Mike O'Brien
@obrien.page
Full-stack fish ecologist. Richmond, VA culture leech living in Eastern Henrico. Small farm dabbler.
https://obrien.page
https://github.com/mhpob
https://obrien.page
https://github.com/mhpob
Seems the DeFlock app supports quickly adding Flock Ravens, the gunshot detectors all over the East End of RVA that are leaking west into the downtown wards.
deflock.me/app
deflock.me/app
November 25, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Seems the DeFlock app supports quickly adding Flock Ravens, the gunshot detectors all over the East End of RVA that are leaking west into the downtown wards.
deflock.me/app
deflock.me/app
Since we're all going to punch it into some kind of search engine anyway, I'd say there's a case for using the most readily machine-readable/parsable format and then move on to something more worthwhile to do with your time.
I have published more than 70 peer reviewed scientific journal articles. I am a reviewer at 50+ journals, and an editor at one journal.
I cannot for the life of me fathom why some journals care so much about reference formatting style. If I can find the paper, you've cited it fine.
I cannot for the life of me fathom why some journals care so much about reference formatting style. If I can find the paper, you've cited it fine.
a man in a tuxedo is asking why are you booing me i 'm right
ALT: a man in a tuxedo is asking why are you booing me i 'm right
media.tenor.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Since we're all going to punch it into some kind of search engine anyway, I'd say there's a case for using the most readily machine-readable/parsable format and then move on to something more worthwhile to do with your time.
#rva for the feed
Oh, love this. Are the gunshot detectors really that concentrated to the east end or is that mapping a WIP? maprva.org/projects/sur...
Surveillance Devices
Mapping the surveillance state we all live in. Cameras, ALPRs, & gunshot detectors.
maprva.org
November 24, 2025 at 6:32 PM
#rva for the feed
Just the Commonwealth of Virginia shipping in PFAS from Maryland since they have regulations and we don't.
Biosolids, derived from waste, can be converted to agricultural fertilizer. By using it, farmers in Virginia may be unknowingly spreading toxic chemicals on their land that could end up in crops and the state’s waterways, researchers and community members say. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/24/v...
Virginia communities push back against sewage sludge on agricultural land as PFAS concerns grow • Virginia Mercury
As worry mounts about health risks from exposure to ‘forever chemicals,’ Virginia communities push for testing and limits for biosolids.
virginiamercury.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Just the Commonwealth of Virginia shipping in PFAS from Maryland since they have regulations and we don't.
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
The streetcar was invented in Richmond, VA, and so was the streetcar suburb — a distinct phenomenon of walkable density and mixed-use greater metropolitan area living.
They're a perfect blend of urban accessibility and breathable green space. And some of them are still somewhat affordable.
They're a perfect blend of urban accessibility and breathable green space. And some of them are still somewhat affordable.
November 23, 2025 at 9:01 PM
The streetcar was invented in Richmond, VA, and so was the streetcar suburb — a distinct phenomenon of walkable density and mixed-use greater metropolitan area living.
They're a perfect blend of urban accessibility and breathable green space. And some of them are still somewhat affordable.
They're a perfect blend of urban accessibility and breathable green space. And some of them are still somewhat affordable.
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Impossible how good reading is. You mean I just point my face at the paper for a bit and it does a whole update on my brain?
November 23, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Impossible how good reading is. You mean I just point my face at the paper for a bit and it does a whole update on my brain?
If you're looking for something to do on this rainy Saturday, tune into @maprva.org's Jacob Hall mapping sidewalks and other pedestrian infrastructure in Richmond, VA:
www.youtube.com/live/TVVkjEK...
www.youtube.com/live/TVVkjEK...
EDITING RVA SIDEWALKS UNTIL I'M DONE OR I PASS OUT
YouTube video by Jacob Hall
www.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:27 PM
If you're looking for something to do on this rainy Saturday, tune into @maprva.org's Jacob Hall mapping sidewalks and other pedestrian infrastructure in Richmond, VA:
www.youtube.com/live/TVVkjEK...
www.youtube.com/live/TVVkjEK...
EDITING RVA SIDEWALKS UNTIL I'M DONE OR I PASS OUT
YouTube video by Jacob Hall
www.youtube.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:25 PM
If you're looking for something to do on this rainy Saturday, tune into @maprva.org's Jacob Hall mapping sidewalks and other pedestrian infrastructure in Richmond, VA:
www.youtube.com/live/TVVkjEK...
www.youtube.com/live/TVVkjEK...
