iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Very appropriately, seen in Heathrow airport on my way to Copenhagen where I'll be meeting up with @kevlin.bsky.social.

Two screens - one booting and one blue screen.

Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 28/09/2026

When I was on Xitter, it felt like most of the value was in keeping up-to-date. On BlueSky, I feel most of the value is being reminded frequently that even though there is a lot wrong with the world, there are still many fabulous people, and always more to meet. Thank you, fabulous people.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 13/09/2026

Separately to my other thread about the Reform donations, I don't hear much talk about genuine dilemmas around party donations. There was some discussion about what's legal on Newscast yesterday, but I it's worth thinking of the donor perspective, not just the ultra-wealthy, and not just politics.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 13/09/2026

One aspect I haven't seen discussed about the big Reform donations is what impact it has on the "ordinary" members. General membership is £25 a year. Not a huge amount, but not insignificant if you're really struggling.

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Robin Skeet @saurosys.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I don't believe I'll be running again for the foreseeable future... #running #ultramarathon #run

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 10/09/2026

"Passengers on this train, I'm the driver - please accept my apologies and rest assured that I'm as confused as you are." I'm not sure that we have a shared understanding of "rest assured".

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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

A little 36-hour Bluesky exclusive back-to-school offer on the substack.... 25% off for your first year. (Please feel free to share the link with friends not on here. Can also be used to buy gift subs for kids starting politics A-level / degrees....) samf.substack.com/specialoffer

samf.substack.com

Subscribe to Comment is Freed

Politics, policy analysis, and foreign affairs from Sam and Lawrence Freedman. Click to read Comment is Freed, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 27/08/2026

The moon behind the clouds looks amazing here at the moment. This photo doesn't actually capture it well - it's much less bright in reality - but feels cool in itself.

The moon with layers of cloud in front of it, making the glow seem bigger.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 26/08/2026

Reading all the posts about Tim Curry, and I just keep thinking that my dad will be sad - because they used to play Monopoly together as kids. (Apparently Tim *always* won, but it's possible that's apocryphal.)

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 25/08/2026

Make a band bigger*: They ARE Giants. (In this case only potentially bigger, admittedly.)

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 19/08/2026

There's one aspect I don't understand about the AI data centre location conundrum (leaving aside whether they should be built at all). There's a lot of talk of "we really need to build them near population centres" but I don't see why. In my experience LLMs really aren't low-latency.

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James O'Malley @jamesomalley.co.uk · 14/08/2026

Oh no not another one. But at least this one is entirely justified.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 14/08/2026

Blogged: Scratch a simple data model, find a complex one - codeblog.jonskeet.uk/2026/08/14/s...

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Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

My favourite grasshopper fact: Grasshoppers first appeared on the planet 250 million years ago. Grass did not appear on the planet until 40 million years ago Imagine it: 210 million years, hopping around on any random surface you can find, waiting for the grass that will make you truly yourself.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 12/08/2026

Currently in the interval at Heathers in London (Marble Arch, so not *really* the West End, but close enough). I think this production is rather better than the last one I saw - Kurt and Ram in particular are really proficient in physical comedy. Generally excellent cast - a great afternoon out.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 12/08/2026

So, I now own election.uk (new) as well as election2029.uk (existing). I need to decide which I should make the canonical domain... I'm guessing election.uk is the right move, especially as I have basically no real users at the moment. Weirdly I sort of feel bad for the old domain though.

election.uk

UK Election 2029

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 07/08/2026

Peers are writing about effective ways to use multiple AI agents in parallel. I'm writing about how the most obvious data model for the Bible gets seriously confused by Greek Esther and Sirach. I'm not quite sure what that says about me, but it feels like a pretty stark juxtaposition.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 07/08/2026

Can confirm: this is indeed Fabulous.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 05/08/2026

The more I reflect on the Kemi Badenoch interview, the more I think that "LOTO is utterly contemptuous of local government" is a bigger story than the specific judgement of candidate suitability. (Don't get me wrong, the latter is important too.) Particularly relevant in context of more devolution.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 03/08/2026

I have insomnia yet again, at the start of our seaside holiday. It's significantly less frustrating than normal, but I'm very tempted to go down to the beach to see the sea in the moonlight. Would unfortunately disturb other members of the household.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 31/07/2026

I dislike the way that reality TV show end-of-episode "the person leaving us today is..." huge pause has made it as far as elections. Just tell us the results already! (Seriously though, much gratitude to everyone who is conscientiously making sure the count is right in Greater Manchester tonight.)

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 29/07/2026

Humbug. Between Stack Overflow being read-only for some of yesterday, and decompressing after an interview, I lost my streak of logging in every day. I think it had been about 16 years... Ah well.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 29/07/2026

Men: please don't do this. So much ick.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 26/07/2026

@timharford.ft.com It feels like this would be a great subject for an episode of Cautionary Tales. (Apologies if you've already covered it - I did try to check, but I may have missed it.)

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 25/07/2026

Hadestown tonight, for the first time in over 5 months. This is likely to be the only time I see this cast before it changes again in September - shocking!

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 25/07/2026

Somewhat surprised that UK politics BlueSky hasn't already exploded with laughter at the new Reform funding news. Maybe it's just my dodgy connection which isn't showing it to me.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 22/07/2026

Learning the part of Pisthetaerus for "The Birds" by Aristophanes, in Greek, at university. I don't know Greek, and it's a big part.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 20/07/2026

So do we think Rayner, Phillipson, Nandy etc are playing Twister in the basement of No 10 to figure out who's getting which of the remaining posts?

