iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sadly last week in Madison a construction worker was killed by a driver in front of a high school (speed limit 25) where two teens were racing. Even the clothing doesn’t help!

Patrick Siegman @siegman.biz · 01/10/2026

I’ve realized model 742! I must be better, clearly. 😂

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Reposted by Mary Pustejovsky

Has your town removed minimum parking mandates yet, in some places or citywide? If so, let @parkingreform.org know. Your example will inspire others!

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So… I guess I will keep going? It’s really fun! And a total body workout every time.

4th German wheel class I got to stand on top of the wheel in the splits! My teacher spotted me in getting up there, then let go. Said I balanced really well, including rocking back and forth. I said “this is really hard!” She told me I was doing better than 99% of the people she teaches it to.

Climate and Community Institute @cplusc.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Reposted by Mary Pustejovsky

💰 The lowest-income households with cars spend 40% of their income on transportation. Those without cars spend 7%.

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Mary Pustejovsky @mpusto.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

It’s always other people who are traffic! Never themselves

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Mary Pustejovsky @mpusto.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Damn it. Sorry that happened to you! But also, good he didn’t take anything

Mary Pustejovsky @mpusto.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I loved your demo at the east side tour. Was quite illuminating!

Mary Pustejovsky @mpusto.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Being civically engaged for more equitable schools as Madison considers new attendance boundaries.

Building for the Future
MMSD has launched Building for the Future," a comprehensive two-year review of school attendance boundaries.
This initiative is designed to proactively address the city's rapid growth (projected +100,000 residents by 2050), balance enrollment across schools and ensure equitable access to programming. The process is being led in consultation with MGT, a national firm specializing enrollment studies.
THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES:
1. Utilization: Balancing building capacity to avoid over-crowding or under-enrollment
2.
Demographics:
Promoting diverse student bodies and equitable access.
Population Shifts:
Madison is growing. but student density is shifting. Some schools are overcrowded while others are underutilized.
ilization: lancing building pacity to avoid ercrowding or der-enrollment.
3.
Transportation & Neighborhoods:
Prioritizing walkability, minimizing bus times and maintaining neighborhood school cohesion.
MADISON

WHY NOW? The Strategic Need:
New
Developments:
Major housing growth (e.g. Acacia Ridge, Sprecher
Road) requires new attendance zones to prevent future overcrowding.
Efficiency & Equity:
The review aims to optimize resource use and ensure student demographics reflect the district's diversity. avoiding the isolation of specific student groups.
4.
Stability:
Minimizing the impact on students, avoiding frequent boundary changes.
5.
Programming:
Ensuring boundaries align with special programs (e.g. DLI, STEAM) and Special Education needs.

Mary Pustejovsky @mpusto.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Just attended the Evanston Folk Festival a few weeks ago. Sure I could listen to all those artists on Spotify but damn it was emotional for me to see some of them live. And to sing along with thousands of people. 🥰

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Reposted by Mary Pustejovsky

Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Time for this classic again.

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Reposted by Mary Pustejovsky

Lydia @lunapuella.eurosky.social · 28/09/2026

My husband and his friends realised they thought they were good guys but still made like, ironic-sexist jokes. They introduced the 'sexism snake' where wherever one of them made a sexist comment or joke, the others would just start hissing. Didn't need to get into an argument about it, just hissing.

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Mary Pustejovsky @mpusto.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

No joke I saw a resume where a man listed “science based biohacking” in his interest section (with running, hiking etc). Weird

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Reposted by Mary Pustejovsky

Meade Krosby @meadekrosby.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

One of the fun parts of parenting is you can tell your kids about something all you want but once they learn it somewhere else it’s, “Mom, sit down you will not believe this,” and you just smile and nod.

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Flopsie @flopsie.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

A fellow up here in Chenango County told me he just filled his heating oil tank- 2300 dollars, and he will need 2 refills this winter. He actually seemed interested that he could get heat pumps installed for what he is going to pay for oil just this winter. I doubt he would have a year ago.

