iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

This is the culture that is fostered. They felt safe enough to make these decisions, and in a forum where any one member could have called the cops. No one did. And yes, those are men, not boys. Stop the excuses.

Unsolicited opinions. Cornell’s response to the Jane Doe lawsuit is disgusting, as is their idea of “punishment” for men.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Happy Monday. May your week be peaceful, even if it's unlikely. #rec #recommend 💙📚 📽️

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Not particularly happy with the courts this week overall. The 504 integration mandate decision in particular is harmful. #news #currentevents

Current Watch Topics. That may or may not be overlooked around here.

Grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

Iran - Houthis are still moving along the Red Sea. And the speeches in the UN highlight vastly different worldviews.

Privacy - ALPRs are facing pushback nationwide as states try to legislate them.

The Files et al - Phang V. Blanche has a formal response deadline, at last. There are apparently 218 reps for new transparency.

ICE - Wilber Rafael Garces Perez should not still have a bullet in his back. And apparently, DHS is flaunting the bodycam orders, again.

Corruption - ProPublica dropped a trove.

Grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

Disaster response - Water rationing in Puerto Rico is ongoing, with 44% in severe drought.

Texas v. Kennedy - They settled and removed the integration mandate. We will not go back.

HR2616/8705/7661 and so on - All these ways to enforce arbitrary norms.

Canada - Trade war is on.

Payouts - The 1776 slush fund is legally back in play. Blanche’s confirmation lie and all.

Public Lands - roadless.org has comment resources re: roadless rule to use before October 6. Unique comments are vital.

ESA - Habitat destruction isn’t harm now.

Grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

Food - I just saw cinnamon with lead.

News - Trump TV and journalism access.

Louisiana vs FDA - Sounds pretty dicey on standing, but may still be a problem.

NIH - Vaught has personal grant oversight.

Gaza, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo, United States - All have active genocide flags according to the Lemkin Institute

WB/Paramount Merger - AGs settled.

Impeachment/25th - Anyone at all?

Costs - US Fed raised the federal borrowing interest rate .25%.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

In the US, various administrations have been using this trick for decades. And the safeguards never seem to kick in. Globally, it's much the same. Palestine is not a conflict, it's a war with the intention of genocide. Ukraine is a war of annexation, destruction, and genocide. And so on.

Unsolicited opinions. Just because you're not calling it a "war" doesn't mean it isn't one.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Actually have three for three on recs this week. May your week be gentle. #Recommended 💙📚 📽️

Read it. What Doesn't Kill You by Tessa Miller

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

And for a bonus, articles of impeachment were introduced against Hegseth...by a Republican. Anyway, world keeps turning, and accountability will turn up... eventually. #news #currentevents

Current Watch Topics. That may or may not be overlooked around here.

Grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

Iran - Mocha seaport capture is probably the start of pinching the Bab al-Mandab strait.

Voting - The SC has blocked the USPS batch ballot processing system, with two dissents.

Privacy - More system mishandling and data centers are getting EPA exemptions on gas turbines and other pollution.

The Files et al - Phang V. Blanche is still going slowly. Leon Black is in contempt.

ICE - New report on alligator alcatraz doesn’t look good. And DHS pretended to be you to check for voter fraud, which is illegal in many states. They’re claiming immunity.

Grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

Disaster response - Water rationing in Puerto Rico is ongoing, with 44% in severe drought.

Texas v. Kennedy - Texas, Florida, and Alaska are still trying to remove the 504 integration mandate.

HR2616/8705/7661 and so on - All these ways to enforce arbitrary norms.

Canada - First EU associate partner.

Payouts - The 1776 slush fund is legally back in play. Blanche’s confirmation lie and all.

Public Lands - roadless.org has comment resources re: roadless rule to use before October 6. Unique comments are vital.

War Powers - 3rd resolution in the House.

Grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

Food - Frozen desserts this time.

FEMA - 50% funding cut ruled illegal.

Louisiana vs FDA - Sounds pretty dicey on standing, but may still be a problem.

Advisors act rule - Pay-to-play is in again.

Gaza, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo, United States - All have active genocide flags according to the Lemkin Institute

Nepal/Tibet - UN climate disaster fund route.

Impeachment/25th - Anyone at all?

