Richard Littauer
@richlitt.bsky.social
PhD in CS at Te Herenga Waka, focusing on birds. Open source. Linguist and conlanger. eBird and iNat. SustainOSS and CURIOSS. He/him.
See https://burntfen.com for a list of things I did when I should have been doing other things.
See https://burntfen.com for a list of things I did when I should have been doing other things.
Reposted by Richard Littauer
Dear NZ: fight civil asset forfeiture with everything you have in you. Love, the US
A concorning snippet, here:
"That campaign will receive $5.9 million from the Proceeds of Crime Fund - money taken from criminals - and the Government wants to make it faster for police use the proceeds of crime laws to seize assets from drug dealers."
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
"That campaign will receive $5.9 million from the Proceeds of Crime Fund - money taken from criminals - and the Government wants to make it faster for police use the proceeds of crime laws to seize assets from drug dealers."
www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...
The Post
www.thepost.co.nz
November 9, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Dear NZ: fight civil asset forfeiture with everything you have in you. Love, the US
Reposted by Richard Littauer
Frankly I’m with Lubo
And finally, Lubo’s message to the young: LESS COMPUTER, MORE COLLECTING
November 9, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Frankly I’m with Lubo
Reposted by Richard Littauer
The ACLU petition still hasn't reached it's signature goal? WHAT? That needs to change now. 200k signatures is nothing, let's GET IT. AT LEAST!
action.aclu.org/petition/mas...
action.aclu.org/petition/mas...
Mastercard: Sex Work is Work. End Your Unjust Policy.
Mastercard's new policy unfairly targets the adult content industry, making sex workers more vulnerable, especially Black trans women. It must be stopped.
action.aclu.org
November 8, 2025 at 12:35 AM
The ACLU petition still hasn't reached it's signature goal? WHAT? That needs to change now. 200k signatures is nothing, let's GET IT. AT LEAST!
action.aclu.org/petition/mas...
action.aclu.org/petition/mas...
Reposted by Richard Littauer
Day 188 of photoshopping @lastweektonight.com's #JohnOliver with fossils in the hopes that he saves the Paleontological Research Institution
John(H. sapiens) with a Leptopecten gilbertharrisi, named for PRIs founder, who didn't trust Cornell to value his science/collections 👀 #SavePRI
#Cornell ⚒️🦑🧪
John(H. sapiens) with a Leptopecten gilbertharrisi, named for PRIs founder, who didn't trust Cornell to value his science/collections 👀 #SavePRI
#Cornell ⚒️🦑🧪
November 8, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Day 188 of photoshopping @lastweektonight.com's #JohnOliver with fossils in the hopes that he saves the Paleontological Research Institution
John(H. sapiens) with a Leptopecten gilbertharrisi, named for PRIs founder, who didn't trust Cornell to value his science/collections 👀 #SavePRI
#Cornell ⚒️🦑🧪
John(H. sapiens) with a Leptopecten gilbertharrisi, named for PRIs founder, who didn't trust Cornell to value his science/collections 👀 #SavePRI
#Cornell ⚒️🦑🧪
Reposted by Richard Littauer
Yes, some people's legacies are complicated. For example, Watson. After all, though he was racist, don't forget his other traits. For example, he was also sexist. And also anti-semitic. And a data / idea thief. So let's not forget all the different facets.
November 8, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Yes, some people's legacies are complicated. For example, Watson. After all, though he was racist, don't forget his other traits. For example, he was also sexist. And also anti-semitic. And a data / idea thief. So let's not forget all the different facets.
Reposted by Richard Littauer
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
November 7, 2025 at 7:39 AM
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
Reposted by Richard Littauer
This has not gotten much attention, but it should.
Virginia under Youngkin returned to an insanely harsh system where people convicted of any felony lose their voting rights FOR LIFE.
Dems' win this week mean they'll get to advance a constitutional amendment to end lifetime disenfranchisement.
Virginia under Youngkin returned to an insanely harsh system where people convicted of any felony lose their voting rights FOR LIFE.
Dems' win this week mean they'll get to advance a constitutional amendment to end lifetime disenfranchisement.
November 7, 2025 at 8:59 PM
This has not gotten much attention, but it should.
Virginia under Youngkin returned to an insanely harsh system where people convicted of any felony lose their voting rights FOR LIFE.
Dems' win this week mean they'll get to advance a constitutional amendment to end lifetime disenfranchisement.
Virginia under Youngkin returned to an insanely harsh system where people convicted of any felony lose their voting rights FOR LIFE.