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
I watched clips of the Mamdani-Trump press conference, and:
November 22, 2025 at 2:24 PM
I watched clips of the Mamdani-Trump press conference, and:
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
🎣 #FeatureFriday | #WorldFisheriesDay
Chesapeake Bay anglers are using CBEFS forecasts to avoid “bad water” & find healthier spots for fishing. Explore the full story: https://maracoos.org/2025/11/10/chesapeake-bay-anglers-use-cbefs-forecasts-to-avoid-bad-water-and-plan-smarter-fishing-trips/
Chesapeake Bay anglers are using CBEFS forecasts to avoid “bad water” & find healthier spots for fishing. Explore the full story: https://maracoos.org/2025/11/10/chesapeake-bay-anglers-use-cbefs-forecasts-to-avoid-bad-water-and-plan-smarter-fishing-trips/
Chesapeake Bay Anglers Use CBEFS Forecasts to Avoid “Bad Water” and Plan Smarter Fishing Trips - MARACOOS
Learn how Chesapeake Bay anglers use CBEFS forecasts to track low-oxygen zones, harmful algal blooms, and other conditions for safer, more productive fishing.
maracoos.org
November 21, 2025 at 8:48 PM
🎣 #FeatureFriday | #WorldFisheriesDay
Chesapeake Bay anglers are using CBEFS forecasts to avoid “bad water” & find healthier spots for fishing. Explore the full story: https://maracoos.org/2025/11/10/chesapeake-bay-anglers-use-cbefs-forecasts-to-avoid-bad-water-and-plan-smarter-fishing-trips/
Chesapeake Bay anglers are using CBEFS forecasts to avoid “bad water” & find healthier spots for fishing. Explore the full story: https://maracoos.org/2025/11/10/chesapeake-bay-anglers-use-cbefs-forecasts-to-avoid-bad-water-and-plan-smarter-fishing-trips/
This guy's kind of an asshole. Every time I tune into a City Council meeting he's just up there being an unprofessional jerk to the council members.
Would Avula admin budget for lower taxes if Council asked? ‘No ma’am,’ says CAO
Would Avula admin budget for lower taxes if Council asked? ‘No ma’am,’ says CAO
Stephanie Lynch is requesting an alternate budget plan based on a lower property tax rate.
www.richmonder.org
November 21, 2025 at 11:07 PM
This guy's kind of an asshole. Every time I tune into a City Council meeting he's just up there being an unprofessional jerk to the council members.
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
NEW AP INVESTIGATION: With license plate readers and local law enforcement partnerships, Border Patrol is monitoring American drivers and detaining those exhibiting ‘suspicious’ travel patterns in the U.S. interior. w/
@garanceburke.bsky.social. apnews.com/article/immi...
@garanceburke.bsky.social. apnews.com/article/immi...
Border Patrol is monitoring US drivers and detaining those with 'suspicious' travel patterns
The U.S. Border Patrol is monitoring millions of American drivers nationwide in a secretive program to identify and detain people whose travel patterns it deems suspicious.
apnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:48 PM
NEW AP INVESTIGATION: With license plate readers and local law enforcement partnerships, Border Patrol is monitoring American drivers and detaining those exhibiting ‘suspicious’ travel patterns in the U.S. interior. w/
@garanceburke.bsky.social. apnews.com/article/immi...
@garanceburke.bsky.social. apnews.com/article/immi...
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Goddamn dude, just go ahead knock 25 percent off my 401k and get on with it, I can't take much more of this.
What if the A.I. bubble “is an inevitable part of developing and adopting a revolutionary tool that will fundamentally improve productivity and growth?” Mohamed El-Erian writes.
Opinion | A.I. Is a Bubble. Maybe That’s OK.
Investors’ excitement rightly reflects the potential transformation of the entire economy.
nyti.ms
November 20, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Goddamn dude, just go ahead knock 25 percent off my 401k and get on with it, I can't take much more of this.
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Steely Daniel Tiger
November 19, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Steely Daniel Tiger
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Setting up a local HPC cluster with SLURM for testing & learning
https://tomsing1.github.io/blog/posts/slurm_docker_cluster/
#rstats #datascience
https://tomsing1.github.io/blog/posts/slurm_docker_cluster/
#rstats #datascience
Setting up a local HPC cluster with SLURM for testing & learning
Summary: Local HPC cluster with SLURM using slurm-docker-cluster, Docker Compose, and R (clustermq) on macOS
tomsing1.github.io
November 19, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Setting up a local HPC cluster with SLURM for testing & learning
https://tomsing1.github.io/blog/posts/slurm_docker_cluster/
#rstats #datascience
https://tomsing1.github.io/blog/posts/slurm_docker_cluster/
#rstats #datascience
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Closing soon! Apply by November 20! oceantrackingnetwork.org/were-hiring-...
📣 We're hiring a Data Acquisition Coordinator (DAC)! OTN DACs ensure the smooth and efficient acquisition, quality control, and continued flow of data into the care of OTN from researchers and partner networks. If this sounds like you, learn more & apply: oceantrackingnetwork.org/were-hiring-...
