iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Wonderful! Her points on the uselessness of note taking are brutal but true

Reposted by Laura Walker McDonald

Andrea Mann @andreamann.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

"By writing, you are literally firing up your brain and therefore stirring up your conscious thoughts and something new emerges. You are not, or at least not always, transcribing something already present in your conscious thoughts.“ LOVE this piece. www.historians.org/perspectives...

historians.org

How Writing Leads to Thinking (and Not the Other Way Around) – AHA

Writing is stressful. Sitting in my computer chair my neck and shoulder muscles almost immediately tense up as I dig around in my brain for the best phrase or even any coherent string of words.

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

What’s Happening in Kansas Should Alarm Us All www.nytimes.com/2026/08/13/o...? Why is this carefully reported piece in ‘opinion’

nytimes.com

Opinion | What’s Happening in Kansas Should Alarm Us All

Is Kansas just the beginning?

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Reposted by Laura Walker McDonald

International Committee of the Red Cross @icrc.org · 06/08/2026

How would the world cope if a nuclear bomb was dropped? We wouldn’t. There are no plans, no capacity and no means to respond to the horrific consequences of nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons should never be used again.

Humanity cannot afford to endure the cost of nuclear weapons ever again.

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Reposted by Laura Walker McDonald

International Committee of the Red Cross @icrc.org · 04/08/2026

Wildfires don't just destroy livelihoods & ecosystems. In countries once affected by armed conflict, they can also trigger a hidden danger: explosive remnants of war. Reducing these risks requires sustained clearance efforts, risk education & long-term investment long after the fighting has ended.

Decades after the fighting stops, unexploded bombs, shells, landmines and other explosive remnants of war not cleared can remain in fields, forests and communities for decades. During wildfires, flames and high temperatures may cause munitions to detonate, preventing firefighters from responding to the blaze and creating additional dangers for civilians. The humanitarian impact of armed conflicts can last for generations.

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Reposted by Laura Walker McDonald

Kate Klonick @klonick.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Sat down to write about the Hugging Face/AI incident. Ended up drawing this instead.

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Reposted by Laura Walker McDonald

International Committee of the Red Cross @icrc.org · 10/07/2026

In armed conflicts, AI systems can fail, be manipulated or produce unreliable results. That is why decisions involving the use of force must remain under meaningful human control. Machines may support judgement. They must never replace human responsibility. Learn more ms.spr.ly/63325vIxvt

War doesn't care whether the intelligence is artificial or not. The consequences are real. We have identified three military uses of AI that raise serious humanitarian concerns.

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

When you check to see if you’re listening to last week’s @lawfaremedia.org RatSec because you are sure the event being described occurred some weeks ago and… nope. Monday.

static.klipy.com

Mc Conaughey Inspecting Can

ALT: Mc Conaughey Inspecting Can

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Be happy, watch Deadloch. It’s just so great.

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

This seems horrendous: a company scraping the internet for public links to Zoom meetings and using extensions and other tools to secretly record your meetings. Then broadcasting with added AI slop. 🙀 www.404media.co/this-company...

404media.co

This Company Is Secretly Turning Your Zoom Meetings into AI Podcasts

WebinarTV hosts 200,000 “webinars.” A Zoom call you may thought was private might be one of them.

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Truly wonderful tips everyone should read. Stop when you stop thinking, wow I’m going to try that tomorrow and you’ll have reached the bit that isn’t relevant to your job

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Reposted by Laura Walker McDonald

AltSpaceForce 🚀🇺🇲 @altspaceforce.altgov.info · 26/02/2026

Open any AI app you choose & have it really dig in on a subject that you know inside & out. Watch for how many errors it produces. Now imagine that at Pentagon scale, where the AI has no guard rails & is only guided by vibes and whiskey. Anthropic, $200M, & no legal framework. What could go wrong?

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Reposted by Laura Walker McDonald

International Committee of the Red Cross @icrc.org · 04/02/2026

📍 Gaza | We share our heartfelt condolences to the family, colleagues, and friends of Hussein Hasan Hussein Al-Sumairy, who was killed today while providing emergency medical service in Khan Yunis. Medical personnel and humanitarian workers must be able to carry out their work safely.