Dems' win this week mean they'll get to advance a constitutional amendment to end lifetime disenfranchisement.
@dominictarr.bsky.social Did I make you use my plastic mug from my boat? Because I used it yesterday and thought, "Man, I miss my boat", and then was like, "I hope Dom knows that this was the only thing I kept from it."
November 6, 2025 at 11:36 PM
@dominictarr.bsky.social Did I make you use my plastic mug from my boat? Because I used it yesterday and thought, "Man, I miss my boat", and then was like, "I hope Dom knows that this was the only thing I kept from it."
Time zones are horrible. See you all in 24 hours.
I am giving a talk in a bit at #SeaGL on my favourite stuff to talk about, the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, Wikipedia, birds, and Code. pretalx.seagl.org/2025/talk/P8...
Probably easy to join?
Probably easy to join?
Words, words, words, you fishmonger: Using Wikidata to Reconcile Taxonomies SeaGL 2025
The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature is the protocol by which scientific names are validated and properly formed. It also is pretty broken. There are issues with grammatical agreement of ...
pretalx.seagl.org
November 6, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Time zones are horrible. See you all in 24 hours.
@naturalist2008.bsky.social I am having a really tough time finding a copy of Haneda, Y. (2008). Taxonomic guide to the Japanese Aculeate Hymenoptera. 8. Subfamily Crabroninae (1). Tsunekibachi 13, p. 1-17. Any chance you could help? It's only in 日本語。日本語で話しません。。。
November 6, 2025 at 9:49 PM
@naturalist2008.bsky.social I am having a really tough time finding a copy of Haneda, Y. (2008). Taxonomic guide to the Japanese Aculeate Hymenoptera. 8. Subfamily Crabroninae (1). Tsunekibachi 13, p. 1-17. Any chance you could help? It's only in 日本語。日本語で話しません。。。
I am giving a talk in a bit at #SeaGL on my favourite stuff to talk about, the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, Wikipedia, birds, and Code. pretalx.seagl.org/2025/talk/P8...
Probably easy to join?
Probably easy to join?
Words, words, words, you fishmonger: Using Wikidata to Reconcile Taxonomies SeaGL 2025
The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature is the protocol by which scientific names are validated and properly formed. It also is pretty broken. There are issues with grammatical agreement of ...
pretalx.seagl.org
November 6, 2025 at 9:39 PM
I am giving a talk in a bit at #SeaGL on my favourite stuff to talk about, the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, Wikipedia, birds, and Code. pretalx.seagl.org/2025/talk/P8...
Probably easy to join?
Probably easy to join?
Reposted by Richard Littauer
Breaking News: Late last night Conde Nast illegally fired 4 union organizers who asked company execs to explain the downsizing of Teen Vogue and continued layoffs. We’ve filed a grievance.
November 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Breaking News: Late last night Conde Nast illegally fired 4 union organizers who asked company execs to explain the downsizing of Teen Vogue and continued layoffs. We’ve filed a grievance.
Reposted by Richard Littauer
David became a freelance bioinformatician due to the situation he describes 👇.
Freelance workers are typically looking for the next contract. That's how it is. Maybe we could boost this signal so that people who appreciate David's experience and principles can find him?
Freelance workers are typically looking for the next contract. That's how it is. Maybe we could boost this signal so that people who appreciate David's experience and principles can find him?
I was made redundant from a decade-long bioinformatics job, in part, because my new boss thought that LLMs and similar technologies were better than an experienced bioinformatician who encouraged FAIR principles and discouraged abusive behaviour.
November 6, 2025 at 2:23 AM
David became a freelance bioinformatician due to the situation he describes 👇.
Freelance workers are typically looking for the next contract. That's how it is. Maybe we could boost this signal so that people who appreciate David's experience and principles can find him?
Freelance workers are typically looking for the next contract. That's how it is. Maybe we could boost this signal so that people who appreciate David's experience and principles can find him?
Reposted by Richard Littauer
I love that Mamdani is what the right claimed Obama was: A Muslim socialist born in Africa. The right practically manifested Mamdani into existence.
November 5, 2025 at 2:25 PM
I love that Mamdani is what the right claimed Obama was: A Muslim socialist born in Africa. The right practically manifested Mamdani into existence.
