So, you want to be an astrophysicist? Part 0.
Category: astro
What should a high school student do to get on a track to become an astrophysicist?
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 9:55 AM • 4 Comments
Dynamics of Cats
Speculations on astronomy, astrophysics, news I find interesting, theoretical issues, science and science policy. I will digress into computational physics, science fiction and general issues and basically whatever I feel like whenever. And, of course, cats.
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- So, you want to be an astrophysicist? Part 0.
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Other Information
So you want to be an astrophysicist?
Random info.
The Old Dynamics of Cats blog
Old Favourites:
- Global warming on Mars? (or here, here, or here)
- WMAP for Dummies
- Fractal Dust, LEDs and Cracks in the Cosmos
- On The Proper Subject Order in High School
- Iranian Nukes: Plain Language version
- Imminence of the Eschaton
- Chasing the wrong variable
- Triumph of Evil
- Getting cold gets you colds
- What to do...
- Hæstaréttarmálaflutningslögmannsvinnukonuútidyralyklakippuhringurinn
- Bird 'flu for theorists
- The More You Write, The More You Write...
- King of Tambora
- Goethe's Revenge
- Food for Fighting - in praise of Skyr
- Is this going to be on the test?
-->
August 20, 2008
Scooped
Category: astro
Why do people worry about being scooped, how do scoops happen, how can there be rumours of discoveries and why isn't the whole process made transparent?
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 2:41 AM • 1 Comments
August 18, 2008
it was, almost, a miracle
Category: random
there we were, at breakfast, when the Littler Munchkin found it.
A rice krispie of an astounding configuration
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 5:30 PM • 1 Comments
The History Woman
Category: academia
There are all too few roman a clefs for life in modern academia
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 5:21 PM • 2 Comments
August 15, 2008
I've heard a rumour from ground control
Category: astro
Mars haz dust.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 4:32 PM • 1 Comments
iPod iChing - IXO
Category: random
Frantic friday as summer fares further.
We skip to the Mighty iPod, and curiously query: how will IXO, the surprise hybrid of Con-X and XEUS fare?
Whoosh goes the randomizer.
Whoosh.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 2:50 PM • 0 Comments
August 14, 2008
do as I say...
Category: academia
Krugman notes headline price inflation, 5.6% for the year, with an instantaneous rate of over 10%.
But, we are not to panic.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:55 PM • 7 Comments
August 13, 2008
Enceladus up close
Category: astro
Cassini did a flyby, piccies are here
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 11:29 PM • 1 Comments
LHC Rap
Category: astro
This has been pointed to by many blogs, but just in case you didn't see it...
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:22 PM • 0 Comments
Midnight Sky
Category: astro
"...and the guiding is easy"
Yes, the Photomixers have a new video out!
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:13 PM • 0 Comments
What has Hubble done for you?
Category: science
Ever? or Lately?
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 12:53 PM • 0 Comments
August 12, 2008
funky astrostuff
Category: astro
The astrodyke found some neat astro stuff
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 2:00 PM • 0 Comments
sciblog things to do
Category: random
I am really bad about participating in the ScienceBlog collective initiatives, backchatter and other social initiatives
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:47 PM • 0 Comments
the banality of evil
Category: random
Brad DeLong channels John Yoo, because he has an obligation to do so
'cause linking is an intrinsic good
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:42 PM • 0 Comments
dopes
Category: science
should artificial performance enhancers be permitted in athletics?
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 12:10 PM • 5 Comments
August 11, 2008
Big Finn Win!
Category: random
Finns sweep the championships!
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:52 PM • 3 Comments
Perseids tonight
Category: astro
Don't forget the Perseid meteor shower is tonight
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:08 PM • 3 Comments
anthrax: driving in my car...
Category: science
The Mad Scientist, in The Car, with the Flask.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:25 AM • 0 Comments
SteelyKid?
Category: academia
Go congratulate Chad.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:22 AM • 0 Comments
ekecheiria
Category: random
"During the Olympic Games a truce or ekecheiria was observed. Three runners known as spondophoroi were sent from Elis to the various participant cities at each set of games to announce the beginning of the truce. During this period armies were forbidden from entering Olympia, wars were suspended and legal disputes and the use of the death penalty were forbidden."
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 12:15 AM • 4 Comments
August 8, 2008
iPod iChing - veep
Category: random
Fabulous friday, and we have just two letters of the Mighty iPod: VP?
Whoosh goes the randomizer.
Whoosh.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 11:06 AM • 0 Comments
August 7, 2008
too little risk
Category: random
Too much risk or too little risk?
'cause linking is an intrinsic good
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 11:59 PM • 0 Comments
idle thought
Category: random
the simplest solution to the current US financial problems is a short period of modest wage inflation
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 4:31 PM • 7 Comments
Falcon failure diagnosis
Category: astro
SpaceX has explanation for Falcon 1 stage separation failure in 3rd launch failure
With mo' better video.
