Melody Joy Kramer
@mkramer.bsky.social
engagement + crowdsourcing products, ProPublica; librarian, journalist, hyperlocal information ecosystems, public(s) and participation, digital archives, dogs, civic joy, mom, mummer, board games, philly, carrboro north carolina
🌈 melodykramer.github.io
🌈 melodykramer.github.io
Pinned
Intro: Hello! I’m a librarian and journalist who has also spent time with demographers, Wikipedia, and 18F. I care about hyperlocal information ecosystems, new models of information sharing, the South, digital archiving practices, hound dogs, and walking in the woods without headphones.
older relative who doesn’t live in north carolina sent one of my children - an avid light blue tar heels fan - a lovely collection of red nc state merchandise.
December 25, 2025 at 10:11 PM
older relative who doesn’t live in north carolina sent one of my children - an avid light blue tar heels fan - a lovely collection of red nc state merchandise.
my favorite holiday is the one over the next 24 hours because i have 0 expectations and am just along for the ride; also, about a decade ago i talked everyone into chinese food instead, and now we do that each year.
December 24, 2025 at 7:50 PM
my favorite holiday is the one over the next 24 hours because i have 0 expectations and am just along for the ride; also, about a decade ago i talked everyone into chinese food instead, and now we do that each year.
always a banger
In tumultuous times, we believe in being prepared, not scared.
We’ve distilled the advice our trainers have shared with thousands of journalists over the years into the actionable, concrete steps in our 2026 journalist’s digital security checklist:
We’ve distilled the advice our trainers have shared with thousands of journalists over the years into the actionable, concrete steps in our 2026 journalist’s digital security checklist:
The 2026 journalist’s digital security checklist
Our digital security training team's checklist to help journalists secure their digital life.
freedom.press
December 23, 2025 at 5:39 PM
always a banger
i have six days off and six books lined up from libby. also two small children. let’s see how this experiment plays out.
a smurf is standing on a pile of books in a room
ALT: a smurf is standing on a pile of books in a room
media.tenor.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:04 PM
i have six days off and six books lined up from libby. also two small children. let’s see how this experiment plays out.
what a day to be a digital archivist
a close up of a motorcycle wheel with the words too reel written in yellow
ALT: a close up of a motorcycle wheel with the words too reel written in yellow
media.tenor.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:50 PM
what a day to be a digital archivist
trying to save a carrot soup i’ve been simmering all afternoon that tastes like carrot water. added salt and some bouillon and heat.
a woman says " it 's grotesque " in yellow
ALT: a woman says " it 's grotesque " in yellow
media.tenor.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:44 PM
trying to save a carrot soup i’ve been simmering all afternoon that tastes like carrot water. added salt and some bouillon and heat.
hooray! i am in the 2026 library freedom institute cohort and look forward to learning alongside and with fellow librarians this upcoming year! 🥰
December 22, 2025 at 4:49 PM
hooray! i am in the 2026 library freedom institute cohort and look forward to learning alongside and with fellow librarians this upcoming year! 🥰
Reposted by Melody Joy Kramer
CBS didn't air the 60 Minutes segment on CECOT, but @propublica.org talked earlier this year to those who Trump had sent to the maximum-security prison in El Salvador:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8IN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8IN...
Venezuelans deported to CECOT and their families speak about their ordeal
YouTube video by ProPublica
www.youtube.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:02 PM
CBS didn't air the 60 Minutes segment on CECOT, but @propublica.org talked earlier this year to those who Trump had sent to the maximum-security prison in El Salvador:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8IN...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8IN...
working today and have 0 meetings and a backlog of tiny but important maintenance tasks to work through. got good music, children are at grandparents for day - looking forward to accomplishing many small things!
a cartoon of spongebob holding a piece of paper with memecenter.com written on the bottom
ALT: a cartoon of spongebob holding a piece of paper with memecenter.com written on the bottom
media.tenor.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:45 PM
working today and have 0 meetings and a backlog of tiny but important maintenance tasks to work through. got good music, children are at grandparents for day - looking forward to accomplishing many small things!
one of my favorite poems and children’s books
December 22, 2025 at 2:09 AM
one of my favorite poems and children’s books
making these cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1027...
Vietnamese Coffee Swirl Brownies
cooking.nytimes.com
December 21, 2025 at 10:42 PM
making these cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1027...
went to the state farmer’s market in raleigh and purchased a cabbage the size of a small child and collards the size of a small child - and now I need a recipe for the new family members.
December 21, 2025 at 7:28 PM
went to the state farmer’s market in raleigh and purchased a cabbage the size of a small child and collards the size of a small child - and now I need a recipe for the new family members.
dorothea dix park/playground, raleigh nc
December 21, 2025 at 5:24 PM
dorothea dix park/playground, raleigh nc
Reposted by Melody Joy Kramer
We’ve gone old school and published a Christmas Quiz, just in time for the holidays. In true old school fashion, if you want to win a prize, you need to mail or fax a completed quiz to TBB HQ! Details here:
triangleblogblog.com/2025/12/20/t...
triangleblogblog.com/2025/12/20/t...
Triangle Blog Blog Annual Christmas Quiz - Triangle Blog Blog
A group civics blog covering town council, education, transportation, and recreation in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, NC.
triangleblogblog.com
December 21, 2025 at 3:49 PM
We’ve gone old school and published a Christmas Quiz, just in time for the holidays. In true old school fashion, if you want to win a prize, you need to mail or fax a completed quiz to TBB HQ! Details here:
triangleblogblog.com/2025/12/20/t...
triangleblogblog.com/2025/12/20/t...
Reposted by Melody Joy Kramer
I see that Wikipedia editors have grappled with the origin of this story, and found that it changed substantially over time. One key fact: the red phone didn't use the public telephony network. There was no way for a member of the public to call it. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NORAD_T...
NORAD Tracks Santa - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
December 21, 2025 at 3:38 AM
I see that Wikipedia editors have grappled with the origin of this story, and found that it changed substantially over time. One key fact: the red phone didn't use the public telephony network. There was no way for a member of the public to call it. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NORAD_T...
Solstice Walk, Hillsborough NC
December 20, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Solstice Walk, Hillsborough NC
untangling seven decks of cards
December 20, 2025 at 6:41 PM
untangling seven decks of cards
taking a “mel” day today for the first time this year:
- no children are ill or off from school
- no need to travel or go to an appointment
- have 3 books and fully charged headphones
- plan to take long walk, which is only plan
- no children are ill or off from school
- no need to travel or go to an appointment
- have 3 books and fully charged headphones
- plan to take long walk, which is only plan
December 19, 2025 at 1:33 PM
taking a “mel” day today for the first time this year:
- no children are ill or off from school
- no need to travel or go to an appointment
- have 3 books and fully charged headphones
- plan to take long walk, which is only plan
- no children are ill or off from school
- no need to travel or go to an appointment
- have 3 books and fully charged headphones
- plan to take long walk, which is only plan
In a surgical waiting room - everything’s fine - but confused by the person next to me listening to Ride of the Valkyries at top volume without headphones.
December 18, 2025 at 7:19 PM
In a surgical waiting room - everything’s fine - but confused by the person next to me listening to Ride of the Valkyries at top volume without headphones.
I spent five years working at a (different) research center at UNC. This is worth reading - and once again, the Daily Tar Heel is doing excellent reporting.
December 18, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I spent five years working at a (different) research center at UNC. This is worth reading - and once again, the Daily Tar Heel is doing excellent reporting.