iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

the only reason I wouldn't wear these together is the binder is handwash only

Blue/teal lace binder with a white backing in a floral/vine pattern from Shapeshifters. Though I want to get the long version with a side zipper.

tough duck hi vis safety insulated bomber jacket in orange with black fleece lining, black elastic waistband and cuffs. It has wide white and yellow reflective bands across the arms and chest that match my org's safety standards.

Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

I'm in the middle of moving so I haven't been up for cooking anything complicated for a while. This afternoon I opened my ~new oven~ for the first time and if I met the former owners in the wild it would be on sight

Sisko, a black man with short hair wearing the early DS9/Voyager era black jumpsuit uniform with red shoulders denoting command track and three gold pips on the collar of his gray undershirt facing Gul Dukat, a cardassian alien with pale scaled skin and black hair wearing a lot of leather staring at each other intently.

There is a tweet from 12b. superimposed "As an adult I have learned that the most shocking and unexpected opponent in life is the person who owned your house before you."

Gul Dukat was the commander of Deep Space Nine before Bajor gained independence from Cardassia and the Federation assigned Sisko to take command of the station. Gul Dukat remains a major antagonist throughout the series.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Yet another infrastructure project that wasn't canceled by the permitting process, #archaeology survey, #Section106, #NEPA, #NHPA, or environmental concerns. It's almost like conservatives want public infrastructure to fail so they can privatize everything & sell it off to their corporate donors 🏺🧪

Scooby Doo unmasking meme where the top image is of Fred, a young man with short blond hair wearing a white shirt with a blue collar and orange cravat, stands next to a person who is tied up wearing a sheet ghost costume, labeled "history nerds canceled our rail project."

The second image below shows Fred holding the mask and the revealed villain labeled "A republican governor getting bribes."

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Permitting, resource surveys, #NEPA, #Section106, #archaeology, and environmental concerns didn't steal high speed rail from Ohio. 🏺🧪

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Working on my posters for next weekend's protest. #Section106 will be represented as well, if I finish my "Ask Me About The NHPA" hoodie. Gonna talk to as many people as I can about how dangerous the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act is to our natural and cultural heritage. #NEPA

"Permitting Protects You" Written on white posterboard with green letters outlined in black. "Clean Air" is written to the left of "You" in blue marker and "Clean water" is written to the right of "You" also in blue marker. The poster is laying on light tan wood floors.

"Save NEPA" in all caps written in green letters outlined in black on a white posterboard, laying on light tan wood floors.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Ira Matt, the executive director of NATHPO, wrote about dangers to tribal sovereignty in the new senate bipartisan permitting compromise. "What is being presented as a bipartisan compromise appears to be a compromise over how much Tribal participation can be reduced and constrained..." #Section106 🏺

Ira Matt
Non-Profit Executive l Indigenous Leader l Tribal Sovereignty Advocate l Tribal Law and Policy Expert

I met with Senate staff this morning regarding the bipartisan permitting negotiations and proposed amendments to the National Historic Preservation Act. I have now reviewed the actual draft language provided today, which I am attaching here.

Perhaps most troubling, the draft would put into federal statute a new definition of a “property of traditional religious or cultural importance.” That should concern every Tribal Nation.

The federal government should not be defining for Tribal Nations what constitutes a place of traditional religious or cultural importance without direct and meaningful consultation with Tribal Nations themselves. These places derive their significance from our histories, religions, cultures, knowledge, and relationships to place, not from a definition negotiated in Congress.

This is not merely a technical change. It would place federal boundaries around what kinds of Tribal cultural places can receive recognition and protection under federal law.

And it does not stop there. The draft would create a new federal review regime for Tribal Historic Preservation programs, including evaluations at least every two years and potential suspension of funding or federal assumption of THPO functions for programs determined not to meet federally imposed timelines or metrics.

It would substantially narrow what qualifies as a federal undertaking, including excluding projects where the only federal involvement is most forms of financial assistance.

It would also arbitrarily limit what effects matter under Section 106, including heightened standards for visual, atmospheric, and audible effects and the exclusion of temporary effects.

Taken together, this is not simply an effort to make Section 106 more efficient. It would give the federal government greater authority to define the places that matter to us, judge how Tribal preservation programs operate, and narrow when and how Tribal Nations have a voice in decisions affecting those places.

What is being presented as a bipartisan compromise appears to be a compromise over how much Tribal participation can be reduced and constrained, and how much federal control over Tribal cultural interests can be expanded.

