Laura Walker McDonald
@techladylaura.bsky.social
Principal, http://BetterLab.io; creator of BetterBox. Senior Advisor on Tech & Conflict at ICRC, but these views are my own. Feminist, migrant, mum. http://laurawalkermcdonald.com
Reposted by Laura Walker McDonald
📣 Last call for applications! More info ↓
🚨 DEADLINE EXTENDED! You've now got until 14 Nov to apply to be our next research partner, on an important project exploring how gender norms shape protection risks for people with diverse SOGIESC in crisis settings in #Syria and #Haiti.
More info, including on how to apply ➡️ buff.ly/ZSZnIY1
More info, including on how to apply ➡️ buff.ly/ZSZnIY1
November 12, 2025 at 2:15 PM
📣 Last call for applications! More info ↓
Sometimes a TV show or a movie that's intended to be satirical hits like a tragedy because it's too real.
For me, the IT Crowd is that show.
With that caveat, and a quizzical eye re: CSI:Cyber as @thegrugq.bsky.social notes, endorse this list of hacker movies and shows github.com/k4m4/movies-...
For me, the IT Crowd is that show.
With that caveat, and a quizzical eye re: CSI:Cyber as @thegrugq.bsky.social notes, endorse this list of hacker movies and shows github.com/k4m4/movies-...
GitHub - k4m4/movies-for-hackers: 🎬 A curated list of movies every hacker & cyberpunk must watch.
🎬 A curated list of movies every hacker & cyberpunk must watch. - k4m4/movies-for-hackers
github.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Sometimes a TV show or a movie that's intended to be satirical hits like a tragedy because it's too real.
For me, the IT Crowd is that show.
With that caveat, and a quizzical eye re: CSI:Cyber as @thegrugq.bsky.social notes, endorse this list of hacker movies and shows github.com/k4m4/movies-...
For me, the IT Crowd is that show.
With that caveat, and a quizzical eye re: CSI:Cyber as @thegrugq.bsky.social notes, endorse this list of hacker movies and shows github.com/k4m4/movies-...
Reposted by Laura Walker McDonald
@icrc.org has updated our Commentary to the Fourth Geneva Convention, translating 1949 protections into today’s realities.
Protecting civilians in the hands of the enemy, in occupied territory - the 4th Geneva Convention remains more relevant than ever.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXd41pXzQuY
Protecting civilians in the hands of the enemy, in occupied territory - the 4th Geneva Convention remains more relevant than ever.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXd41pXzQuY
How should the Geneva Conventions be interpreted in today’s wars?
YouTube video by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
www.youtube.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:47 PM
@icrc.org has updated our Commentary to the Fourth Geneva Convention, translating 1949 protections into today’s realities.
Protecting civilians in the hands of the enemy, in occupied territory - the 4th Geneva Convention remains more relevant than ever.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXd41pXzQuY
Protecting civilians in the hands of the enemy, in occupied territory - the 4th Geneva Convention remains more relevant than ever.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXd41pXzQuY
Deep State Radio is carrying ICE recruitment ads. Questionable targeting abounds
October 15, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Deep State Radio is carrying ICE recruitment ads. Questionable targeting abounds
Interesting! But on the RCT design: will households who get cash spread benefits with neighbors? If they don't, some preparedness activities won't be possible without tackling risk community-wide. Hope the report is released @give-directly.bsky.social...
A trial program is testing if it’s better for disaster victims to receive cash assistance even before the emergency strikes: “If I get money from ‘GiveDirectly’ before the flood, I will be able to store food and arrange strengthening my house for my family and cow”
AI flood forecasting allows aid to reach farmers before disaster strikes
Using Google’s Flood Hub, nonprofit trial program sends early warning and unconditional cash to workers.
restofworld.org
October 14, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Interesting! But on the RCT design: will households who get cash spread benefits with neighbors? If they don't, some preparedness activities won't be possible without tackling risk community-wide. Hope the report is released @give-directly.bsky.social...
