iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I think it is clear already that House of Games is in safe hands.

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Sorry, Radio 3, but if you're going to play Gilbert & Sullivan at 8.20am then it's the off button from me. There's no excuse for that.

020

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Just had my first listen to Susanne Sundfor (with Kit Downes) album 'Revelations of Divine Love', setting words of Mother Julian of Norwich, and wow! An extraordinary, profound and beautiful piece of work.

120

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

A sad reflection of where we are. I think though I would want to question the phrasing "one priest had to be ordained by a priest who doesn't ordain women". Shouldn't it be "one priest chose to be..." or maybe "one priest demanded to be..."?

111

Reposted by John White

Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

When, in the course of The Great Vestry Clearout, someone announces from the depths of a cupboard "oh, there's a massive pooh here", it is quite a relief to see this chap emerge! 😂

A large Winnie-the-Pooh soft toy, sitting on a chair.

3294

Reposted by John White

Dan Sohege @danielsohege.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Any lives lost due to this closure should be laid firmly at the feet of the far-right agitators who caused this. The way in which anti-asylum activists are putting more and more people at risk should be a wake up call that it is time to genuinely combat them, rather than pandering to their ideology.

13347114

Reposted by John White

Hannah Valerie @eckerusla.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Fellow #CofE folks: any guidance on writing an election address for #GeneralSynod? (This was very much not on my agenda for 2026, but God is full of surprises!)

282

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

My only advice is to be upfront on where you stand on key issues and principles. If people don't like the positions you hold, they probably wouldn't vote for you anyway. When I was an elector, I got frustrated at reading election addresses which tried to please everybody and just ended up bland.

120

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Weird how the same people who have been working for years to eradicate the study of Humanities at universities are now suddenly self-proclaimed experts on the interpretation of Homeric literature.

140

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Part of me would quite like Elon Musk to make his Grokyssey film, just so the whole world could see how crap it is, and so learn that human creativity can never be replaced or replicated by an automated plagiarism tool, however powerful.

031

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

We need to stop using the word "moratorium". Just say "stop". No need to advertise...

010

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

"The Winner Takes It All" has just come on the radio, and I had forgotten just how good it is. Not just one of Abba's best, but genuinely one of the greatest songs ever.

010

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

When it is good, it is very, very good. When it is bad, it is horrid.

010

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

I would definitely take Danny Murphy talking about his cat ahead of Lee Dixon talking about... ... well, anything.

010

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

I don't like soap operas. I have a simple solution to that. I don't watch them. Strange how some people don't seem able to take the same approach to sport.

010

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

True, but England have to show they're up for the physical battles before they can start doing the pretty stuff. This is okay so far.

010

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Shocked that Lee Dixon can talk about "the French press" and not make a cafetiere joke. What do we pay these people for? #FRAESP #FifaWorldCup

031

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

I see the clergy shirt colour conversation is coming up again. As someone who is indifferent on the matter, I wish I could tell how serious people are being when they are saying you can have any colour so long as it's black. Does it really matter? If so, why?

101

Reposted by John White

Robert Hutton @roberthutton.co.uk · 07/07/2026

Calling a by-election over the sovereign right of every MP to take secret gifts from a convicted criminal. What a time to be alive.

8739581164

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

I am sure if Prince William has a quiet word with Gianni Infantino then Quansah should be available for the match against Norway. I believe that's how it works.

010

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

In the days of the great football commentators (John Motson, Barry Davies), did anyone ever think, "You know what this needs? A retired footballer with a boring voice to act as a "co-commentator" who can interrupt with occasional statements of the bleeding obvious."?

000

Reposted by John White

Francesca Stavrakopoulou @proffrancesca.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

@adamrutherford.bsky.social I know you know how valuable the humanities are. At Exeter, 500 of us are in scope for compulsory redundancy. Please could you share our petition, if you feel able? Thank you x

1104

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Watching Germany lose on penalties may be the very definition of Schadenfreude

000

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Can we just fast forward to penalties now, please? #RSACAN

100

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Bishop Sarah says some good things here, but the headline is deeply dis-spiriting. There has been no lack of energy, faith, hope or prayer over the last 50 years, and the suggestion that we just need more of the same for the church to grow is unhelpful. #CofEPeeps

020

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Last night, most Scotland fans were (quite rightly) cheering for Ghana. So, in the same spirit, tonight I shall give Scotland the proper respect by cheering for Brazil.

