HR Smith
@strangerworks.bsky.social
San Francisco-based reporter for Mission Local, Bay Nature, etc etc. Exceedingly interested in most things.
Truly, the best editor is the kind of editor who calls you up and says "I have an assignment for you and that assignment is explain how spiders balloon using electricity."
This story by the great
@strangerworks.bsky.social filed under: spiders, spider goats, silkworms, a physicist out of his lane, the HMS Beagle, the US military, Krakatoa, "exquisitely sensitive" leg hairs, and our electric earth.
@baynature.org baynature.org/2025/09/18/h...
@strangerworks.bsky.social filed under: spiders, spider goats, silkworms, a physicist out of his lane, the HMS Beagle, the US military, Krakatoa, "exquisitely sensitive" leg hairs, and our electric earth.
@baynature.org baynature.org/2025/09/18/h...
How Spiders Fly - Bay Nature
Darwin saw them ballooning. Without any wind. Eventually some scientists figured out their electric secret.
baynature.org
October 1, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Truly, the best editor is the kind of editor who calls you up and says "I have an assignment for you and that assignment is explain how spiders balloon using electricity."
Absolutely loved being one of the editors on this bonkers story from @miss-elenius.bsky.social on a wildly addictive, perfectly legal drug whose side effects include (in one user) impulsively purchasing $4,000 worth of golfing equipment. missionlocal.org/2025/08/sf-s...
Scientists say this drug is stronger than morphine. It’s on sale over the counter.
The FDA says opiate-like drugs like 7OH are dangerous and addictive. Scientists say they need to be studied.
missionlocal.org
August 21, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Absolutely loved being one of the editors on this bonkers story from @miss-elenius.bsky.social on a wildly addictive, perfectly legal drug whose side effects include (in one user) impulsively purchasing $4,000 worth of golfing equipment. missionlocal.org/2025/08/sf-s...
Who has two thumbs and was incredibly excited to learn that Spike Lee just released a remake of Akira Kurosawa's sweaty anti-income inequality art noir masterpiece High and Low? This guy: www.portlandmercury.com/movies-and-t...
Movie Review: Highest 2 Lowest Is a Spike Lee Joint by an Akira Kurosawa Fan
For fans of making fun of Boston sports fans.
www.portlandmercury.com
August 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Who has two thumbs and was incredibly excited to learn that Spike Lee just released a remake of Akira Kurosawa's sweaty anti-income inequality art noir masterpiece High and Low? This guy: www.portlandmercury.com/movies-and-t...
Reposted by HR Smith
Good luck, little butterflies! No presh.
Some hopeful news amid the turmoil, from @strangerworks.bsky.social for @baynature.org 🌎https://baynature.org/2025/05/01/survival-of-the-flittest-relocated-butterflies-are-spotted-in-san-francisco/
Some hopeful news amid the turmoil, from @strangerworks.bsky.social for @baynature.org 🌎https://baynature.org/2025/05/01/survival-of-the-flittest-relocated-butterflies-are-spotted-in-san-francisco/
Survival of the Flittest: Relocated Butterflies Are Spotted in San Francisco - Bay Nature
At a recent release, volunteers help a new batch of silvery blues adjust to city life.
baynature.org
May 1, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Good luck, little butterflies! No presh.
Some hopeful news amid the turmoil, from @strangerworks.bsky.social for @baynature.org 🌎https://baynature.org/2025/05/01/survival-of-the-flittest-relocated-butterflies-are-spotted-in-san-francisco/
Some hopeful news amid the turmoil, from @strangerworks.bsky.social for @baynature.org 🌎https://baynature.org/2025/05/01/survival-of-the-flittest-relocated-butterflies-are-spotted-in-san-francisco/
Love a good second-day story that points out that the current DA is quoted as admitting to a freaking misdemeanor in the first-day story, and yet somehow that is not noted or contextualized (IT IS CONTEXTUALIZED HERE. COME HERE FOR THE CONTEXT).
DA Brooke Jenkins has, in her years atop the office, moved drastically away from the diversion programs championed by her ousted predecessor, Chesa Boudin.
Now, to borrow the line from the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean," *she's in one.*
missionlocal.org/2025/04/broo...
