Ethan White
@ethanwhite.weecology.org
Environmental data scientist/professor using technology to understand nature. #rstats, Python, open data, open source. he/him
Pinned
Ethan White
@ethanwhite.weecology.org
· Nov 13
I am sorry to inform you that "That's not how we've done it in the past" is not a good reason not to try something new.
Reposted by Ethan White
a Python package I was using took ~18 seconds to import, so instead I spent two hours making a PR to fix it and reduce that to ~5 seconds
time well spent ✅
time well spent ✅
November 13, 2025 at 1:44 PM
a Python package I was using took ~18 seconds to import, so instead I spent two hours making a PR to fix it and reduce that to ~5 seconds
time well spent ✅
time well spent ✅
Reposted by Ethan White
The Executive Director of The Carpentries, @drkariljordan.carpentries.org is attending the Mozilla Festival 2025 @mozilla.org #MozFest from 7-9 November in Barcelona, Spain - we encourage you to connect with her for an opportunity to chat about sponsorship and how you can support our work.
November 7, 2025 at 3:52 PM
The Executive Director of The Carpentries, @drkariljordan.carpentries.org is attending the Mozilla Festival 2025 @mozilla.org #MozFest from 7-9 November in Barcelona, Spain - we encourage you to connect with her for an opportunity to chat about sponsorship and how you can support our work.
Reposted by Ethan White
The support the Python community has shown to PSF for its decision has given us hope in the sustainability of open science communities. Please consider extending your generosity to our organisation’s fundraising efforts, and help us to reach others aligned to our mission: carpentries.org/support/
Support The Carpentries
We are grateful to the individuals and organisations who provide financial support to The Carpentries. If you are interested in supporting our work, you can learn more about becoming a Member Organisa...
carpentries.org
November 7, 2025 at 3:52 PM
The support the Python community has shown to PSF for its decision has given us hope in the sustainability of open science communities. Please consider extending your generosity to our organisation’s fundraising efforts, and help us to reach others aligned to our mission: carpentries.org/support/
Some good news to end the day
US supreme court rejects call to overturn decision legalizing same-sex marriage
Justices turn away appeal from former Kentucky court clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Some good news to end the day
“Multiple UNC-Chapel Hill faculty and student groups organized collective actions speaking out against the compact, including a SUNRISE UNC protest shortly before the Faculty Council meeting and a petition from the Coalition for Carolina that has amassed over 1,750 signatures.”
Organize.
Organize.
After faculty raise concerns, UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor says university will not sign Trump's higher ed compact
Lee Roberts called the "preferential treatment" proposal a clear infringement on academic freedom.
www.wunc.org
November 11, 2025 at 12:48 AM
“Multiple UNC-Chapel Hill faculty and student groups organized collective actions speaking out against the compact, including a SUNRISE UNC protest shortly before the Faculty Council meeting and a petition from the Coalition for Carolina that has amassed over 1,750 signatures.”
Organize.
Organize.
Reposted by Ethan White
UNC-Chapel Hill's chancellor says the university will not sign on to a higher education compact from the Trump administration.
www.wunc.org/education/20...
www.wunc.org/education/20...
After faculty raise concerns, UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor says university will not sign Trump's higher ed compact
Lee Roberts called the "preferential treatment" proposal a clear infringement on academic freedom.
www.wunc.org
November 10, 2025 at 9:28 PM
UNC-Chapel Hill's chancellor says the university will not sign on to a higher education compact from the Trump administration.
www.wunc.org/education/20...
www.wunc.org/education/20...
