iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Did the dang thing. This means I'm exempt from political ads now, right? Right?

My left hand holding my "I voted early" sticker between my thumb and index finger over a black canvas bag.

3191

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

One arm, two vaccines (COVID and flu), and a very happy me. 😷🩹💉🩹✌️

Vertical pic of me wearing a lilac cat eye glasses, a CAN99e mask, and a hat with a mountain scene that says united by blue while making a peace sign

1170

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Of course. Basically the only time Mantou isn't mad is when she's asleep, and who am I to interfere? I'll just read my book and appreciate her cute lil snores while I drink my tea. ☕

Mantou, a shorthair black, dark brown, and white tuxedo cat, curled up and sleeping on a folded weighted blanket, princess and the pea style.

061

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

📦+🚲= 💖 So looking forward to this event with @bikemn.bsky.social and @sierraclubmn.bsky.social Shout out to @mcbl.bike for all the inspo, and for being awesome. 🔗 to join the Zoom: act.sierraclub.org/events/detai...

Blue graphic with a circular photo of a tan dog wearing a pink bandana and sitting inside a cargo bike with green and orange edge guards, smiling toward the viewer between text and logos got Bike MN Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota and Sierra Club for the Week Without Diving.

Text: GO! BY CARGO BIKE

Tuesday, October 6
6-7 pm
On Zoom

0157

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

I grew up on Sonic, Super Mario Brothers, and Kirby, but this game - which is about as old as I am - really cemented the gamer switch on the "on" position forever. Baby's first RPG. 🐉🎮Exploring the world was pure magic. I still have it, and an original NES, even though we don't have a TV anymore.

Dragon Warrior for the original NES and it's colorful case

030

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

And now flinging around the contents of boot box with an aggressively American-flag exterior. 😬

Anime meme with a femme character wearing pink glasses holding an American flag while a masc character recoils in disgust and says "Ugh! Put that horrid thing away!"

110

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Get you to the Midtown Farmers Market, Minneapolis! It's a delicious Doubles Day at Channa!

Doubles from Channa at the Midtown Farmers Market

090

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Absolute trash methodology. "All we can say at this point is that in this study, among subjects who were exclusively young and healthy and male, these are the associations we saw."

3 minutes vs. 90 minutes

So, for the new study, the researchers had 19 healthy young men visit a lab and either ride a stationary bicycle at a relatively moderate pace for 90 minutes or do all-out sprint intervals. These consisted of six 30-second bursts of pedaling at the highest pace the men could manage, interspersed with four minutes of rest between. By the end, they’d finished three minutes of actual, intense exercise (during a 23-minute session).

The researchers drew blood three times: before the workout, immediately after and three hours after. Then they ran the blood through a high-tech system to categorize and count every protein.

The before-and-after blood signatures proved to be quite different, especially if the men had done intervals. More than 700 proteins in their blood showed greater or lesser abundance immediately after their short, hard workout.

On the other hand, only seven proteins had changed in the blood of the men who’d ridden moderately for 90 minutes, at least right away. After three hours, an additional 12 looked different.

110

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Don't let her jealous sister hear you say that! 🤭 *whispers* (She really is the sweetest bean, though. She nursed my dear Leroy at the end too.)

Mantou - a black, brown, and white shorthair tuxedo cat with golden eyes, a black nose, and long, wise whiskers - is looking affronted and sitting in a cardboard scratching bowl in the sun.

010

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Chili is the best cat nurse. 🥰 She's been snoring sweetly and generally being adorable next to me while I'm recovering.

Chili, a black and white shorthair tuxedo cat with golden eyes and a pink nose, is curled up on my weighted blanket with her white front paws stacked all proper like. She is hiding her hind feet with her enormous tail.

1141

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I kinda wish they had more clothing options for this theme, but it's cute as heck. [Friend Code: CR1L2GLWNL]

My Finch birb and wee kitten micropet in a video game themed nest

010

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

What a difference an hour makes. 😷✌️The AQI is now worse than forecasted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Reminder that wildfire smoke has a lot of chemicals and PM2.5 that can rile up respiratory/cardio conditions and contribute to an array of illnesses: www.sierraclub.org/sierra/how-p...

