iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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ron-hill.bsky.social @ron-hill.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Fascinating point of view. Controversial in liberal circles, which means it should probably be read. @helenlewis.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

theatlantic.com

How to Destroy a Lesbian Bar

The scourge of COVID led to drive-by whinings disguised as activism.

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Colin Dickey @colindickey.com · 16/09/2026

“Have no antecedents, no established character, no cultivation, no ideas, no manners; have Shares.” Charles Dickens eviscerating the investment class, from Our Mutual Friend (1865):

The mature young lady is a lady of property. The mature young gentleman is a gentleman of property. He invests his property. He goes, in a condescending amateurish way, into the City, attends meetings of Directors, and has to do with traffic in Shares.? As is well known to the wise in their generation, traffic in Shares is the one thing to have to do with in this world. Have no antecedents, no established character, no cultivation, no ideas, no manners; have Shares. Have Shares enough to be on Boards of Direction in capital letters, oscillate on mysterious business between London and Paris, and be great. Where does he come from? Shares. Where is he going to? Shares. What are his tastes? Shares. Has he any principles?
Shares. What squeezes him into Parliament? Shares. Perhaps he never of himself achieved success in anything, never originated anything, never produced anything? Sufficient answer to all; Shares. O mighty Shares! To set those blaring images so high, and to cause us smaller vermin, as under the influence of henbane or opium, to cry out, night and day, "Relieve us of our money, scatter it for us, buy us and sell us, ruin us, only we beseech ye take rank among the powers of the earth, and fatten on us!”

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HB Lyle @hblyle.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Does anyone really like David Hare's plays (apart from successive artistic directors of the National Theatre?) Is he big in country's outside the UK?

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HB Lyle @hblyle.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

I know it's a fairly well worn trope to complain about airline service on here but @aircanada.bsky.social are really taking the biscuit Someone hacked our booking, then cancelled it. We told @aircanada.bsky.social at once. the reply: 'sorry, nothing we can do. you can rebook at 4x the price?'

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Cethan Leahy @cethanleahy.com · 07/07/2026

Bluesky this morning:

Tintin and Snowy in a parade where everyone is cheering. (Still from Tintin in America)

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George Eaton @georgeeaton.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Good to hear Burnham champion often overlooked London devolution – London currently keeps just 7% of the tax revenue it generates, compared to 50% in New York and 70% in Tokyo.

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Iain Mansfield @igmansfield.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

The social media ban doesn’t have to stop every under 16 from using social media - if it stops most of them using it, and causes those who still do to use it less, that's a big win. 10 responses to common objections to the ban. www.edrith.co.uk/p/social-med...

edrith.co.uk

Social Media Ban: Responses to 10 common objections

And six ways in which we could tackle broader social media harms.

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Dr Fern Riddell @drfernriddell.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

But that is exactly how the suffragettes operated. With a nationwide organisation of sleeper cells of arsonists and bombers. I’m gratefully people have reached out and referenced my work today. I remain (I believe) the only academic expert on the terrorism of the suffragettes. Links below:

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HB Lyle @hblyle.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

There's lots of posts by (heavy) social media users decrying the gov's proposed under 16 ban, but I would like to read a reasoned argument against (I'm agnostic.) Seems a big disconnect between what public and gov want, and commentators response. Anyone seen a good anti piece?

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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

we should be proud of this British success story

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The Maths Bazaar @themathsbazaar.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

You definitely need to read Robin Robertson's "Mortification: Writers’ Stories of their Public Shame" with such luminaries as Margaret Atwood, Irvine Welsh, and Julian Barnes. My favourite is poet Simon Armitage's:

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HB Lyle @hblyle.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

The new Lords App @homeofcricket.bsky.social is a real bag of shite. You'd think it might make it easier to buy and share tickets - but now? Absolute tech nightmare, can't even access or manage tix via my laptop account. Do you still want people to come? Oval from now on, unless this is sorted.

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Peter Fiennes @pfiennes.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

'En Route' is out today! I had a great time at Dulwich Books last night, being quizzed by @hblyle.bsky.social. The book is a trip around France on the trail of some amazing writers. Biography and travel. Bars and beaches. The perfect omelette. Lobsters, nationalism and holy places. Trees!

