iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Andy Burnham's performance today was unbelievably good. It's been a long time since we had so much to cheer about in British politics.

0100

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

But hey, don't worry. We have it on the authority of the president of the United States that the earth is getting cooler and that nobody has ever died because of climate change. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.com

Huge El Niño projected to cause more than 450,000 deaths by February

New report predicts a heavy toll from Nigeria to the US – and comes on top of existing impacts of the climate crisis

0113

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I know we should be inured to this sort of thing by now, but the stupidity of Trump's remarks about climate change at the UN today was absolutely enraging.

071

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

When you consider where we are today with regard to climate change, doesn't it make you angry with the BBC for all those years in which they presented it as a "debate", the sides of which would be represented by a proper climate scientist versus some idiot like Nigel Lawson or Piers Corbyn?

1111

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Fifa says there is a "concerted and ongoing effort" to undermine Gianni Infantino. Well, an awful lot of people would be very disappointed if there weren't!

1100

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

There is nothing "brave" or "refreshing" about giving vent to racist, homophobic, islamaphobic, misogynistic and transphobic prejudices. Lament Rod Liddle's passing if you like, but, for heaven's sake, don't eulogise him precisely for being the conduit for extremely offensive views.

290

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Rain! Actual rain! Lots of it. It's pouring! Praise the Lord!

270

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

It's not surprising that Trump's speech at the White House Correspondents' dinner was a disaster. All it did was expose in the most excruciating way something that has been apparent for a long time: he has no sense of humour.

7345

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

What Tim Henman was to Wimbledon, the England (men's) football team are to the World Cup. Like Tim, every now and then they reach the semi-final and then the whole country goes mad with anticipation. Will this finally be the year? And the answer is always: "no, of course not!"

071

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

The people of Clacton, the whole country has a clear and simple message for you: vote Binface!

0100

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

www.newscientist.com/article/2531... We should all be a lot more worried about climate change than we seem to be. The complacency of our governments in the face of this huge threat is astonishing.

newscientist.com

If you aren't terrified by this heatwave, you should be

The extreme heat currently being felt in Europe isn’t the new normal – much worse is to come, and we are doing far too little to adapt, says Michael Le Page

2269

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

"I don't know anything. I see he was... I guess he was the mayor of a town." Trump on Andy Burnham, arousing the indignation of the entire population of Manchester.

030

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Not even close. Well done Andy Burnham. That's a good result for us all.

070

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Tony Blair's advice to abandon net zero is in the interest of petrostates and oil companies; for the rest of us, it is idiotic. I hope the government ignores it. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.com

Blair’s fossil fuel ideas ‘bizarre’ in face of energy and climate crises, experts say

Energy specialists say abandoning net zero and increasing oil and gas drilling would cause more instability for Britons

0131

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

Despite the best efforts of every news service in the country, I really can't get very excited about Artemis II. It just didn't seem to matter very much.

091

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

When a US president says, "A whole civilization will die tonight", he should, for the sake of the whole of humanity, be removed from office as soon as possible. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

theguardian.com

Donald Trump says ‘a whole civilisation will die’ if Iran ignores demands

Attacks on Iran increase and Israel tells Iranians to avoid train travel as deadline to reopen strait of Hormuz looms

0176

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

What Trump is doing is providing Iran with a watertight argument for acquiring nuclear weapons.

030

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

"Days We Left Behind," the new Paul McCartney single is pretty good! Actually, for an eighty- three year old, it seems nothing short of miraculous - like his career as a whole! The man is amazing.

160

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

There is so much madness going on at the moment that it is understandable that it has not received much attention, but it is worth pausing a moment to reflect on how utterly bizarre it is that Trump thinks he should have a say in who is chosen to become the new leader of Iran. I mean, what?!!

151

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

So why hasn't Mandelson been arrested?

180

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Weather forecast for the rest of the day: between 70% and 95% chance of rain for every hour of the day. I am so sick of it raining! xxx

240

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

In Trump vs the laws of physics, there will only be one winner - and all of us will be losers. BBC News - Trump revokes landmark EPA ruling that greenhouse gases endanger public health - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Trump revokes landmark EPA ruling that greenhouse gases endanger public health

The White House calls it the largest deregulation in US history, but environmentalists say it will prove costly for Americans.

