Mark McClelland
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markproxy.bsky.social
Mark McClelland
@markproxy.bsky.social
20 followers 35 following 24 posts
Software developer, writer. Chicago + Mérida, Yucatán.

I'm here for people and fun. For ideas, news, and politics, I'm more active on Mastodon: @markproxy@bigshoulders.city
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markproxy.bsky.social
Another favorite from my visit to Hacienda San Jose Cholul in #Yucatán. Lesson's motmot (Momotus lessonii). "Toh" in Maya. (I don't think there are different Maya words to distinguish among the species of motmot endemic to the Yucatán peninsula.)

#Birds
Close-up of a motmot's head in profile.
April 23, 2025 at 6:47 PM
markproxy.bsky.social
A favorite pic from my visit to Hacienda San Jose Cholul in #Yucatán. In Maya, the bird is known as "ch'el" for the white plumage it has when young.
Yucatán Jay hanging from the branch of a chico sapote tree, its gaze directed over the right shoulder of the viewer. A chico sapote fruit, the reason for the bird's visit to the tree, lies partially covered by green leaves. Feathers just above the eyes of the jay look a bit like large, wild eyebrows, giving the photo a slightly comical appearance.
April 23, 2025 at 6:45 PM
markproxy.bsky.social
I don't take many #StreetLife photos, but I'm particularly happy with how this one turned out. Taken in Acanceh, a pueblo of #Yucatán with some noteworthy Mayan ruins.
Narrow street in a Mexican town, which dead-ends at a cross-street lit by afternoon sun. A floppy eared dog stands in the street over some garbage it's been eating, and its gaze is directed at the viewer. To the right of the dog, we see a man on a modified three-wheeled motorcycle headed away from us, with the bronzed bare back of his passenger riding in the cargo/passenger area of the "motorized cargo bike". A red awning hangs over the entire vehicle to provide shade. Another such vehicle is parked on the sunny crossroad in the distance, and just behind it stands a couple with their arms around each other, looking into the dark interior of a shop. The wide window of the shop is protected from sun by a palapa awning. We see products for sale in the open window, including tall unlabeled bottles of honey. Two rustic mismatched wooden stools stand on the sidewalk outside the window, giving it an inviting look as a spot to sit, chat, and perhaps have a drink or a bite.
April 22, 2025 at 5:54 PM
markproxy.bsky.social
Our planet's shadow moving across the surface of the moon last night.
March 15, 2025 at 12:03 AM
markproxy.bsky.social
I'm excited to see this growing fruit on the sweet-orange tree we planted last year. (In #Yucatán, you always have to clarify whether you mean bitter or sweet, since bitter orange is just as common here and is heavily used in cooking.)
March 8, 2025 at 5:45 PM
markproxy.bsky.social
Current mood
February 26, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Reposted by Mark McClelland
andr00-brs.bsky.social
As much as possible, I set up my computers to sacrifice all the clean and magical visual design principles in service of making it obvious how to do things.
- Mouseover-appearing controls: gone or permanent
- Disappearing scrollbars: always shown
- Cute flat uniform looking icons: labeled
February 17, 2025 at 4:11 PM
markproxy.bsky.social
Gulf Classic
February 14, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Reposted by Mark McClelland
katharinehayhoe.com
As I shared last week, the US's first National Nature Assessment has been shut down: but the authors, led by @phillevin.bsky.social, are determined to continue. Read more: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/c...
Trump Killed a Major Report on Nature. They’re Trying to Publish It Anyway. (Gift Article)
The first full draft of the assessment, on the state of America’s land, water and wildlife, was weeks from completion. The project leader called the study “too important to die.”
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Reposted by Mark McClelland
anotherjulie.bsky.social
Billionaire Dipshit And His Strike Team Of Greasy Beavises Are Stripping The Wires From The Federal Government - defector.com/billionaire-...
Billionaire Dipshit And His Strike Team Of Greasy Beavises Are Stripping The Wires From The Federal Government | Defector
The most important thing to know about both the chittering Renfields gnawing through the ductwork of the American administrative state and the billionaire sociopath they serve is that they don’t care....
defector.com
February 5, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Reposted by Mark McClelland
anotherjulie.bsky.social
Just a primer and a reminder that our Sanctuary City ordinance was upheld by SCOTUS in 2020 (not that that means anything any more)
sundene.bsky.social sundene 🇳🇴 📎 @sundene.bsky.social · Feb 4
Here's a little tidbit for #BlackHistoryMonth.

