iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael @michael.theatl.social · 08/08/2026

I live in #Georgia and get lots of phone calls/texts for political polling. It's interesting to see how candidates are testing attack/support msgs. However, I'm at a loss as to this survey. If it's a push poll, it's racist garbage. If it's an actual poll, wtf is the candidate doing this? #gapol

A screenshot of a section from the "Georgia Opinion Survey." The page includes a Teal header with white text reading "Georgia Opinion Survey." Below the header, a prompt asks, "Lastly, do you agree or disagree with each of the following two statements:" marked with a red asterisk.

A multiple-choice grid presents five response options in columns: Strongly agree, Somewhat agree, Somewhat disagree, Strongly disagree, and Unsure.

The statements listed in the rows are:

"Over the past few years, Black people have gotten less than they deserve."

"Irish, Italian, Jewish, and many other minorities overcame prejudice and worked their way up. Black people should do the same without any special favors."

Below the grid, there is a teal Submit button and a progress bar indicating "95%".

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 13/05/2026

@treesatlanta.bsky.social @atlantabeltline.org on the westside beltline, why is a contractor keeping a digger on top of a critical root zone + ripping the bark off adjacent trees?

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 05/05/2026

From the marta.fail project, it's a bad day to ride a bus on #MARTA: The day isn't over yet, but there are already 867 trips canceled (marta.fail/routes), with more than half of the scheduled 113 trips on Route 49 canceled (for example). Route 95, critical for SW ATL w/ only 61% reliability Yikes.

This is a suggested alt-text for the content found at `https://marta.fail/routes`:

> **Alt-text:** A real-time dashboard from marta.fail showing a list of MARTA bus routes and their current status. The page displays system-wide statistics, including the number of scheduled trips, the number of cancelled trips (e.g., 153 today), and an estimated reliability percentage (e.g., 97.8%). Below the stats, there is a detailed list of specific bus route cancellations and service alerts, including detour information and departure times for cancelled trips on various routes like Route 1, 15, and 95.

### **Summary of the Page**
The website **marta.fail/routes** is an unofficial service alert project (not affiliated with MARTA) designed to make transit information more accessible. Key features of the page include:

* **Live Statistics:** Aggregated data on the total number of bus trips scheduled vs. cancelled for the current day.
* **Route Alerts:** A searchable or scrollable list of specific service disruptions, including:
* **Cancellations:** Specific departure times and directions (e.g., Northbound/Southbound) that are not running.
* **Detours:** Start and end times for route changes due to construction or events.
* **Rail Delays:** Occasional alerts for Red, Gold, Blue, or Green rail lines.
* **Integration:** Links to dedicated Bluesky social media accounts that post automated alerts for individual bus routes and train stations.

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 19/04/2026

From marta.fail - 23 trips on that route were canceled today...an astonishingly terrible reliability.

Route,Name,Scheduled,Cancelled,Est. Reliability
1,Joseph E. Lowery Blvd / 17th St,114,29,74.6%
2,Donald Lee Hollowell/Ponce de Leon,214,5,97.7%
3,Martin Luther King Jr Drive,76,28,63.2%
4,Moreland Avenue,78,0,100.0%
5,Piedmont Rd / Sandy Springs,116,0,100.0%
7,Boulevard / McDonough Boulevard,79,23,70.9%

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 31/12/2025

🚀 Big updates to marta.fail - tracking reliability with #MARTA, #Atlanta's transit system. Now, statistics on bus trip cancellations (systemwide + routes) are tracked in near-real time + historic data. Service alerts, still (‼️) only posted to Twitter, are syndicated to Bluesky @ alerts.marta.fail

Here is the alt-text for the third image:

Alt Text: A screenshot of a detailed data table on "marta.fail" listing specific bus routes, sorted to show those with the lowest reliability first.

Disclaimer: A blue note at the top clarifies that "Reliability statistics are only available for bus routes," as MARTA does not provide standardized data for rail or streetcar disruptions.

Search: A search bar allows users to filter by route number or name.

Table Columns: The table tracks Route, Name, Scheduled Trips, Cancelled Trips, and Est. Reliability.

