Skora, Will
@skora.bsky.social
Hi. web dev at your local public library. learning about the space around me; web dev, maps, geospatial, cleveland. You may know me from other places on the internet. (my website: https://skorasaur.us)
Reposted by Skora, Will
Has anybody put together a list of best practices for openness in government software beyond open licensing? Like public uptime tracking, a public backlog, and a public release history? I have a loose collection of these things in my head, but I bet somebody's done better work on this.
December 5, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Has anybody put together a list of best practices for openness in government software beyond open licensing? Like public uptime tracking, a public backlog, and a public release history? I have a loose collection of these things in my head, but I bet somebody's done better work on this.
Reposted by Skora, Will
Curious about using Python to make #maps but don’t know where to start? I wrote a tutorial that’s ostensibly about GDAL but is really a beginner’s guide to programming: medium.com/@robsimmon/a...
A Gentle Introduction to GDAL Part 10: Python & the Command Line
Scripting directly on the command line with Bash or Zsh is relatively straightforward: work out a sequence of commands, then wrap them in a…
medium.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Curious about using Python to make #maps but don’t know where to start? I wrote a tutorial that’s ostensibly about GDAL but is really a beginner’s guide to programming: medium.com/@robsimmon/a...
Reposted by Skora, Will
Transparently, I was pretty anxious about filling the politics section. Not because there isn't plenty to choose from, but because my anxious and thought-filled mind didn't know how I was going to summarize what's been going on in Cleveland. And then I got a text message. 1/🧵
And we're live! Still working out the kinks with Beehiiv on the website end, but read Issue #1 of Upbeat Nonsense here: dakotahsays.beehiiv.com/p/upbeat-non...
December 3, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Transparently, I was pretty anxious about filling the politics section. Not because there isn't plenty to choose from, but because my anxious and thought-filled mind didn't know how I was going to summarize what's been going on in Cleveland. And then I got a text message. 1/🧵
found 1 thing that AI (google gemini) that has been really helpful with so far:
take PDF files, even ones scanned (of campaign contributions), apply OCR, and put into a csv table (need to check data but it's a remarkable improvement of manually typing everything in;
take PDF files, even ones scanned (of campaign contributions), apply OCR, and put into a csv table (need to check data but it's a remarkable improvement of manually typing everything in;
November 29, 2025 at 2:05 PM
found 1 thing that AI (google gemini) that has been really helpful with so far:
take PDF files, even ones scanned (of campaign contributions), apply OCR, and put into a csv table (need to check data but it's a remarkable improvement of manually typing everything in;
take PDF files, even ones scanned (of campaign contributions), apply OCR, and put into a csv table (need to check data but it's a remarkable improvement of manually typing everything in;
someone on cleveland blusky recently (maybe @koolwhp.bsky.social or @terrymetterjr.bsky.social or @courier429.bsky.social or @hesterpangs.bsky.social skeeted about buying random cds at thrift stores and sharing them w/ friends; I do same and would be happy to swap
November 22, 2025 at 6:10 PM
someone on cleveland blusky recently (maybe @koolwhp.bsky.social or @terrymetterjr.bsky.social or @courier429.bsky.social or @hesterpangs.bsky.social skeeted about buying random cds at thrift stores and sharing them w/ friends; I do same and would be happy to swap
map folks, videos of presentations given at this year's @nacis.bsky.social conference are now online (for free thanks to NACIS members support!) ! if you want to learn from really knowledgeable people making maps, & brush up yr skills, >>> youtube.com/playlist?lis...
NACIS 2025 - YouTube
youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:37 PM
map folks, videos of presentations given at this year's @nacis.bsky.social conference are now online (for free thanks to NACIS members support!) ! if you want to learn from really knowledgeable people making maps, & brush up yr skills, >>> youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Reposted by Skora, Will
I dream of a day when corporations have to reapply for every tax break, contract, and grant every six months, with a requirement that it is the CEO who must complete the paperwork, and attest under penalty of law that they personally did so.
The shutdown was an excuse, not a reason, to go after SNAP.
SNAP recipients have to re-apply either every 6 months or year. Onerous process, with almost no fraud.
There are no shutdown-related requirement for SNAP renewal. But it would predictably result in low-income families going hungry.
SNAP recipients have to re-apply either every 6 months or year. Onerous process, with almost no fraud.
There are no shutdown-related requirement for SNAP renewal. But it would predictably result in low-income families going hungry.
Brooke Rollins says on Newsmax SNAP participants will have to re-apply for the program.
