iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mark Laynesmith @marklaynesmith.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

A web page just told me everything it learned about me without asking. It knew my city, my device, my GPU, and how long I hesitated before scrolling. sinceyouarrived.world/taken

sinceyouarrived.world

taken.

A web page that tells you what your browser gave away the moment you arrived. No login, no form, no permission. Most pages do this. None of them tell you.

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Mark Laynesmith @marklaynesmith.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

Excited to share open access my new article on the Gregorian mission to Kent and why it stalled (Augustine heads back to Rome a month after setting out). TLDR version: Bede was wrong about nerves; the bishop of Arles was sitting on the money Pope Gregory was hoping to use doi.org/10.1017/S002...

doi.org

Why Did the Mission to the Anglo-Saxons Stall in 596: Anxiety, Politics or Money? | The Journal of Ecclesiastical History | Cambridge Core

Why Did the Mission to the Anglo-Saxons Stall in 596: Anxiety, Politics or Money? - Volume 76 Issue 3

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Mark Laynesmith @marklaynesmith.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

Need a Biblical commentary? A while back I scoured the amazing Internet Archive to compile a database of some of the better academic and homiletical commentaries. Here's the list docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Screenshot of database of biblical commentaries on the Internet Archive

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Mark Laynesmith @marklaynesmith.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

For late antique and medieval scholars, those who haven't come across it: the amazing Links Galore - my go-to for tracking Latin sources especially saints' lives and patristics docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Title page of first volume of the Acta Sanctorum, compilation of Medieval saints lives by calendar date.

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Mark Laynesmith @marklaynesmith.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Time (aged 50) to let go of that 1990/1 History Boys vibe. My homemade A-level Tudor History ringbinder.

A4 ring binder with Ned's Atomic Dustbin stencil.

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Mark Laynesmith @marklaynesmith.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Unfortunate sign wearage or sociopathic lorry driver...

Worn lorry sign missing 'do not' from 'walk close to this vehicle'

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Mark Laynesmith @marklaynesmith.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

A couple of psychological reflections on today's gospel (Mt 13:53-end): 1/ Jesus 'can't do many miracles' in Nazareth because people didn't have enough belief. I wonder if pre-emptive rationalism and false humility might hinder more liberal Christians from even praying for certain things...

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Mark Laynesmith @marklaynesmith.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

First post on Bluesky marks my final day after 20 years as Anglican Chaplain to the University of Reading on behalf of Oxford Diocese. A wonderful time and very grateful for kind colleagues. Moving next to become vicar at St Nicolas church Earley @oxforddiocese.bsky.social.

Staff at University of Reading at the farewell celebration for outgoing Anglican Chaplain

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