iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Ms Lesley Smith

Russia has bombed a school basically every single day this week, so for those people who say "if this was happening in Ukraine, it would be on the front pages every day", how many times have you seen that on the front page of even one of your national newspapers this week? Zero.

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Natalie Haynes @nataliehaynes.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I’m off to gig at Camden School for Girls! We’re fundraising to help save Ancient Greek there - they’re an amazing example of classical education in the state sector. If you’d like to help, I’ll put the donation link below (and in my bio). And look - a good omen! 💛

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Dr Naomi Scott @drnaomiscott.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I wouldn’t be where I am without the wonderful Greek provision at Camden School For Girls. I was so lucky it was my local school, and it’s so so important we keep these pathways open for state school kids. Please consider flinging a few quid their way of you can

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Blackavar @officer-blackavar.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Clearly trying to steal the fuel out of B1-B bomber to put in their 37mpg diesel Range Rover Evoque.

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Ms Lesley Smith @mslesleysmith.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

De Gaulle Part 1 and Part 2 both excellent.

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Nick Hilton @nickfthilton.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I'm so psyched for this new rom-com from the great Paul Mayhew-Archer, co-writer of Vicar of Dibley and (more importantly by far!) co-host of our podcast, Movers & Shakers. It's a story about living with Parkinson's – which also happens to be the strapline of our show!

youtube.com

Onwards and Sideways (2026) Rhys Ifans, Laura Linney

YouTube video by Icon Film Distribution

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Jane Hill @janehill.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Do go to the NHS App and make sure you’ve got your organ donation wishes correctly registered. There’s been a sharp decline in donors (is it part of the general trend of health fuckwittery?) so please update both the NHS and your family. www.organdonation.nhs.uk/news/nhs-ann...

Picture from the front page of NHS app. Text reads: Organ donors save lives
Take 2 minutes to check and confirm your organ donation decision
>

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Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 16/09/2026

BIG NEWS for any pedestrians fuming at e-bike riders Lime have permanently banned a rider caught cycling on the pavement. City of London police says:

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Ms Lesley Smith @mslesleysmith.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Whispers: There isn’t a “right” to work from home. Employers decide how many people they need to run their business and where they want to hire them. Good employers should be sensible and considerate about accommodating their workers’ needs where practical. Dictating where you work is not a right.

Times headline “Right to work from home boosted under Labour plans”

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Jane Hill @janehill.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Ovarian Cancer Action, the charity I’m fundraising for, aren’t on Bluesky, so in a moment I’ll post some stuff from one of their Facebook posts. But in the meantime, this graphic is why I go on about it so much…

GYNAE CANCER
AWARENESS MONTH
The 5 gynaecological cancers from highest to lowest survival rate

Womb (Uterine)
Cervical
Vulval
Vaginal
Ovarian

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Jane Hill @janehill.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

This whole month is Gynae Cancer Awareness Month. I tried to find some good social media assets to download but ended up with this screenshot from Eve’s Instagram so I’m sorry it’s a bit cramped and small. Much more here: eveappeal.org.uk/information-...

A reminder of the key symptoms of the five gynae cancers:
Womb cancer
> Bleeding in between periods, after menopause or after sex
> Heavier periods
> Vaginal discharge - pink/ watery/brown/prune colour.

Ovarian cancer
> Persistent bloating
> Pelvic/abdominal pain
> Loss of appetite/feeling full quickly, or feeling nauseous
> Needing to urinate (wee) more or more urgently
> Change in bowel habits.

Cervical cancer
> Bleeding between periods, during or after sex or after menopause
> Pain during sex
› Changes to vaginal discharge
> Unexplained pain in lower back or abdomen.

Vaginal cancer
> Bleeding between periods, during or after sex or after menopause
> Smelly or blood-stained discharge
> Pain during sex
> A vaginal lump
> Persistent vaginal itch
> Pain when urinating (weeing)/ needing to urinate more regularly.
Vulval cancer
> Persistent itch
> Pain or soreness
> Thickened, raised, red, lighter or darker patches on the skin of the vulva
> Lump on the vulva
> An open sore or growth
> A mole that changes shape or colour
›Bleeding or a blood stained discharge in between periods or after the menopause (when you haven't had a period for 12 months or more).