Costs - US Fed raised the federal borrowing interest rate .25%.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

You can walk and chew gum. Midterms absolutely deserve a vote. There's a lot of work to do right now, like telling local government about your opposition to data centers, submitting a personalized comment on the roadless rule, and helping people who are being hurt by policies.

Unsolicited opinions. Check your voter registration on your state site (registration deadlines), and then go do something.

Midterms are coming, but there's a lot of work to do now for people and the planet.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Gotta love busy weeks. Anyway, it's important to look at things from many perspectives, including historic ones. #recommended 💙📚

Read it. Why Nothing Works by Marc J. Dunkelman.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

It's the 25th anniversary of 9/11, which is used to justify everything from the increasing surveillance state to the continuation of endless wars in SWANA. I remember the people today. #news #currentevents

Current Watch Topics. That may or may not be overlooked around here.

Grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

Iran - Looks like it’s escalating again as Iran drop a new demand list and promises strikes if they’re hit again.

Voting - An audit found USPS mishandled primary ballots, while the SC decides.

Privacy - More system mishandling and data centersare getting EPA exemptions on gas turbines and other pollution.

The Files et al - Phang V. Blanche is still going slowly. A discharge position for a second Files act has 106+ signatures.

ICE - They're force-feeding hunger strikers. There’s a lawsuit to stop ICE at polls.

Grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

Disaster response - Water rationing in Puerto Rico is still ongoing, with new shut-offs.

Texas v. Kennedy - A proposed resolution would kill community integration in sec 504 law. Activists say we will not go back.

HR2616/8705/7661 and so on - All these ways to enforce arbitrary norms.

47's Speech - It’s illegal to buy or sell votes, regardless of incentive amount.

Canada - Retaliatory tariffs went into effect, and 47 added more tariffs in response.

Public Lands - roadless.org has comment resources re: roadless rule to use before September 21. Unique comments are vital.

Grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

Food - Questionable cream cheese abounds.

Louisiana vs FDA - The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals is hearing all about abortion pills.

Gaza, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo, United States - All have active genocide flags according to the Lemkin Institute

Nepal/Tibet - A day of mourning and a request for wealthy nations to pay up.

9/ll - New documentation on air quality.

Climate - The UN Overshoot report is gaining traction, with specific areas of improvement.

Impeachment/25th - Anyone at all?

Costs - Yeah, we’re set to go up again, faster.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

If you haven't seen the UN overshoot report, you probably should go look. It reads like a rather urgent call to action, with some rather specific areas stated.

Unsolicited opinions. Climate change is real, and almost everyone will feel its effects.

We should collectively work on that.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

This text is over 100 years old and does contain views, especially on people, that don't really jive with modern times and I do not endorse. But if you're looking for a perspective on intellectual property, turning society upside down, and how long we've been going round about the same things...

Read it. The Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Not a great week even when you look beyond DC. Highly recommend using the sources and putting in a comment on the roadless rule repeal. #news #currentevents

Current Watch Topics. That may or may not be overlooked around here.

Grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

Iran - The US Army is now without Senate-confirmed leadership. And there are new strikes from both sides.

Voting - USPS kept developing a computer ballot system after a court order to stop.

Privacy - Axon automated license plate cameras now have a disguised option.

The Files et al - Phang V. Blanche is still going, though Blanche has appealed the judge's order for file review.

ICE - Whistleblowers. Indictments for lying during investigations. Inhumane conditions. Yet somehow, more budget.

Disaster response - Water rationing in Puerto Rico is still ongoing, and CT is setting up aid.

Texas v. Kennedy - A proposed resolution would kill community integration in sec 504 law. Activists say we will not go back.

HR2616/8705/7661 and so on - All these ways to enforce arbitrary norms.

Public Lands - Washington’s cherry trees, White House construction proceeds, and now Yosemite may be land-swapped.

Canada - Seems to be settling in for the long haul. But 47 is still on a rant about it.

Public Lands II - roadless.org has comment resources re: roadless rule to use before September 21. Unique comments are vital.

Grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

States vs Fed - Watch who’s fighting for the right to vote and who’s limiting it.

Food - Gotta check recalls before shopping.

Gaza, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo, United States - All have active genocide flags according to the Lemkin Institute

Nepal/Tibet - Glacial slide casualties and damage are still being assessed, but soaring.

