The Bob (aka AFNIman)
@bobcoxauthor.bsky.social
Retired NIH scientist. Caltech grad. Sci-fi author. Hiker: especially Nepal and the American Southwest.
Happily married.
Out of the blue DMs better be damn impressive.
Happily married.
Out of the blue DMs better be damn impressive.
Pinned
One of these days I’ll finish the sequel(s) to my SciFi novel Quantum Ignition. The problem I’ve got now is about 180,000 words in three parts. Cut it down to one book or massage into two?
I'm late to this game. I just watched Trump's address to the nation. My summary in two sentences.
Why don't you all love me more?
I'm ordering you to all love me more!
Why don't you all love me more?
I'm ordering you to all love me more!
December 21, 2025 at 12:30 AM
I'm late to this game. I just watched Trump's address to the nation. My summary in two sentences.
Why don't you all love me more?
I'm ordering you to all love me more!
Why don't you all love me more?
I'm ordering you to all love me more!
Graduated Caltech 50 years ago in 2026. Nostalgia: Applied Math 95 (TK Caughey) was one of the pivotal courses for me. Complex analysis. Differential equations and stability. Fourier series and transforms. It all clicked for me, like my brain was just waiting for that stuff. IOW - I loved it.
December 14, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Graduated Caltech 50 years ago in 2026. Nostalgia: Applied Math 95 (TK Caughey) was one of the pivotal courses for me. Complex analysis. Differential equations and stability. Fourier series and transforms. It all clicked for me, like my brain was just waiting for that stuff. IOW - I loved it.
Deep thought of the day:
In all forms of heroism, getting out of bed is a necessary first step.
In some cases, it is also sufficient.
In all forms of heroism, getting out of bed is a necessary first step.
In some cases, it is also sufficient.
December 12, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Deep thought of the day:
In all forms of heroism, getting out of bed is a necessary first step.
In some cases, it is also sufficient.
In all forms of heroism, getting out of bed is a necessary first step.
In some cases, it is also sufficient.
America is at the stage where the rich believe they own the nation. Example: the President believes he owns the government personally -- all that does is his to use/take for his own benefit as he pleases. Other great nations have fallen down this way. It happened to Rome, it happened to China.
November 16, 2025 at 3:53 PM
America is at the stage where the rich believe they own the nation. Example: the President believes he owns the government personally -- all that does is his to use/take for his own benefit as he pleases. Other great nations have fallen down this way. It happened to Rome, it happened to China.
I've been gone from BSky for a while. A month hiking in the desert West, often completely out of cell range. For my penance, here's some pictures from our week long Grand Canyon hike. Including one of the true builders of the canyon: coxklosek.com/BobCoxAuthor...
November 4, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I've been gone from BSky for a while. A month hiking in the desert West, often completely out of cell range. For my penance, here's some pictures from our week long Grand Canyon hike. Including one of the true builders of the canyon: coxklosek.com/BobCoxAuthor...
No one I know has been Raptured yet today. So ... either I know a lot of ungodly people, OR the Rapture has been postponed for technical reasons. Oh well, next time.
September 23, 2025 at 12:00 PM
No one I know has been Raptured yet today. So ... either I know a lot of ungodly people, OR the Rapture has been postponed for technical reasons. Oh well, next time.
If there's a Federal shutdown this October, it will annoy me personally - as I have reservations at the Grand Canyon National Park. I'll take the mild annoyance in exchange for the opportunity for the D's to take a stand at last.
Forth now and fear no darkness!
Forth now and fear no darkness!
September 22, 2025 at 4:09 PM
If there's a Federal shutdown this October, it will annoy me personally - as I have reservations at the Grand Canyon National Park. I'll take the mild annoyance in exchange for the opportunity for the D's to take a stand at last.
Forth now and fear no darkness!
Forth now and fear no darkness!
Well, the Supremes have just given ICE all the powers of the Gestapo, save for the power to execute people without any process or hearings. That ruling will be a few weeks away.
September 8, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Well, the Supremes have just given ICE all the powers of the Gestapo, save for the power to execute people without any process or hearings. That ruling will be a few weeks away.
We are in a masterclass whose lesson is "Power is EVERYTHING".
August 30, 2025 at 1:46 AM
We are in a masterclass whose lesson is "Power is EVERYTHING".
