iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 26/08/2026

First Dolly, now Tim Curry... This week is taking a heavy toll

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 17/08/2026

Yesterday I made lasagna (freshly made ragu, parmesan bechamel, and some homemade pasta) for a friend. Not my best but it still tasted good

A rectangular glass baking dish with a multi-layered lasagna inside, parmesan grated on the top

020

Reposted by Ian johnson

Ryan T. Brown 🎮🩷 @toadsanime.lostincult.co.uk · 17/07/2026

Does anyone happen to have any leads on any Java Software Engineering roles? 🙏 My partner lost his job, and has fallen into a very dark mental health spiral. It's a very, very bleak and tough time at home right now. Getting him back to work could literally be a lifesaver.

105339

Reposted by Ian johnson

BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

it has been an exercise in how a directed propaganda campaign can be highly effective, and seeing otherwise liberal people fall for it has disgusted and outraged me. People who lived through and fought against an extremely similar campaign of homophobia in the early 1980s, even!

81024294

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 20/07/2026

I know Fiona Bruce just said "surrounded by all the gilt" when looking at the pics of Starmer and the King but I immediately parsed it as "surrounded by all the guilt"

010

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 07/07/2026

Not sure what my notebook doodles say about me

A crude fountain pen sketch of a man with the body and legs of a spider stood under a lamppost near a bench saying "meh"

A crude underwater sketch with squids, crabs, octopuses, lobsters and chambered nautilis drawn with several coloured fountain pens

A crude attempt at The Scream as a sketch made with multiple coloured fountain pens

A crude sketch of a man with a red top and blue trousers wearing a baseball cap reading a book while sitting with his back against a tree. Made with several coloured fountain pens

030

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 07/07/2026

Farage was made by the BBC Or just a xenophobic crank he'd be For balance they would call on him Now grift Farage now grift One day scrutiny will come Of grifted money and dodgy chums And when the scrutiny comes A tantrum will throw ...

100

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 18/06/2026

Seems like "The Art of the Deal" when negotiating with Trump is to drag it out long enough for him to become bored, he will sign anything and then declare victory

000

Reposted by Ian johnson

Trish Greenhalgh @trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Every summer I repost this article on how to spot drowning. Please read it and pass on. In the last few years I’ve had SIX messages from people who saved a kid’s life after clicking on the link from my feed. slate.com/technology/2...

slate.com

Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning

Drowning is not the violent, splashing call for help that most people expect.

253133989736

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 23/05/2026

It's too hot to be doing much cooking but I now have a jar of pickled jalapenos and another of pickled red onion, jalapenos, carrot, radish

030

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 16/05/2026

Productivity hacks for the clutter-brained developer by Sara Gowen at #dddsw #sketchnote

021

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 16/05/2026

The way of the Tech Tead by Dan Abel at #dddsw #sketchnote

001

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 16/05/2026

Architecting for Observability by Steven Read #sketchnote #dddsw

043

Reposted by Ian johnson

Brian Hughes @bmhughes.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥

5682880111199

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 04/05/2026

Think I may have done too much mushroom risotto for one... Tasty though

A generous portion of mushroom risotto dusted with parmesan on a white plate with a red rim

010

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 25/04/2026

More baking this weekend, this time brown butter cake with orange buttercream icing

A cake iced with a pale buttercream flecked with orange zest atop an upside down cake tin

030

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 18/04/2026

This is my first attempt at brown butter cake with brown butter, maple, and miso icing (I did mess the cake recipe up a little) and obviously my icing skills are rudimentary - hope it tastes good

A cake on a white plate with a red rim. It is a beige buttercream icing that has been clumsily applied

010

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 11/04/2026

Been playing around with buttermilk pie recipes, this time a brown butter and honey version... Just waiting for it to cool down before trying it

A gorgeous golden buttermilk pie cooling on a wire rack, just a hint of a dark brown on the right hand side where the filling had slightly overflowed onto the pastry so caught more

000

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 23/03/2026

This is what I'm calling Cacio e Pepe alla Nerano con Pollo... Sorry Italians for smashing together two of your traditional dishes It was tasty though

Two succulent pan roasted chicken thighs with crispy skin on top of a pile of spaghetti mixed with roasted and mashed courgette slices slightly covered in a sauce made from black pepper and cheese on a white plate

000

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 18/03/2026

Having a nostalgic night... Brassed Off and Pride.

000

Reposted by Ian johnson

Ed Newton-Rex @ednewtonrex.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

🚨 It looks like the UK government is gearing up to upend copyright law in favour of AI companies, legalising the theft of their work. This is despite creatives' huge protests, and despite previous proposals being roundly rejected by the public. Please spread the word. 🧵 1/4

9430782530

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 02/03/2026

I wonder if Tice and Oakeshott are returning to the UK or whether, as immigrants, they have integrated enough to be loyal to their new home and will stay put

150

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 02/03/2026

Making chicken & chorizo gumbo again... It takes a lot of prep and a long time to make the roux, I'm shattered now but it is worth it. It's just now slowly simmering for the next few hours

100

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 02/02/2026

First time making French Onion Soup. Caramelised the onions in a slow cooker over many hours before making the soup

A single person cast iron pot with a french onion soup topped with four toasted pieces of baguette and melted gruyère cheese

030

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 29/01/2026

I think we should seriously think about making public how much ministers are relying on LLMs.

162

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 28/01/2026

I'm starting to warm up to the idea that politicians should have their "sponsors logos" sewn onto their clothes. Probably their party's sponsors too.

