iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Me at my Sunday best.

Today I learned that @nigella.bsky.social is on BSky and, friends, I have the delicious sense that life, in a small but significant way, may never be the same again.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 29/09/2026

I should add that one of the smartest things (IMO) that the government did when designing the apartment solar scheme was reducing the number of required owner votes from 50% to 25%. This meant that three out of twelve owners could pass the resolution that gets us almost free electricity.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 29/09/2026

At some point, we'll need to replace the gas hot water system for the building. If we go for air source heat pumps, the building will be completely off-grid for power. Which is wild.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 29/09/2026

Currently having 27.4kW of solar installed on the roof of our apartment complex. It's costing c.AUD50k, with the state government contributing 25 of that, and the owners the rest. Payoff period? About 18 months, at which point our electricity costs go to almost zero. Just need a battery now...

View through a window of a large red scissor lift raised outside a residential building. Its crossed steel arms dominate the foreground, with a tan brick apartment block, parked cars and a suburban street visible beyond in bright daylight.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 28/09/2026

This is the only correct opinion. The Daytona looks a slightly chubby thug compared to the Ghibli.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 28/09/2026

Speaking of M119s, today I will be installing a new fan clutch in the SL. Overheating in a Sydney summer is not cool. (i'll grab my hat)

Top-down view of a new automotive fan clutch assembly in an open cardboard box. The circular cast-metal component features prominent radial cooling fins, a central bearing and four mounting arms, with a small bag of hardware tucked alongside.

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Reposted by Drew Smith

Ryan McManus @ryantomorrow.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

My Waterford-loving Gran gran would have thought this a little gauche.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 28/09/2026

In an alternative universe, in which I'd held onto Margot, this would have been high up my list of things to do. I'd have been tempted to go M119, but I suspect the 117 is an easier swap as there's less electronic stuff with which to be concerned.

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Reposted by Drew Smith

michael @banovsky.com · 26/09/2026

It has come to my attention that Renault is trying to revive Gordini with a concept that somehow looks like a ErreErre Fuoriserie but worse? As a result, I can no longer be truthful when making the statement, “All Gordinis are brilliant”. Thank you for your attention on this important matter.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 25/09/2026

Meanwhile, did you see the interview and follow up with him in The FT? Masterful.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 25/09/2026

Sam Altman drives a white Königsegg...

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Alan Bradley @ajpbradley.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I kind-of miss when the richest people in the world just spaffed their money away on sets of tastefully weird vehicles and kept their dubious beliefs and weirdness mostly to themselves. www.weirdcaroftheday.com/bentley-java/

weirdcaroftheday.com

Bentley Java

Weird Car of the Day #499: 1994 Bentley Java – Off-menu

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 25/09/2026

Stellantis' latest acquisition for the benchmarking pool.

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Weird Car of the Day @wcotd.com · 25/09/2026

Weird Car of the Day #499: 1994 Bentley Java – Off-menu www.weirdcaroftheday.com/bentley-java/ #wcotd #weirdcarbs

weirdcaroftheday.com

Bentley Java

Weird Car of the Day #499: 1994 Bentley Java – Off-menu

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 24/09/2026

Where TF is Joan Didion when you need her?

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 24/09/2026

And I thought I was bad with being pedantic about Mercedes' W, V, S, C and A model code prefixes...

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 24/09/2026

Why does this feel like a Wallpaper* shoot

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 24/09/2026

@joesimpson.bsky.social and I gently eviscerated the Century SUV in a design review we did on Looking Out. I can't say I had Bentley outdoing the Century for grim vibes on my 2026 bingo card...

