brr

it is cloudy and cold...

some random links to ponder:

FSP is on form as she asks "How hard should graduate students work?"

Mike Tobis studies blog error propagation

The Glorious Fool
"And I? Ah, would that I might these
Rude stanzas shape to worth and rule;
But like you, I may not please
Half-hearted men, Oh, glorious fool!"

The Blog

The President's Blog

US flattened by self-administered denial-of-service attack

Obama is clearly having issues with NASA, to the extent it is even on his radar - but at least some fairly high level Obama assistant is having trouble deciding on NASA - too many candidate's for NASA head have been floated around inconclusively, and there is the fact that NASA science, except for climate, is not in the proposed stimulus.
This could be a good sign, in that they actually want to shake NASA up and DO something, not just amble along same old way; or it could be very very bad.

NSF will, supposedly, release guidance on the "Open Skies" deal with EU from last year.
In short, this will mean that US scientists can use federal grants to travel on European airlines, without having to go through some "code sharing" or other airline partner laundering scheme. NASA and DoE ought to follow soon.

The end of the parade...

we may soon find out if NASA really can turn on a dime...

h/t NASAwatch

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"Cold" meaning it's only getting to the mid-60sF for highs?

I am not sure what is more ironic, the fact that an Icelander in California is complaining about the cold, the fact that your colleagues in Armpit, PA who have been in the deep freeze will be reading your comments, or that I am resorting to this forum to communicate with you...

By The Beast (not verified) on 21 Jan 2009 #permalink

You actually do have to worry about rain in Southern California. They don't get enough of it to wash the built up oils off the roads, so when you do get a little drizzle you have about as much friction as you do around here when black ice forms.

That said, you're not going to get a lot of sympathy from me. We've warmed up to about 25F today, after seeing temperatures as low as -18F (and this in a place close enough to the ocean to moderate our weather significantly). Then over the weekend I got to shovel 30 cm of the white stuff, with a triple plow berm and decapitated mailbox for good measure.

Besides, you should have a jacket with you. Even in coastal California, it gets cool at night this time of year.

By Eric Lund (not verified) on 21 Jan 2009 #permalink

Yes, it might get cold enough that I will have to tie two sweaters around my waist...

bah-dum-bump

Hey, I actually decided I'd better take a sweater today, and I do not take such steps lightly.
It is brutal out there.
Although I admit the light texture on the ocean is an interesting contrast with its usual mirror blueness.

Jackets are not necessary.
I already realised Californians have forgotten how to drive.
Most don't even know how to merge anymore.
Like Pennsylvania but more crowded.

I miss the snow. Few more days and I can plow through knee deep drifts again...

Most don't even know how to merge anymore.

What is the "merge" thing that people talk about anyway?

I hope it just dumps on us, but no long. I want a huge Pacific storm, but instead we get a piffle. I guess I get to look forward to a summer where the choice is "shower or coffee today?