iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I still remember the name of the girl on my bus in middle school who was a Cowboys fan. I won't say it here for her safety. But the ride from Landover to New Carrollton must have been a long one for her.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

And thanks to you for the flight tracking. We each have a role to play in making the world a better place for all.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This has been one of my favorite movies since 7th grade and now I know why. No wonder Tia Carrere had such a badass role. Also, I just learned that Tia Carrere is a real person and not just a Wayne's World character!

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Being a Cowboys fan in PGC is simply not feasible. The DC team would have beem the best choice but the Ravens will do.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Next time take them on an NYC sludge vessel!

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

The NYC Mayors Management Report is the basis for the Voluntary Local Review of the Sustainable Development Goals - the common language cities around the world use to learn from each other (an idea I developed for NYC in 2018). It's a delight to see Mamdani talking about these two issues in 2026.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Yes, I was not referencing a particular candidate. It is quite common for politicians at local, national, and international levels to have some ideas about whose turn it is to run, and typically it has more to do with egos and favors than political realities.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Yes, and it's not very compelling when people justify running simply because it's "their turn"

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Fetterman was always just an empty-headed flag waver. It is Israeli flags now while before it was weed and LGBTQIA+. But instead of focusing on what people should learn to do differently, political pundits are posting gotcha screenshots of each other. Maybe try listening to constituents next time.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Only one section of that entire Fetterman fluff piece was worth reading, and that is the reflection of his fellow elected official Summer Lee, at that time a State representative who then went on to become the first Black woman from Pennsylvania elected to the US House of Representatives.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

"One of the group’s members says the incident in which Fetterman pulled a gun on a Black jogger makes him a nonstarter.” The otherwise glowing Politico article fangirled over his performative actions as lieutenant governor (waving flags), idolizing him for his body size and the clothes he wore.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

“Lee has not endorsed anyone in the primary yet, and Fetterman has not asked for her support, she says, though other contenders have. As for the Black Caucus, she says, ‘I don’t know if he has a relationship with the Black Caucus.’"

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

"State Rep. Summer Lee, vice chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, grew up in North Braddock and says she regularly walks by Fetterman on a local trail. But ‘he’s never talked to me about politics, about policy, about me,’ she says."

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

So much fingerpointing about who was right or wrong about Fetterman but if anyone had listened to his Braddock constituents, particularly Black women, they'd have known all along. Or his peers. Read what Summer Lee said about him during his 2021 campaign: www.politico.com/news/magazin...

politico.com

The Democrats’ Giant Dilemma

John Fetterman’s blue-collar progressivism has endeared him to Pennsylvania voters. Why are so many Democratic leaders opposing his Senate run?

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Reposted by Alex Hiniker

Cluster Munition Coalition @banclusterbombs.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The 3rd Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions opened in Vientiane. CMC's opening remarks were given by survivor Umarbek Pulodov, who urged states to: universalize the ban with no exceptions, fund survivor support long-term, and center survivors in decisions. bit.ly/46UYlDH

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

This is my favorite video of all time. Vinny Thomas always gets it just right. youtu.be/k6dNpHD3f48

youtu.be

Vinny Thomas: Galactic Federation Interviews Earth

YouTube video by Twickenham Science

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Reposted by Alex Hiniker

Doug Gordon @brooklynspoke.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

If you're willing to throw out some people's rights and basic dignity out the window in order to win an election, who else's rights and basic dignity are you willing to throw out? Another minority group? What about yours?

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Eminem and Goodie Mob playing at the University of Chicago in like 1999 It was not the right fit. I just remember them Goodie Mob singing, "Who's that peeking in my window?" and the students just standing and staring blankly

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Getting down to Toto playing Africa at the UN with all these high-level dignitaries

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

D'Angelo at Forest Hills Stadium Not a single person was taking photos or videos. Not one. We forgot what phones were. I don't think you need to add anything to that one.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

The lightning strike at the 1998 Tibetan Freedom Concert in DC.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

One time when I saw Oddisee at the Knitting Factory, I shouted "Ahlein [welcome in Arabic]" He said, "Shhhh, everyone," and then in Arabic, "Where are you from?" And I replied in Arabic, "I'm from PG County." And he said, "She's from my county and she speaks my language. Too bad I'm married."

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Yes, because we were in a big contractor's truck. I far prefer small cars but it would have been a different story if we were in one. This is why I like public treansit the most. I really hope they enforce the no scrolling law in Pittsburgh but I sense it will be implemented unevenly.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Did I tell you how a woman rammed into us at full speed while we were at a stop light with our toddler and two 10-year-olds in the backseat? Fortunately we were in a truck and no one was hurt. She said she didn't know what happened, but I think I do. And zero consequences other than insurance ding.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Separate but related: I met Laura Lovett while volunteering at the Carrie Blast Furnaces here in Pittsburgh. She was always talking about her research and writingon feminists. So nice to see her quoted here. The University of Pittsburgh dedicated a pollinator garden to Laura.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Norwegian People's Aid rejects US demands to end their equity work by turning down $43 million in funding, eliminating ~1,700 positions and significantly scaling down their work in many countries including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Iraq (cleaning up deadly US messes) www.npaid.org/mine-action-...