That is not respect for Tribal sovereignty. It is paternalism dressed up as permitting reform.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

The Bodhi tree at Kauai Soto Zen Temple Zenshuji- in the town of Hanapepe on the island of #Kauai was damaged by #HurricaneLowell. The community is looking for a local arborist or nursery in #Hawai'i to help save the tree or take cuttings. Please pass along to anyone you think might help.

A tree with white bark and a green canopy lying on its side with a root ball in the air next to a white statue. The sky is bright blue with few thin clouds and the grass is cut short and very green.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

After logging off from my interview, I got emotional because they're all still so curious and dedicated and they have such good insights. They want to help and they want to do the work. We owe it to them to be there now and give them the support we wish we had.

the "Do it for her" meme from the simpsons episode "And Maggie Makes Three" where homer covers up the "Don't forget You're Here Forever" poster with pictures of baby Maggie to make the poster say "Do It For Her."

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

Desperately need my workplace to partner with a university library so I don't spend all my savings on books like this

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

I got to hold several snake friends today but this Dekays Brown Snake is the only one cooperative enough to get a picture one-handed

A small light chocolate brown nonvenomous snake with two parallel lines of darker brown spots along it's back sitting with its front half in an S curve shape on an open white palm (left hand) while it's back 1/3 and tail twist around behind the middle and ring fingers.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

O to be a 5th instar caterpillar reclining on a leaf and eating another leaf

Large black, yellow, and white monarch butterfly caterpillar with long tendrils on both its heat and butt to confuse predators chowing down on a dark green swamp milkweed leaf that is already half eaten, while it reclines on another leaf below it. It's feet are very large nubs sticking out from under its body.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Anti-vax grifters are onto dog autism now, so rabies vaccination rates are going down and the canine rabies strain which, like measles, was eradicated in the US is about to come back. Cool.

People may not always know they’ve been exposed to a rabid animal. There have been reported deaths from people who didn’t realize they had been bitten or scratched by a bat and who had refused the lifesaving vaccines.

As rabies seems to be spreading more in wildlife, veterinarians are especially worried about vaccine hesitancy spreading among pet owners, a dangerous trend that could lead to more dogs — and their owners — becoming infected. A 2023 study published in the journal Vaccine found in a nationally representative sample of Americans that nearly 40% believed canine vaccines were unsafe and 37% believed that vaccines could lead their dogs to develop cognitive issues, such as autism.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Temperatures are getting down to the 50s and even upper 40s overnight, the light pollution at Mt apartment complex is inescapable, but this guy just keeps going.

A late instar monarch butterfly caterpillar with yellow, black, and white stripes hanging onto the stem of an undeveloped pink floret head of swamp milkweed. Immediately behind it are a series of narrow swamp milkweed seed pods from florets that had been previously pollinated this past July by a wasp (not pictured). The milkweed leaves are a darker green than the seed pods. The stems of the plant are covered in tiny orange aphids.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

I'm never sure what this guy is up to. I try to leave him alone but I need him to grow big and strong and finish the migration.

Late instar monarch butterfly caterpillar on the underside of a green swamp milkweed leaf. There are many orange aphids on the stalk of the milkweed plant. The caterpillar is yellow, black, and white striped with long pairs of antenna like structures on the front and back ends.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

Caterpillar is bigger now but my camera absolutely refuses to focus on it unless it's at 10x

3rd instar monarch butterfly caterpillar with black, white, and yellow stripes on the underside of a green swamp milkweed leaf. It has two black stalks on its head and several pairs of tiny little legs.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

I am getting better at these, but also caterpillars grow really fast.

Monarch butterfly caterpillar with white, yellow, and black stripes on a green, half eaten swamp milkweed leaf.the background is a maroon-gray house siding.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

I'm trying to hold onto hope now and work within a framework of community action but I will become the Joker if the Monarch Butterfly goes extinct.

An orange and black monarch butterfly with white spots on the edges of its wings and covering its body sitting in a sunbeam on a curled green lead. The background is sun dappled and shadowed leaves of the same tree, with a few spots of blue sky visible beyond.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

Very cool iridescent blue wasp at the garden center

A black/iridescent blue wasp on a spotted bee balm plant, green narrow leaves and pink/white flowers.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

I've heard people say native plants are boring or ugly, but to me common milkweed inflorescence is so satisfying to look at. It's so round, and the tiny little florets are extremely cute once you see them up close. I like them even better than butterfly milkweed.

