Ben MacLeod
@bitswamp.bsky.social
Software developer from Cape Breton. Settler in Mi'kma'ki. He/him.
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
"the aesthetics of knowledge without any actual tendency towards truth" nails is, exactly.
just so it's clear: this is the exact core function of genAI
Fascist government and climate deniers love it because it can produce the aesthetics of knowledge without any actual tendency towards truth. It is automated denialism.
Shame on every climate scientist promoting its use (there are lots)
Fascist government and climate deniers love it because it can produce the aesthetics of knowledge without any actual tendency towards truth. It is automated denialism.
Shame on every climate scientist promoting its use (there are lots)
Bob and I were among the hundreds of researchers that were supposed to conduct the 6th U.S. National Climate Assessment. Now it looks like they're gonna produce it with a few people and Grok? Communities need rigorous and accurate information about climate change. This will put communities at risk.
January 1, 2026 at 3:17 PM
"the aesthetics of knowledge without any actual tendency towards truth" nails is, exactly.
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
please look at this spider called a "Queensland Ultraflat" (pic by Marten Stevens)
December 31, 2025 at 1:07 AM
please look at this spider called a "Queensland Ultraflat" (pic by Marten Stevens)
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
SKULL OF THOMAS AQUINAS: TAKE A LEFT NOW
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
'Skull of St. Thomas Aquinas being transported to Fossanova Abbey.'
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
December 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
SKULL OF THOMAS AQUINAS: TAKE A LEFT NOW
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
One of my favorite local planthoppers, Dictyonissus griphus. Such distinctive wing venation.
December 6, 2025 at 8:29 PM
One of my favorite local planthoppers, Dictyonissus griphus. Such distinctive wing venation.
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
picture of tubercle burrowing crayfish by sneaker1 on inaturalist
November 29, 2025 at 1:06 AM
picture of tubercle burrowing crayfish by sneaker1 on inaturalist
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
period
I don't understand how anyone can watch how blatantly Grok is manipulated to answer the way ownership desires it to and then act like the other LLM chatbots couldn't possibly be similarly but less obviously compromised to produce responses in whatever way corporate interests and priorities dictate.
November 23, 2025 at 11:21 PM
period
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
furry transfem
July 29, 2025 at 3:50 PM
furry transfem
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
The make-believe bullshit of Trumpism and Trump’s cabinet are not an aberration but rather exactly what would happen if you ran a government like a business; and America’s authoritarian turn (and the counter-knowledge that entails) was already widely distributed in its c-suites and board rooms.
November 13, 2025 at 4:49 PM
The make-believe bullshit of Trumpism and Trump’s cabinet are not an aberration but rather exactly what would happen if you ran a government like a business; and America’s authoritarian turn (and the counter-knowledge that entails) was already widely distributed in its c-suites and board rooms.
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
A closer look at this cutie (not a spider; a relative) www.sciencealert.com/what-the-hec...
This Tiny Arachnid With a Black Bunny Head Is Totally Real, We Kid You Not
The natural world is a strange and wonderful place.
www.sciencealert.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:06 PM
A closer look at this cutie (not a spider; a relative) www.sciencealert.com/what-the-hec...
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
Me: the side effects list says “changes in dreams” what does this mean?
Doctor: yes there are two possibilities. If you find yourself in the “abode of stones” we can work with that, but if your dreams are staged in the “blood neighborhood” you have to call me
Me: how will I know?
Dr: you’ll know
Doctor: yes there are two possibilities. If you find yourself in the “abode of stones” we can work with that, but if your dreams are staged in the “blood neighborhood” you have to call me
Me: how will I know?
Dr: you’ll know
November 3, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Me: the side effects list says “changes in dreams” what does this mean?
Doctor: yes there are two possibilities. If you find yourself in the “abode of stones” we can work with that, but if your dreams are staged in the “blood neighborhood” you have to call me
Me: how will I know?
Dr: you’ll know
Doctor: yes there are two possibilities. If you find yourself in the “abode of stones” we can work with that, but if your dreams are staged in the “blood neighborhood” you have to call me
Me: how will I know?