Details are still unclear.
via Grace Yarrow for @politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Details are still unclear.
via Grace Yarrow for @politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 14, 2025 at 8:35 PM
I dream of a day when corporations have to reapply for every tax break, contract, and grant every six months, with a requirement that it is the CEO who must complete the paperwork, and attest under penalty of law that they personally did so.
structure neutral/content radical here
Hoping this helps our colleagues across the industry
November 5, 2025 at 2:51 PM
structure neutral/content radical here
ICYMI: urban planning/gov/policy/organizing folks in #cleveland ; Cleveland Public Library's PAL publishes a monthly list of new books related to govt administration or Cleveland- check out October's at search.cpl.org/MyAccount/My...
October 31, 2025 at 4:25 PM
ICYMI: urban planning/gov/policy/organizing folks in #cleveland ; Cleveland Public Library's PAL publishes a monthly list of new books related to govt administration or Cleveland- check out October's at search.cpl.org/MyAccount/My...
web scrapers activities on library (& archive) websites have increased tremendously in the last 12-24 months: to the point of taking down those services in some cases. it's been affecting academic libraries more (they tend to have more collections digitized, relative to public libraries) 1/?
October 28, 2025 at 3:32 PM
web scrapers activities on library (& archive) websites have increased tremendously in the last 12-24 months: to the point of taking down those services in some cases. it's been affecting academic libraries more (they tend to have more collections digitized, relative to public libraries) 1/?
ah damn, felt decreased their offerings on their free tier (no more data uploads - felt.com/pricing), alas. As time goes on, I didn't realize it then, but that mid 2010s was the peak for affordable or free web-based services for geospatial/ maps.. 1/2
Felt | Pricing
Get started for free, and explore Felt's plans for every kind of organization.
felt.com
October 17, 2025 at 11:20 PM
ah damn, felt decreased their offerings on their free tier (no more data uploads - felt.com/pricing), alas. As time goes on, I didn't realize it then, but that mid 2010s was the peak for affordable or free web-based services for geospatial/ maps.. 1/2
Reposted by Skora, Will
Particularly, never report on a bill being considered in a legislature without providing the bill number and a link to it on the legislative website.
October 17, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Particularly, never report on a bill being considered in a legislature without providing the bill number and a link to it on the legislative website.
Reposted by Skora, Will
One of my more strongly-held beliefs: news articles about court filings, government records, and the like should link to the underlying document(s).
October 17, 2025 at 8:53 PM
One of my more strongly-held beliefs: news articles about court filings, government records, and the like should link to the underlying document(s).
this is a great idea & execution, especially for @civictechallies.bsky.social groups!
breaking it down to actionable steps that groups can use to improve their security/data mgmt.
breaking it down to actionable steps that groups can use to improve their security/data mgmt.
Held our first digital security study hall, sent out to all assorted lefty organizing groups in our area and it was so much fun! People installed Signal, worked on their to-do lists, and taught each other.
Gonna try to do this at least 2x a month. Feel like the social aspect is what makes it work.
Gonna try to do this at least 2x a month. Feel like the social aspect is what makes it work.
October 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
this is a great idea & execution, especially for @civictechallies.bsky.social groups!
breaking it down to actionable steps that groups can use to improve their security/data mgmt.
breaking it down to actionable steps that groups can use to improve their security/data mgmt.
Cleveland state (the Univ) suddenly transferred operations of its radio station WCSB, to the local NPR affiliate w/o telling station staff. funding for station wasn't issue (the univ spent 60k annually on it) signalcleveland.org/ideastream-c... & www.clevescene.com/news/clevela... 1/?
Cleveland State University Kills WCSB, Transfers License to Ideastream to Broadcast Smooth Jazz - Cleveland Scene
CSU president Laura Bloomberg claimed the move, which drew immediate criticism, wasn't to cut costs but to increase opportunities for students as Ideastream takes the reins of WCSB.
www.clevescene.com
October 15, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Cleveland state (the Univ) suddenly transferred operations of its radio station WCSB, to the local NPR affiliate w/o telling station staff. funding for station wasn't issue (the univ spent 60k annually on it) signalcleveland.org/ideastream-c... & www.clevescene.com/news/clevela... 1/?
Reposted by Skora, Will
Researchers and journalists who want to experiment with using AI to analyze public records for the public good are dependent on private companies who have an incentive to gatekeep that information for their own profit.
August 6, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Researchers and journalists who want to experiment with using AI to analyze public records for the public good are dependent on private companies who have an incentive to gatekeep that information for their own profit.
