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Ken-ichi Ueda

@kueda.net
242 followers 148 following 108 posts

East Bay curmudgeon, plant and insect dilettante, sucker for a space ship. Tinkering with biodiversity on the AT protocol via cuanto.bio and trying to help out with lexicons.bio and observ.ing.

PostsRepliesMedia
Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 19/09/2026
Finally restored upstream and downstream visualization of waterways in underfoot.rocks, using the National Hydrography Database.
Screenshot of a map showing waterways in the East Bay region of California, highlighting segments upstream and downstream of a point on San Leandro Creek.
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Damon Tighe @damontighe.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Last summer I encountered a very rare Sunflower (Helianthus winteri) and grabbed a few seeds in the hopes of growing it out and providing seeds since no nursery carries it. The time has come to share seeds preferably in California. Fill out this form for seeds forms.gle/NoY1xaJBHSs1... #sunflower
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 04/09/2026
Anyone know what's up with the construction at Laney by the Lake Merritt channel in #Oakland? They cleared all the vegetation right down to the water, which is a bummer. A lot of that was restored native plants.
Lake Merritt channel with Laney College campus in the background.Riprap installed by the 7th st Bridge crossing of the Lake Merritt channel.
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 26/08/2026
RIP Dr. Sevarius. Hope you and Dolly get on famously at orientation.
Dr. Anton Sevarius from the cartoon series Gargoyles, a stereotypical mad scientist in something resembling a white lab coat, looking somewhat evil.
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Neil Tsutsui @neiltsutsui.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
We're hiring! Our search for an Assistant Professor in Arthropod Biodiversity just opened. Come join us at UC Berkeley in the amazing Department of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management! Feel free to contact me if you have questions. aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05523
aprecruit.berkeley.edu
Assistant Professor - Arthropod Biodiversity - Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management
University of California, Berkeley is hiring. Apply now!
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 13/08/2026
This is the funniest and most accurate piece I've read in the Times for a while: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
Opinion | These 25 Artifacts Explain America
Want to understand this country? Look at our stuff.
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 13/08/2026
Thanks for clearing this up once and for all, @oaklandside.org (until we get a bioplastics processing facility in NorCal I guess)
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 11/08/2026
A little while ago I finally went to Casper's on Telegraph, which scored high for architecture but radically low for edibility, which made me wonder... does Oakland even care about hot dogs?
Poorly-lit hot dog and chili dog on a white table.
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 16/07/2026
Here for this. And hopefully at Raimondi for this some time soon!
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Ferris Jabr @ferrisjabr.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
For the @nytimes.com Magazine, I wrote about the increasingly fervent native plant movement; its esteemed guru, the entomologist and bestselling author Douglas Tallamy; and the complexities of ecologically responsible gardening in our modern era. Gift link 🎁 : www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/m...
nytimes.com
I Wanted an Ecologically Responsible Garden. It Was Harder Than I Thought.
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Prosanta Chakrabarty @prosanta.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
Y'all - the Smithsonian is hiring three new curators - herpetology, ichthyology, and ornithology! Notably, this is a 2nd fish curator position - i.e., not the same as the one advertised last month. So if you applied for that one apply again. www.usajobs.gov/job/873849000
Curator of Vertebrates

Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History currently has openings for three early-career Research Curators in Vertebrate Zoology, one each from the disciplines of ornithology, herpetology and ichthyology. The Department of Vertebrate Zoology seeks candidates with demonstrated expertise in, and a commitment to, collections-based research centered on systematics and evolution of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes. This includes the ability to pursue an original approach to systematics and comparative analyses using, for example, morphology, development, and/or molecular data, and showing evidence of broader impacts or applications in evolutionary biology and/or collections-based ecology, as demonstrated by a record of peer-reviewed publications.

Candidates must have demonstrated the ability to establish an externally funded research program and to contribute to the growth and curation of the collections. Research in the Department is supported by the Museum’s shared laboratories, including the Laboratory of Analytic Biology and the Scientific Imaging facility, among others. The Department’s scientific collections are the largest in the world for fishes, amphibians, and reptiles, and the third largest for birds.

These federal positions will be filled at the GS-12 level, with a starting salary of $102,415, and excellent benefits. The positions are permanent and require a one-year probationary period. 