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Ms Lesley Smith @mslesleysmith.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Terrific review. Congratulations. Buy @jonnelledge.bsky.social ‘s book people. The Economist says you should.

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Nadine Batchelor-Hunt @nadinebh.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

This is also worth a read from Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, another great rabbi Glad to see so many Masorti rabbi’s countering the unrepresentative narrative we’ve seen from seen quarters - the community is not a monolith jonathanwittenberg.substack.com/p/be-on-the-...

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Frank Norman @franknorman.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Michael Rosen nails it again, re Ed Milliband apparently not being ‘Jewish enough’ for some people.

Post by Michael Rosen.

'With me in the studio is the celebrated singer and actor, Bette Midler. Miss Midler, you tell quite a few Jewish jokes and sing Jewish songs, but do you go to synagogue?'
'With me in the studio is Golda Meir. Prime Minister, you say that you're the leader of the Jewish homeland, but do you go to synagogue?'
'With me in the studio is Sir Harold Pinter.
Now, Sir Harold, you've written some harsh words about Israel. Do you go to synagogue?'

Continuation of post by Michael Rosen.

'With me in the studio is Miss Hannah Arendt. Miss Hannah Arendt, I hear that you're attending the trial of Adolf Eichmann and you're going to write about it. Can I ask you, do you go to synagogue?'
'With me in the studio is Mr Albert Einstein.
You say, Mr Einstein, that you support the boycott of German goods on account of the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany...but do you go to synagogue?'
'With me in the studio is Mr Sigmund Freud.
You say that you and your family have just escaped Vienna on account of Jews being persecuted there. You say you're Jewish, but do you go to synagogue?'

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George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

“The trouble with you, Spode, is that just because you have succeeded in inducing a handful of half-wits to disfigure the London scene by going about in black shorts, you think you’re someone. You hear them shouting “Heil, Spode!” and you imagine it is the Voice of the People.” Bertie Wooster

Daniel Thomas and his Black Shorts in London today.

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Leftback @leftback.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Really struggling with Pakistan's U19 cricket team coaches having to confirm their particulars with a Reform councillor to get him to disperse the mob gathered outside their hotel. We're in a very bad place and we're doing nothing about it.

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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 09/09/2026

Not to brag, but our product has been foldable since 1828.

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Ms Lesley Smith @mslesleysmith.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Don’t think Emma Barnett and Kemi Badenoch shouting at each other is adding to the sum of human knowledge (although Kemi, while annoying, is winning by miles). Emma B just sounds shrill and ineffective. BBC Today

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Ms Lesley Smith @mslesleysmith.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Are Beyonce’s covers the best covers ever?

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Ms Lesley Smith @mslesleysmith.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Antonia Senior talking to a rapt crowd about her new book exposing the evils of the Cambridge five, “Stalin’s Apostles” at #QueensParkBookFestival

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Anton Gerashchenko @antongerashchenko.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Canadian PM Mark Carney: I’ve met Putin in the past, multiple times. He only understands strength and directness. And the message would be simple: get out of Ukraine, give back all of Ukraine to Ukraine, end this war, which is killing more than 30,000 of your people every single month.

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Ms Lesley Smith @mslesleysmith.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

@sathnam.bsky.social and Alex Kadis talk about George Michael at Queen’s Park book festival (with an adoring crowd).

Satnam Sangeera and Alex Kadis discuss George Michael at Queen’s Park book festival

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Count Binface @countbinface.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

At what point does a British by-election get awarded to the silver medalist, à la Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis? Asking for a friend of a friend, i.e. me. #Clacton

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Ms Lesley Smith @mslesleysmith.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Despite high penetration of students in H&StP, 44% of households (largely 2 adults) live in social housing. 32% private rented (inc some students) and 24% owner occupied (in asset terms well off but leant Lab in eg Kentish Town). Greens only won 2 wards in May. Aggregate votes 39% Labour, 29% Green

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Alex von Tunzelmann @alexvont.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

This whole piece is absolutely wild. Of course we know renters are treated appallingly at the bottom end of the scale, but look how even these people paying £4300 a month (!!) for a one-bed flat (!!!) can’t get their landlords to behave decently

Some buildings have loosened their rules in the wake of the Renters' Rights Act, such as no longer charging fees to have pets, said Karen Standing, who oversees the build-to-rent segment at estate agency Hamptons.
Shard Place does not allow pets, except for guide dogs. Under the Renters' Rights Act, the Labour government's flagship effort to help renters, landlords cannot have a blanket ban on pets.