This liver transplant journey from @asimovpress.bsky.social is absolutely fascinating and beautifully written: www.asimov.press/p/liver
A Liver on Ice
How a liver goes from a brain-dead donor to a living recipient.
www.asimov.press
October 13, 2025 at 4:07 PM
This liver transplant journey from @asimovpress.bsky.social is absolutely fascinating and beautifully written: www.asimov.press/p/liver
Public interest tech leaders: check out this opportunity to lead Upturn, a wonderful organization that is doing critical work monitoring and advocating for better use of tech by the state in the US. #jobs @harlanyu.bsky.social congratulations on your tenure! Look forward to hearing what you do next!
Our longtime Executive Director @harlanyu.bsky.social announced today his plans to depart Upturn in 2026.
Over 15 years, we’ve built a strong, principled & impactful organization fighting for racial, economic & social justice through a tech lens. We’re excited for Harlan and will miss him dearly!
Over 15 years, we’ve built a strong, principled & impactful organization fighting for racial, economic & social justice through a tech lens. We’re excited for Harlan and will miss him dearly!
Upturn Announces Executive Director Transition
After nearly 15 years of leading Upturn, Harlan Yu plans to step down from his role as Executive Director in June 2026.
www.upturn.org
October 10, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Public interest tech leaders: check out this opportunity to lead Upturn, a wonderful organization that is doing critical work monitoring and advocating for better use of tech by the state in the US. #jobs @harlanyu.bsky.social congratulations on your tenure! Look forward to hearing what you do next!
It was a privilege to represent the @icrc.org debating the role & limits of human agency in AI-enabled warfare with @opentodebate.bsky.social last month. We took a scary, heady topic out of boomer/doomer hype and into practical opportunities & challenges opentodebate.org/debate/warti...
Wartime Kill Switch: Human or AI? - Open to Debate
As modern warfare becomes increasingly automated and reliant on artificial intelligence, the question of who, or what, should have ultimate control over lethal decision-making systems has never been m...
opentodebate.org
October 9, 2025 at 3:41 PM
It was a privilege to represent the @icrc.org debating the role & limits of human agency in AI-enabled warfare with @opentodebate.bsky.social last month. We took a scary, heady topic out of boomer/doomer hype and into practical opportunities & challenges opentodebate.org/debate/warti...
Finally watching Downton Abbey so that I can take my grandmother-in-law to the movies and now I say things like 'are you on the telephone'.
October 3, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Finally watching Downton Abbey so that I can take my grandmother-in-law to the movies and now I say things like 'are you on the telephone'.
Today! See you at noon.
Joining SCSP's Jeanne Meserve and a fantastic panel at next week's AI Unlocked event to share the ICRC's views on the opportunities and risks of AI in crises, including conflicts. Friday 3rd, 12pm, Alamo Drafthouse theater 3 in Crystal City. Come and say hi! www.scsp.ai/ai-unlocked
October 3, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Today! See you at noon.
I needed to listen to this excellent podcast episode today: on the productive discomfort of conflict at work. Encouraging to think it can strengthen relationships! Thanks @morra.bsky.social
Conflict Is Necessary At Work... Really with Amy Gallo
Podcast Episode · The Anxious Achiever · 09/25/2025 · 40m
podcasts.apple.com
September 28, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I needed to listen to this excellent podcast episode today: on the productive discomfort of conflict at work. Encouraging to think it can strengthen relationships! Thanks @morra.bsky.social
Joining SCSP's Jeanne Meserve and a fantastic panel at next week's AI Unlocked event to share the ICRC's views on the opportunities and risks of AI in crises, including conflicts. Friday 3rd, 12pm, Alamo Drafthouse theater 3 in Crystal City. Come and say hi! www.scsp.ai/ai-unlocked
September 26, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Joining SCSP's Jeanne Meserve and a fantastic panel at next week's AI Unlocked event to share the ICRC's views on the opportunities and risks of AI in crises, including conflicts. Friday 3rd, 12pm, Alamo Drafthouse theater 3 in Crystal City. Come and say hi! www.scsp.ai/ai-unlocked
Fantastic glimpse into life on board an undersea cable repair ship from @restofworld.org restofworld.org/2025/africa-...
