I miss this person so so much. How can the universe possibly be configured, such that she is no longer alive?

Dolly Parton.

Firings happening right now at the NSF.

Happy birthday astronaut Melvin! Like many others, I stand in Awww of the greatest official portrait ever

I was today old when I learned about the Battle of Cable Street, 1936, in which the people of London build barricades to hold back a march of British fascists

Be strong Be kind Make a little time for joy Repeat

As the kids say, mood

@tomjoad56.bsky.social hello friend

2/2 “and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.” This is the oath that I, like every other US federal civil servant, swore. I could make more $ outside the gov. I chose public service. I believe in our mission.

1/2 “I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; …

Okay peeps, what made these tracks?

This was my first AAS meeting in 3 years as a regular attendee again, rather than as an elected AAS Trustee. I thought it would be less exhausting. It was not.

Just had a sample of the Eaton Fire ash that is in my driveway run on the department XRF. Is there titanium (new house paint)? Yup. Lead (old house paint)? You betcha. Heavy metals? Check. Treat that ash like it's toxic folks (because it is)

Work sunset, with liquid nitrogen delivery

Ah, the “new big bosses” anxiety dreams have started, right on time

This was the most oddly satisfying project. The kee-kew kee-kew sound of the hand saw as it slid through the board, the huge ratio of effort to destroy : effort to create, getting to see the cross-section of the (shitty) construction. Ahh

What do you mean, you don’t have a non/palm random orbital sander in stock? What kind of hardware store are you? Also, prove to me it’s random

Current coping mechanism: Online shopping for 5/4 hooded wetsuits to stretch the windsurfing season further into “stupid cold” territory

Me, beginning this paper: Surely we understand the IR emission from our solar system! I can subtract it off to measure the glow from JWST itself. Me, after talking to the COBE experts: There’s so much we don’t know about the IR emission from our own solar system!

Deleted all my tweets with @luca.run ‘s free tweetXer on GitHub. Painless. Deleting all the Likes now. It’s strangely freeing

I decided to "reactivate" my Twitter account, just to delete all my tweets. Great points have been made over here the past few days that deactivating is not enough. Doing that right now. Once done, deactivate final time. Here is a free script: github.com/lucahammer/t...

@philplait.bsky.social , any advice on quitting twitter and/or deleting it all? The witch-hunting for feds with progressive views has already begun over at DHS federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-repo...

“I’m not giving up. And neither should you.”

I learned a history today, my friends. The point of history isn’t to make you feel good or feel bad. It’s to make you understand the actual world and how we got here

Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #289,827. Are you not impressed?

Today was my first time in an embassy: the British embassy in DC, to celebrate the power of international partnership for space science! Lots of discussion about amazing JWST and next steps They had OG red phonebooths but I forgot to take a selfie, so pls use your imagination

As a fed, I have to keep my personal social media very quiet this election year. So, here’s a thread about… ghost fruit waiting for mammoths No, really

Being very silent on social media, bc the lawyers said it was smart. But, following along and enjoying the snark — thanks, all!

Happy Pride! Be yourself, be fabulous, and know that you belong in the Universe

Spent yesterday at the Defense Intelligence Agency, attending the Intelligence Community’s Pride Summit. Attended breakout on neurodiversity, panel on BIPOC/queer in gov service, and Col. Bree Fram’s amazing keynote. + gave a keynote. I’m tired. Also, weird to be in a bldg w no devices. No phones??

Gorgeous! Hoping somebody makes a version entirely from JWST images

Wow, thank you so much for all the love! I'm so happy NASA space Pride has resonated with you all. I knew it would be appreciated here, but never guessed it would be top-15-posts-of-all-time appreciated! I have given myself a migraine trying to respond to you all, so I must put my phone down now 🫠

Potomac River approach to DCA!

Great plenary by Robert Hurt of IPAC, w this gem of career advice

NASA Town Hall, which I thought would be more contentious. NASA plans to reduce the operational budget for Hubble and Chandra. No decisions yet, there will be a virtual town hall in a few months. Want to keep both Hubble and Chandra operational — but need to find a cheaper way to run them. #AAS244

Took a brain break at #AAS244. Yay for some contemplative time on the water!

Session 213 at #AAS244, Community Models of Astronomy: Applying Principles of Mutuality and Stewardship, happening now in Hall of Ideas G.

Snippets from Madison, Wisconsin at #AAS244

If you needed more proof that consent is a foreign concept to these tech bros.

My notes from when the President cold-called me two weeks ago, to offer me the Presidential Medal of Freedom. (Scribbled on the back of a paper draft).

Lint rolling a galaxy cluster. Like ya do

Should I delete my Twitter?

After the solar eclipse, the laundry. Back home safely, hoping to carry totality in my heart

Nothing to see here, just astronauts and race cars

Happy eclipse day from the Indianapolis motor speedway!

With the regular meatball on top. Style guide, updated

It is a perfectly normal thing to be googling high schools and grocery stores (big parking lots) in the path of totality, at 2am. Right?

Updated forecast from our pals at the @capitalweather.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024...

Anti-lynching memorials, Indianapolis

Even the dinosaurs are ready for the solar eclipse! (At the children’s museum, Indianapolis.)