iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

First day back at work post Covid and I can report that not all cylinders are firing and the ducks are in no semblance of a row.

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Charlie Warzel @cwarzel.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

There is a moment at the very very end of Abdul El-Sayed's podcast with Ezra Klein (book recommendation section) where he talks about the idea of "speaking truth to pain" and this will be staying with me for an extremely long time. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/25/o...

But there’s also something about truth to pain. We talk a lot about truth to power, but I think it’s actually a lot harder to speak truth to pain. I say that as someone who went to medical school, realizing that in a lot of our politics right now, we’ve got to get a lot better at speaking truth to pain if we’re going to get through some of these challenges that we have.

What does “truth to pain” mean?

It’s one thing to look power in the eye and say: You’re wrong about this. But there’s a way in which pain is very difficult to reason with. Because when somebody is in their pain, they’re in their trauma. They see that pain, and they may not see what’s causing it.

I remember just very explicitly being in a trauma ward with a gunshot wound patient and watching this big guy with his hand on his gunshot wound. All the folks are trying to pull his hand off his pain, that point of his gunshot wound, this clear vulnerability.

And this emergency room doctor had the presence of mind to be like: Everyone, stop. And she looks him in the eyes, and she’s like: I get that really hurts, and I’m so sorry that you’re here. You don’t want to be here. We don’t want you to be here. But if you don’t let us fix this, you could die. So I’m going to take your hand, and I’m going to move it off, OK? Because I need to get there so that you can live.

She was speaking truth to pain. He understands he’s at the hospital, he needs care, but he also doesn’t want anybody to touch the wound. Which is a natural thing. And I think it is a really great metaphor for how we think about a lot of these challenges we talked about today.

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Luke O'Neil @lukeoneil47.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

If you want "personalized music" made just for you pick up a fucking guitar. Or else break the heart of someone who already has.

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John Bull @garius.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

A cash-strapped rural police force struggles to deal with Red Diesel gangs. Until its chief inspector realises can get the Met Police to deal with the problem... ...if he pretends they're Iranian. A new six part comedy starring Toby Jones.

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

As an Anglican priest, I do not want this. I consider enforced religiosity like this an abomination. No one should ever be compelled to say or sing anything they don't believe in, doubly so in the context of collective worship.

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Rachel Cunliffe @rmcunliffe.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

I’m a dual national. I’m not planing on committing any crimes anytime soon, let alone ones with a sentence of 5+ years, but if I ever did I’m not sure why my second passport should disqualify me from facing the same British justice system as everyone else and instead strip me of my citizenship

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

It's been decades since I lived in New England, but the very words 'Nor'easter' make my want to put on a watch cap, tighten my coat, and stare into the looming darkness muttering 'in '78...'.

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

There’s a particular species of straight middle-aged man who can’t get enough of Brandi Carlile. These are my people. I am one of them.

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

By this logic I am more English, as a naturalised citizen of mainly English descent*, than a woman born here. And that leads to dark places. *A bit of Swedish too, but having the odd Viking in the woodpile is very English.

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

What is it about me being unwell that leads my cat to puking on the carpet? Every time!

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Catching Covid in 2026 is as passé and embarrassing as being the dad who still says ‘yeet’.

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Steven (with a PH) @sjksalisbury.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Christening a baby is nothing like christening a ship. I know that now. Once again I can only apologise.

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Widows Bay is a reminder that New England is a fundamentally creepy place. King, Lovecraft, Poe, Hawthorne, they all know this. and growing up in New England was growing up with ghost stories.

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

When corporations tell you to trust them to self-regulate, there is literally no point in history where this has ended well. Sam Altman can take a metaphorical long walk off a short pier.

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Janel Comeau 🍁 @verybadllama.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I mean if you really want to hear Ed Sheeran without any opening acts you can simply get put on hold with your bank

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Slowly reading through George Saunders 2000 short story collection ‘Pastoralia’, and every so often feeling gut punched. The man can write.

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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Truly the most fascinating Bluesky subtribe here are the 'cars are more dangerous. Therefore pedestrians should be relaxed about me hurting them' cyclists.

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Daniel José Older @djolder.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

"The University of Chicago’s undergrad social-sciences division will go “analog” this fall, implementing a blanket policy banning technology in class and AI assistance on coursework across the division’s core courses." www.chronicle.com/article/u-of...

chronicle.com

U. of Chicago Bans Tech, AI in Social Sciences Core Courses

The new restrictions apply to students and faculty members.

