Ahmad Barclay
@bothness.bsky.social
Architect // #DataViz storyteller // UX coder. Making useful stuff with #OpenData at the ONS. Occasionally #PalOpenMaps. Views my own. Portfolio @ ahmadbarclay.com
Pinned
Ahmad Barclay
@bothness.bsky.social
· Dec 24
Ever wanted to waste infinity hours doing tile puzzles of every place in the world? Well, now you can with #AnyMapPuzzle
You can play for free, forever (literally), at bothness.github.io/anymap
You can play for free, forever (literally), at bothness.github.io/anymap
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
#30DayMapChallenge
Day 1: Points
Worked on this experimental dot density map using UK population data by age and sex. The points are generated and coloured in real-time as you explore the map.
onsdigital.github.io/dot-map-poc/
1/3
Day 1: Points
Worked on this experimental dot density map using UK population data by age and sex. The points are generated and coloured in real-time as you explore the map.
onsdigital.github.io/dot-map-poc/
1/3
November 1, 2025 at 8:50 AM
#30DayMapChallenge
Day 1: Points
Worked on this experimental dot density map using UK population data by age and sex. The points are generated and coloured in real-time as you explore the map.
onsdigital.github.io/dot-map-poc/
1/3
Day 1: Points
Worked on this experimental dot density map using UK population data by age and sex. The points are generated and coloured in real-time as you explore the map.
onsdigital.github.io/dot-map-poc/
1/3
#30DayMapChallenge
Day 1: Points
Worked on this experimental dot density map using UK population data by age and sex. The points are generated and coloured in real-time as you explore the map.
onsdigital.github.io/dot-map-poc/
1/3
Day 1: Points
Worked on this experimental dot density map using UK population data by age and sex. The points are generated and coloured in real-time as you explore the map.
onsdigital.github.io/dot-map-poc/
1/3
November 1, 2025 at 8:50 AM
#30DayMapChallenge
Day 1: Points
Worked on this experimental dot density map using UK population data by age and sex. The points are generated and coloured in real-time as you explore the map.
onsdigital.github.io/dot-map-poc/
1/3
Day 1: Points
Worked on this experimental dot density map using UK population data by age and sex. The points are generated and coloured in real-time as you explore the map.
onsdigital.github.io/dot-map-poc/
1/3
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
Won't lie - it has been a bit of a lifelong dream to work on the release of Indice of Deprivations interactive offer...
...very proud of what the team has delivered today. Check it
out - deprivation.communities.gov.uk
...very proud of what the team has delivered today. Check it
out - deprivation.communities.gov.uk
October 30, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Won't lie - it has been a bit of a lifelong dream to work on the release of Indice of Deprivations interactive offer...
...very proud of what the team has delivered today. Check it
out - deprivation.communities.gov.uk
...very proud of what the team has delivered today. Check it
out - deprivation.communities.gov.uk
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
I've written a short blog post introducing "The Art of Visualization with ggplot2"!
This book is all about the end-to-end process of creating charts with #ggplot2 📊 including data wrangling, sketching, and styling your plots!
nrennie.rbind.io/blog/art-of-...
#RStats #DataViz #TidyTuesday
This book is all about the end-to-end process of creating charts with #ggplot2 📊 including data wrangling, sketching, and styling your plots!
nrennie.rbind.io/blog/art-of-...
#RStats #DataViz #TidyTuesday
Introducing The Art of Visualization with ggplot2 – Nicola Rennie
I’ve written a book! This blog post gives a brief introduction to The Art of Visualization with ggplot2, a book of data visualization case studies showing the end-to-end process of building charts, st...
nrennie.rbind.io
September 11, 2025 at 2:32 PM
I've written a short blog post introducing "The Art of Visualization with ggplot2"!
This book is all about the end-to-end process of creating charts with #ggplot2 📊 including data wrangling, sketching, and styling your plots!
nrennie.rbind.io/blog/art-of-...
#RStats #DataViz #TidyTuesday
This book is all about the end-to-end process of creating charts with #ggplot2 📊 including data wrangling, sketching, and styling your plots!
nrennie.rbind.io/blog/art-of-...
#RStats #DataViz #TidyTuesday
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
Why would someone pay $20k for a robot controlled by a human in a remote location to do things more slowly and clumsily when the median wage for a maid or housekeeper is $33k per year, which is typically spread across 10-20 households?
