iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 15h

Anyhoo, I don’t have brilliant answers. I just think it’d be neato to qualitatively track conspiracy theories online over the years, and map how they track onto public-facing FOIA requests trying “to find the hidden data.” It’d be a lot of fun to see, if nothing else. /fin

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Stanley Hudson: That is the life

Alt: Stanley Hudson from The Office: “That is the life”

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 15h

NOAA / NCEI prides itself on public-facing open science. We collect & process petabytes of data, raw+filtered, all online. But even if they managed to open raw LiDAR data n’ still see nothing, they’ll keep believing. How can you possibly convince someone “there is no ghost in the corner”?

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Kevin Malone's Iconic 'I Don't Know' Moment

Alt: Kevin Malone from The Office stating bluntly: 'I Don't Know'

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 15h

We point them to gigabytes of Coastal LiDAR point-clouds and raw multibeam sonar, +dozens of other public source datasets. And all the code. They won’t know how to do anything with it, but all the data and code’s there if they want to. But… Here It Is… we can never prove The Negative.

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Kevin Malone: Zip It

Alt: Kevin Malone from the Office: Zip It

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 15h

Thing is, we *do* occasionally omit stuff. Example: when a Native American Nation asks us to not create hi-res maps over their sovereign nations, we blank those regions out from our final hi-res coastal DEMs. Giant blank polygons, documented. But we’ve never omitted a “feature” from the ground.

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Dwight Schrute from The Office says 'It's True'

Alt: Dwight Schrute from The Office says 'It's True'

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 15h

They also requested “sub-surface magnetometer readings” over the area, which we don’t collect and I’m pretty sure (?) don’t exist there. Looking for… buried treasure? Underground bunkers? Graves? I’ve no idea. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ But they’re convinced *we have it* and *we hide it* from the public.

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The Office character Jim Halpert, looking pouty at his desk, saying “No, Sorry”

Alt: The Office character Jim Halpert, looking pouty at his desk, saying “No, Sorry”

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 15h

A FOIA request this week got me thinking about this. They wanted “raw, unredacted versions of digital elevation models” (DEMs) we create over a specific coastal region. Like, they want “secret” stuff. We sent our public-facing DEMs, lists of source data, + GitHub code to turn former ➡️ latter.

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Simpson Balthazar at The Office Desk

Alt: Simpson Balthazar at The Office Desk, looking thoroughly unimpressed

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 16/10/2026

And I honestly don't have a clue whether "[personal-info-redacted] FOIA requests" are really a thing that people could FOIA or not, or whether those are protected. It'd be fascinating to see a scope of requests that institutions like NASA, NOAA, NSF, USGS, etc actually get from the public.

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 16/10/2026

*FOIA = US Freedom of Information Act (requests)

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 16/10/2026

Know what I'd love to see? A qualitative study of FOIA requests to science agencies. I've worked at public institutions on environmental datasets a while. FOIAs are part of the job. Some are genuine & helpful. Many are a weird window into psychology of *what people ~think~ the gov't is up to.*

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Reposted by Mike MacFerrin

Debt Collective 🟥 @debtcollective.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

Just to note how stupid this system is...we just learned that 15 days ago, the Dept of Education awarded a brief contract to consulting firm Accenture to oversee sending emails to student debtors. It's a $350M contract. So it costs more to *service* the debt than to cancel it.

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 15/10/2026

They’ve got a couple months before first competition, and are meeting multiple times a week. It’s a challenge but they’re making good progress so far. It’s a do-ocracy primarily: if one of ‘em can come up with and *successfully implement* a good solution to a problem, the team runs with it.

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 14/10/2026

Credit: Coach (who, not coincidentally is a woman), once she realized the imbalance was happening, recognized it and stepped in, redirecting the boys’ teams elsewhere. This year, their team got one of the BRAND NEW kits and has it locked when not in use. All the teams *can* use locks, only some do.

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 14/10/2026

Some context: these are collaborative teams from the same school; they often help each other out. Some kits are old & missing parts. It became apparent, whether intentional or not, that boys’ teams often sought help & parts from the girls’ team 1st, w questionable permissions. Coach had to step in.

