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?...
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.)
it‘s a bit disturbing then to see a headline and dek amplifying what appear to be baseless claims, so the accusation is in large print and those details you mention here sit behind a paywall.
February 10, 2026 at 2:16 AM
it‘s a bit disturbing then to see a headline and dek amplifying what appear to be baseless claims, so the accusation is in large print and those details you mention here sit behind a paywall.
Solution (in a tech product context). SAY WHAT IT IS
February 10, 2026 at 2:04 AM
Solution (in a tech product context). SAY WHAT IT IS
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.
It seems like the NFC West deserved to have two teams in.😀
February 9, 2026 at 11:08 PM
It seems like the NFC West deserved to have two teams in.😀
And for a $20 donation there¡s my Workshop for Ukraine which is about ragnar and includes a video sites.google.com/view/dariia-...
Dariia Mykhailyshyna - Workshops for Ukraine
Feedback on the past workshops (if you want to learn how to make wordclouds, check out Text Data Analysis workshop below)
sites.google.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:25 PM
And for a $20 donation there¡s my Workshop for Ukraine which is about ragnar and includes a video sites.google.com/view/dariia-...
I wrote about ragnar back in July www.infoworld.com/article/4020...
How to create your own RAG applications in R
See how to query documents using natural language, LLMs, and R—including dplyr-like filtering on metadata. Plus, learn how to use an LLM to extract structured data for text filtering.
www.infoworld.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:23 PM
I wrote about ragnar back in July www.infoworld.com/article/4020...
It seems like people should be badmouthing Wagner, who was a virulent antisemite admired by Hitler, no?
February 9, 2026 at 3:23 AM
It seems like people should be badmouthing Wagner, who was a virulent antisemite admired by Hitler, no?
Eek thanks. I’m still thinking about the Super Bowl between the then undefeated Patriots and the NY Giants when the Pats’ schedule was SO much easier. Ha I think Raiders were in LA then 😂
February 9, 2026 at 2:25 AM
Eek thanks. I’m still thinking about the Super Bowl between the then undefeated Patriots and the NY Giants when the Pats’ schedule was SO much easier. Ha I think Raiders were in LA then 😂
Correction 12-5 RAMS
February 9, 2026 at 2:22 AM
Correction 12-5 RAMS
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
Not super obvious that’s what it does
February 9, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Not super obvious that’s what it does
It is not! On a phone, you either have to turn it to landscape mode or use that little "<" symbol to switch between the chat and the table. Thanks for trying it out!
February 8, 2026 at 7:17 PM
It is not! On a phone, you either have to turn it to landscape mode or use that little "<" symbol to switch between the chat and the table. Thanks for trying it out!
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
NHL Network is televising the Beanpot final Monday 7:30 pm 🏒
February 7, 2026 at 11:58 PM
NHL Network is televising the Beanpot final Monday 7:30 pm 🏒
I do this, but I'm also aware that after I'm gone and I can no longer pay for my domain name and hosting, all my content will likely disappear unless it's been Internet Archived and people know to look there.
February 7, 2026 at 7:27 PM
I do this, but I'm also aware that after I'm gone and I can no longer pay for my domain name and hosting, all my content will likely disappear unless it's been Internet Archived and people know to look there.
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...
This poll actually asked about religion🎉🎉 Which IMO is also important for a white Christian nationalist admin.
Disapproves of Trump job performance
Black non-Hispanic 78%
White non-Hispanic 50%
Hispanic 69%
No religion 78%
Born-again Protestant 44%
Non-Christian other 62%
Disapproves of Trump job performance
Black non-Hispanic 78%
White non-Hispanic 50%
Hispanic 69%
No religion 78%
Born-again Protestant 44%
Non-Christian other 62%
February 7, 2026 at 2:51 PM
This poll actually asked about religion🎉🎉 Which IMO is also important for a white Christian nationalist admin.
Disapproves of Trump job performance
Black non-Hispanic 78%
White non-Hispanic 50%
Hispanic 69%
No religion 78%
Born-again Protestant 44%
Non-Christian other 62%
Disapproves of Trump job performance
Black non-Hispanic 78%
White non-Hispanic 50%
Hispanic 69%
No religion 78%
Born-again Protestant 44%
Non-Christian other 62%