The official announcement is posted on USAJOBS, where applications must be submitted.
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/873849000

Please be sure to read the announcement and instructions carefully, as the process of applying via USAJOBS is stringent and differs from applying for an academic position. This website offers helpful advice: https://serc.si.edu/careers/tips-applying-federal-jobs

Please contact the Search Committee Chair, Michael McGowen (mcgowenm@si.edu) or the Department Chair, Helen James (jamesh@si.edu) with any questions.
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Rude1 Haunted Badness. ⁂ @rude1.blacksky.team · 23/06/2026
Blacksky is building ~the intercommunal net~ where communities create virtual spaces collectively managed by their members -- from moderation policies to recommender algorithms. We're hiring a Founding Engineer (Rust) @ $180K base who will report directly to me and lead our atproto implementation.
blackskyweb.xyz
Founding Engineer (Rust)
Systems, protocol, and infrastructure About Blacksky Blacksky helps communities create virtual third places where members democratically govern the recommender algorithms and moderation policies that ...
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 09/06/2026
Is there a name for what you might call Anthropic style? Taupe background, low-contrast colors, serif display typeface?
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 01/06/2026
I really want PWAs to work. Browsers, FANG, and the Universe seem to want something else.
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dame @dame.is · 23/05/2026
this deserves an Emmy award, what an incredibly fun and charming hour long tv show — Colbert at his very best (my favorite person in this entire broadcast was Genevieve though)
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 20/05/2026
If I make an alternate instance of cuanto.bio (currently down thanks to the Railway outage), should I call it cuantoo, cuantwo, or [insert suggestion]?
cuanto.bio
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soleil ho @soleilho.com · 11/05/2026
can I walk you through my favorite things about this site, which I made *with these hands*??? (thread lol) petobits.coyotemedia.org
petobits.coyotemedia.org
The Rainbow Bay Bridge — COYOTE Media Collective
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 28/04/2026
Do math-based bot checks actually work? Like "what's 4+5"? It seems unlikely to me that a human would be better at simple computation than a literal computer, but am I missing something?
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 15/04/2026
I tried to tell Duolingo's AI that I used Bluesky and it heard "Plus Guy" so please, someone, make plusguy.social.
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 14/04/2026
For some reason I'm poring this aerial photo of the southeastern side of Lake Merritt in #Oakland, CA from 1939. I'm amazed the tennis courts are that old, but also intrigued what the thing in the middle is to the right of the courts. Is that some kind of street car facility?
Black and white aerial photo of the southwestern side of Lake Merritt in Oakland, CA from 1939.
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 07/04/2026
TIL that caltopo.com will print GeoPDFs. I'm guessing onxmaps does that too? Anyway, always impressed with caltopo's functionality. It ain't pretty, but it does a lot of useful things for exploring.
caltopo.com
Map the Backcountry with CalTopo
Map your world with CalTopo. Backcountry or your backyard; research, plan, share, and take maps with you on your mobile device. View real time data, choose layers that suit your needs, print maps, rec...
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Dr. Danny Haelewaters 🏳️‍🌈🍄🪰🦇🔬🧬 @dhaelewa.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
📢CALL FOR COLLABORATION📢 My PhD student Warre is looking for flies infected with #Laboulbeniales fungi. Especially Musca domestica! If you have any, store in 96% ethanol or in the freezer, record on @inaturalist.bsky.social, and/or contact Warre. #TeamLaboul #LFEE #LuminaQuaeruntur
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 31/03/2026
Anthropocene strata of Oakland. Makes me wonder, what's the deepest core you could drill through a road and have all strata still be road?
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 30/03/2026
observ.ing now has automated species suggestions based on photos thanks to @rwell.org and huggingface.co/imageomics/b.... Just a list of scientific names for now, but so cool!
observ.ing
Observ.ing - Observe nature. Own your data.
A decentralized platform for biodiversity observations, built on the AT Protocol. Record what you see, keep what you create.
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 29/03/2026
Maybe a stupid #atproto newbie question, but are lexicons ever versioned (e.g. blog.lexicons.v1.post or something) and are there examples of tools for migrating between major versions of the same lexicon, or tools for migrating between similar lexicons (e.g. from one blog post lexicon to another)?
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 27/03/2026
Really enjoying the #atscience talks at #atmosphereconf today. Learning about so many projects!
atmosphereconf.org
ATmosphereConf 2026
ATmosphereConf is the global atproto community conference. Join us in Vancouver, Canada, March 26th - 29th, 2026.
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 15/03/2026
Listening to music I copied off my 2005 iPod to my 2011 Macbook running a 2025 version of Ubuntu using a 2019 version of Rhythmbox by streaming to my 2025 Macbook via a 2026 version of Jellyfin. What a world.
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Victoria Schlesinger @vaschles.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
baynature.org/2026/03/11/c...
baynature.org
Could Oil Derricks Come To Mount Diablo?
BLM wants to open up areas for drilling near beloved Bay Area parks and wild spaces. We break down how likely that is.
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 05/03/2026
