Michael Brightwood
@mikebrightwood.bsky.social
Data professional. Loves flowers and bugs. Recovering academic.
michaelwhitehead.net
(Name changed Whitehead -> Brightwood)
Canberra region, Australia.
michaelwhitehead.net
(Name changed Whitehead -> Brightwood)
Canberra region, Australia.
Hoary Sunray (Leucochrysum albicans) is listed Endangered federally as well as in Vic and NSW state legislation.
And I don't think it passes the sniff test. It is in every scrap of scribbly gun woodland I visit in the ACT and surrounds. Seems to do well under disturbance (loves roadsides).
And I don't think it passes the sniff test. It is in every scrap of scribbly gun woodland I visit in the ACT and surrounds. Seems to do well under disturbance (loves roadsides).
October 12, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Hoary Sunray (Leucochrysum albicans) is listed Endangered federally as well as in Vic and NSW state legislation.
And I don't think it passes the sniff test. It is in every scrap of scribbly gun woodland I visit in the ACT and surrounds. Seems to do well under disturbance (loves roadsides).
And I don't think it passes the sniff test. It is in every scrap of scribbly gun woodland I visit in the ACT and surrounds. Seems to do well under disturbance (loves roadsides).
There's a perfect seasoning in the blend of
salt,
sugar,
MSG,
onion powder,
garlic powder,
white pepper,
chicken stock.
I just don't know the weights.
It's a high dimensional optimisation problem soluble only with wet-ware.
salt,
sugar,
MSG,
onion powder,
garlic powder,
white pepper,
chicken stock.
I just don't know the weights.
It's a high dimensional optimisation problem soluble only with wet-ware.
July 22, 2025 at 1:52 AM
There's a perfect seasoning in the blend of
salt,
sugar,
MSG,
onion powder,
garlic powder,
white pepper,
chicken stock.
I just don't know the weights.
It's a high dimensional optimisation problem soluble only with wet-ware.
salt,
sugar,
MSG,
onion powder,
garlic powder,
white pepper,
chicken stock.
I just don't know the weights.
It's a high dimensional optimisation problem soluble only with wet-ware.
UTC is *MINUS* 10 hours. But you know, what are details to a digital forensics specialist.
May 28, 2025 at 12:05 AM
UTC is *MINUS* 10 hours. But you know, what are details to a digital forensics specialist.
inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations...
Adding this mushroom to iNat project
"Mushrooms for reasonable doubt"
Adding this mushroom to iNat project
"Mushrooms for reasonable doubt"
Deathcap (Amanita phalloides)
Deathcap in May 2023 by Tom May. Under row of planted oak trees
inaturalist.ala.org.au
May 15, 2025 at 4:19 AM
inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations...
Adding this mushroom to iNat project
"Mushrooms for reasonable doubt"
Adding this mushroom to iNat project
"Mushrooms for reasonable doubt"
Murder trial testimony around mushroom identification and citizen science is utterly fascinating to me this week:
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05...
May 14, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Murder trial testimony around mushroom identification and citizen science is utterly fascinating to me this week:
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05...
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05...
Here's one of the @inaturalist.bsky.social observations allegedly used by Erin Patterson to forage up some death caps.
It was made by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria's leading mycologist.
inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations...
It was made by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria's leading mycologist.
inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations...
Deathcap (Amanita phalloides)
Deathcap in May 2023 by Tom May. Under row of planted oak trees
inaturalist.ala.org.au
May 6, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Here's one of the @inaturalist.bsky.social observations allegedly used by Erin Patterson to forage up some death caps.
It was made by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria's leading mycologist.
inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations...
It was made by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria's leading mycologist.
inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations...
How to take down a lottery.
1) Enlist a lottery BtoC to partner distribution for target lottery.
2) Buy and print 26 million $1 lottery tickets covering ~all combinations
3) PROFIT
Getting the stake down is always as much of an effort/art as finding the edge.
www.news.com.au/finance/mone...
1) Enlist a lottery BtoC to partner distribution for target lottery.
2) Buy and print 26 million $1 lottery tickets covering ~all combinations
3) PROFIT
Getting the stake down is always as much of an effort/art as finding the edge.
www.news.com.au/finance/mone...
www.news.com.au
April 15, 2025 at 12:08 AM
How to take down a lottery.
1) Enlist a lottery BtoC to partner distribution for target lottery.
2) Buy and print 26 million $1 lottery tickets covering ~all combinations
3) PROFIT
Getting the stake down is always as much of an effort/art as finding the edge.
www.news.com.au/finance/mone...
1) Enlist a lottery BtoC to partner distribution for target lottery.
2) Buy and print 26 million $1 lottery tickets covering ~all combinations
3) PROFIT
Getting the stake down is always as much of an effort/art as finding the edge.
www.news.com.au/finance/mone...
Reposted by Michael Brightwood
ALP firming in this betting market. 79% chance
April 10, 2025 at 3:28 AM
ALP firming in this betting market. 79% chance
Tomorrow morning I will do my first ecological fieldwork in over 6 years:
A volunteer bird survey (or four) for the Birds on Farms program @birdlifeoz.bsky.social
Hoping for Crested Shrike Tits and Diamond Firetails.
