iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 16h

Oh my God, look at him, he’s got a soul, we must act to protect him

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 30/09/2026

www.nytimes.com/2026/09/30/u...

Screenshot from The Simpsons, where he’s being egged on to “say the line.”

Although some Trump supporters held signs calling for "mass deportations now" during the 2024 campaign, Ms. Vuittonet never thought such deportations would include people she knew who had lived in the United States for decades.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 30/09/2026

Here’s America.gov helpfully providing advice on how a sailor can get an abortion in Virginia.

America.gov screenshot:

I am in the Navy, stationed in Virginia. I am pregnant and don't want to be. Where can get an abortion?

I can share official rules on military coverage and Virginia law. I cannot give medical or legal advice or name a specific civilian clinic.

Military coverage (TRICARE and Department of War)
Federal law limits Department of War funds and facilities:
• Abortion is covered only if the pregnancy is from rape or incest, or if a physician certifies that carrying the pregnancy to—

America.gov screenshot:

Practical next steps

• Contact your MTF or TRICARE PCM for pregnancy confirmation and covered-care screening: TRICARE 7.
• For non-covered care in Virginia, you would use a licensed civilian provider under state law and pay out of pocket (or other non-TRICARE coverage, if any).
• If this involves sexual assault, use SAPR/SARC and medical channels;
rape/incest can meet TRICARE covered-abortion rules when documented

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 29/09/2026

...So, not for the pure love of the sport?

New York Times headline: "Dogs Will Fight Bears, but Not for the Reason You Might Think."

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 29/09/2026

www.nytimes.com/2026/09/28/u...

Trump, telling reporters that the steel mill could create some 6,000 construction jobs and 1,750 permanent jobs, with salaries that could exceed $100,000 a year.

"We're going to mine it in America.
We're going to mill it in America, and we're going to make it in America," Ms. Miller-Meeks said.

Mesabi Metallic is owned by Essar Group, a Mumbai-based
conglomerate controlled by one of India's wealthiest families. The Iowa mill project follows another initiative led by Mesabi: a $2.5 billion iron-ore

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 26/09/2026

Well, Charlottesville (and points north and south, I assume), today is our last 12-hour day of the year. Tomorrow we’ll have 11:59 of daylight. We lose so much daylight in September. :-/

A graph showing that today has 12:00 of daylight, the sun rising at 7:05 and setting at 19:06.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 26/09/2026

I wrote this an hour ago, it’s wrong. Hardly anybody interacted with it in that time, but it’s a good chance to practice anti-misinformation habits. I’ll delete the original, which I think detaches folks’ helpful replies, which sucks.

Cook Political Report shifted their rating for VA-5 yesterday, finding that @tomperriello.bsky.social is likely to defeat incumbent Republican John McGuire.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 25/09/2026

Oh I’m sure my experience wasn’t representative. It was, at least, pretty interesting. I spent a long time looking at this screen, which later added a timer showing how long I had been stuck.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 20/09/2026

I'm building a run on the back of the new chicken coop. It's basically the same as the old one (visible in the background), but 6' tall instead of 4' tall, because it doesn't cost much more and I hate crouching in there. This new one is being built much more sturdily, though.

A wooden structure, built on the back of a red-and-white chicken coop. The new structure is a sort of a box, though with no walls—just the framing. It's made out of unpainted lumber, with some metal fasteners visible at the joints.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 20/09/2026

I cannot figure out what this means, in my iOS call log. My guess is that it means that a) the phone number is verified and b) it is verified as being connected to an Apple Maps-listed business, but if that were true, it would tell me the name of the business. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Screenshot from an iOS call log, listing a phone number, below which is a checkmark and the words "Maps Verify."

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 19/09/2026

Cuisiniart countertop grill: $99. Two replacement grill plates: $102. There's some point in market scale where I think vendors of durable goods should be required to sell every part required for repair at a collective cost that doesn't exceed, idk, 150% of the cost to buy a new one.

Cuisinart

PARTS & ACCESSORIES
Reversible grill/griddle plate for Griddler Indoor Grill - Griddle
and Panini Press
GR-4NNASRGP
$50.95

APPLIANCES
Griddler® Indoor Grill - Griddle and Panini Press
GR-4NNAS

$99.95

With five separate cooking options, the Cuisinart® Griddler® can handle everything from pancakes and sausages to grilled cheese to steaks, hamburgers, and panini. A floating cover and one...