October 29, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Why would someone pay $20k for a robot controlled by a human in a remote location to do things more slowly and clumsily when the median wage for a maid or housekeeper is $33k per year, which is typically spread across 10-20 households?
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
"Can't miss the boat"
"Embrace it or be left behind"
"You'll be replaced by someone using AI"
These are all marketing slogans that prey on FOMO rather than value propositions. Anyone making decisions based on this kind of shaky logic is just another layer in the pyramid scheme.
"Embrace it or be left behind"
"You'll be replaced by someone using AI"
These are all marketing slogans that prey on FOMO rather than value propositions. Anyone making decisions based on this kind of shaky logic is just another layer in the pyramid scheme.
“When someone says we can’t miss the boat, I ask: where is the boat going? What exactly will this technology improve? That’s rarely discussed. Since when did we become Big Tech's free PR department?”
— says Nicky DRIES, Future of Work Lab at the Catholic University of Leuven
— says Nicky DRIES, Future of Work Lab at the Catholic University of Leuven
October 28, 2025 at 1:05 PM
"Can't miss the boat"
"Embrace it or be left behind"
"You'll be replaced by someone using AI"
These are all marketing slogans that prey on FOMO rather than value propositions. Anyone making decisions based on this kind of shaky logic is just another layer in the pyramid scheme.
"Embrace it or be left behind"
"You'll be replaced by someone using AI"
These are all marketing slogans that prey on FOMO rather than value propositions. Anyone making decisions based on this kind of shaky logic is just another layer in the pyramid scheme.
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
Coders: help mentor Gaza's CS students! Final year university students in Gaza are looking for mentorship in completing their undergraduate projects. Great opportunity to help students suffering under occupation.
updates.techforpalestine.org/introducing-...
updates.techforpalestine.org/introducing-...
Announcing: A Mentorship Program Helping Gaza’s Tech Students Graduate
We are introducing a global mentorship initiative connecting experienced tech professionals with students in Gaza to help them finish graduation projects, build industry-ready skills, and access…
updates.techforpalestine.org
October 24, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Coders: help mentor Gaza's CS students! Final year university students in Gaza are looking for mentorship in completing their undergraduate projects. Great opportunity to help students suffering under occupation.
updates.techforpalestine.org/introducing-...
updates.techforpalestine.org/introducing-...
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
Do you want a bit more sketchiness in your #datavis?
Here's my @observablehq.com Plot plugin that turns an Plot specification into a sketchy version with minimal extra work:
observablehq.com/@jwolondon/m...
Builds on the work of Gordon Tu and rough.js
Here's my @observablehq.com Plot plugin that turns an Plot specification into a sketchy version with minimal extra work:
observablehq.com/@jwolondon/m...
Builds on the work of Gordon Tu and rough.js
October 19, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Do you want a bit more sketchiness in your #datavis?
Here's my @observablehq.com Plot plugin that turns an Plot specification into a sketchy version with minimal extra work:
observablehq.com/@jwolondon/m...
Builds on the work of Gordon Tu and rough.js
Here's my @observablehq.com Plot plugin that turns an Plot specification into a sketchy version with minimal extra work:
observablehq.com/@jwolondon/m...
Builds on the work of Gordon Tu and rough.js
Only good omen for #ManUtd is that in 1992/93 they went on to win their first league title in a quarter of a century! #MOTD
With just four points from four games (W1 D1 L2), this is Manchester United’s poorest start to a league season since 1992-93, when they also had four points from their opening four matches under Alex Ferguson. (opta)
September 14, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
Join us a week today!
Speakers include:
- @bothness.bsky.social, ONS, on 'Surfacing Local Insights: Mapping, Scrollytelling and (Semi)Automation'
- Andrea Barry, Youth Futures Foundation, on their data dashboard
- Leonardo Mazzone, Dept for Business and Trade, on matching companies across datasets
Speakers include:
- @bothness.bsky.social, ONS, on 'Surfacing Local Insights: Mapping, Scrollytelling and (Semi)Automation'
- Andrea Barry, Youth Futures Foundation, on their data dashboard
- Leonardo Mazzone, Dept for Business and Trade, on matching companies across datasets
Do you like hearing from people doing interesting things with data?
Do you enjoy chatting to fun data people over some free drinks?
Can you tolerate a few bad jokes with some charts?
Then next week's @publicdigital.bsky.social Data Bites is the event for you - 6pm, Thursday 18 September
Join us!
Do you enjoy chatting to fun data people over some free drinks?