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HB Lyle @hblyle.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Love France? Love literature? Love listening to a great writer talk about both? Then come to Dulwich Books on May 6th to hear me interview author Peter Fiennes about his new book En Route www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/en-route-p...

eventbrite.co.uk

En Route - Peter Fiennes

From the coast of Normandy to the Côte d’Azur, along the banks of the Seine to the Alps – the ultimate literary tour of France!

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HB Lyle @hblyle.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

eventbrite.co.uk

En Route - Peter Fiennes

From the coast of Normandy to the Côte d’Azur, along the banks of the Seine to the Alps – the ultimate literary tour of France!

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HB Lyle @hblyle.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

This whole Mandelson/Starmer scandal is like a bukkake party for the political media class. They are all really enjoying themselves while the public - who might like to hear about how cost of living/energy/health/housing/voting options/war etc is going - is sat in the middle and forced to endure.

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HB Lyle @hblyle.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

'Underdogged' - surely one for @charliecampbell.bsky.social and his collection.

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The Writers' Practice @writerspractice.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

The future of Oxford’s much loved independent cinema, the Ultimate Picture Palace (UPP), is at great risk Help us persuade landlord @orieloxford.bsky.social to extend our lease so we can stay where we belong. www.change.org/p/save-the-u...

change.org

Sign the Petition

Save the Ultimate Picture Palace

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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Private Eye very good this week on Fleet St hindsight

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Daley AF(C) @daleyafc.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

Whatever you possibly think this could be, it’s even better. All in the delivery.

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LaindonFeminist @viviane49.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

This is the Gov looking for your input on the BBC. It takes a while to complete (15/20 mins) but it’s pretty comprehensive and covers most aspects. Please share. I’m surprised many people haven’t seen it yet. www.gov.uk/government/c...

gov.uk

Britain’s Story: The Next Chapter - BBC Royal Charter Review, Green Paper and public consultation

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Lewis Goodall @lewisgoodall.com · 06/02/2026

Have written about a week where the hypocrisy of much of the media was laid bare (and address mine). I also write about the truth Starmer cannot say: he appointed Mandelson to the court of Trump not in spite of the Epstein connection but in a sense, because of it. open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...

open.substack.com

What Starmer cannot say

The hypocrisy, in so many directions, the Epstein files reveal of the Westminster and the media class

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HB Lyle @hblyle.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

@yougov.co.uk spectacularly missing their own lede here - 14% of people 'don't know/can't recall' whether they've had a life changing experience or not. Is this split equally between those that can't remember it, and those who missed it when it happened? Needs further polling.

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Alex Partridge @alexpartridge87.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

saw a certain recently-arrived-in-Washington journalist gushing about how safe it feels compared to London, the murder rate there is 32 per 100,000! London's is somewhere around 1! Be real!

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fesshole 🧻 @fesshole.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

I've worn really distinctive clothing for years but in my 60s I just felt I wanted to look normal. I gave a dozen boxes of clothes to the local charity shop and now I keep seeing people in my old clothes; I realised I have looked like a twat for years.

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David Beech @davidbeech.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

This is bizarre. Like the editor of the guardian or mail or any other paper complaining repeatedly about the front page lead they decided to run with. Very good example of what's wrong with broadcast news - they've given up deciding for themselves what is or isn't news and what the priorities are

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🎃 🕯️ Monica Valentinelli is Sipping Tea. 🐈‍⬛ ☕ @booksofm.com · 20/11/2025

If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features." There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.

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Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 19/11/2025

I am moving to Dubai because England is so dangerous. www.ft.com/content/9bf6...

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HB Lyle @hblyle.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

It's a bit sad watching a podcast with Alan Rusbridger and Janine Gibson, and thinking about the Guardian as it is now.

