iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 30/07/2026

So there’s a hosepipe ban and a drought. But this leak near where we live has been going for months. Just trickling down Harmer Green Lane day after day… According to Affinity Water’s website, it has been investigated, but no leak was found. Try again.

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 17/12/2025

As an #Evercade fan, great to see a double-page spread in @retrogamermag.bsky.social this month. Wasn’t so sure about the lukewarm reception to NeoGeo 2, but lots of cart goodness celebrated. As @retrogamerdaz.bsky.social says, the carts still offer brilliant value for money.

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 04/12/2025

Finally gave in and bought the TATE grip for my @evercade.co.uk EXP. £18 for plastic handles felt daft, but it completely transforms the vertical games. Started with Toaplan 3 on Crazy Burger’s recommendation. Not a huge shmup fan but liking it so far. What’s next?

Evercade EXP gaming console with Tate grip
And Toaplan cartridge

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 31/10/2025

Saw the Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere last night. Kept away from reviews before, which I'm glad I did. Well worth seeing as a lifetime fan. Jeremy Allen White pulls it off as the Boss, and Stephen Graham was brilliant, as always, as his old man. Go see it.

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 26/06/2025

🔓 New free coworking space unlocked: Samsung KX. Decent coffee and plenty of room (until word gets out). Try not to get distracted by the gaming station… 🚶‍♂️ 3 minute walk from Kings Cross and St Pancras. 📍 Coals Drop Yard, London

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 27/03/2025

If I have to watch this Mother's Day ad from Open Table one more time, I might have to take a frying pan to my phone 🤯 Reckon I get served it around 10x a day on YouTube. Enough already 🍳 <<and breathe>>

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 11/02/2025

Just saw this from @brucedaisley.com on LinkedIn. Can't express this any better. Google just stepping into line like so many others.

Bruce Daisley: "The way that societal norms are destroyed in states moving from democracy are often not by government edicts but by voluntary obedience.

Here’s Google showing some pretty extraordinary voluntary obedience. Remembering the Holocaust isn’t some annoying act of the wokerati.

With the actions of Kanye, Musk and, yes, Netanyahu it seems never more relevant to remind ourselves of what we promised to never do again."

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 07/01/2025

Here’s a pair happy to be back in the routine of school runs and the return to work. 📍 Digswell Viaduct, Hertfordshire

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 01/01/2025

Sucker for a bit of Jools Holland and tuned in tonight for Roger Taylor (big Queen fan) - but Kathy Sledge, Boomtown Rats and especially Jade worth tuning in for 👏

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 24/12/2024

The best move we made in recent years was getting to know folk in the neighbourhood. For years, I was obsessed with uni mates (who I still love) who live around the UK. Tonight was Christmas Eve drinks at our place. Easier on so many levels ❤️ The kids are… somewhere 🤷‍♂️

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 16/12/2024

If you fancy something warm and familiar to listen to in the run up to Christmas, I can recommend Sherlock Holmes read by Hugh Bonneville. 🔗 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s...

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 13/12/2024

Wasn't long ago Steven Bartlett was on stage for LinkedIn. Founder Reid Hoffman is his next interview. Wonder if they, or other DOAC guests are getting regrets..? Trouble is, cult of the celebrity and enough people just not caring about proper standards mean the story won't stick.

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 07/12/2024

Very reluctant Dashi Dog on a walk this morning. Rotten weather, but I was chuckling the whole way round listening to Rob Brydon interview Rory Bremner. Worth a listen to brighten up a damp and windy Saturday podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 06/12/2024

🕹️ Any old ZX Spectrum fans out there? Just gone live with a Retro Titans interview with Chris Smith, the brains behind the 'The Spectrum', a re-imagining of the iconic 80s home computer. Proper retro gaming geek out! On Spotify and all major podcast apps open.spotify.com/episode/0qn3...

Promotion of interview with Chris Smith from Retro Games Ltd

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 04/12/2024

I share a Spotify account with my 8 year-old boy. He has similar tastes - but the odd Crazy Frog sneaks in

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 03/12/2024

Seen that US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - aka AOC - is the first person to hit 1m followers on BlueSky 🔥 I remember AOC playing Among Us on Twitch a few years back to engage with younger people to vote Follow her at @aoc.bsky.social Wonder who’ll reach the million threshold next..?

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 28/11/2024

Captured this by chance this morning coming back from the school run. Steam trains are always so majestic. 📍 Digswell Viaduct, Hertfordshire

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 22/11/2024

So this seems like a good place for TV chat. Got the finale of ‘Bad Sisters’ tonight, which has been a delight. No spoilers please 🙉 Off the back of ‘Master of the Air’ and ‘Slow Horses’, quality levels on Apple TV remain high. What should we watch next?

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 22/11/2024

Mass X-odus: professionals desert Elon Musk’s network, by @emmavj.bsky.social 🔗 www.ft.com/content/3051... Worth a read, but what's interesting to me is the poll at the bottom, LinkedIn is clearly the fave platform amongst FT readers - but Bluesky a strong second.

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 20/11/2024

“Phil, why are you trying to get an umbrella out of that vending machine?” asked Jo. “Erm, I thought this was how to get into the office,” I replied. Naturally assumed the QR code was needed to register. Tell me I’m not the first to do this…

Man scanning an umbrella vending machine

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 19/11/2024

Just for the 2016 Twitter vibes, #UKSnow in Herts AL6 is trying , but not settling 1/10 For more snow fun, follow @uksnowmap.com

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 15/11/2024

Coffee break intro time - here’s 5 things about me: 1️⃣ Run a LinkedIn marketing agency with my wife, based in Hertfordshire 2️⃣ Ex-tech PR agency (still love tech) 3️⃣ U8 football coach 4️⃣ Reto gamer, host of an Retro Titans podcast 5️⃣ Owner of Double Doodle who won’t grow up What are your 5 things?

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 14/11/2024

The boy got a Micro:bit as one of his birthday presents. Don’t know how loves it more, me or him. The kinaesthetic learning aspect is what makes it special, from the moment you switch it on for the first time. Anyone got any Micro:bit coding tips, hacks or things to try?

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 14/11/2024

It also explains the process of being a ‘choice architect’ and looks at scenarios like helping people be better with money management and saving the planet. Nudge is written by @rthaler.bsky.social and Cass Sunstein, and published by Penguin.

Back cover of the book, Nudge, published by Penguin

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 14/11/2024

For example, the book explains why people follow the heard through examples like preventing littering, getting people to pay taxes and voting. The best nudge isn’t a threat, but telling people that everyone else does the thing you are encouraging.

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 14/11/2024

If you’re curious about why people adopt certain behaviours - even when they don’t seem to make sense - give Nudge a read. It was one of the books that led to the Behavioural Economics movement and has been updated with lots of recent examples and case studies.

Nudge by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein, published by Penguin

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Phil Szomszor @phil.brightside.digital · 13/11/2024

Seems like a lot of people are abandoning Twitter for Threads, or is it Bluesky - I can't keep up 🤷‍♂️ Where are you hanging out these days, and why?

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