Common milkweed inflorescence, a very satisfyingly round cluster of tiny pink and white florets with five petals each. The leaves are oval grey/green with a purpleish vein in the center coming off of a single stem. Absolutely surrounded by goldenrod.

Several common milkweed stems growing in a cluster, with round inflorescence in bloom and broad oval leaves, surrounded by grass. It is right at the edge of the pavement.

Another very round common milkweed inflorescence, with white and pink florets. The florets are parted slightly so you can see the center where they attach to the stem. The one beneath it is drooping as the florets begin to drop off ahead of seed pod growth. Wide oval leaves that end in a point.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

At work yesterday we surveyed a few of our Monarch CCAA locations and visited some of our completed pollinator plantings. It was great to see the planted areas working as intended, covered in dozens of pollinator species. Nature is healing etc and so forth

Common milkweed busting out of cracks in the sidewalk of an abandoned highway facility. Common milkweed usually grows in single stalks with purplish stems and large oval leaves as in the plants at the center of the picture. In the right conditions it can also be clumped together, as in the plant on the left. Their pink/purple flowers are at the end of their life, the florets drooping before they fall off to produce seed pods. Behind the milkweed are many goldenrod plants not yet in bloom. Probably some aster.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

My hometown for #ShowYourStripes day. We hardly get snow anymore, and haven't seen a white Christmas in ages.

Climate change visualization from the University of Reading for Columbus, Ohio since 1850. A range of blue bars of various shades slowly morphing into pink, then orange and dark red from left to right.

50% of all post industrial revolution atmospheric carbon has been produced since 1990.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

Pride was just what I needed after moving to a new state and not really knowing anyone. Now I am in a craft group, gonna try two ttrpg groups, and a casual cycling group.

A rose with dyed yellow, blue, and pink petals in a white Valley Forge coffee mug filled with water, sitting on a white windowsill. A gravel driveway and brick wall are out of focus I the background.

Front half of a blue bicycle with silver handles and a progress pride flag held to the right handle by a strap parked on the grass. There are other bikes and cyclists packed together in the background.

Golden brown fried samosas with green chutney on them, in an aluminum rectangular tray. These weren't made with onion or garlic so I could actually eat them.

Three gulab jamun in syrup in a white plastic bowel and a black spork.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

The only other archaeologist is doing site visits and everyone else in the office today is biology and GIS

They don't know meme of sad trollface standing along in a corner with a party hat and two couples dancing

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

My cat and I having the exact same reaction to hearing a Common Raven: running to the window and listening very hard #TenMinMerlin

List of bird suggestions in Merlin's sound ID platform, identifying a Black Capped Chickadee, a Nashville Warbler, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, an Ovenbird, and a Common Raven.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

First common raven and first rose-breasted grosbeak, though I've heard the raven several times but never had my phone out fast enough to record it.

Common raven, ovenbird, black and white warbler, and Nashville warbler listed in the Merlin app's sound ID list

Rose-breasted grosbeak with the uncommon bird icon next to it, Nashville warbler, ovenbird, black and white warbler, and black capped chickadee in Merlin's sound ID list.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Basically as soon as I set up the feeder I got birds. Chipped Sparrows? I think?

A bird feeder is visible through a wet window screen. The background is young woodlands, mostly pine, maple, birch. Two birds sit on the feeder, one with a rusty red cap, white stripe, and dark stripe. Mostly brown body.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

I've never lived this far north this is freaking me out

Representation of sunrise and sunset times. The image of the sun is just past noon. Sunrise at 5:47 AM and sunset is ar 7:49 PM

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

I lost my walking boot during one of my previous moves but the logger boots are actually better because the soles are the same thickness.

Ten in Georgia Boot logger boots in brown, with yellow and brown boot laces tied tighter than a victorian corset. The lower 1/3 of the boots are covered by black elastic booties with a black rubber sole.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

I was worried my cat would love exploring the attic too much and would never spend time with me once she figured out she could get in there, but every time I go to my room she arrives eventually

A black cat with a white spot on her neck faces away from the camera. She is laying on a plain light teal blanket on a bed, draped across my covered legs. In the background is a tiny black dog with pointed ears sleeping in a pink dog bed. The bed is a daybed style with orange velvet upholstery. The wall is plain forest green, with white trim om the floorboard and door.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Reasons you should adopt cats with disabilities: they look like found footage horror movies in every photo

A black cat with white fur on her chest and one eye walking across exposed beams in an attic. The attic is dark and light from the camera flash reflects brightly from her single eye, making her look like her entire face is a golden orb with ears.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

If you live in the #Philly area and want to #PlantNative but only have a small porch or patio, my Bluestemed Goldenrod survived the winter in pots on my north facing patio and are starting to sprout

A single pale green sprouts sticking up from a root mass (I dropped the plant and dumped half the dirt out while moving) against a background of dark brown potting soil and two light brown stems of last year's growth.

