Joe Mason
@moreorloess.bsky.social
UW Madison Geography, opinions are mine. Geomorphology, soils, dunes, loess, in the Midwest, Great Plains, northern China. He/him. Living on Ho-Chunk lands.
Reposted by Joe Mason
It's easy to see shoddy research as a bad actor problem. But if AI slop like this can make it through editors and peer reviewers, it means there are systemic problems at work. And I'd argue that at least part of the problem is the overwork culture in academia-- pressure to do more while caring less.
"Runctitiononal features"? "Medical fymblal"? "1 Tol Line storee"? This gets worse the longer you look at it. But it's got to be good, because it was published in Nature Scientific Reports last week: www.nature.com/articles/s41... h/t @asa.tsbalans.se
November 28, 2025 at 5:18 PM
It's easy to see shoddy research as a bad actor problem. But if AI slop like this can make it through editors and peer reviewers, it means there are systemic problems at work. And I'd argue that at least part of the problem is the overwork culture in academia-- pressure to do more while caring less.
Pretty obvious contrast between Wisconsin and adjacent states, related to regulation here, I believe.
November 28, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Pretty obvious contrast between Wisconsin and adjacent states, related to regulation here, I believe.
"Got the snowblower ready?"
"Yep, put air in the tires and started it up"
"But one of those old guys will get up early and clear our whole side of the block, anyway"
"Yep, put air in the tires and started it up"
"But one of those old guys will get up early and clear our whole side of the block, anyway"
Here's a map of the latest NWS forecast showing a widespread, hefty blanket of snow headed for the Midwest this weekend.
November 28, 2025 at 5:40 PM
"Got the snowblower ready?"
"Yep, put air in the tires and started it up"
"But one of those old guys will get up early and clear our whole side of the block, anyway"
"Yep, put air in the tires and started it up"
"But one of those old guys will get up early and clear our whole side of the block, anyway"
Gray Wolf
Eastern Timber Rattlesnake
Bighorn Sheep
Coati
African Elephant
Eastern Timber Rattlesnake
Bighorn Sheep
Coati
African Elephant
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
Lion
Giraffe
Hippopotamus
Wildebeest
African Elephant
Lion
Giraffe
Hippopotamus
Wildebeest
African Elephant
Introduce yourself with 5 animals you've seen in the wild:
Caribou
Ravens
Seals
Kea
Turkeys
Caribou
Ravens
Seals
Kea
Turkeys
November 28, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Gray Wolf
Eastern Timber Rattlesnake
Bighorn Sheep
Coati
African Elephant
Eastern Timber Rattlesnake
Bighorn Sheep
Coati
African Elephant
Reposted by Joe Mason
Tule fog fills California’s Central Valley.
November 28, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Tule fog fills California’s Central Valley.
Reposted by Joe Mason
We need to get everyone up to speed on the vile Great Replacement Theory. Noxious & absurd though it is, it has many powerful believers among conservatives. And it shapes — you might say, determines — the Trump regime's immigration policy. theconversation.com/what-is-the-...
November 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
We need to get everyone up to speed on the vile Great Replacement Theory. Noxious & absurd though it is, it has many powerful believers among conservatives. And it shapes — you might say, determines — the Trump regime's immigration policy. theconversation.com/what-is-the-...
Reposted by Joe Mason
A little pet peeve. It’s not exactly that tropical rainforests have “gone from being allies in the fight against climate breakdown to being part of the problem.” Forests lose carbon when people cut them (or via fire) and gain carbon when trees grow. It’s that the losing is outweighing the gaining.
Africa’s forests transformed from carbon sink to carbon source, study finds
Alarming shift since 2010 means planet’s three main rainforest regions now contribute to climate breakdown
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:40 PM
A little pet peeve. It’s not exactly that tropical rainforests have “gone from being allies in the fight against climate breakdown to being part of the problem.” Forests lose carbon when people cut them (or via fire) and gain carbon when trees grow. It’s that the losing is outweighing the gaining.
It's worth looking closely at Figure 2 in this paper to appreciate how high rates of biomass loss in local areas are outweighing gains at much lower rates over much larger areas of forest. Also gains related to shrub/tree encroachment in savanna. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Africa’s forests transformed from carbon sink to carbon source, study finds
Alarming shift since 2010 means planet’s three main rainforest regions now contribute to climate breakdown
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:09 PM
It's worth looking closely at Figure 2 in this paper to appreciate how high rates of biomass loss in local areas are outweighing gains at much lower rates over much larger areas of forest. Also gains related to shrub/tree encroachment in savanna. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Joe Mason
The recent seiche on Lake Erie, driven by strong NE winds, resulted in a remarkable tilting of lake levels. This particular seiche resulted in a lake-level difference of about 8-10 ft. Here is a plot of lake levels in Buffalo and Toledo (at either end of Lake Erie).