Second year blooming after 5 years of waiting on this death camas. Gardening with California native plants definitely gives me a new appreciation for the difference in time that goes into equally beautiful flowers. Perennials are playing long, long game, at least from my blinkered human perspective.
Lily-like plant with white flowers in a backyard garden
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 20/02/2026
I know I've been pretty quiet for the last month and I should probably post about what *I've* been working on, but first, check out these other cool projects I learned about recently! www.patreon.com/posts/other-...
patreon.com
Other Stuff! | Ken-ichi Ueda
Get more from Ken-ichi Ueda on Patreon
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 18/02/2026
Lightning and thunder over Oakland *while I'm awake*?! Long have I waited...
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 15/02/2026
Just updated to v1.18.7b of @zen-browser.app and my pinned tabs are gone and I can't pin new ones. Back to Firefox I guess.
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COYOTE @coyotemedia.org · 04/02/2026
COYOTE's featured alongside a handful of our fellow worker-owned outlets in @niemanlab.org today, talking about the reality of doing democratically managed journalism. Summary: It's a lot of fucking meetings! www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/jour...
niemanlab.org
Journalism coops seem utopian. What’s it like working in one?
"If I was less self-directed, I'd probably be freaking out."
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 28/01/2026
"The best drink they serve here," said a man named Walter Riley, "is the Walter Riley." "What's in it?" I asked. "You'll have to ask." That man was Boots Riley's dad.
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 16/01/2026
My California pipevine really snuck up on me this year.
Several weird flowers that look like saxophones from the Upside Down in Stranger Things
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 08/01/2026
Calflora is hiring is you're a Java person (or want to become one): www.calflora.org/newsletter/J...
calflora.org
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 06/01/2026
I quit my job at #iNaturalist, the product I co-founded. If you'd like me to keep working on natural history software, support me on Patreon: patreon.com/kueda. FWIW, I'm building an iNat backup tool and an app for viewing geologic maps. Or, if you think you'd like to hire me, get in touch!
patreon.com
Ken-ichi Ueda | Patreon
Natural history software
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Damon Tighe @damontighe.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
The recent Bay Nature Magazine with my article on UV Fluorescence is out. It’s full of tips on what habitats and organisms to look at. Big thanks to Editor Kathleen Ok-Soo Richards for helping fine tune the piece since I’m definitely rusty at writing article #Fluorescence #SFBay #UVF
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 31/12/2025
"Brian Damage" is my favorite band name of the last 48 hours. Music's pretty good too! permanentbriandamage.bandcamp.com
permanentbriandamage.bandcamp.com
Brian Damage
Brian Damage is a synth-driven rock outfit from Columbus, Ohio. The band was founded by Brian Baker (Brat Curse, DANA, Hydrone, Sega Genocide, Smug Brothers, Sam Pellegringo, Yakuza Heart Attack, Astr...
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 24/12/2025
HOH (Holiday Overheard): the eating will continue until morale improves.
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 22/12/2025
I tried 4 cassette players from the Museum of Mom & Dad and the only one that really works is a Sanyo MR-52, which is at least 40 years old, has a mic, a speaker, audio line in, playback speed control, and fits in a pocket. Amazing device.
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 19/12/2025
As my umbrella inverted in a sodden, sudden gust, an oncomer chortled while *her* umbrella crumpled in the gale.
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 12/12/2025
Come give me a high-five! highfive.ngerakines.dev/high-five/d…
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 08/12/2025
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW1j...
youtube.com
The Master's reaction to an earthquake - Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 1 clip
YouTube video by Buffyverse Nostalgia
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 03/12/2025
Solid set from Hayward Shoreline this eve.
Sunset over the Santa Cruz mountains with the SF Bay and mudflats in the foreground
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 02/12/2025
Loving pluribus so far, but it took me 4 episodes to notice the parallels to obsequious LLMs... which might end up being the whole thrust of the show? Hoping it's not quite that on-the-nose.
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 21/11/2025
I asked the unbelievably powerful new Nano Banana Pro to make me an icon of Charles Darwin wearing sunglasses. Nailed it.
A very crude, or, if you prefer, deconstructed collection of shapes that might, with imagination, hint at the idea of Charles Darwin wearing sunglasses.
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 20/11/2025
#atproto folks, do you expect paid, content-agnostic PDS services to emerge at some point? I don't think anyone expects self-hosting to become widespread, and I don't understand why app-specific PDS hosts have an incentive to store content in *any* lexicon long term.
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Ken-ichi Ueda @kueda.net · 15/11/2025
Amtrak might be slower and not cheaper than flying, but a) planes don't have lounge cars, and b) nobody waves to you on a plane.
Inside of a passenger train car with large windows
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Damon Tighe @damontighe.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Getting some nice #northernlights action in the #Oakland hills right now. Remember to add your photos to www.aurorasaurus.org #aurora
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