iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

I firmly believe no-one should be pressure to follow anyone, and strongly suspect this account is a (poorly-scripted) bot (and will be blocked in short order), but this is the first time someone has pressured me to follow back without actually following me in the first place 🙃

A picture of a BlueSky post by me, with a reply by an account asking me to follow back when they haven't followed me in the first place - someone's done a ropey job of coding this bot!

5142

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

It might be feed settings. It shows up for me, but if I change my language settings to just English content, then it disappears. To change your language settings, go to Settings -> Languages -> then make sure you don't have any content languages set. Let me know if this doesn't work 😊

An image of the BlueSky language settings options, with "English" selected as a content language.

120

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Couldn't find a screenie in a search, had to make my own 😁

A collection of ASCII characters representing the text-based strategy game Empire. The characters show a small island surrounded by water with a single army on it.

030

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

With @revdrjohn.bsky.social coming to the rescue of the Naval History feed, there's no marginal cost for me leaving the Civil Maritime History and Maritime History (both #MaritimeHistory), Pirate History ( #PirateHistory ) and Coastal History ( #CoastalHistory ) feeds up. (1/3)

Painting of the tramp steamer Ship ‘SS Venture’ in about 1920 by David Young (called "Tramp Steamer". It shows a small cargo ship with a black hull and white superstructure steaming in calm water.

1131

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Thanks for everyone's feedback on the feed, and please give John a big hurrah and an extra tot of virtual rum 😊 Note, as far as I know, this image is not actually of John 😁 (2/2)

A black and white photo of a sailor drinking from a barrel of rum, with others looking on and laughing.

1180

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

With very many thanks to @revdrjohn.bsky.social I'm happy to report the #NavalHistory feed is back in commission - John will be leading the charge on stomping out AI slop, removing dubiously tagged posts and adding naval history content found elsewhere on BlueSky. (1/2)

Charles Algernon Parsons' steam turbine-powered Turbinia (a turbine-powered motor launch) at speed, photographed in 1897/1898

3567

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

These feeds are now in "care and maintenance", and will be decommissioned on the 8th of May this year. I highly recommend (if you haven't already) following any accounts that post things to the feeds that you enjoy 😊

Two rows of inactive ships lined up next each other on a calm body of water.

6352

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Nothing like a bit of ecole-ing from you Dread 😎

A poster-style image with the text "Louis-Emile Bertin Approves!"

050

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

Right you are, sorry - that's me being a bit off-colour and mixing up reading from my notes. Thanks for setting the record straight 😊

An excerpt from a spreadsheet showing the fighters embarked on the CVEs Kalinin Bay and Kasaan Bay on 6 Oct 1944 and 9 Sep 1944, respectively.

100

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

They did, it was a bit different in scope (a full battleship, rather than a coastal defence vessel) and slightly less odd-looking, but there were all sorts of interesting designs while navies worked out the best way to match armour, heavier, more accurate guns, and steam power 😊

A view from the starboard forward of the late 19th-century battleship "Sans Pareil". It has a single large-calibre turret forward, the side-by-side funnels and the instructure aft.

130

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

I mean, it could always be worse.... #NavalHistory

An illustration of the French coastal defence ship Tonnerre (a warship in the second half of the 19th century, of unusual design) that appeared after page 170 in Thomas Brassey's The British Navy, Volume I.

2110

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Something to make you feel better 😁

Black and white photograph of a side view of HMS Aurora, a British light cruiser built in the 1930s.

050

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

In a week that proves when I'm not being hammered by work I can read a bit, I've happily just finished @navalairhistory.com 's Swordfish Units of World War 2. It contains lots of interesting information on Swordfish Operations, including significant amounts of new material not found...(1/3)

The front cover of the book "Swordfish Units of World War 2". The illustration shows a biplane aircraft carrying bombs flying past a Tribal-class destroyer towards pillars of smoke coming from the shoreline.

1294

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 03/01/2026

No risk of that, he's a very quick-and-dirty pic of some of my TBR - this is what 99% of it looks like 😁

A pile of books, all relating to naval history.

010

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

The feed as well - the first three stats are totals, but those 56 "eyeballs" is 56 views from the feed - this is why I bump things there 😊 (If the feeds weren't giving posts any views, I'd just retire 'em).

