Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Paul Chambon @adudeandhislife.bsky.social · Sep 2

General query: I’m trying to fit a boosted regression tree using GBM in R. I noticed that gbm.step doesn’t work anymore. I’m reading that gbm3 is the newer package. Any good documentation or tutorials online? TIA!

Paul Chambon @adudeandhislife.bsky.social · Aug 20

New view is great! Today is the (unofficial) start of my PhD at Oakland University. Can’t wait to get rolling here!

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Paul Chambon @adudeandhislife.bsky.social · Jul 10

Is that La Selva?

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Reposted by Paul Chambon

Atul Gawande @agawande.bsky.social · Jun 27

“Foreign aid has changed nothing.” “These are not our problems.” “The system is dysfunctional.” “The countries we aid are corrupt.” “Other countries aren’t doing enough.”

I have heard all these arguments too. @nickkristof.bsky.social succinctly answers.

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/o...

Opinion | The U.S. Cannot Solve All the World’s Problems

www.nytimes.com

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Dan Garisto @dangaristo.bsky.social · Jun 24

NEW: NSF will be kicked out of their building. Announcement will be made tomorrow by HUD Sec. and Governor of VA. HUD will take over the NSF building over the next two years.

NSF staffer: "There is no planning for NSF, no identified future location, appropriation for a new building or a move."

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David Shiffman, Ph.D. 🦈 @whysharksmatter.bsky.social · Jun 17

My latest for American Scientist Magazine helps give scientists the tools to fight back against politicized charges that our research is silly or pointless- tools that will work whether you’re asked “why are we funding this” from your asshole uncle at Thanksgiving or an asshole US Senator.
🧪🌎

“Why Are We Funding This?”

Long-standing myths about “silly science” have contributed to the reckless slashing of government-supported research.

www.americanscientist.org

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Paul Chambon @adudeandhislife.bsky.social · May 24

Common snapping #turtles from northwest #Michigan this morning. All next to each other. 3 different ages, 3 different stages of decomposition. Disease or predation? Or ???

Paul Chambon @adudeandhislife.bsky.social · May 21

An absolute monster of a snapping turtle from northern Michigan 2 weeks ago. #turtle #herps

Paul Chambon @adudeandhislife.bsky.social · May 15

After finishing my masters at Purdue in July, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be starting a PhD with Scott Tiegs at Oakland University. I can’t wait to get started this fall!

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Paul Chambon @adudeandhislife.bsky.social · May 11

This box turtle is alive and well after a near hit by an oblivious SUV. Watch out for turtles!

Paul Chambon @adudeandhislife.bsky.social · May 6

A very timid Pacific Screech-Owl, from the north end of Costa Rica. #bird #birding #owl 🦉

A gorgeous owl sits perched in a tree in the daytime. Nestled in the branches, it can be hard to make it out, but the color and feathers give it away as a pacific screech owl.

Reposted by Paul Chambon

Governor Tim Walz @governorwalz.mn.gov · May 1

Mike Waltz has left the chat.

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Mother Jones @motherjones.com · Apr 21

An extinction is not typically a single catastrophic event, where, poof, a species is suddenly gone.

But the threats against the Eastern hellbender, decimated by Helene and now facing Trump, have been stacking up with frightening speed. @jackiefmogensen.bsky.social reports:

Legend has it this salamander came from hell. We’re about to send it back.

Climate disasters, human sprawl, and now Trump: This is how extinctions happen.

www.motherjones.com

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Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · Apr 19

All wildlife research at USGS will be eliminated. All research and science centers. All coop units. BBS, BBL…. gone.

www.science.org/content/arti...

Trump swings budget ax at USGS biology research

Plan to eliminate $307 million ecosystem program could face obstacles in Congress

www.science.org

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Paul Chambon @adudeandhislife.bsky.social · Apr 9

One of my favorite memories from my recent trip to Costa Rica was (almost literally) running into this beautiful Turquoise-browed Motmot. It stayed stock-still only 10 feet from me on the trail, and was still there 30 minutes later.

Paul Chambon @adudeandhislife.bsky.social · Apr 3

Very pretty Amazon Kingfisher from Costa Rica, with such an out of proportion beak.

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Paul Chambon @adudeandhislife.bsky.social · Mar 27

Green basilisk from the north, and brown basilisk from the south.

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Paul Chambon @adudeandhislife.bsky.social · Mar 25

Got back early this morning from Costa Rica. Incredible, life changing trip. I have a load of photos, so I’ll be posting them on here until I get through them all.
Starting off strong with Northern Emerald-Toucanets.

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Paul Chambon @adudeandhislife.bsky.social · Mar 15

First day of the Costa Rica study abroad trip didn’t quite go as planned!

ticotimes.net/2025/03/14/r...

Radar Failure in Honduras Disrupts Central American Flights

A radar outage in Honduras halted flights across Central America on March 14, affecting Costa Rica and beyond. Services resumed by 1 p.m., but delays linger.

ticotimes.net

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Paul Chambon @adudeandhislife.bsky.social · Mar 11

Driving back from watching the sunset, and lit up this lovely American Woodcock! A lifer, and on a Monday! Further fueling my paranoid belief in always keeping my camera with me

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Paul Chambon @adudeandhislife.bsky.social · Feb 27

Homemade hummus to start, then spinach and artichoke dip focaccia. Gotta have something to do to stay sane with everything going on, and this definitely helps.

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Sarah Tuttle @niais.bsky.social · Feb 19

I want everyone to just take FIVE MINUTES, and take a look at this extremely well put together project 2025 tracker.

www.project2025.observer

We're less than a month in.

Project 2025 Tracker

Track the progress on Project 2025

www.project2025.observer

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Reposted by Paul Chambon

Shenanigans @shenanigans.bsky.social · Jan 30

Sorry I'm just in a really bad place right now (United States)

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Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · Jan 29

🚨 BREAKING: OMB has just issued a memo *rescinding* the previous memo freezing all federal financial assistance programs.

Full text, per government source:

January 29, 2025
M-25-14
MEMORANDUM FOR HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
FROM: Matthew J. Vaeth, Acting Director, Office of Management and Budget Me
SUBJECT: Rescission of M-25-13
OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded. If you have questions about implementing the
President's Executive Orders, please contact your agency General Counsel.

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Midwest Emo Daily @midwestemodaily.bsky.social · Jan 29

A classic to start us off. #music #midwestemo

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