Worst Performing Routes (Visible Rows):

Route 856 (Baker Hills / Wilson Mill Meadows): 45.0% reliability (22 of 40 trips cancelled).

Route 865 (Boulder Park Drive): 48.7% reliability (20 of 39 trips cancelled).

Route 850 (Carroll Heights / Fairburn Heights): 50.0% reliability (19 of 38 trips cancelled).

Route 867 (Peyton Forest / Dixie Hills): 63.2% reliability (14 of 38 trips cancelled).

Route 188 (Oakley Industrial): 66.7% reliability (6 of 18 trips cancelled).

Route 813 (Atlanta University Center): 73.7% reliability (15 of 57 trips cancelled).

Here is the alt-text for the second image:

Alt Text: A screenshot of a website called "marta.fail" (marked as Beta), which tracks MARTA bus service reliability. The page features a large red banner at the top alerting that 319 bus trips cancelled today (Wednesday, Dec 31).

Header: The site title "marta.fail" is accompanied by a sad face and bus emoji. A subtitle reads "MARTA service alerts republished to Bluesky."

Control Panel: A "Time Period" selector has "Today" highlighted (other options include 7d, 30d, and 90d). A note indicates data collection started on June 30, 2025.

Bus System-Wide Stats (for Today):

Bus Routes: 113

Trips Scheduled: 7,563

Trips Cancelled: 319

Est. Reliability: 95.8%

Context: The timestamp in the top right shows "Dec 31, 3:18 PM."

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 31/10/2025

Got an Overstreet mailer from Atlanta REALTORS PAC 🙄, noting she wants "responsible [housing?] growth we can live with." So, a coded NIMBY message from her lobbyists and zilch on affordable housing 🤮 while @rohitforatlanta.bsky.social's platform has affordable housing as his top priority. #GaPol

The mailer presents her as "uniquely qualified" with "almost three decades of leadership and community service" and an "excellent track record of proactive constituent services."

Her key platform points are listed as:

Home Ownership: "Supports home ownership and will always fight for residents and taxpayers."

Responsible Growth: "Supports securing investment for new, responsible growth we can all live with."

Community Partnership: "Will always be a dependable partner with the community in fighting crime and securing all of our communities."

The mailer was sent by the Atlanta REALTORS® Political Affairs Committee, Inc.

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 21/10/2025

JFC. This is giving me Man in the High Castle vibes 😧 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man...

Pic of statue of liberty being destroyed - from the TV series (and based off of book): The Man in the High Castle

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 18/10/2025

Massive turnout for #Atlanta #NoKings - just finished the march to the GA State Capitol. Joyful and determined vibe, lots of solidarity, no counter protesters other than the usual street preachers. Feeling the people power gives me hope 🇺🇸

Marchers at the Georgia state capitol for no kings

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 18/10/2025

Massive turnout at #NoKings in #Atlanta - energy is 💯🇺🇸

Picture of no kings march in Atlanta - lots of people

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 09/10/2025

I don't like dunking on the @ajc.com, but some op-eds they publish are just trash 😵‍💫 www.ajc.com/opinion/2025... One "side" is calling for arrests and violence against their political opponents, sending troops to US Cities. And the writer's complaint is that Dems worry too much about democracy?!

Among the most politically involved Democrats, politics today has become nothing less than a mission to save democracy. They have come to view every action of the current Trump Administration as a genuine threat to our Constitution and democratic form of government.

For many Democrats today, their “Bible” is the U.S. Constitution, and they believe it and the democracy it created are in serious jeopardy.

I wish there were an obvious way to bring back the bipartisan cooperation of the era in which I worked in government, but I am afraid it won’t happen until members of both parties have the courage to risk their careers and “sell out” their most ardent supporters to once again accomplish important things for our country and the entire world.

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 11/07/2025

www.ajc.com/politics/202... Georgia Republicans are too cowardly to challenge the orange tyrant, and then let children go hungry so that Georgians can get a tax rebate. Literally, what's the point of our [state] gov't if it lets its most vulnerable humans starve and suffer?

