iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Ha! New ad campaign “All our fishermen look like this. Don’t yours?” for Netflix show Below, filmed here on the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland. All our Professors Look Like This, to follow soon, I’m sure. #Newfoundland

Photo of Times Square(?) advertising screen promoting a Netflix show called Below with image of Josh Hartnett beefcaking it up. A man in foreground points up at the screen, knowingly.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Twenty-five years ago today, at the Palazzo Vecchio, in Cosimo d’Medici’s bedroom, we were married by the Mayor of Firenze, and we haven’t stopped since. What a time it’s been. #weddinganniversary

Photo of us, in front of Pegasus statue in the Medici gardens, Firenze, this past May.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

@drleonj.bsky.social Ever since he was a pup, big Yoda likes to sleep fully braced against solid objects, like a hungover freshman on a Sunday morning. #Dogs

Photo of large hairy dog sleeping on his side, inconveniently positioned in kitchen doorway, with both front legs stiffly pressed against a doorframe. Safety first! Why is this bed spinning?!?!?!

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Bowels sorted out after a somewhat messy day yesterday, and back on the kitchen lurking. I’m often amazed how big his snout is, all the better for snarfing up bagels. Match his giant thick feet.

Photo of a hairy white, tan and black malamute named Yoda, in his side in the kitchen on the most inconvenient spot

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

To my great delight one student in my Seafarers class knew what this object was! Led to a great material history discussion for first day. What a privilege to have this job. #MaritimeHistory

Photo of an office bookshelf, with the usual variety of objects, such as buttons, bits of exotic wood, chinchona bark in a jar, and most importantly in the centre a green glass pyramid on a squared off base.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

My neighbour is just back from a history and memory conference in Argentina and brought over this extraordinary bottle of infused vermouth she purchased at Mar del Plata. Exquisite hardly seems adequate a term.

Photo of a chilled bottle bearing a slightly pinkish liquid, the Bohemia Vermut label reads Vermouth blanco, with a nice simple pen and ink drawing of citrus and herbs.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Since that photo is doing the numbers, here is one of the viaduct carrying the Vatican railway up to the City walls and to those doors in Dr Fletcher’s photo. Nice footpath alongside too but we did not have opportunity to take a walk.

Photo from the cupola of St Peter’s looking outside Vatican City walls, with two curving railway viaducts, the nearest one leading up to the City walls.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

You can just see two carriages here on centre right edge inside the Vatican grounds, viewed from St Peter’s cupola this May!

Photo from above of area inside walls of Vatican City, with red roofed train terminal building and a bit of rolling stock to the right, various parking areas and green space.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Many thanks old bean! We slow braised sirloin all day for a couple of different ragu plates for his nibs’ delectation. Our German neighbour is just back from a history and memory conference in Argentina and brought this exquisite vermouth as an aperitif.

Photo of a craft vermouth from Argentina infused with herbals.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

First throw, it’s the Highlands coming out in me.

Photo of a wooden target with axe in the bullseye.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Taking my son and his pals down to harbour for axe throwing fest for his birthday. They kept Anthony Bourdain’s and Jason Mamoa’s axes on the wall. youtu.be/9oxal7BdCh0?...

Photo of an axe embedded in a chuck of pine, with Anthony Bourdain’s name stenciled on top.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Lol. Air Canada warning me I have a Tight Connection on a flight that departs two hours before my now much delayed flight lands. You may well be right.

Air Canada app message with Tight Connection warning in red at top.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Ha! Friends tell me I’m blowing up on LinkedIn!! Crazy. I thought LinkedIn was dead and gone. At least the Miss Piggy and her Bermudian creator were mercifully off camera.

Silly photo from LinkedIn about the talk I gave for the Dept of Culture, Bermuda.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Spending my last evening in the garden of a late 18thC Bermuda house, out of the scorching sun, starting in on Colonial Countryside: an anthology of creative and historical responses, coedited by @corinnefowler.bsky.social. I’m now part of a Bermuda project modelled on and inspired by this book.

Photo of the book Colonial Countryside sitting on a white painted wrought iron patio table, with similar chairs, and beyond part of a garden and light blue painted and quoined Bermuda house.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Not unhappy to have an extra day in paradise. Every visit I come to see Chesley Trott’s “We Arrive” sculpture in Barrs Bay, in memory of the 72 Americans who walked off the slaver Enterprise to freedom here in 1835. I wrote about this again in Slavery & Abolition last year. The RBYC is to rear.

Photo of Bart’s Bay Park, on the harbour Hamilton Bermuda, showing abstract bronze sculpture of six individuals blended together, bent together in motion. Along the wharf is the pink Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, designed by Fzl Olmsted while on holiday here in 1880s, once one of the most notoriously segregated clubs in the islands.