AirNow map showing wildfire smoke blanketing the upper Midwest in two layers, with orange "Unhealthy for sensitive groups" in the northeastern part of Minnesota and yellow "moderate" across the majority of the state. Only the southernmost part has green AQI as of 1:31 pm.

010

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

🟡 Heads up folx, if you woke up wheezy or extra congested and phlegmy today, it's probs the wildfire smoke. Minneapolis is under two layers of smoke now, one from Canada and one from Washington. Just south, there are two more layers of smoke, and wind mixes it down to ground. Yellow AQI expected. 😮‍💨

AirNow map of the wildfire locations, smoke plumes, and AQI readings in Minnesota and the surrounding states and provinces to the north.

060

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

This Sunday! A triple feature and bake/yard sale fundraiser from 3-9 pm at New City Center! 📽️ 3:20: Luca 🍿5:20: Song of the Sea 🕸️ 7:00: Into the Spiderverse* *contains flashing lights Movies will have subtitles in English. All proceeds will support community members. 💖✊ Masks required inside! 😷✌️

Image 1 description:
Purple background with images of film projector and blueberry muffin. White text box and blue and yellow font with the following text:

Movie Night Fundraiser
Yard and Bake Sale
Fundraiser for community members

3:20pm - Luca
5:10pm - Song of the Sea
7:00pm - Into the Spider verse*

*contains flashing lights

Sunday, 3-9pm
August 16th

New City Center
3104 16th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55407

Masks Required and provided

Suggested Donation $10- No one turned away for lack of funds
(end)

Image 2 description:

Purple background with white text box. Large yellow text that reads

Accessibility

And smaller blue text that reads:
Event takes place in Cedar Room of New City Center on the first floor
Press the corresponding doorbell on the sign by the door to request entry
Wheelchair accessible
3 all-gender (single-stall) restrooms and 2 gendered multi-stall restrooms that are all wheelchair accessible and on the first floor
Respirators (like KN95 or N95) are required indoors at all times for those who can wear them. Some will be provided, but please bring your own if you have them
Wide chairs with no armrests and some cushioning provided
Feel free to bring blankets and pillows to get comfortable
The last movie, Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse, contains flashing lights that may affect photosensitive viewers. It will begin at 7 PM
Movies will be in English and have English subtitles
An outdoor courtyard with picnic tables is available for eating and drinking
Please limit fragrances in the space
Gluten free and vegan options will be available in the bake sale

074

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

🐝🪻🦋 It was such a joy and relief to see so many bees and flutter-bys in this flowering oregano meadow at Foxtail Farm today. Hearing a symphony of insects helped calm my nervous system so much, and was exactly what I needed. So wonderful to get my hands dirty and spend good time with good people. 💖👩‍🌾

Vertical photo showing an abundant and verdant oregano meadow that is full of purple flowers and busy pollinators near a greenhouse.

Close-up overhead photo of purple oregano flowers.

071

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

🏘️💸 WE DID IT! ✊💖 Endless thanks to everyone who helped us meet this goal and meet the needs of Minnesota families experiencing crisis + fallout from the 🧊 invasion. It's no exaggeration to say this provided life-changing help and kept people safely housed through extremely difficult circumstances.

Screenshot showing $500,000 raised, meeting the goal with 2,100+ donations

061

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Done-zo. Always nice to vote early for candidates who make the centrists feel scared. 😇

My hand holding my "I voted early" sticker.

0110

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

💸🏘️ UPDATE: $2,100 left to go! We need to raise a little more to cover all remaining #MutualAid needs. Please share and make one final donation before the fund closes this weekend, if you are able: NeighborReliefFund.org My neighbors and I can't thank you enough for helping families stay housed. 💖✊

Purple and green graphic with an icon of a house with a heart inside and text: GREATER LONGFELLOW Neighbor Relief Fund UPDATE; With profound gratitude, we make OUR LAST ASK To cover rent and bills for our neighbors in need: NeighborReliefFund.org

0910

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

💸🏘 NEW GOAL: $500,000 Donate now @ 👇🏼 NeighborReliefFund.org UPDATE: Our #MutualAid fund is about $8,000 away from helping multiple families with overdue rent and bills. Please share this fundraiser widely, donate if you can, and feel free to invite neighbors at #NNO block parties to donate! 💖✊🏼