Instead, almost immediately, tenants encountered snags. Rubbish could only be placed in the building's chutes before 5pm, when tenants were often at work. The pool had to be booked and was often unavailable.
Food-delivery drivers were barred from entering the building or leaving items with the concierge. Guests had to be fetched from reception and were not permitted to use the pool.

In another instance, a tenant wanted a key card so their partner could enter the flat without them. Knight Frank, one of the estate agents responsible for letting the building, suggested adding the person to the lease.
"But we had only been dating for four months, the tenant told the FT. "It would have been crazy ... We could break up tomorrow, and then what would I do if they had a right to reside here?"

One issue that united residents earlier this year was internet access. After mistakenly charging some residents a lower fee, or in some cases nothing, the building told tenants in March it would charge £60 a month for internet use.
Residents balked at the short notice, the inability to choose their own internet provider and the price. Average entry-level broadband prices in the UK are about £25 a month, according to Enders Analysis.

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Ms Lesley Smith @mslesleysmith.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

And @sathnam.bsky.social on George Michael!

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Ms Lesley Smith @mslesleysmith.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Ok Londoners. Just one week to go to queensparkbookfestival.co.uk 5th and 6th September in Queen’s Park NW6. On the Bakerloo line, fantastic authors, lovely people. Get tickets above.

queensparkbookfestival.co.uk

Queen's Park Book Festival

Queen's Park Book Festival 5 & 6 September 2026

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Aaron Wherry @aaronwherry.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

"Their hydronyms" is a legitimately funny punchline.

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Ms Lesley Smith @mslesleysmith.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I’m a big fan but quite glad I didn’t know about this before…

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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

New immigration stats show that the numbers of asylum seekers in hotels is down to 16k - falling 50% in a year. Small boat crossings down 23% in the year to June. Numbers waiting for initial decision down from almost 180k to 40k.

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Ms Lesley Smith @mslesleysmith.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Good to see @thespectator1828.bsky.social reminding its readers of the need not to speculate on or attribute suicide to a single cause in the first sentence of this week’s editorial. Disappointing therefore to see Charles Moore do so in his notebook just five pages later. @michaelgove.bsky.social

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Ms Lesley Smith @mslesleysmith.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Absolutely massive sales driver. 60 kids. One for each parent, each granny, each godparent, your Auntie Marie, your brother-in-law, even though he doesn’t come to mass any more. Huge sales hike.

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Jonty Edwards @jontyedwards.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Meanwhile, North Korean weapons are killing America’s allies in Ukraine and are arguably being used by Iran to target Americans.

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Kate from Kharkiv @kateinkharkiv.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Calling North Korea "unthreatening and respectful" when they send missiles, shells, and troops to kill Ukrainians is a special kind of lunacy.

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Ms Lesley Smith @mslesleysmith.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

“This product provides nicotine… which is addictive… should only be used by adults”. (In Sainsbury’s.) so why are we still permitting it to be advertised when we’ve prevented tobacco being advertised? Time for an update.

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Count Binface @countbinface.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

A brief note for Nadhim Zahawi.

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Richard Sambrook @sambrook.eurosky.social · 16/08/2026

BBC’s coverage of Reform’s welfare plans is frankly bizarre. Headlines in Ten, leading on some radio networks. Reform are not even the official opposition and the plans have less credibility than Count Binface. Will BBC News do the same for Lib Dem and Greens policy two years out from an election?

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James Ball @jamesrball.com · 16/08/2026

A former director of BBC News speaks:

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Ms Lesley Smith @mslesleysmith.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

I guess this is why you live in Mill Hill

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Anna H @athenepallas.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I remember Jess Phillips (IIRC) steely glare as people barracked her at one of her counts. If she could turn up despite that and stand on the stage to hear the results, Farage could turn up. He's such a coward, like all bullies.

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Janine Gibson @janinegibson.ft.com · 14/08/2026

he didn't turn up to the count? He called it, it cost £250k and he didn't turn up? Perhaps he could pay the bill from the security fund

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Ms Lesley Smith @mslesleysmith.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Pretty insulting to the voters to put them through an unnecessary election and then not shore up at the count

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