Sharon Machlis
@smachlis.bsky.social
Author of Practical R for Mass Communication & Journalism
❤️ #RStats, writing & cities designed for walking/biking
Having fun with #GenAI
(Mostly) retired; former tech journalist
Also #VibrantAging #Running #Photography #Crochet #ASL
❤️ #RStats, writing & cities designed for walking/biking
Having fun with #GenAI
(Mostly) retired; former tech journalist
Also #VibrantAging #Running #Photography #Crochet #ASL
Pinned
Sharon Machlis
@smachlis.bsky.social
· Nov 11
Use Your Data Skills for Good (Sharon Machlis) | posit::conf(2025)
YouTube video by Posit PBC
youtu.be
Interested in using your data skills for public service locally? My 5-minute #PositConf2025 lightning talk aims to give you some ideas for inspiration! Now on YouTube:
youtu.be/fSAoCcZD--Y?...
youtu.be/fSAoCcZD--Y?...
What a beautiful 4-minute excerpt from @mayor.nyc.gov Mayor Mamdani's speech at New York City's Interfaith breakfast last week.
Welcome The Stranger.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoU9...
Welcome The Stranger.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoU9...
Welcome The Stranger
YouTube video by NYC Mayor's Office
www.youtube.com
February 15, 2026 at 7:57 PM
What a beautiful 4-minute excerpt from @mayor.nyc.gov Mayor Mamdani's speech at New York City's Interfaith breakfast last week.
Welcome The Stranger.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoU9...
Welcome The Stranger.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoU9...
#HamRadio I spent a good chunk of the day trying to get WinLink working with a new HT. Hours of my life I'll never get back.
Bought a BTECH UV-Pro for its built-in TNC and the Kenwood TH-D75A is $400 more expensive, but this has been frustrating. Will try a better antenna 2moro. #AmateurRadio
Bought a BTECH UV-Pro for its built-in TNC and the Kenwood TH-D75A is $400 more expensive, but this has been frustrating. Will try a better antenna 2moro. #AmateurRadio
February 14, 2026 at 11:58 PM
#HamRadio I spent a good chunk of the day trying to get WinLink working with a new HT. Hours of my life I'll never get back.
Bought a BTECH UV-Pro for its built-in TNC and the Kenwood TH-D75A is $400 more expensive, but this has been frustrating. Will try a better antenna 2moro. #AmateurRadio
Bought a BTECH UV-Pro for its built-in TNC and the Kenwood TH-D75A is $400 more expensive, but this has been frustrating. Will try a better antenna 2moro. #AmateurRadio
Daily number of Bluesky posts with the #RStats hashtag (case insensitive) Sept. 1 - Feb 13, excluding the CRAN Package Updates bot.
Coded with the {bskyr} and {ggplot2} R packages.
[Posted via R script and weekly cron job. Tx for your patience if something went awry] #RStatsStats
Coded with the {bskyr} and {ggplot2} R packages.
[Posted via R script and weekly cron job. Tx for your patience if something went awry] #RStatsStats
February 14, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Daily number of Bluesky posts with the #RStats hashtag (case insensitive) Sept. 1 - Feb 13, excluding the CRAN Package Updates bot.
Coded with the {bskyr} and {ggplot2} R packages.
[Posted via R script and weekly cron job. Tx for your patience if something went awry] #RStatsStats
Coded with the {bskyr} and {ggplot2} R packages.
[Posted via R script and weekly cron job. Tx for your patience if something went awry] #RStatsStats
Reposted by Sharon Machlis
The ARISS Europe team shared the story of Elena Selmi. She went on from being a contact participant to a space physicist!
The application window is now open for your group in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Apply now for an early 2027 contact.
www.ariss-eu.org/index.php/sc...
The application window is now open for your group in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Apply now for an early 2027 contact.
www.ariss-eu.org/index.php/sc...
February 7, 2026 at 2:55 PM
The ARISS Europe team shared the story of Elena Selmi. She went on from being a contact participant to a space physicist!
The application window is now open for your group in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Apply now for an early 2027 contact.
www.ariss-eu.org/index.php/sc...
The application window is now open for your group in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Apply now for an early 2027 contact.
www.ariss-eu.org/index.php/sc...
I've worked with Claude to create a natural-language interface to Census data. It generates #RStats tidycensus code to answer a user's query.
If of interest, here's the R package with the usual disclaimers (AI can make mistakes! Check the code! Use at your own risk!)
github.com/smach/census... #ddj
If of interest, here's the R package with the usual disclaimers (AI can make mistakes! Check the code! Use at your own risk!)
github.com/smach/census... #ddj
GitHub - smach/censuschat
Contribute to smach/censuschat development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:44 PM
I've worked with Claude to create a natural-language interface to Census data. It generates #RStats tidycensus code to answer a user's query.