Norwegian People's Aid

We have turned down NOK 400 million in funding from the US Department of State. Not because we don't need the money, but because the price of accepting it is simply too high.

The US has introduced requirements that prevent organisations from working on abortion, gender equality and diversity. And these restrictions would not just apply to projects funded by the US - they would apply to everything an organisation does.

That is something we simply cannot accept.

But this decision comes at a cost. We will have to cut around 1,700 positions and significantly scale down our work in many countries including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Iraq. We will also have to reduce staff at our headquarters in Oslo.

The greatest cost, however, will be borne by the tens of thousands of civilians who will remain at risk from landmines and other explosive remnants of war.

If we had accepted these conditions, we would no longer have been able to work with partners fighting for the right to abortion, or for women to have the opportunity to become leaders.

In short, we would no longer be free to do the work NPA does, or to stand up for the values we believe in.

Gender equality, equal rights and diversity are not threats. They are values that strengthen our work and help build better societies.

These are values we will continue to fight for. And we will continue for a mine free world.

Norwegian People's Aid

Our values are not for sale!

We cannot let the US dictate our work on equality and diversity

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

He has never been serious, not since his first elected role as mayor of Braddock, but no one listened to his constituents. Instead, they bought a silly, superficial narrative based on hoodies and flag waving. It wasn't the stroke. He's always been like this.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

"The attack on Kuhestak is the fourth episode reported by The Times in which strikes on structures with no military use were hit and civilians were killed."

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Utterly squandered. Biden is the one who decided to reverse longstanding US policy by sending landmines and cluster bombs to Ukraine so he'd appear to be "doing something," even though these weapons are banned by the majority of the world because they primarily kill and injure civilians.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

And continues to benefit from the crime in ways big and small.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Someone either spent a million hours or zero hours on them.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

No Tim Curry bio is complete without mentioning Clue. RIP

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

"The about-face would mark a rare reversal in a department that hasn’t tolerated dissent under Hegseth and President Donald Trump. Last year’s military memos detail a delicate pushback that may preserve at least the framework of the civilian security campaign." Go CHMR!

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Yeah, I graduated in 1998 so I'm not up on the latest but your post sent me down a rabbit hole. I found an article from a week ago promising things would be better than last year. Considering the county's history with busing you'd hope it would be better! I'm so curious to hear what happened.

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Reposted by Alex Hiniker

Geek Ken @geekken.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Been thinking a lot about this quote from Roger Ebert today.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

This is not a great reflection of the Prince George's County Public School System, but on a related not, it makes me so happy to know your kids attend PGCPS! I'm a proud PGCPS alumna who rode the bus throughout. It shaped who I am and how I see the world. I hope you get the answers you deserve.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

I love that so many people are pointing out that APOPO rats also sniff out landmines in Cambodia. This started after I worked on demining programs there, and I swear those rats have done more for landmine clearance advocacy than everything else combined.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

It's a confusing feeling. You may like that Scholars at Risk, the international network whose mission is to protect scholars and promote academic freedom, was founded at the University of Chicago in 1999. I learned when I joined the US Steering Committee in 2022! www.scholarsatrisk.org/about/

scholarsatrisk.org

About | Scholars at Risk

Scholars at Risk is an international network of institutions and individuals whose mission it is to protect scholars and promote academic freedom.

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Reposted by Alex Hiniker

Ayo @darrylayo.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

“Immigrants are coming to America to get free stuff!!” we don’t even have free stuff.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

We should all be riding the bus.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Exactly! I can't help but think the opportunity to profit from the absurd security protocols had something to woth it. I wonder what ways there might be for big business to profit from fewer cars. But I don't like thinking like that.

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Shawn Micallef @shawnmicallef.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

People have been taking off their shoes at airport security for 20 years because one guy brought some liquid gel aboard. Not a thing can be done about car & driver. There, here.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

The answer is simple and it's always been the same: Have policies and talk to people about them. But I'm so curious how many people have made a decision based on a TV ad, mailer, or spam text. I have, but only when a bad one pushed me towards the opponent. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/u...

nytimes.com

Inside the Left’s Playbook for Winning Elections

Progressives are being outspent and are receiving little support from the Democratic Party. Their tactics show a different way to succeed.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

I work at a university and no one hates AI more than the students who get frustrated by classmates and professors who dial it in.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

"Ocasio-Cortez became a Democratic superstar overnight on June 26 with her nobody-saw-it-coming primary victory over Rep. Joe Crowley" EVERYBODY who lived in her district saw it coming. Listen to constituents, not talking heads. Pittsburghers warned about Fetterman but no one listened. Here we are.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Exactly! When I lived in Queens in 2018, everyone knew AOC would win because she was out in the community every single day. She didn't even have any major endorsements (like Bernie) in that race. And the same is true now that I'm in Pittsburgh. Knocking doors and listening is the winning strategy.

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Alex Hiniker @hiniker.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

I'm vacationing in San Francisco this week with my one-year-old kid and our only plan is to take transit to various parks and playgrounds across the Bay Area. No cars. It's glorious and I wish we could all live like this.

A small child wearing a long-sleeved red onesie standing on sand

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