Tessera

Ian D Smith

@iandsmith.bsky.social

Hobby writer of adult stories, keen photographer, learning the guitar. Family includes two delightful horses and a lively dog. Retired scientist. Live in SW England. Support your choices and lives. No to bitcoin. Rejoiner. Would join Antifa if it existed.

1593 Posts2252 Follower 2215 Folgt

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · 2d ago

Coping with ten kilos of home-grown strawberries, 2026 edition. Already made several litres of strawberry-infused vodka, now it's the turn of jam! Just turned a kilo of strawberries into five jars of sweet, stick yumminess.

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · 2d ago

SideWalks
@omgsidewalks

I saw a post on Reddit that said that "The underlying purpose of Al is to allow wealth to access skill while removing from the skilled the ability to access wealth." And I don't think I've ever seen Al described so incisively.

Christian Pan @christian-pan.bsky.social · 3d ago

Happy to announce that Summer Teases 3 is now available. @olivialawless.bsky.social @iandsmith.bsky.social @jkmill.bsky.social @polly-liticat.bsky.social @luxindulgences.bsky.social @seriahblacksheep.bsky.social www.amazon.com/Summer-Tease...

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · 2d ago

And the lord said, "Only the best verses shall be cherry picked, and the rest shall be deemed as taken out of context."

Bullshiticus 1:23

Allison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 4d ago

BREAKING: Capital One bank closed Trump’s accounts in 2021 over money laundering, per a new court filing. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Capital One Cites Money Laundering Review in Trump-Related Suit

Capital One Financial Corp. said in a court filing late Friday that it closed accounts belonging to President Donald Trump’s sprawling real estate company in 2021 for legitimate reasons after an inter...

bloomberg.com

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · 5d ago

The August picture from my personal 2026 photo calendar. It's an early 20th century medicine cabinet in Lanhydrock, a historic house in SW England. Newer versions of a few of these items might still be found in homes today.

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · 3w ago

Flattered to have a story included too

Christian Pan@christian-pan.bsky.social · 3w ago

I´m excited to announce that I am contributing a new short story for the collection Absolute Filth. preorder: www.amazon.com/dp/B0H6S4SSX... @polly-liticat.bsky.social @iandsmith.bsky.social @luxindulgences.bsky.social @olivialawless.bsky.social

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · 4w ago

I wonder how the good people of Clacton will respond to pushy activists from Manchester...

Pippa Crerar
@PippaCrerar

EXCL: Reform UK activists have been urged to divert from Greater Manchester mayoral byelection to support Nigel Farage's contest against Count Binface.

A WhatsApp shared with party members in NW reads: "We now need all of our fantastic activists, branch officers and councillors to come and help us in Clacton."

Scoop by @JoshHalliday

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · 4w ago

natedaleymusic

can't lie. I'm hooked.

I just want to see just how well a joke candidate, with no real policies, a seemingly thin grip on reality, and who seems more concerned with being a talking point and making a farce of the democratic process than actually serving local residents, fares against Count Binface.

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · 4w ago

jackwdart

It's hard to have imagined a worse 24 hours for Reform UK. And what's even funnier today is that despite all parties having announced they'll not field a candidate to fight Farage, Reform is still defiantly uploading campaign videos, like they're not in a contest with a bin.

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · 4w ago

Rachel Reeves
@RachelReevesMP

I will accept Nigel Farage's request to be appointed Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.

It is a farce and a desperate distraction, and the people of Clacton deserve better.

But if he wants to spend the summer arguing with a bin, I won't stop him.

13:49. 08 Jul 26

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · 4w ago

jackwdart

The yankification of British politics is well and truly here. Attack anyone who dares to scrutinise you. Blame anyone who doesn't share your view as 'the political elite, or the establishment. The media, politicians, parties, educational institutions, public services, civil servants.

Play the victim, use your position to enrich yourself, use ethnonationalist and purist tests to decipher who is a true believer, patriot or Briton.

The Trump playbook in action, verbatim.

Max Berger @maxberger.bsky.social · 4w ago

I’m sorry, but this video of Belgium’s squad mocking Trump in their locker room after demolishing the USMNT is hilarious.

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · 4w ago

nickydenovan

"What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance."

- Jane Austen Letter to Cassandra Austen, 18th September 1796

Same, Jane. Absolutely same.