The reason Chicago is a sanctuary city today (and has been for almost 40 years) is because of our first Black mayor of Chicago, Harold Washington. Every mayor since has continued to support our city as a sanctuary.

news.wttw.com/2023/10/20/w...
What Does It Mean That Chicago Is a Sanctuary City? Here’s What to Know
Here’s what it means for Chicago to be a sanctuary city and how that status has fueled the debate over Chicago’s newest arrivals.
news.wttw.com
February 6, 2025 at 6:51 PM
markproxy.bsky.social
My wife says she's digging deep for gifs she can send me to request morning tea. This is what I'm picturing.
February 8, 2025 at 3:56 PM
markproxy.bsky.social
Crescent moon and Venus from our rooftop
February 3, 2025 at 12:19 AM
markproxy.bsky.social
Dramatic sunset sky

#Yucatán
February 1, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Reposted by Mark McClelland
edyong209.bsky.social
@lizneeley.bsky.social is publishing a weekly newsletter to track the ongoing attacks in science and higher ed. If you want to keep abreast without drowning in the news, I recommend it: buttondown.com/liminalcreat...
February 1, 2025 at 5:34 PM
markproxy.bsky.social
Happy Saturday y'all
February 1, 2025 at 4:45 PM
markproxy.bsky.social
People like to rip on #Duolingo for not really teaching you how to speak a foreign language, but it's been a huge help for me. I just had a 45 minute conversation entirely in Spanish with the woman who cut my hair, and I can thank Duo for at least half my Spanish education.
January 30, 2025 at 11:19 PM
markproxy.bsky.social
Photo from a Mexican junkyard, where I recently bought an antique rocking chair. The railroad spikes made me think of you, @maxbenign.bsky.social
January 27, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Reposted by Mark McClelland
sarajcary.bsky.social
I have two more bandanas on the website! sarajcary.indiemade.com/product/band...
January 24, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Reposted by Mark McClelland
maxbenign.bsky.social
Here's a massive Italo-disco playlist, offered as Timeline cleanse and psychic armor.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNMW...
ALBERT ONE - TURBO DIESEL
YouTube video by AlbertOneVEVO
www.youtube.com
January 21, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Reposted by Mark McClelland
mbug.bsky.social
Crow, snow.
#JanuArty #snow
#crow #corvid #photography #birds
Crow in the snow
January 10, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Reposted by Mark McClelland
netherfield34.bsky.social
Curlew. Matt Hooper. Linocut
A curlew flies over tilled fields. The fair weather sky is full of swallows
February 14, 2024 at 7:26 AM
markproxy.bsky.social
A recent favorite bird photo, taken from a boat in a mangrove "swamp" near Celestún in Yucatán, MX.

Black-crowned night heron 🇺🇸
Garza nocturna corona negra 🇲🇽
Nycticorax nycticorax 🔬

#Birds #Yucatan
Close-up of the head of a black-crowned night heron in thick foliage. We see a side-view of its head, with deep red eye and long beak.
February 15, 2024 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by Mark McClelland
maxbenign.bsky.social
Box Map thread: Sides 2-6
maxbenign.bsky.social MaxBenign @maxbenign.bsky.social · Jan 14
Box Map: Side 2
One side of a cardboard box with D&D style dungeon corridors, rooms and chambers drawn on it with black sharpee.
January 14, 2024 at 9:59 PM
markproxy.bsky.social
Just this morning I was missing this old neighbor. Photo taken almost exactly a year ago today, in #Merida, Yucatán. It's a delight to see all the owl photos celebrating #SuperbOwl Sunday.

Ferruginous pygmy owl 🇺🇸
Tecolote Bajeño 🇲🇽
Glaucidium brasilianum 🔬
February 11, 2024 at 9:55 PM