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Melinda

@akbumpkin.bsky.social

580 followers 860 following 1.7K posts

Retired, formerly active in internet security protocol standards (IETF, IAB, IRTF), now mostly fishing, skiing, and living with a lot of dogs in interior Alaska. Owner of what's likely the largest collection of distance dogsled race data. 🏳️‍🌈

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Melinda @akbumpkin.bsky.social · 11h

!! That's the ship that was used to find the HMS Erebus!

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Reposted by Melinda

outsidewolves @outsidewolves.bsky.social · 12h

A four panel comic strip. An anthropomorphic wolf man runs into an office where three others are working at their desks. He says, "The fire marshal is coming for annual inspections!" In the next panel, a seated wolf is playing with a remote control airplane, and a smoke detector with an open battery compartment is mounted on the wall above him. The first wolf says "Put that 9 volt back in the smoke detector!" In the third panel, an anthropomorphic dog holds a power strip while standing next to a sculpture comprised of multiple power strips. The first wolf says "Hide your..."Daisy Chain Power Strip" sculpture!?" In the fourth panel, a bear proudly displays his t-shirt which reads "I love storing combustibles around radiators." The first wolf, in exasperation, yells "CHANGE YOUR SHIRT!"

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Melinda @akbumpkin.bsky.social · 11h

Right? It's hard not to think of him as still that little kid.

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Melinda @akbumpkin.bsky.social · 12h

Me too! He's amazing, he does a lot for the community, and he makes ridiculous stuff look effortless. I'm also pulling for Paige and Riley. And, of course, Michelle Phillips can be really fast. Mille has an outside chance but unlikely things happen from time to time. Good field.

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Melinda @akbumpkin.bsky.social · 12h

He's probably the hungriest person in the sport, which is not a small feat.

Melinda @akbumpkin.bsky.social · 12h

Just watched the final episode of the season of "The Gilded Age." I wish our current gilded age had more waltzes.

Melinda @akbumpkin.bsky.social · 14h

Probably Jessie Holmes - I'm not sure he's more than 50% likely to win, but I think he's more likely to win than anybody else. There are some great teams in there, though, who have a legit shot. I would LOVE a big surprise this year. Who's your guess?

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Melinda @akbumpkin.bsky.social · 14h

Gotta say that the Iditarod field is starting to look pretty interesting. This would be a good year for a new champion, although the odds of that aren't great. But, it would be good for the sport and one can hope.

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Reposted by Melinda

Dr. Kat Napaaqtuk❄️ @napaaqtuk.bsky.social · 1d

There needs to be more coverage of this in the news. I have read so many stories bout this on Facebook, first hand stories of the terror of that storm, and very little coverage n media.
www.facebook.com/100000960660...

Screenshot of a Facebook post. Photo is an elderly woman holding a child on her ap on a couch with flood water around them. Both are wearing jackets inside. Text says: This was after our 1st drift.. staying put for awhile. Our 3rd and final drift was terrifying. House moving fast then we started spinning in circles. While we were spinning in circles my oldest daughter was just staring at me while I held onto my younger two. Kipnuk doesn't look like kipnuk anymore, like more than 3/4 of the homes displaced, power poles fallen. It smells like stove oil outside. Contaminated

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Melinda @akbumpkin.bsky.social · 20h

Rick Thoman is a state treasure. Really interesting piece on how the storm in the Y-K delta turned catastrophic.

Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 1d

I’ve got a short piece up in The Conversation on the catastrophic flooding in Southwest Alaska from ex-typhoon Halong and the challenges of recovery work. #akwx #ExtremeWeather #Alaska #AlaskaSky

theconversation.com/typhoon-leav...

Typhoon leaves flooded Alaska villages facing a storm recovery far tougher than most Americans will ever experience

‘As the storm approached Alaska, everything went sideways,’ leaving people no time to evacuate and little time to prepare. An Alaska meteorologist explains what happened and the challenges ahead.

theconversation.com

Reposted by Melinda

Dr. Frog @phdfrog.bsky.social · 1d

There's even a song about it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dmy...

Chris Lowrey sings "Their land brought forth frogs" from Handel's "Israel in Egypt"

YouTube video by Lankin

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Melinda

Rick Thoman @alaskawx.bsky.social · 1d

If you're able, please consider a donation to the Alaska Community Fund to help people in western Alaska impacted by ex-typhoon Halong even as winter is bearing down. All the money donated goes to the region. Quyana. #Alaska #AlaskaSky

alaskacf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/c...

Screen shot of the ACF Western Alaska Disaster Relief 2025 Fund:

"In response to recent severe storms, including Typhoon Halong, that devastated Alaska's western coast, local community organizations and regional partners have come together to establish the Western Alaska Disaster Relief Fund, housed at the Alaska Community Foundation.
Two major storm systems struck western Alaska in rapid succession, bringing record flooding, extreme winds, and extensive damage from Kwigillingok to Kotzebue. Homes have been damaged and destroyed, critical infrastructure compromised, and subsistence resources disrupted. The Western Alaska Disaster Relief Fund will provide support to affected communities for immediate relief, recovery support, and long-term resilience, including disaster preparedness initiatives. Distribution decisions will be guided by advisors including regional leaders and stakeholders, ensuring resources reach affected communities based on locally identified needs.

The Western Alaska Disaster Relief Fund brings together a growing list of local, regional, and statewide partners endorsing the fund, including:

Association of Village Council Presidents
Alaska Federation of Natives
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
Bethel Community Services Foundation
Calista Corporation
Healthy Alaska Natives Foundation
First Alaskans Institute
Kawerak, Inc.
Native Peoples Action
Maniilaq Association

Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation"

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Melinda @akbumpkin.bsky.social · 1d

One of our dogs (Harris) tried to steal a sock off a visiting friend's foot

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Melinda @akbumpkin.bsky.social · 1d

("throughout the *region*", dammit)

Melinda @akbumpkin.bsky.social · 1d

Emily has done fantastic reporting on (among other things) housing conditions in SW Alaska, where houses have been destroyed or carried away by water in villages throughout the reason, due to Typhoon Halong.

Emily Schwing @emilyschwing.bsky.social · 1d

What does Typhoon Halong reveal about housing conditions in Western Alaska? Here's a thread...👇

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Reposted by Melinda

lcamtuf @lcamtuf.coredump.cx · 3d

Today I needed a bit of code, but instead of asking an LLM I tried writing it myself and wow, this could be a new paradigm

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Reposted by Melinda

Nikkolas Smith @4nikkolas.bsky.social · 4d

after millions of views and shares of my Portland Frog art. (thank you all🙏🏾) I got requests to highlight priests, and chickens, and Chicagoans, and T-Rexes, and more… all of us who refuse to bend the knee. so this is for US.
𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚃𝚊𝚕𝚕.
𝚆𝚎 𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚆𝚒𝚗.