iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

This is a list of empty set jokes I do not like:

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Charles Fourier @charlesfourier.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Bill Bryson’s words seem appropriate to post right now

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FinnMackay @finnfox.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

There is no such thing as an illegal asylum seeker. If any of us had to flee for our lives international law recognises that we may not be able to get visas overnight or at all, have money, have passports, fly out of a national airport...so we'd have to go however we could.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

17/21: Finland 🇫🇮 It was time for my penultimate track gauge of the trip, Finnish gauge, VR taking me comfily from Turku Harbour to Helsinki. (I first took one stop to Turku C on an earlier train with sleeper cars for Finland's far north. If I'd had time, it would've made a nice combo with Lagos 🇵🇹)

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vlado @mejs.eurosky.social · 26/08/2026

Since HŽPP won't do shit to improve connectivity between Zagreb and Dobova (infamously terminating all their local trains at a spur terminus 2km away: blog.vladovince.com/the-history-...), I'm now building a diy bike share system with some old bikes.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

16/21: Åland Islands 🇦🇽 My 42nd country/territory this year. This 15 minn dwell was the briefest visit of any on this trip, but I did walk onto the gangway so I'd actually been on something attached to the islands. I enjoyed my previous visit here, I shall have to visit again when time allows!

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

15/21: Norway 🇩🇰 My 41st country/territory this year. Norway reminds me of Scotland, in that the moment you cross the border the scenery steps up a notch, even where it was already pretty. This line is slow and meandering, but it's a lovely introduction, especially with the open windows.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

14/21: Sweden 🇸🇪 My 40th country/territory this year! Far more than in any year before. It's beautifully easy to get to Malmö from Copenhagen by train, and a lot better for my onward plans. Also fun, if weird, flag bunting. I could already see tomorrow's train, reminding me of my early start.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

13/21: Denmark 🇩🇰 Where it felt somehow unfamiliar to have a familiar train (CD Railjet) on a familiar railway (DSB). I kept wondering whether to step back to another train, but I didn't want to sacrifice time for sleep or food, so onwards I went to Copenhagen via two sea crossings.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

12/21: Germany 🇩🇪 I knew I wouldn't get back that sleep. Sure enough, after deafeningly waking everyone for a pointless border check at Freilassing, the new attendant then just started taking bedsheets away, 90+ minutes before Munich! The attitude of Newrest on the NightJets just seems diabolical.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

11/21: Austria 🇦🇹 I lost even more sleep to a PRM (toilet I suspect) alarm going off loudly at close range in every cabin when we were stopped in Schwarzach-St Veit, although it did at least mean I was conscious in Austria. (Did no one think to calibrate the PA system in the cabins?!!)

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

10/21: Vatican City 🇻🇦 My 39th country/territory this year! (Monaco was 38th) A brief, boiling visit. Last time I was here there was no Pope! I took the opportunity to send the "seat vacant" stamp on postcards to many friends. This time I only had time to send one new Pope postcard home.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Shortly after, I took a train that crossed back into France, and then across the border to... 9/21: Italy 🇮🇹 I was relieved to make it in time for my booked InterCity to Genoa, and even more so that it wasn't delayed either so I would indeed make my Frecciabianca to Rome.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

8/21: Monaco 🇲🇨 Definitely my strangest visit here: an hour, early in the morning, while the place was mostly a ghost town. I visited it in reverse: normally I go up to the top of the station, past the casino, and then down to the marina. (I hung close at first as I was nervy about train issues.)

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Complete with this *beautifully* crounchy audio announcement.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

The Eclipse may be over, but I've got another 14 countries/territories on this trip! So...let's go to Rome. Unfortunately, this entails a very early Iryo to Barcelona, because Spain to France timetables continue to suck. Still, I think it has a 137mph average speed! #EclipseByRail #Eclipse2026

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The Ranty Highwayman @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

My goodness. YOU CAN OPT OUT IF YOU LIKE. I've *literally* had people tell me they are not leaving their block of flats for a fire because Hitler never got them out. Do not underestimate people's ability to ignore risk and threat.

