iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

U. S. Post Office This is the post office in downtown Alpena. It’s a very imposing building. Leica R4, Kodak Pro Image 100, ECN-2 development. #BelieveInFilm

An imposing stone building has arched windows, two to the left and one to the right of the door, which also has an arched window above it. The second floor has smaller rectangular windows.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 2h

Many many years ago, I worked with a designer at AT&T named Doug Kirby. While we worked together he started a little side project with his friend Ken Smith called Roadside America. I’m pretty sure Ken worked as a contractor with us briefly. Roadside America became a huge success. (1/2)

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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 3h

Remember how @dansavage.bsky.social Google bombed Rick Santorum's name so it came up as the definition for ""the frothy mixture of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex." I think there's the ability to do something similar with Schmitt. www.thebulwark.com/p/eric-schmi...

thebulwark.com

Eric Schmitts the Bed

Plus: Trump’s dangerous, reckless embrace of AI.

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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 6h

Something remarkable is happening: James Talarico is running an expansively pro-immigrant campaign in Texas, a state Trump won by 14 points, speaking in Biblical terms about our duty to "the stranger." And it's resonating. That's seismic. 1/ (new piece) newrepublic.com/article/2160...

newrepublic.com

In Texas, Something Seismic Is Happening—and It’s All Trump’s Fault

Thanks to the economy and ICE, Trump has lost Texas Latinos. And James Talarico is developing a humane pro-immigrant message that’s resonating—even in this ultra-Trumpy state.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 5h

Art Studio Someone had fun painting this place. Pentax 17, Kodak Ektar 100, ECN-2 development. #BelieveInFilm

A small garage is painted in vivid fluorescent colors, one wall yellow, the large garage door blue, its wall purple. A sign painted on the wall above the garage says “126 Water Street Art Studio” .

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 18h

Palm Trees Shot from the sidewalk outside our condo with a Kodak Charmera Millennium. #Charmera #ShittyCameraChallenge

Palm tree rendered in 6 colors plus dithering

Another palm tree rendered in 6 colors plus dithering

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 19h

Mini Mini At the entrance to Paramus Park mall, there were a bunch of kiddie cars. Many of them were Minis, which makes them Mini Minis. There were Many Mini Minis. This is one. Nikon FE, Rollei Paul, 510-Pyro. #BelieveInFilm

A small toy car/stroller in the shape of a Mini Cooper.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 29/09/2026

Thunder Bay River The Thunder Bay River empties into Lake Huron here in downtown Alpena. Leica R4, Kodak Pro Image 100, ECN-2 development. #BelieveInFilm

Bulkheads line a river as it passes a power station on its way to emptying into Lake Huron.

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Robert Stribley @stribs.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I’m hearing ICE was involved in a car accident in Elmhurst after an attempted abduction. There’s a lot like this happening daily in NYC that gets little attention. Hope to see some reporting on this one. As of 10 minutes ago ICE was still there.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 29/09/2026

Marina This is a view of the marina on the Hudson River as seen from the park in Hudson. Pentax 17, Kodak Ektar 100, ECN-2 development. #BelieveInFilm

Several plasture boats are docked at a marina on a river. The parking lot next to it is largely empty, with a few SUVs and a couple of pickup trucks with trailers and a lot of empty space. In the lower right, people are launching a pair of jet-skis.

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Jane Lytvynenko @janelytv.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I stumbled on this documentary, Atomic Cafe, while thinking through how war thrusts forward technology and propaganda. The doc is a compilation of U.S. propaganda about the atomic bomb from its creation to its ultimate potential conclusion. A deeply affecting work: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jwp...

youtube.com

The Atomic Cafe Documentary (1982)

YouTube video by History Changes

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 28/09/2026

this is legitimately very funny

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GeWilli @gewilli.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Raindrops for a #monochromemonday I put the 50mm f4 M42 macro on the 📷 Pentax K3 mkiii monochrome for today

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 28/09/2026

Paramus Park Laura wanted to go here when we were up at her parents’ house the other day. This mall was immortalized in the song “Ariel” by Dean Friedman (IYKYK). It’s dying, like most malls, but not as dead as some. Nikon FE, Rollei Paul, 510-Pyro. #BelieveInFilm

A sign above an entrance reads “Paramus Park” in stylized letters. The doors are chrome frames filled with glass.