Climate - UN says we can only limit the damage at this point.

Impeachment/25th - Anyone at all?

Costs - Still waiting for $2 gas and cheap groceries.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Before anyone says it, yes, individuals should also be punished for getting material through AI. Deterring every step in the process and every avenue is important. No one should fear their pictures are in a training data set and that kind of repetitive victimization. No one should fear deep fakes.

Unsolicited opinions. That AI companies are spending big to defend themselves in court and exempt themselves from accountability rather than fix models so they don't generate deep fakes, especially of kids, is repellent.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Since society is all about repeating history at this point, today's book looks at one of the least reported parts of it. #recommended 💙📚

Read it. Before We Were Trans by Kit Heyam.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Gotta love a busy week, especially with so many potential long term consequences. #currentevents #news

Current Watch Topics. That may or may not be overlooked around here.

Grey tag reading @thatsilvermagpie.

Iran - Seeing a lot of reporting about compromised supply chains on the US side.

Voting - 2 stays lifted for timing, new one is already in place since postal posted rules.

Privacy - Flock CEO keeps saying safety requires compromise.

The Files et al - Phang V. Blanche is still going. And there's a new verified leak of part of the files.

ICE - Geo got 2 more contracts. New contract drafts say that all state/local laws don’t apply at their detention facilities.

Grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

Disaster response - Water rationing in Puerto Rico still, but Gary, IN, has power.

Texas v. Kennedy - Still waiting for the next filing, along with the next look at the Olmstead challenge.

HR2616/8705/7661 and so on - All these ways to enforce arbitrary norms.

Public Lands - Wintertime drilling rules shifted in Alaska, affecting the giant refuge there. And SpaceX moves forward in building near sanctuaries.

Canada - US tried to slip in several trade conditions at the last minute. So it's now a tariff trade war of choice. And somehow 47 decided renaming Lake Ontario was priority.

Grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

States vs Fed - Elections are coming, and the lawsuits along with it.

Food - Project 2025 in action atm.

Gaza, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo, United States - All have active genocide flags according to the Lemkin Institute

Nepal/Tibet - Glacial slide casualties and damage are extensive. The US pulled funding from the warning system.

Impeachment/25th - Anyone at all?

Costs - Canada announced tarrifs on 700+ products, including toilet paper, again. So that's not going to be helpful for anyone's budget.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Yes, this is indeed a post about the United States-Canada trade negotiations last week/weekend.

Unsolicited opinions. It really isn't a good faith trade negotiation if you slip in that they have to agree with your every trade whim about every other country in the world at the last minute.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

No watch today, last week was kinda insane so I didn't have an opportunity to check anything out. #recommended 💙📚

Read it. Pathogenesis by Jonathan Kennedy.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

And the US crossed the 40 trillion dollar line on public debt. About thirteen years after crossing the 30 trillion dollar line. Cause there's a lot to be concerned about. #currentevents #news

Current Watch Topics. That may or may not be overlooked around here.

Light grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

Iran - Still no movement. And there’s the conditions on the Lincoln and other ships.

Voting - So far, the mail-in rule change stay is holding, but appeals are in process.

Privacy - Tracking from private companies plus new AI models really isn’t going well.

The Files et al - Phang V. Blanche is still going, and the judge sounds very tired of Blanche’s delay and ignore tactics.

ICE - Not backing down about the zap gloves. New contract drafts say that all state/local laws don’t apply at their detention facilities. Dilley still holds kids well beyond 20 days.

Light grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

Ukraine - Won a drone wargame vs the US, which is not a surprise.

Disaster response - Water rationing in Puerto Rico. Still powerless in Gary, IN, weeks later.

Texas v. Kennedy - Still waiting for the next filing, along with the next look at the Olmstead challenge.

HR2616/8705/7661 and so on - All these ways to enforce arbitrary norms.

Public Lands - Public pressure paused bulldozers in Big Bend NP prepping for a border wall, but tbd for how long.

Blanche - Already violating the Hatch Act it looks like, despite vowing not to do that to get confirmed.

Light grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

States vs Fed - Fire season is here, and fire crews are understaffed.

Food - Yeah...death blueberries anyone?