A screenshot of a thread by hush from the naval history feed, showing 56 views for the tagged reply.

120

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Brilliant, can confirm, many thanks 😊 Although will have to think about whether I want to wait until February or not....

A screenshot of the Dymocks (a bookseller) website showing the cover of "Advance Britannia" by Alan Allport, available for pre-order and shipping the day after publication - even if this is nearly three months after it releases in the UK!

020

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

Sooooo, in June, when work looked like it might be settling, I started this monster. Work was not settling, and I only just finished it last night! A very interesting read, and I'm happy I did, although being a book of 1907 vintage the style of writing is, understandably....

The book "The Seven Years War" reprinted by the Folio Society, taken at an angle that shows the spine. The cover of the book is a picture of someone who has been mortally wounded laying on the ground (Wolfe, I think), surrounded by concerned-looking people.

2150

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Clouds are awesome - have some Australian clouds 😊

A shot of clouds at dusk, backlit by the setting sun.

020

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

There are some good #NavalHistory photos in here. CAPT James Buchanan, RAN, was in charge of one of the three Allied naval brigades that first went ashore in Japan after the surrender, and was the first Australian to enter Japan after the armistice, on (I think) 30 Aug 1945.

Screen grab from the Naval Historical Society of Australia Book "N Class - The Story of HMA Ships Napier, Nizam, Nestor, Norman & Nepal" by L J Lind and M A Payne. The black and white image shows CAPT Buchanan, RAN, in shorts and shirt, accepting the keys to Yokosuka naval base from a Japanese naval officer.

183

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

These are the only schooners for me 😊 That said, I still remember when I "came north" and had to learn the new lingo - hope you have a great night 😊

A gaff-rigged schooner on a sunny day with a mostly clear blue sky and a calm sea.

040

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

Just a heads-up that I get a broken link when I click on it as per the screen-grab. I look forward to reading the review in the fullness of time 😊

Screenshot of a page with a "address not found" message.

011

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

That's no good at all - hope it is settles down soon so you can curl up like Kanimbla's ship's cat.

A black and white photo of a cat asleep in a hammock (Kanimbla's ship's cat, in this case).

040

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

The Mark IV, for sure 😁

A black and white photo of a Mark IV tank from the First World War, in this case with an "unditching beam" - a thick piece of suspended on two chains from its track.

010

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

Some great discussion of the Fulmar by Matt here - well worth a read if you're interested in the type. Only whets my appetite for his forthcoming book on subject 😊 Gratuitous pic from pacificeagles.net/fairey-fulmar/, which has a few more interesting pics on it. #NavalHistory

Black and white image of a Fairey Fulmar (low-wing monoplane) landing on HMS Formidable (and aircaft carrier) during the Madagascar operation. Crew on deck are watching the aircraft, which has just caught the arrester wire.

111

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

The story of WATU would actually make a really good movie/series. So many good stories yet to be told. Sorry, this is far too serious a response. To add balance.....

A shot of French pre-dreadnought Charles Martle from the bow, somewhat optimistically added to this post to add balance. Certainly wouldn't add much stability!

1100

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

It's not quite Friday anymore, but here's a contribution for Friday past to the #histbookchat feed 😊 An old favourite that helps emphasise the importance of maritime elements in a theatre where it's rarely considered. Apologies for being MIA, IRL being a bit hectic.

The front cover of the book "The Naval War in the Baltic, 1939-1945" by Paul Groos. The painting on the cover shows a Stuka dive-bombing the Soviet battleship Marat while it is berthed in Kronstadt, looking over the wings and body of the Stuka down at the ship, which can be seen on fire, with smoke coming from it.

1160

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

... mad keen on naval history and its many details. That said, there are still a decent number of interesting anecdotes to liven up the second section. One of the reason the ship has got a bit more attention than other survey ships is that it is still extant as a museum ship in Brisbane. (3/4)

Stern view of the former HMAS Diamantina at the Queensland Maritime Museum in March 2008. The ship is sitting in a drydock and has an awning spread of the quarterdeck.