Reposted by Ethan White
My family has been without half our income for 40 days. It has been.. very hard.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
November 10, 2025 at 1:36 AM
My family has been without half our income for 40 days. It has been.. very hard.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
Reposted by Ethan White
So, listen, call Schumer’s office no matter where you live, no matter if you’re registered to vote. Leave a voicemail that says if Senate Dems cave without an ACA premiums fix, you will never vote for or donate to another Senate Democrat as long as he is Leader
Call them:
Schumer (NY)
202 224-6542
Booker (NJ)
202 224-3224
King (ME)
202 224-5344
Hassan (NH)
202 224-3324
Durbin (IL)
202 224-2152
Ossoff (GA)
202 224-3521
Shaheen (NH)
202 224-2841
Gillibrand (NY)
202 224-4451
Masto (NV)
202 224-3542
Warner (VA)
202 224-2023
Fetterman (PA)
No Point
Schumer (NY)
202 224-6542
Booker (NJ)
202 224-3224
King (ME)
202 224-5344
Hassan (NH)
202 224-3324
Durbin (IL)
202 224-2152
Ossoff (GA)
202 224-3521
Shaheen (NH)
202 224-2841
Gillibrand (NY)
202 224-4451
Masto (NV)
202 224-3542
Warner (VA)
202 224-2023
Fetterman (PA)
No Point
November 9, 2025 at 11:05 PM
So, listen, call Schumer’s office no matter where you live, no matter if you’re registered to vote. Leave a voicemail that says if Senate Dems cave without an ACA premiums fix, you will never vote for or donate to another Senate Democrat as long as he is Leader
Reposted by Ethan White
This is not a deal — it's an empty promise.
Trump and his Republican Congress are making healthcare more expensive for the middle class and ending it for working families.
Time for Democrats to stand tall for affordable healthcare. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Trump and his Republican Congress are making healthcare more expensive for the middle class and ending it for working families.
Time for Democrats to stand tall for affordable healthcare. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Senate reaches deal on ending the shutdown
Democrats are coalescing around a bipartisan agreement to fund the government.
www.politico.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:50 AM
This is not a deal — it's an empty promise.
Trump and his Republican Congress are making healthcare more expensive for the middle class and ending it for working families.
Time for Democrats to stand tall for affordable healthcare. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Trump and his Republican Congress are making healthcare more expensive for the middle class and ending it for working families.
Time for Democrats to stand tall for affordable healthcare. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Ethan White
On the one hand, no one's "caved" yet, as far as I can see? On the other hand, I just called my senators and told them I'll hold them responsible for any deal that doesn't fix the health insurance mess and address impoundment, whether they vote for it themselves or not
November 9, 2025 at 11:57 PM
On the one hand, no one's "caved" yet, as far as I can see? On the other hand, I just called my senators and told them I'll hold them responsible for any deal that doesn't fix the health insurance mess and address impoundment, whether they vote for it themselves or not
Reposted by Ethan White
I’m a federal employee who was furloughed and just missed my second full paycheck. I have two young kids, so it’s tough.
It’s hard but DAMN worth it. Hold the line.
Capitulating now puts all that folks have sacrificed to this point in the trash bin.
@vanhollen.senate.gov @alsobrooks.senate.gov
It’s hard but DAMN worth it. Hold the line.
Capitulating now puts all that folks have sacrificed to this point in the trash bin.
@vanhollen.senate.gov @alsobrooks.senate.gov
November 10, 2025 at 1:11 AM
I’m a federal employee who was furloughed and just missed my second full paycheck. I have two young kids, so it’s tough.
It’s hard but DAMN worth it. Hold the line.
Capitulating now puts all that folks have sacrificed to this point in the trash bin.
@vanhollen.senate.gov @alsobrooks.senate.gov
It’s hard but DAMN worth it. Hold the line.
Capitulating now puts all that folks have sacrificed to this point in the trash bin.
@vanhollen.senate.gov @alsobrooks.senate.gov
"It’s not that those things don’t matter: they absolutely goddamn do, and will keep on mattering... It’s just that they never mattered much to the Times and they are, to appearances, mattering less and less by the day. I should remember that, and so should you."
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:50 PM
"It’s not that those things don’t matter: they absolutely goddamn do, and will keep on mattering... It’s just that they never mattered much to the Times and they are, to appearances, mattering less and less by the day. I should remember that, and so should you."
Reposted by Ethan White
Anyway, if you are wondering what Andre 3000 is referring to when he gives Jack White a shout out in the video, this was it. Its a great little mantra about having a vision, starting small, and then staying true to it when other people start to buy into that vision.
November 9, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Anyway, if you are wondering what Andre 3000 is referring to when he gives Jack White a shout out in the video, this was it. Its a great little mantra about having a vision, starting small, and then staying true to it when other people start to buy into that vision.
