Amanda Alvarez
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gecky.me
Amanda Alvarez
@gecky.me
tacos 🌮
data 📊
bees 🐝
mountains 🏔️🏕️🧗🏽‍♀️
fiber arts 🪡🧵🧶
baking 🧁🍰🍪🥐🍞
helping my kids collect hobbies 📷⚾️💃🏽🎶🤸🏽‍♀️🪴🎮
trying to keep it all together 🙃🍷

she/her/ella
Pinned
New feed! Add #dataBS or #databsky to your post, and it'll get ingested into this custom Data BS feed, which looks back over 7 days of posts.
Best “to my naked eye” aurora yet!
(More coming!)
November 12, 2025 at 2:26 AM
I’ve decided to play “life skills bingo” with my kids. I’m making cards with squares like “check the oil,” “reset a tripped breaker,” “sew a button,” various kitchen tasks, etc.
Would love to hear suggestions for things to include!
November 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
A few years ago, I bought what should have been a lifetime supply of sewing machine needles.
But today, I broke one, and I can’t find my hoard. Damn!
November 2, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Reposted by Amanda Alvarez
Correcting the record, line by line... and uncovering some new shady stuff in the process.
Our latest blog post debunks claims that the recently terminated Food Security Supplement to the Current Population Survey was “redundant.”

In reality, no other survey is capable of replacing it.

🔗 dataindex.us/newsletter/a...
Uncovering Additional Threats to Food Security Data: Why the “Redundancy” Claim Doesn’t Hold Up | America's Data Index
dataindex.us
October 29, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Correcting the record, line by line... and uncovering some new shady stuff in the process.
Our latest blog post debunks claims that the recently terminated Food Security Supplement to the Current Population Survey was “redundant.”

In reality, no other survey is capable of replacing it.

🔗 dataindex.us/newsletter/a...
October 29, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Reposted by Amanda Alvarez
The recording from our Rapid Response Data Briefing on the recently terminated Food Security Supplement (FSS) is now available. Learn about what the FSS is, why it matters, what's at risk, and how you can take action (also in the 🧵).
Rapid Response Data Briefing: Understanding the Food Security Supplement
YouTube video by Food Research & Action Center
youtu.be
October 14, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Reposted by Amanda Alvarez
This morning we have 3 easy ways you can take action to defend public data (links in 🧵)
👇👇👇
The recording from our Rapid Response Data Briefing on the recently terminated Food Security Supplement (FSS) is now available. Learn about what the FSS is, why it matters, what's at risk, and how you can take action (also in the 🧵).
Rapid Response Data Briefing: Understanding the Food Security Supplement
YouTube video by Food Research & Action Center
youtu.be
October 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Reposted by Amanda Alvarez
***TAKE ACTION***
If you want to see the Food Security Supplement reinstated, FRAC has made it easy for you to reach out to your Congressperson:
secure.everyaction.com/0vI9xoDpCkeD...
October 8, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by Amanda Alvarez
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
nyti.ms
October 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Happy Cabrini Day!

In Colorado, the first Monday in Oct. is a state holiday named in honor of a woman who spent her life serving and advocating for orphans and immigrants. 🫶
October 6, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Reposted by Amanda Alvarez
The hardest part about being a data scientist isn’t the math, it’s explaining results/risks/assumptions clearly to people who aren’t familiar with the math
a man and a woman are standing next to each other and the man is saying `` you got some splainin ' to do ''
Alt: a man and a woman are standing next to each other and the man is saying `` you got some splainin ' to do ''
media.tenor.com
October 2, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Reposted by Amanda Alvarez
This is why we fund scientists to study things like oyster slobber even if you don’t think it sounds important
⚠️ Chinese researchers have invented bone glue that mimics how oysters stick to surfaces underwater.

The adhesive can reportedly repair orthopedic fractures in 2-3 minutes, even in blood-rich environments, and is bioabsorbable.

interestingengineering.com/science/chin...
China's oyster-inspired 'bone glue' bonds fractures in minutes
A new oyster-inspired Bone-02 adhesive can revolutionize bone repair without metal fasteners.
interestingengineering.com
September 30, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Reposted by Amanda Alvarez
USDA is ending future Household Food Security Reports AND the Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement–our most comprehensive source on food insecurity in the U.S. For approximately $1 million a year, it informs over $100 billion in nutrition programs. Cutting it means cutting evidence.
September 25, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Reposted by Amanda Alvarez
Read Chris Dick and @datageekb.bsky.social's latest blog to learn more: dataindex.us/newsletter/a...
Forsaking Food Security | America's Data Index
dataindex.us
September 25, 2025 at 7:43 PM
QOTD: "She readily achieves a level of fatness above that of many other bears."

It's @explore.org #FatBearWeek, y'all! 🐻
September 23, 2025 at 4:08 PM
I am in the "meme selection" phase of talk-writing and this is the problem with "doing things ahead of time"
#databs @databsconf.com
September 23, 2025 at 2:50 PM
In about 44 hours, I'll be wrapping up my @databsconf.com talk. Full conference schedule is at databsconf.com/schedule/ and (free!) tickets are available at ti.to/databsconf/d...
September 22, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Join us for @databsconf.com next Wednesday — and check out these pre-show talks while you wait!
#dataBS
#DataBS Conf 2025 preshow! We have two talks that we couldn't fit into the schedule but the speakers pre-recorded their talk for us to share before the main event next week!

Both are really good and give me lots of excitement about what we'll see next week.

ti.to/databsconf/d... <- free tix

🧵1/3
DataBS Conf
"Data, Behind the Scenes" is a free-to-attend online-only, single track conference centered on the real stories of data work from the folks in the trenches. We’re not here for the latest AI hype, perf...
ti.to
September 18, 2025 at 6:22 PM
One of the kids who was shot last week at Evergreen HS is still fighting for his life.

Take a few minutes. Watch the video the family shared with our local sheriff's office. Learn a little about Matthew.
'Many of us owe our safety to you': Matthew Silverstone, Evergreen shooting victim, hailed a hero by students
Matthew turned 18 a day before the shooting. He remains in critical condition, but family shared more about him this week as he continues fighting for his life.
www.cpr.org
September 18, 2025 at 5:34 PM
C wants you to know that you matter.
September 18, 2025 at 4:10 AM
My kid defended a friend against some mini-fascist classmates today and I am super sad that she had to but so proud that she did.
September 17, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Talk schedule for @databsconf.com is up! Tickets are free! Join us! #dataBS
September 15, 2025 at 9:56 PM
What a boring night of fights. I’m so glad this wasn’t a $$$ ppv thing.
September 14, 2025 at 5:35 AM
With a high school kid in my house, and a single digit number of miles (as the crow flies) to Evergreen HS, today’s shooting there hit way too close to home. I’m feeling a lot of feelings and I’m really glad I don’t have to send my kids to school tomorrow.
September 11, 2025 at 5:12 AM
@databsconf.com is just over 2 weeks away!
It's a one-day, totally virtual, single-track conference centered on the real stories of data work from the folks in the trenches. Speakers and talk descriptions are live on databsconf.com, along with the link to get your (free!) ticket.
#databs
September 9, 2025 at 5:21 PM