'm struggling. And it's not their fault. So I don't want to stand at the sink and zone out. I want to be engaged in my outrage.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo a todos los que lo celebran! #thanksgoogletranslate

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Happy Star Wars Day to all who celebrate! May the Fourth be with you!

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Meanwhile, on the streets of Netanya.... (Take 2)

Picture is a meme. On the left is a rack of sandals, with the caption "Birkenstock." On the right is a rack without sandals, with the caption "Birkoutofstock."

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Is the Bluesky algorithm just messing with me? Sometimes serendipitous juxtaposition (or #streamsync as it's been called) can be horrifying. But what better "coincidence" than a post about the Eugenicist in Chief followed by Auschwitz.....

A screen grab from the Bluesky timeline, showing a post about RFK, Jr. launching a government registry to track autistic Americans, followed immediately about a post from the Auschwitz Memorial.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Not gonna lie, if I get Bluesky verification, it will end my perfect streak of never being verified anywhere. I will be insufferable and vainglorious. So they can just keep their blue check mark - it would only bring me pain and grief. (Bwahahaha they will never suspect my reverse psychology!)

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Am I the only one who finds it amusing that the Camarlengo is named Kevin? I could see a new movie, "Rome Alone," where Kevin Camarlengo is left to his own devices and is then threatened by Visigoths or something, and then Kevin dispatches them with Holy Water traps and burning hail.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

Someone shared this piece with me. I think it's fascinating, scary, interesting, and horrifying. So it's perfect for these times, I believe. youtu.be/k-0GE4jJW7U?...

youtu.be

Biocomputers made from human brain cells could run the AI systems of the future

YouTube video by RAZOR Science Show

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

I am so happy to be a Jew right now. Dodged that bullet....

A screen grab showing Donald Trump's Easter Message.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

To all who celebrate: Happy Easter! Also, Happy Isru Chag for my fellow Israelis! And to my friends living outside the Land of Israel, Chag Sameach, although you might not see this until tonight!

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Pesach Kasher v'Sameach! Sabbath Peace, and a Kosher, joyous Pesach! Going dark until Sunday night! Stay safe, everyone!

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Hey, I haven't been around much lately - I think I have anemia, and I've just been too busy. Did I miss much?

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Project management, including the most important of the 47 project management processes called out in the PMBOK, with examples, as well as a discussion of quasi-Agile methodologies applied to the construction industry (a seeming contradiction, but possible with a lot of tweaking). Gripping stuff.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

I think the fact that scooping ice cream is my biggest upper body workout may be a problem. It's very frozen, but still....

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

23andMe Customer: What could possibly go wrong? Universe: [starts jotting down list of things that could go wrong] Let me get back to you on that.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Shabbat Shalom! A less-than-spectacular week productivity-wise, but there shall be renewed purpose next week. Oh, and the wedding singing was well received. There is that. See you in 25 hours or so!

Photo of the Mediterranean Sea. The sun is behind a cloud bank, but its rays are reflected in the water. In the middle distance stands a row of palm trees. Foreground has a row of cars and a small art gallery to the cars' left. A glassed-in enclosure is seen in the lower left corner, and some vacant lot is at the very lower edge of the picture.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

HAPPY SPRING, EVERYBODY! WELCOME TO THE EQUINOX! OOP, TOO LATE, IT'S OVER! OH, WELL, SPRING REMAINS FOR ANOTHER 92 DAYS! SORRY FOR YELLING, BUT IT'S SPRING!!!!

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

I find it interesting that the Hebrew phrase for "United States" is "artzot habrit" - literally, Lands of the Covenant. There are a lot of explanations out there about why. What Covenant? The Constitution? To me, it seems that whatever Covenant might be has been sundered. Just a thought.

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

I installed the (continually problematically named) GIMP v3.0 today, and that's my afternoon sorted, as my British friends might say. (As if I needed to tell anybody here, that's the Gnu Image Manipulation Program, the kinda gold standard for open source Photoshop-like tools.)

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Philip Setnik @philipsetnik.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Happy St. Patrick's Day, to all who celebrate! And apologies to all the snakes.

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