Reposted by Ethan White
Well, you're in your little room
And you're working on something good
But if it's really good
You're gonna need a bigger room
And when you're in the bigger room
You might not know what to do
You might have to think of how you got started
Sitting in your little room
- The White Stripes
And you're working on something good
But if it's really good
You're gonna need a bigger room
And when you're in the bigger room
You might not know what to do
You might have to think of how you got started
Sitting in your little room
- The White Stripes
OutKast is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame:
“We started in a little room. Great things start in little rooms”
“We started in a little room. Great things start in little rooms”
November 9, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Well, you're in your little room
And you're working on something good
But if it's really good
You're gonna need a bigger room
And when you're in the bigger room
You might not know what to do
You might have to think of how you got started
Sitting in your little room
- The White Stripes
And you're working on something good
But if it's really good
You're gonna need a bigger room
And when you're in the bigger room
You might not know what to do
You might have to think of how you got started
Sitting in your little room
- The White Stripes
Reposted by Ethan White
What an amazing essay from the former chair of Africana Studies at Bowdoin. I'll share a few sections in the reply but seriously, read the whole thing. It's all insightful and beautifully written.
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:11 PM
What an amazing essay from the former chair of Africana Studies at Bowdoin. I'll share a few sections in the reply but seriously, read the whole thing. It's all insightful and beautifully written.
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Reposted by Ethan White
We’ve lived at our new house for a bit over a year and today I learned that I’ve been driving by our local food pantry every day and didn’t know it. Ask me how I knew today.
November 8, 2025 at 4:54 PM
We’ve lived at our new house for a bit over a year and today I learned that I’ve been driving by our local food pantry every day and didn’t know it. Ask me how I knew today.
Kid: Dad!?! The (no longer maintained) software that school wants me to use it throwing a "Code C" error on the video we took in class (on a brand new iPhone). Can you help?
Me: I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career (in scientific software)
Me: I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career (in scientific software)
November 7, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Kid: Dad!?! The (no longer maintained) software that school wants me to use it throwing a "Code C" error on the video we took in class (on a brand new iPhone). Can you help?
Me: I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career (in scientific software)
Me: I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career (in scientific software)
Reposted by Ethan White
Meta earns $3.5 billion every six months from showing Faceboon and Instagram users 15 billion “higher legal risk” scam ad impressions a day, internal documents state.
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Meta earns $3.5 billion every six months from showing Faceboon and Instagram users 15 billion “higher legal risk” scam ad impressions a day, internal documents state.
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
That haul vastly exceeds how much the company expects regulators
To fine it for running scam ads.
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Ethan White
All the times I've asked for help have one thing in common: every time, I wished I'd asked earlier
November 5, 2025 at 5:51 AM
All the times I've asked for help have one thing in common: every time, I wished I'd asked earlier
Reposted by Ethan White
BREAKING: Starbucks workers have just authorized a massive strike.
Union Starbucks baristas voted to authorize the strike by 92%.
Now baristas in over 25 cities could launch an unfair labor practice strike on Thursday, November 13th.
Union Starbucks baristas voted to authorize the strike by 92%.
Now baristas in over 25 cities could launch an unfair labor practice strike on Thursday, November 13th.
November 5, 2025 at 5:13 PM
BREAKING: Starbucks workers have just authorized a massive strike.
Union Starbucks baristas voted to authorize the strike by 92%.
Now baristas in over 25 cities could launch an unfair labor practice strike on Thursday, November 13th.
Union Starbucks baristas voted to authorize the strike by 92%.
Now baristas in over 25 cities could launch an unfair labor practice strike on Thursday, November 13th.
Reposted by Ethan White
The Biden administration worked hard to accomplish this new free IRS filing system. It’s astounding that one should have to pay fees in order to pay their taxes. But this rent seeking is entirely consistent with the economic policies of the current administration that benefit the most wealthy.
👀 Scoop: IRS Direct File, the free government-backed program that let you file your taxes for free, is dead.
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
IRS tests free e-filing system that could compete with tax-prep giants
The tax agency has quietly built its own prototype system for filing tax returns digitally and free of charge, according to current and former officials.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:50 PM
The Biden administration worked hard to accomplish this new free IRS filing system. It’s astounding that one should have to pay fees in order to pay their taxes. But this rent seeking is entirely consistent with the economic policies of the current administration that benefit the most wealthy.
Reposted by Ethan White
Do people have any recommendations for small/mini keyboards to use with a laptop? My laptop works besides the keyboard itself, and I don’t want to replace the laptop until after my thesis.
November 4, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Do people have any recommendations for small/mini keyboards to use with a laptop? My laptop works besides the keyboard itself, and I don’t want to replace the laptop until after my thesis.