If of interest, here's the R package with the usual disclaimers (AI can make mistakes! Check the code! Use at your own risk!)
github.com/smach/census... #ddj
If of interest, here's the R package with the usual disclaimers (AI can make mistakes! Check the code! Use at your own risk!)
github.com/smach/census... #ddj
I get a lot out of online spaces like this, but I also spend too much time online. Maybe this would actually help me use social media the way I want to: Catch up, post a bit, and move on to the rest of my real-world life. I don’t need ‘connections’ with bots. I do in my real life.
We don’t have any barriers to bots flooding every online space. They can use browsers and make payments. In fact, it is arguably a better deal to pay for a bot to access a social media site, since it can post and carry out your agenda when you sleep.
Online spaces are about to get (even more) grim.
Online spaces are about to get (even more) grim.
February 13, 2026 at 1:30 PM
I get a lot out of online spaces like this, but I also spend too much time online. Maybe this would actually help me use social media the way I want to: Catch up, post a bit, and move on to the rest of my real-world life. I don’t need ‘connections’ with bots. I do in my real life.
Reposted by Sharon Machlis
Rs wld still let you vote if you get/have a passport (which is expensive) OR if you get/have a certified birth certificate that matches your current approved form of ID (but these 2 documents *don’t* match for 69 million married women, & Rs *don’t* include marriage certs as approved documentation.)
Most Real IDs do *not* prove citizenship. (EDLs, which are available in only 5 states are an exception) The GOP’s “SAVE” Act thus misleads when it says voters can prove citizenship w/ “a form of ID issued consistent with the reqmts of…REAL ID…that indicates the applicant is a citizen of the US…” 1/
February 12, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Rs wld still let you vote if you get/have a passport (which is expensive) OR if you get/have a certified birth certificate that matches your current approved form of ID (but these 2 documents *don’t* match for 69 million married women, & Rs *don’t* include marriage certs as approved documentation.)
But we don't have enough money for Americans to have affordable healthcare.
ICE has now spent over half a BILLION dollars just on purchasing warehouses around the country to convert into detention camps.
If these mega-camps are utilized to the full capacity ICE intends, they'll be the largest prisons in the country, with little real oversight. www.ajc.com/politics/202...
If these mega-camps are utilized to the full capacity ICE intends, they'll be the largest prisons in the country, with little real oversight. www.ajc.com/politics/202...
ICE to begin detaining immigrants inside Social Circle warehouse in April
Homeland Security plans to build warehouse detention facilities in other cities being met with opposition.
www.ajc.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:18 PM
But we don't have enough money for Americans to have affordable healthcare.
Patriots played in a division with the 3-14 Jets and 7-10 Dolphins. Seahawks played in a division with the 12-5 Raiders and 12-5 Niners.
#NFL #SuperBowl
#NFL #SuperBowl
February 9, 2026 at 2:18 AM
Patriots played in a division with the 3-14 Jets and 7-10 Dolphins. Seahawks played in a division with the 12-5 Raiders and 12-5 Niners.
#NFL #SuperBowl
#NFL #SuperBowl
OpenAI Super Bowl 2026 | Codex | You Can Just Build Things
YouTube video by OpenAI
youtu.be
February 9, 2026 at 12:32 AM
Conference app chatbot built in R that:
- Answers schedule questions
- Includes both chatbot and searchable table
- One-click button filters table to see only sessions AI bot mentions
Code: github.com/smach/NICAR2...
App: smach-nicar2026-chatbot.share.connect.posit.cloud
#RStats #RShiny #NICAR26
- Answers schedule questions
- Includes both chatbot and searchable table
- One-click button filters table to see only sessions AI bot mentions
Code: github.com/smach/NICAR2...
App: smach-nicar2026-chatbot.share.connect.posit.cloud
#RStats #RShiny #NICAR26
![Screenshot of a NICAR 2026 Session Explorer interface showing filtered results for data visualization sessions on Friday morning.
On the left panel, a user question reads:
"Are there any dataviz sessions Friday morning?"
The AI response lists four sessions:
Customizing ggplot for yourself or your organization
Fri 10:15 am, Room 209
Speaker: Kaitlyn Radde, Pew Research Center
Learn how to create customized ggplot graphics packages for publication-ready visualizations.
Connect with skeptical and disengaged audiences … with data!
Fri 11:30 am, White River G
Speakers: Eva Constantaras, Lighthouse Reports; Aaron Mendelson, The Trace; Max Siegelbaum, Documented
Discover innovative ways to present and explain data to engage skeptical audiences.
QGIS 2: Analyzing geographic data
Fri 10:15 am, Room 204
Learn to explore, manipulate, and analyze geographic datasets to gain new insights.
QGIS 1: Spatial analysis for beginners
Fri 9 am, Room 204
Learn to make your own maps using QGIS, including importing and displaying geographic data.