Photo from harbour front Hamilton Bermuda, with colourful large letters spelling out Bermuda for visitors to take their picture in front of, with deep blue water behind, and the white roofed houses of Paget Parish across the water.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Forgive the travel-limited post here but for me it’s my “William Crashaw’s Bridge: Bermuda and the Origins of the English Atlantic, 1609–1624” in collection English Atlantics Revisited. In his review David Armitage called my piece “elegant”, *swoon*, haha we live on small graves. Some good stuff too

Cover image of McGill-Queens University Press collected essays called English Atlantics Revisited. Shows 18thC painting of navy ships of the line weathering a storm.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Manumission documents often stop me short for enormity of change and future hope they contain, but often too for present limits. Here Rose Potter receives “one full half of herself and time”, the other half in caring for her owner. Often these will read “entire freedom”, as though in surprise.

Detail from manumission record of Rose Potter, Bermuda, 1800, section reading that she was freed for “one full half of herself and time”, by in this case, Kate Potter, her mother.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Strange to have such unvarying weather, coming from a place where every kind of weather happens before lunchtime and it might snow while you’re in a t-shirt. How can the high and the low be the SAME, day after day?!?!? I know why, but 3rd decade researching/working here and still find it strange.

Screenshot of weather forecast for Bermuda showing steady 28C low and high, day after day…

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

One of the pleasures of longevity is being allowed to wander the vaults of the archives, particularly when the catalogue is incomplete. Just came across a box “Customs House Out Letters 1827”, with fantastic new information, including interviews with the two villains of this story. #Archives

Photo of decrepit, aging researcher in the forbidden vault…

Photo of open pages of Customs House letterbook, showing 1827 interview with Trinidad merchant Alexander McAlister, for violating the Consolidated Slave Trade Act.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Always interesting to see the phrase “share and share alike” in a will, the phrase having moved from its literary origins. This will is 1834, the reference here is to two lots of land to be enjoyed equally by two daughters.

Photo of detail of John Wainwright’s will, 31 Dec 1834, Book of Wills 16, Bermuda Archives. Visible is the phrase: “in common share and share alike”

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Talk was in the gallery itself, nestled among a Muppets and Fraggle Rock exhibit (Bermudian Michael Frith, designed Miss Piggy and FR is based on Crystal Caves here). Was filmed for YT. Youngish poet read a beautiful peace on Atlantic memory in the Derek Walcott mode. Lots of interesting chat after.

Cocktail reward at Devils Isle, Gosling Family Reserve rum, Grand Marnier, almond liqueur, Noilly Pratt.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Finished my govt talk at the Bermuda National Gallery. People are so welcoming here it’s unreal. Great intro by Minister of Culture on history and interpretation. Family of the two educators the lecture is named for seemed happy, which makes me happy. Some new connections with Min of Education peeps

Photo of the Bermuda National Gallery, a beautiful mid-20thC white building in Bermuda vernacular style.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Ok Bluesky sleuths: where am I?? Sound on.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

"Children sell for little." The horrendous arithmetic of the imperial archive. A grim private letter from the governor of Bermuda to the Colonial Office, 1826.

Detail from a letter, this section reads: 3dly A medium of the two foregoing proposals might be adopted vizt by purchasing all the unborn children and those under ten years old, children sell for little.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Thank you, that is very gratifying! We’ve only painted the grim outside, and added front garden; ugly windows need replaced and front entry extension planned. The funky modernist bungalows here rarely go up for sale so we had to settle for location. Kitchen was more successful, few walls taken out.

Dull day photo of split-level house in a Chartreuse yellow-green, with hideous fake mullion windows (rear windows all replaced now), and front garden with lavender and shrubs.

Photo of kitchen with fridge in foreground, green cabinets, Italian hexagonal tiles on wall and white countertop, new square window.

Corner of countertop, with some pottery, white oak small shelf above tiles, small round pot sink next to range.

Cover of architect Robert Mellin’s book on modernist architecture in Newfoundland.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Sitting reading in my living room, I am so pleased with the way these arches play together in the light. I added them to dull squared trim-framed openings in last year’s kitchen renovation to suit the 1954 age of the house and those on the street that haven’t been altered. @brunotonelli.bsky.social

Evening photo in soft light of three openings with arched tops, leading from living room to hall to basement opening. A table and painting in the foreground anchor the living room entrance. The three arches form a complex yet seamless space.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

lol, someone butchered the trail sign on the Rennie’s River walk behind my house. Good job! #Anti-AI

Picture of a white signpost at road entrance to walking trail. Instead of Use Trail at own Risk, the sign now reads Use AI at own risk.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Canada Day update from front garden at home. Too hot here in the Kawarthas, Ontario, to go outside. #CatsofBluesky

Photo of a large grey tabby cat named Captain Morgan, lying on his back on a sun-warmed stone, staring up at the sky, flowers all around him (chives and pinks).

Nearly the same photo but now Morgan, realizing he’d been spotted, is right side up and looking quizzically at the camera.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Babe, what’s wrong? You’ve barely touched the kelp ice cream I got you.

Small tub of light greenish ice cream labelled Kelp from Growlers, Fogo Island.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Honoured to be giving annual Packwood-Robinson talk for Bermuda’s Ministry of Culture this August. Named for two Black Bermudian educators who in the ‘70s, w Nellie Musson, began to write Bermuda’s history from below. Packwood asked simply: if slavery here was benign why were there so many runaways?