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 18/09/2026

Please enjoy this 1899 article about my great-great grandfather deciding that the East Grand Rapids milk-peddling law did not apply to him. He's not a peddler, he's simply a milk dealer who goes from door to door!

HE LOST HIS NERVE.
A Police Court Warrant Took All the Fight Out of Him.

John E. Apsey, an East Grand Rapids milk dealer, came into the city clerk's oflice this morning and took out a license to peddle milk in accordance with the instructions issued to him by MIk Inspector Richardson. He was arrested yesterday and the action of the court had the right effect on him today. Milkman Apsey is the man who has been making trouble for the inspector for some time. He claimed among the other milk peddlers that the ordinance was invalid and that he could prove it, that he only wanted to be arrested to make a fight. He said that he would spend $500 on it before he would pay the $ license, but he came in with the rest this morning.

Apsey sells thirty gallons of milk a day, but he claims that he is not a peddler, simply a merchant who sells his produce from house to house. He has never paid for a license before and has been doing business all of the time the last few years. But before this he has made application for a producer's license which is granted to farmers for nothing, it being understood that they sell only their own goods which they have raised. This year he made no application and boasted that he would take out no $5 license and that the city could not make him do it. Now Milk Inspector Richardson says that there are a number of other dealers who are doing business under cover of that producer's license and he says that all of them will have to come to time and pay up as the ordinance reads.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 16/09/2026

Bravo to whomever designed this New York Times article. If you know nothing else about Cat Frazier, you know her spinning "lol nothing matters" GIF. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/16/a...

A New York Times headline and subhed, both in styles that are radically inconsistent with their house style, but consistent with the subject of the obituary. Here's the text:

Car Frazier, Whose Retro GIFs Celpbrated a Weirder
Internet, Dies of 35

She found a future in the internet's past with a Tumblr blog of animated texts, a revolt against the clean minimalism of contemporary design aesthetics.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 15/09/2026

A couple times each week I get an email from Sabato's team telling me how screwed Republicans are. I've been on this mailing list for 16 years and I've never enjoyed opening these emails so much.

Crystal Ball House rating changes

Ann Wagner (R, MO-2): Safe Republican → Likely Republican
Emanuel Cleaver (D, MO-5) Safe Republican → Safe Democratic

Crystal Ball House rating changes

Shomari Figures (D, AL-2): Likely Republican → Leans Republican
Vicente Gonzalez (D, TX-34): Toss-up → Leans Democratic

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 15/09/2026

Well, I bought Dire Straits "On Every Street," their sixth and final release, and it's kind of shit, isn't it? I like "Calling Elvis" and "Fade to Black" (which I was familiar with) but otherwise it's all very 1980s (insulting).

The cover of Dire Straits "On Every Street," which is an abstract blue square with an orange-red rectangle within it.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 15/09/2026

The other day I went to the farmer's market and saw a bunch of bad ChatGPT signs, which made me sad. Then I went into the adjacent music store, Sidetracks, where I saw all of the signs that Steve Keene painted ~30 years ago, which made me happy. I'll choose human-made art every time.

An obviously ChatGPT-created sign reading "Illicit Empanadas: $5.99. So good it should be illegal." It's on a sandwich board on the ground.

A bin of CDs, with a crude, handprinted sign reading "SOUND TRACKS," with the words written vertically. The sign is plywood, painted red, green, and white. It was obviously painted quickly.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 15/09/2026

Please admire this slop-guide to the U.S. government that my kid received in his ninth grade government class. “Watergsstate Impreachment Imeachment bolity Precedent”

A sort of map of US government, with lots of arrows and words. It’s labelled “SIMPLIFIED CONCEPT MAP: U.S. GOVERNMENT.”

Close up of the diagram:

Example: Watergate Impeachment Key 2473 - Watergsstate Impreachment
Imeachment bolitiy Precedent
Legislative Checks
Executive
Veto
No
Executive Cheeks
Example:
Washington's 2-Ter-in Precedent
Example 3: Impeachment Precedent Key 2016 - Declares political inconinitional comnoladunt precedions hutsite avothov Uncostitutional: Bleachmens on the divisience of the Barizon Precedent

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 11/09/2026

Seven hours later, the article last updated three hours ago, here's what it has to say now. So the text has been modified since, and still makes no mention of Trump demanding that his supporters commit crimes on his behalf.

At one point Mr. Trump asked attendees to raise their right hands and pledge to him that they would vote with their family and friends. Dutifully, they did.

“You know what happens if you don’t vote?” Mr. Trump said. “You go to hell.”