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Douglas Wolk @douglaswolk.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Woke up to the news that Stevie Wonder was surprise-dropping an EP of four outtakes from "Songs in the Key of Life": open.spotify.com/album/7gzJYO... Which is a bit like "oh, 'Nine Stories' was originally going to be 'Thirteen Stories,' here are the other four..."

open.spotify.com

Songs In The Keys Of Life - EP by Stevie Wonder | Spotify

Stevie Wonder · EP · 2026 · 4 songs

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 28/09/2026

Welcome to Old Town Alpena Even an empty town like Alpena can look pretty good at golden hour. Leica R4, Kodak Pro Image 100, ECN-2 development. #BelieveInFilm

A two story red brick building has a sign out front that says “Welcome to Old Town Alpena”, and a ghost sign behind it that says “North-Side Pharmacy E. C. Spens Prop”. Less visible words beneath mention stationery and cigars. An SUV is parked in front of the building. A sign partially visible at the far corner at left says “Alpena Visitor In”, with “In” presumably continuing with “fo” or “formation”

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 28/09/2026

Park Thiis park overlooks the Hudson River in Hudson, New York. Pentax 17, Kodak Ektar 100, ECN-2 development. #BelieveInFilm

An asphalt walkway recedes into the distance, lined by benches facing to the left. The grass is fluorescent green, as are the tress, and the clouds are kind of purple. An Amiercan flag holds a place of prominence at the center, and a lamppost matches it for prominence.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 26/09/2026

I got Gil Duran’s book The Nerd Reich the day it came out and started reading it a few days later. It was fascinating, but I got so creeped out by the chapter on Peter Theil’s obsession with the Antichrist that I had to set it down. I brought the book to Florida and finished it tonight. (1/4)

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 25/09/2026

Beach This is the beach at Popamora Point in Highlands. Kodak Medalist II, Kodak Gold 200, ECN-2 development. #BelieveInFilm

A house is visible in the middle distance and a marina in the far distance in this look at a beach. The house is built at the foot of a hill with trees surrounding it.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 25/09/2026

These all look interesting. Going to save this for future reference.

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Robert Stribley @stribs.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Tasteful interviewees know to sneak sips of scotch from a silver flask concealed in the breast pocket of their sport coats.

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p v ..i., @kzoofilmphoto.com · 25/09/2026

you guys, MY EMPLOYER IS TAKING AWAY MY HEALTH COVERAGE. Please help me in this transition by pre-ordering KZOO FILM PHOTO ISSUE 12: A Diabetic Perspective on Healthcare Under Capitalism Vol 03. (its at the top of my store, link in bio). Share this post and turn up the volume.

diabeticguy.org

MY EMPLOYER IS TAKING AWAY MY HEALTH COVERAGE. - DIABETICGUY / KZOOFILMPHOTO

The nature of living with chronic illness dictates that I’m always looking into the future in anticipation of the worst case scenario. At any moment, decisions made by others can have a profound and l...

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 25/09/2026

Welcome to Downtown Alpena This business was closed. But thanks for the greeting! Leica R4, Kodak Pro Image 100, ECN-2 development. #BelieveInFilm

A chalkboard painted wall on a building has a script text “Welcome to Downtown Alpena” writtn on it, along with the credit for the organization that commissioned it and the person who created it, @downtownalpena and @lovelylittleletteringco respectively. Therre are numerous illustrations surrounding the words. The wall appears in an entrance, and the window and door are covered with kraft paper and there appears to be a document in the window.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 25/09/2026

Statue This statue was in a park overlooking the Hudson River. Pentax 17, Kodak Ektar 100, ECN-2 development. #BelieveInFilm

A status of a woman in robes carrying a sword stands on a hill in front of some trees. The clouds in the sky are purple and the trees are a vivid solarized green.