Can you tolerate a few bad jokes with some charts?
Then next week's @publicdigital.bsky.social Data Bites is the event for you - 6pm, Thursday 18 September
Join us!
Data Bites #58 — Public Digital
public.digital
September 11, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Join us a week today!
Speakers include:
- @bothness.bsky.social, ONS, on 'Surfacing Local Insights: Mapping, Scrollytelling and (Semi)Automation'
- Andrea Barry, Youth Futures Foundation, on their data dashboard
- Leonardo Mazzone, Dept for Business and Trade, on matching companies across datasets
Speakers include:
- @bothness.bsky.social, ONS, on 'Surfacing Local Insights: Mapping, Scrollytelling and (Semi)Automation'
- Andrea Barry, Youth Futures Foundation, on their data dashboard
- Leonardo Mazzone, Dept for Business and Trade, on matching companies across datasets
Neat tool from @forensicarchi.bsky.social for live tracking the #Gaza #flotilla. 22 ships currently sailing flotilla-orpin.vercel.app
September 6, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Neat tool from @forensicarchi.bsky.social for live tracking the #Gaza #flotilla. 22 ships currently sailing flotilla-orpin.vercel.app
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
🚨 NEW DATA BITES 🚨
Join @publicdigital.bsky.social & me in person/online, 6pm, Thurs 18 Sept, for Data Bites #58!
Speakers will include:
- @bothness.bsky.social, ONS
- Andrea Barry, Youth Futures Fdn, on their dashboard
- DBT on matching companies across datasets
public.digital/events/data-...
Join @publicdigital.bsky.social & me in person/online, 6pm, Thurs 18 Sept, for Data Bites #58!
Speakers will include:
- @bothness.bsky.social, ONS
- Andrea Barry, Youth Futures Fdn, on their dashboard
- DBT on matching companies across datasets
public.digital/events/data-...
September 1, 2025 at 4:03 PM
🚨 NEW DATA BITES 🚨
Join @publicdigital.bsky.social & me in person/online, 6pm, Thurs 18 Sept, for Data Bites #58!
Speakers will include:
- @bothness.bsky.social, ONS
- Andrea Barry, Youth Futures Fdn, on their dashboard
- DBT on matching companies across datasets
public.digital/events/data-...
Join @publicdigital.bsky.social & me in person/online, 6pm, Thurs 18 Sept, for Data Bites #58!
Speakers will include:
- @bothness.bsky.social, ONS
- Andrea Barry, Youth Futures Fdn, on their dashboard
- DBT on matching companies across datasets
public.digital/events/data-...
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
Have you never wondered what made up places you might find between #Iceland and #Ireland, or between #Northampton and #Southampton? Today, you can open up this new world of possibilities with #PlaceNameTweener, inspired by @terriblemapshq.bsky.social! bothness.github.io/placetweener/
August 28, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Have you never wondered what made up places you might find between #Iceland and #Ireland, or between #Northampton and #Southampton? Today, you can open up this new world of possibilities with #PlaceNameTweener, inspired by @terriblemapshq.bsky.social! bothness.github.io/placetweener/
Have you never wondered what made up places you might find between #Iceland and #Ireland, or between #Northampton and #Southampton? Today, you can open up this new world of possibilities with #PlaceNameTweener, inspired by @terriblemapshq.bsky.social! bothness.github.io/placetweener/
August 28, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Have you never wondered what made up places you might find between #Iceland and #Ireland, or between #Northampton and #Southampton? Today, you can open up this new world of possibilities with #PlaceNameTweener, inspired by @terriblemapshq.bsky.social! bothness.github.io/placetweener/
Just realised that every @canaries.co.uk game so far this season has ended in a 2-1 away win. Pitty we played half of them at home!
August 23, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Just realised that every @canaries.co.uk game so far this season has ended in a 2-1 away win. Pitty we played half of them at home!
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
This is amazing
New project! @yufeng.bsky.social analyzed all of the words found on NYC Streets. The data comes from from 8 million Google Street View images, which yielded 138 million snippets of text:
🔗: pudding.cool/2025/07/stre...
🔗: pudding.cool/2025/07/stre...
July 30, 2025 at 7:53 AM
This is amazing
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
A must watch.
"Without question I witnessed war crimes by the Israel Defence Forces, without a doubt.
"Using artillery rounds, mortar rounds, firing tank rounds into unarmed civilians is a war crime.”
youtube.com/watch?v=72aZ...