🦆
A volunteer bird survey (or four) for the Birds on Farms program @birdlifeoz.bsky.social
Hoping for Crested Shrike Tits and Diamond Firetails.
🦆
April 2, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Tomorrow morning I will do my first ecological fieldwork in over 6 years:
A volunteer bird survey (or four) for the Birds on Farms program @birdlifeoz.bsky.social
Hoping for Crested Shrike Tits and Diamond Firetails.
🦆
A volunteer bird survey (or four) for the Birds on Farms program @birdlifeoz.bsky.social
Hoping for Crested Shrike Tits and Diamond Firetails.
🦆
Labor pulling ahead on the betting markets in the last week.
March 26, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Labor pulling ahead on the betting markets in the last week.
Reposted by Michael Brightwood
Looks like 23andMe might be on the verge of shutting down. If you or a family member have used their services, now’s a good time to download and remove your data from their servers before it gets sold off. oag.ca.gov/news/press-r...
Attorney General Bonta Urgently Issues Consumer Alert for 23andMe Customers
Californians have the right to direct the company to delete their genetic data OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert to customers of 23andMe, a genetic testing ...
oag.ca.gov
March 24, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Looks like 23andMe might be on the verge of shutting down. If you or a family member have used their services, now’s a good time to download and remove your data from their servers before it gets sold off. oag.ca.gov/news/press-r...
Reposted by Michael Brightwood
Trying something new:
A 🧵 on a topic I find many students struggle with: "why do their 📊 look more professional than my 📊?"
It's *lots* of tiny decisions that aren't the defaults in many libraries, so let's break down 1 simple graph by @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social
🔗 www.ft.com/content/73a1...
A 🧵 on a topic I find many students struggle with: "why do their 📊 look more professional than my 📊?"
It's *lots* of tiny decisions that aren't the defaults in many libraries, so let's break down 1 simple graph by @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social
🔗 www.ft.com/content/73a1...
November 20, 2024 at 5:09 PM
Trying something new:
A 🧵 on a topic I find many students struggle with: "why do their 📊 look more professional than my 📊?"
It's *lots* of tiny decisions that aren't the defaults in many libraries, so let's break down 1 simple graph by @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social
🔗 www.ft.com/content/73a1...
A 🧵 on a topic I find many students struggle with: "why do their 📊 look more professional than my 📊?"
It's *lots* of tiny decisions that aren't the defaults in many libraries, so let's break down 1 simple graph by @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social
🔗 www.ft.com/content/73a1...
Just had four different recruiters approach me for the same single APS contract role.
What is this recruiter business model? How are four of them working on the same thing?
What is this recruiter business model? How are four of them working on the same thing?
March 21, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Just had four different recruiters approach me for the same single APS contract role.
What is this recruiter business model? How are four of them working on the same thing?
What is this recruiter business model? How are four of them working on the same thing?
ECRs will be advised to move countries/institutions for "experience", "breadth".
The real reason is that one is always seen as junior in the place one trains.
Orgs love the potential upside of the unknown person and don't see their flaws. They struggle seeing the developed talent as matured.
The real reason is that one is always seen as junior in the place one trains.
Orgs love the potential upside of the unknown person and don't see their flaws. They struggle seeing the developed talent as matured.
March 20, 2025 at 10:35 PM
ECRs will be advised to move countries/institutions for "experience", "breadth".
The real reason is that one is always seen as junior in the place one trains.
Orgs love the potential upside of the unknown person and don't see their flaws. They struggle seeing the developed talent as matured.
The real reason is that one is always seen as junior in the place one trains.
Orgs love the potential upside of the unknown person and don't see their flaws. They struggle seeing the developed talent as matured.
Reposted by Michael Brightwood
The UK has now issued a travel warning for the US: possible arrest or detention for failing to meet entry requirements.
March 20, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The UK has now issued a travel warning for the US: possible arrest or detention for failing to meet entry requirements.
Reposted by Michael Brightwood
To experiment with multi-agent systems you either need a clear business case and big budget, or you need to be a jabroni with a high credit limit.
I'm just the jabroni for the job, so I taught Claude to play chess, and learned a ton along the way:
jfkirk.github.io/posts/claude...
I'm just the jabroni for the job, so I taught Claude to play chess, and learned a ton along the way:
jfkirk.github.io/posts/claude...
Teaching Claude To Teach Claude To Play Chess
When AI competes against a powerful chess engine, it seems doomed - unless the AI learns how to cheat.
jfkirk.github.io
March 20, 2025 at 11:57 AM
To experiment with multi-agent systems you either need a clear business case and big budget, or you need to be a jabroni with a high credit limit.
I'm just the jabroni for the job, so I taught Claude to play chess, and learned a ton along the way:
jfkirk.github.io/posts/claude...
I'm just the jabroni for the job, so I taught Claude to play chess, and learned a ton along the way:
jfkirk.github.io/posts/claude...
