iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

I still day-dream about my NB sometimes. RIP Tom, and thank you for helping create something that would spark so much joy in so many people

A blue 10th Anniversary Edition NB-generation Mazda Miata in a parking lot with its top down

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Speaking of dress up, I think I found the perfect accessory for you:

A golden-colored model of the Millenium Puzzle in a model store

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I have obtained my belated birthday milkshake

A milkshake in a 90s-turquoise-swirl cup on a green table in front of an ice-cream stand, with a yellow bicycle in the background

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

This is one of my sister's dogs to help you

A border-collie-poodle-mix puppy on a lawn holding a stick

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Behold, the Triumph itasha I saw at Battle of the Brits last year

A red Triumph convertible in itasha style

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

I used to re-read #Psyren every year, but stopped. Recently, I managed to complete my collection of all the volumes, and re-read it again. It's still hard to believe, after all these years, an anime is coming out. To the soon-to-be drifters...you're in for a wild ride

The complete series of Psyren manga volumes on a shelf

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Did something similar when I tried to catch the Lake Michigan ferry on my bike--definitely wished I'd had the flatter spare seat I do now

A silver Moto Guzzi V7 III Racer motorcycle in a parking lot with a bunch of cars next to a dark-blue hiking backpack and some black-and-white motorcycle gloves & helmet

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Car Sky hive mind, anyone have any experience with anti-seize lubricant for putting on wheel hubs before replacing the rotors? Should I use a copper one, non-copper one?

The somewhat-rusty rear wheel hub of a Mazda 3

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Getting ready for Tłusty Czwartek, aka the *real* Pączki Day

Four raw pączki in a pot of hot lard on a stove

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Alpina E39 wagon and an R80 G/S would basically cover all of my vehicular wants and needs (though an E46 wagon or six-cylinder regular E39 wagon would also be acceptable)

A green Alpina E39 wagon on a light-brown gravel path

A white BMW R80 G/S motorcycle with a red seat parked on its center stand against a gray backdrop

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 07/11/2025

Not sure about my favorite trainer, but my favorite Pokémon is Metagross

A drawing of a Metagross against a blue background

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

To the owner of the itasha Triumph Spitfire, you won Battle of the Brits in my book

A red Triumph Spitfire with Love Live decals parked on grass in the shade

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

"Uriel's Whisper", because when despair gripped me, this helped me escape it

A tree with white flowers framed against the sun and blue sky

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Rose the Moto Guzzi has officially woken from her winter nap!

A silver-and-red Moto Guzzi motorcycle in front of a white van, both parked by grass and gravel

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Enough of endless photos of decay--this city is ALIVE and constantly renewing itself

The green-tiled ceiling and stainless-steel tanks of the Detroit Belle Isle Aquarium

A close-up of early-bloom cherry blossoms

A multi-colored wall mural showing various native Michigan animals & insects

The wooden interior roof of the entryway to the Belle Isle Aquarium showing carved flowers

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

I saw more of Detroit yesterday than I think I ever have

A bicycle in front of a white lighthouse

Various palms and trees in a conservatory

A statue of a girl and a small model of a cottage in a fountain surrounded by orchids

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Goodbye, Amamiya the Abarth. It was a wild time--now it's someone else's turn to get on the roller coaster

A white Fiat 500 Abarth in front of a Firestone Auto Center

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 27/10/2024

Finally got a proper tool chest to organize my chaotic closet! Now to get some hangers for the coveralls

A red Craftsman tool chest with oil, coveralls, and various other fluids and sprays on top, in a closer alongside some plastic boxes as well as some car and motorcycle parts and tools

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 18/09/2024

Not a terribly impressive number, but I'm glad to be #1,257,222 out of over 10 million--it's better here than the other place

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 05/09/2024

Never expected the first wild stick insect I encountered to be a fellow Moto Guzzi fan

A brown stick insect on the black license plate bracket of a Moto Guzzi V7 III Racer

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 11/08/2024

Turns out, Packards had some "super" hood ornaments

The chrome cormorant hood ornament of a black Packard Super 8 in front of some multicolored brick buildings.

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 04/07/2024

Broke: Complaining about charging times Woke: Using charging time to get through my book reading list

A blue-green Hyundai Ioniq 5 plugged into a ChargePoint charger by a concrete wall

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 09/06/2024

Visited my hometown recently, and paid my respects to a Chi-town icon

A group of people walking through a parking lot at night to the yellow-lit Gene & Jude's hot dog place

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 19/05/2024

Well, that explains the CEL and smell of gasoline

The inside of a Moto Guzzi V7 III Racer's black airbox, containing a small quantity of gasoline

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 19/05/2024

I drove a Ghost last year and it was definitely special

A gray Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge in a parking lot on a cloudy day

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 09/05/2024

It's finally riding season--and Rose the Moto Guzzi is out of storage!

A city street lined with parked motorcycles on both sides in the afternoon/evening sunshine

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 16/03/2024

So, remember how I said that link sheared? IT DIDN'T! It backed itself out! But I think that's because it was at the end of its adjustability range, so here are some beefier ones!

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 10/03/2024

Can't say I ever get tired of looking at--or riding--mine

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 09/03/2024

The first two photos are of the snapped one, the third is the good one. It seemingly snapped at the securing nut

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 29/02/2024

At last, Amamiya the Abarth has the last piece of Exodia! I mean, the last piece of the Bilstein coilover kit!

A blue-and-silver Bilstein coilover and orange DNA Racing sway bar end link installed in the wheel well of a white Fiat 500 Abarth

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 11/02/2024

Today I learned that ratchet straps are trickier to use than they look, and that U-Haul's motorcycle trailer make moving a Moto Guzzi easy

A chrome, black, and red Moto Guzzi V7 III Racer in a gray-and-orange U-Haul motorcycle trailer hooked up to a white U-Haul-branded Chevrolet Silverado, all in front of a brown house

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 23/01/2024

Sweet tap-dancing ghost of Carlo Abarth, why did I wait so long to install these?! Amamiya the Abarth finally rides, handles, and sits the way she should've from the start

The salt-covered underside of a 500 Abarth on a yellow garage lift, showing a red torsion bar and new Bilstein rear suspension

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 23/01/2024

Got one front strut on last night, will have to get a shop to remove the sway-bar link from the other. In the meantime, it's time for rear dampers & springs!

A new yellow-and-blue Bilstein damper with its matching blue spring & tan bump stop assembly, below a black stock 500 Abarth damper, spring, and bump stop, all on a gray garage floor

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 21/01/2024

I recently learned there is more than one kind of bitters, so it's time to experiment with Manhattans

Cocoa, orange, and angostura bitters between sweet vermouth, rye whiskey, a glass, and a jigger on a kitchen counter, all in front of a microwave

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Matthew Skwarczek (he/they) @scoutingforzen.bsky.social · 27/12/2023

Turns out, sour fruit beers make tasty bread

Brown-crusted bread sitting on a gray metal wire cooling rack on top of an electric stovetop

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