iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Fellow creators, writers, and academics: Have you noticed basic search and AI tools giving you different results or the exact same repetitive answers lately, or is it just me? Let’s talk about it below.

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HAL 9000: What Are You Doing, Dave?

ALT: HAL 9000: What Are You Doing, Dave?

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The real AI problem: Are we exchanging the sum of human knowledge for a chatbot echo chamber? Researchers warn of "knowledge collapse" exposing AI systems provide significantly less diverse answers than a basic web search. Are we sleepwalking into a homogenized groupthink? 👇

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Is there a correlation? Nearly 2 in 3 USA adults take prescription drugs (64.8% in 2021 - women 70.9%, men 58.4%). In 2024, 26.7% of adult women reported any mental illness (~35.9 million). .Mental/cognitive impaired vote at much lower rates: • 50.7% in 2020 • 38.3% in 2022

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Did you know Dale Carnegie’s mega-bestseller How to Win Friends and Influence People originally included a chapter on marriage? In 1981, publishers quietly scrubbed it. The 7 rules for a happier home life are: (Original 1936 text below 👇)

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This Sunday’s Gospel reading was the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard from Matthew 20:1-16. This story has a landowner hire workers at different times (early morning, three hours later, noon, three hours later, and an hour before quitting time. 1/3

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Grapes for Wine Time in Vineyard

ALT: Grapes for Wine Time in Vineyard

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Calling all authors and book lovers! It’s Saturday, the ultimate excuse to connect with new readers and support indie talent. Drop your book links below and let's boost each other today! 👇 (P.S. Check out and comment about at least one other writer's work in the replies!)

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Will Ferrell in Wedding Crashers - FUN!

ALT: Will Ferrell in Wedding Crashers - FUN!

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Do these Americans cancel out your vote? 35% can't name all three branches of government 24% can’t name a single First Amendment right A shocking new Annenberg survey reveals this civic blind spot hasn’t budged in three years.

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Are Americans safer with more liberties 25 years later? The 11 Sep 2001 terrorist attack was a historical pivot point, fundamentally altering American society, law, governance, and culture. The paradigm shifted the relationship between US citizens and its government. 🧵👇

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Do you begin writing a story at the absolute start or right in the middle? Ab ovo (Latin "from the egg") means a chronological narrative in a linear fashion. In medias res (Latin "into the middle of things") means starting the narrative in the middle of plot/conflict/action.

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

More grandparents. Fewer babies. For the first time in human history, there are officially more 65+ adults than kids under 5 on Earth. The demographic pyramid just flipped. Here is what it means for your pension and job: 👇

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Why does sitting around a campfire feel so hypnotic? Spoken language started with storytelling after dark. Flickering firelight overlaps with human brain wave patterns, putting us in a hyper-focused state for stories. Next time you listen to Mr Ballen, light a candle 🕯️

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Over 30% of college students change their path. My son is one of them. He wants to pivot to being a firefighter or a nurse. The reason: he wants to help people. We sat down with him today to map out his next 3-year plan and book an advisor visit. What’s your best advice?

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Semaine Pompiers: Caserne de Los Angeles

ALT: Semaine Pompiers: Caserne de Los Angeles

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Do you trust AI over human judgment to select the news? A new Penn State and UGA study reveals people trust algorithms as much as traditional news editors! They viewed machines as unbiased, even when they’re not. Are we escaping human bias, or just outsourcing to an algorithm?

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Is Social Media the new Big Tobacco? The Meta Settlement ($17B) and the 1990s Tobacco deal ($200B+) have one shocking thing in common: 🛑 $0 goes to actual victims. Instead, the money pays the states and the lawyers. It’s a cash-grab, not justice.

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Dolly Parton died today. I wanted to share this from a Premier Christianity article written in 2022 about Dolly Parton’s faith in God.

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

An AI doctor is 10% more accurate than a human physician—but hallucinates 13% of the time. Would you trust it with a life-or-death decision? 🧵👇

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Education policies to combat potential student AI cheating missed the actual AI exploitation. 80%+ of teachers are using ChatGPT to build lesson plans, draft IEP goals, & write emails to parents. 65% of school districts don’t have a formal AI policy or guidance for its use.

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Climate activists didn't get derailed by deniers online, they turned on each other. Social media warriors ate their own! Analyzing nearly 2M tweets, researchers found the biggest fights weren't with opponents, but internal arguments over nuclear energy, pipelines, and tactics.

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Want a stronger, healthier marriage? You don’t need marriage counseling or expensive date nights. A new study of 1,690+ couples found one simple habit drastically cuts marital conflict: Exercising together.

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

10,000 Americans turn 65 EVERY single day. By 2030, 1 in 5 people in the U.S. will be 65+. The "Silver Tsunami" is officially here and it’s about to reshape the entire housing market. Here’s what you need to know 🧵👇

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Ever wonder why Mister Rogers swapped his jacket for a cardigan and dress shoes for sneakers? It was a psychological masterclass for kids. Predictable routines create emotional safety. The sweater-and-sneakers shift helped young viewers transition into a calm, focused space.

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

New DNA tools are completely rewriting human history: Neanderthals made art, jewelry, and glue. Sapiens weren't as unique as we thought. Two “ghost” ancestors haunt our family tree, not Neanderthals or Denisovans, but some other hominin populations Did you already know this?