S. Korea - 47 is ordering scaled-back joint exercises since he loves N. Korea.

Gaza, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo, United States - All have active genocide flags according to the Lemkin Institute

FInCEN - 47 & Co deleted the beneficial ownership database, helping criminals.

Impeachment/25th - Anyone at all?

Costs - de minimis tariff exemption was repealed, so now everything really is subject to CBP tariffs.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

It's not "we can't." It's a policy choice. Period.

Unsolicited opinions. Usable healthcare that isn't tied to a job and a real paid leave policy for everyone would do wonders.

And it's realistic. That the United States doesn't have these things is a policy choice.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Recommendations to consider for broadening your week. #recommended #monday 💙📚 📽️

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

And earlier today I saw The Guardian reporting Israel was deliberately setting wildfires in Southern Lebanon. These posts exist because we need to pay attention. Looking away is privilege, as is "I don't follow politics." #currentevents #news

Current Watch Topics. That may or may not be overlooked around here. Light grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

Iran - They’ve said they’ll wait out 47's term if they can’t negotiate with him. It’s credible. And there’s the conditions on the Lincoln.

Voting - So far, the mail-in rule change stay has remained in effect ahead of midterms.

Privacy - New Flock abuse reports out, with lip service changes from the company.

The Files et al - Phang V. Blanche has the DOJ playing the delay game. And the judge is still requiring documentation.

ICE - Ordering shock gloves, releasing people so it doesn’t have to report their deaths, pointing guns at more people.

Light grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

Ukraine - Hitting the Black Sea fleet will hit Russia in the purse strings.

Puerto Rico - Water rationing. Need I say more?

Texas v. Kennedy - DOJ has asked to vacate the Olmstead decision, a related SC decision in what could be a coordinated move.

HR2616/8705/7661 and so on - All these ways to enforce arbitrary norms.

Public Lands - There were bulldozers in Big Bend NP prepping for a border wall.

Blanche - He was confirmed in an overnight vote. So, that happened and the system is has once again failed miserably.

Light grey @thatsilvermagpie tag.

States vs Fed - $14 billion in disaster aid is still gridlocked by the federal government.

Food - They’re apparently just not going to issue recalls to keep the numbers down. Meanwhile, eggs are the newest addition.

Vaccines - RFK and 47 are adjusting the schedule and affecting what insurers will cover. All over bogus conspiracies.

Gaza, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo, United States - All have active genocide flags according to the Lemkin Institute

Impeachment/25th - Yeah, anyone?

Costs - Still headed up and gas is over $4 most places again.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Seriously. If voting did nothing, why would so much air be spent trying to convince you of that?

Unsolicited opinions. Register to vote and then go do it, even if you personally don't think it will change things.

Things operate on thin margins, especially locally.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Monday recs are in. Let this week's chaos begin. #reccomended 💙📚 📽️

Read it. The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Happy Friday. New keeps coming in and it's a pretty uncertain week even though it all looks like the new normal as far as the current state of affairs goes. However, don't let this become normalized, ever. #news #currentevents

Current Watch Topics. That may or may not be overlooked around here. Light grey @thatsilvermagpie watermark.

Iran - All the clarity of stew. But weapons stockpiles and oil reserves are both recorded low.

Voting - Mail-in rule change stay looking iffy as primaries ramp up.

Privacy - New Flock abuse reports out. Clayton is also in now, so problems.

The Files et al - Phang V. Blanche has revealed a redaction that violates EFTA. And NM initial Zorro Ranch docs dropped.

ICE - Still not seeing accountability, and they’re getting craftier about hiding.

Light grey @thatsilvermagpie watermark.

Ukraine - Targeted drone hits are nailing the economy in Russia and creating a fuel crisis.

Puerto Rico - Freshwater crisis is deepening alongside the energy struggle.

Texas v. Kennedy - Still waiting on an update.

HR2616/8705/7661 and so on - All these ways to enforce arbitrary norms.

Public Lands - Expecting new grazing rights soon, likely to the detriment of the land.

Blanche - He's up for a full Senate vote now. However, he didn't actually revoke the slush fund or the tax immunity deal, legally speaking. And the senators who say he did know he didn't. So politics as usual.

Light grey @thatsilvermagpiewatermark.

Budgets - States may have to make up shotfalls as litigation plays out on tariffs and data sharing with federal government.

