iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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A. Zivarts @nondriver.bsky.social · 9h

It's pretty awesome to be able to get out on the water without having to rely on someone to drive us.

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Nadia Aubin-Horth @naubinhorth.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Profs using Turnitin (I don't) to check for plagiarism in their student's work are (now) feeding these into training models for AI. Irony is dead, and so are copyrights of students (and of profs who feed their own assignment questions to the training models).

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I know a few local people have these. Great bikes! Get that seat bolt fixed.

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Walk through the various steps this passage leads you to. The death penalty is barbaric.

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ArtButMakeItSports @artbutmakeitsports.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Circus Performers, by Walt Kuhn, 1978, 📸 via @marisakabas.bsky.social

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Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 27/09/2026

Google finally updated some of its satellite images of Gaza and my god, it's horrific. The entirety of Rafah has been demolished. The majority of Khan Younis is in ruins. Entire towns completely leveled and erased of the map.

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Mayor Melanie Kebler @melaniekebler.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This machine fights climate change. 🌎 This machine fights traffic congestion. 🚴🏼‍♀️ This machine fights ill health. 💓 Love this machine (and the great new Art Station building it's parked in front of!)

A white cargo e bike is parked in front of the Art Station building at Larkspur Park in Bend, with two blue helmets in the handlebar basket.

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David Welton @davidwelton.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

It's great to have elected officials (shout out to @amendez.bsky.social too) who walk the walk... err, ride the bike with ways of getting around that aren't driving

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This is SO frequently repeated in opposition to safer infrastructure, never mind that safer biking infrastructure has been shown to be safer for EVERYONE including drivers and their passengers

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

This is a nightmare scenario. Flashing yellow lights (RRFBs) aren't good enough. Drivers aren't even legally obligated to stop when they are flashing!

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Central Oregon YIMBY @bendyimby.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

We haven't rolled out the full announcement, but we're excited to endorse @melaniekebler.bsky.social for another term as mayor of Bend! She is extremely knowledgeable about housing and has the skills to navigate the system to turn that into actual housing

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Robert Prinz @prinzrob.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

This change means Emeryville will have 15 mph speed limits on its entire bike boulevard network. Here’s more info on how they accomplished this, and how this same opportunity can be used in any jurisdiction throughout California: bikeeastbay.org/emeryville-s...

bikeeastbay.org

Emeryville Sets Citywide 15 MPH Speeds for Bike Boulevards - Bike East Bay

Learn how Emeryville was able to reduce speed limits and how you can bring this to your city.

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Mayor Melanie Kebler @melaniekebler.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Did you know our great Deschutes Co. Clerk Steve Dennison is up for re-election this fall? Did you know he has a Trump supporting opponent who has zero govt experience and who has made bigoted remarks online? Vote all the way down the ballot, folks, for sane and principled election officials.

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Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, PhD @mbonsma.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

"What changed my math was noticing how many of our car trips were short hops: camp, groceries, the park, all just a few minutes away. Those are the trips the bike quietly took over, and they happen to be the ones where loading kids into car seats and hunting for parking hurt the most."

minijetsetter.com

Urban Arrow FamilyNext Pro Review: Our Family Cargo Bike - Mini Jetsetter

Our honest Urban Arrow FamilyNext Pro review after a summer of daily riding in Toronto: what we love, what to know, and if a family cargo bike is worth it.

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

This happened in Oregon too, because the DMV was looking at passports as proof of voting eligibility. American Samoans are eligible for a U.S. passport but are U.S. nationals, not citizens. Apparently the only U.S. territory that does not confer citizenship upon birth.

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Remember when they closed Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct and everyone predicted "carmaggedon" and it didn't happen?

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

We remember. You may wish to visit the Bend Heroes Memorial today for a moment of solitude or to connect with other community members.

Ten flags blow gently in the wind at the Bend Heroes Memorial. Mirror Pond is visible in the background with a cloudless blue sky above. Green trees and plants are visible on the sides and foreground.

