iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Well this helps explain why Susan Collins supports Trump at every turn

052

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

You know what Usain Bolt can do? Slow down and stop. lol

2100

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Our planet has some weird a wonderful creatures up its sleeve 🧪

0204

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Me, a college prof on summer break, ignoring the calendar.

031

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

This little goober is back in our yard after disappearing for several months

A photo of a barred owl perched on a tree branch

090

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Any children of the 80’s remember yard darts? I have fond memories of nearly braining my brothers with these things. Probably time I introduce my kids to them. (Hope my wife doesn’t see this)

A photo of four rusty old yard darts lying on pavement.

170

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Helping my folks clean out their basement, and discovered this little gem. Still half full. Anybody want some?

A very old bottle of Heather Dew blended scotch whiskey

2120

Reposted by Andrew Mountcastle

Alex Wild @alexwild.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Atta cephalotes leafcutter ant. Minca, Colombia.

Macro photograph of leggy, spiny red ant in side view walking atop a rough gray vine, carrying a piece of cut leaf. The scene is backlit so both the ant and the leaf are glowing, against a dark green to black background.

37013

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

There’s nothing more Camden Maine than a vintage motorcycle and sidecar with a lobster trap on the back

A vintage red motorcycle and sidecar, with a lobster trap perched on the back of the sidecar

0130

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Until now, experts have estimated there to be about 6 million insect species on our planet. Alex and team conservatively estimate that the true number of insect species is at least 14 to 20 million (!) — two to three times higher than current estimates. 🧪

1289

Reposted by Andrew Mountcastle

Jarod K. Anderson @jarodkanderson.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

We've been raising a tadpole. The transformation from swamp comma, to clumsy fish, to leggy fish, to frog with a tail has been rapid and dramatic. It's impossible and it's happening three feet from where I'm typing this. For the cost of a little attention, nature will fill your life with wonder.

211225

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Every year my college publishes a "Good Reads" summer reading list, a compilation of book recommendations from faculty, staff and alumni. I often find myself referencing it for book recs, so figured I'd post it here for book lovers in my orbit. store.bates.edu/blogs/news/2...

store.bates.edu

2026 Summer Reading List - Updated June 10, 2026

Welcome to the 29th annual Bates College "Good Reads" list! Click here to download the 2026 Good Reads List! Other Recent Editions: 2025 - Download 2024 - Download 2023 - Download 2022 - Download 2021...

170

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Local Maine resident experiences sensation of tick crawling on him for entire summer

4110

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

As an educator, this is my biggest concern with AI. Writing is a skill. Thinking is a skill. Being creative is a skill. The more we outsource these essential brain activities to a computer, the more our skills degrade. 🧪

414373

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

In a new experimental study, bees unable to reach a nectar reward above them in a confined space (and therefore unable to fly) solved the problem by rolling a ball underneath it and climbing onto top of it. 🤯🧪 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.com

‘They surprise me every time’: bees can use tools to solve problems, study finds

Insects join list of species capable of solving simple ‘box-and-banana’ problem that demonstrates basic intelligence

1151

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Male pigeons would rather rely on their superparamagnetic macrophages than admit they’re lost and ask for directions. 🧪

1239

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

The perpetual hours-long line for Red’s Eats in Wiscasset blows my mind. It’s just two ingredients, folks! And one of them is a Hannafords hot dog bun!

231

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should

180

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Umm…the dimpled golf ball, a drag-reducing invention, was patented in 1905. 🧪

1314

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Good local deal on a rock solid camera

Facebook Marketplace ad for a "Marble digital camera" for $20.

3111

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Hide your yachts, folks! Nothing is safe!

2312

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Bumblebee queens are working hard this time of year in Maine, fueling up on nectar and searching for nests in the ground to start their colonies.

1101

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Stephen King was ahead of his time

040

Reposted by Andrew Mountcastle

Ian Bartlett @ianbartlett.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Not sure I've ever come across a single tree in its landscape set apart quite like this one and be so shapely too. Will return. #Trees #Kodak TMax100 #BelieveInFilm #LoneTree

0444

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

The National Park Service’s infographic of Lake Mead identifies distinct islands that have since merged into one big island because the water level has dropped so much after decades of drought in the west

A photo of lake Mead, with an infographic in the foreground that identifies discrete islands, with the actual lake in the background showing that the islands have merged into one big island

070

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Wading up The Narrows, Zion National Park

A black and white image of towering canyon walls and three tiny figures at the bottom of the frame, wading up the river running through the slot.