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · 4w ago

Anna Turley wins the internet today, re Niggle Fartrage's latest stunt.

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · 4w ago

Anon Opin
@anon_opin

Putting a glass of water in a microwave oven is an underrated method of making people feel unsettled.

5 Jul 2026

Polly Liticat @polly-liticat.bsky.social · last mo.

And the first 4 authors to be announced have stories in BOTH of the previous volumes... I’m pleased to welcome back Christian Pan @christian-pan.bsky.social Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social Saddletramp1956 @saddletramp1956.bsky.social and Scarlet Lee Winters @luxindulgences.bsky.social 🎉

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · last mo.

The lake in the Italian Garden at Bicton Park Botanical Gardens, Devon in the SW of England.

The lake in the Italian Garden at Bicton Park Botanical Gardens. A church is visible beyond the lake, partially hidden by trees. There is a fountain in the lake, with three jets of water. Various statues are arranged around the lake.

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · last mo.

Fesshole
@fesshole

Tesco herbs/spices have the initial letter of the product as a large centralised capital letter with the product name underneath. I rearrange them to spell rude words, because you have limited letters to use creativity is key. Some highlights include PISSPANTS and FISTING GIMPS.

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · last mo.

I happened upon this very photogenic window earlier this week.

A window in a derelict 18th century stable block. The roof has collapsed, with vegetation growing behind the window. The wooden frame is rotting and sagging. There are only three small squares of glass left, in the upper left corner.

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · last mo.

I was told technology would eliminate unnecessary work.

Instead, I now have sixty
passwords, fourteen
verification codes, and a robot asking if I'm a robot.

PBS News @pbsnews.org · last mo.

Louisiana's Republican attorney general was indicted Thursday on criminal charges by a grand jury in New Orleans, accused of trying to intimidate local officials who fought a law enacted by GOP legislators to overhaul the local courts. https://to.pbs.org/44HvCRF

Grand jury indicts Louisiana's attorney general in fight over changes to local courts

Louisiana’s Republican attorney general was indicted Thursday on criminal charges by a grand jury in New Orleans, accused of trying to intimidate local officials who fought a law enacted by GOP legisl...

to.pbs.org

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · last mo.

#photography #event #judges #cider #royalcornwallshow The July image from my personal 2026 photo calendar. Two judges and an official for the cider competition at the Royal Cornwall Show in 2025.

One man holding a clipboard while two others taste samples from eight ciders set out in front of them. One of the tasters is laughing.

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · last mo.

David R. Chen
@DavidRChen

I've started joining every Google Meet 30 seconds early.

When you join early, everyone's virtual note takers join early too, I spend the first few seconds screaming about how l'm on the Titanic, weǰ've just hit an iceberg, the end is near, and I need immediate assistance.

I then do the rest of the meeting normally.

When the meeting ends, everyone gets an emailed transcript where the Al summary is:
"David hit an iceberg, is trapped on a sinking ship, and general Q2 pricing updates."

Lyanna 🌙@lyannatropes.bsky.social · last mo.

Lowering the price to 200€. I am not sure anyone will be interested in a discount, but I genuinely don't know what else to do to fill this. Available until July 1st, as I still plan to close commissions then.

Lyanna 🌙@lyannatropes.bsky.social · last mo.

Hello, I am trying to fill one art nouveau slot (starting from 230€) for July. You can email lyanna.artworks@gmail.com to grab it, or fill my form! form: forms.gle/U4aGYaNw2gCH... TOS and gallery: lyannacomm.carrd.co Sharing is appreciated 🩷

Digital artwork depicting a character gently leaning over a dragon egg, her other arm wrapped aroind it. She is wearing a long blue dress dotted with stars that drapes down her legs. Starry skies with dragons can be seeen within the frame in the background.

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · last mo.

Jill Bunny , Chief Marketing Officer

BOSS: What are your three goals for next quarter?

1. Reply professionally to emails that don't deserve it.

2. Say "interesting idea" instead of what l'm actually thinking.

3. Make it through one meeting without creating a side group chat.

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · last mo.

Part of the 1840's palm house at Bicton Park Botanical Gardens

Looking up from the inside of the structure, comprised of curved iron uprights and thousands of overlapping small glass panes.

Ian D Smith @iandsmith.bsky.social · 2mo ago