"Using artillery rounds, mortar rounds, firing tank rounds into unarmed civilians is a war crime.”
youtube.com/watch?v=72aZ...
Former US Green Beret says Israel committed war crimes at Gaza food distribution site | BBC News
YouTube video by BBC News
youtube.com
July 26, 2025 at 1:14 AM
A must watch.
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
Trying to protect your IP online is increasingly impossible. Up yours WeTransfer.
July 15, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Trying to protect your IP online is increasingly impossible. Up yours WeTransfer.
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
Does that sound like a democracy to you?
June 26, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Does that sound like a democracy to you?
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
Posting this 1967 Birmingham News editorial cartoon for all the people who don't realize that this is how MLK was viewed by a big chunk of white America.
June 10, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Posting this 1967 Birmingham News editorial cartoon for all the people who don't realize that this is how MLK was viewed by a big chunk of white America.
Wow, this event looks like a proper treat!
Join us for another funny & unique Information is Beautiful LIVE show in London Mon 30th Jun. IIB founder David McCandless will host a rare night of ‘performance journalism’ - full of graphics, numbers, knowledge and jokes geni.us/IIBLive
June 6, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Wow, this event looks like a proper treat!
Looks like #AnyMapPuzzle has been doing the rounds. Featured write up on maps.com this week and also last month in @flowingdata.com's #dataviz newsletter! www.maps.com/interactive-...
Turn Any Place into an Interactive Map Puzzle
Put your geographic knowledge and skills to the test.
www.maps.com
June 5, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Looks like #AnyMapPuzzle has been doing the rounds. Featured write up on maps.com this week and also last month in @flowingdata.com's #dataviz newsletter! www.maps.com/interactive-...
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
If you're interested in Data Visualization, get your ticket for the data viz conference Outlier. If you're a Data Visualization Society member, virtual tickets are only $150!
www.outlierconf.com/outlier-2025...
www.outlierconf.com/outlier-2025...
Registration — Outlier
www.outlierconf.com
June 3, 2025 at 4:03 PM
If you're interested in Data Visualization, get your ticket for the data viz conference Outlier. If you're a Data Visualization Society member, virtual tickets are only $150!
www.outlierconf.com/outlier-2025...
www.outlierconf.com/outlier-2025...
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
I'm biased, but this report is a must-read for anyone looking to understand the state of AI in 2025.
It explains how AI is entrenching power for big tech and the oligarch class, speeding deregulation, dislodging human expertise and threatening workers—and how there's still time to refuse all that.
It explains how AI is entrenching power for big tech and the oligarch class, speeding deregulation, dislodging human expertise and threatening workers—and how there's still time to refuse all that.
NEW REPORT: Artificial Power, our 2025 Landscape Report, is out.
Today’s AI isn’t just being used by us, it’s being used on us. We urgently need to reclaim public power over the future trajectory of AI. Another path is possible.
Read the report: ainowinstitute.org/2025-landscape
Today’s AI isn’t just being used by us, it’s being used on us. We urgently need to reclaim public power over the future trajectory of AI. Another path is possible.
Read the report: ainowinstitute.org/2025-landscape
June 3, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I'm biased, but this report is a must-read for anyone looking to understand the state of AI in 2025.
It explains how AI is entrenching power for big tech and the oligarch class, speeding deregulation, dislodging human expertise and threatening workers—and how there's still time to refuse all that.
It explains how AI is entrenching power for big tech and the oligarch class, speeding deregulation, dislodging human expertise and threatening workers—and how there's still time to refuse all that.
Reposted by Ahmad Barclay
I won! “A resounding victory for press freedom.”
Police were denied access to my devices by a court. The raid and the warrants used for it were unlawful.
My full statement:
asawinstanley.substack.com/p/judge-rule...
Police were denied access to my devices by a court. The raid and the warrants used for it were unlawful.
My full statement:
asawinstanley.substack.com/p/judge-rule...
Judge rules October raid on my home was unlawful
I have won back my computers and phones.
asawinstanley.substack.com
May 27, 2025 at 5:06 PM
I won! “A resounding victory for press freedom.”
Police were denied access to my devices by a court. The raid and the warrants used for it were unlawful.
My full statement:
asawinstanley.substack.com/p/judge-rule...
Police were denied access to my devices by a court. The raid and the warrants used for it were unlawful.
My full statement:
asawinstanley.substack.com/p/judge-rule...