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Mary Pustejovsky @mpusto.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Amazing. I always wondered why the teachers ask for 2 dozen pencils per student in the school supply list

Mary Pustejovsky @mpusto.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Can’t wait to read all of these!

Mary Pustejovsky @mpusto.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Super cool! Someone is riding all 1,700 miles of state trails in Wisconsin for October. Check it out: knowlesnelson.org/great-state-...

knowlesnelson.org

The Great State Trails Adventure – Knowles Nelson Stewardship

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Mary Pustejovsky @mpusto.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I’ve been thinking about this too. What do we owe our children? If I have the money to buy them a car, should I? If I have the money to send them to a fancy summer camp, am I obligated to? Just because I *can* get them better things, should I?

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Jen Jennings @jenjennings.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

While I won't tell the whole story here, the TLDR is that NYC high schools have greater Black-white segregation today than they did in 1967. 12/end

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Mary Pustejovsky @mpusto.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Awesome. I went to a wedding in South Milwaukee that had a giant cheese wheel. It was awesome

I agree that there is a tipping point. In Madison, there are only 4 comprehensive high schools (and two alternative public ones for struggling students). They are all about the same in terms of courses offered and programs, although one has Hmong offered, and another has video production.

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Having moved from Austin where there were test-entry schools to Madison WI where there are not, I have to disagree. Everyone goes to their zoned high school here. Everyone is offered honors classes (if they want). As a parent, it has been freeing and way less stressful.

💯 There are days where I am like “I didn’t leave the house” 😬

I love this. I don’t have anything official but I encouraged my husband to go to a Balboa dance on Sunday and he had a blast. I go to ice skating and circus classes for my fun. 😎 Sometimes it’s important to schedule the fun!

Mary Pustejovsky @mpusto.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Oh damn I worked in that building for 7 years! The walls were THICK

Mary Pustejovsky @mpusto.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

💯 this. The people tearing down NHJ are missing the point. She was already doubting herself, just being honest and vulnerable about what many mothers are doing already.

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It has its own issues (way more disorganized actually), but it sure has a lot more enrichment activities than the other one. And way more emails about math placement. 🙄

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My middle child went to a different middle school for a variety of reasons and the contrast between the global majority one and the majority White/Asian one has been stark.

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My child with ADHD has had teachers accustomed to accommodating them. My oldest had literally the best middle school band teacher I have ever seen.

And talking about the bad stuff makes it seem like there is and was nothing good. My kids have learned a lot! They have had many caring and wonderful teachers and experiences. They have learned about different cultures and disabilities I was not exposed to as a child.

I also have to add: my White child has a degree of privilege others do not. When there was no math teacher for a year, my stats professor husband filled in the gaps. That child is now in PreCalc AP as a sophomore.

(Quote from Nikole Hannah-Jones). What a closer. 😭

“As long as we continue to rescue our own children from the failing schools where we allow other people’s children to languish simply because those children have been born Black and poor in a nation of racism and riches, there is no absolution here. Not for me. Not for you. Not for any of us.”

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What was so powerful about this essay is that it gets to the heart of everything we do as parents. We ALL want what’s best for our children. We also want to be good people who care about our communities. And the unequal system we all live in leaves us in a major moral quandary.

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Did my children experience the breadth of humanity in all its nuances? Absolutely. Does this choice make me better than other parents? Absolutely not.

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Did my child have a teacher quit in the first two weeks and have subs for the rest of the year in 6th grade? Yup. Did my child go to a school that was not predominantly White? Also yes. Did one of my kids have a child hit other children in their classroom? Also yes.

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Re: last repost. Nikole Hannah-Jones original article was life-changing for me. It made me rethink my privilege as a parent. I moved my White children to a global majority school. Our decisions were not and never will be the same. But so much of what she says echoes things I have seen.

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