151

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

When is it going to stop raining?!

030

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

My very brilliant niece, Lani, aka The Questions Doctor, has posted the first video in a series of videos to accompany her much anticipated book, Q: The Hidden Power of Questions in a World That Wants Answers, which will be published this summer. Check it out. youtube.com/watch?v=xlhg...

youtube.com

How can I learn to harness the power of questions?

YouTube video by The Questions Dr

021

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

The news reports that are coming out of Minneapolis (well done, Channel 4) are doing the Trump administration no favours at all. How long will it be before he tries to control them? Will that be the next step towards tyranny?

010

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Just catching up on Channel 4 News, who led on Minneapolis and relegated the Labour Party stuff to second place. You see, BBC? It's good to know we have at least one proper news service.

060

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Meanwhile, the government published this report today. Among its conclusions is that "Ecosystem degradation is occurring across all regions. Every critical ecosystem is on a pathway to collapse." www.gov.uk/government/p...

gov.uk

Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security

This strategic assessment explores how global biodiversity loss and the collapse of critical ecosystems could affect the UK’s resilience, security and prosperity.

0108

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

What do Trump's words and deeds tell us about his attitude towards allies? It seems to me there are two possibilities: 1. He thinks the USA is so powerful, it doesn't need any allies, and 2. He thinks the only ally he needs is Putin's Russia. Which of these is it? Or is there a third possibility?

352

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

My latest publication - in the new issue of Sarum Chronicle - is something of a departure!

141

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Here's the talk I gave in Vienna last month as part of the Wittgenstein Week, held in the very splendid Palais Schönborn. youtu.be/Cgl5cgoInNs?...

youtu.be

Ray Monk: Preparing for the Second Coming: Ludwig Wittgenstein in Vienna 1925-1929

YouTube video by Wittgenstein Initiative

0185

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

On Sunday, at the invitation of my publishers at Zhejiang University Press, I will go to China, where I will give talks on Wittgenstein at Fudan University, Zhejiang University and Beijing Normal University. I will also be give a lecture on biography in this amazing building: Shanghai Library East.

1324

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

"We are the hottest country in the world." Trump really doesn't understand the dangers of climate change, does he?

0100

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

The cover of the latest Private Eye. Painfully on target.

06013

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

"They call me the president of Europe." They don't, Donald, they really don't.

0100

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

RIP Tom Lehrer, mathematician, satirist and writer of every geek's favorite song. youtu.be/U2cfju6GTNs?...

youtu.be

The Element Song by Tom Lehrer

YouTube video by KoolScience

5477

Reposted by Ray Monk

Ian Fraser @ianfraser.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

For over 20 years, Louise Sime has worked at the British Antarctic Survey, specialising in polar climate dynamics. She tells @jonathan-watts.bsky.social nothing should distract us from the primary goal of stopping the burning of any fossil fuel as quickly as possible.

theguardian.com

‘It looks more likely with each day we burn fossil fuels’: polar scientist on Antarctic tipping points

Despite working on polar science for the British Antarctic Survey for 20 years, Louise Sime finds the magnitude of potential sea-level rise hard to comprehend

12918

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

This is important and very worrying.

041

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

Oh dear. Back in the day, I really liked Rod Stewart: his solo albums, his work with The Faces, and, above all, his singing with the Jeff Beck Group, but tonight he sounds like a bloke down the pub on karaoke night who thinks he can sing like Rod Stewart, but, sadly, gets nowhere near.

080

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Sea level rise of at least 1-2 metres is now inevitable. 250 million people live at or below 1 metre above sea level. Meanwhile, our governments are delaying or reversing measures to deal with climate change and creating an atmosphere intolerant to migrants. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.com

Sea level rise will cause ‘catastrophic inland migration’, scientists warn

Rising oceans will force millions away from coasts even if global temperature rise remains below 1.5C, analysis finds

33014

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Just got an email about my Ocado order due today. It started: "Hello Mrs Monk". Does Ocado just assume that all its customers are married women?

020

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

This arrived yesterday, bringing memories of a wonderful conference in Swansea a few years ago. Congratulations to Alan for a great conference and for seeing through the publication of this very handsome and interesting book.

0151

Ray Monk @raymodraco.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Happy Wittgenstein's birthday to those who celebrate!

1556