When Africa’s internet breaks, this ship answers the call
Undersea internet cables are critical in today’s hyperconnected world. The crew of the Léon Thévenin maintains one stretch of this global network.
restofworld.org
September 24, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Fantastic glimpse into life on board an undersea cable repair ship from @restofworld.org restofworld.org/2025/africa-...
The latest episode of the ICRC's InterCross blog breaks down the principles that guide humanitarian action, with interviews with the Washington delegation's leadership team and Paul Spiegel @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social. traffic.libsyn.com/d19a74fa-ef4... congrats to @dbonessi.bsky.social!
September 18, 2025 at 9:04 PM
The latest episode of the ICRC's InterCross blog breaks down the principles that guide humanitarian action, with interviews with the Washington delegation's leadership team and Paul Spiegel @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social. traffic.libsyn.com/d19a74fa-ef4... congrats to @dbonessi.bsky.social!
Croissants in America are just bread in shapes. It’s a hard lesson every time. 🥐
September 16, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Croissants in America are just bread in shapes. It’s a hard lesson every time. 🥐
Reposted by Laura Walker McDonald
I built a Mastodon bot that reports on Covid wastewater levels, which gives me weekly updates on how cautious to be depending on where I'm going. It turns out that @wvgg.co ported it to Bluesky and improved it, with twice weekly updates! Insta-follow for me. Recommended.
CDC wastewater reports: Aug 31, 2025 - Sep 06, 2025
🔥 AK, CA, CT, DC, FL, HI, ID, IN, KY, LA, MD, NE, NV, NC, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT
🔴 AL, AR, DE, MA, MT, OR, RI, VA, WA
🟠 AZ, CO, GA, IL, IA, KS, ME, MN, MS, NJ, OH, OK, PA, WV, WY
🟡 GU, MI, NH, NY, VT, WI
🟢 MO, NM
❔ ND, VI
🔥 AK, CA, CT, DC, FL, HI, ID, IN, KY, LA, MD, NE, NV, NC, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT
🔴 AL, AR, DE, MA, MT, OR, RI, VA, WA
🟠 AZ, CO, GA, IL, IA, KS, ME, MN, MS, NJ, OH, OK, PA, WV, WY
🟡 GU, MI, NH, NY, VT, WI
🟢 MO, NM
❔ ND, VI
September 15, 2025 at 5:40 PM
I built a Mastodon bot that reports on Covid wastewater levels, which gives me weekly updates on how cautious to be depending on where I'm going. It turns out that @wvgg.co ported it to Bluesky and improved it, with twice weekly updates! Insta-follow for me. Recommended.
This was a really sobering rundown on the current humanitarian situation in Gaza. As measured as possible, and you can hear the self-control that required.
September 4, 2025 at 11:48 PM
This was a really sobering rundown on the current humanitarian situation in Gaza. As measured as possible, and you can hear the self-control that required.
Does artificial intelligence make wars better or worse? At the SCSP AI Expo in June, we asked Mark Montgomery at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and his answers may surprise you. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h... #autonomy #UAVs #humanitarian
Humanity @ War: Using AI in Armed Conflict
Podcast Episode · Intercross: The Podcast · 08/28/2025 · 19m
podcasts.apple.com
August 28, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Does artificial intelligence make wars better or worse? At the SCSP AI Expo in June, we asked Mark Montgomery at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and his answers may surprise you. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h... #autonomy #UAVs #humanitarian
Reposted by Laura Walker McDonald
Hey, as a librarian I need to tell you:
Our funding depends on usage.
So go ahead and check out that book even if you don't think you'll finish it. No one will know. Check out that DVD even though you might not like it. Get ambitious in your quest for knowledge.
Our funding depends on usage.
So go ahead and check out that book even if you don't think you'll finish it. No one will know. Check out that DVD even though you might not like it. Get ambitious in your quest for knowledge.