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andykimnj.bsky.social @andykimnj.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

By a 1 vote margin, Republicans voted to continue the Iran war that had spiked your gas prices to $5 a gallon and caused inflation to soar. Remember this when you vote in November.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 24/09/2026

Popamora Point This is a beach I didn’t know about until a couple of years ago, even though I’ve lived in Monmouth County for almost 50 years. I liked the way the trees form a portal here. Kodak Medalist II, Kodak Gold 200, ECN-2 development. #BelieveInFilm

A pathway leads to a beach through a cut in the dunes. Small trees on either side bend over toward the path, forming kind of a circle between branches and shadows

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 24/09/2026

Anyone got an opinion on AdGuard vs. PiHole for blocking ads? I installed AdGuard at home in NJ because we have LG TVs. I just bought a TV here in Florida and want to similarly block invasive tracking. Brought a Raspberry Pi with me and will install one or the other.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 24/09/2026

Sanctuary Cinema I found this in Alpena, Michigan. I spent the night there. It was hard to find a restaurant open downtown on a weeknight in May. I wound up going to Culver’s on the commercil strips a few miles away. Meh. Leica R4, Kodak Pro Image 100, ECN-2 development. #BelieveInFilm

A mixed color brick building stand at a corner. A sign standing out from the corner reads “Sanctuary Cinema”, with “Sanctuary” vertically aligned and “Cinema” horizontally aligned. A car is stopped at the corner.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 24/09/2026

Blue and Yellow I shot this mainly because of the blue and yellow stripes on the curb, which I interpreted as support for Ukraine. Wasn’t thinking about the after effects of the nuclear bomb and the impact it would have on the photo. Pentax 17, Kodak Ektar 100, ECN-2 development. #BelieveInFilm

The curb in front of a house is painted alternating bits of blue and yellow. There is a sidewalk and a fence in front of the house. A tree on the lawn dominates the middle of the photo, blocking much of the house. the door and some windows are visible, though.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 24/09/2026

Made it to Florida. The accident on I-95 just south of Savannah was apparently pretty bad; I was told a car went under a semi and someone died. I wound up turning around and crossing the median to head back to an earlier exit and bypass the whole thing. Cost me a little over two hours.

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Kwasi B. @nonstndrd.com · 23/09/2026

John Coltrane was born 100 years ago today. To me he is the ultimate creative inspiration. My love of his catalog is something I inherited from my late father. I created this illustration earlier this year using photos I took of his former residence in Philadelphia for the collage elements.

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UkraineWorld @ukraineworld.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Can Ukraine be re-envisioned not merely as a borderland, but as a central "attraction zone" for diverse cultures and ideas? 🔗 ukraineworld.org/en/podcasts/... You can support our work on www.patreon.com/c/ukraineworld. Your help is crucial.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 23/09/2026

Stuck in a parking lot that was an interstate highway. Traffic service in my car says there’s an accident 2.4 miles ahead of where I’m sitting. Judging by the cop cars and fire trucks that zoomed by, it must be bad. I hate I-95. Should have gotten back on to US 17 an exit or two back.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 23/09/2026

The Social Type I’m more the Anti-Social Type myself, but okay. (They’re actionally a stationery store….) Pentax 17, Kodak Ektar 100, ECN-2 development. #BelieveInFilm

A woman carrying a couple of bags stands in the entrance of a store looking at the display window. The store has a sign sticking out from the brick wall that says “The Social Type”. A aign standing on the sidewalk, partially cut off, say the same. The store is in a two story brick building. The entire scene looks oddly lit, solarized.

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 23/09/2026

i think you can fairly say that the second trump administration is the most racist federal administration since woodrow wilson and honestly i'm not sure that it isn't more racist than wilson's

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 23/09/2026

This has a few different answers. First I bought myself was a Mac SE/30. First my family bought was a Coleco ADAM. First I used was a mainframe at Wayne State that my school had an account on that we connected to with a teletype and and acoustic coupled 300 baud modem. And a paper tape reader.

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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I will write this more in days ahead. But it is really important to know that (on Xitter) Stephen Miller is trying to stave off being blamed for the catastrophe that is now predicted to happen to the GOP. Frantically. [ahem] I'd like to prevent this from happening.

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 22/09/2026

Shaheen: "He seemed to say Russian children have also been displaced & kidnapped, & that's just not true. It's Ukrainian children the Russians have taken back to Russia. They've taken them from their families, thousands of them. It is very clear who is violating intl law here, & it's not Ukraine."