March 11, 2025 at 5:18 AM
If I could time travel I would go back to 1978.
To a studio in Düsseldorf.
Kraftwerk are recording 'The Robots'.
I would tell those cats that 46 years later it is the most listened to song by a 4 year old in Canberra.
To a studio in Düsseldorf.
Kraftwerk are recording 'The Robots'.
I would tell those cats that 46 years later it is the most listened to song by a 4 year old in Canberra.
March 11, 2025 at 4:56 AM
If I could time travel I would go back to 1978.
To a studio in Düsseldorf.
Kraftwerk are recording 'The Robots'.
I would tell those cats that 46 years later it is the most listened to song by a 4 year old in Canberra.
To a studio in Düsseldorf.
Kraftwerk are recording 'The Robots'.
I would tell those cats that 46 years later it is the most listened to song by a 4 year old in Canberra.
Summer looks around the neighbourhood
February 27, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Summer looks around the neighbourhood
Reposted by Michael Brightwood
When I worked in UK academia I recall hearing of a Japanese man who was baffled at how Britain had decided to run its universities like firms. “Why? Your universities are excellent and your firms are terrible.”
To repeat: "A country so stupid it actively trashes one of things it's good at and famous for."
Today's university slashing and burning is Edinburgh, where about 10% of the budget will be cut. There'll be another case every single day until UK govts actually do something. A country so stupid it actively trashes one of things it's good at and famous for.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
February 25, 2025 at 10:24 PM
When I worked in UK academia I recall hearing of a Japanese man who was baffled at how Britain had decided to run its universities like firms. “Why? Your universities are excellent and your firms are terrible.”
r/fednews if you want to feel some fraction of the human cost right now in the US public service.
February 24, 2025 at 4:02 AM
r/fednews if you want to feel some fraction of the human cost right now in the US public service.
Reposted by Michael Brightwood
Recognising that it might not be best-practice data visualisation. has anyone seen a way that 2-colour arrows or lines might be used in ggplot2?
It's hard to come up with 18 single colours that are discernible & evocative of just one of the 18 AFL teams. 2-colours would make it much easier #rstats
It's hard to come up with 18 single colours that are discernible & evocative of just one of the 18 AFL teams. 2-colours would make it much easier #rstats
February 19, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Recognising that it might not be best-practice data visualisation. has anyone seen a way that 2-colour arrows or lines might be used in ggplot2?
It's hard to come up with 18 single colours that are discernible & evocative of just one of the 18 AFL teams. 2-colours would make it much easier #rstats
It's hard to come up with 18 single colours that are discernible & evocative of just one of the 18 AFL teams. 2-colours would make it much easier #rstats
The absolute ego and hubris of entrepreneur billionaires to think they have the answers to every problem.
The world is far more complex than business, innovation, and markets.
The world is far more complex than business, innovation, and markets.
USDA says it accidentally fired officials working on bird flu and is trying to rehire them
In a statement, an Agriculture Department spokesperson told NBC News that officials are "working to swiftly rectify the situation."
www.nbcnews.com/politics/dog...
In a statement, an Agriculture Department spokesperson told NBC News that officials are "working to swiftly rectify the situation."
www.nbcnews.com/politics/dog...
USDA says it accidentally fired officials working on bird flu and is trying to rehire them
In a statement, an Agriculture Department spokesperson told NBC News that officials are "working to swiftly rectify the situation."
www.nbcnews.com
February 19, 2025 at 12:49 AM
The absolute ego and hubris of entrepreneur billionaires to think they have the answers to every problem.
The world is far more complex than business, innovation, and markets.
The world is far more complex than business, innovation, and markets.
Reposted by Michael Brightwood
![Alt Text:
A screenshot from the Congress.gov website showing the title and details of H.R.1161, a proposed bill in the 119th Congress (2025-2026). The bill seeks to authorize the President of the United States to enter into negotiations to acquire Greenland and rename it “Red, White, and Blueland.” The bill is sponsored by Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter [R-GA-1] and was introduced on February 10, 2025. The House Foreign Affairs and Natural Resources committees are involved in reviewing the bill. The webpage features options for citation, subscription, sharing, and site feedback, along with a search bar and navigation menu at the top.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ckaz32jwl6t2cno6fmuw2nhn/bafkreieodzefaipeqqljngev63ammxrxffjdvn666he5ga4bjuhapjuxem@jpeg)
February 12, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Data nerds! Help please
What's your favourite packages for diff-in-diff with synthetic controls?
I'm seeing -
tcasusalinference
SyntheticControlMethods
Anything else?
What's your favourite packages for diff-in-diff with synthetic controls?
I'm seeing -
tcasusalinference
SyntheticControlMethods
Anything else?
February 12, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Data nerds! Help please
What's your favourite packages for diff-in-diff with synthetic controls?
I'm seeing -
tcasusalinference
SyntheticControlMethods
Anything else?
What's your favourite packages for diff-in-diff with synthetic controls?
I'm seeing -
tcasusalinference
SyntheticControlMethods
Anything else?