August 12, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Hey, as a librarian I need to tell you:
Our funding depends on usage.
So go ahead and check out that book even if you don't think you'll finish it. No one will know. Check out that DVD even though you might not like it. Get ambitious in your quest for knowledge.
Our funding depends on usage.
So go ahead and check out that book even if you don't think you'll finish it. No one will know. Check out that DVD even though you might not like it. Get ambitious in your quest for knowledge.
Discovered the @lawfaremedia.org Chatter podcast recently. Their thread of space settlement episodes is food for my little nerd heart. This one is at the sweet spot of my profession and my geekiness: Governing Space Settlements Ethically with @erikanesvold.com podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
Governing Space Settlements Ethically with Erika Nesvold
Podcast Episode · Chatter · 09/28/2023 · 1h 31m
podcasts.apple.com
August 10, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Discovered the @lawfaremedia.org Chatter podcast recently. Their thread of space settlement episodes is food for my little nerd heart. This one is at the sweet spot of my profession and my geekiness: Governing Space Settlements Ethically with @erikanesvold.com podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c...
It's a privilege to work at the ICRC, but the volunteer-driven, community help that a National Society provides is beautiful. Catch this great InterCross episode on American Red Cross' disaster response work.
blogs.icrc.org/intercross/2... #DisasterResponse #RedCross #FirstResponders
blogs.icrc.org/intercross/2... #DisasterResponse #RedCross #FirstResponders
Beyond the Forecast: American Red Cross on the Hurricane Front Lines - Intercross: The Podcast
Today we’re doing something different on the podcast. We’re going to hear from our colleagues at the American Red Cross about their disaster relief response efforts in times of hurricanes. Experts…
blogs.icrc.org
July 28, 2025 at 9:18 PM
It's a privilege to work at the ICRC, but the volunteer-driven, community help that a National Society provides is beautiful. Catch this great InterCross episode on American Red Cross' disaster response work.
blogs.icrc.org/intercross/2... #DisasterResponse #RedCross #FirstResponders
blogs.icrc.org/intercross/2... #DisasterResponse #RedCross #FirstResponders
1 in 5 Americans open to the idea of the British King as their head of state.
We knew they’d be back eventually.
They’ve got the wristwatches, we’ve got Greenwich Mean Time.
We knew they’d be back eventually.
They’ve got the wristwatches, we’ve got Greenwich Mean Time.
July 5, 2025 at 4:31 AM
1 in 5 Americans open to the idea of the British King as their head of state.
We knew they’d be back eventually.
They’ve got the wristwatches, we’ve got Greenwich Mean Time.
We knew they’d be back eventually.
They’ve got the wristwatches, we’ve got Greenwich Mean Time.
We all depend on connectivity - calls, texts, radio, internet: if those lifelines are cut in a crisis, how would you reach your loved ones? Get help? Find out where is safe? ICRC colleague Clea Thouin on these impacts for people affected by armed conflict. blogs.icrc.org/law-and-poli...
Offline and in danger: the humanitarian consequences of connectivity disruptions
ICRC Protection Specialist Cléa Thouin addresses the humanitarian consequences of connectivity disruptions in armed conflicts.
blogs.icrc.org
July 2, 2025 at 9:00 PM
We all depend on connectivity - calls, texts, radio, internet: if those lifelines are cut in a crisis, how would you reach your loved ones? Get help? Find out where is safe? ICRC colleague Clea Thouin on these impacts for people affected by armed conflict. blogs.icrc.org/law-and-poli...
Great visual piece from @restofworld.org on our increasingly cluttered low earth orbit, #satellite internet and the price of connectivity in less-connected countries.
Out of space: Picturing the big, crowded business of satellite internet
Space-based internet is remaking Earth’s orbit — and fueling a gold rush.
restofworld.org
July 1, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Great visual piece from @restofworld.org on our increasingly cluttered low earth orbit, #satellite internet and the price of connectivity in less-connected countries.
Happy Debbie Harry day to all who celebrate
July 1, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Happy Debbie Harry day to all who celebrate