120

Reposted by Ian johnson

MrTom 👾 @mrtom.uk · 27/01/2026

Today is "Large boulder the size of a small boulder" day!

The "Large boulder the size of a small boulder" meme. The Facebook post is from 27th January 2020

7346451705

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 23/01/2026

Prisoner's dilemma, if the traitors are loyal they should win and share the prize. But have they lost trust or gotten greedy? Beyond the money, think also about two traitors making it through the entire series and no recruitments #thetraitors #thetraitorsuk

020

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 23/01/2026

True love is when someone has something to eat in their hands

A Jack Russell terrier with black and white patches looking intensely at someone off screen, eyes focused and his ears forward almost standing fully up but flopping forward at the tips

060

Reposted by Ian johnson

Ian Coldwater 🧊🚫 @lookitup.baby · 18/01/2026

“How to Talk Minnesotan” is intended to be comedic but I recommend it for every autistic transplant, because no one will explain any of this to you, they’ll just get mad at you and you won’t know why. This outright just tells you the unspoken rules and everything makes so much more sense after that

36559134

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 12/01/2026

Latest knitting project T-4, front and back done, snout crocheted, nose and eyes embroidered, ears made with intarsia this time, and mostly stitched up ready for stuffing

A denim-blur coloured teddy bear with white snout, white inner ears, black eyes with a hint of white, and a black nose. The ears are a little different in size, but that's character. It is flat and ready to stuff

160

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 26/12/2025

I prefer red wine but this is my favourite Chardonnay, buttery and delicious. I'd forego many reds for this. breadandbutterwines.com/wines/

An empty wine bottle of Bread & Butter Chardonnay, 2023.

000

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 25/12/2025

Christmas dinner, roast chicken, mash, duck fat roast potatoes and parsnips, pan roasted carrots and sprouts, braised red cabbage, tender stem broccoli, pigs in blankets, pork stuffing, and chicken gravy. With some Bread and Butter Chardonnay (delicious) A lot of effort for one but so worth ut

100

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 24/12/2025

I've been learning how to knit, these are the first two things I've knitted (I know, I should have started with a scarf). Trying to replicate my old teddy bear my mum knitted for me and there is no pattern to work from They're not perfect but they've taught me so much, even a bit of basic crochet.

Two knitted teddy bears. The one on the left is blue with a crocheted snout with black embroidered nose and eyes. The one on the right is brown with a knitted snout, black nose and eyes.

250

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 24/11/2025

Only 2 days to go before the media can start speculating again on what Reeves will do in the next budget

020

Reposted by Ian johnson

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 18/11/2025

I wrote a long feature for @prospectmagazine.co.uk earlier this autumn about how the stats we rely on for our national debate are falling apart, and that basically no-one is doing anything much to address it. www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/busine...

prospectmagazine.co.uk

Why the data driving government could be wrong

Government decisions are led by statistics—on the economy, employment, housing and more. But what if the numbers are unreliable?

43116

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 04/11/2025

A really interesting article from the 1940s and relevant to modern times, the personality types are still around harpers.org/archive/1941...

harpers.org

Who Goes Nazi?, by Dorothy Thompson

010

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 25/10/2025

Bought a harmonica last week, going through some tutorials. Starting to get the hang of some of the very basics. Tried playing single notes and drawing hole 2 is so hard but videos and a lot of relaxation and practice and I can almost get a clean note (nearly as clean as other notes). Long way to go

100

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 21/10/2025

Once more into the Cinnamon Parkin dear friends, once more

A loaf of cinnamon parkin cooking on a wire rack.

010

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 20/10/2025

Had the most frustrating time this morning trying to get a taxi. Booked at 9am to be somewhere at 10am. App estimated 10 mins for pickup, at that time of the morning it's a 25 min journey but I allowed 25 mins of buffer. Taxi was assigned and 2 mins away for 20 mins. Finally a taxi arrived at 9:55

000

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 12/10/2025

First time trying this recipe for a Cinnamon Buttermilk Pie, I think the oven was too hot. Hopefully it will still be tasty

A buttermilk pie cooling on a wire rack, probably over-baked

010

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 11/10/2025

Simple dinner tonight of homemade spicy tomato soup (a bit too spicy perhaps) with cheese and pickle toastie

A cheese and pickle toasted cut I to triangles on a plate

030

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 05/10/2025

Made pasta today, the white sauce today, made the Ragu yesterday, assembled this afternoon, going into the oven shortly... It's been a long time since I tried making a lasagne from scratch, hope it works out... Check back later

130

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 02/10/2025

Another attempt at cinnamon parkin baked

A loaf of cinnamon parkin on a wire rack cooling down

020

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 28/09/2025

Someone visited my parents (80 yrs old this year) from BRSK. He convinced them to sign for phone line/internet with them on the spot, being fitted tomorrow Sounds a bit manipulative "BT can't cope" & "we're in the area Monday, so if you sign up quick we can fit you in" Does anyone know about BRSK?

102

Ian johnson @simplyian.net · 13/09/2025

Trying something out, a cinnamon variant of Parkin... Self-raising flour, oats, light brown sugar, butter, golden syrup, a bit of nutmeg, a decent amount of cinnamon Tried a little bit and it's quite tasty, may have to tweak the recipe a little

A "loaf" of my new recipe of cinnamon Parkin, brown crust with a few cracks in the top, sat on a wire rack

140