Jim Ottaviani
@gtlabsrat.bsky.social
…writes comics about science. EINSTEIN is out now! https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781626728769/einstein
I’m also a NASA Solar System Ambassador, so let's talk about space stuff too!
Find me on the (wider) web at www.gt-labs.com
I’m also a NASA Solar System Ambassador, so let's talk about space stuff too!
Find me on the (wider) web at www.gt-labs.com
Pinned
Jim Ottaviani
@gtlabsrat.bsky.social
· Jan 3
Last Summer - A New One-Act Play by Jim Ottaviani | Ann Arbor District Library
aadl.org
If you want to see the play I wrote, you can do that here:
aadl.org/lastsummer
You can also read the script to see how the actors and director changed things for the better, and read the Playbill (so cool!) to learn more about all the real people involved, from famous physicists to the present!
aadl.org/lastsummer
You can also read the script to see how the actors and director changed things for the better, and read the Playbill (so cool!) to learn more about all the real people involved, from famous physicists to the present!
The dog: Leslie Knope
The cat: Ron Swanson
How did we not notice this before?
The cat: Ron Swanson
How did we not notice this before?
November 22, 2025 at 4:58 PM
The dog: Leslie Knope
The cat: Ron Swanson
How did we not notice this before?
The cat: Ron Swanson
How did we not notice this before?
Yes! This has always baffled — and worried — me. I rarely feel unsafe in even unprotected bike lanes, and then poof: they magically disappear exactly where people turn without signalling (or looking) and blow through stop signs and yellow (or red) lights.
The weakest link of any active transportation infrastructure network is where it falls apart at the intersections.
You can have all the raised, separated, straight bike lanes you want, but if all protections are surrendered at the conflict zones (intersections), safety and efficiency are lost.
You can have all the raised, separated, straight bike lanes you want, but if all protections are surrendered at the conflict zones (intersections), safety and efficiency are lost.
November 21, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Yes! This has always baffled — and worried — me. I rarely feel unsafe in even unprotected bike lanes, and then poof: they magically disappear exactly where people turn without signalling (or looking) and blow through stop signs and yellow (or red) lights.
Bella, proving that ranked choice voting isn't hard, even when the candidates are similar. (Though I doubt she thinks of any treat as the lesser of two evils.)
November 20, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Bella, proving that ranked choice voting isn't hard, even when the candidates are similar. (Though I doubt she thinks of any treat as the lesser of two evils.)
Today's meaningless milestone.
("But not meaningless enough that you're not sharing it," you say...and I agree! Also, note the power of rounding, since you can tell at a glance that I'm not really batting 1.000.)
("But not meaningless enough that you're not sharing it," you say...and I agree! Also, note the power of rounding, since you can tell at a glance that I'm not really batting 1.000.)
November 19, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Today's meaningless milestone.
("But not meaningless enough that you're not sharing it," you say...and I agree! Also, note the power of rounding, since you can tell at a glance that I'm not really batting 1.000.)
("But not meaningless enough that you're not sharing it," you say...and I agree! Also, note the power of rounding, since you can tell at a glance that I'm not really batting 1.000.)
This made my day, and it's why I write books: www.upbeacon.com/article/2025...
STAFF OPINION: It is our job to continue Jane Goodall’s legacy
The Student Voice of the University of Portland Since 1935
www.upbeacon.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:59 PM
This made my day, and it's why I write books: www.upbeacon.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Jim Ottaviani
A rare interview with the creators of the always-funny, always-brilliant, and *usually*-sexy—or occasionally anti-sexy—OGLAF!
Cooper has kept a low profile over the years, but is legitimately one of the very best artists in comics today. Read OGLAF if you're old enough to drive!
Cooper has kept a low profile over the years, but is legitimately one of the very best artists in comics today. Read OGLAF if you're old enough to drive!
Talking Oglaf with Trudy Cooper and Doug Bayne: 'We'd stay up all night drawing stuff to make each other laugh' - The Comics Journal
Other than some time off every year for Christmas, Trudy Cooper and Doug Bayne have delivered a new Oglaf comic, skewering fantasy tropes with absolutely not safe for work humor, every week since 2008...
www.tcj.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:42 PM
A rare interview with the creators of the always-funny, always-brilliant, and *usually*-sexy—or occasionally anti-sexy—OGLAF!