Gaza, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo, United States - All have active genocide flags according to the Lemkin Institute

Impeachment/25th - The sanewashing is real, just pull up a speech.

Capital One - Closed 49 related banking over money laundering like activity. We know because 49 wouldn't stop accusing them of debanking for political reasons.

Costs - Bottom of the oil reserves tank or the expiration of the Jones Act exception are coming, and it's not going to be pretty.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

This part of the timeline, I swear. And there's absolutely a multiplying effect on propaganda given the ease of generation and spread.

Unsolicited opinions. No one is immune to propaganda.

More people should absolutely spend time learning to recognize it.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Swinging through with some Monday recs. 💙📚 📽️

Read it. To Catch a Fascist by Christopher Mathias.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Bonus note, habitat destruction is now only considered harm in very few cases for endangered species, benefiting land exploiters. What a time to be alive. #news #currentevents

Iran - Formal exit from MOU. War crimes against civilians are back from the US side, and mass manipulation on the other side. And now there are two straits facing a close.

Voting - Mail-in rule change stay looking iffy.

Privacy - The June 12 FISA deadline passed. Pulte's out, Clayton was confirmed.

The Files et al - Phang V. Blanche headed for in-chamber doc redaction review, mostly.

ICE - Still not seeing accountability, and they’re getting craftier about hiding. And DHS removed interview requirements on asylum cases.

EAC - Cause a pretty big stir, so now they’re trying to figure out how to claim it benefits election security to vacate this commission.

Journalism - Subpeonas got dropped, doesn’t mean it won’t happen again.

Ukraine - Targeted drone hits are nailing the economy in Russia and creating a fuel crisis.

Puerto Rico - Freshwater crisis is deepening alongside the energy struggle.

Texas v. Kennedy - Still waiting on an update.

HR2616/8705/7661 and so on - All these ways to enforce arbitrary norms.

Forest service - Rules are now guidelines for employees, so expect PL abuse to ramp up.

Budgets - States are suing over withheld disaster funding and they’re negotiating the next budget. Oh, and defense still includes the sec ensuring US mil coop with Israel.

Gaza, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo, United States - All have active genocide flags according to the Lemkin Institute

Impeachment/25th - The sanewashing is real, just pull up a speech.

Lloyd’s - Pulling war insurance...again.

Saudi Nuclear Deal - Presidential Family Corruption and a bad idea, anyone?

Costs - US interest held steady, but probably should have gone up for inflation. Every paycheck covers less here.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Happy Monday. Intersectionality is one of the keys that make disability pride and justice work, but it's also a lot of work for many people as they enter or evolve within the community. #disability #disabilitypride 💙📚 📽️

Read it. The Anti-Ableist Manifesto by Tiffany Yu.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

And the list goes on. Maintaining a basic knowledge of what's going on is key to making informed decisions about your participation, from your dollar to your vote. That's part of why I put this out, and why I recommend other people to follow regularly. #currentevents #politics

Current Watch Topics. That may or may not be overlooked around here. Iran - Back to an awkward state of brinkmanship here with fiery statements and periodic targeted strikes.

Privacy - The June 12 FISA deadline passed. The gutting of the intel community continues under Pulte while Clayton goes through hearings as an election denier.

The Files et al - Phang V. Blanche seems to be getting somewhere. Last saw some serious delay tactics, and Blanche is in confirmation hearings.

ICE - Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero and an unnamed man in Florida make 3 ICE traffic stop deaths in a week.

EAC - Little bipartisan committee that certifies voting machines and other things. Trump used the Slaughter case to make it completely vacant ahead of the midterms.

Journalism - Subpoenaing the ones on AF1 is an attack on the free press. Not the first time, still not national security.

Puerto Rico - Freshwater crisis is deepening alongside the energy struggle. No solution has been proposed.

Texas v. Kennedy - 6 states challenging the integration mandate (sec 504). They’re in a period to submit arguments.

HR2616/8705/7661 and so on - Kids don’t need protecting from queer people. It’s another way to enforce norms.

Budgets - The next round of government budget battles has started, including the next round of DHS funding.

Gaza, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo, United States - All have active genocide flags according to the Lemkin Institute.

Taxis - Musk is getting his wish. Admin is set to overrule local laws regulating fully autonomous vehicles.