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 14/10/2026

🙏💙 We’re having some friends over for dinner next week, in part b/c one of them is an engineer by training & profession and she’s been actively involved in SWE. As much as “dad has a background in this” may be helpful, I’m hoping my daughter can meet role models *besides dad* she can identify with.

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 14/10/2026

My middle-school daughter is also tryna navigate “how to lead & motivate a team of 4 preteens w very-different personalities & skills.” And honestly that’s a far bigger takeaway than anything she learns about robotics / engineering. No matter how they do this year; I’m SO damn proud of her. 🤗☺️

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 14/10/2026

I get a Talarico text EVERY goddamned DAY asking for $$$. I don’t live in TX. I can’t text “STOP” to unsubscribe, that just indicates they reached a person, and the texting gets worse. I “Report as Spam and Delete”, which has subdued most the campaigns, but Talarico keeps getting thru.

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Garbage Collector's 'Garbage Time' Mishap

Alt: Garbage Collector's 'Garbage Time' Mishap

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 13/10/2026

The pathetic faculty salaries made me almost choke when I looked at a job listing at a UK university that fit me well. The range they offered woulda been less than I was getting paid as a post-doc. Many UK academics said “But we have a robust safety net!” and I was like “um… … not really?”

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 13/10/2026

Is it no good? I don’t use AutoCAD and didn’t bother installing / looking at it, so I couldn’t say either way. At least so far from first peek the MS Office replicas seem pretty good, and I’m wanting to get it on my machines (including source code) before they’re sued into oblivion, lol.

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 12/10/2026

OMG I’d completely memory-holed that 😂🤣

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 12/10/2026

I got an automated text from our county’s elections office stating my ballot has been received and will be processed. It’s very reassuring to see, esp this year.

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Reposted by Mike MacFerrin

Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg @theradr.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

CLERGY BECOME A POLL CHAPLAIN HELP SUPPORT PEOPLE TRYING TO VOTE AND KEEP THINGS CALM AT VOTING LOCATIONS BE THE ADULT ON SITE IF PEOPLE SHOW UP TO MAKE TROUBLE YES THERE IS A TRAINING YES I'M SHOUTING COME ON TRAINING OCT 15th www.turnoutsunday.com/poll-chaplain

turnoutsunday.com

POLL CHAPLAIN | TurnOutSunday

HOME

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Reposted by Mike MacFerrin

itati santamaria de Collins @itativcs.latinsky.app · 12/10/2026

I've BEEN saying!!!!!!!!🧪🌎🌱🌾

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 12/10/2026

Rather than relying on the coach to protect from thoughtless thieving boys, they’ve locked stuff onsite 🔒 to prevent it altogether. They shouldn’t have to. But here we are. Helping my daughter navigate “being a woman in engineering” is both infuriating+inspiring. I hope they ROCK it this year. /f

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Tina Fey & Amy Poehler: Bitches Get Stuff Done

Alt: Tina Fey & Amy Poehler on SNL: “Bitches Get Stuff Done”

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 12/10/2026

Each year so far they’ve built the “base robot” design (that everyone gets), on which they make customizations & tweaks thru the season. They do well enuf. They have fun. But they’ve never won a tournament. Now, grade 8, they’re saying “F*** THAT, WE’RE GOING FOR IT” and are going all-in this year.

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Rapid 3D Object Design with SketchLab

Alt: Rapid 3D Object Design with SketchLab

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 12/10/2026

Every year in middle school she’s been with the ONLY girl’s team. There’s 4-6 other all-boy teams at school. Each year the coach protects their team a bit, as boys otherwise scrounge-n-steal spare parts from *their* kit, leaving the girls short-handed. All said, the coach has succeeded.

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Claire Debella: Get Your Hand Off Of That!

Alt: Claire Debella, slapping the hand of a dude reaching to grab something off the table. Sue retorts “Get Your Hand Off Of That!”