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Our World in Data @ourworldindata.org · 17/11/2025

In the last decades, the world has made fantastic progress against extreme poverty. In 1990, 2.3 billion people lived in extreme poverty. Since then, the number of extremely poor people has declined by 1.5 *billion* people. 🧵

A stacked area chart showing the total population (split by World Bank region) living in extreme poverty, defined as living below the International Poverty Line of $3 per day. Shown from 1990 to 2025, with World Bank projections from 2026–2040. The data is adjusted for inflation and cost of living differences.

Rapid progress against extreme poverty in recent decades has slowed and is projected to end.

In 1990, 2.3 billion people lived in extreme poverty. Since then, the number of extremely poor people has declined by 1.5 billion people.

The number of people in extreme poverty is projected to decline, from 831 million people in 2025 to 793 million people in 2030. After 2030, the number of extremely poor people is expected to increase.

The data source is Lakner et al (2024), updated using the World Bank PIP (2025). The chart is licensded CC BY to Our World in Data.

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Ed Morrish @edmorrish.com · 15/11/2025

i feel sorry for former bbc employees who slag the bbc off in the papers, because it shows they don’t have any friends from when they worked there to vent to on whatsapp

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Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

BBC Under Attack: Pot and Kettle Special The new Private Eye is out now.

A photo of the front cover of issue 1662 of Private Eye magazine with the caption "on shelves now." The front cover reads “BBC Under Attack: Pot and Kettle Special” and shows Broadcasting House with speech bubbles coming from the building. The quotes include “Donald Trump says we broadcast fake news!”, “Nigel Farage says we’re totally biased!”, “Boris Johnson says we’re liars!”, “The Daily Mail says we’re peddling conspiracy theories!”, “Kemi Badenoch highlights poor leadership!”, “The Daily Telegraph says we’re editing for political purposes!”, and “Liz Truss says we’ve done huge damage to the country!”

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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Finally, a bit of a reality check from our 2024 election book (out soon!) for everyone hyperventilating about collapsing public trust in the BBC - free to air TV (mostly the BBC) is still the most widely consumed and widely trusted source of news - blows print, online & social media out of the water

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Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

excoriating Observer editorial on the BBC departures observer.co.uk/opinion-and-...

observer.co.uk

The Observer view: political interference at the BBC | The Observer

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HB Lyle @hblyle.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

I found this out about ten minutes ago, on a random news feed. How did I not know? Mira Nair is an amazing director, and now her son will run New York....

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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Businesses have noticed this is a leftwing government. Farmers have noticed. The globally mobile rich have noticed. Basically the only people who don’t think this is a leftwing government are the people who want one.

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MOJO Magazine @mojomagazine.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

MOJO's chief headbanger James McNair runs down Page, Plant, Bonham and Paul-Jones' finest studio and live LPs. 10. Celebration Day 9. In Through The Out Door

mojo4music.com

Led Zeppelin's Greatest Albums Ranked!

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Ed Morrish @edmorrish.com · 16/09/2025

[me, a journalist who spends all day every day on a social media app where the discovery algorithm is personally controlled by its owner, captain birdseye] you know, a lot of people are talking about fish fingers, we should probably cover that

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fesshole 🧻 @fesshole.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

Mid 00s, at a Linkin Park gig. Got caught short in the mosh pit with too many people behind me to get out. Decided to crowd surf to the front but shat myself halfway. Apologies to the man who got his hands covered in it.

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Jim Waterson @jim.londoncentric.media · 01/07/2025

I’m hiring a reporter for London Centric, looking for someone smart who can use a phone, knock on doors and wants to cause trouble. Don’t care if you’ve got qualifications, just want evidence of caring about news. Initial six month contract, pay above national rates. www.londoncentric.media/p/jobs

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Leo Hickman @leohickman.carbonbrief.org · 14/04/2025

I've been a journalist for 25+ years and I'm not sure I've witnessed as much wilful (and v likely coordinated) disinformation from certain corners of the UK media than over past few days. Sun, Mail and Telegraph have been truly awful - and seemingly shameless www.theguardian.com/business/202...

theguardian.com

Rightwing media falsely blame Ed Miliband for UK steel crisis, experts say

Net zero and clean energy can actually help save the steel industry, experts point out

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