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Rodney Brooks @rodneyabrooks.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

@doctorow.pluralistic.net flips it around, that too many of us humans are hallucinating about Claude having intent. He pushes us to be AI atheists. It is a provocative, but welcome, stance. pluralistic.net/2026/09/21/s...

pluralistic.net

Pluralistic: The Claude Delusion (21 Sep 2026) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 24/09/2026

Here ends my review of the Bentley Torcal, the Cadillac Cimarron of the Porsche Cayenne.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 24/09/2026

Right, and the gap between the dash inlay, silver trim, and upholstered section is painfully large.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 24/09/2026

Another ugly gap. (also, the video just announced that Bentley has a no passenger screen policy. be thankful for small mercies, I guess, hey @dennieedwards.bsky.social?)

Close-up of the centre console in a Bentley luxury SUV, showing pale leather upholstery with contrasting stitching beside a glossy black control panel and dark padded trim. A hand gestures toward the console controls.

There's another unsightly gap here.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 24/09/2026

LOOK AT THE GAP AROUND THE VENT!? You could fit one of Piech's children through that! Also the trim looks like it came from a late 90s/early00s Formica collection.

Close-up of a circular metal air vent in a Bentley luxury SUV, set within finely patterned metallic dashboard trim. A hand points toward the vent’s machined centre section, with pale leather upholstery and part of the digital instrument display visible alongside.

THERE'S A MASSIVE FUCKING GAP AROUND THE VENT!

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 24/09/2026

The VO introduces these as the same column stalks from the new Audi Q3. That's exactly what you want to hear (and see and feel) when you hop into your eleventyhundred thousand dollar Bentley, I'm sure. Also, the rads and surfacing of the silver trim panel manage to look really cheap from here.

Close-up view of the driver’s side of a Bentley luxury SUV interior, featuring a two-tone teal and white steering wheel with contrasting stitching, a wide digital instrument display and metallic dashboard trim. Pale leather upholstery, suede-like teal surfaces and circular metal air vents create a richly detailed, contemporary cabin.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 24/09/2026

Ok, I could be wrong here... But: I am looking forward to seeing the result of water pooling and evaporating from those depressions in the hood, leaving behind a dusty scum. WHY ARE THERE SAD DUSTY DEPRESSIONS IN THE HOOD!? Bentley =. powerful hood. This thing presents like a eunuch.

Front three-quarter view of a silver Bentley luxury SUV displayed indoors, with its large illuminated diamond-pattern grille and split LED headlights prominent. A man in a beige suit stands beside the vehicle, gesturing toward it as he presents the car, with exposed brick walls and black curtains in the background.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 24/09/2026

Fret not. I bet you'll be able to option it back in.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 24/09/2026

OH GOD THEY MADE ONE IN MATT THE-MORNING-AFTER-THE-NIGHT-BEFORE YELLOW (it's probably called Citrine Mist or some such) ((i am 34 seconds into the video. i'm not sure how much more i can take))

Front three-quarter view of a metallic green Bentley luxury SUV displayed indoors. The vehicle features a large illuminated diamond-pattern grille, split LED headlights, black lower trim and multi-spoke alloy wheels. Exposed brickwork and black curtains form the backdrop.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 24/09/2026

Fisker Ocean, but make it Seville.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 23/09/2026

Bentley clearly going the extra mile to hide the Cayenne dash architecture here. Didn't someone say that VAG was struggling these days?

Wide view of the front cabin of a Bentley Torcal SUV, featuring a two-tone leather steering wheel, digital instrument display, large central touchscreen and metallic dashboard trim. Pale leather upholstery, soft pink ambient lighting and intricately patterned speaker grilles give the interior a bright, contemporary appearance.

Meme showing a person attempting an unconvincing disguise by pulling a purple hoodie tightly around their face and wearing dark sunglasses while standing in a crowd. Text reads: “Hero: it’s ok they’ll never find me, I’ll just put on a disguise. The disguise:”

Wide view of the driver’s cockpit of a Porsche Cayenne, featuring a leather steering wheel, curved digital instrument cluster, large central touchscreen and a separate passenger display. The predominantly black interior is accented by green ambient lighting across the dashboard, doors and footwells, with a dashboard-mounted clock above the centre console.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 23/09/2026

Alt text for the first post: Screenshot of a YouTube video showing a close-up front view of a silver Bentley electric SUV, dominated by a large illuminated diamond-pattern grille and slim LED headlights.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 23/09/2026

Ok, it categorically doesn't get better. This looks like a bloated Cupra Formentor, a car designed with the subtlety of a blunt chisel, to which someone has taken an even blunter chisel. It looks depressed! Like it needs meds! Whither swagger!? Whither vim!?