171

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

The first 1/3rd is the ship's construction and Second World War service, and a much more conventional read. While not the easiest reading, it less common for survey ships to get that kind of treatment, and I still found it quite interesting, but it may have less appeal to someone who's not... (2/4)

HMAS Diamantina berthed in Melbourne - the image is a black and white photo of a river-class frigate from the side at a berth, with the bow of a Tribal class destroyer pointing in the other direction behind the Diamantina's stern.

130

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

I've been a bit rough with #histbookchat Photo Fridays this year, but I'm hoping this post is the start of a new trend! HMAS Diamantina is an interesting book, although not always an easy read, as much of the second 2/3rds is a linear discussion through various operations as a survey vessel. (1/4)

The front cover of the book "HMAS Diamantina - Second Edition" by Peter Nunan, on a background of beige fabric. The book cover has the title at the top, wtih a painting of the ship (a river-class frigate) sailing in heavy seas on a cloudy day, alongside a graphic of the ship's badge.

1171

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

That's what the "(1/2)" is for in the post, to indicate that there's a second post - the whole translation didn't quite fit (even with some tweaking) into the word count for one post, and I prefer to split on whole sentences 😊

A two-post thread in BlueSky, with the "(1/2)" highlighted as the indication that there is another post below the first.

010

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

Quote with a bridge from your gallery

The bridge of the Bathurst-class corvette HMAS Castlemaine. The image has at its centre the ship's wheel, with a compass to its right and voice pipes forward of the wheel and to its left. The inside is fairly dark due to the contrast of the bright light from outside.

3164

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

For my #histbookchat Photo Friday contribution, here's the first "grown up" maritime history book I read, and it's a good 'un. Longitude isn't a big read, but I very much enjoyed its telling of the development of the chronometer, which had a huge impact on maritime navigation. #MaritimeHistory

The front cover of the book "Longitude", by Dava Sobel, with a subtitle that reads "The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatist Scientific Problem of His Time." On the cover is an artwork of John Harrison, and a photograph of an early chronometer, as well as an artwork of a ship at sea and a semi-circular part of a map of the world.

8442

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

If you see this post an archer.

A black-and-white photograph of a side view of the escort carrier HMS Archer, painted in camouflage in light-ish seas. The flight deck is clear.

090

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

The @navalinstitute.bsky.social 's Naval History Magazine is a good read - after an intense 2024 I'm woefully behind, but in the last couple of days had a chance to read through their April 2024 edition. It's only semi-paywalled, and you can read up to five articles a month without subcribing...

The front cover of the April 2024 edition of the US Naval Institute's magazine "Naval History", with the sub-heading "Did the USS Monitor Actually Look Different". The painting on the cover is of a low-freeboard monitor, a ship with a flat deck not far above the waterline, with a single, round turret in the centre, in this image showing it firing a cannon.

1181

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

If you prefer to use other hashtags that’s cool too, but please remember consistency and being able to avoid false positives is important if you want others to be able to use them. DM me if you have other hashtags you would like to use, or have any other thoughts on the feed. (6/8)

A screenshot of the inclusion terms for the naval history feed at the time of posting (note they may have changed since), as well as a list of terms that require approval to be included.

160

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

For threads, it’s best to put the hashtag in the last post - that way the thread will show up as a thread in the feed. Either way, it’s best practice to include some indication in your first post that it’s the start of a thread (for example, post counts or a needle-and-thread emoji 🧵). (5/8)

A three-post thread on the naval history feed, showing how the hashtag placed in the last post shows both the first and last post of the thread, as well as one other in-between.

2100

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Alt-text on images/videos is encouraged (so vision-impaired users to enjoy your posts too). For more info manningkrull.com/digital-phil.... If you find yourself forgetting, there’s a setting for that (see image). Some users (me included) are less likely to repost things without alt-text. (4/8)

A screenshot of the Accessibility settings in BlueSky’s desktop interface, showing the setting ‘Require alt text before posting’ selected.

170

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

The aim of this feed is to make it easy for people to find naval history content on BlueSky, and to make it easy for posters to get eyeballs on their posts 😊 Anything picked up in this feed will also show up on the Maritime History feed (bsky.app/profile/axe9...) (2/8)

Cutting Out of HMS Hermione by N Pocock”, which shows an age of sail frigate of the royal navy on fire, with hand-to-hand fighting on the upper deck and four ships’ boats near the bow.