2333

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Hiking up a slot canyon in Zion NP

A black and white image of three people (an adult and 2 kids) walking through a narrow gap between towering rock faces on either side

4514

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Arriving at O’Hare is so charming because after you land your plane takes a leisurely promenade around the airport several times while your connecting flight departs

240

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

This little candy treat will separate the true licorice lovers in your life from the mere posers (Discovered after dinner tonight that my in-laws are posers)

“Tyrkisk Peber” licorice candy from Sweden

6152

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Winter trees. Acadia National Park, Maine

A black and white image of a few small scraggly trees backlit by a bright winter sun shimmering on the ocean. The foliage of larger trees frame the subjects on both sides.

3344

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

During the pandemic I took to creating random photoshops during our monthly virtual faculty meetings. I called them "Faculty Meeting Photoshops." I just ran across this one while looking for an old photo.

A photoshopped image of a Newsweek cover featuring a photo of Eminem. The headline text reads: "Would you give this kid a shot?". The subheading reads: "This may be the only opportunity that he's got. But there's vomit on his sweater already." under which there's an image of a small plate of spaghetti.

161

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Opening Day today, which means this is the closest the Rockies will get to advancing to the World Series.

190

Reposted by Andrew Mountcastle

James Goodwin @jamesgoodwin.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

My 6 yo is playing putt putt for first time ever and already has 2 holes in one. Including get first hole. She's not even holding the putter correctly.

11985

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

"This discovery demonstrates that sexual reproduction is indispensable for the long-term survival of mammalian species, the study said." 🧪

0167

Reposted by Andrew Mountcastle

Lawrence Culver @lawrencecphd.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

An informative and alarming analysis of the deadpool looming at Lake Powell: “The 710-foot-tall dam was designed for a world in which water levels would never be too high or too low, despite the fact that the Colorado is by far the most variable river in North America.” www.hcn.org/articles/the...

hcn.org

The coming failure of Glen Canyon Dam - High Country News

While the seven Colorado River Basin states try to reach agreement over how to divvy up diminishing flows in the Colorado River, another crisis lies in the design of Glen Canyon Dam, which is perilous...

3107

Reposted by Andrew Mountcastle

Zach Bigalke (he/him/his) @zbigalke.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

This is the exact analogy I use with students in spelling out my Generative AI policy in all my classes.

The use of generative Al is not permitted for any exercises in my KINES 341 course. The college classroom offers an opportunity to find your authentic voice as a writer. Al substitutes the voice of a computer-generated, mediocre, and often inaccurate hive-mind for the uniqueness of your human mind. Al may have uses for mundane tasks like writing low-stakes corporate email copy — and I even question its efficacy in those tasks — but it has no place in a college classroom dedicated to generating compelling and original insight in community with other human beings.

In addition, a new study has found that frequent use of AI tools encourages offloading cognitive tasks and reduces critical thinkingLinks to an external site.. These skills are relevant not just to your university experience but will play a major role in navigating the world around you throughout your lifetime. These skills are essential for effectively considering historical concepts in this classroom.

Higher AI usage correlates with lower critical thinking skills, which are precisely the skills you came to college to develop.

Think of it this way. Most, if not all of you, competed in a sport at some point in your youth. The actual games were probably the most fun part of being on a team, but what made those contests more fun was being competent on the field of play. To do that you had to show up at practices and put in the work to get better so that you could play well when game time came around.

Now imagine if you sent a robot to practice instead of going yourself. You, or more likely your coach, tells the robot what to do and the robot does each drill. Maybe it is really good at each drill. Maybe it falls over every time it tries to move. But regardless of how well the robot absorbed the lessons from those practices, would YOU be prepared to compete once game day rolls around?

That's effectively what you're doing when you choose to complete any assignment with generative AI technology...

011

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

An athlete who never shows up for practice will never get very good at their sport, and the same goes for brain growth.

04010

Reposted by Andrew Mountcastle

Peter Durst @peterdurst.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Hands up (🙌) if you are part of the film community and a @harmanphoto.co.uk & @ilfordphoto.com customer AND!! Most importantly, you are only here and not on X This is our chance to show the support. #believeinfilm #filmphotography #film Please make some noise now… or forever hold your peace.

6711523

Andrew Mountcastle @mounty.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

I so want to introduce my kids to sushi so I can eat sushi more frequently, but I also don’t want to introduce them to sushi because every meal with them is like witnessing Joey “Jaws” Chestnut and I don’t have that kind of disposable income

2100

Reposted by Andrew Mountcastle

Virginia Gewin @virginiagewin.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Scientists: for a new story, I have one big question—> What is a “good day” in the lab? I’m looking for epic examples of the best day ever to general criteria for what constitutes a “good day” compared to a nothing-burger day. Ping me if you have examples to share! Re-posts appreciated!

3811377