Blake Esselstyn
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mapblake.bsky.social
Blake Esselstyn
@mapblake.bsky.social
51 followers 36 following 22 posts
Formerly @districks on the birdsite. Geography, demography, GIS, redistricting, fairmaps. Oh, and dataviz. NC native trying to learn some Dutch.
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mapblake.bsky.social
After years of using Google Maps as my primary app for driving navigation, today I drove to an unfamiliar place using @organicmaps.bsky.social for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. Particularly nice was that the app was less talkative, not stating the obvious (e.g., merge).
1/3
Screenshot of map interface of Organic Maps app during navigation.
December 30, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Reposted by Blake Esselstyn
rsfrankl.bsky.social
🎧 new episode of the #GLaDpodcast is out!

You can run but you can’t hide. @levijohnwolf.bsky.social, @darribas.bsky.social and I went to the source (Krzysztof Janowicz) to hear more about Geo + AI, AI for Geo, and my personal bugbear GeoAI.

#geography #geoAI

open.spotify.com/episode/7zZj...
Episode 27: Are you GLaD about GeoAI? A conversation with Kryzsztof Janowicz
open.spotify.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:39 PM
mapblake.bsky.social
Do you know anyone whose birthday is today (Sept. 16th)?

If they like math—or even if they don't—you could point out to them that 9 / 16 / 25 is a sequence of perfect squares.

AND! 2025 is also a perfect square (45²).

Best time of day to acknowledge? Perhaps 1:04. 🤓
September 16, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Reposted by Blake Esselstyn
chriscooperwcu.bsky.social
🗳️Job🗳️

The Buncombe County Board of Elections is hiring an absentee voting coordinator

It's a great team in a terrific location.

Sept 15 deadline.

buncombecounty.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Buncom...
Elections Coordinator
This job posting expires at 11:59PM on September 15, 2025. No applications can be submitted after 11:59PM on September 15, 2025. Job Title: Elections Coordinator Department: External Hiring Range: $29...
buncombecounty.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
September 6, 2025 at 1:37 PM
mapblake.bsky.social
TIL the US Census Bureau is releasing its latest TIGER/Line data in GeoPackage format! 🧵

www.census.gov/geographies/...

1/5
TIGER/Line GeoPackages
View the available TIGER/Line GeoPackages from the Geography program.
www.census.gov
August 29, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Reposted by Blake Esselstyn
geomenke.bsky.social
Big news! QGIS 4.0 is on the horizon! #QGIS
blog.qgis.org/2025/04/17/q...
🎉 Big Changes Ahead: QGIS Is Moving to Qt6 and Launching QGIS 4.0!
Exciting times are ahead for the QGIS project! We’re thrilled to share some major updates coming to the QGIS platform over the next few months. These changes are part of a long-planned technical mi…
blog.qgis.org
April 17, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Reposted by Blake Esselstyn
daniellaurison.bsky.social
JOB! Please RT.

Swarthmore is hiring for our Social Science Quantitative Lab Associate to support & do teaching quant methods to undergrads. Especially looking for people familiar with sociology and/or political science, and R. Apply by 4/18.

apply.interfolio.com/165892

Happy to answer questions.
Maroon banner at the top with the Swarthmore logo, then the text: Social Science Quantitative Laboratory Associate Swarthmore College: Sociology & Anthropology Department Location Swarthmore, Pennsylvania Open Date Apr 05, 2025 Description Swarthmore College is seeking an individual to serve as an Associate in its Social Sciences Quantitative Lab (SSQL). This appointment is for a full-time, academic-year position for three years, with the possibility of renewal upon successful review. The expected starting date is August 2025. The SSQL promotes students’ quantitative skills by providing tutorial services, statistical consultation, and research support to students in the social sciences. More information about the SSQL can be found here: https://www.swarthmore.edu/ssql. Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. It is located in the suburbs roughly 10 miles west of Philadelphia and 15 miles north of Wilmington and has a SEPTA stop right on campus. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to diversity, and actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Applicants from traditionally underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information on Faculty Diversity and Excellence at Swarthmore, see http://www.swarthmore.edu/faculty-diversity-excellence/information-candidates-new-faculty Responsibilities (continues in next image) Planning and facilitating in-person workshops and classroom visits to support the teaching of quantitative methods in the social sciences—particularly in Political Science and Sociology/Anthropology—with the goal of familiarizing students with statistical software (R, Stata, and Excel) and helping them develop related data skills, including data collection, management, visualization, analysis, and export Responsibilities (continiued) Providing statistical support to students during regular office hours and by appointment, including assisting students with the identification, manipulation, and analysis of data sets for their empirical research projects Planning and hosting stand-alone workshops to train students to work with statistical software commonly used in the social sciences, such as R, Stata, Python, Matlab, and/or Geographic Information System (GIS) Collaborating with social science faculty teaching quantitative courses on how best to support their courses and their students Creating additional opportunities for students with less experience in quantitative and computational methods to develop skills and confidence Offering supplementary workshops in quantitative social sciences to help students develop skills for success as research assistants and to prepare them for quantitative careers and job markets Qualifications A Master of Arts or Science (MA or MS), or equivalent, in Political Science, Sociology, Economics, Public Policy, Statistics, Data Science, or a related field is required; a PhD in one of these fields is preferred. Familiarity with statistics/econometrics, causal inference methods, and preparing data for quantitative social science research is required. Familiarity with computational and simulation methods is a plus. Programming expertise in R and Excel and ability to learn new technical skills are required. Expertise in Python, Matlab, GIS, and/or other related software is a plus. Demonstrated excellence in inclusive and equitable teaching practices that support the success of students from diverse backgrounds and with varying levels of preparation in quantitative skills. We seek applicants who cultivate welcoming classroom environments and use pedagogical strategies that promote belonging, engagement, and academic growth for all students.
April 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM
mapblake.bsky.social
Good thread to review if you want a refresher before the arguments today.
mcpli.bsky.social Michael Li (李之樸) @mcpli.bsky.social · Mar 23
On Monday, 3/24, the Supreme Court hears oral argument in a Louisiana racial gerrymandering case brought by *white* voters to challenge the state’s congressional map.

At issue is a new Black majority congressional district (LA-06 in the map below). A thread 🧵 on the case.
March 24, 2025 at 10:36 AM