iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

We've completely lost the plot on the A Different World discourse. Completely.

Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Only I could end up stabbing myself in the arm trying to get something that fell in the dishwasher. Why am I allowed to adult? Who authorized this? I fail every single time.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

One of the most affirming things I received this week was an editor's feedback that she loved my review. Cause I need y'all to understand how I'm constantly worried that nothing I wrote made a lick of sense. Somebody else needed to read this today too. Keep goin.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Again, I ask: WHAT THE ACTUAL FCK WAS ERIC ADAMS *DOING*!???!

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I'm just now watchin this week's ep of The Drop, and is that Suga Free!??!!

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The most salient and heartbreaking thing emerging from the discourse around both Nikole Hannah-Jones' article and the grand jury decision re: Nolan Wells' death is how little compassion Black mothers receive. My God.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

"Once there is time for experts in the relevant fields to examine what happened, a very different story emerges, but one that gets less media attention."

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

How the hell did Dallas lose that game?

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Listened to the GNX album on the way to work. Now I'm simultaneously ready to run through a brick wall and lookin for my opps on campus.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Make sure you take a moment to be whimsical this week.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

One thing I'll watch every single time it airs is the Angela Bofill episode of Unsung. She's my tia in my head, and I'll forever adore her. 💜🥺

Photo of singer Angela Bofill after a performance with a Black woman in black coat posing beside her.

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Reposted by Nicki Washington, Ph.D.

Crystal Fleming クリスタル @alwaystheself.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

For context, there are~50 million K-12 students in the US.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

There are certain folks whose writing makes you pay attention and course correct, if necessary. Soraya's one of those voices. Paid subscriber.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Y'all. I was outside from 3pm-1030pm. I literally came home to shower and change. I sat down only to put my socks on. Please clap. If anyone needs me, look for me in 2029.

static.klipy.com

Little Girl Waving Bye on Red Slide

Alt: Little Girl Waving Bye on Red Slide

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I can't even describe my disappointment when 20/20 decides to air a repeat episode. In another life, I was OUTSIDE outside on Friday nights. This is the ONLY thing I ask for now: new episodes. I can't even get that. Now I have to watch Dateline.

static.klipy.com

Denzel Washington as Malcolm X: Angry Reaction

ALT: Denzel Washington as Malcolm X: Angry Reaction

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Reposted by Nicki Washington, Ph.D.

Andrew D Thaler @drandrewthaler.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

It's probably better framing to think off these guys as 19th century robber barons than some scions of New Tech. They're running the same boring playbook and we don't even get railroads out of it.

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Mark Anthony Neal (@NewBlackMan on X) @markanthonyneal.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

"If you are a Black father and you're already framed as danger, you're already framed as something that's capable of violence, how do you find a way to navigate these situations when you are both threatened and seen as a threat?" www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cudo...

youtube.com

Furious Styles: Managing Anger and De-Escalating Rage

YouTube video by Mark Anthony Neal

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Reposted by Nicki Washington, Ph.D.

Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

this being a little Black girl is pushing me close to the edge.

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Reposted by Nicki Washington, Ph.D.

Oni Blackstock, MD MHS @oniblackstock.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

"Ninety percent of LGBTQ+ rights groups across the globe have lost funding since the Trump administration overhauled U.S. foreign aid, new research has found." www.devex.com/news/90-of-l...

devex.com

90% of LGBTQ+ groups have lost funding since 2025, new report finds

A year and a half after USAID cuts began, advocacy groups say the fallout has moved from "catastrophic" to a lasting structural crisis.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

"OpenAI said it did not believe the industry “has solved alignment and monitoring to a sufficient degree to continue responsibly scaling at maximum speed for much longer.”

nytimes.com

OpenAI Discloses Six New Incidents of ‘Concerning' A.I. Behavior (Gift Article)

The artificial intelligence company also released a framework for reporting when its systems go wrong.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Noah Wyle is obsessed with the Dreamgirls soundtrack!?!??! Can we love this man any more?? Good GRIEF! My guy said he does a MEAN James Thunder Early, and I....need to see him perform Steppin to the Bad Side with a side by side of Eddie. Also monthly reminder that EDDIE WAS *ROBBED* AT THE OSCARS!

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

"Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the minority leader, called for Congress to pass legislation on the issue, saying on the Senate floor, “even if we had a high IQ president right now, and we surely don’t, it wouldn’t be enough.”" Recommend: The AI Con, Empire of AI, The Nerd Reich

nytimes.com

Trump Rejects Talk of A.I. Regulation and Calls Out Anthropic’s CEO (Gift Article)

The president again rejected calls to try to regulate the industry, even as some of its leaders are speaking more openly about the risks of rapidly developing artificial intelligence.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

The fact that I'm absolutely flabbergasted that SCOTUS blocked the mail-in ballot plan is enraging.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

"Mr. Amodei has warned about A.I. safety risk for years. But his essay amounted to one of the most full-throated calls for urgent action from a leading A.I. company executive to date." How nice of him to finally ack the obvious. Shall we all act, now? www.nytimes.com/2026/09/12/t...

nytimes.com

Anthropic C.E.O. Dario Amodei Calls for A.I. Slowdown (Gift Article)

In an essay, the head of Anthropic laid out the rapidly advancing capabilities of artificial intelligence and said there needed to be greater safety controls across the industry.