#LakeErie #seiche
#LakeErie #seiche
November 28, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Reposted by Joe Mason
Honestly this is why part of me has always felt a little gross about hitting Hegseth over his drinking problem. Like yeah, I don’t love the notion of a SecDef who isn’t interested in working on regulating his alcohol intake, but he is complete trash whether sober or not?
I am a little tired of being yelled at for this but apparently not tired about: heroin addiction is not RFK’s problem. He’s a sociopath. Most addicts aren’t. Honestly, walk into an NA meeting, grab the first person with a few years to be head of HHS and they’d probably do a better job than Bobby.
This is what happens when you put a privileged, 14 year heroin addict in charge of health. Duh
November 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Honestly this is why part of me has always felt a little gross about hitting Hegseth over his drinking problem. Like yeah, I don’t love the notion of a SecDef who isn’t interested in working on regulating his alcohol intake, but he is complete trash whether sober or not?
Reposted by Joe Mason
You might like another view of the Snoqualmie River, east of Seattle, WA, USA. I did.
November 28, 2025 at 2:02 AM
You might like another view of the Snoqualmie River, east of Seattle, WA, USA. I did.
Reposted by Joe Mason
12 million year old bone-crushing dog tracks!
New article on research we presented at the recent Vert Paleo conference in the UK.
Lots of on-going work at Ashfall Fossil Beds @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social
Happy Thanksgiving for those in the states. 🦃
www.livescience.com/animals/exti...
New article on research we presented at the recent Vert Paleo conference in the UK.
Lots of on-going work at Ashfall Fossil Beds @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social
Happy Thanksgiving for those in the states. 🦃
www.livescience.com/animals/exti...
Large, bone-crushing dogs stalked 'Rhino Pompeii' after Yellowstone eruption 12 million years ago, ancient footprints reveal
Researchers have found footprints of large, bone-crushing dogs in the 12 million-year-old Ashfall Fossil Beds in northeastern Nebraska, suggesting these large carnivores may have survived a cataclysmi...
www.livescience.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:01 PM
12 million year old bone-crushing dog tracks!
New article on research we presented at the recent Vert Paleo conference in the UK.
Lots of on-going work at Ashfall Fossil Beds @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social
Happy Thanksgiving for those in the states. 🦃
www.livescience.com/animals/exti...
New article on research we presented at the recent Vert Paleo conference in the UK.
Lots of on-going work at Ashfall Fossil Beds @unsmmorrillhall.bsky.social
Happy Thanksgiving for those in the states. 🦃
www.livescience.com/animals/exti...
Before he became an academic and then a target of Joe McCarthy, Owen Lattimore traveled with a camel caravan from Beijing to the Tarim Basin in the 1920s, eventually going on to Kashgar.
A camel train leaving Peking, early 1920s by Herbert G Ponting. Camels arrived with coal,fruit, charcoal or vegetables from the Western Hills nearby or from further with tea etc. But, they left with at best some rugs, grass mats (pongs) or small toys and other items for the return journey….
November 27, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Before he became an academic and then a target of Joe McCarthy, Owen Lattimore traveled with a camel caravan from Beijing to the Tarim Basin in the 1920s, eventually going on to Kashgar.
An eclectic five concerts:
Ian and Sylvia, Ravinia, 1960s.
Arlo Guthrie, Chicago Opera House, ca. 1974.
Frank Zappa, St Paul Coliseum, 1974.
Mc Coy Tyner, Orpheum Theater, Madison, late 70s.
Peter and Lou Berryman, Washington Hotel, Madison, late 70s.
Ian and Sylvia, Ravinia, 1960s.
Arlo Guthrie, Chicago Opera House, ca. 1974.
Frank Zappa, St Paul Coliseum, 1974.
Mc Coy Tyner, Orpheum Theater, Madison, late 70s.
Peter and Lou Berryman, Washington Hotel, Madison, late 70s.
Linkin Park (2001)
Slayer (Ozzfest '05)
Mogwai (2006)
Swans (2012, I think)
Boris, 2024 (Amplifier Worship tour)
Slayer (Ozzfest '05)
Mogwai (2006)
Swans (2012, I think)
Boris, 2024 (Amplifier Worship tour)
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you've seen
Jethro Tull
Immolation
Nile
Jean-Luc Ponty
Uriah Heep
Jethro Tull
Immolation
Nile
Jean-Luc Ponty
Uriah Heep
November 27, 2025 at 11:37 PM
An eclectic five concerts:
Ian and Sylvia, Ravinia, 1960s.