A note at the bottom says: "Please verify with the official schedule."
The right panel is a session directory table with the same four sessions, showing titles, times, speakers, rooms, skill levels, and recording status.
[Alt text by ChatGPT]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:z4cp3uwgxiioi7uaxn2boq47/bafkreibv45fxfafb3teifs5ejn5ycdrlduighqtg26jmim46zevikclc5q@jpeg)
February 8, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Conference app chatbot built in R that:
- Answers schedule questions
- Includes both chatbot and searchable table
- One-click button filters table to see only sessions AI bot mentions
Code: github.com/smach/NICAR2...
App: smach-nicar2026-chatbot.share.connect.posit.cloud
#RStats #RShiny #NICAR26
- Answers schedule questions
- Includes both chatbot and searchable table
- One-click button filters table to see only sessions AI bot mentions
Code: github.com/smach/NICAR2...
App: smach-nicar2026-chatbot.share.connect.posit.cloud
#RStats #RShiny #NICAR26
Neighborhood trail this afternoon
February 8, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Neighborhood trail this afternoon
Reposted by Sharon Machlis
“The global publishing platform Substack is generating revenue from newsletters that promote virulent Nazi ideology, white supremacy and antisemitism, a Guardian investigation has found…” www.theguardian.com/media/2026/f...
Revealed: How Substack makes money from hosting Nazi newsletters
Exclusive: Site takes a cut of subscriptions to content that promotes far-right ideology, white supremacy and antisemitism
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:09 PM
“The global publishing platform Substack is generating revenue from newsletters that promote virulent Nazi ideology, white supremacy and antisemitism, a Guardian investigation has found…” www.theguardian.com/media/2026/f...
This is such a useful (and short!) piece by developer Mitchell Hashimoto on "my journey of how I found value in AI tooling and what I'm trying next with it." Adopting ANY tool is work and not easy at the start, he notes. #GenAI is no exception.
h/t @simonwillison.net
mitchellh.com/writing/my-a...
h/t @simonwillison.net
mitchellh.com/writing/my-a...
My AI Adoption Journey
mitchellh.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:57 PM
This is such a useful (and short!) piece by developer Mitchell Hashimoto on "my journey of how I found value in AI tooling and what I'm trying next with it." Adopting ANY tool is work and not easy at the start, he notes. #GenAI is no exception.
h/t @simonwillison.net
mitchellh.com/writing/my-a...
h/t @simonwillison.net
mitchellh.com/writing/my-a...
Daily number of Bluesky posts with the #RStats hashtag (case insensitive) Sept. 1 - Feb 6, excluding the CRAN Package Updates bot.
Coded with the {bskyr} and {ggplot2} R packages.
[Posted via R script and weekly cron job. Tx for your patience if something went awry] #RStatsStats
Coded with the {bskyr} and {ggplot2} R packages.
[Posted via R script and weekly cron job. Tx for your patience if something went awry] #RStatsStats
February 7, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Daily number of Bluesky posts with the #RStats hashtag (case insensitive) Sept. 1 - Feb 6, excluding the CRAN Package Updates bot.
Coded with the {bskyr} and {ggplot2} R packages.
[Posted via R script and weekly cron job. Tx for your patience if something went awry] #RStatsStats
Coded with the {bskyr} and {ggplot2} R packages.
[Posted via R script and weekly cron job. Tx for your patience if something went awry] #RStatsStats
Reposted by Sharon Machlis
If you've been laid off by the Washington Post this week and have any questions re: digital security, please email me on [email protected]. I'll help you pro-bono for the rest of the month.
February 6, 2026 at 4:00 PM
If you've been laid off by the Washington Post this week and have any questions re: digital security, please email me on [email protected]. I'll help you pro-bono for the rest of the month.
Interesting dataviz!
February 5, 2026 at 2:46 AM
Interesting dataviz!
Reposted by Sharon Machlis
Whatever this is, it’s Not Good. This is a drastic step and obviously not meant to alert CIA Director Ratcliffe, rather to alert us. Given Wyden’s interest in privacy and surveillance and what’s going on around the country, I’d wager a bit of money that the CIA has been doing domestic things.
February 4, 2026 at 11:50 PM
Whatever this is, it’s Not Good. This is a drastic step and obviously not meant to alert CIA Director Ratcliffe, rather to alert us. Given Wyden’s interest in privacy and surveillance and what’s going on around the country, I’d wager a bit of money that the CIA has been doing domestic things.
If you have an Android phone, this is SUCH a great tip from JR Raphael at @computerworld. Makes reading articles on your phone so much more pleasant!
www.computerworld.com/article/4120...
www.computerworld.com/article/4120...