From @esksf.bsky.social
Now, to borrow the line from the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean," *she's in one.*
missionlocal.org/2025/04/broo...
From @esksf.bsky.social
DA Brooke Jenkins, in the ultimate irony, is placed in diversionary program
DA’s stated rationale to State Bar for downloading and disseminating privileged information appears to be a tacit admission of breaking the law
missionlocal.org
April 9, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Love a good second-day story that points out that the current DA is quoted as admitting to a freaking misdemeanor in the first-day story, and yet somehow that is not noted or contextualized (IT IS CONTEXTUALIZED HERE. COME HERE FOR THE CONTEXT).
This promises to be a civic gossip/civic policy spectacular.
Do you have plans Thursday evening? You could do worse than joining me for a panel discussion on the strange and terrible scene around 16th and Mission — its past, present and future.
www.eventbrite.com/e/mission-lo...
www.eventbrite.com/e/mission-lo...
Mission Local Live - Strange and terrible times at 16th and Mission
Join Joe Eskenazi and guests to discuss the chaos at the 16th Street BART Plaza.
www.eventbrite.com
April 9, 2025 at 4:41 AM
This promises to be a civic gossip/civic policy spectacular.
Reposted by HR Smith
Hey! A lot of our reporters and editors are on Bluesky — give them a follow!
We're posting here every day, and we're already seeing ~much~ better engagement than at the other place. Thanks to everyone on here making that happen.
go.bsky.app/ESTn14E
We're posting here every day, and we're already seeing ~much~ better engagement than at the other place. Thanks to everyone on here making that happen.
go.bsky.app/ESTn14E
December 10, 2024 at 10:12 PM
Hey! A lot of our reporters and editors are on Bluesky — give them a follow!
We're posting here every day, and we're already seeing ~much~ better engagement than at the other place. Thanks to everyone on here making that happen.
go.bsky.app/ESTn14E
We're posting here every day, and we're already seeing ~much~ better engagement than at the other place. Thanks to everyone on here making that happen.
go.bsky.app/ESTn14E
"It was never clear to me — other than being a bunch of assholes — what it is you guys want?" is but one highlight of this exit interview that @esksf.bsky.social and I did with Aaron Peskin for @missionlocal.org. missionlocal.org/2025/01/sf-a...
January 9, 2025 at 9:56 PM
"It was never clear to me — other than being a bunch of assholes — what it is you guys want?" is but one highlight of this exit interview that @esksf.bsky.social and I did with Aaron Peskin for @missionlocal.org. missionlocal.org/2025/01/sf-a...
Reposted by HR Smith
If you're mad at the health insurance industry — and you should be! — then please remember that every U.S. state has a department of insurance that regulates these insurers.
The DoI can come down on them like a ton of bricks for fraudulent behavior. You can file complaints, talk to state reps, etc.
The DoI can come down on them like a ton of bricks for fraudulent behavior. You can file complaints, talk to state reps, etc.
December 6, 2024 at 9:38 PM
If you're mad at the health insurance industry — and you should be! — then please remember that every U.S. state has a department of insurance that regulates these insurers.
The DoI can come down on them like a ton of bricks for fraudulent behavior. You can file complaints, talk to state reps, etc.
The DoI can come down on them like a ton of bricks for fraudulent behavior. You can file complaints, talk to state reps, etc.
Loved so much about Queer, but when I saw the word "Joan" in the credits at the press screening my first thought was, "You have got to be fucking kidding me." www.portlandmercury.com/movies-and-t...
Film Review: In "Queer" Luca Guadagino Manages to Make William Burroughs Seem Romantic
Luca Guadagnino is a great editor of other people’s love stories. With this past spring's Challengers, he took a fairly basic screenplay about tennis bros and queered it up to 11. In Bones and All (20...
www.portlandmercury.com
December 6, 2024 at 6:04 AM
Loved so much about Queer, but when I saw the word "Joan" in the credits at the press screening my first thought was, "You have got to be fucking kidding me." www.portlandmercury.com/movies-and-t...
Love this history — I've never heard of the Polaroid Revolutionary Workers' Movement before now.