Black and white graphic with text and a QR code in the bottom right. Text reads: GREATER LONGFELLOW Neighbor Relief Fund; Donations Needed! Community members raising funds for families facing urgent crisis in Minnesota. NeighborReliefFund.org (or scan here to donate)

054

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Today's Relevant Readings include: (ALT text divided by page due to length limitations)

Photo of two pages in Restoring the Kinship Worldview. On the left, word art around a marble stonecut (by Harriet Greene of Taos, N.M.) of Crow Chief Plenty Coups in regalia reads: "They spoke very loudly when they said their laws were made for everybody, but we soon learned that although they expected us to keep them, they thought nothing of breaking them themselves. They told us not to drink whiskey, yet they made it themselves and traded it to us for furs and robes until both were nearly gone. Their wise ones said we might have their religion but when we tried to understand it we found that there were too many kinds of religion among white men for us to understand, and that scarcely any two white men agreed which was the right one to learn. This bothered us a good deal until we saw that the white man did not take his religion any more seriously than he did his laws, and that he kept both of them just behind him, like helpers, to use when they might do him good in his dealings with strangers. These were not our ways. We kept the laws we made and lived our religion."

Right page description continues in the next image.

Right page, Chapter 22: Responsibility Emphasis - Xiuhtezcatl Martinez (Aztec)
[After introducing himself in his Indigenous language]
Good morning, everybody. I think it is amazing to look around the room and see that there are almost 200 countries represented here today. Because it really is going to take all of us in order to make a difference. I'm 15 years old and I am the youth director of an organization called Earth Guardians, and I’m working with young people around the planet to protect our earth, our air, our water, and our atmosphere, for my generation, and those to follow… I was raised in the ceremonies of my people, learning the dances, the songs, and the language, and what I learned from my culture, my heritage, is that this life is a gift, and it is our responsibility to respect and protect that which gives us life. So, I began to look at the world around me, and I saw that we were facing a crisis that was beginning to affect every living system on our planet…. Seeing my world collapsing around me pushed me into action…. Youth like myself across the United States are suing our state and federal governments, demanding that they take action…. Our generation is at the front of this movement and we need you to help us. We are approaching 21 years of United Nations climate talks, and almost no agreements have been made on a bonding climate recovery plan…. We need to end this mindset that we have, that we can take whatever we want without ever giving back or understanding the harm [page ends]

072

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

I absolutely adore how much these have changed in just a few hours. The blooms are opening up and the sunflower has golden pollen popping out of its face and onto my desk now🌻

Photo of a locally grown cut flower bouquet with a large yellow sunflower in the center, and yellow pollen is emerging in an O shape in the middle

Overhead photo of a ruffly light yellow lisianthus opening to reveal yellow stamens in the dark center

Overhead photo of a pink dahlia with lighter petal edges is opening, with a hole in the very center of the innermost petals, which are still balled up

Photo focused on a light yellow dahlia with soft pink petal tips is unfurling in unruly, asymmetrical layers of beauty

282

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Omg wait for it, bc I just discovered that the ruffliest yellow flower has a jumping spooder guardian and it is SO CUTE 🥹 Wish I had a macro lens but this is the best my potato phone can do. Plz pardon my background living mess

Overhead photo of a super ruffled pale yellow lisianthus with a wee tan jumping spider on the top of the petals near the center.

Tiny spidey friend is looking into the depths between the petals, presumably looking to find even tinier buggies

Jumping spider walking along the outer edge of the petal perimeter. Gravity is of no concern to this lil buddy

Spooder guard doing a sneak, hiding out in the ruffled edges of the Lisianthus petals

010

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

⚠️💨😷 Heads up, MSP: The wind direction has shifted, and it looks like the plume is likely to move back over the metro tonight. My weather app is forecasting "hazy" skies, but it's the wildfire smoke. Please mask up, close the windows overnight, and filter indoor air to protect yourself from PM2.5.

Map showing the wildfire smoke plumes and air quality readings across Minnesota, with moderate AQI over much of the state due to a layer of wildfire smoke blanketing the US. Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) and Red (Unhealthy) are increasingly close to the metro, and the worst readings - Purple (Very Unhealthy) and Maroon (Hazardous) - are to the north near Lake Superior.

093

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

If you like fresh kimbap, get yourself to the Midtown Farmers Market! Also, Foxtail Farm has the first fresh, organic blueberries of the season, and they are gorgeous. 🫐 Also cucumbers, and summer squashes, and an amazing array of fresh herbs. 🥒🌿 Now, muffins or pancakes? That is the question...