Reposted by Skora, Will
Example: there's so much you could do with public meetings posted to YouTube, but anyone who wants to download videos en masse is totally dependent on YT's API -- whose terms of use can be rescinded or changed at any time.
August 6, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Example: there's so much you could do with public meetings posted to YouTube, but anyone who wants to download videos en masse is totally dependent on YT's API -- whose terms of use can be rescinded or changed at any time.
Reposted by Skora, Will
“ABC7 spoke to Pertissue Fisher, a woman who lives in the building. She said ICE agents took everyone in the building, including her, and asked questions later….’They was bringing the kids down, too, had them zip tied to each other.’”
It can’t happen here, you say. But it is happening.
It can’t happen here, you say. But it is happening.
ICE agents raid South Shore apartments; Trump says Chicago could become military training ground
ICE agents raided a South Shore apartment building overnight as the city braces for a possible military deployment.
abc7chicago.com
October 2, 2025 at 2:10 AM
“ABC7 spoke to Pertissue Fisher, a woman who lives in the building. She said ICE agents took everyone in the building, including her, and asked questions later….’They was bringing the kids down, too, had them zip tied to each other.’”
It can’t happen here, you say. But it is happening.
It can’t happen here, you say. But it is happening.
a clear example of the Cleveland double: 2 unit structure; 1 has the basement/1st floor & other resident has 2nd floor&attic; each w/ 1-2 bedroom, kitchen, bath, own private entrance; shares a driveway. relatively common w/in the city of Cleveland. #density
September 17, 2025 at 9:06 PM
a clear example of the Cleveland double: 2 unit structure; 1 has the basement/1st floor & other resident has 2nd floor&attic; each w/ 1-2 bedroom, kitchen, bath, own private entrance; shares a driveway. relatively common w/in the city of Cleveland. #density
might write a blog post on the state of marker clusters (& spidering) in web #maps & their lack of #accessibility
September 9, 2025 at 5:16 PM
might write a blog post on the state of marker clusters (& spidering) in web #maps & their lack of #accessibility
does anyone in #gischat #geo #cartography remember a blog post from the mid 2010s (I think written by Brian Timoney?) that critiqued the use of multiple toggable layers, how most users ignore the additional map layers, & many web maps' UIs were too complicated? (& have a link to it?)
September 8, 2025 at 4:57 PM
does anyone in #gischat #geo #cartography remember a blog post from the mid 2010s (I think written by Brian Timoney?) that critiqued the use of multiple toggable layers, how most users ignore the additional map layers, & many web maps' UIs were too complicated? (& have a link to it?)
an important fact that i try to always keep in the back of my mind working for a public library
One of the things you learned at 18F and USDS is that government isn’t like a business: it has to serve everybody and not just specific market segments that are the most convenient.
September 6, 2025 at 7:26 PM
an important fact that i try to always keep in the back of my mind working for a public library
Reposted by Skora, Will
1020 BOLIVAR AVE, CLEVELAND, OH, NA
August 15, 2025 at 5:24 PM
1020 BOLIVAR AVE, CLEVELAND, OH, NA
is this air monitor in Richmond heights broken or is there something anomalous causing that poor air quality? . map.purpleair.com/air-quality-.... cc @tkovach.bsky.social
US EPA PM2.5 Air Quality Standards Interactive Map by PurpleAir
Watch: With two minute updates, The US EPA PM2.5 Air Quality Index (AQI) is a number used by US government agencies to communicate to the public how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is...
map.purpleair.com
August 14, 2025 at 4:41 PM
is this air monitor in Richmond heights broken or is there something anomalous causing that poor air quality? . map.purpleair.com/air-quality-.... cc @tkovach.bsky.social
Reposted by Skora, Will
I love @jasonkoebler.bsky.social take on AI in journalism discussed on the @404media.co podcast.
"If AI is so transformative here, show me the reporters publishing more high quality pieces with AI that weren't doing it before." (paraphrasing)
This is the right take. We need proof, not hype.
"If AI is so transformative here, show me the reporters publishing more high quality pieces with AI that weren't doing it before." (paraphrasing)
This is the right take. We need proof, not hype.
August 5, 2025 at 2:42 PM
I love @jasonkoebler.bsky.social take on AI in journalism discussed on the @404media.co podcast.
"If AI is so transformative here, show me the reporters publishing more high quality pieces with AI that weren't doing it before." (paraphrasing)
This is the right take. We need proof, not hype.
"If AI is so transformative here, show me the reporters publishing more high quality pieces with AI that weren't doing it before." (paraphrasing)
This is the right take. We need proof, not hype.