Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · 5d

Joe Ingles completes goal of hitting a backwards 3/4 court shot during warmups in all 30 NBA arenas

Reposted by Brian Rusnica

Doug Hitchcox @dhitchcox.bsky.social · 6d

Annual reminder of the best sale in bird books! Not many new titles since last year but there’s a few I’m excited to finally get.

press.princeton.edu/sale/70-off

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · 14d

OMG i love THISSSS

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Sep 9

Twinsies! 🦅🦅 These 2 juvenile #BaldEagle passed by my #hawkwatch site (Mt. Watatic, MA) this weekend, and both struck an identical pose on the way by! Note the variation in plumage between individuals at this age... identical ages but far from the same patterns of color. Neat! #birding 🪶

Two juvenile Bald Eagles, striking an identical pose

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Reposted by Brian Rusnica

Ryan Estrada @ryanestrada.com · Sep 6

Just a reminder to check for your name in this list of books that OpenAI trained from. If your name is there, they probably owe you several thousand dollars.

OpenAI cried that if everyone eligible author files, the company will go bankrupt, so I'm alerting every author I have ever spoken to.

Search LibGen, the Pirated-Books Database That Meta Used to Train AI

Millions of books and scientific papers are captured in the collection’s current iteration.

www.theatlantic.com

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Sep 8

still missing Aplomado; but maybe I can get 0.5 falcon credits for a Crested Caracara

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Sep 2

Thanks so much for showing interest in #hawkwatching at Mt. Watatic! 2025 will be my 11th Fall counting raptors there, and I really think it’s one of the best birding experiences in Massachusetts! #birding 🦅🪶 (3/3)

My Fall Season: I'll be counting every dry day 9/11-9/24, approx 9am-4pm. Mt. Watatic is a 35-45 min hike-up. No restrooms, water, or trash facilities. Also always looking for folks to help before and after ”my” coverage.

Best days/times. Wind direction! N, NW or NE. Big flights can occur any time of day. 10am-2pm is a good window, but conditions change rapidly.
More time on site = more hawks.

Gear to Bring (in order of importance): Binoculars, Water, Sun protection, Layered clothing, Snacks

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Sep 2

I’ve got a FAQ page on my website (brianrusnica.com/wp/mount-wat...) that covers the hike up to Mt. Watatic (MA) and what to expect. I’ll be covering the summit from 9/11-24 plus surrounding weekends. (2/3) #birding 🪶🦅

Mount Watatic / On the MA/NH border, North of Fitchburg. 1,832 ft mountain on the Wapack Ridge. Hawkwatching records date back to 1988.

The Count. Last 5 Fall Seasons:
2024: 1,884 Raptors (10-year low!)
2023: 12,815 Raptors (10-year high!)
2022: 9,461 Raptors
2021: 5,476 Raptors
2020: 6,683 Raptors

10-year avg: 5,853 Raptors

What raptors do you see? Mostly Broad-winged Hawks. 88% of the total count. Lots of Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawks & Cooper’s Hawks. Daily Regulars: Osprey, Turkey Vulture, American Kestrel. Frequent: Merlin, Peregrine Falcon. Occasionally: Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern Harrier, Black Vulture.

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Sep 2

It's September. Let's get the #hawkwatch going! Very soon, we’ll be in the peak #BroadwingedHawk migration window in Mass, with a chance to see big flights of migrating hawks. Consider this an invite to join us at the summit of Mount Watatic in the coming weeks! (1/3) #birding 🪶🦅

Let's go Hawkwatching! A Graphic of a Broad-winged Hawk soaring over green hills.

What is "Hawkwatching?" Volunteers identify and count migrating raptors to survey migratory numbers. Hundreds of sites across North America count and share data

Hawkwatching Defined: Counters watch at sites along migratory routes in Fall and Spring. Value of data requires year-to-year consistency. It's community science!

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Sep 2

flippin' brilliant

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Aug 26

myself and 2 friends are waiting on a restock of the Red-tail hawkwatch sticker!

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Aug 21

legit. so much heart went into this.

