@michaelc@scholar.social

Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Aug 04, 2026

RE: @tek@freeradical.zone

Jesus. I remember reading this story something like 20 years ago and... it lands differently now.

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Aug 03, 2026

I mentioned to a friend that I'd totally teach for a community-based free school as long as there was some way I could get paid for it.

And this being the dystopia we're in, he suggested advertising.

"This recess sponsored by Reese's Peanut Butter Cups."

"It's lunchtime, kids, brought to you by Palantir, maker of the finest surveillance equipment and software, so remember: don't be naughty!"

"Health class is held in the Trojan room. Trojan condoms. If only your parents had used them..."

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Aug 01, 2026

This method of organization of a business is a step away from capitalism and toward a more community-based, solarpunk-like future. But it still works within today's capitalist-based legal structure. It's not "standard" by any means, but it's set up easily enough with a few important decisions during the startup process.

https://www.in-abundance.org/what-is-a-public-commons-parntership

#solarpunk

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Jul 31, 2026

RE: @lilithsaintcrow@raggedfeathers.com

FWIW: No bailouts when the crash comes. Nothing is "too big to fail" -- let them fail and use resources to protect and mitigate the damage to those who had no hand in their shenanigans.

raggedfeathers.com

Lili Saintcrow: ""As Japanese financial newspaper Nikkei Asia foun…" - Ragged Feathers

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Jul 31, 2026

RE: @susankayequinn@wandering.shop

I'm gonna push this a step further. If you see something on this list that inspires an idea *in addition to art* such as an actual in-the-world project, do it!

Plants: start a little garden or throw native seeds in an empty lot

Protest: Call your reps or hold a protest sign at a busy corner near you

Voting: Register, or offer to take someone to the polls

Little Free Libraries: Set one up or help someone else do so

...and so forth.

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Jul 29, 2026

Okay, so I'm not sure where the cut on the end of my middle finger came from, but I certainly can tell you that showing off the bandage I put over it also conveys how I feel about the situation.

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Jul 29, 2026

Replying to @michaelc@scholar.social

Based on die rolls and a random latitude/longitude generator, it looks like I've got 5 pioneer species on land. Three (a gastropod, an arthropod, and a vertebrate) are on one continent, and two (arthropod and vertebrate) are on another. The gastropod's random location for emerging onto land was actually between the continent and an island chain, so I'm putting some on both and letting their geographic separation do its thing. Meanwhile the rift valley on Continent A evolved insects! 2/n

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Jul 29, 2026

I think I've got a good system for using no more than 3d6 to simulate evolution up through at least the end of the paleozoic--there have been extinctions, but not a mass extinction unless you roll particularly poorly.

Now I'm trying it out on my latest science-based Earth-like planet 'simulation' and excited to see that my two land-pioneer vertebrates happened to randomly colonize two different biomes on two different continents. Exciting!

1/n

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Jul 27, 2026

This seems interesting. Having just read "A Half Built Garden" the decision-making features intrigue me the most (at the moment). And I like that they are based on sociocratic process, which I'm a fan of.

https://bonfirenetworks.org/posts/bonfire-for-communities/

bonfirenetworks.org

Announcing Bonfire for communities: groups and tools to organise together

Groups and topics, community rules and decision-making, events, organisation profiles, federated comments, custom themes: built with the communities who needed them, ready to use as-is, or to shape in

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Jul 27, 2026

RE: @michaelc@scholar.social

Just tried some, and it came out pretty good. At a 50/50 shrub-to-sparkling water ratio it's still pretty intense. Next time I use some I'll try 1/3 or 1/4 shrub.

Each step of making the shrub seemed to merge the raspberry and vinegar flavors until it turned out like super intense raspberry. The vinegary quality just came out as fruity acidity more than anything. Maybe the tiniest hint of vinegar in the aftertaste, but I'm not sure I'd notice if I weren't looking for it.

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Jul 26, 2026

Replying to @gwenthefops@transfem.social

@gwenthefops@transfem.social I'm never going back.

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Jul 02, 2026

Replying to @michaelc@scholar.social

Which means you can be entirely competent, and do your absolute best, and still not get a perfect job for you because of factors you are entirely unaware of. Internal budget adjustments; changes in the marketplace; prejudice; personal preference; whatever. In other words, it's not helpful to advise people to get a job because that's not directly in their power. Try to differentiate what a person can do themselves vs. what someone *else* needs to do for that person to move forward.

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Jul 02, 2026

Something I wish more people understood was "get a new job" or "just get a job" is not actually something a person can *do* -- it's something that *someone else* has to do: hire you. YOU don't have the power by yourself to make that happen. Which means despite anything you might do, you're still up against every single bias that every decision maker has in their heads, and you don't even know what they are. Or what those people's goals are in hiring. Or even IF they're really hiring. 1/2

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Jul 01, 2026

Replying to @inthehands@hachyderm.io

@inthehands@hachyderm.io @miss_rodent@girlcock.club Yet another metaphor, but one I don't recall seeing before (though probably does): Facts are the chess pieces, but knowledge is the game you happen to be playing right now. A different game you play at another time with a different opponent might use those same pieces in very different and context-sensitive way. You do need all the pieces but that's not nearly sufficient to win at chess.

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Jun 28, 2026

Replying to @onpaperwings@typo.social

@onpaperwings@typo.social Oh god has it been 10 years? But I literally only have to lean slightly to the right to touch the slug. It sits happily next to the inbox on my desk.

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Jun 24, 2026

Replying to @annaleen@wandering.shop

@annaleen@wandering.shop BAM! Just got clotheslined by nostalgia.

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · Jun 01, 2026

Replying to @nnedi@mas.to

@nnedi@mas.to Congratulations!

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Michael J. Coffey @michaelc@scholar.social · May 15, 2026

Replying to @baldur@toot.cafe

@baldur@toot.cafe @eniko@mastodon.gamedev.place If we know things are in flux (or collapsing, or however you want to characterize it), it allows you to clarify and plan for what you want to replace the old system. I'd extend that beyond just the power of the US and the behavior of the tech sector.

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