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 11/09/2026

Here’s how the New York Times describes this moment in their coverage:

At one point Mr. Trump asked attendees to raise their right hands and pledge to him that he would vote with their family and friends.
Dutifully, they did.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 10/09/2026

Bluebird Fledgling has judged you and found you wanting.

A grumpy baby bluebird, sitting on gravel. It appears to have a big frown on its face, as it looks at the camera.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 09/09/2026

TIL the U.S. Navy operates a submarine base at Idaho's Lake Pend Orielle. spokanehistorical.org/items/show/589

A gray submarine, cruising at the surface level, on a placid lake. Behind is a steep mountainside covered with snow-dusted evergreens.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 09/09/2026

My copy of @djpatrickareed.bsky.social’s "Spider-Man Total Universe" arrived today, at over 8 pounds and over 800 pages. It's an issue-by-issue history of Spider-Man comics. Every storyline, every key character, thousands of images...I'll be reading this for months. www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-T...

A fat book on a wooden table, covered with colorful images of Spider-Man, from the comics. The thick spine can be seen, labeled "Spider-Man: Total Universe."

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 05/09/2026

And that’s how I figured out what kind of Guy that Phil Collins is

Wikipedia screenshot: “Collins has described obtaining the drum machine specifically to deal with personal issues relating to his divorce—“

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 05/09/2026

San Francisco issued an RFI asking vendors (among other things) how much their software costs, and lots of vendors' response was: "well...how much you got?" What a racket.

Q: Could you please let us know if there is an allocated budget or an estimated funding range for this project? Having an understanding of the available budget would help us align our proposed solution.
A: No. The City intends that this RFl will help inform any future procurements and budget.

Q: What was the annual spend under the previous contract for these services?
A: Please propose your estimated costs for your services. The City intends that this RFl will help inform any future procurements and budget.

Q: If this is a new contract, what is the estimated annual budget?
A: The City intends that this RFl will help inform any future procurements and budget.

Q: What budget range, if any, has been identified or appropriated for the County Clerk modernization program?
A: The City intends that this RFl will help inform any future procurements and budget.

Q: What is the City's current annual spend on the systems listed in Section 4 that are candidates for replacement?
A: Please propose your estimated costs for your services. The City intends that this RFl will help inform any future procurements and budget.

Q: If already determined, what amount is being budgeted for ongoing support, software licensing, hosting, and support of the new system?
A: The City intends that this RFI will help inform any future procurements and budget.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 05/09/2026

Charlottesville folks, I went by Hello Goodbye Records today, which was new to me. It's ~50/50 CDs and vinyl—I picked up Dylan & Costello. Recommended. It's on West Main, across from Feast, behind Tavern and Grocery. They've got a few parking spaces in the little lot there. www.hellogoodbyemusic.com

The entrance to a store. It looks more like the front of a cafe, with a wooden roof and chest-height walls covering a small outdoor area. A hanging sign reads "HELLO GOODBYE RECORDS."

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 05/09/2026

1) Wear absolutely disgusting socks 2) If you get a blister, slap some duct tape on it and leave it for a week or until you get brave enough to remove it, whichever comes first 3) Wash them weekly 4) Quantities of ibuprofen that threaten your liver You're welcome.

Headline: "These Hikers Are Trekking Up to 2,600 Miles at a Time. Here's How They Take Care of Their Feet."

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 04/09/2026

There’s no escaping heritage, apparently. (I have never lived in New England.)

An isogloss, showing that the speaker has a New England accent.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 04/09/2026

Yeah, why Trump would rush through an election change two months before an election is a real head-scratcher 🙄 www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/u...

With just two months to go before the election, and many states set to begin distributing mail-in ballots later this month, Judge Talwani wondered aloud why the rule change could not wait until the agency had time to execute it methodically.

"I think that's what's so puzzling to me about this case,"
Judge Talwani said.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 03/09/2026

So many of the installations of Larry Sabato's "Crystal Ball" newsletter contain updated forecasts that look like this one, from this morning's email.

A list of governors (or open seats), with their old rating and their new rating.

AK Open (Dunleavy, R); Old Rating: Likely Republican; New Rating: Toss-up
IA Open (Reynolds, R); Old Rating: Toss-up: New Rating: Leans Democratic
Josh Shapiro (D-PA); Old Rating: Likely Democratic; New Rating: Safe Democratic

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 02/09/2026

Check out these AP photos (credit: Sakchai Lalit) of the USS Abraham Lincoln today. I guess I've only seen well maintained aircraft carriers, because this seems like a whole lot of rust. apnews.com/article/uss-...