Impeachment/25th - Primetime address should be considered evidence, really.

Costs - Not only does eating cost more, food now carries the distinct possibility of causing parasite-borne illness due to inadequate monitoring and tracking.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Real universal healthcare, paid parental leave, the ability for disabled people to live in safe ways they don't involve having to never have more than 2k in their possession....the list goes on. These things are the literal floor for what comparable gdp nations (and others) offer their citizens.

Unsolicited opinions. Social safety nets should be stronger. Yes, all of them. Yes, right now.

That they are not says a lot about what the US values, and it certainly isn't it's citizens.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

AI resource needs will hit historically "poor" communities that have been hit before, usually the elderly, the disabled, the ones who can't move, and who are already disadvantaged by policy choice first. It will exaggerate existing cracks. It's already happening. #AI

Who AI Hits First. By now, we’ve all seen the news about power and cooling (usually water) requirements for the centers that run AI. The data needed to make the models “better.”

That all comes from somewhere and someone.

In the US, more than 50% of large-scale data centers sit in water-stressed areas. The UN estimates global AI will use as much water as 1.3 billion people by 2030.

Stanford HAI put out a report about who’s investing in AI, and it reads like who’s being fed the most propaganda about it.

Thing is, we already know whose taps will run dry first to feed this and whose electricity prices will go up fastest. That part is already evident. But it won’t stop there, since aquifers don’t stop at state lines and power grids are all connected.

We’re all going to bear it, though unevenly.

From a practical standpoint, stopping genAI development at this stage, or AI development in general, is challenging. But we can push to be more efficient, focus on fewer things, not be a mass surveillance tool, etc.

This is a we thing though, and that means actual work.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Disability Visibility the book links into the Disability Visibility Project, which I highly recommend checking out. #disability #disabilitypride 💙📚 📽️

Read it. Disability Visibility edited by Alice Wong.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Time marches on, and unfortunately, it brings a deluge with it. Remember, to act in cycles with rest built in. The aim of everything happening at once is exhaustion. #currentevents

Current Watch Topics. That may or may not be overlooked around here. Iran - Both sides have declared the MOU dead, not that it was ever actually live. Popular Info also dropped new cost figures. FISA 702 - The June 12 deadline passed, so it’s all illegal. The gutting of the intel community continues under Pulte. SCOTUS Term End - Several rulings not actually rooted settled law, again. The Files et al - Phang V. Blanche seems to be getting somewhere. TBD though. Trump-IRS - There’s now an official probe on this, so there will probably be more info.

ICE - Lorenzo Salgado Araujo should be alive. Plus, news of a quiet, coordinated 5-day sweep in multiple states.

Puerto Rico - Freshwater crisis is deepening alongside the energy struggle. No solution has been proposed.

OMB Research Grant Rule - Politicians overruling science is generally bad. Put a comment in before July 13.

Texas v. Kennedy - 6 states challenging the integration mandate (sec 504). They’re in a period to submit arguments.

HR2616/8705/7661 and so on - Kids don’t need protecting from queer people. It’s another way to enforce norms.

Bison - BLM is accepting public comments through July 13 on whether to lock bison out of public grazing land permits on MT prairie to make room for more cattle.

NATO Summit - Held in Ankara, there were some victories but also many discordant moments. And the megaphone effect on 47 did not go well.

Gaza, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo, United States - All have active genocide flags according to the Lemkin Institute.

Impeachment/25th - Out of headlines again.

Costs - Noticed some fast-food holdouts have raised prices, and if that’s not a tell, not sure what is.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

True story. And since I'm in the US, I get to pay for it too. #disability

Unsolicited opinions. Having an invisible disability should not mean having to be rediagnosed every 3-5 year because your doctor doesn't believe you/"see it".

Yes, really.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

I've seen it done many times. Someone will throw up access as an example of the "good" AI is doing, and suddenly, the argument is supposed to stop. That's not actually how that works. #disability #ai

AI as Access. Since it’s Disability Pride Month, I’m going to talk about the thing. Disabled people have been doing access for a long time, and in ways that aren’t always recognized as access.

My general opinion, though? AI isn’t working.

People like to point to how it’s improved captioning or provides live translation as a victory. I’ll bet most of them have never actually relied on it.