Reposted by Richard Littauer
I'm sure it's totally coincidental that the AoNZ government's changes to the Marsden Fund have been followed by successful applications led by female investigators dropping from 55% to 33%, and successful applications led by Māori investigators dropping from 13% to 5%. 🫠 🧪
Information on the 2025 Marsden Fund round
Information about the number of funded proposals in the 2025 Marsden Fund round broken down by research area and institution, also including gender and ethnicity data
www.royalsociety.org.nz
November 5, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I'm sure it's totally coincidental that the AoNZ government's changes to the Marsden Fund have been followed by successful applications led by female investigators dropping from 55% to 33%, and successful applications led by Māori investigators dropping from 13% to 5%. 🫠 🧪
Reposted by Richard Littauer
just tell your partner what you want. ask to get your needs met. communicate. tell them if you are upset. just you know, talk to them and be honest?
8. What's the best relationship advice you have ever heard?
November 6, 2025 at 3:30 AM
just tell your partner what you want. ask to get your needs met. communicate. tell them if you are upset. just you know, talk to them and be honest?
Reposted by Richard Littauer
Speaking as a Jew, someone desperately needs to write a piece about this specific flavor of hysterical derangement
November 6, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Speaking as a Jew, someone desperately needs to write a piece about this specific flavor of hysterical derangement
Reposted by Richard Littauer
Reposted by Richard Littauer
This shit ∨ ∨ ∨ Not to get all 「 Walter Cronkite 」 but speak to people like they're educated adults and they will rise to meet you
Here's another bit of conventional wisdom Zohran completely blew away: His speech was at well above a 10th-grade level. It was complex, erudite, punctuated by deep and fluent references. You don't have to condescend to voters with baby talk! Part of re-establishing norms is speaking like an adult.
November 5, 2025 at 5:19 AM
This shit ∨ ∨ ∨ Not to get all 「 Walter Cronkite 」 but speak to people like they're educated adults and they will rise to meet you
Reposted by Richard Littauer
Decision Desk has called the NYC mayors race for Zohran Mamdani.
November 5, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Decision Desk has called the NYC mayors race for Zohran Mamdani.
Reposted by Richard Littauer
Today, 144 years ago, 1600 Crown troops invaded a pacifist settlement that was the centre of resistance against British colonialism. The leaders were arrested, the settlement sacked, the people violated.
For many in Aotearoa, November 5th is Parihaka Day, or Te Rā o te Pāhua: The Day of Plunder.
For many in Aotearoa, November 5th is Parihaka Day, or Te Rā o te Pāhua: The Day of Plunder.
November 5, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Today, 144 years ago, 1600 Crown troops invaded a pacifist settlement that was the centre of resistance against British colonialism. The leaders were arrested, the settlement sacked, the people violated.
For many in Aotearoa, November 5th is Parihaka Day, or Te Rā o te Pāhua: The Day of Plunder.
For many in Aotearoa, November 5th is Parihaka Day, or Te Rā o te Pāhua: The Day of Plunder.
I am giving this talk on codexmutabilis.com at #iPRES2025 in a few minutes!
Slides are here, for those who aren't here in person (most of you?).
#preservation #iczn
docs.google.com/presentation...
Slides are here, for those who aren't here in person (most of you?).
#preservation #iczn
docs.google.com/presentation...
Codex Mutabilis presentation
Codex Mutabilis: Preserving The Reasons For Changes In Scientific Names Richard Littauer Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington & Jessamyn West Flickr Foundation Rimu https://www.inaturalis...
docs.google.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:10 PM
I am giving this talk on codexmutabilis.com at #iPRES2025 in a few minutes!
Slides are here, for those who aren't here in person (most of you?).
#preservation #iczn
docs.google.com/presentation...
Slides are here, for those who aren't here in person (most of you?).
#preservation #iczn
docs.google.com/presentation...
Reposted by Richard Littauer
I’m going to keep mentioning how heavily people leaned on the “actually, poor Black people don’t go to elite schools, we need more investment at the community level” argument when affirmative action was before the court, and how fucking silent they are now.
Pell Grant Cuts Linked To Drop In Black Student Enrollment Rates
seattlemedium.com/black-studen...
seattlemedium.com/black-studen...
Pell Grant Cuts Linked To Drop In Black Student Enrollment Rates
Inconsistent Pell Grant funding and state budget cuts contribute to a nearly half-million decline in Black student enrollment at U.S. colleges over the past decade.
seattlemedium.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:24 PM
I’m going to keep mentioning how heavily people leaned on the “actually, poor Black people don’t go to elite schools, we need more investment at the community level” argument when affirmative action was before the court, and how fucking silent they are now.
November 4, 2025 at 9:04 PM