020

Reposted by John White

Francesca Stavrakopoulou @proffrancesca.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Guess what? I’m at risk of redundancy. My job - and those of my colleagues in my department and across our wider faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences - is one of those currently targeted for cuts. I received a personal letter today. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

University of Exeter in talks to cut about 150 members of staff

The university says it is consulting with colleagues over "limited and specific potential changes".

2112862

Reposted by John White

Morwenna Ludlow @morwennaexe.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Exeter University in talks to cut about 150 staff. This is Not Good. And yes, this does affect our department of Theology and Religion. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

University of Exeter in talks to cut about 150 members of staff

The university says it is consulting with colleagues over "limited and specific potential changes".

2158

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Football clubs are rarely successful if they get in the habit of sacking the manager whenever there's a bad run of results. This observation may not apply only to football.

010

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

In a world of uncertainty, it is reassuring to have the predictability of the narrative arc of Scotland at a World Cup finals. Act 1: Blithe optimism. Act 2: Collision with harsh reality. Ready now for Act 3 and the glorious failure of being plucky losers to Brazil.

000

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Has Chris Mason said anything about what Reform's crushing defeat in the Makerfield by-election means for Farage's leadership yet? What, nothing? #BBCnews

031

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

They are not the same, but they are not binary opposites either. Absolutising one and dismissing the other achieves nothing.

110

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

I have no problem with investment in defence companies. So long as their activities are limited to what is necessary for the defence of the UK. Investment in companies that sell arms to other nations, especially those perpetrating genocide, is another matter.

000

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

This is the key point in all fines against companies, especially water companies. It should be mandatory for those fines to be paid from bonuses and salaries of those at the top of the organisation, and against dividends made by shareholders.

152

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

It's time for the BBC to compromise. Give Farage his interview with Lauren Laverne, on condition that he then actually IS sent to a desert island with no means of escape or communicating with the outside world, and just his 8 records, the Bible and Mein Kampf, and luxury of £5m in cryptocurrency.

062

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

I think you might have lost me too! My emoji knowledge is not good enough to understand what "Them" were saying. But I may also have misunderstood your OP, by reading things in from earlier convos, in which case I apologize.

110

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Then help me out. What did you mean by claiming that "inclusive" can be code for not fully supporting the rights of women?

100

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

I see what you did there. You've included "inclusive" because inclusive churches include the (in your view) wrong kind of women. Very clever.

100

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Come on Everton. Make it exciting.

000

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Does the participation of trans women really constitute such a barrier? Surely if so there would be countless examples of cis-women who had missed out on major trophies or championships because they had been beaten by a trans woman. But there haven't been. Can you even name a single one?

1120

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Reform is a party that is transphobic out of conviction. That is bad, but Labour appear to be a party that has become transphobic out of cowardice and somehow that feels worse.

000

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Has Andy Burnham commented on this yet? If he becomes Labour leader, will there be any change of stance, or is transphobia now hardwired into the party?

120

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

That is commendably foreword thinking of you.

000

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

The list does raise the question of what makes a book one of the "best". Is it different from a book being one of your favourites? What books would you have on your personal list of best and/or favourite?

000

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Okay, so this kind of list is just sophisticated click bait designed to inspire disagreement and outrage. But it's quite fun (unlike most of the books on the list, which is skewed towards the books you are told you ought to have read, not those you will enjoy). www.theguardian.com/p/x4f9v5

theguardian.com

The 100 best novels of all time

The top 100 novels of all time published in English, as voted for by authors, critics and academics worldwide. How many have you read?

000

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

I have started Lord of the Rings three times, but never got further than the mines of Moria. So Tolkien wouldn't be on my list either. Far less readable than Tolstoy.

010

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

I have read 41 out of the 100, but what struck me most is that there is a further 10 that I started and never finished. I am all for elitism over populism, but the list does not generally favour readability or enjoyment.

120

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Why do restaurants always offer a cheeseboard as a dessert option. Who wants cheese and biscuits after a main course? Surely it makes far more sense as a starter?

100

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

We had a general election two years ago, and Labour won by a landslide. The current parliament has 3 years to run with a huge Labour majority. Whatever happens to Starmer, there is no need for an early GE. That is just wishful thinking from Reform, who knows that Farage's popularity has peaked.

100

John White @jcwhite.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

I am not intrinsically anti-Starmer, but the issues that are leading calls for his resignation are his links to Mandelson, his lack of charisma, and being insufficiently progressive. All things where Streeting is equally at fault, if not more so.

031