Auto-generated captions are still craptions (#NoMoreCraptions) in any language, even with the integrated AI advances.

That’s just one example. People chuck the “but disability” argument into art, writing, work, and way more like it’s a shield.

And you know what? When I hear from community, it’s about how we’ve adapted so many things before without causing this much harm.

Obviously, I don’t speak for everyone. You want to use AI to hack one specific thing to make your neurotype work, be informed, be secure, and pick a local model.

But stop trying to say “but the disabled” as an argument for why we shouldn’t debate AI in everything.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Happy Disability Pride Month! In case it was not obvious, today's recs do fit the month deliberately. Highly recommend following them, especially since apparently it's cool to take away our rights again instead of treating us like people. -sarcasm implied- #disability #disabilityjustice

Read it. The Future is Disabled by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

A highlights weekly Version. Feels very different putting it like this, that's for sure. #work

What I do. Weekly Version. Added a ton of SQL to the food database project

Wrote webpages for a client site

Worked on transitioning my websites to an open source option

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

The activism around marriage equality should not just be around preserving obergefell v hodges. It should include fighting to expand it to cover more, reduce the reliance on the court ruling, and picking up the intersectional fights with it. #marriage #marriageequality #lgbtq #lgbtqia2s+

Unsolicited opinions. Marriage equality isn’t settled until it is legally protected for everyone, including disabled people.

That also means discrimination laws need an update, yesterday.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Kinda hard to talk about #ai without talking about this, especially given how the marketing spin worked on the big models headquartered in the US, and therefore subject to said export controls. Yet here we are. And yes, I saw Mythos is kinda back up. And I do say kinda.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Happy Monday. As Pride month comes toward a close, today's recommendations are more geared towards the rest of the year. After all, it's not like the rainbow ceases to exist on June 30, and the bad stuff like legislation certainly doesn't. #pride #pride365 💙📚 📽️

Read it. The Book of Pride by Mason Funk.

Watch it. Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

So many things I almost added more images to this post. A lot of the updates today are long term fights, so remember to bring in/find/build a community to do the work with. Just don't do nothing. #currentevents #politics

Current Watch Topics. That may or may not be overlooked around here.Iran - War Powers passed and then rejected. Meanwhile, there is no negotiation leverage, and Israel is not halting their war machine.

FISA 702 - The June 12 deadline passed, so it’s all illegal. And Pulte looks pretty lockstep with Trump, so mass firings are underway.

Prarieland Sentencing - Antifa is not an organization; the 1st protects the right to protest; and when the judge says he’s sending a message, it should void the trial.

The Files et al - There’s a lot going around about Leon Black at the moment.

Trump-IRS - Challenges pile up against it.
There is also a small @thatsilvermagpie tag

ICE Detention - Reports of human rights violations are pouring out as Delaney Hall proves to be the first, not the last.

Puerto Rico - Freshwater crisis is deepening alongside the energy struggle.

OMB Research Grant Rule - Politicians overruling science is generally bad. Put a comment in before July 13.

Texas v. Kennedy - 6 states challenging the integration mandate (sec 504). A DOJ memo also said disabled folks shouldn’t be integrated into their communities.

HR2616/8705/7661 - Not about protecting kids. It’s another way to target queer people. Queer people don’t need a warning label.

There is also a small @thatsilvermagpie tag.

Deep Sea Monitoring End - Officially reversed, for now.

Utah SB153 - Removes the option for private voter reg, so everyone’s address is public.

Bison - BLM is accepting public comments through July 13 on whether to lock bison out of public grazing land permits on MT prairie to make room for more cattle.

Gaza, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo, United States - All have active genocide flags according to the Lemkin Institute.

Impeachment/25th - Out of headlines again.

Costs - Apparently, a President can threaten companies to cut prices now.

There is also a small @thatsilvermagpie tag.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Hobbies are a great way to connect with other people as well as an option to provide those small doses of joy when things get bleak. And digital art means with a drawing pad, which is much easier to store for me. #hobbies

What I do. Hobbies version. For the Fun of It All:
Read!
Play video games.
Hike.
Knit.
Photography.
Digital Art.
Write.
Casual board games.
And so on.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Anything less is performative. Anything less isn't about supporting the community. Anything less is about you. Get loud 365. Especially these days. #pride #june #lgbtqia2s+ #lgbt

Unsolicited opinions. Be pro-LGBTQIA2S+ all year, not just in June.