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The Ranty Highwayman @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Personally, I think that message is a good way of getting the message out to lots of people without it going through the media circus.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

So not even the decency to show up and thank the people who worked through the night to count a by-election *he* called? What a pathetic, pathetic man.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

The Total Eclipse of 12 August 2026! More to come when I'm able to stop and do more posts, but I thought it worth getting something up for now.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

It is 12 August 2026. The Moon, Sun and Earth are doing the thing again. And so I am here, in Spain, getting ready for my third total solar eclipse. This is going to be a sunset to remember! (Photo from my first total eclipse back in 2017.) #Eclipse2026 #EclipseByRail

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

7/21: Gibraltar 🇬🇮 (My second British Overseas Territory this year!) A fascinating place, both familiar and unfamiliar at once. The pedestrian barriers and growing tall buildings everywhere reminded me of Hong Kong this time. Oh, and I walked through what was once a border control point. Surreal.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

6/21: Morocco 🇲🇦 (And my 36th country/territory this year and my 3rd or 4th continent depending on how you count the Caribbean) It was fun to be back in Tangier after so long, even if it had to be a brief visit. I love wandering around a Medina, rushing through the heat to the station less so.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

5/21 Portugal 🇵🇹 (and my 35th country/territory this year) Back to UTC+1. You can see Ayamonte/Villa Real on the left. There's a little ferry between them (done before!) that needs an up to date, clear timetable online, esp. Sundays (it is written in such an odd way!) and better bus coordination.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

4/21 Spain 🇪🇸 (my 34th country/territory this year) My next step was to take Andbus south to Lleida. It successfully existed. My second time on this. It's a handy link, especially right now when the La Tour to Barcelona line is half closed for overhauls! traewelling.de/status/8671125 #eclipse2026

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

3/21 Andorra 🇦🇩 (and the 33rd country/territory this year) A seriously curtailed visit to an interesting country. I basically did the same as last time: taxi to El Pas, bus to La Vella. You can really tell that taxes are lower here, given all the outlets everywhere! #eclipse2026 #eclipsebyrail

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

2/21 France 🇫🇷 And something new for me: Intercités de Nuit. #eclipse2026 #eclipsebyrail Nez Cassé and couchette coaches (@ ICN 3971 ➡️ Andorre-L'Hospitalet) #NowTräwelling traewelling.de/status/8670698

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flyingrodent @flyingrodent.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

I remember being dismissively assured it wasn’t true, that this crank zillionaire is funding basically unlimited vexatious litigation

J.K. Rowling O
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@jk_rowling
Then the lawsuits will keep coming.
Should any female patient or member of staff require funding to fight this assault on their legal rights, apply to jkrwf.org
Janet Murray •
@jan_murray • 10h
BREAKING >> Staff at an NHS trust received an email on Wednesday telling them there would be "no immediate changes" to its policies following new statutory EHRC guidance on single-sex spaces....
Che @elegraph
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NHS trust tells trans staff they can use women's toilets
Female employees upset there will be 'no immediate changes' to policy despite EHRC code on single-sex

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Since submitting this I have now learnt this event is in Träwelling but it is in German and will only appear on the 12th, sigh #Eclipse2026

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

I'm glad I saw the England vs Mexico game (and barely watched anything else), because honestly that's a highlight that a lot of people didn't watch, and will tide me over whenever anyone insists on mentioning football for at least another four years.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

And I am done caring about football even slightly for at least another two years.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

I had such plans for a Bank Holiday.

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Scott Bryan @scottygb.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Can we have a bank holiday anyway to recover

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

I just remembered the Commonwealth Games are this summer too, so, yeah.

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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Sort of have to admire that the Starmer team run a Facebook page, an X account, an Instagram, a Substack, and a LinkedIn, all with distinct voices that sound nothing like each other OR Keir Starmer.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

This doesn't scream "PM in 2029".

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

This made me think. Has an MP ever run for another seat while an MP? In the UK or indeed any other Westminster system? Is it even possible?

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Funny scenario: Starmer runs in Clacton and beats Farage, then claims it proves he can take on Reform. It won't happen.

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David Benedict @eggsbened.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

“I am the most verbally and physically attacked public figure or politician of modern times.” The disgraceful Nigel Farage. Remembering Labour MP Jo Cox, born 1974, murdered 2016.

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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Farage announced the by-election within an hour of the deadline he was given by the Guardian for responding to the story

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Tom Roberts @tpgroberts.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

The public have been very good at aligning themselves behind the anti-reform candidate...

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Count Binface @countbinface.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Game on, Nige.

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Richard Smith @raves.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Dog: "I can hear a whistle, can you hear a whistle?"

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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Has any other politician ever called a by-election on an explicitly anti-transparency, pro-sleaze ticket before?

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Jonn Elledge @jonnelledge.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

oh, this is fun. Farage spent decades failing to become a member of parliament. Here's a proposal to stop him *ceasing* to be one

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Ed Davey @eddavey.libdems.org.uk · 07/07/2026

The Government must block Nigel Farage’s resignation until the Standards Commissioner finishes investigating him. The people of Clacton deserve the full facts. If a by-election does go ahead, all parties should stand aside. We cannot give oxygen to this vanity project.

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