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Does anyone local have a gas fire pit (or two) they would be willing to loan? It's for the night market event from 6p - 8p tomorrow night. Thank you! bendoregon.gov/event/welcom...

a gas outdoor fireplace on a white background. There are gray rocks inside a black round fireplace.

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Happy 8/8/8 Labor Day! Unions are an essential part of worker protections.

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Matt Calcara @mattcalcara.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

If you are a member of a City Council, want to run for City Council, or are even thinking of just attending a City Council meeting for some reason, then read this short thread. I insist you read it, in fact. Thank me later.

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Christian Sinclair @ctsinclair.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Excellent post highlighting positive real-world approaches to making social change from a city councilor.

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

In my work as a city councilor, I hear this view frequently. The most effective way to create awareness of unconscious bias is to create conditions where their automatic assumptions become visible to themselves, without triggering defensiveness. This is extremely hard. Here are some ideas:

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

This year feels like a climate turning point. Wildfires, melting glaciers, flash floods, low/no snow, freakishly warm oceans, etc. Time to get smart about climate. Focus on the policies that will make the biggest difference and get them done. Lots of good still to be done.

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

We do things like custom manhole covers with a city name and logo on them (or at least we used to!). Is it worth doing the same for things like bike parking? Eg if you could do 400 bike racks instead of 192, which would you choose? Genuine question. #bikesky

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Cleg @clegggg.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

this is a pretty wild exchange with someone seemingly in a moderator position

Bouie: Sure. Before I do, I want to say two things, just to establish them right now and kind of to say where I stand on some of this stuff. The first thing is: "Woke" is a term that comes from African American vernacular. It has its origins in the 1930s, and it has traditionally meant something along the lines of: Be aware of the ways that this society is not built for you. Be aware of the ways that you may face disadvantage and oppression in this society. Again, this is a term that emerged in Black vernacular in the 1930s. And that is, as far as I'm concerned,
what the term means. And the usage — Cottle: You are exactly one of about 20
people who think that's what the term
means.
Bouie: I know.

Bouie: I know. Cottle: I always love the historical reference,
but that ain't where it's gone. Bouie: I think a lot of Black Americans would agree with me on this point, I'll say that. I think among commentators, sure, not very many people agree with me. Among the
people for whom the term - Cottle: Oh, wait, wait, wait. No, no, no. You can't pull that it's a split between commentators. And like, half of America has
decided what woke is, and it's not that. Bouie: Among Black Americans, it still
means what I just said. So I just want to say Cottle: But beyond the commentators, there's plenty of folks who have decided
something very different.

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Apparently people doubt whether @tomflood.bsky.social took this picture or used AI? I’ve never met Tom in person but after following his socials for around a decade I find that question hilarious.

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Terry J. Harris @trryjhrrs.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

For journos lobbing softballs at Christine Drazan, try this one out. Pair it with a vote-by-mail question. And ask about the 70-or-so lawsuits filed by Oregon against the administration and which ones she supports.

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

For many local candidates, including judges, asking whether they would have voted to certify the 2020 presidential elections can be a revealing question.

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

It bothers me that I can't tell whether this is AI

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Oregonians don't normally pay attention to judge elections because they are uncontested. The governor makes an appointment and nobody wants to run against them. Here's why you should vote for Thad Betz this time around for Deschutes Circuit Judge.

A screenshot showing 5 candidates for circuit court judge in Deschutes (District 11 Position 3). They are Raun Atkinson,
Thaddeus Betz, David Hession, Sonia Huntsman, Keith A Leitz

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Is the Deschutes, which has tens of thousands of anglers and hundreds of thousands of floaters every year, a “navigable” river? That has never been answered. As a parks board member I helped secure public Mirror Pond ownership so that the public will have access to it in perpetuity.

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Senator Ron Wyden @wyden.senate.gov · 19/08/2026

Wildfires are 4 times more likely to start near roads than in roadless areas. More roads = more fire. Trump is selling out your public lands for development while over 2.6 million acres of Oregon burn in a record wildfire season.