A photo showing part of an aircraft carrier, with a city skyline in the distance. Along the waterline is a nearly continuous streak of rust, maybe three meters in height.

A photo of an aircraft carrier, taken from an angle that allows it to be seen diagonally. The hull of the boat, along the waterline, is a nearly continuous streak of rust, perhaps three meters high. Also, the side of the ship just below the deck is largely stained rust-brown, with vertical streaks of rust.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 02/09/2026

You sure picked a nice time of year to visit! When I was there in January, I took a photo each day of my view of the Alps. It left something to be desired.

A flat, gray image. Like a paint sample.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 31/08/2026

Left-wing slop posters have apparently moved on from Peanuts to Betty Boop. On the plus side, I’m really building up my block list.

An obviously AI-generated image of Betty Boop wearing a hi-viz vest, her proportions absurd, holding a sign that says, in ChatGPT Sans:

SOMEBODY EXPLAIN WHY THE RULE IS "IF YOU CAN'T MAKE RENT, CUT OUT THE COFFEE, LATTES, AND EATING OUT.

BUT IT'S NEVER "IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD YOUR WORKERS A LIVING WAGE, CUT OUT THE STOCK BUYBACKS, EXECUTIVE BONUSES, AND PRIVATE JETS."

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 31/08/2026

This local LLM server suggests that I free up some RAM by quitting Finder. 🤔

mix-serve failed to start

Not enough free memory to load the model. Using the most right now: Safari 920 MB • Finder 816 MB• Mail 462 MB • Warp 379 MB - quitting these frees about 2.5 GB. You can also turn on Settings - Skip memory preflight, or pick a smaller model.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 30/08/2026

I saw this ad for a combination gardening/amputation device.

Something like a string trimmer, on wheels, but in place of the string is a circular saw blade.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 30/08/2026

This is an interesting artifact from the 21st century United States.

A chart showing how much various freezer sizes hold, measured in portions a of a cow. The largest holds an entire cow. The table also reports how many weeks’ supply of beef that is, ranging from 4–90.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 29/08/2026

A farmer looks for a new home.

A screenshot from “Interstellar,” showing a father taking to his daughter, as they stand next to a corn field.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 28/08/2026

I made a map of the location of every business in Virginia*, for some reason? vabusinesses.org/map/ * That I've geocoded so far—it's slow going! 387,006 done so far.

A dot map of Albemarle County, Virginia, with one dot for every location where business are found. Some dots are smaller, and some are larger. They're mostly clustered on the northern half of Charlottesville.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 27/08/2026

This is an actual clause in an actual software contract that is currently in force with the Commonwealth of Virginia.

19. BILLING FORMAT
Magnetic tape in IBM EBCDIC is the preferred electronic format.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 26/08/2026

Klein bottles: easy to get water into, but damned near impossible to dry afterward. If leaving it in the sun doesn’t work, I’ll try putting it in the oven at a low temperature.

A Klein bottle (look it up; basically, a topologically interesting glass shape) resting on its side in the sun.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 24/08/2026

Yesterday was move-in day for the hens. One of them has developed a tick infestation that requires changing over the bedding, so we rushed through some steps to move them to the new coop. Their food and water is in here temporarily, until I can build their outdoor run, behind the coop.

A trim little shed, barn red with white trim. A tiny door can be seen at bottom right, for hens to enter and exit. At left is a nesting box, hanging off the side.

A nesting box on the side of a coop, opened up to see two compartments within. It has shiny metal roofing. Through the nesting box can be seen the interior of a coop, with a hanging feeder.

The interior of a chicken coop, photographed through the door. The floor is covered in shavings, the walls are white, and a feeder and a watering bucket can be seen. The feeder hangs from the ceiling, the watering bucket is up on a cinder block.

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 22/08/2026

“Substantial evidence shows that plowing city streets facilitates travel, but the evidence also shows it has not consistently improved mental or physical health or lowered death rates.” See how stupid that sounds?

Substantial evidence shows that
Housing First succeeds in getting the chronically homeless housed, at least in the short term. But it is expensive, and the evidence also shows it has not consistently improved mental or physical health or lowered death rates. The treatment-first approach—

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Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 21/08/2026

This is the top result on Amazon when searching for a Covid molecular test. The book, predictably, claims that the Covid pandemic is a hoax. www.amazon.com/s?k=covid+mo...

A search result for a book titled "PCR: THE FRAUD: The fraud of molecular swabs for COVID-19 Diagnostics."

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