iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

You can forgive lame tasks to some extent, as long as the contestants are good, and there's a good mix. Sadly, there are two duds this year. I feel sorry for Chloe in the team tasks.

010

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Yes, that's probably it.

010

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I wish she were a bit more ambitious, she'll have been lording it over us 2 years come January, time for an ambitious person to move on? I think her feet are well and truly under the table here though, and if she went elsewhere they might spot that she is decidedly lacking in skills.

200

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I don't think they did their due diligence on Madam. She talks a good talk, comes across as super confident and no doubt interviews well, but I don't think she knows half the stuff she makes out she does (she always makes out how tech-savvy she is) and offloads a lot of her stuff on to us.

400

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I am in a bad mood. I had bad omens on the walk to work this morning, TWO dogs either barked/growled at me (or both) and I saw a dead pigeon on the pavement.

000

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

In other news, I have made an appointment for next Saturday which is really awkward to get to, but would be SLIGHTLY less awkward if the FECKING Prickawilly Line was running but OF FECKING COURSE there are cunting engineering works next cunting weekend, of course there are.

000

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Also, is it just me, or have the tasks been a bit lame this series?

100

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I've given up on this series of #Taskmaster, because of Ayoade. He is such a joy-vacuum and really tiresome to watch; it's supposed to be a silly-but-it's-fun programme, and he is not a good fit. Shame, because I've been enjoying Chloe, Isy and Nina's contributions (Matt Lucas, not so much).

220

Reposted by Olgs

Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

This is far better parenting than the tech guy getting an LLM to do the bedtime reading.

Calvin and Hobbes cartoon. Calvin’s dad conjured a dark and violent new ending to Hamster Huey, the book his child wants read to him for the umpteenth time.

26014

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The necklace is lovely too - looks like a nest with robins' eggs in it.

110

Reposted by Olgs

Nick Harkaway @nickharkaway.com · 08/10/2026

I am so bloody tired of government by electoral attack strategy. You WON, now get off your collectively irresponsible arse and govern for survival, happiness and prosperity, not the fantasies of billionaire US tech-and-sex-party magnates.

513725

Reposted by Olgs

Marcus Chown @marcuschown.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Privatisation in a nutshell: 1) Steal from us something we own. 2) Sell us back an inferior service 3) Charge us a higher price. The pattern is the same everywhere: royal mail, water, railways, the NHS, public services, council services…

13371167

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Some people just love hosting. Nowadays it's my chum Rob, whose invite to his annual Christmas do went out in the summer. We always have a very beige, British buffet (and nothing wrong with that) and a fiercely-contested game of "Articulate").

110

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

There was always various zakuski to start with, with vodka on special occasions. Usually a main course and some sort of sweet afterwards (mum's speciality in the 70s was crème caramel).

110

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Various bits of paper with lists of who would be coming, to calculate numbers (even though there was always too much food). Granny "helping" by sitting at her place at the kitchen table while everyone fetched and carried knives and plates and stuff to her so she could prepare stuff.

100

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The article about the "decline of hosting" in the Graun today has made me all nostalgic. My mum and granny used to love having a "party". Was always the same group of friends, depending on availability, and there was much stress involved.

110

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Age yourself with a childhood crush.

A poster for the Six Million Dollar Man, starring Lee Majors.

000

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Blimmin' nippy though; I had to get the puffer jacket out for its first outing of the season.

110

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The way the sun is hitting the sellotape this morning as if it were a holy relic.

A shaft of sunlight hitting a roll of sellotape on a dispenser.

121

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Most of my late mother's estate went in paying off a giant Equity Release debt; I'd have preferred paying IHT to the public purse, rather than the money going to a bunch of shareholders.

010

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Was thinking of nipping out at lunch to buy a 4th b'day card for a chum's friend but: a) it's raining b) have met said child less than a handful of times c) kids not that fussed about cards d) said friend has been somewhat ghosting me of late

110

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Seems like an "entry level" one is about 30-50 quid, so worth a go I suppose. After I've paid this month's credit card bill!

010

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I don't think they are necessarily expensive, but there are loads on the market so I wouldn't know where to start. Different brightness, etc.

110

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Christ I hate my boss so much, I think it is making me ill.

000

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I just never seem to have the spare cash, other stuff takes priority.

110

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I am seriously considering getting a SAD lamp this year... Last year's endless damp and gloom nearly did for me.

110

Reposted by Olgs

SAG-AFTRA @sagaftra.org · 06/10/2026

We celebrate Eva Marie Saint, who died today at 102. A #SagAftraMember since 1947, Saint won an Oscar for her film debut in 'On the Waterfront' and starred in 'North by Northwest.' An advocate for organized labor, she leaves an enduring example for generations of union members.

Eva Marie Saint looking into the camera.
Photo credit: Photofest

Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint in 'On the Waterfront.'
Photo credit: Columbia Pictures/Photofest © Columbia Pictures

Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint in 'North by Northwest.' Photo credit: Photofest

101407343

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

There was quite the weird atmosphere on my walk to work this morning; the sky was covered in threatening dark grey clouds, yet a fairly bright pink light managed to diffuse through and give everything a dreamlike cast.

000

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

DON'T MAKE ME POINT AT THE SIGN.

220

Reposted by Olgs

Éibhear Ó hAnluain @eibhear.gibiris.org · 05/10/2026

Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaase tell me that all those "you should need a government ID to access the internet" people are rethinking this position now. [We know they aren't. Ed.]

The first two paragraphs of the linked-to story:

"Denmark has suffered a major data breach that has given unauthorised individuals access to names, addresses and personal identification numbers belonging to about 8.8 million people registered in the country’s central population database.

"The breach occurred after unidentified individuals misused a private Danish company’s legitimate access to search the Central Person Register (CPR), the government said in a statement Monday."

7535344

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

The parks were crawling with my three nemeses this morning: runners, dog walkers and cyclists. Jogs, Dogs and Cogs as I think of them.

000

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

When the trial was going on I took against Mary Archer. No logic to it, she just looked smug to me.

110

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

I thought it was the other way round, that randomly one of the shooters was given a blank so the whole squad could think that it was everyone else that had done the deed.

000

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Ah... My all-time favourite Columbo episode.

000

Olgs @schmolik.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

It was ace though, and we did enjoy it.

000