November 18, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Closing soon! Apply by November 20! oceantrackingnetwork.org/were-hiring-...
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
tariff level with china should be set at zero except for literally anything my parents want to buy my kids off amazon, in which case it should be 10000000 percent
November 16, 2025 at 6:04 PM
tariff level with china should be set at zero except for literally anything my parents want to buy my kids off amazon, in which case it should be 10000000 percent
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
finally a normal software license that definitely holds up really well
November 16, 2025 at 11:19 PM
finally a normal software license that definitely holds up really well
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Part of this week’s newsletter was inspired by the post below. Was there a way to show the distance between normal Americans and the super wealthy?
1/8
www.howtoreadthisch.art/putting-the-...
1/8
www.howtoreadthisch.art/putting-the-...
November 15, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Part of this week’s newsletter was inspired by the post below. Was there a way to show the distance between normal Americans and the super wealthy?
1/8
www.howtoreadthisch.art/putting-the-...
1/8
www.howtoreadthisch.art/putting-the-...
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
If you're wondering how today's UVA news ended up well...how it's currently unfolding, it all started with one letter.
Then it became two...that led to a myriad of other letters being released.
This piece just focuses on two letters: the initial Spanberger one, along with Youngkin's response.
Then it became two...that led to a myriad of other letters being released.
This piece just focuses on two letters: the initial Spanberger one, along with Youngkin's response.
Spanberger, Youngkin spar over UVA board appointments, president search
The governor-elect has asked the university to halt its search for a new leader.
www.vpm.org
November 14, 2025 at 9:54 PM
If you're wondering how today's UVA news ended up well...how it's currently unfolding, it all started with one letter.
Then it became two...that led to a myriad of other letters being released.
This piece just focuses on two letters: the initial Spanberger one, along with Youngkin's response.
Then it became two...that led to a myriad of other letters being released.
This piece just focuses on two letters: the initial Spanberger one, along with Youngkin's response.
Strangely post-apocalyptic Streetview photo of the day:
A fallen banner that says "building a brighter future" above the entrance to a permanently closed shopping mall... Next to an old castle-looking building.
A fallen banner that says "building a brighter future" above the entrance to a permanently closed shopping mall... Next to an old castle-looking building.
November 14, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Strangely post-apocalyptic Streetview photo of the day:
A fallen banner that says "building a brighter future" above the entrance to a permanently closed shopping mall... Next to an old castle-looking building.
A fallen banner that says "building a brighter future" above the entrance to a permanently closed shopping mall... Next to an old castle-looking building.
The infamous Triple Crossing in action!
"The Triple Crossing in Richmond, Virginia is one of two places in North America where three railroad lines cross at different levels at the same spot."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_...
"The Triple Crossing in Richmond, Virginia is one of two places in North America where three railroad lines cross at different levels at the same spot."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_...
November 13, 2025 at 2:57 PM
The infamous Triple Crossing in action!
"The Triple Crossing in Richmond, Virginia is one of two places in North America where three railroad lines cross at different levels at the same spot."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_...
"The Triple Crossing in Richmond, Virginia is one of two places in North America where three railroad lines cross at different levels at the same spot."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_...
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
Former Gov. McAuliffe joins Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future as co-chair. The group is funded by the fossil fuel industry as a way to promote keeping gas power on the grid alongside renewable energy. #vagov #valeg
virginiamercury.com/briefs/forme...
virginiamercury.com/briefs/forme...
Former Gov. McAuliffe joins pro-natural gas group as national co-chair • Virginia Mercury
Terry McAuliffe to promote natural gas as a route to long-term energy reliability as renewable energy sources are built out.
virginiamercury.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Former Gov. McAuliffe joins Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future as co-chair. The group is funded by the fossil fuel industry as a way to promote keeping gas power on the grid alongside renewable energy. #vagov #valeg
virginiamercury.com/briefs/forme...
virginiamercury.com/briefs/forme...
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
join us yesterdays.maprva.org
November 12, 2025 at 6:54 PM
join us yesterdays.maprva.org
Reposted by Mike O'Brien
The most horrifying AI slop of ICE raids you can possibly imagine is wildly viral on Facebook, collectively totaling tens of millions of views from a single account. First spotted by @chadloder.bsky.social
www.404media.co/ai-generated...
www.404media.co/ai-generated...
AI-Generated Videos of ICE Raids Are Wildly Viral on Facebook
An account is spamming horrific, dehumanizing videos of immigration enforcement because the Facebook algorithm is rewarding them for it.
www.404media.co
November 12, 2025 at 5:51 PM
The most horrifying AI slop of ICE raids you can possibly imagine is wildly viral on Facebook, collectively totaling tens of millions of views from a single account. First spotted by @chadloder.bsky.social
www.404media.co/ai-generated...
www.404media.co/ai-generated...