A screenshot of a news article headline. The main headline reads, "SNAP cuts could mean fewer free meals for Georgia students." The section is labeled "POLITICS," and a sub-headline says, "The 'big, beautiful bill' shifts the financial burden of feeding lower-income students to the state."

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 27/06/2025

Responding to @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social's victory, State Rep. Esther Panitch, a Democrat, tweeted this ⬇️ While Dems are working to build an electoral majority in GA, she is tearing that work down by amplifying this gross racist trope. Like seriously, this is going to get Dems elected in GA?

Tweet from Rep. Esther Panitch: "NYC Mispacha, Georgia will welcome you. We have all 4 seasons, mild winters, and beautiful mountains! We also have the IHRA definition and law enforcement willing to help. And real SEC (football icon).

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 14/06/2025

I'm terrified for the future of my country - even more so with the horrific news from Minneapolis. But the rally and march in Atlanta gives me hope - after all, we have friends everywhere. (6/fin)

Picture of #NoKings protest marching east toward the King Center in Atlanta, GA. Faces are blurred.

Picture of #NoKings protest marching east toward the King Center in Atlanta, GA - at John Lewis #HERO mural. Faces are blurred.

Picture of #NoKings rally at the Georgia State Capitol. Faces are blurred.

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 06/06/2025

The #Beltline's "autonomous vehicle" pilot is so deeply corrupt, I just can't. No public bidding, "repurposed Ford passenger vans" w/ no buses, so no ADA compliance too? Instead of improving mobility for SW ATL residents, the goal is for people to "explore" ⁉️ www.ajc.com/news/2025/06... ($)

The route was chosen to help people explore a less-traveled section of the Beltline, officials have said.

Shaun Green, the Beltline’s senior transportation engineer, told regional transit board members on Thursday that Beltline considered three companies for the pilot. Beep emerged as the top pick because it didn’t require building infrastructure which meant “significantly” lower capital costs, he said.

The project wasn’t put out for bid but will piggyback off a contract the company has with the city of Jacksonville, Florida, said Cain Williamson, the regional authority’s deputy executive director.

Jannine Miller, who leads the regional authority, said she’s excited the project will come together so quickly.

The regional board voted unanimously to contribute $1.75 million in state transit funding to the $3 million project timed to coincide with next year’s FIFA World Cup games. The remaining costs will be covered by the Beltline or private, in-kind donations.

The 12-month trial is in partnership with Beep, the same Florida-based company that operated the self-driving Cumberland Hopper shuttles in Cobb County.

Beltline President and CEO Clyde Higgs has said previously the pilot is a test as the organization looks at how best to provide transit along the 22-mile loop encircling the city. A consultant has recommended using Beep’s autonomous buses for transit in place of light rail or other options, but Beltline and city officials have said they are committed to bringing rail to the entire trail.

For now, the pilot program will use repurposed Ford passenger vans outfitted with autonomous technology in lieu of buses. Each shuttle will hold 10 passengers, two more than the Hopper shuttles and will include an attendant to assist riders. They won’t run on the trail itself but will instead operate in the roadway alongside general traffic.

The proposed route is a roughly 2-mile loop that would connect the Westside Trail and the nearby Lee + White entertainment district with MARTA’s West End station and the Atlanta University Center.

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 21/05/2025

"They" are blamed when gov't fails its citizens. The sooner that voters recognize that "they" is actually "we" [the People], the quicker we get out of our MAGA mess. And for the GA guv'r race, voters need to know that the GOP wants to make this worse, not better. www.ajc.com/news/2025/05... ($)

Now, he said, concrete barriers prevent people from driving into the park. He spotted some confused and disappointed drivers on cellphones later Tuesday outside the barriers.

“It’s strange that they did it right before a major holiday,” Pollastro said. “There’s going to be a lot of disappointed people who haven’t found out about it and they drive there.”

“I’m just disappointed in government,” Pollastro said. “Why would they do this?

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 26/04/2025

#MARTA advertises transit for the exceptionally busy festival weekends in #Atlanta and then runs completely garbage headways. Maybe if their leadership actually utilized the service, this wouldn’t happen. Marta.fail over and over again. Seriously, what are our fares and sales taxes paying for?