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 12/10/2026

My middle-school daughter is on a robotics competition team this year (going on 5 years now, since 4th grade). She was BUZZING w/ excitement at breakfast this morning, brainstorming cool mechanisms they can build into this year’s robot design. It’s hard to explain how proud I am of her.

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Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) - That's My Girl

Alt: Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) from Parks and Rec, doing an air fist bump and saying “That's My Girl”

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 12/10/2026

Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day The bloody legacy of Columbus can rot in infamy.

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 12/10/2026

The AutoCAD replica is already in there.

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 11/10/2026

The BBQ-pork-rib chili was excellent. 🤗 I’ll tweak the seasoning next time ‘round and prolly cook the meat a little less (it was falling apart into shreds in the chili). But it was a big hit even w/ our pre-teen daughter. I messed up the cornbread badly, c’est la vie. I’m very thankful to eat. 🍲

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 10/10/2026

💚💜❤️ This is beautiful. And I don’t just mean the music.

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 10/10/2026

If you & Ryan can get to Colorado in about 7 hours you’re 100% invited to dinner!

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 10/10/2026

Well, I googled and it turns out it’s rly only experimental for *me* 😆, but I’m looking forward to trying some bbq-pork-rib chili 🍖🌶️🍲 regardless.

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 10/10/2026

Thank you. Just cuz tight finances + bills-piling-up I’ve never had less than 1 parttime side gig for several years now (at times, 3), and yeah, it’s completely exhausting but we’re making it for now. Today I’m coding one of those. But I’m also making an experimental chili at home today, so 🍲👀😋🤗

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 10/10/2026

They literally have whole programs for it. THIS particular fascist iteration of the gov’t likes to avoid it altogether on The Wealthy™ but it’s right there. 👀

justice.gov

Asset Forfeiture Program

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 10/10/2026

I mean yeah. But reading Faine’s mentions, you wouldn’t know it.

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Reposted by Mike MacFerrin

Courtney Milan @courtneymilan.com · 10/10/2026

If I built an AI lab and it went rogue and deleted all student loan information, I'm betting they'd suddenly figure out how to prosecute me.

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 10/10/2026

I’m smashing the Like Button (❤️!❤️!❤️!…) but the at-protocol seems to only let me press it once. “But the status quo doesn’t allow this, therefore it’s impossible!” …is such a grating reply-guy habit on bluesky.

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 10/10/2026

A benefit of a lifetime w an ADHD brain (I’ve had a half-dozen different careers before science, a tendency with its own drawbacks) is the ability to pivot in entirely new directions when needed. Feels like I was built to heel-turn and walk new paths when bridges in front of me collapse.

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 10/10/2026

We submitted a big proposal last month and are getting in another smaller one this week (to specific programs that still have funds and are awarding grants). Feels like I’m tryna build a house while the neighborhood is burning down. It’s… weird. 🧪⚒️ 🔥🏡🔥

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 10/10/2026

I am substantially less interested in the question of whether we should treat machines with humanity, than I am with whether we treat humans with humanity.

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 09/10/2026

Yeah, and I’m glad to see it. Clearly not quite enough but it is something. The OP had all the tellings of a “we’ll make a video and a blogpost rather than doing anything to stop it” approach that so many of our other gov’t officials seem to take these days. I’m glad they’ve gotten *some* results.

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 09/10/2026

Yeah, and I’m heartened to see that when people posted articles about that in the replies. The OP mentioned none of it. And it clearly negates all these other dingbats in the replies going “oh so you think there’s ANYTHING AT ALL it’s possible for them to do? Of COURSE not! What a maroon!”

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 09/10/2026

I find them so pernicious & annoying, all the little people (many here on BlueSky) who keep saying… “You think there’s literally anything legislators can do about this problem in government?? Anything at all?? Clearly you’re just a fool who doesn’t understand anything.”

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Mike MacFerrin @icesheetmike.myatproto.social · 09/10/2026

Oh hi ***D.C. City Government***. Do you plan to do something about it, or just post that it's "unacceptable" for precious online engagement and call it a day?

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