Dr: you’ll know
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
her highness sleeps
Ammophila wasp on brittlebush (Encelia) distal twigs at night
take a close look ... she is SPECTACULAR!
Ammophila wasp on brittlebush (Encelia) distal twigs at night
take a close look ... she is SPECTACULAR!
October 27, 2025 at 3:06 PM
her highness sleeps
Ammophila wasp on brittlebush (Encelia) distal twigs at night
take a close look ... she is SPECTACULAR!
Ammophila wasp on brittlebush (Encelia) distal twigs at night
take a close look ... she is SPECTACULAR!
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
Danarma eurymerus found in Okinawa Island. Watch how he moves the eyes. This species was recorded from Japan just this month.
(ref/参考文献)
u-ryukyu.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/20216...
ルリメベンケイガニが目をきょろっとさせるあざとい動画です。沖縄本島にて。本州は先月日本から記録されました。
🦀🦑🧪
#crab #カニ #invertebrate
(ref/参考文献)
u-ryukyu.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/20216...
ルリメベンケイガニが目をきょろっとさせるあざとい動画です。沖縄本島にて。本州は先月日本から記録されました。
🦀🦑🧪
#crab #カニ #invertebrate
October 27, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Danarma eurymerus found in Okinawa Island. Watch how he moves the eyes. This species was recorded from Japan just this month.
(ref/参考文献)
u-ryukyu.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/20216...
ルリメベンケイガニが目をきょろっとさせるあざとい動画です。沖縄本島にて。本州は先月日本から記録されました。
🦀🦑🧪
#crab #カニ #invertebrate
(ref/参考文献)
u-ryukyu.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/20216...
ルリメベンケイガニが目をきょろっとさせるあざとい動画です。沖縄本島にて。本州は先月日本から記録されました。
🦀🦑🧪
#crab #カニ #invertebrate
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
Last week, Dr. Katie Dobkowski generously gave our team a presentation on the role of #kelp
crabs as bull kelp consumers. A few things we learned: they prefer reproductive tissue (sori) over non-reproductive, they have a wide temp tolerance and can turn bright orange if they eat sargassum!
crabs as bull kelp consumers. A few things we learned: they prefer reproductive tissue (sori) over non-reproductive, they have a wide temp tolerance and can turn bright orange if they eat sargassum!
October 17, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Last week, Dr. Katie Dobkowski generously gave our team a presentation on the role of #kelp
crabs as bull kelp consumers. A few things we learned: they prefer reproductive tissue (sori) over non-reproductive, they have a wide temp tolerance and can turn bright orange if they eat sargassum!
crabs as bull kelp consumers. A few things we learned: they prefer reproductive tissue (sori) over non-reproductive, they have a wide temp tolerance and can turn bright orange if they eat sargassum!
Agapostemon virescens, bicoloured striped sweat bee
October 20, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Agapostemon virescens, bicoloured striped sweat bee
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
A young #argonaut #octopus (aka “paper #nautilus”) hitches a ride atop a muave stinger #jellyfish.
#papernautilus #symbiosis #muavestinger #🐙 #🪼 #blackwater #blackwaterphotography #blackwaterdiving #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug #kumejima #okinawa #marinelife
#papernautilus #symbiosis #muavestinger #🐙 #🪼 #blackwater #blackwaterphotography #blackwaterdiving #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug #kumejima #okinawa #marinelife
October 17, 2025 at 1:11 PM
A young #argonaut #octopus (aka “paper #nautilus”) hitches a ride atop a muave stinger #jellyfish.