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

In the recent @strongtowns.org podcast, @humantransit.bsky.social argues for freedom of opportunity as the key transit metric b/c ridership isn't a good planning tool. I'm wondering how to operationalize "freedom" and is replacing VMTs (i.e. "congestion relief") a viable transit planning concept?

podcasts.apple.com

The Transit Tradeoff No City Can Escape

Podcast Episode · The Strong Towns Podcast · July 13 · 1h 3m

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Some of the most vocal critics of transportation safety and active transportation initiatives don’t even live in Bend. Makes sense when you think about it.

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Strangely enough, having just gone through an application cycle with a graduating senior, a lot of colleges are using the same techniques to recruit potential applicants.

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

“…and, if the book was printed before 2022, is guaranteed to be free of AI-generated text, which can make any AI model that is trained on it worse via a recursive process called ‘model collapse.’” Is 2022 going to become an inflection point?

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

You might be tempted to think this is overblown because it sounds so bad. But the $20m acquisition record is right here. And they describe it as a "De-escalation Device." apfs-cloud.dhs.gov/record/74524...

apfs-cloud.dhs.gov

Forecast Record | Acquisition Planning Forecast System

Forecast of future DHS opportunities

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Methane emissions are 28 times more potent than CO2, but reductions have a nearly immediate cooling effect because the methane lifetime in the atmosphere is so short. Large cuts in "natural gas" (i.e. mostly methane) by 2030 produce meaningful cooling by 2040. It's a quick climate win.

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Billy Duss @bduss.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

I wish I was qualified for this job...

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

“The Greenwood redo was the right thing to do. The city should do more of it.” I about fell out of my chair reading these words from Richard Coe. And Greenwood’s record is improving! bendbulletin.com/2026/08/09/c...

bendbulletin.com

Column: The odyssey of Bend's Greenwood Avenue - The Bulletin

Some people in Bend have long loved to hate the redo of Greenwood Avenue downtown. They see the city as driven off course pursuing the siren call on its hallowed […]

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

“208 continuous days at sea — a modern-day record for a Navy aircraft carrier.” What are we doing here?

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Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

It sometimes feels like we're living in a ridiculously exaggerated folk tale with wildly implausible villains. For example, as the president takes billions for himself and his family and *coats his things in gold,* the soldiers fighting his war can't get toothpaste, hot water, or a clean toilet.

ms.now

Moldy showers and no soap: Military families are outraged by conditions on USS Lincoln

The aircraft carrier's long deployment in the Iran war is raising concerns that the sailors and Marines on board are facing poor conditions, low supplies and fatigue.

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

When tax-dodging is socially beneficial

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Ariel Méndez @councilormendez.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

"Wildfire is inevitable, but community destruction is not." — Melissa Steele, City of Bend Deputy Fire Marshal - Wildfire Preparedness Check out the Own Your Zone website: bendoregon.gov/departments/...

bendoregon.gov

Own Your Zone - City of Bend

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

This looks promising. I'm looking into what regulations we need to change in Oregon to make this truly a "plug-and-play" solution.

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Mayor Melanie Kebler @melaniekebler.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

If you are able to donate, please help the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs in their recovery after devastating fires and evacuation orders. Our tribal community could really use your help right now now, even as work continues to fight the fires still burning. www.zeffy.com/en-US/donati...

zeffy.com

The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon (CTWS) Wildfire Recovery Fund

***OFFICIAL CTWS DONATION ACCOUNT***The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon (CTWS) sincerely appreciates the generosity and support…

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Democrats should adapt the Golden Rule and do unto Mitch McConnell as he would do unto a Democrat in the same position.

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

The awful—and predictable—result of federal agents refusing to wear standardized uniforms with identifying features.

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Ariel Méndez @amendez.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

More traffic is something elected officials should consider if the state legislature again tries to force autonomous vehicles on local jurisdictions. #orleg

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April Ehrlich @aprilehrlich.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Wildfires have closed the main highway between the Warm Springs Reservation and Madras, so people evacuating have to drive north toward Mt Hood. The nearest hotel is an hour away, and prices are around $350 a room.

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