The Trumpettes are in some ways more advanced than the Nazis in 1933. They ginned up crises (Reichstag fire) and then declared emergencies. Now, the new way is to just declare an emergency that the media doesn't dare denounce - because doing so would be "partisan", and dangerous.
August 25, 2025 at 1:45 AM
The Trumpettes are in some ways more advanced than the Nazis in 1933. They ginned up crises (Reichstag fire) and then declared emergencies. Now, the new way is to just declare an emergency that the media doesn't dare denounce - because doing so would be "partisan", and dangerous.
So if Nat Guard is sent to Chicago, Mayor, Council, & Supt of Police should prohibit any cooperation. Ticket/tow illegally parked vehicles. Arrest drivers who run lights for with reckless driving (potential jail time). Step into a street - jaywalking ticket.
August 24, 2025 at 8:49 PM
So if Nat Guard is sent to Chicago, Mayor, Council, & Supt of Police should prohibit any cooperation. Ticket/tow illegally parked vehicles. Arrest drivers who run lights for with reckless driving (potential jail time). Step into a street - jaywalking ticket.
This is exactly true. Cities and states need to be ready for attempted military takeovers. Including security plans for governors and mayors against being "arrested" for some vaguely define "crimes".
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/citie...
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/citie...
Cities Are Getting a Preview
One benefit of what is happening in DC is that Donald Trump...
talkingpointsmemo.com
August 23, 2025 at 12:46 PM
This is exactly true. Cities and states need to be ready for attempted military takeovers. Including security plans for governors and mayors against being "arrested" for some vaguely define "crimes".
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/citie...
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/citie...
People (like me) moan about how Trump's team is damaging the nation. Of course, that is the point of their actions. They've said so. Break the American nation, induce fear with paralysis, establish a new and vicious order. So what if the nation is lesser and weaker? But it will be THEIR nation.
August 22, 2025 at 12:36 PM
People (like me) moan about how Trump's team is damaging the nation. Of course, that is the point of their actions. They've said so. Break the American nation, induce fear with paralysis, establish a new and vicious order. So what if the nation is lesser and weaker? But it will be THEIR nation.
I feel sorry for all the Nigerian princes who have lost their livelihoods to AI generated scams.
August 19, 2025 at 1:15 PM
I feel sorry for all the Nigerian princes who have lost their livelihoods to AI generated scams.
It just struck me that among my limited acquaintance, I know 3 people supporting deadbeat kids. Not 20-somethings who still haven't figure life out. 40-somethings where the odds of figuring life out have dropped to the negligible level. THREE! How common is this, anyway?
August 18, 2025 at 6:34 PM
It just struck me that among my limited acquaintance, I know 3 people supporting deadbeat kids. Not 20-somethings who still haven't figure life out. 40-somethings where the odds of figuring life out have dropped to the negligible level. THREE! How common is this, anyway?
Today's crop of brow figs. Lots of eating to do.
4-1/4 pounds = 1.9 kg
4-1/4 pounds = 1.9 kg
August 16, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Today's crop of brow figs. Lots of eating to do.
4-1/4 pounds = 1.9 kg
4-1/4 pounds = 1.9 kg
What we need is AI controlled anti mosquito laser beams for my porch. That would be a lot more useful to me than any LLM chat bot.
August 16, 2025 at 11:22 AM
What we need is AI controlled anti mosquito laser beams for my porch. That would be a lot more useful to me than any LLM chat bot.
ICE spokes-entity: “as with any facility, ICE has plans in case of emergency, including a hurricane plan.”
It's really an easy to understand plan: "Let them die."
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
It's really an easy to understand plan: "Let them die."
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Environmental Concerns at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Include Storms and Flooding (Gift Article)
The area around the immigrant detention center, deep in the Everglades, is threatened by hurricanes, extreme heat and even wildfires.
www.nytimes.com
August 5, 2025 at 12:36 PM
ICE spokes-entity: “as with any facility, ICE has plans in case of emergency, including a hurricane plan.”
It's really an easy to understand plan: "Let them die."
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
It's really an easy to understand plan: "Let them die."
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Some plant that I liked.
August 2, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Some plant that I liked.
