iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I really enjoyed Santiago Muñoz-Arbeláez’s great new book, “The New Kingdom of Granada: The Making and Unmaking of Spain’s Atlantic Empire.” You can read my review for H-Early America here:

h-net.org

H-Net Reviews

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

The Six Laws of History 1. The most interesting documents have the worst handwriting. 2. You won’t find the most interesting documents because they’re buried under the other six hundred in that pile you didn’t read.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Is Philip II responsible for your student evaluations? Lewis Hanke thought so. Philip “seems to have invented that plague so typical of the 20th century, the questionnaire, in order to manage the wide variety of questions sent to the Indies in his unceasing demands for information.”

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Rough news for 38-year-olds, from Martin Luther: “One’s thirty eighth year is an evil and dangerous year, bringing many heavy and great sicknesses; naturally, by reason perhaps, of the comets and conjunctions of Saturn and Mars, but spiritually, by reason of the innumerable sins of the people.”

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

“History of Emotions” this semester”: Lisa Feldman Barrett - How Emotions are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain Johan Huizinga - The Waning of the Middle Ages Lucien Febvre - “Sensibility and History” Barbara Rosenwein - “Worrying about Emotions in History”

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

“Early Modern Europe” this semester: Niccolo Machiavelli - The Prince Thomas More - Utopia Martin Luther - Table Talk Martin Luther and Desiderius Erasmus - Erasmus and Luther: The Battle over Free Will (edited by Clarence Miller)

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

“History of Magic” class from this semester: Alison Games - Witchcraft in Early North America Lyndal Roper - Witch Craze Chelsea Berry - Poisoned Relations Vincent Brown - “Spiritual Terror and Sacred Authority in Jamaican Slave Society” (continued below….)

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Celebrating Hall-of-Famer Holly on the day her son, Backpack, is crowned Fat Bear Week Champion

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

2019 Fat Bear Week Champion Holly, with her son, 2026 Fat Bear Week Champion Backpack. The first mother-son pair ever to win the title. History playing out before our eyes.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

It was Backpack’s year, but he took it by c 5000 votes with 200,000 cast. This final came down to the wire. They both left it all out on the field. You need two great champions to get sport on this level.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I’m disappointed this wasn’t 901’s year, but form comes and goes, careers have their ups and downs. Talent, though, is immortal. She’ll be back.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

All eyes turning to Katmai today to see if Beadnose’s daughter, 910, can get the upset win over this year’s dominant male champion, 89 Backpack. Fat Bear Week is cinema.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Early exit polling gives the lead to Backpack, hovering just shy of 60%. Lots of vote still out there, can it break for 910? Or, another possibility, have the polls been off yet again?

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” 89 Backpack, paying tribute to his mother 435 Holly, before today’s Fat Bear Week Final.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Just a couple of iconic Fat Bear Week finalists, enjoying a swim in pearly waters

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

a public service I’m happy to provide

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Spare a thought, this Fat Bear Week Finals Day, for two All Time Greats: 435 Holly and 409 Beadnose. Two Hall-of-Famers who paved the way for so much of what the sport looks like today. And in a twist that could never be scripted: their children, 910 and Backpack, face each other in today’s final.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

910 has put in quality performance after quality performance. Even going into the Round of 16 the fireworks-potential was clear.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

You can’t teach Pure Class

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

910 prepares for her first ever Fat Bear Week Final today. Facing her across the proverbial net: 89 Backpack.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

we didn’t quite know then, but we had a Generational Talent in the making

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

writing to ESPN to request more Fat Bear Week coverage, and to the AP and NYT to try to get a proper decision desk and stats department going. obviously I stand ready to contribute reporting and analysis.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Perhaps this semifinal may see another underappreciated Fat Bear Week dynamic come into play: the importance of image composition. Bucky stands face-on in his official portrait, bestriding the world like a colossus, but Backpack, by standing in profile, flashes more belly.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Absolutely thrilled to see 747 Bear Force One nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award this year. This is the easiest call since putting Rod Laver in the Hall of Fame

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

910 takes on 132 in the other semifinal, in a clash which highlights one of the competition’s bolder choices this year: pushing bears to compete in family units

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

A Fat Bear Week semifinal between Bucky and Backpack is what sports is all about. This is why we watch. This is why we’re hooked.