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Reposted by Nicki Washington, Ph.D.

Anna Gifty @itsafronomics.blacksky.app · 10/09/2026

lol why are these people acting like they can't just shut everything down?

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Reposted by Nicki Washington, Ph.D.

🇬🇾🗽Sydette The Dreaded Gorgon🗽🇬🇾 @blackamazon.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Do some of you know how smart you are?!? I mean this so very seriously. The internet privileges glibness and cutting.. so I don’t think some of you know the depth of thoughtfulness and empathy you display in sense making And I think you should

static.klipy.com

Drew Carey: Who's Awesome? You Are!

ALT: Drew Carey: Who's Awesome? You Are!

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Gail Bean announced on Grits & Eggs that P-VALLEY IS BACK THIS YEAR! I REPEAT: THE RE-RE-RE-RE-RE-REEEEE-OPENING OF THE PANK IS THIS YEAR!

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Not me *JUST* realizing that the executive (Mary) whose boutique Khadijah and Regine try to create a catchy ad for in Living Single is Waverly from The Joy Luck Club. How did I not realize that before now?

static.klipy.com

Desus Nice Surprised

ALT: Desus Nice Surprised

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

It's wild! Their voices are so perfect together. I'm a huge Ella fan, and that Ella and Louis album has always just been one of my faves. Also, her version of Mack the Knife live where she forgot the words and improvised her way to a GRAMMY imitating him. 🤌🏾 ICONIC! ENJOY!

youtu.be

Mack The Knife (Live In Berlin/1960)

YouTube video by Ella Fitzgerald - Topic

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

My first and clearest indicator that Outlook isn't working is I didn't have a single new email as of 3pm on the second week of class. This is why I cannot.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Random: The Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong version of "They Can't Take That Away From Me" is absolute perfection. That key change from his scat is *chef's kiss.*

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Reposted by Nicki Washington, Ph.D.

Sarah T Roberts, PhD @ubiquity75.xyz · 30/08/2026

Anyone want tickets to David Byrne at the Hollywood Bowl right now?

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Interviewed Queen Muva today for something I'm working on. I'm so proud of her. She really did her big one, including with me. Black mamas >>>>

static.klipy.com

Taraji Henson Clapping

Alt: Taraji Henson Clapping

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I ain't gon' hold y'all, but Rapsody's new album is one of them ones. 🔥🔥 Straight bangers.

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Reposted by Nicki Washington, Ph.D.

Hypervisible @hypervisible.blacksky.app · 25/08/2026

A consistent pitch by the makers of ai wearables is that they solve the problem of getting to know your child. www.businessinsider.com/parents-brea...

Molly, who runs a startup to help parents book activities for kids, is willing to use AI for logistics, like meal planning or sorting through her email to surface the most important messages from their daughter's school. Sean, who works in tech sales, wants to go further. He has his eyes on Omi necklace, an AI wearable that listens in on your day and includes a feature called Parent Whisperer. It records and analyzes interactions between parent and child, logging things like school assignments and supplies to order. The device also picks up on tone, alerting parents when their kid may be unhappy — registering everything from "from toddler tantrums to teenage mood swings," per its ad copy — and offering "expert-backed guidance" on how to respond.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

'm all caught up on Diarra from Detroit, rewatched both seasons, and mentioned to a few folks over the weekend that they needed to go watch it yesterday. I described it as "think Devil in a Blue Dress meets South Side." That doesn't sound like it makes sense, but walk with me on this one.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

The accuracy of this. These problems can't be solved via computing solutions. Thus, the are "problems" for someone else to figure out.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Are MNBA players speaking up in support of the WNBA? Maybe I’ve missed where they’ve been doing this in large numbers this summer.

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Reposted by Nicki Washington, Ph.D.

Renée Graham 🏳️‍🌈 @rygraham.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

As utterly stupid as this is, I can't help but feel that this is pointing toward something much darker and more threatening to trans people.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I have no proof, but I’m convinced that the person who decided to replace actual car buttons with touchscreens was a man.

static.klipy.com

Cardi B vs Asia: What Was The Reason?!

Alt: Cardi B yelling What Was The Reason?!

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Hopped in the car yesterday morning, and it wouldn't start. I had 30 min to get to Raleigh for a hair appt. Bought this battery+jumper cables a year ago. In two min, I was pulling out of the garage. 10/10 for ease of use, storage, safety, and efficiency. Make sure you keep it charged.

Noco boost plus portable battery and jumper cables.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

And just so we're clear, the actual Joe v. Donnell Jones Verzuz needs to START at 9pm ET tonight; not some pre-Verzuz convo with whoever we're not here to see. Issa school night.

Rihanna in shades and a black shirt, with many bracelets and her arm out, palm down as if to say just so we're clear.

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

RAPSODY'S ON THE BEAT WITH ARI MELBER TODAY!! COME ON HOME TEAM!

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

I just finished season 1 of Diarra from Detroit. Y’all….wtf did I just watch? That was absolutely FANTASTIC! Tens!

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Nicki Washington, Ph.D. @drnickiw.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Can't count how many times I've watched Malcolm X and Crooklyn. And yet, today was the first time I realized the actress who played the elderly woman who stopped Malcolm X before he walked into the Audobon (Frances Foster) is also Aunt Song. No clue why I never realized it before.

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