spontaneous symmetry breakdance
@t8erboi.bsky.social
a.k.a. Matt. Physicist, conformal bootstrapper, and #1 Leonid Kantorovich respecter. Idaho → Colorado → Connecticut → Italy. he/him.
Unionize the radiation lab!
Unionize the radiation lab!
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A core part of existing peacefully on forum-derived online spaces is being in overall amiable and enjoyable parasocial community with people that you think are totally insane on like 1-2 things. Generally insightful and funny person who believes in violent Louisiana independence, etc.
February 19, 2026 at 4:21 AM
A core part of existing peacefully on forum-derived online spaces is being in overall amiable and enjoyable parasocial community with people that you think are totally insane on like 1-2 things. Generally insightful and funny person who believes in violent Louisiana independence, etc.
Oh, is it "everyone dunk on New Atheism" night on the timeline again?
February 18, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Oh, is it "everyone dunk on New Atheism" night on the timeline again?
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i jokingly refer to my politics as "red abundance" primarily because i'm a social democrat who primarily thinks we should be building things
people want to be part of a grander narrative, i feel
people want to be part of a grander narrative, i feel
Yeah I think why China hype hits so good for so many people is that it's largely a materialist polity that justifies itself with income growth, lower prices, and public projects when The Culture War has become the dominant form of politics elsewhere with many other issues falling to the wayside
February 18, 2026 at 7:17 PM
i jokingly refer to my politics as "red abundance" primarily because i'm a social democrat who primarily thinks we should be building things
people want to be part of a grander narrative, i feel
people want to be part of a grander narrative, i feel
finally, someone invented a left-SBF
Just after I took this screen, someone actually hit the heart on this.
February 18, 2026 at 10:02 PM
finally, someone invented a left-SBF
the SDP solver has been very kind to us this month, so I'm giving it a little treat (a well-conditioned matrix)
February 18, 2026 at 6:56 PM
the SDP solver has been very kind to us this month, so I'm giving it a little treat (a well-conditioned matrix)
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In other words, there's a tension between trying to maximize the power and influence of a particular scholarly organization or clique of scholars and actually trying to expand the broader social, cultural, and -- I daresay -- political influence of a field.
February 16, 2026 at 1:16 PM
In other words, there's a tension between trying to maximize the power and influence of a particular scholarly organization or clique of scholars and actually trying to expand the broader social, cultural, and -- I daresay -- political influence of a field.
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This is actually an important critique, because it's *exactly* the same problem that academic labor activists have come up against re: the MLA and the AHA and those organizations' insistence that "we are not a guild or trade union" approach.
February 16, 2026 at 1:15 PM
This is actually an important critique, because it's *exactly* the same problem that academic labor activists have come up against re: the MLA and the AHA and those organizations' insistence that "we are not a guild or trade union" approach.
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came across this joke I made 2 years ago and I'm afraid to say I have now started my descent
May 6, 2025 at 9:14 PM
came across this joke I made 2 years ago and I'm afraid to say I have now started my descent
Alright, fuck it, shameless self-promotion time. I have a new paper (with Rajeev Erramilli) on mapping out the landscape of 3d CFTs.
We're both very proud of it, and I think most CFT-adjacent people will find it an interesting read.
We're both very proud of it, and I think most CFT-adjacent people will find it an interesting read.
February 17, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Alright, fuck it, shameless self-promotion time. I have a new paper (with Rajeev Erramilli) on mapping out the landscape of 3d CFTs.
We're both very proud of it, and I think most CFT-adjacent people will find it an interesting read.
We're both very proud of it, and I think most CFT-adjacent people will find it an interesting read.
My favorite thing about this physics building is the horrible screeching sound whenever anyone adjusts their window shades.
February 17, 2026 at 2:26 PM
My favorite thing about this physics building is the horrible screeching sound whenever anyone adjusts their window shades.