Echoing the Polaroid Revolutionary Workers' Movement and Science for the People, @timnitgebru.bsky.social asks again: Who is tech really for?
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/s...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/s...
As War Rages, Tech Workers Are Protesting
As Silicon Valley chases military tech and funding, it’s losing sight of what inspires its workers.
www.nytimes.com
December 5, 2024 at 6:44 PM
Love this history — I've never heard of the Polaroid Revolutionary Workers' Movement before now.
When the same outfit trying to resurrect the woolly mammoth decided to bring back an extinct insect, they went about things very differently. Many thanks to Bay Nature, Kate Golden, and above all things Durrell Kapan for this road trip with a cooler full of butterflies. baynature.org/2024/04/15/t...
April 15, 2024 at 8:27 PM
When the same outfit trying to resurrect the woolly mammoth decided to bring back an extinct insect, they went about things very differently. Many thanks to Bay Nature, Kate Golden, and above all things Durrell Kapan for this road trip with a cooler full of butterflies. baynature.org/2024/04/15/t...
So grateful for these months of deep obsession with riparian ecology, the history of California’s state park system, and the most badass basket weavers I have ever had the pleasure of speaking with. baynature.org/article/afte...
Dos Rios Ranch Is the Everything Park - Bay Nature
Dos Rios Ranch State Park, in the Central Valley, is a test of California’s ability to adapt to the future—and learn from the past.
baynature.org
March 26, 2024 at 4:23 PM
So grateful for these months of deep obsession with riparian ecology, the history of California’s state park system, and the most badass basket weavers I have ever had the pleasure of speaking with. baynature.org/article/afte...
Reposted by HR Smith
Y'all I am SO excited for this. 🧪
Are you in NYC on April 10?
Do you wanna hear about how we talk about animals we HATE?!
This talk is for you it's me and @bug-gwen.bsky.social! THE DREAM TEAM. journalism.nyu.edu/about-us/eve...
Are you in NYC on April 10?
Do you wanna hear about how we talk about animals we HATE?!
This talk is for you it's me and @bug-gwen.bsky.social! THE DREAM TEAM. journalism.nyu.edu/about-us/eve...
Creepy, Crawly, and Uncharismatic: Telling the Stories of Unloved Animals - NYU Journalism
A conversation with Bethany Brookshire and Gwen Pearson.
journalism.nyu.edu
February 22, 2024 at 2:49 PM
Y'all I am SO excited for this. 🧪
Are you in NYC on April 10?
Do you wanna hear about how we talk about animals we HATE?!
This talk is for you it's me and @bug-gwen.bsky.social! THE DREAM TEAM. journalism.nyu.edu/about-us/eve...
Are you in NYC on April 10?
Do you wanna hear about how we talk about animals we HATE?!
This talk is for you it's me and @bug-gwen.bsky.social! THE DREAM TEAM. journalism.nyu.edu/about-us/eve...
Reposted by HR Smith
So... if you ever wrote anything for Vice, today might be a good day to start saving those PDFs
February 22, 2024 at 3:31 PM
So... if you ever wrote anything for Vice, today might be a good day to start saving those PDFs
First time I’ve called someone to do a fact-check and they’ve put me on speakerphone so that they can sort abalone shells at the same time.
February 14, 2024 at 12:46 AM
First time I’ve called someone to do a fact-check and they’ve put me on speakerphone so that they can sort abalone shells at the same time.
Today's archival read: Frederick Law Olmsted Jr's survey of the state of California, with an eye towards what should be turned into state park land. babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc...
Report of state park survey of California. Prepared for the California State park commission by Fred...
Report of state park survey of California. Prepared for the California State park commission by Frederick Law Olmsted.
babel.hathitrust.org
November 9, 2023 at 8:56 PM
Today's archival read: Frederick Law Olmsted Jr's survey of the state of California, with an eye towards what should be turned into state park land. babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc...