#papernautilus #symbiosis #muavestinger #🐙 #🪼 #blackwater #blackwaterphotography #blackwaterdiving #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug #kumejima #okinawa #marinelife
#papernautilus #symbiosis #muavestinger #🐙 #🪼 #blackwater #blackwaterphotography #blackwaterdiving #chrisgug #gugunderwater #gug #kumejima #okinawa #marinelife
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
Here is an ant-mimicking spider from the Amazon rainforest. I was heading down a trail back to our boat and saw it and got a few shots. It's one of 3 observations of the species on @inaturalist.bsky.social
(Myrmecium deladanta) Cuyabeno Reserve, Ecuador 2022
#Arachtober
(Myrmecium deladanta) Cuyabeno Reserve, Ecuador 2022
#Arachtober
October 16, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Here is an ant-mimicking spider from the Amazon rainforest. I was heading down a trail back to our boat and saw it and got a few shots. It's one of 3 observations of the species on @inaturalist.bsky.social
(Myrmecium deladanta) Cuyabeno Reserve, Ecuador 2022
#Arachtober
(Myrmecium deladanta) Cuyabeno Reserve, Ecuador 2022
#Arachtober
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
Shown this one before over the years at the old site, but once again for Bsky, CT scan images through a live pumpkin scanned at 600 micron thickness, w/ lots of post processing, video flythrough, etc. The detail is exquisite. Best seen not on a phone. (🔖 it) randomfootage.homestead.com/pumpkin.html
October 15, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Shown this one before over the years at the old site, but once again for Bsky, CT scan images through a live pumpkin scanned at 600 micron thickness, w/ lots of post processing, video flythrough, etc. The detail is exquisite. Best seen not on a phone. (🔖 it) randomfootage.homestead.com/pumpkin.html
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
Would you believe this spindly guy is an assassin bug? I picked him up initially thinking he was a phasmid…then I got a closer look at the face and saw the rostrum, and the raptorial forelimbs started to make sense! He's a member of emesinae, a reduviid subfamily I didn't know about before!
#bugsky
#bugsky
October 3, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Would you believe this spindly guy is an assassin bug? I picked him up initially thinking he was a phasmid…then I got a closer look at the face and saw the rostrum, and the raptorial forelimbs started to make sense! He's a member of emesinae, a reduviid subfamily I didn't know about before!
#bugsky
#bugsky
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
If following this tournament, you may have noticed that some Ghost Crab species have “horns”, which are actually styles growing out of the tops of the eyes. In fact, about ⅓ of the ghost crabs have horns (see photo), some very short, some fairly long.
#Trivia #FiddlerCrabBracket #FiddlerCrab 🦀🦑🧪
#Trivia #FiddlerCrabBracket #FiddlerCrab 🦀🦑🧪
April 17, 2024 at 2:31 PM
If following this tournament, you may have noticed that some Ghost Crab species have “horns”, which are actually styles growing out of the tops of the eyes. In fact, about ⅓ of the ghost crabs have horns (see photo), some very short, some fairly long.
#Trivia #FiddlerCrabBracket #FiddlerCrab 🦀🦑🧪
#Trivia #FiddlerCrabBracket #FiddlerCrab 🦀🦑🧪
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
Column integrated total water vapor reveals Hurricane Erin (and if you look carefully, Tropical Storm Fernand) spinning up & decaying in the North Atlantic a couple of weeks back. Data from NASA GSFC's GEOS-FP near-real-time analysis product.
🧪⚒️🌊🌀
🧪⚒️🌊🌀
September 3, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Column integrated total water vapor reveals Hurricane Erin (and if you look carefully, Tropical Storm Fernand) spinning up & decaying in the North Atlantic a couple of weeks back. Data from NASA GSFC's GEOS-FP near-real-time analysis product.
🧪⚒️🌊🌀
🧪⚒️🌊🌀
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
This is quite extraordinary!
September 3, 2025 at 9:07 PM
This is quite extraordinary!
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
Fighting shags on Staple Island, one of the Farne Islands off Seahouses, Northumberland #birds #shags #cormorants #farneislands #seabirds #nationaltrust #bbcearth #bbcwildlife #rspb #coastalbirds
August 27, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Fighting shags on Staple Island, one of the Farne Islands off Seahouses, Northumberland #birds #shags #cormorants #farneislands #seabirds #nationaltrust #bbcearth #bbcwildlife #rspb #coastalbirds
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
A reed draped over a Great Egret's noggin makes for a bold fashion statement.
August 24, 2025 at 11:11 PM
A reed draped over a Great Egret's noggin makes for a bold fashion statement.
Reposted by Ben MacLeod
looking at a bunch of bees in the garden. they don’t care about any of this computer crap
August 22, 2025 at 9:38 PM
looking at a bunch of bees in the garden. they don’t care about any of this computer crap