Two fresh vegan tofu kimbap rolls from Mr. Kimbap resting on a table beneath a fragrant bouquet of organic purple basil

171

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Glad that things are better than they were last night, but oof. This is going to take a while to clear. 😥😷 Meanwhile, stay hydrated, filter the air, and take it easy, y'all. Find your AQI: www.airnow.gov Interactive Map: fire.airnow.gov#4.54/42.72/-... * *Make sure to toggle on plumes in settings

Air Now dial of wheel of wildfire smoke torment, showing a reading of 237 above a 24 hour map showing just how quickly it went from bad to worse. The forecast on the right shows AQI is expected to be Very Unhealthy for the remainder of the day and drop to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups on Friday*

*Conditions can change rapidly, and the alert may be extended

Wide screenshot of the layered plume covering Minnesota and blanketing the US to the East Coast with dangerous wildfire smoke.

040

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

⚠️😷 Heads up from your friendly, neighborhood asthmatic: Heavy smoke from the wildfires up north is on the way, and air quality is expected to get bad fast when it does. Get those air filters ready! If you're in the Twin Cities and need help getting N95 masks, reach out to @maskblocmsp.bsky.social!

Map showing the Air Quality Alert covering Minneapolis and the Twin Cities Metro to the north and south in grey. Text reads: AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM CDT FRIDAY...

* WHAT...The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air
Quality Alert for fine particles pollution. The Air Quality Index
(AQI) is expected to reach the Red or Unhealthy category.

* WHERE...East central, central, west central, southeast, north
central, and northwest Minnesota.

Alert text continues: WHEN...Until 11 AM CDT Friday.

* IMPACTS...Some members of the general public may experience
health effects. Sensitive groups, such as people with lung
disease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older
adults, may experience health effects.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Very heavy smoke is expected across the
Arrowhead today, as large wildfires continue to spread. Hot
temperatures, when combined with the air pollution, will
exacerbate health impacts. A frontal boundary will then spread
heavy smoke further south this evening into Wednesday morning, as
it moves across northern and central Minnesota. The onset of
smoke will be rapid. This boundary eventually passes through the
Twin Cities and into southeastern Minnesota on Wednesday or
Wednesday evening, bringing heavy smoke even further south.
Additional rounds of heavy smoke are possible from Thursday
through Friday morning across the alert area.

02113

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Heads up Minnesotans: We are entering another extended heat wave, which means the AQI may reach Yellow (moderate) on Sunday and Monday afternoons due to ozone in the Twin Cities. N95s can't filter ozone, but do help with smoke. Otherwise, stay cool, filter the air, and check on vulnerable folks! 🫶

Updated Sat, Jul 11, 2026; Detailed discussion

A strong ridge will build over the north central US over the weekend. It will be sunny and hot, and Yellow (moderate) AQIs due to ozone are forecast for tomorrow through Tuesday for central Minnesota. Southerly flow will keep smoke north of the border through Monday. A cold front will push into northern Minnesota on Tuesday, and wildfire smoke may lead to a degradation in air quality. The amount of smoke will depend on fire growth.

Today's MPCA forecast (July 12) showing a yellow cluster of counties surrounding the Twin Cities metro.

Tomorrow's forecast (July 13) showing yellow (moderate) AQI expected for the counties around the Twin Cities metro and several extending south to the southern border of Minnesota.

Day 2 forecast (July 14) showing yellow (moderate) AQI expected for the North Shore of Lake Superior and along the northern border to the center of the state in addition to the areas from the previous day, around the Twin Cities metro and down to the southern border.

0157

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

"Your last saved celebrity pic on your phone is your therapist." Same caveats as Sigrid, and honestly, I'm pretty sure my actual therapist would be delighted by this.

Danny Devito in It's Always Sunny saying "You would have to be a real lowlife piece of shit to be proud to be an American."

190

🍂 Shel-leaf 🍁 Ca-pumpkin 🎃🚫🧊 [Seasonal Edition] @virtuistic.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Where did you get that adorable kitty bed? I need one for your cat's cousin:

Chili, a black and white tuxedo cat with a pink nose, is being a little baby on her catctus.

110