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

In fun news today, I saw an Otter on the River Ouse while out in Fen Drayton RSBP reserve.

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

As a UK/US national let me give my British friends a stark warning. The current disaster that is US politics is largely down to untrammelled big money. Do everything you can, and as a British citizen and resident I will do everything I can, to stop it here.

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Robert Hutton @roberthutton.co.uk · 04/09/2026

With all respect to the BBC, the reason this story "matters" is not about whether it distracts from Reform's conference. It "matters" because it is important our leaders are not conspiring to break the law.

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Well, no surprises, beyond the lack of a Tri-State orientation from a childhood in New Haven.

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Rhys Kaminski-Jones @rhyskamjones.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I think we should all band together to send James Orr clips of the "you taking notes on a criminal fucking conspiracy?!" scene from The Wire for all eternity

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

"We just don't have British resident donors, British entities, that would support us. That's the grim reality" "There are a lot of people in your position who, for completely understandable reasons, can't declare ... the reality is we can easily get away with it ... [Le Carre]" - James Orr 10m40s

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Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 03/09/2026

We are currently clean on OPSEC!

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Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Stop whatever you’re doing & watch this now! Reform’s magic money tree has been bust wide open. Huge kudos to undercover reporters Verbatim via @channel4news.bsky.social youtu.be/aXut3s90rUI?... huge

youtu.be

Undercover: Exposing Reform's secret donations plot

YouTube video by Channel 4 News

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Hannah Swithinbank @hannahswiv.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Love to watch someone who emphasises the importance of Christian values say “we can easily get away with it”…

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Watching Channel 4 News with my jaw on the floor. A teaching officer in my faculty apparently suborning illicit foreign funding for Reform. 'The reality is we can easily get away with it...'

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Helen Warrell @helenwarrell.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

James Orr: Reform’s head of policy, Cambridge theologian, architect of the new British right. Our profile for @ftweekend.com looks at his links to the Maga movement, Silicon Valley & European populists, and his life as a Cambridge lecturer with @ramshodgson.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/c2d0...

ft.com

James Orr and the gospel of the new British right

Reform’s policy head is a Cambridge theologian with an enviable contact book and a belief in ‘faith, family and flag’

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Too scared to show up to the by-election he won. Claims the police told him not to. BBC says they didn’t. It’s his fragile ego, not his skin, that he’s worried about.

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

At the Cambridge Arts Picture House to catch a showing of Fellini’s ‘8 1/2’, and there’s a whole bunch of people with dogs going to a ‘dog friendly’ showing of the Odyssey.

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Sometimes on a Friday you really need a burrito with carne al pastor and salsa verde. Lip tingling goodness, but I'd kill for a Jarritos.

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Ed Jefferson @edjefferson.com · 04/08/2026

Oh so having hobbies is illegal now is it

Man arrested after dressing up in 'Grim Reaper' costume on hospital roof and staring at patients

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Sooz Kempner @soozuk.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

When someone is described as "often controversial, never boring" in 2026 it just means: full nazi but also part of the establishment.

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🎃HalloDeeny🎃 they/them @geraldinepiche.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

The ghost of my dead plant watching me go to Lowe's gardening section

Matt Damon and zendaya and shes looking at him funny

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Left Outside @leftoutside.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Host the anti-world cup in Avignon, you cowards.

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Maybe we should be moving climate change back up the agenda.

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Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 28/07/2026

Ant-Man Will Return In: I Have Eaten The Plums That Were In The Icebox

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

What I struggle with in the whole 'vocational versus academic' debate is that both sides of the argument treat education as a utilitarian endeavour. Education is liberation.

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Michael G @indymichaelg.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

I say this as gently as I can, but your feelings are not really important here when the Cairngorms are on fire.

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Well it turns out we really do now have a Gen-X Prime Minister. I've seen the university photos and not only do I recognise the haircut, I've worn it.

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Oh Church of England, we breed the blood and the barb out of clerical voices till what is left speaks with the cadences of bullshit, even while speaking truth.

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Brett Gray @bcgray.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

I loved the Odyssey, but I now can't get 'Dark Knight Agamemnon' out of my head.

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James Poniewozik @poniewozik.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

England and France are only playing for third place, but the winner does get to reclaim the North American fur trade

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