Front three-quarter view of a silver Bentley Torcal SUV displayed indoors. The vehicle features a large illuminated diamond-pattern grille, split LED headlights, sculpted bodywork and large multi-spoke alloy wheels, with black curtains and exposed brick walls in the background.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 23/09/2026

I'm 4 seconds into a video on Bentley's small SUEV and, already, planetary annihilation feels like a better way to both begin and end this day. Where does one even begin with this? And I've not even seen the side or back yet. Oy. *rubs temples*

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 22/09/2026

Yup, rings true. 2007 Lexus GS 450h and 2016 Land Cruiser 200 Sahara both have me wondering if there's something wrong with the sensors. Seems it's just poor design and calibration from the factory.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 22/09/2026

What is up with Toyota/Lexus climate control systems? They’re always freezing fricken’ cold when I expect them to be mild. A setting of 23 degrees centigrade should not require a cardigan.

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michael @banovsky.com · 20/09/2026

Paywall removed ✌️ www.weirdcaroftheday.com/marvia-911-c...

weirdcaroftheday.com

Marvia 911 Carrera

Weird Car of the Day #490: Marvia 911 Carrera – Call 112

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Ken Tindell @kentindell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

This! This is how AI will kill us: with the connivance of humans. Douglas Adams nailed all this years ago with the Electric Monk.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 19/09/2026

I think this is why I have such a thing for the 2.5 Boxster. I’ve spent time in the Cayman GTS and the Spyder RS and they’re not nearly as enjoyable to me as you need to carry so much speed to properly explore the chassis. With the 2.5, you can rag it everywhere with a wild grin on yer face.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 19/09/2026

The most fun I’ve ever had behind the wheel was with a 2.5 Boxster in the hills and along the coast south of San Francisco. Have spent long stretches in an MX-5, too. I liked it a lot. But the baby Boxster was on a different level of character and enjoyment.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 19/09/2026

(for context, as i’ve previously mentioned, I was there when Accenture signed a deal with Facebook to popularise the metaverse. and we all know how that worked out)

Screenshot of Accenture PLC (NYSE: ACN) stock information showing a price of US$181.29 as of 19 September 2026. The five-year chart shows the share price down US$157.94, or 46.56%, over the selected period, with a pronounced decline through 2025 and 2026. Additional figures shown include a 52-week high of US$291.09, 52-week low of US$118.15, P/E ratio of 15.196 and market capitalisation of US$116 billion.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 19/09/2026

This is the closest we’ve come to witnessing mutually assured destruction since the time of Khrushchev and Kennedy and I wish the happy couple every success.

Screenshot of a CNBC Tech article with the headline: “Anthropic selects Accenture as first embedded evaluator to help implement Amodei’s slowdown proposal.” The article, by Ashley Capoot, is dated September 18, 2026.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 19/09/2026

Are we still doubting the ability of the Chinese to build durable cars? Really?

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 19/09/2026

Labor&Wait was one of my favourite shops to visit when I lived in London. Members of the #browncar fraternity can understand why.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 19/09/2026

Apparently it’s a far better car to drive than the standard Z8, however

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 19/09/2026

But the Z8 *does* get the prize for Most Improved Dog.

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Drew Smith @drewpasmith.com · 17/09/2026

in 2016, after living there for 10 years, I left the UK. I had a sense that this was about to happen. At the time it felt like the Brexit vote broke something in UK civil society. And if it wasn’t the cause of the break, then it seems to have been the accelerant.

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