iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sean Jones KC @seanjones.org · 26/09/2026

He blocked me for highlighting an incredibly simple criminal sentencing issue. I got blocked by the other well know. self-aggrandising, intentionally misleading, proud, self promoting, counsel for a similar offence shortly afterwards.

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Reposted by Ben Rowe

He’s NOT a wizard. NOT A WIZARD. Sigh

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I am always impressed by appeals to authority on purely subjective matters. Bravo.

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I’m confused about this comment, so fear I’m missing something. Being able to describe how to build a Lego set (and being able to follow those oral instructions) seems like it would require a level of English (relatively simple) entirely appropriate for working in an English speaking environment.

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Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 24/09/2026

And yet, entirely, entirely accurate.

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It’s impossible really to neutrally and practically analyse something which in reality largely comes down to one’s sense of feeling and belonging. To answer your question, in the same way that many identify as “European” primarily, even if the UK ceased to be, I’d still feel the kinship of Britain.

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Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 24/09/2026

I find this question very difficult, because I strongly identify with my British identity, and with the Union generally. I know that I am practically and culturally English, but I feel no real emotional attachment to that label except during sporting events.

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Reposted by Ben Rowe

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

In addition - the sketches are not racist, and it is a sign of a broader malaise that we now treat “jokes about racists and racism” as indistinguishable from “racist jokes”.

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Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 18/09/2026

We have lost one of the stars of the greatest ever sitcom, on any medium, ever. Her turn as Carolyn in Cabin Pressure was an absolute tour de force. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Stephanie Cole: Tenko and Doc Martin actress dies aged 84

She was best known for playing the character Dr Beatrice Mason in the 1980s BBC wartime TV drama

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The radio is far, far better than the book in my view.

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This is condescending nonsense. A lack of connection with a piece - especially something half a century old, and a product of its time - is not at all an indicator of the abilities of today’s young people. It will work for some, it will fail for many. That doesn’t impact your enjoyment of it.

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It felt dated to me when I read it in the early 90s, so I’m utterly unastonished at more modern reactions.

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Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 29/08/2026

I winced at that line when I read it a few decades ago, and still dislike it now. I’ve just never been able to get along with Adams (or Pratchett for that matter). My wife (Pratchett Acolyte #1) thinks I’m mad, but tolerates me nonetheless.

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I think you think you worded it accordingly, but the fact that you’ve had several comments on exactly the same point suggests you’re not quite as clear as you believe yourself to be sometimes. This happens fairly regularly. Not everyone seeking to expand a conversation with you is a detractor.

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Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 29/08/2026

The inclusion of Robin Hood in the marketing of this film seems to be an American endeavour, which has spilled over here a touch. The English marketing team have been at pains to distance themselves from the madness. Absolutely bizarre.

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Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 29/08/2026

Agreed, as long as there is an automatic disbarment for those who use “as a barrister” on social media when arguing about non legal matters.

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Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 24/08/2026

Don’t try Liverpool, not even once.

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I think you’ve missed a joke there.

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I called a company’s sales service number recently, and when they picked up they said they don’t provide assistance on the phone and instructed me to use their online contact form. Guess who didn’t make a sale that day.

I always give the same, completely unsolicited advice to all expectant parents: feel free to tell people you don’t want their advice.

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Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 22/08/2026

If someone in real life says “I’m looking for a decent waterproof jacket” I am *definitely* giving a recommendation if I have one to give. Social media is wide open. If people don’t want responses, they should just disable replies. Seems pathetic to me to get snarky about people replying on SM.

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Nothing tests how well you have remembered your school French quite like trying to convince a mechanic in Calais to change a tire for you at 11.50am on a Saturday. We muddled through together.

Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 21/08/2026

Just read through a few articles. Certainly has the chance to cut through majorly in the States!

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Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 21/08/2026

This feels like a very-very-online thing to me. I’m only very-online and it hasn’t got anywhere near me yet. Could well cut through though.

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Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 21/08/2026

I have no idea what this is a reference to, and I am perennially online, so I suspect that either a) I’m being incredibly dense, or b) the feeding frenzy isn’t yet at a critical mass.