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Anupama Ranawana @msamrc.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Incredible statement from the Church in Wales on the ignominious Code of Practice: "The Church in Wales will not use equality law exemptions to exclude trans people from our worship, our sacraments, our pastoral care, or our common life." www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/news-and-...

churchinwales.org.uk

Statement of the Bench of Bishops of the Church in Wales on the publication of the EHRC Draft Code of Practice - Church in Wales

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 17/07/2026

I've just scored 81 on Flea Juggle in Silksong. If that isn't a good way of spending time between jobs, I don't know what is.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 11/07/2026

Blogged: Forking an open source project - codeblog.jonskeet.uk/2026/07/11/f... If you have experience on forking an OSS project and would be able to weigh in with thoughts about my plans, I'd be very grateful...

codeblog.jonskeet.uk

Forking an open source project

Introduction and motivation Some of the projects I work on – notably V-Drum Explorer and At Your Service – use MIDI to interact with hardware devices. I use a couple of packages for thi…

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 08/07/2026

This is very much the post we need, along the lines of "Yes, it's all exciting and fun to talk about Count Binface. Now take a breath, and think about what can realistically happen." Fantastic from Sam as ever.

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Russell England @russellengland.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

So, there is a precedent for vetoing an MP's resignation Viscount Chelsea (Henry Cadogan) applied for the Chiltern Hundreds in 1842 The Chancellor (Goulburn) refused because, get this, Cadogan wanted to resign to obstruct an investigation for bribery h/t @fascinatorfun.bsky.social and @gazhay.com

Screenshot from the linked article, with the following text highlighted

"The noble Lord had stated, that it was unusual to refuse the Chiltern Hundreds, except on account of mental incapacity, or where proceedings were pending for the expulsion of the applicants from their seats. In this case, however, the House had decided that compromises had been entered into, which had the effect of obstructing the investigation of bribery; "

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Adam Chapman @adamchapman.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

All this is almost worth it for making Nick Robinson say ‘and we’ll hear from Count Binface in a few minutes time.’ #R4Today

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 08/07/2026

I am seriously concerned for the health of Jon Harvey, if he has to campaign during a heatwave with a bin on his head. Fortunately the sea breezes seem to make Clacton significantly cooler than my home at the moment, but even so.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 07/07/2026

If it ends up being Count Binface vs Farage, I'd love it for Binface to play it as an *absolutely normal* candidate in an *absolutely normal* by-election, and for the media to follow suit. Full Hustings - with questions about finances, of course.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 07/07/2026

I've handed in my Google laptop and badge. I guess I'm properly unemployed now. (Hopefully only temporarily, mind you.)

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John Oxley @joxley.jmoxley.co.uk · 06/07/2026

From my experience watching TV at this time of the morning, this thing is going to be decided by the suburban seats in the Midlands.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 06/07/2026

I'm in a hotel in Durham, looking forward to my daughter's graduation in just over 8 hours. As so often happens, insomnia has hit - nothing to do with the football. As far as I can tell, we're not particularly near any open pubs, but I could tell when England scored their first goal.

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 04/07/2026

It's very odd to rewatch The Thick Of It (in this case "The Rise of the Nutters") and then open up BlueSky to see a bunch of @mrchrisaddison.bsky.social posts.

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WobblyGoose/Dr Rachel @wobblygoose.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

'Seeking the Disabled Christ' Panel Discussion I will be discussing my Disabled Christ images, disability, Deaf and Neurodivergent theology with the excellent Hannah Lewis Tim Rourke and David Harknett At Leicester Cathedral Monday 3rd August 2026 leicestercathedral.org/exhibition-s...

A dark blue lino print image of Jesus from the waist up. He is signing 'I love you' in American Sign Language and carries a heart shaped pebble in his free hand

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 22/06/2026

Starmer could do the funniest thing now, coming out to the lectern, drawing a large breath, and saying: "We wish to announce that we expect it to be very hot this week. Please drink lots of water." (And then going back inside.)

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Larry the Cat @number10cat.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

If rumours are to be believed I'll be living with a seventh different Prime Minister shortly. If it carries on like this I'm going to stop making the effort to learn their names.

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Celeste Trianon @celeste.lgbt · 21/06/2026

“The Lemkin Institute is disgusted by the use of equality law and the cloak of “women’s rights” to cause harm to the trans and intersex communities. The existence of trans and intersex people in no way threatens women’s rights.“

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 18/06/2026

So, today is the by-election. Do we know whether there'll be an exit poll? I know normally there isn't one, but this is far from an ordinary by-election. I can't find any information one way or the other - surely I'm not the only one interested? @samfr.bsky.social @robfordmancs.bsky.social ?

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

'The bathing ponds at Hampstead Heath in north-west London will remain trans-inclusive after a public consultation overwhelmingly favoured its existing rules.' Good news. 86% of 38,000 respondents in favour of retaining trans-inclusive policies.

theguardian.com

Hampstead Heath ponds to remain trans-inclusive after public back existing rules

Policy agreement means trans people will continue to have access to Kenwood Ladies’ and Highgate Men’s ponds in north-west London

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 03/06/2026

The eye-roll at 17:00 on this @fryrsquared.bsky.social video is possibly the best eye-roll in history. Think "since the invention of the kiss" from The Princess Bride, but applied to eye-rolls. No timestamp in the link, because it's worth watching the whole video. www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnzR...

youtube.com

Why AI Agents are either the best or worst thing we’ve ever built

YouTube video by Hannah Fry

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Jon Skeet @jonskeet.uk · 03/06/2026

So it seems Farage has had enough time today to condemn a one-word (repeated, admittedly) misquote of his speech by the BBC. Has he had enough time to condemn the violence last night? Is there some condemnation he's issued, some plea for calm (rather than rage), that hasn't been reported?

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