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 22/09/2026

Sunflowers As seen in the light of a thousand suns. Pentax 17, Kodak Ektar 100, ECN-2 development. #BelieveInFilm

A pair of sunflowers, one facing the camera and one facing to the right, look like they are being irradiated.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 21/09/2026

Chi-Chi's Burger stand in Rogers City, Michigan. Gets good reviews on Yelp. I was between lunch and dinner, so all I got was this picture. Leica R4, Kodak Pro Image 100, ECN-2 development #BelieveInFilm

A single story building with brick at the lower half, clapboard above it, and a cedar shingle awning. Signs on the side and front of the awning say “Chi-Chi-s” in large letters. Another sign on the roof says “Chi Chi’s”, then has an illustration of a hamburger, then “Great Food • Good Friends”. There is one table with some chairs around it outside.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 21/09/2026

La Perche This restaurant has the most amazing French Toast. It’s a piece of bread the size of your head that they soak overnight in custard before making it. It’s amazing. Pentax 17, Kodak Ektar 100, ECN-2. #BelieveInFilm

A sign stands out from the wall of a restaurant and says “La Perche” with a pig’s head on it. The entire face of the restaurant looks irradiated.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 21/09/2026

Sitting in a restaurant that has four million beers and they’re playing “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey, which has the line about “South Detroit”. The only thing south of Detroit is Windsor, Ontario, Canada. “South Detroit” is Not A Thing. Shoot me now. #BelieveInFilm

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Ned Raggett @nedraggett.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Really enjoyed this -- the first part of the essay unpacks the box set in detail and it's a good read. But the second part really goes deep, detailing their stint of live shows in the Netherlands in particular and the contemporary context and reaction to them there. You'll learn a lot.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 21/09/2026

Trudy Rubin of the Philadelphia Inquirer is visting Ukraine and talking to some of the people behind their drone program. She says Trump is wrong if he thinks he can end the war via Putin; what works is full support for Ukraine, including Patriots and investment. share.inquirer.com/OdqVzp

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 21/09/2026

Gem's Bagels This is a local chain. They seem to be in every town near us. Kodak Medalist II, Kodak Gold 200, ECN-2 development. #BelieveInFilm

A long mural fills the side wall of a one story building. It has a sign on it that says “Gem’s Bagels”. The murals has a checkered path running through it and represents the town, including what looks like a castle but is actually Twin Lights Lighthouse. The bay is also seen. The path runs past various foods like coffee and a bagel with lunch meat.

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 21/09/2026

ACAB. Hateful motherfuckers.

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Will Bunch @willbunch.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Imagine how simpler it would be if America just called our two parties "The Far Right" and "The Center" (since there is no Left)

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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

First eyewitness accounts from this afternoon’s ICE shooting in Austin is here, from freelance reporter Emiliano Tahui Gómez.

Emiliano Tahui Gómez
@emilianotahui
X.com

Combined tweets, cutting tags and other such

Here in North Austin, where ICE agents appear to have shot an individual in his car. I spoke to two of the only witnesses.

Nedevia Bolaños and her husband, Carlos, own a business just off the intersection where the shooting happened. Shortly before 1 pm they says they heard what sounded like two gunshots. Carlos ran out first. A blue Toyota sedan and a black Escalade were stopped under the highway.

Combined tweets, cutting tags and other such

He said he saw an olive-skinned man, seemingly in his 30s, leaning backwards against his seat. A masked agent was standing outside the car. The agent refused to answer questions. Within a few minutes as many as 10 other ICE agents arrived.

Carlos asked the victim if he was ok. "Yes," the man said in Spanish, but he looked exhausted. Carlos asked why they had shot him. "Because I didn't stop."

Combined tweets, cutting tags and other such.

Bolaños ran up next. She said she continously asked the ICE agents about why they'd shot him and if they were going to render aid. They didn't answer her. It was an APD officer who later arrived and cut open the young mans shirt, revealing a deep hole between his shoulder blades. The ambulance arrived about 10 minutes after and carried him off. "I've never seen all this. Thank God I'm a citizen," Bolaños said in Spanish. "Or I'd be living like this. In a dream of terror."

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Ralph Brandi @thereisnocat.com · 20/09/2026

Rogers City Motel Rogers City is about halfway between Cheboygan and my destination for that evening, Alpena. I don’t think this place was open even if I needed a room. Leica R4, Kodak Pro Image 100, ECN-2 development. #BelieveInFilm

A single story motel with 8 rooms has a dirt parking lot in front of it. The sign says “Rogers City Motel” at the top, with a hand painted phone number, 989-734-0777, on a white structure at the bottom of the sign. A rowboat is visible at lower left with the name “Jenny” painted crudely on it.

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