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Everything you know about ancient history is wrong! 3,000-year-old civilization in China reveals -Alien-like Artifacts -Shattering History -Sudden Disappearance -Ritual Destruction What caused this empire to destroy its sacred treasures and vanish? Source: WSJ / Jonathan Cheng

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Sudoku and crosswords are fun, but science says they might not be the best workout for your brain. New research shows computerized visual processing speed-training is linked to a 25% lower risk of dementia but affects men and women differently: Continues👇

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Do you remember comic strip swearing using symbols? Called a grawlix (or obscenicon), artists used punctuation like !@#$%&* to replace profanity. The term was officially coined in 1964 by Beetle Bailey creator Mort Walker. Type your go-to @#$%! grawlix in the replies. 👇

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Do you know the origin of these symbols? # £ @ & § ¶ * † ‡ ‖ RobWords @robwordsYT has an interesting video #obvs

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Do you know the origin of these symbols? # £ @ & § ¶ * † ‡ ‖ RobWords @robwordsYT has an interesting video #obvs

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Do you like Homeowner Associations? “There were 6,376 properties with HOA-related foreclosure filings in the first quarter [2026] up nearly 40% [in 24 months]... HOAs filed more than 285,000 liens last year, up about 8.8% from a year earlier…” Source: Wall Street Journal

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Are you ready? Youngest Baby Boomers (born 1946–64) reach age 65 by 2029. • $72.6 Trillion of the estimated $84.4T in assets will go directly to heirs (Cerulli Associates) • 13M–14.6M homes will hit the housing market, reaching up to 20M by the late 2030s (Fannie Mae/Zillow)

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

What’s your favorite philosophical thought experiment? These aren’t meant to yield a right answer, it’s designed to test logical and moral reasoning. A slight change can completely flip your conclusion (e.g., Trolley Problem). Which one breaks your brain the most?

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

🚨Are flock cameras for public safety or warrantless tracking? 117,000+ flock cameras track vehicles in USA logging license plate, precise location, and travel times in a searchable database. • CA 16,000+ • FL 7,169 • GA 7,046 • IL 5,822 Have you seen a flock camera yet?

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Have you noticed more AI-generated ads on broadcast TV? I just saw one with talking pets on @metv! According to peer-reviewed studies, AI ads face significant hurdles: • Eeriness Gap • Info vs. Emotion • Disclosure Penalty • Context Dependency What do you think? 👇

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

I have 3 kids in college navigating this. Which degrees have the best ROI in 2026? • 52% of new graduates are underemployed • 41.5% stay stuck in jobs that don't need a degree. • 93.2% tuition increased last 20 years What major leads to a real career today?

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

July is a brutal writer’s reality check. It splits the year in half and forces you to reexamine optimistic January goals. It’s a second New Year’s resolution: reset your daily routine, adjust word count targets, and write fresh. I’m writing Chapter 8 of my WIP. Where are you?

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Have you ever seen a UFO? 🛸 A declassified US Air Force and Navy map reveals over 200 military UFO contacts recorded 1947-1948. Data shows distinct regional waves across the USA during the initial UFO phenomenon. (Source: Daily Mail) If you've had a sighting, where & when? 👇

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

In honor of the 250th Anniversary of the USA:🇺🇸 👇 Hillsdale College - Revolutionary America Musical - 1776 Ken Burns - The American Revolution Schoolhouse Rock - America Rock Katharine Lee Bates - America the Beautiful History Channel - George Washington

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted to approve the Lee Resolution, officially declaring the 13 colonies independent from Great Britain. #IndependenceDay

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦 Here’s 6 fascinating facts about our neighbor’s holiday. 👉 Which of these facts surprised you the most? Share the number in the comments! 👇

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

My current WIP is set between 1975-1987, and it’s striking how much our world had shifted compared to today. When did the world (or USA) change for you? What event or period fundamentally rewired how you saw your neighbors, the government, or your own safety? Here‘s some major inflection points:

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

With the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in a few days, new data shows if you are an American not proud of the USA you are most likely a Democrat. Source: AP

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Top 10 Things that actually work for KDP Authors in 2026 1. Treat it like a business 2. Professional book cover 3. Title + subtitle with hook + keywords 4. Blurb written like sales copy 5. Claim Amazon Author Central 1/2👇

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

AI just helped scholars virtually unwrap and read ancient Roman scrolls buried by Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago. History meets the future. What ancient secrets do you hope they uncover next? 👇

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Happy Father’s Day! Do you know the origin of Father’s Day in the USA? It started with Sonora Smart Dodd in 1909. She wanted to honor her single dad: a Civil War veteran who raised six kids alone. It took over 60 years of lobbying to become a national holiday, from Presidents Wilson to Nixon.

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Do you use streaming devices connected to your phone or cloud services like Microsoft 365? If so, there’s a recent cyber risk you should know about. Cont.👇

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Look to see the top names defining American generations over the last 100 years. From the Johns and Marys of the 1920s to the Olivias and Liams of today! 👇 Drop your birth year below and I’ll tell you the #1 boy and girl name from that exact year! 🔗 Source: Social Security Administration

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

History confirms that states which chronically fail to protect their citizens fail. They fall because this leaves the populace highly vulnerable, often fragmenting or succumbing to outside forces. This fundamental flaw frequently triggers a cascading effect..,

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Michael W. Cook, author @mikecook-author.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Are you writing your own version of Joseph Campbell‘s Hero’s Journey right now? George Lucas:“The secret is not to give up hope. It’s very hard not to because if you’re really doing something worthwhile I think you will be pushed to the brink of hopelessness before you come through the other side.”

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