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this is exactly why I am absolutely not willing to overlook anyone who was once “advocating for ending USAID” as merely committing a little oopsie-daisy-booboo, by the way
The Project 2025 author is using millions of dollars in USAID money for his own security detail.
It is estimated that 762,000 people have *already died* as a result of Elon Musk and Russell Vought’s obscene murder of USAID, including more than 500,000 children.
Vought is a mass murderer.
It is estimated that 762,000 people have *already died* as a result of Elon Musk and Russell Vought’s obscene murder of USAID, including more than 500,000 children.
Vought is a mass murderer.
Exclusive: White House uses USAID funds for budget director Vought's security, documents show
The White House budget office is using millions of dollars from the former U.S. foreign aid agency to pay for the security detail of Russell Vought, President Donald Trump's budget chief and an archit...
www.reuters.com
February 17, 2026 at 1:50 AM
this is exactly why I am absolutely not willing to overlook anyone who was once “advocating for ending USAID” as merely committing a little oopsie-daisy-booboo, by the way
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the world if ozy was the high prophet of rationalism instead of scott
February 16, 2026 at 5:20 PM
the world if ozy was the high prophet of rationalism instead of scott
That said, I sometimes worry that This Part Of Bluesky is getting negatively polarized from constant exposure to dumbest anti-AI takes, even though the deranged booster shit is much more common.
The wildest thing about LLM arguments on science bluesky is that some of the people conflating an empirical distribution with its kernel density estimate would clock the same error immediately in any other context.
February 16, 2026 at 4:40 PM
That said, I sometimes worry that This Part Of Bluesky is getting negatively polarized from constant exposure to dumbest anti-AI takes, even though the deranged booster shit is much more common.
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What I really fucking love about Hot Fuzz is that it is a rare piece of artwork that unapologetically defends liberal modernity.
A representative of the impartial, uniform rule of law & depersonalized state beings justice to a lawless, backward community run by a wretched clique of local grandees.
A representative of the impartial, uniform rule of law & depersonalized state beings justice to a lawless, backward community run by a wretched clique of local grandees.
February 16, 2026 at 5:44 AM
What I really fucking love about Hot Fuzz is that it is a rare piece of artwork that unapologetically defends liberal modernity.
A representative of the impartial, uniform rule of law & depersonalized state beings justice to a lawless, backward community run by a wretched clique of local grandees.
A representative of the impartial, uniform rule of law & depersonalized state beings justice to a lawless, backward community run by a wretched clique of local grandees.
The wildest thing about LLM arguments on science bluesky is that some of the people conflating an empirical distribution with its kernel density estimate would clock the same error immediately in any other context.
February 16, 2026 at 11:56 AM
The wildest thing about LLM arguments on science bluesky is that some of the people conflating an empirical distribution with its kernel density estimate would clock the same error immediately in any other context.
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this started a holy war, so let me state a very plain and direct argument for this
the democratic primary is when we decide if we get to have things be good or mid
the general election is when you decide if you dislike nazis
the democratic primary is when we decide if we get to have things be good or mid
the general election is when you decide if you dislike nazis
Counterpoint: if the Prince of Darkness rises from a fiery portal at the Iowa Caucus and declares his opposition to Donald Trump, I will ride to battle with the host of Hell
February 16, 2026 at 2:40 AM
this started a holy war, so let me state a very plain and direct argument for this
the democratic primary is when we decide if we get to have things be good or mid
the general election is when you decide if you dislike nazis
the democratic primary is when we decide if we get to have things be good or mid
the general election is when you decide if you dislike nazis
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Proposed Amendment XXVIII
Whereas parochialism is a blight upon modern society, it shall be illegal for any person who has lived more than 18 of the last 20 years within the state they currently reside to be elected to office in that state.
Whereas parochialism is a blight upon modern society, it shall be illegal for any person who has lived more than 18 of the last 20 years within the state they currently reside to be elected to office in that state.