Arlo Guthrie, Chicago Opera House, ca. 1974.
Frank Zappa, St Paul Coliseum, 1974.
Mc Coy Tyner, Orpheum Theater, Madison, late 70s.
Peter and Lou Berryman, Washington Hotel, Madison, late 70s.
Ian and Sylvia, Ravinia, 1960s.
Arlo Guthrie, Chicago Opera House, ca. 1974.
Frank Zappa, St Paul Coliseum, 1974.
Mc Coy Tyner, Orpheum Theater, Madison, late 70s.
Peter and Lou Berryman, Washington Hotel, Madison, late 70s.
Reposted by Joe Mason
Enjoy our smoking lounge
Winneconne, WI
Winneconne, WI
November 27, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Enjoy our smoking lounge
Winneconne, WI
Winneconne, WI
Reposted by Joe Mason
Although it is also worth noting that there remain Wampanoag ("People of the First Light") communities on Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard even today; their important and remarkable history is tied to far more than simply Thanksgiving.
mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov
mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe | People of the First Light
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is a federally recognized tribe located in Eastern Massachusetts. The Tribe have inhabited the land for over 12,000 years and welcomed the Pilgrims that arrived on the Mayf...
mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov
November 27, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Although it is also worth noting that there remain Wampanoag ("People of the First Light") communities on Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard even today; their important and remarkable history is tied to far more than simply Thanksgiving.
mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov
mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov
Whoa. Looks like greater than 4 ft water level rise at the east end of Lake Erie at Buffalo today. Winds are blowing east-northeast parallel to the long axis of the lake. See news stories in replies.
November 27, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Whoa. Looks like greater than 4 ft water level rise at the east end of Lake Erie at Buffalo today. Winds are blowing east-northeast parallel to the long axis of the lake. See news stories in replies.
Water level at Port Inland, Michigan (south-facing coast on northern Lake Michigan) rose this morning and is now dropping as the cyclone moves east. Turning into the typical time sink when I stumble upon some interesting phenomenon that's well-known but has just caught my attention.
November 27, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Water level at Port Inland, Michigan (south-facing coast on northern Lake Michigan) rose this morning and is now dropping as the cyclone moves east. Turning into the typical time sink when I stumble upon some interesting phenomenon that's well-known but has just caught my attention.
Water level since yesterday morning at Grand Marais, Minnesota (northwest shore of Lake Superior) and Point Iroquois, Michigan (southeast end of Lake Superior).
November 26, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Water level since yesterday morning at Grand Marais, Minnesota (northwest shore of Lake Superior) and Point Iroquois, Michigan (southeast end of Lake Superior).
Hans Jenny's concept of the soil indicatrix never really took off.
November 26, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Hans Jenny's concept of the soil indicatrix never really took off.
Reposted by Joe Mason
Landmark move: New York City's comptroller @bradlander.bsky.social, with hundreds of billions under his control, recommends dropping investment giant Blackrock because they won't reckon with climate change.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
NYC’s Lander Recommends Dropping $42 Billion BlackRock Mandate
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is urging three of the city’s pension funds to drop BlackRock Inc. because of “inadequate” climate plans, the latest move to penalize investment firms for failing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Landmark move: New York City's comptroller @bradlander.bsky.social, with hundreds of billions under his control, recommends dropping investment giant Blackrock because they won't reckon with climate change.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Meanwhile the soil temperature at a little over a meter depth (40 inches) is just slowly, slowly easing toward winter (still relatively balmy down there, though).
November 26, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Meanwhile the soil temperature at a little over a meter depth (40 inches) is just slowly, slowly easing toward winter (still relatively balmy down there, though).
A month (almost) of midlatitude weather in wind data from the Arlington mesonet site, in open fields north of Madison. Solid blue is wind direction swinging back and forth, open circles are wind gusts, peaking with NW to N winds. Just had the strongest gust of the month so far, more to come this AM.
November 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
A month (almost) of midlatitude weather in wind data from the Arlington mesonet site, in open fields north of Madison. Solid blue is wind direction swinging back and forth, open circles are wind gusts, peaking with NW to N winds. Just had the strongest gust of the month so far, more to come this AM.
Sitting in our living room watching and hearing the wind gusts pick up outside.
November 26, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Sitting in our living room watching and hearing the wind gusts pick up outside.