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Reposted by Brian Rusnica

Aimee Cozza Illustration @aimeecozza.com · Jul 8

*slams it down* I finished it

My article

About AI use, impacts, etc, with lots and lots of links

It's uh

Really long

Opinion: Is it worth it to use AI? Some things you should know

AI has shown us again and again how it aims to change our society. Is this technology really "here to stay" and what's it doing to us?

www.foundationwebdev.com

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Reposted by Brian Rusnica

Lauren @tinylongwing.bsky.social · Aug 12

Look, I for sure don't have time for all of #AvianAugust but I had to make an exception for the 'Io, one of the cutest birds in existence, so here is a very quick sketch! #BirdArt #SciArt 🎨🪶

Loose lineart sketch with minimal coloring of an 'Io, Hawaii's endemic buteo. Here it is perched on a lichen-covered branch, peering down from a pale gray-green background. It has a brown head and wings and mottled brown and white belly.

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Aug 11

Eastern Mass Hawk Watch T-Shirt Campaign Week 1 was so inspiring, thank you to all who have supported us! There's just a few more days to order to make sure you have your shirts before Fall Migration kicks in. 🦅🪶💚 #hawkwatch #birding

bonfire.com/emhw

Promotional graphic for the Eastern Mass Hawk Watch T-shirt Campaign through Bonfire. Links to bonfire.com/emhw

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Aug 6

HARING GULL FOREVS

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Aug 4

When a group of hungry young #RedTailedHawk are close, they will let you know it ! This fresh fledge was making a huge racket that drew me out of the house with my camera. Got a few nice frames as they buzzed our yard, chasing after their parent! #birding 🪶🦅😎✌️

Red-tailed Hawk (juvenile) in Townsend, MA

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Aug 2

righteous! confirming juvenile Cooper's Hawk ID. how splendid!

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Aug 2

the purity of your foresight is unmatched

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Aug 1

Our new logo based on the iconic Massachusetts 'town sign' design - I love the way it came out and can't wait to see it on a shirt. Please help EMHW reach as many folks as we can and share this link in your birding communities. Thank you for your support!

The iconic Massachusetts Town sign, this one reads "Entering Scituate, established 1636"

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Aug 1

Kicking off a T-shirt fundraiser for our local #hawkwatch club, Eastern Mass Hawk Watch. EMHW raises money to power local+regional raptor conservation. I've been President of the club since 2020, and am psyched to share our new logo on this Bonfire campaign.

A T-shirt design for Eastern Mass Hawk Watch, with a text link to the fundraising campaign at http://bonfire.com/emhw

A Hooded Sweatshirt (Hoodie) design for Eastern Mass Hawk Watch, with a text link to the fundraising campaign at http://bonfire.com/emhw

A Long-sleeve T-shirt design for Eastern Mass Hawk Watch, with a text link to the fundraising campaign at http://bonfire.com/emhw

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Jul 31

freakin' epic! so much cooler than a telephone pole :D

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Reposted by Brian Rusnica

Darren Naish @tetzoo.bsky.social · Jul 30

It's true, #PrehistoricPlanet Ice Age is coming to #AppleTV for November 2025. These images show how good our animals are, but... believe me, this barely scratches the surface!! It has been a massive thrill and privilege to help bring this series together... you're in for an incredible treat.

Prehistoric Planet Ice Age image showing two homotheres interacting in a snowy landscape.

Prehistoric Planet Ice Age image showing two Woolly rhino, a calf and old adult.

Prehistoric Planet Ice Age image showing a glyptodont.

Prehistoric Planet Ice Age image showing a mother sloth climbing up a rocky surface, baby on her back.

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Reposted by Brian Rusnica

the Mountain Goats @themountaingoats.bsky.social · Jul 24

I have the honor of setting down a few thoughts in words about one of the most important musical figures in my life. May he rest in the knowledge that he gave voice to sentiments many struggle to express.

Pitchfork @pitchfork.com · Jul 24

The voice of Ozzy Osbourne was unlike anything before it. John Darnielle of @themountaingoats.bsky.social reflects on the loss of the singular frontman

Ozzy Osbourne Obituary: For the Back Street Kids

John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats reflects on the loss of the singular frontman.

pitchfork.com

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Brian Rusnica @neogonzo.bsky.social · Jul 24

see you at Mass MOCA! new england opens its sweaty arms 2 u!

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