Should be easy to fix.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 3:38 PM • 0 Comments
"use-inspired research"
Category: science
reasons for tenure #24952
ORNL fires Distinguished Scientist,
UT picks up slack
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:54 PM • 3 Comments
August 6, 2008
anthrax evidence
Category: random
the Department of Justice took the unusual step of releasing some of the documents filed in the case against Dr Ivins in the 2001 anthrax attacks
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 2:58 PM • 0 Comments
Anthrax Vaccine blog
Category: random
Anthrax Vaccine blog by Dr Nass.
Interesting perspective on the Ivins allegations on the 2001 anthrax attacks.
'cause links are an intrinsic good.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 12:06 PM • 1 Comments
absurdly ridiculous denials
Category: random
sometimes it is important to parse language precisely
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 10:50 AM • 2 Comments
will they come?
Category: academia
Academic term will start soon here, just in time for football season.
Enrollment is high, due to demographic and economic factors, but, with the slowly developing funding crunch, will the students actually show up and register?
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 8:48 AM • 0 Comments
August 5, 2008
COBOL Complications for California Cuts says Comptroller
Category: academia
Fascinating article on slashdot about why California can't cut wage payroll employees to fed minimum wage, because their financial system is a COBOL legacy system
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 10:35 PM • 2 Comments
lyopholizer
Category: science
Freeze drying anthrax and the weird case of the US domestic anthrax attacks in 2001
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 2:45 PM • 8 Comments
August 4, 2008
Is There Life on Mars?
Category: astro
No says NASA.
Not yet.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 3:01 PM • 4 Comments
Falcon down
Category: astro
Third Falcon launch failed also.
Three satellites lost.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 2:42 PM • 2 Comments
August 2, 2008
UC researchers and families attacked
Category: academia
"...a fire was started on the porch of a faculty member's home. Injuries were sustained as the faculty member and his wife and children escaped the residence."
Attack comes after pamphlets were found threatening faculty claimed to use animals in research.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 6:23 PM • 3 Comments
August 1, 2008
iPod iChing - Change
Category: random
August friday, and a start of something new.
We cheerfully flitter to the Mighty iPod and ask the obvious: Can We Believe There Will Be Change?
Whoosh goes the randomizer.
Whoosh.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 12:48 PM • 0 Comments
to my readers in Novaya Zemlya
Category: astro
Do Not Panic!
Do Not Blink!
Do Not Go Back to Sleep.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:10 AM • 3 Comments
July 31, 2008
Dynamic Cats for Obama
Category: random
Ok, The Official Dynamics of Cats Obama Campaign Donation Funding Match is on.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 3:51 PM • 7 Comments
July 30, 2008
Governator's move
Category: academia
"Crush your employees, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations at their paycheques..."
Oh, I wish I had thought of that title.
UPDATE: a check or a headfake?
The order is out.
The clause on Student Assistants could have interesting repercussions.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 11:07 PM • 4 Comments
Physics Made Magical
Category: astro
Pontifications on Physics Personified, from two perspectives.
Here is the Harry Potter personification of physics.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:40 AM • 11 Comments
July 28, 2008
Crackergate on Inside Higher Ed
Category: random
Inside Higher Ed has a note on Crackergate - usual suspects in the comments.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 9:43 AM • 4 Comments
Obama blog challenge for August
Category: random
Amount of August blog check will go to Obama
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 9:28 AM • 0 Comments
Skype backdoor
Category: random
The popular VOIP Skype has a backdoor for bugging
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 9:26 AM • 1 Comments
July 26, 2008
generational mish mash
Category: random
Hey you, out there in the cold
this is me
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:05 AM • 0 Comments
July 25, 2008
JPL has a blog
Category: astro
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has a nice little group blog
Lots of pretty pictures.
h/t NASAwatch
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 11:47 PM • 0 Comments
ain't nobody that can sing like him!
Category: random
YES!
Billy Bragg! in State College! Finally!
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 3:00 PM • 0 Comments
California Brinkmanship
Category: academia
The California "minumum wage" standoff moves closer to the edge.
Universities "requested to co-operate" and cut wages.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 2:26 PM • 1 Comments
iPod iChing - Golden State
Category: random
Warm, sunny, dry friday, and our thoughts turn to the West.
So, oh Mighty iPod: how fares California?
Whoosh goes the randomizer.
Whoosh.
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:56 PM • 0 Comments
July 24, 2008
PZ goes too far!
Category: random
PZ, you bastard!
Now you have gone too far.
Some of us do try to teach our children proper reverence, and what do you do?
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 2:30 PM • 17 Comments
california nightmare
Category: academia
so the governator "has prepared an order to cut the pay of about 200,000 state workers to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour until a budget is signed"
Posted by Steinn Sigurðsson at 1:29 PM • 8 Comments