Reposted by HR Smith
One of the things that I learned from working on a podcast about climate solutions is telling people the solution is to vote is limiting because it suggests that they aren't the adults in the room. One of the coolest bits was when a dude told us we'd inspired him to *run* for utility board
November 8, 2023 at 3:03 AM
One of the things that I learned from working on a podcast about climate solutions is telling people the solution is to vote is limiting because it suggests that they aren't the adults in the room. One of the coolest bits was when a dude told us we'd inspired him to *run* for utility board
This absolute treasure of a nightlife story in the @portlandmercury makes me long for the days of living in a city with a decent alt-weekly. www.portlandmercury.com/culture/2023...
November 8, 2023 at 9:11 PM
This absolute treasure of a nightlife story in the @portlandmercury makes me long for the days of living in a city with a decent alt-weekly. www.portlandmercury.com/culture/2023...
Reposted by HR Smith
i like a true crab/i like a false crab/i like a cute crab/i like a pointy crab/a long crab/a crab in ammonite/get your nails did/carcinze tonight
Got reminded by @jopabinia.bsky.social that this is the 1st anniversary of my poster showing the diversity of fossil crabs.
True crabs, false crabs, cute crab, long crab, pointy crab, crab in ammonite, we have it all. 🦀 🎨 🐡
Poster available from: www.redbubble.com/people/franz...
True crabs, false crabs, cute crab, long crab, pointy crab, crab in ammonite, we have it all. 🦀 🎨 🐡
Poster available from: www.redbubble.com/people/franz...
November 8, 2023 at 5:08 PM
i like a true crab/i like a false crab/i like a cute crab/i like a pointy crab/a long crab/a crab in ammonite/get your nails did/carcinze tonight
Bart police leave the train car, whereupon competing interests instantly crank up their respective smooth jams.
October 30, 2023 at 11:08 PM
Bart police leave the train car, whereupon competing interests instantly crank up their respective smooth jams.
After a 100+ years of California wiping out of wild ecosystems, look who's crawling back to native plants begging them for little flood control, a little hillside stabilization, a little groundwater recharge? But there's a catch. Where you going to get those wild seeds from?
The Native Seed Gold Rush - Bay Nature
Big environmental dreams—and disasters—have created demand. Now it's time to worry about supply.
baynature.org
October 23, 2023 at 8:45 PM
After a 100+ years of California wiping out of wild ecosystems, look who's crawling back to native plants begging them for little flood control, a little hillside stabilization, a little groundwater recharge? But there's a catch. Where you going to get those wild seeds from?
Late to this essay, but this rings so true: "A quarter of all animal species known to science are beetles. Look into the mirror. Are you so sure you're not a beetle yourself?"
icymi, Defector had the honor of publishing a personal essay by A. Beetle after they were outed in the hallowed pages of Zootaxa.
defector.com/how-do-you-d...
defector.com/how-do-you-d...
How Do You Do, Fellow Termites? | Defector
It's me, a fellow termite!
defector.com
October 16, 2023 at 7:05 PM
Late to this essay, but this rings so true: "A quarter of all animal species known to science are beetles. Look into the mirror. Are you so sure you're not a beetle yourself?"
Woke up this morning with the dim memory of saying, with great excitement, "It's called no-till farming but you can STILL PLOW" to some unfortunate soul at a party.
October 16, 2023 at 6:57 PM
Woke up this morning with the dim memory of saying, with great excitement, "It's called no-till farming but you can STILL PLOW" to some unfortunate soul at a party.
Amazing opportunity! Tell all your bb science journalist friends! Would that this opportunity had been around when I was a sproutling, trying to write way above my skill level for publications that didn't always fact-check, filled with raw terror of making grievous mistakes!
We are looking for our next early-career fellows! Spend 10-months working with a mentor and as part of the TON community in this part-time, remote opportunity. Stipend: $6,000. Apply by 10/31: www.theopennotebook.com/early-career...
Early-Career Fellowship Program - The Open Notebook
Every year, The Open Notebook offers a paid, part-time fellowship program for early-career science journalists. This ten-month program offers fellows the opportunity to explore their career interest...
www.theopennotebook.com
October 6, 2023 at 7:22 PM
Amazing opportunity! Tell all your bb science journalist friends! Would that this opportunity had been around when I was a sproutling, trying to write way above my skill level for publications that didn't always fact-check, filled with raw terror of making grievous mistakes!