We are appalled to learn of the killing of Hussein Hasan Hussein Al-Sumairy – a Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) first responder – in Khan Younis earlier today. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Hussein’s family, colleagues and friends.Hussein was killed in Khan Younis while on duty and providing medical services in response to escalating hostilities. PRCS provides essential support to communities in Gaza, particularly in emergency medical services. It is unacceptable that first responders in Gaza continue to face risk to their lives while carrying out a humanitarian mission. It is an outrage that so many staff and volunteers of the PRCS and other first responders have been killed and injured while providing their services since the escalation of armed conflict in Gaza began in October 2023. Medical personnel, units and transport, as well as humanitarian workers and objects used for humanitarian operations must be respected and protected. All feasible steps must be taken to support their work and ensure their safety.

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

The casual violence of Teams only recommending positive answers to tasking requests

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

If you haven’t already, go back and listen to the ICRC’s Intercross podcast, whose final episode is available today - and is a fantastic trailer for the series. Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure, it’s a rare look behind the scenes of the ICRC’s work. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...

podcasts.apple.com

Intercross: The Podcast Closes, The Conversation Continues

Podcast Episode · Intercross: The Podcast · 12/18/2025 · 9m

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Reposted by Laura Walker McDonald

Humanitarian Policy Group @hpg-odiglobal.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

📣 Last call for applications! More info ↓

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Sometimes a TV show or a movie that's intended to be satirical hits like a tragedy because it's too real. For me, the IT Crowd is that show. With that caveat, and a quizzical eye re: CSI:Cyber as @thegrugq.bsky.social notes, endorse this list of hacker movies and shows github.com/k4m4/movies-...

github.com

GitHub - k4m4/movies-for-hackers: 🎬 A curated list of movies every hacker & cyberpunk must watch.

🎬 A curated list of movies every hacker & cyberpunk must watch. - k4m4/movies-for-hackers

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Reposted by Laura Walker McDonald

Cordula Droege @corduladroege.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

@icrc.org has updated our Commentary to the Fourth Geneva Convention, translating 1949 protections into today’s realities. Protecting civilians in the hands of the enemy, in occupied territory - the 4th Geneva Convention remains more relevant than ever.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXd41pXzQuY

youtube.com

How should the Geneva Conventions be interpreted in today’s wars?

YouTube video by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Deep State Radio is carrying ICE recruitment ads. Questionable targeting abounds

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Interesting! But on the RCT design: will households who get cash spread benefits with neighbors? If they don't, some preparedness activities won't be possible without tackling risk community-wide. Hope the report is released @give-directly.bsky.social...

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Public interest tech leaders: check out this opportunity to lead Upturn, a wonderful organization that is doing critical work monitoring and advocating for better use of tech by the state in the US. #jobs @harlanyu.bsky.social congratulations on your tenure! Look forward to hearing what you do next!

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

It was a privilege to represent the @icrc.org debating the role & limits of human agency in AI-enabled warfare with @opentodebate.bsky.social last month. We took a scary, heady topic out of boomer/doomer hype and into practical opportunities & challenges opentodebate.org/debate/warti...

opentodebate.org

Wartime Kill Switch: Human or AI? - Open to Debate

As modern warfare becomes increasingly automated and reliant on artificial intelligence, the question of who, or what, should have ultimate control over lethal decision-making systems has never been m...

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Finally watching Downton Abbey so that I can take my grandmother-in-law to the movies and now I say things like 'are you on the telephone'.

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

I needed to listen to this excellent podcast episode today: on the productive discomfort of conflict at work. Encouraging to think it can strengthen relationships! Thanks @morra.bsky.social

podcasts.apple.com

Conflict Is Necessary At Work... Really with Amy Gallo

Podcast Episode · The Anxious Achiever · 09/25/2025 · 40m

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Joining SCSP's Jeanne Meserve and a fantastic panel at next week's AI Unlocked event to share the ICRC's views on the opportunities and risks of AI in crises, including conflicts. Friday 3rd, 12pm, Alamo Drafthouse theater 3 in Crystal City. Come and say hi! www.scsp.ai/ai-unlocked

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

The latest episode of the ICRC's InterCross blog breaks down the principles that guide humanitarian action, with interviews with the Washington delegation's leadership team and Paul Spiegel @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social. traffic.libsyn.com/d19a74fa-ef4... congrats to @dbonessi.bsky.social!

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

Croissants in America are just bread in shapes. It’s a hard lesson every time. 🥐

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Reposted by Laura Walker McDonald

Waldo Jaquith @waldo.net · 15/09/2025

I built a Mastodon bot that reports on Covid wastewater levels, which gives me weekly updates on how cautious to be depending on where I'm going. It turns out that @wvgg.co ported it to Bluesky and improved it, with twice weekly updates! Insta-follow for me. Recommended.