1130

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

[Pinned] Welcome to the Naval History Feed 😊 This feed aims to bring together posts about naval history (anything from 20 years or so ago and older). To have your posts or replies show up in the feed, just tag them with #NavalHistory. For more on this feed and feeds in general, read on 😊 (1/8)

A black-and-white photo of the aircraft carrier Argus in dazzle camouflage.

413616

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

I'm very sorry to have been so quiet on the #histbookchat PhotoFriday front - December was just a bit mad, but I'm starting to come out of the haze now, and a great new arrival to mark it with is @seaspitfires.com latest - not the first time it's been seen in these parts, but it's worth repeats 😊

The front cover of the book "Sword Beach - The Untold Story of D-Day's Forgotten Victory" by Stephen Fisher. The photo on the cover shows solders that have just disembarked from a landing craft wading through shallow water towards a beach.

3344

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

To remove feeds, go into your feed settings again, and scroll down past your list of pinned feeds, to see you total list of Saved Feeds. Click on the dustbin icon next to any feeds that no longer do it for you, and off they go 😊 (6/7)

A screenshot of the Feeds settings element in the BlueSky user interface, showing a list of feeds, with bin and pin icons to the right.

120

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

You can now select and view your feeds and enjoy the content they contain 😊 There's also an experimental feature in Settings -> Content and Media -> Feed preferences to "Show samples of your saved feeds in your following feed" as well. It is experimental, so bear that in mind (5/7)

The BlueSky Settings options, with "Content and Media" highlighted.

The options in the BlueSky "Content & Media" category, with "Following feed preferences" highlighted.

The "Following Feed Preferences" options in BlueSky - note the experimental "Show samples of your saved feeds in your Following Feed" at the bottom.

120

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Once there, you can pin some (or all) of your feeds for easy access, abd adjust the order they're pinned. Don't forget to hit the "save changes" button in the top-right when you're done 😊 (4/7)

A screenshot of the "Feed settings" user interface element of BlueSky, showing a list of feeds with up, down and pin buttons to adjust their order and pin/unpin. the feeds.

120

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Once you have selected your feeds, you can choose to "pin" some for easy access - listed on the right-hand-side on Desktop, and scrollable to the right in the order they're pinned on mobile. To pin feeds, select the gear for "settings" in the Feeds part of the user interface (top right).... (3/7)

A screenshot of the feeds interface in BlueSky, showing the gear for "settings" in the top-right.

120

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

To add a feed, the best way to do it is to select "Feeds" from your menu. If you don't have any feeds selected yet, you should have a search box at the top (if you do, scroll past your existing feeds) - think of something you'd like to read about and go searching 😊 (2/7)

A screenshot of the Feeds interface in BlueSky, showing the search box for discovering new feeds.

120

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

A short thread on feeds: On BlueSky there is no algorithm - you choose your own adventure, and one way to do this is through feeds, which are a great way of focussing content. There are thousands, on all sorts of topics, although clearly those on maritime matters are the best feeds 😁 (1/7)

A picture of the Feeds sub-menu of BlueSky, shoing a list of feeds.

2203

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

...it can help get your content to a wider audience. In the case of the Naval History feed in particular, it's regularly getting more than 300 views a day (although what will happen over the holiday season is anyone's guess). Many thanks to all those tagging their posts already 😊 (3/7)

A line chart of views of the naval history feed, from November 2024 to December 23, showing a rapid increase when it was soft launched on 1 December, to levels of around 250-500 views a day.

120

Dave Long @axe99.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

It's the holiday season now, and I'll be a bit more intermittent than usual. This means I'll be less around to do manual adds of content to the Naval ( #NavalHistory ), Civil Maritime ( #MaritimeHistory ), PirateHistory ( #PirateHistory ) and Coastal ( #CoastalHistory ) feeds - feeds help... (1/7)

A screen grab of the Naval History feed, showing a post highlighting the arrival on BlueSky of Eugen Pinak, and another post by King Ludd about the Confederate submarine Hunley.

174