Cooper has kept a low profile over the years, but is legitimately one of the very best artists in comics today. Read OGLAF if you're old enough to drive!
Cooper has kept a low profile over the years, but is legitimately one of the very best artists in comics today. Read OGLAF if you're old enough to drive!
If the main reason woodworkers recommend making your own workbench is how clear it makes the point that making the bench would be infinitely easier if you already had the bench, then they’re right.
November 1, 2025 at 10:31 PM
If the main reason woodworkers recommend making your own workbench is how clear it makes the point that making the bench would be infinitely easier if you already had the bench, then they’re right.
Hope some (better still, all) of my California Vote Forward letter recipients are baseball fans.
Also hope they vote for Prop 50, and then undo it (or just let it expire, since it’s designed to be temporary) if/when the crisis passes.
Also hope they vote for Prop 50, and then undo it (or just let it expire, since it’s designed to be temporary) if/when the crisis passes.
October 24, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Hope some (better still, all) of my California Vote Forward letter recipients are baseball fans.
Also hope they vote for Prop 50, and then undo it (or just let it expire, since it’s designed to be temporary) if/when the crisis passes.
Also hope they vote for Prop 50, and then undo it (or just let it expire, since it’s designed to be temporary) if/when the crisis passes.
Favorite sign at No Kings rally so far: “Not usually a sign guy, but GEEZ”.
Me too. Also not usually a taking pictures guy, obviously…
Me too. Also not usually a taking pictures guy, obviously…
October 18, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Favorite sign at No Kings rally so far: “Not usually a sign guy, but GEEZ”.
Me too. Also not usually a taking pictures guy, obviously…
Me too. Also not usually a taking pictures guy, obviously…
Reposted by Jim Ottaviani
The mystery of medical diagnosis!
October 3, 2025 at 6:25 PM
The mystery of medical diagnosis!
Second wasp sting in less than a month, this one while I was walking down the sidewalk. The first was in the woods, running on a trail. Wasn't messing with y'all either time, so, why, wasps, why?
September 30, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Second wasp sting in less than a month, this one while I was walking down the sidewalk. The first was in the woods, running on a trail. Wasn't messing with y'all either time, so, why, wasps, why?
Twentieth straight year of Dances With Dirt relay in and around Hell, MI complete, and I have the hardware — these are the only race medals I always keep — and the scratched up legs as proof.
(Photo taken after washing off the blood and grime. You’re welcome.)
(Photo taken after washing off the blood and grime. You’re welcome.)
September 24, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Twentieth straight year of Dances With Dirt relay in and around Hell, MI complete, and I have the hardware — these are the only race medals I always keep — and the scratched up legs as proof.
(Photo taken after washing off the blood and grime. You’re welcome.)
(Photo taken after washing off the blood and grime. You’re welcome.)
Reposted by Jim Ottaviani
Pythagorean Triple Square Day, as one man affectionately calls 9/16/25, is a day like no other this century.
On 9/16/25, celebrate a date of mathematical beauty
Pythagorean Triple Square Day, as one man affectionately calls 9/16/25, is a day like no other this century.
n.pr
September 16, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Pythagorean Triple Square Day, as one man affectionately calls 9/16/25, is a day like no other this century.
Reposted by Jim Ottaviani
The “problem” with vaccines? They so effective at preventing deaths that they create generations of people that question whether disease was a problem in the first place because they have never experienced the horrors of a world without vaccines.
September 4, 2025 at 7:44 PM
The “problem” with vaccines? They so effective at preventing deaths that they create generations of people that question whether disease was a problem in the first place because they have never experienced the horrors of a world without vaccines.
Back from the Upper Peninsula and a week of outdoors. Started in the Les Cheneaux islands and closed out the trip with a summer triathlon: hiking, kayaking, and wedding.
August 27, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Back from the Upper Peninsula and a week of outdoors. Started in the Les Cheneaux islands and closed out the trip with a summer triathlon: hiking, kayaking, and wedding.