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

This was a really sobering rundown on the current humanitarian situation in Gaza. As measured as possible, and you can hear the self-control that required.

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Does artificial intelligence make wars better or worse? At the SCSP AI Expo in June, we asked Mark Montgomery at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and his answers may surprise you. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h... #autonomy #UAVs #humanitarian

podcasts.apple.com

Humanity @ War: Using AI in Armed Conflict

Podcast Episode · Intercross: The Podcast · 08/28/2025 · 19m

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Reposted by Laura Walker McDonald

Jen @ladyjenpool.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Hey, as a librarian I need to tell you: Our funding depends on usage. So go ahead and check out that book even if you don't think you'll finish it. No one will know. Check out that DVD even though you might not like it. Get ambitious in your quest for knowledge.

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

Discovered the @lawfaremedia.org Chatter podcast recently. Their thread of space settlement episodes is food for my little nerd heart. This one is at the sweet spot of my profession and my geekiness: Governing Space Settlements Ethically with @erikanesvold.com podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...

podcasts.apple.com

Governing Space Settlements Ethically with Erika Nesvold

Podcast Episode · Chatter · 09/28/2023 · 1h 31m

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

1 in 5 Americans open to the idea of the British King as their head of state. We knew they’d be back eventually. They’ve got the wristwatches, we’ve got Greenwich Mean Time.

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

We all depend on connectivity - calls, texts, radio, internet: if those lifelines are cut in a crisis, how would you reach your loved ones? Get help? Find out where is safe? ICRC colleague Clea Thouin on these impacts for people affected by armed conflict. blogs.icrc.org/law-and-poli...

blogs.icrc.org

Offline and in danger: the humanitarian consequences of connectivity disruptions

ICRC Protection Specialist Cléa Thouin addresses the humanitarian consequences of connectivity disruptions in armed conflicts.

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

Happy Debbie Harry day to all who celebrate

Debbie Harry is shown looking at the camera through sunglasses, wearing a black-flecked white fur coat and black beret. Awesome.

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

This piece has everything: Science. Existential crisis. Tungsten cubes. @Anthropic let Claude (AI platform) run a snack stall. What happened next is a great teaching study of AI behavior in the real world - and the limits of what we understand. www.anthropic.com/research/pro... #ai #tech

anthropic.com

Project Vend: Can Claude run a small shop? (And why does that matter?)

We let Claude run a small shop in the Anthropic office. Here's what happened.

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

20 pages into @realhopejahren.bsky.social’s book and already teared up twice (we are all scientists! Your work habitat is yours because you built it!) and loled ruefully once (budgets) in deep recognition. And hopefully another seed of commitment to libraries sown in my little bookworm’s soul

A copy of ‘Lab Girl’ by Hope Jahren sits on a lap next to a pile of books and a child. They are curled up in a heap at a local library

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

New InterCross episode! Syria, May 2025: Stephen Sakalian, head of ICRC's delegation in Damascus, on the country's complex journey toward stability, needs and opportunities; and how sanctions and lack of funding continue to hamper operations. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h... #humanitarian #syria

podcasts.apple.com

Humanitarian Update from Syria

Podcast Episode · Intercross: The Podcast · 06/26/2025 · 34m

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

The thing about not having another adult in your house all the time is that no-one else follows the petty victories in your life. Gratitude to my office parking staff who noticed and celebrated my having added a front license plate to the car a mere two years after purchase 🎉

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

Another podcast rec from my weekend listening: "TrumpConLaw" is back with a monthly episode and a constitutional book club! Takeaway from this episode: the US constitution is no longer the warm blanket it might have seemed 8 years ago, but something to fight for and preserve.

podcasts.apple.com

The Return of Con Law

Podcast Episode · What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law · 06/10/2025 · 58m

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Reposted by Laura Walker McDonald

EmilyTav @emilytav.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

1/ 📚 Today we're sharing something we've been working on since 2019: an oral history of how the U.S. Digital Service came to be. Nearly 50 conversations with the people who were there from 2009-2015, telling their stories in their own words. 🧵

usdigitalserviceorigins.org

US Digital Service Origins

An oral history documenting how the United States Digital Service came to exist, and the initial days of building its foundation.

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Laura Walker McDonald @techladylaura.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

Worth catching this April 2025 @techpolicypress.bsky.social pod: tech that makes things better is first in service of an outcome. The US government is quietly continuing to implement technologies and capture data as if those things alone will help. They will not. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

podcasts.apple.com

DOGE and the United States of AI

Podcast Episode · The Sunday Show · 04/06/2025 · 54m

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