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Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 17/08/2026

Talk about buying the dip!

Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 17/08/2026

I built my NAS in 2016. It was remarkably affordable. I have been *planning* a rebuild for two years. The prices have got worse and worse. Graphics cards (for when I rebuild my main PC) will bankrupt me.

Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 17/08/2026

That’s interesting to me. I would always rather visit someone at home, or host them at mine for a light supper or whatever, rather than head to a pub. At home the purpose feels more like chatting and relaxing. In a pub the central purpose seems to be to drink.

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Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 13/08/2026

My experience of tumblr is via the lens of voice acting in a couple of podcasts. For me, it can be summarised as: “there be dragons”.

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Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 08/08/2026

It’s a general issue with “fandom”. The minute you make it a group, people start gatekeeping and excluding others - and that usually means men acting horrifically towards women and girls. Far easier for me just to enjoy stuff and not take anything too seriously.

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Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 08/08/2026

That’s exactly my experience of “bronies”. I’ve never engaged with one who actually, completely liked the show on its own terms without seeking to fetishise it in some way. I have met adult males who enjoy the show, without being weird about it, but they never called themselves “bronies”.

Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 31/07/2026

If you have a chum with an e-reader of any kind, do take a look. I much prefer to hold a physical book, but my kindle (other manufacturers are available) is just brilliant, and works just like a printed page in all light qualities.

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Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 28/07/2026

Amen. I am forever grateful for Mrs Rowe who reins in my every terrible instinct, despite the fact that I am meant to be old enough to know better. We now have a marvellous division of labour: I choose all the tech and everything under the hood, she makes it look like I’m not six.

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Ben Rowe @benrowe.uk · 27/07/2026

It’s a truly bizarre review generally.

Agreed! I have absolutely no comment to make about the poor, poor parents themselves. No one has any right to police their feelings and reactions. But their lawyer…!

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The procedural point is far more interesting to me than the factual point. I am very glad that the Stay is now in place for the procedural point to be investigated properly. If the Courts are (ever) going to take this step, it needs to be done properly. We shall see if it has been.

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Meanwhile, it’s changed nothing for me. My attitude towards advocacy has not changed in the slightest. I have been in no way “chilled” by this. I will continue to push back against Judges. If I ever get accused of something similar, I will defend myself in the same way as Menon is in this case.

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I’m a criminal barrister. I’ve read all the judgments in this case. Riel’s first point is the key one: Menon denies breaching the Judge’s directions. The HC has found it arguable he has. The Court can decide the facts. I have no idea which way they will decide; nor is it appropriate to comment.

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Please finish the story using only single syllable words, sentences of no longer than eight words, and an incongruous cliffhanger at the end of every page.

My stepdad did years of night shifts. I always had to go play at mates’ houses in the afternoons to make sure we didn’t wake him up. There was a shuffle between houses working out who was asleep.

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I grew up in Crowthorne, within half a mile of Broadmoor’s walls. Most of the adults I knew worked there. Half of my family, all my mates’ parents. It is not a fun place to be for patients or staff.

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The headline yesterday that the lawyer for the victims’ families thought that he was “playing the system” was awful. I found it very difficult to believe that the BBC had just splashed the quote without nuance or comment. Really not good enough.

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Please finish this story in the style of Dan Brown.

We all know that the Times is uninterested in solving the problems, though!

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Exactly the point I’ve made elsewhere. My wife is a specialist energy regulation lawyer. The headline is true, but sensationalised. The underlying reality is: Net Zero is necessary but we don’t currently have the required energy load balancing management processes in place.

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They’re telling the truth - with our current poor energy load management systems it *is* harder to manage many, smaller, generators than a few, larger ones like in the past. BUT! they are spinning it as a reason not to transition. Instead it’s a reason to put more resources into management systems!

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The headline is entirely accurate - but unlike the Times’s motivation, it should instead be read as a reason to put more time, resource and effort into Net Zero to smooth over the risks during the transition period. Just like every other major societal transition in human history.

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