Closing in on it…still have to mortise out the spots for the pulls and assemble everything (base not shown) and apply finish, but the end is within sight!
August 20, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Closing in on it…still have to mortise out the spots for the pulls and assemble everything (base not shown) and apply finish, but the end is within sight!
I’ve never encountered so many people I’d never want to meet or hang out with as I did when reading the latest issue of @wired.com. Well-reported as always, so I’m glad to have learned stuff, but many of the so-called futurists featured? Yuck.
August 9, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I’ve never encountered so many people I’d never want to meet or hang out with as I did when reading the latest issue of @wired.com. Well-reported as always, so I’m glad to have learned stuff, but many of the so-called futurists featured? Yuck.
Reposted by Jim Ottaviani
Just think: the Michelson-Morley experiment was 138 years ago. 🧪
Michelson–Morley experiment - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
August 3, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Just think: the Michelson-Morley experiment was 138 years ago. 🧪
13 (more) reasons I’ll never do cabinetry at home. Each of those clamps is $50-75! 1/2
August 2, 2025 at 9:30 PM
13 (more) reasons I’ll never do cabinetry at home. Each of those clamps is $50-75! 1/2
Today’s harvest. About to become puttanesca sauce thanks to K.
July 25, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Today’s harvest. About to become puttanesca sauce thanks to K.
Reposted by Jim Ottaviani
It's International Moon Day! Since the 1950s, humans have been sending missions to the Moon. This rich archaeological record is under threat from proposed mining and settlement activities.
#InternationalMoonDay 🧪 🏺 #SpaceArchaeology
#InternationalMoonDay 🧪 🏺 #SpaceArchaeology
Who is responsible for heritage in outer space?
A new international agreement raises questions about what counts as cultural property in space, how it should be protected and who should do the protecting
apollo-magazine.com
July 20, 2025 at 10:37 PM
It's International Moon Day! Since the 1950s, humans have been sending missions to the Moon. This rich archaeological record is under threat from proposed mining and settlement activities.
#InternationalMoonDay 🧪 🏺 #SpaceArchaeology
#InternationalMoonDay 🧪 🏺 #SpaceArchaeology
Today’s triathlon: biking, running, and sharpening hand tools.
Almost everything I have I got used, and finally got around to building a stand for the bench grinder (bought used, I’d course) so I finally got all the nicks out and put a consistent bevel on just about everything.
Almost everything I have I got used, and finally got around to building a stand for the bench grinder (bought used, I’d course) so I finally got all the nicks out and put a consistent bevel on just about everything.
July 19, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Today’s triathlon: biking, running, and sharpening hand tools.
Almost everything I have I got used, and finally got around to building a stand for the bench grinder (bought used, I’d course) so I finally got all the nicks out and put a consistent bevel on just about everything.
Almost everything I have I got used, and finally got around to building a stand for the bench grinder (bought used, I’d course) so I finally got all the nicks out and put a consistent bevel on just about everything.
Sharpening setup with chisels and plane blades
July 19, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Sharpening setup with chisels and plane blades
After 18yrs and 130k miles, the 2007 Civic hybrid has transmogrified into a 2023 Niro PHEV. I did the math and 1/2 to 2/3 of days when we drive will be 100% electric.
We wanted to go full EV but Michigan’s Upper Peninsula doesn’t have the infrastructure yet. Next car…if there is one!
We wanted to go full EV but Michigan’s Upper Peninsula doesn’t have the infrastructure yet. Next car…if there is one!
July 15, 2025 at 9:39 PM
After 18yrs and 130k miles, the 2007 Civic hybrid has transmogrified into a 2023 Niro PHEV. I did the math and 1/2 to 2/3 of days when we drive will be 100% electric.
We wanted to go full EV but Michigan’s Upper Peninsula doesn’t have the infrastructure yet. Next car…if there is one!
We wanted to go full EV but Michigan’s Upper Peninsula doesn’t have the infrastructure yet. Next car…if there is one!
Dinner guest excusing itself after jumping off my arm and using my napkin. Not radioactive, did not bite me. Alas.
July 7, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Dinner guest excusing itself after jumping off my arm and using my napkin. Not radioactive, did not bite me. Alas.