iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 23/04/2026

had an amazing time yesterday at the Museum Association's Digital Tech day. really nice meeting and chatting to so many folks from across the sector <3

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 07/12/2025

I'm writing some reflections on Museums Computer Group conf (don't know when I'll share this, but it's nice writing long-form)

"You should leave Twitter
Uncle Ben told us that with great power comes great responsibility. It was a beautiful aphorism to coin especially before a young boy who he didn't know would soon develop the power of becoming a spider; who would save New York and become seemingly the most powerful person in the world.
Museums are also powerful and also full of cobwebs. Except we don't have Uncle Ben. We have massive technological challenges and constraints, a world that keeps telling us we can do more with less, and an appetite to do so because we care about our work so deeply."

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 12/09/2025

Facebook just shared a memory with me of this amazingly cool MERL Twitter crossover from 6 years ago, lol

David Hayter, the voice actor of Solid Snake, liking a tweet that says 'colonel....this is The MERL'

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 22/07/2025

New episode of @themerl.bsky.social's Absolute Units drops this Thurs! This time, we're joined by @museumofmump.bsky.social to talk about his artistic responses to contemporary rural life, plus his Friday walks: a video series of weekly walks that pick up where the previous week left off.

A poster with graphics of hedgehogs, that reads 'hedgehog extravaganza. Hedgehog info + facts. Hedgehog crafts. Guess the name of hedgehog. Tombola. Raffle. Hedgehog t-shirts 4 sale. Village hall 1st Saturday of June. What do you know about hedgehogs? What do I eat? Am I a rodent? Why am I called a hedgehog? Come and find out.'

A sampler decorated with trees and cows. It says 'The cows were all at the gate. There was an old woman sitting on the bridge. She said you don't want to have regrets in life. She told me to get a nice big stick. She said I reminded her of her son. The cows chased me into a willow tree.'

An etching of a very large cow, labelled 'the beast'.

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 11/07/2025

my official leaks account is spreading rumours on Instagram - some of them true (pictured: me authentically performing my warm-up set at the Battle of Helm's Deep) www.instagram.com/p/DL-ryUPo9Z...

Joe Vaughan at the Battle of Helm's Deep

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 28/06/2025

my official unofficial leaks account has now posted its first reel of me doing standup comedy. specifically: my origin story

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 23/06/2025

Did my third stand-up show yesterday! I am growing in power, followers, and height. I'm now 82-feet tall and only available for outside performances

Joe Vaughan (a man in his early 30s with white glasses and curly hair) performs at Healing Comedy Club, Ealing

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 05/06/2025

also had this pretty dope family crest

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 30/04/2025

is Keir Starmer implying he's going to drone-strike fly-tippers

Keir Starmer issuing a message warning the fly-tippers 'blighting our towns and villages'. He says 'We'll use drones and new tech to identify your vehicle. Then we'll crush it'

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 16/04/2025

the year is 1066, and you're at the live concert for the succession of the English throne

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 11/04/2025

gm from the UK's number 55 history podcast (via Apple Podcasts)!! @themerl.bsky.social

Apple Podcasts history charts, showing MERL at number 55.

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 10/04/2025

episode 2 coming soon to a podcast network near you‼️ @themerl.bsky.social

A screenshot from our podcast platform, showing episode 2 is now live.

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 01/04/2025

in a massive second-hand book shop with a model train running through it - beautiful, beautiful place

Bookshop with a model train running along the shelves

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 01/04/2025

Absolute Units is already in the top 100 History charts on Apple Podcasts!! 🙇

Screenshot of Apple Podcasts rankings, showing MERL podcast at rank 85

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 26/03/2025

at the Emirates! come on Arsenal!!!

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Joe Vaughan @joevaughan.net · 25/01/2025

🚨 Threads just announced they're opening up to advertisers, and the response is Overwhelmingly Negative. Why now? Here's my thoughts and what it means for @bsky.app.