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Reposted by George Clay

explore.org @explore.org · 26/09/2026

Sit down Saturday.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

If you run the numbers, Otis the GOATis is of course the GOAT of Fat Bear Week. But we can all have room for our personal GOATs, the GOATs of our hearts. Mine is Bear 747, Bear Force One, two-time champion and Global Sporting Icon.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Contrary to popular belief, there’s no basis for calling Chunk the “GOAT” of Fat Bear Week. That title clearly belongs to 480 Otis “the GOATis”. Three time champion. Unparalleled longevity. Cool and utterly unflappable technique. Played the game like Federer. Defined the sport in his era and our own

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

JANNIK SINNER UPSET IN THE OPENING ROUND

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

circling back to see that Bucky pulled off the upset of the year. just incredible scenes. this is why sport is magic.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

wow I was not previously aware of 806’s problematic off-court behaviour (the time she killed and ate another bear). listening and learning.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

806 versus 132 is the final match of the day, and 132 does bring a really magnetic charisma to this matchup

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

It’s confirmed that with Chunk’s early exit there will be a NEW Champion of Fat Bear Week in 2026. Someone’s name is going in the history books.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

909 versus 910 in the quarters will be a nailbiter. Edge of your seat stuff.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

89 Backpack faces 620 in the quarters. 620 clearly honed her game a lot this summer and had a terrific start this week, but Backpack is going on a tear and it’s hard to see an upset in this one. The way I see it, the favourite will probably roll

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Things immediately got brutal in the quarter-finals of Fat Bear Week: 151 Walker versus 164 Bucky is an absolute slugfest, a clash of Titans. Two bears in their prime, finding form at just the right moment. This could have been a final. Gutted one has to go home in the quarters.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

God himself painted this canvas, with 903 Gully at its centre

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

151 Walker found form at just the right time, setting himself up for huge results this year. He’s always been one of the greats, perennial top player, just look at the class on display here

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Rumour has it that this is Chunk’s current form - if true he’s looking like a heavy favourite versus Bucky in today’s poll

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

694 and 620 clash in the final match of the day. I have to call it like I see it: 620 seems a heavy favourite. Stance like a rock, compact, pure power in those shoulders

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

151 Walker is facing 903 Gully today. Gully perhaps unlucky with match-ups here. Gully’s form is excellent, rear-half practically spherical, but Walker is on the run of his life.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Popular pre-tournament sleeper favourite, 89 Backpack, starts the action today, taking on 610. You have to think Backpack can take this match, but of course upsets can happen any time.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Today 32 Chunk competes in Fat Bear Week for the first time as defending champ. It’s a bit like Jannik Sinner opening play on Centre Court at Wimbledon, if Jannik Sinner were an extremely fat bear.

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George Clay @g-g-clay.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

We’re already into Day 2 of Fat Bear Week and the Round of Sixteen is already white hot. Today’s headline match is Poll 2, defending Champion 32 Chunk taking on 164 Bucky

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Reposted by George Clay

explore.org @explore.org · 24/09/2026

Day 2 voting is live! Polls are open 9 AM PT - 6 PM PT. Some big contenders in this one 👀 VOTE at fatbearweek.org

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Reposted by George Clay

explore.org @explore.org · 24/09/2026

Day 1 Fat Bear Week winners 🐻 Bear 909 Bear 910 Bear 132 Family Bear 806 Family See you tomorrow for day 2 voting!

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Reposted by George Clay

explore.org @explore.org · 23/09/2026

Today, we had our biggest Fat Bear Week day 1 turnout of all time and experienced some system overload. If you already voted today, your vote still counts. If you didn't get a chance, don't worry: Day 1 voting will restart tomorrow, Wednesday September 23rd.

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