Several larger pale green shoots sprouting up from a root mass in dark brown potting soil and a light blue plastic pot. Light brown stems of last year's growth and empty seed pods crown the green mass. These sprouts are slightly older and are leafing out. I hope they are goldenrod and not dandelions. I would be very cross.

Five sprouts of bluestemmed goldenrod sticking out of dark brown potting soil with the pale blue walls of a square pot out of focus in the background. Light brown stems of last year's growth stand crooked behind the new shoots.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

So one good thing that came out of the last election cycle was the @governorwalz.mn.gov hot dish thing. I had to make some adjustments since I can't eat alliums, and I had a bunch vegan ground meat lying around. Recipes: www.minnesotaturkey.com/recipes/tims... www.powerhungry.com/2019/06/21/v...

Tim Walz Turkey Taco Hotdish from the Minnesota Turkey Grower's Association website. A glass baking dish sits on a black gas stove top to cool. Visible in the dish are seasoned golden brown tater tots and melted cheese.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

So I have to do NIOSH/OSHA work/rest schedule calculations for field work on hot days and this is the best weather app I've seen for it, all the info I need is on the first page and I don't have to dig for it.

A screenshot of a google sheet with Project Name, Project Number, Recorded By, and Date at the top. The columns beneath are labeled left to right Time, temperature, >40% (humidity)(add 3), >50% (add 6), >60% (add 9), Full Shade (add 0), Partly Shaded (add 7), Full Sun (Add 13), Adjusted Temp, and work/Rest Schedule (assumes heavy work). These columns help to determine the adjusted temperature for working in high heat conditions to help maintain workplace safety and prevent heat injury.

Oh I should not have screenshotted this, this is way too much text ok ok maybe it will fit the character limit. IT DOES.

Temperature adjustments for Work/Rest Schedule (adapted from NIOSH Heat Stress Work/Rest Schedules Data Sheet)*

Adjusted Temp Light Work Minutes Moderate Work Minutes Heavy Work Minutes
Work Rest Work Rest Work Rest
90 Normal Normal Normal
91 Normal Normal Normal
92 Normal Normal Normal
93 Normal Normal Normal
94 Normal Normal Normal
95 Normal Normal 45 15
96 Normal Normal 45 15
97 Normal Normal 40 20
98 Normal Normal 35 25
99 Normal Normal 35 25
100 Normal 45 15 30 30
101 Normal 40 20 30 30
102 Normal 35 25 25 35
103 Normal 30 30 20 40
104 Normal 30 30 20 40
105 Normal 25 35 15 45
106 45 15 20 40 Do Not Work
107 40 20 15 45 Do Not Work
108 35 25 Do Not Work Do Not Work
109 30 30 Do Not Work Do Not Work
110 15 45 Do Not Work Do Not Work
111 Do Not Work Do Not Work Do Not Work
112 Do Not Work Do Not Work Do Not Work

*Assumes regular clothing is worn, and that workers are physically fit, well rested, fully hydrated, and under age 40.

Examples of Work at Different Intensity Levels:
Light Work Operating equipment, inspection work, walking on flat level ground, using light hand tools, lravel by conveyance

Moderate Work Carrying equipment/supplies weighing 20-40 pounds

Heavy Work Climbing, Carrying equipment/supplies weighing 40 pounds or more, using hand tools (e.g., shovel) for extended periods

Full Shade means no shadows are visible for the full work hour.

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

Pins from @canopyrobin.com arrived very quickly and look great! Had to put one on the board for the boys. They're great for swaps and showing your support and for holding down the lapels of your collared shirts because you forgot to iron them. Perhaps all three. canopyrobin.etsy.com

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Cassidy Aster 🏳️‍⚧️ They/Them @cassidyaster.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Important update my aromatic aster survived the winter in a pot on the patio (some of the bluestem goldenrod is also showing signs of life but I don't want to jinx it)

Slightly blurry picture of the root ball of a potted plant, dark brown soil with tan and rose colored stringy roots. A few small green sprouts rise from within the mass. There is a large dead stem of last year's growth in the center.

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