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 08/04/2025

Damn, those leopards keep getting overfed. #LAMF h/t: www.joemygod.com/2025/04/koch...

AI-generated image of Koch and a hungry leopard, superimposed on an image from joemygod.com https://www.joemygod.com/2025/04/koch-funded-right-wing-group-sues-to-stop-tariffs/

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 07/04/2025

Probably from Puff the Magical Stonk Dragon

Puff the magical stonk dragon cartoon (AI generated)

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 05/04/2025

This is what democracy looks like. 🇺🇸🗽🤩 #Atlanta #HandsOff

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 28/03/2025

It's another day of being endlessly spammed by an #NGPVAN email list (with hyperbolic subject lines) from a DCCC email from which no one can actually unsubscribe. This is not the way to win. This isn't the way to organize. It's digging further into an election playbook that is profoundly broken.

screenshot of email mailbox with four emails from Gay Valimont within the span of 20 minutes

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 08/03/2025

Someone I pissed off signed me up on Rep. McCormick's (R-7th District) emails. I would unsubscribe, but so far, it's morbidly fascinating. The 🇺🇸 gov't is a dumpster fire, with POTUS destroying our economy and, well, everything. BUT WHAT ABOUT DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME? 😱 GET ANGRY ABOUT THIS NOW!!!

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 17/02/2025

Yesterday's trip to Publix: no eggs (2 packs of quail eggs though!), prices higher on nearly everything, only junk food on sale or BOGO. Core CPI for February is going to be 📈. Add tariffs into the mix, mass layoffs, and more hits to aggregate demand, and, well, the picture ain't pretty.

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 04/02/2025

From an AJC digital ad...somehow I don't think that "Protecting American Consumers Together" are looking out for my interests as a non-consuming human.

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 31/01/2025

I try to tell myself that things won't get worse. And here we are now. No census.gov. I can't begin to tell you the level of disruption this will cause. (data.census.gov is still online, though, for now)

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 09/01/2025

I'm sorry, but why the f*** should I have to go on X to get information on a Public Safety Alert for the Winter Storm Warning in #Atlanta. Make this make sense, Fulton County, GA. There is seriously nowhere else the county can post critical life safety information in the Year of our Lord, 2025?!

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 06/01/2025

#AtlantaPD hasn't published crime data (via opendata.atlantapd.org) since November due to a "data migration." This makes it challenging for my neighborhood and others to track crime, issues, etc. Does anyone know what's happening and/or if this data will be available again? #atlanta

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 29/12/2024

Today was a great day for a nice 🚲 ride outside. I'm so glad that Georgia Tech is getting closer to finishing its Ferst Drive redo. The number of times I've been pushed out the make-believe painted lanes by vehicles (including the Stingerette) in their blind spots... 😠

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 20/12/2024

The marta.fail project (collecting all #MARTA service alerts from their email channels) has been fascinating. I'm working towards a hourly/daily JSON file with aggregated stats. In the meantime, here's the data collected on cancelled bus dispatches from Dec 4th through 19th - avg of 327 per day.

The bar chart visualizes the number of MARTA bus dispatches canceled by day over a range of dates. The x-axis represents the dates recorded (from December 4, 2024, to December 19, 2024), displayed in a slanted format for clarity. The y-axis indicates the number of canceled dispatches, ranging from 0 to 600. The chart demonstrates daily fluctuations in the number of cancellations, highlighting peaks and troughs in the data.

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 22/11/2024

As Bluesky increases in users, I'd like to see more 🇺🇸 electeds and candidates quit Xitter. Twitter used to (and Bluesky can) provide critical comms from constituents to pols. It's also time to stop giving "free" political data (‼️) to Musk & friends. They chose their side, and it's beyond gross.

Twitter block screen preventing replies to Sen Warnock

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Michael @michael.theatl.social · 18/11/2024

This shit is why Meta is will become the equivalent of the "literature" at the grocery store checkout aisle. The more centralized the service, the bigger the target for these nanny state tinpot dictators. Social media that is federated and decentralized is a backstop against this creeping fascism.

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