The best Android feature you (probably) aren't using
An incredible upgrade awaits — and it'll take you all of 30 seconds to get going.
www.computerworld.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:47 PM
If you have an Android phone, this is SUCH a great tip from JR Raphael at @computerworld. Makes reading articles on your phone so much more pleasant!
www.computerworld.com/article/4120...
www.computerworld.com/article/4120...
GitHub Actions have been down for more than 2 hours 😲 [although cron jobs on my tiny Digital Ocean Linux server continue uninterrupted 😅] www.githubstatus.com #GitHub
February 2, 2026 at 10:42 PM
GitHub Actions have been down for more than 2 hours 😲 [although cron jobs on my tiny Digital Ocean Linux server continue uninterrupted 😅] www.githubstatus.com #GitHub
Daily number of Bluesky posts with the #RStats hashtag (case insensitive) Sept. 1 - Jan 30, excluding the CRAN Package Updates bot.
Coded with the {bskyr} and {ggplot2} R packages.
[Posted via R script and weekly cron job. Tx for your patience if something went awry] #RStatsStats
Coded with the {bskyr} and {ggplot2} R packages.
[Posted via R script and weekly cron job. Tx for your patience if something went awry] #RStatsStats
January 31, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Daily number of Bluesky posts with the #RStats hashtag (case insensitive) Sept. 1 - Jan 30, excluding the CRAN Package Updates bot.
Coded with the {bskyr} and {ggplot2} R packages.
[Posted via R script and weekly cron job. Tx for your patience if something went awry] #RStatsStats
Coded with the {bskyr} and {ggplot2} R packages.
[Posted via R script and weekly cron job. Tx for your patience if something went awry] #RStatsStats
Reposted by Sharon Machlis
Finally wrote about it.
"I’m calling it the Cookie Theory of Collective Action: Everyone has a role, anyone can start small, and joy is an essential part of the broader fight for your community."
snackstack.net/2026/01/30/t...
"I’m calling it the Cookie Theory of Collective Action: Everyone has a role, anyone can start small, and joy is an essential part of the broader fight for your community."
snackstack.net/2026/01/30/t...
The Cookie Theory of Collective Action
Build community, bring snacks, and other tips from an occupied city
snackstack.net
January 30, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Finally wrote about it.
"I’m calling it the Cookie Theory of Collective Action: Everyone has a role, anyone can start small, and joy is an essential part of the broader fight for your community."
snackstack.net/2026/01/30/t...
"I’m calling it the Cookie Theory of Collective Action: Everyone has a role, anyone can start small, and joy is an essential part of the broader fight for your community."
snackstack.net/2026/01/30/t...
Not sure if info in here has changed, but I've gone over this presentation by @themockup.blog MULTIPLE times over the years to get comfortable with arrow and parquet files in #RStats
This presentation by @themockup.blog is GREAT for understanding how to use arrow and parquet files with #RStats. jthomasmock.github.io/arrow-dplyr/#/
Outrageously efficient exploratory data analysis with Apache Arrow and dplyr
A 10 minute lightning talk on all things arrow + dplyr
jthomasmock.github.io
January 29, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Not sure if info in here has changed, but I've gone over this presentation by @themockup.blog MULTIPLE times over the years to get comfortable with arrow and parquet files in #RStats
Hey crafters! Needle & Skein in MN is promoting "Melt the ICE" hat knit and crochet patterns. "ALL proceeds from the sale of this pattern will be given to immigrant aid organizations within the Twin Cities community."
Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/patterns/sou...
PayHip: payhip.com/shopneedlean...
Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/patterns/sou...
PayHip: payhip.com/shopneedlean...
Ravelry: Needle & Skein Ravelry Store - patterns
www.ravelry.com
January 28, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Hey crafters! Needle & Skein in MN is promoting "Melt the ICE" hat knit and crochet patterns. "ALL proceeds from the sale of this pattern will be given to immigrant aid organizations within the Twin Cities community."
Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/patterns/sou...
PayHip: payhip.com/shopneedlean...
Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/patterns/sou...
PayHip: payhip.com/shopneedlean...
Reposted by Sharon Machlis
ragnar 0.3.0 is now on CRAN! 🚀 An R toolkit for RAG from your docs: faster ingestion, better retrieval, Azure OpenAI + Snowflake embeddings, and MCP serving. tidyverse.org/blog/2026/01...
#rstats #rag #ai
#rstats #rag #ai
ragnar 0.3.0
The new release of ragnar adds faster ingestion, new embedding providers, improved retrieval, and new integrations for using ragnar stores from tools.
tidyverse.org
January 27, 2026 at 5:30 PM
ragnar 0.3.0 is now on CRAN! 🚀 An R toolkit for RAG from your docs: faster ingestion, better retrieval, Azure OpenAI + Snowflake embeddings, and MCP serving. tidyverse.org/blog/2026/01...
#rstats #rag #ai
#rstats #rag #ai