Cover page of the 1975 book Chained on the Rock: Slavery in Bermuda, by Cyril Packwood, with a lurid green background and a stylized image of two individuals breaking a chain, superimposed on a map of Bermuda.

Inside cover of my copy, signed by Cyril Packwood himself!

Cover of the 1979 book Heritage by Kenneth Robinson. The background image shows the grain pattern of polished Bermuda cedar.

Inside cover of Heritage with a description of the contents, largely extracts from a variety of archival documents and mostly the newspaper, concerning Black men’s history in Bermuda.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Aha! Woke up after last night’s storm to see an iceberg floating across the Coish, between us and Seals Nest Islets 7.5km offshore. Not especially big one but it is fairly far away. Something for the guests at the Inn to gaze upon. Met two lawyers from Rochester last night who are guests. Loud.

Early morning photo of gloomy skies and calmed down ocean, with the headland that encloses Joe Batt’s Arm in the near distance. On the horizon are uninhabited islands. Passing close to those islands, an iceberg is visible against the dark of the rock, the berg being the usual two peak variety.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Behold the Bangbelly! Had to go back for more pork shoulder and fenugreek cod. The salt pork & molasses against the orange custard, so good. As often happens in NL walking along the harbour after a great meal we heard some music and found some gents playing in a shed one of their grandfather’s built

Photo of a dessert, served in a hot glass, called a bangbelly. More or less bread pudding with salt pork, molasses, raisins and orange custard.

Photo inside a shed, which when it was attached to the projecting wharf now missing would have been called together a stage, a collection of them being a premise. Inside fish was prepared and salted. Tonight three local men are playing a fiddle, accordion and guitar by a wood stove.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Lions Den hike this morning, along a bit of Fogo headland where four fishing communities once existed, settled in mid-19thC as folk relocated from depleted fishing grounds elsewhere. Eastern Tickle here had 107 people in 1935 Census, church and school, all gone without a trace since 1940s.

View of the protected cove, or tickle, on the Atlantic where the fishing community of Eastern Tickle existed for a century from mid—19th. No trace at all now, just bog and rock, and two fishermen in small boat checking their lobster pots along the shore.

Late 19thC photo of Eastern Tickle showing wooden houses along the shore, fishing rooms and wharves on the water, and several fishing boats in the cove, from shallops to dorries.

View of Fogo harbour from south, with Brimstone Head prominent above town, the Fogo Co-Op fish plant dominating the harbour, a large wooden church and several dozen houses. In the far distance the top of an iceberg can be seen above Change Islands. Bangbelly restaurant is just below Brimstone Head, on the Main Street.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Update from home. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? #PeaceableKingdom

A large grey tabby cat named Morgan sits in a window looking out into garden. A large German Shepherd named Mara sits identically next to him watching Morgan.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Long Weekend Adventure continued, with hike out to Great Auk sculpture (extinct 1840s); fabulous fresh cod/chips and moose burger lunch at Storehouse; patridgeberry, rhubarb, & kelp ice creams afternoon snack; hike up Brimstone Hill which the nutters identify as one of the four corners of the world.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Sun setting on Barr’d Island. Hiking tomorrow to see puffins and caribou, maybe a whale and iceberg too.

View across the harbour showing community on far shore, Fogo Island Inn behind. In foreground is a fisherman’s platform with some antique steam winches still in place for pulling boats and nets out of the water. All kinds of them rusting away along the shore.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

View from our friends’ cabin bedroom is not half bad. That’s the Fogo Island Inn across the harbour, where the world’s jet setters helicopter in to experience some time with local craftspeople and the famous fishermen’s cooperative, about which there is a famous NFB/MUN series of films in 1967.

Photo across Little Harbour, Barr’d Island, with Fogo Island Inn across the way, the creation of local woman Zita Cobb who spent her career as an international telecommunications executive.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

On the ferry to Fogo Island, five hours north of St John’s, for long weekend hiking adventures with Spousal Unit. First iceberg spotted from ferry, 60’ high or so. Eagles and Common Turrs mostly in air. Puffins on island now for season so hopefully we’ll see some. #Newfoundland #Hiking

Photo from ferry showing a substantial iceberg a couple of miles off.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Came across an uncommon nautical term - woman head - I had not seen in a document before, this one from an 1828 Bermuda Vice Admiralty Court case. More commonly used in a carver's records to indicate a figurehead that was a bust rather than a full torso. #MaritimeHistory

Section of a court action against a vessel, in which the brig is described: ".... is Twenty feet Six inches – her depth of hold is Eleven feet One inch, that she is Brig rigged with a standing Bowsprit; is square sterned: carvel built; has no galleries and woman head..."

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Thought of Tulip when I saw the best dog in Venice, laser focused on the door of the food co-op, nothing would distract her until her mom came out.

Photo of a flat bridge in Venice, a black dog leans against a railing, eyes fixed on a doorway to a small grocery store. In the background there is a gondolier and the patio of an osteria.

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Neil M Kennedy @nmkennedy.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Here John Beadle’s Still Ringing (2018) reimagines a punishment collar with the cowbells associated in Junkanoo processions with celebration, survival, and collective memory, to give them an unsettling context redolent with the afterlives of slavery. #SlaveryArchive

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