February 16, 2026 at 7:07 AM
Proposed Amendment XXVIII
Whereas parochialism is a blight upon modern society, it shall be illegal for any person who has lived more than 18 of the last 20 years within the state they currently reside to be elected to office in that state.
Whereas parochialism is a blight upon modern society, it shall be illegal for any person who has lived more than 18 of the last 20 years within the state they currently reside to be elected to office in that state.
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Genuinely if I lived in Chicago I'd be canvassing for Abu purely because of all the "carpetbagging" nonsense. Who gives a shit. Stop doing blood and soil for communities so imagined they change every 10 years lol
February 16, 2026 at 7:05 AM
Genuinely if I lived in Chicago I'd be canvassing for Abu purely because of all the "carpetbagging" nonsense. Who gives a shit. Stop doing blood and soil for communities so imagined they change every 10 years lol
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Counterpoint: if the Prince of Darkness rises from a fiery portal at the Iowa Caucus and declares his opposition to Donald Trump, I will ride to battle with the host of Hell
February 15, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Counterpoint: if the Prince of Darkness rises from a fiery portal at the Iowa Caucus and declares his opposition to Donald Trump, I will ride to battle with the host of Hell
gf is much more of a night owl than I am, which makes being 6 hours ahead of her the most annoying possible time difference.
February 15, 2026 at 8:58 PM
gf is much more of a night owl than I am, which makes being 6 hours ahead of her the most annoying possible time difference.
I think Newsom discourse on her is so acrimonious because he clears a bar that many elected Democrats don't (willing to do whatever it takes to keep Republicans out of power), but fails to clear a bar that many Democrats do (makes minor concessions to bigots because he got scared of a bad poll).
February 15, 2026 at 4:19 PM
I think Newsom discourse on her is so acrimonious because he clears a bar that many elected Democrats don't (willing to do whatever it takes to keep Republicans out of power), but fails to clear a bar that many Democrats do (makes minor concessions to bigots because he got scared of a bad poll).
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i would die to defend a multicultural economic zone
February 15, 2026 at 3:40 PM
i would die to defend a multicultural economic zone
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The one reason I'm somewhat worried about an AOC presidential run is that the levels of Gender that would result are possibly cataclysmic.
“AOC needs to publicly commit to hard military action in Taiwan and the fact she has refused to do so shows she’s fundamentally unserious” that’s crazy man anyway quick question what is the policy of strategic uncertainty again and who else is guilty of it
February 15, 2026 at 1:47 PM
The one reason I'm somewhat worried about an AOC presidential run is that the levels of Gender that would result are possibly cataclysmic.
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San Diego rents fall 5.5%—proof that building housing works.
Add 6,000 apartments, prices drop.
This eases pressure on voucher programs, helps low-income renters, makes the city more accessible.
Want sustained affordability? Keep building.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/02/04/r...
Add 6,000 apartments, prices drop.
This eases pressure on voucher programs, helps low-income renters, makes the city more accessible.
Want sustained affordability? Keep building.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/02/04/r...
‘Rental market is largely frozen’: San Diego rent prices fall in national rankings
National rents are down 2% annually but Zumper said Southern California is seeing more of a slowdown because of increased supply.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
February 13, 2026 at 2:45 AM
San Diego rents fall 5.5%—proof that building housing works.
Add 6,000 apartments, prices drop.
This eases pressure on voucher programs, helps low-income renters, makes the city more accessible.
Want sustained affordability? Keep building.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/02/04/r...
Add 6,000 apartments, prices drop.
This eases pressure on voucher programs, helps low-income renters, makes the city more accessible.
Want sustained affordability? Keep building.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/02/04/r...
Big fan of the things we're talking each other into on this website
[This is not sarcasm. I am genuinely a big fan.]
[This is not sarcasm. I am genuinely a big fan.]
February 14, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Big fan of the things we're talking each other into on this website
[This is not sarcasm. I am genuinely a big fan.]
[This is not sarcasm. I am genuinely a big fan.]