New: We built an interactive map of every ICE contractor working with the Trump administration. readsludge.com/2026/01/16/t...

A rant. We pay insane electricity prices in Maine. Personally, our appliances are new and high efficiency, yet we pay hundreds each month. Yet, we frequently experience outages, and are among states with the highest total outage time in the US. Just this week, we had 4 outages. (1/5)

#HIFLD's #opendata is quietly discontinuing next week. Many of these datasets seem to be fully discontinued or are being relocated to a different platform. The new platform requires eligible users to make an account, which includes submitting your state id, social security number, etc...

6.66 is the number of the beast (see song by Iron Maiden), and also the TLDR of the analysis of Starlink's customer capacity. In areas with more than 6.66 customers per square mile, Starlink may not be able to meet the necessary requirements to be eligible for BEAD funding.

I'm a trustee of our local library and the cancellation of IMLS is really troubling. At our recent meeting, the library director shared concerns about what services might have to be eventually cut.

Looking forward to partnering with @aapbroadband.bsky.social and leading broadband experts for the inaugural "Community First: The Future of Public Broadband Conference and Hill Day!" If you're in D.C. on May 14/15 or can make it: join us! 🌐⬇️ communitynetworks.org/content/aapb...

Happy International Compost Awareness Week! 🌱 We’re kicking things off with a reminder that composting is more than a trend — it’s a powerful tool for building climate resilience, healthy soils, and community power. 1/2

As a #millennial who isn't particularly fond of phone calls, this could not have been easier. It took less than 5 minutes of my time. Call your reps with @5calls.org: 5calls.org

Thank you Vermont!!

You know where you can go and not worry about breaking the economic blackout today? Your local library! All those books and you won’t spend a penny!

Resharing this for today's economic boycott. It's a great day to support your #local #bookshop!! I highly recommend brief escapes from reality in a fantasy audiobook from libro.fm, like The Spellshop or Water Moon.

Could someone please do a cover of the #NoahKahan 'Stick Season' but make it about winter and parenting young kids and call it #SickSeason?

I was able to get out for a #ski before the snowplow.

Happy Valentine's Day from your favorite investor-owned electric or gas utility!

Nearly finished my first #embroidery project! #StressRelief #Mindfulness

🫡 Valerie Thomas, who oversaw the creation of NASAs Landsat program, enabling us to get images of Earth from space An HBCU grad, she won Goddard Space Flight Center Award of MERIT & the NASA Equal Opportunity Medal (before equity/equal opportunity was redefined to mean "unqualified”) #BlackHistory

Updates on US Census Data as of February 5: According to the Census Bureau, all files on the public FTP server have been made publicly unavailable to comply with the President's executive orders. They say they'll work to restore the files after they are reviewed and approved.

@chelliepingree.bsky.social I am one of your constituents. The #TIGER/Line data from the #CensusBureau contain no demographic data, yet are locked down. These are public data. Please take action to get OUR data restored. link for reference: www.census.gov/geographies/...

He is acting this way because he is too weak to act like a real president. He. Is. Weak. Pass it on.

"Senators Bernie Sanders and Josh Hawley say they will propose a 10 percent limit on credit card interest rates." Legislation expected to drop today. Let's do this.

Two dates regarding posit::conf(2025): - The call for talks is open until Feb 14 (that's the extended deadline). - The deadline for applications for the Opportunity Scholarships is Feb 21. #dataBS #RStats

🚨Join us for a special livestream today🚨 "Consider Affordable Broadband State-By-State” (3:30 to 4 pm ET) will cover what New York’s affordable broadband law includes and what other states may want to consider in crafting similar legislation Watch it live here ⬇️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwFf...

I highly recommend a short walk outside. Take a break from the noise for just a few minutes.

This is the energy we all need to bring to 2025 (and the next few years)

WTF

New - Elon Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency, sources say www.reuters.com/world/us/mus...