Every one of those days matters too, and most of them don't include a parade.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Local politics are powerful. In Colorado Springs, they recently administratively approved a data center. Through advocacy, the developer has made some changes to their plan in recent days, but it's not enough. #localpolitics #ai #datacenters

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

History is context, connection, and prologue. Unfortunately, queer history tends to be locked out of mainstream or papered over. The kindest option is to believe it's a framing problem in education. History is not neutral, no matter what they said in school. 💙📚 📽️ #pride #queerhistory

Read it. No way, they were gay? by Lee Wind.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Lots going on. You can absolutely go read the entire MOU, it's not long or legally. But a third party can stop the process because it replies on allies stopping hostilities too. Plus, Congress has to approve any final treaty, legally speaking. #politics #currentevents

Current Watch Topics. That may or may not be overlooked around here. Iran - The MOU is not a long-term treaty, but MOU relies on “allies” stopping aggression as well. So other parties can stop it unilaterally.

FISA 702 - The June 12 deadline passed. So anything happening now is illegal. Hasn’t stopped this admin before.

ICE Detention - Reports of human rights violations are pouring out as Delaney Hall proves to be the first, not the last.

The Files et al - The chants are definitely amusing. Now if only there could be trials.

Kohen Wiley, Kalena Crosky, Jameson - Definitely showing a rotten system.

Fable/Mythos - Pulling the national security card here to stop foreign access to AI models should be more newsworthy.

Habeus Corpus - Talk of suspending a constitutional right for some means they will do it for anyone when it's convenient.

OMB Research Grant Rule - Politicians overruling science is generally bad, make sure to put a comment in before the public comment period ends July 13.

Measels - The PAHO eval is coming up, and the US is on track to lose elimination status.

HR2616/8705/7661 - Not about protecting kids. It’s another way to target queer people. Queer people don’t need a warning label.

Save Our Bacon Act - Mass backlash means states will probably maintain their ability to set standards higher than the fed minimum.

Deep Sea Monitoring Equipment - There are now promises to fight it.

Bison - BLM is accepting public comments through July 13 on whether to lock bison out of public grazing land permits on MT prairie to make room for more cattle.

Gaza, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Sudan, Congo, United States - All have active genocide flags according to the Lemkin Institute.

Impeachment/25th - Out of headlines again.

Costs - The SPR is draining fast, and prices skyrocket once it's gone.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Pick a lane. Get good at the lane. Everyone can do something to help get us through this moment in time, but trying to do everything means you're not letting yourself be brilliant. Me? I'm really good at creating space and continuing to hold/sustain space people can count on for weeks/months/years.

What I do. Highlights version. Community building:
Host of 10+ local community events every month.
Board member of a volunteer-run organization.
Shepherd of a different group.
And of course, the para social community that is social media.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Rainbow-washing and pinkwashing refer to entities that basically run a marketing campaign for pride (i.e. the rainbow logo and marching in the parade) while doing harmful things the rest of the year (or even during pride). #pride #queer

Unsolicited opinions. Rainbow-washing and pinkwashing should have real consequences. Too often, corporations and even countries benefit from a marketing campaign while their actions do the exact opposite.

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Coleen (she/her) @thatsilvermagpie.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Deskilling is drawing more attention, and there are studies from leading institutions on it. It's insidious though, and many don't realize it's happening. #ai

Deskilling. We’re going to talk about a downside. And it’s a rather big downside for most people.

Deskilling is the gradual loss of skills you worked hard to build because AI now means you don’t have to think about that, ever.

Think menu planning. The ability to write a speech. Syntax knowledge for coders. Grammar rules. The ability to express your thoughts in your own words.

Without regular practice, you lose these abilities. And it’s so gradual you probably don’t notice.

Turns out cognitive friction is necessary to maintain skills. Constant AI use, even when prompt refinement is frustrating, is not the same thing.

So what can you do about it, especially if your job now requires AI use and there is no way to opt out without a career change?

Choose personal development that uses your brain. Find other sources of cognitive friction. Reduce AI use in your personal time. Focus on redeveloping skills you once had. Take the messy way in writing that email.

Your skills will thank you.

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