This article makes clear that MAGA’s goal is a totalizing state where there is no expertise allowed - that would be an independent source of truth. Medicine, science - must die MAGA can rule.
www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...
www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...
Every Scientific Empire Comes to an End
America’s run as the premier techno-superpower may be over.
www.theatlantic.com
August 1, 2025 at 3:06 PM
This article makes clear that MAGA’s goal is a totalizing state where there is no expertise allowed - that would be an independent source of truth. Medicine, science - must die MAGA can rule.
www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...
www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...
"Thanks" to the Dragon Bravo fire devastating the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, our backpacking trip there (3 nights) has been canceled. Now we have backpacking reservations for the South Rim Royal Arch loop (6 nights), for mid-October.
www.nps.gov
July 28, 2025 at 8:13 PM
"Thanks" to the Dragon Bravo fire devastating the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, our backpacking trip there (3 nights) has been canceled. Now we have backpacking reservations for the South Rim Royal Arch loop (6 nights), for mid-October.
Looking up estate management terms. I found a new word:
Ademption: When a specific gift named in the will is no longer part of the testator's estate at the time of their death, perhaps because it was sold or destroyed.
What a great word! I'll find a lot of use for it in everyday persiflage.
Ademption: When a specific gift named in the will is no longer part of the testator's estate at the time of their death, perhaps because it was sold or destroyed.
What a great word! I'll find a lot of use for it in everyday persiflage.
July 24, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Looking up estate management terms. I found a new word:
Ademption: When a specific gift named in the will is no longer part of the testator's estate at the time of their death, perhaps because it was sold or destroyed.
What a great word! I'll find a lot of use for it in everyday persiflage.
Ademption: When a specific gift named in the will is no longer part of the testator's estate at the time of their death, perhaps because it was sold or destroyed.
What a great word! I'll find a lot of use for it in everyday persiflage.
I've decided that volume 2 "Quantum Ignition: Powering Up" is DONE. Ran it through spell/grammar check, made 3 changes. No more!!
On to editing and slightly reordering volume 3 "QI: War of the Anas". Must bitch-slap myself into doing the labor.
On to editing and slightly reordering volume 3 "QI: War of the Anas". Must bitch-slap myself into doing the labor.
July 18, 2025 at 1:41 PM
I've decided that volume 2 "Quantum Ignition: Powering Up" is DONE. Ran it through spell/grammar check, made 3 changes. No more!!
On to editing and slightly reordering volume 3 "QI: War of the Anas". Must bitch-slap myself into doing the labor.
On to editing and slightly reordering volume 3 "QI: War of the Anas". Must bitch-slap myself into doing the labor.
This non-political article is well worth reading - a "tornado" of bats every night.
www.texasstandard.org/stories/brac...
www.texasstandard.org/stories/brac...
Batnado at Bracken Cave is an incredible natural phenomenon with 20 million players
Nightly in the summer months, between 10 and 20 million bats stream out of Bracken Cave to dine on bugs. TPR's Jack Morgan takes us there on an audio journey.
www.texasstandard.org
July 9, 2025 at 11:52 AM
This non-political article is well worth reading - a "tornado" of bats every night.
www.texasstandard.org/stories/brac...
www.texasstandard.org/stories/brac...
It's very possible we are crazy.
Earlier, we got bookings for 4 nights below the South Rim at the Grand Canyon. NOW -- we have 3 more nights below the North Rim -- just 4 days after coming up from the first hike. North Bass trail. It's isolated.
www.nps.gov/grca/planyou...
Earlier, we got bookings for 4 nights below the South Rim at the Grand Canyon. NOW -- we have 3 more nights below the North Rim -- just 4 days after coming up from the first hike. North Bass trail. It's isolated.
www.nps.gov/grca/planyou...
www.nps.gov
July 8, 2025 at 2:05 PM
It's very possible we are crazy.
Earlier, we got bookings for 4 nights below the South Rim at the Grand Canyon. NOW -- we have 3 more nights below the North Rim -- just 4 days after coming up from the first hike. North Bass trail. It's isolated.
www.nps.gov/grca/planyou...
Earlier, we got bookings for 4 nights below the South Rim at the Grand Canyon. NOW -- we have 3 more nights below the North Rim -- just 4 days after coming up from the first hike. North Bass trail. It's isolated.
www.nps.gov/grca/planyou...