A little good news this week - you can now get #eBooks from bookshop.org! Along with #audiobooks from libro.fm, you can support local bookstores instead of Amazon. #ShopSmall #ShopLocal

During the winter I volunteer to walk the boundaries of town-owned lands to check that boundary markings are clear and to collect survey pin coordinates. In reality, it is so much more. We see so many cool things and I learn so much about the history of these places.

👏Yes! Affordable Internet = Accessible Internet Let's see more states do this.

A new gem in #ArcGIS Pro!! I feel reasonably excited about it. This function essentially tells the program to only make visible the features you've highlighted. Any summaries/maps will be based only on that selection, such a time saver! Update overview is worth a glance https://buff.ly/3Pp9ELK

#CentralMainePower, starting the year off without power was absolutely on my #Maine bingo card, so thanks for that.

tbh I think 8 would be just fine 😆 @theoatmeal.bsky.social

We've actually been able to enjoy the snow (before the rain takes it next week)! #Maine

Love some fresh, new #data 🤩

Every community should be as smart as Standing Rock, training its own folks to do the labor of installing clean energy!

I'd like to hear from folks - what questions come up as it relates to #InternetAccess & #DigitalEquity in your community/city? Any context is welcome - #CityPlanning, #AffordableHousing, #LivableCommunities, etc....

The CBN team & NDIA invite you to wear your ugly sweater & join us for a deep dive into what a post-Biden admin broadband world may look like on our next Building For Digital Equity Livestream on Dec. 16 We've got two giants in the space taking center screen communitynets.org/content/next...

As ugly as the world is, I feel super fortunate to be working with amazing ppl at ILSR shining a lil light in darkness Our co-director @stacyfmitchell.bsky.social latest in The Atlantic ⬇️

Took 5 yo to #craft store (my happy place). Exhausted from the restraint exhibited and still caved on a glittery, holiday ornament project. 🎀 I would like to propose that any item including #glitter should include a gift card for professional cleaning services.

I don't create a ton of digital content, but when I do, my goal is for the thing to be impactful in some way. 🧵

It feels like such a long way off, but looking forward to #MaineBigNight in the spring!

With the potential for big changes ahead for BEAD program, it's encouraging to see states like New York (Calif., Maine & Vermont) using American Rescue Plan $$$ to fund municipal broadband projects NY is on a roll! Our story here ⬇️ #MunicipalBroadband #Networks communitynets.org/content/new-...

If you too returned from the holidays to an inbox that resembles a metaphorical fruitcake (some good bits amongst who knows what), allow me to share the lazy email clean-up steps I requested from #ChatGPT. It probably won't get you "inbox zero" but certainly less chaotic.

Day 30 :: Stained Glass I had this wild idea to create my own stained glass style. I need to workshop the legend a bit, but I really enjoyed creating this map. Data = Census Bureau's American Community Survey and indicates the % of households with an Internet subscription. #30DayMapChallenge

Day 29 :: Overture Chattanooga, Tennessee (“Gig City”) was the first city in the Western Hemisphere to offer 1 Gbps Internet. Even better, any household with full-time Hamilton County students who receive economic assistance are eligible for FREE Internet service at home! #30DayMapChallenge #EPB

Enjoying the holiday weekend (and I hope y'all are too!) I promise to post my remaining two maps for the #30DayMapChallenge tomorrow. In the meantime, please give thanks we don't let 5 year olds cook.

Day 28 :: Blue Planet Disclaimer: I'm posting this in the car on my cell phone with a cropped screenshot of the map I made. 😆 Not a great map, but this project has the potential to do great things for communities along the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers in Alaska. Project info below #30DayMapChallenge

Day 27 : Micromapping This one turned out to be tougher than I imagined. I had hoped to put together something more...well, something more. Alas, I've got cranberry sauce on the stove that I'm trying not to burn, so here is a little map of home. #30DayMapChallenge #WiFI

Happy holidays from Phoebe 💜 #Pupper

BE FREE, PEOPLE