Diffraction Spikes
@diffractionspikes.bsky.social
Astronomer, but I would rather be playing (or maybe watching) volleyball.
Love teaching astronomy to anyone, anywhere, at anytime, but can mostly be found doing so at Penn State University.
Love teaching astronomy to anyone, anywhere, at anytime, but can mostly be found doing so at Penn State University.
We require mechanics, E&M, and QM. They also need 2 upper level PHYS electives, and they can choose from QM2, optics, thermo, subatomic, relativity, and a few others. Students are hearing that some grad schools are using QM2 as a deciding factor in admissions, so more are choosing that now, too.
November 19, 2025 at 2:48 AM
We require mechanics, E&M, and QM. They also need 2 upper level PHYS electives, and they can choose from QM2, optics, thermo, subatomic, relativity, and a few others. Students are hearing that some grad schools are using QM2 as a deciding factor in admissions, so more are choosing that now, too.
Uggh - so jealous of all the beautiful aurorae photos being posted by everyone!!
November 12, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Uggh - so jealous of all the beautiful aurorae photos being posted by everyone!!
Hello from Central PA, where the consistent 50s and 60s we have had for all of October and into November have one of my azaleas starting to bloom.
November 6, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Hello from Central PA, where the consistent 50s and 60s we have had for all of October and into November have one of my azaleas starting to bloom.
It was hard to delete my twitter account the day I did it (I had created it in 2011!), but I have not missed it one bit.
November 5, 2025 at 2:57 AM
It was hard to delete my twitter account the day I did it (I had created it in 2011!), but I have not missed it one bit.
One of my Astro undergrad classes has a significant sci comm piece to it, and I have been talking about this all semester. It is really irresponsible.
October 31, 2025 at 3:59 PM
One of my Astro undergrad classes has a significant sci comm piece to it, and I have been talking about this all semester. It is really irresponsible.
I will add that I also get #4 -- What did you all do to Pluto, anyway?
October 31, 2025 at 2:49 PM
I will add that I also get #4 -- What did you all do to Pluto, anyway?
Yea - Slapshot is definitely not this genre!
October 14, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Yea - Slapshot is definitely not this genre!
Oh, and not that I'm a hockey fan, but we recently put our family through the original Mighty Ducks. That's definitely the hockey movie of the genre.
October 14, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Oh, and not that I'm a hockey fan, but we recently put our family through the original Mighty Ducks. That's definitely the hockey movie of the genre.
Every volleyball fanatic, like me, talks reverently about Side Out. I don't think I ever managed to watch it, though.
October 14, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Every volleyball fanatic, like me, talks reverently about Side Out. I don't think I ever managed to watch it, though.
I remember our original number I had to memorize somewhere around 1978. My parents changed that number in 1989 when my mom started getting prank calls on that number, and I remember the newer one, too.
October 13, 2025 at 7:54 PM
I remember our original number I had to memorize somewhere around 1978. My parents changed that number in 1989 when my mom started getting prank calls on that number, and I remember the newer one, too.
It was definitely noticeable to me, too, so it's interesting to just see I wasn't the only one thinking about this. I guess I'm pondering what I want to see from the next coach, and someone community-minded would be nice. I guess we can't be too picky when a lot of them are not great humans, though.
October 13, 2025 at 1:21 AM
It was definitely noticeable to me, too, so it's interesting to just see I wasn't the only one thinking about this. I guess I'm pondering what I want to see from the next coach, and someone community-minded would be nice. I guess we can't be too picky when a lot of them are not great humans, though.
I missed that you said something about this, too. This was definitely on my mind the last few weeks. Did you get the sense (or did you ever hear) that anyone ever tried to advise him to get out of his bubble more?
October 13, 2025 at 12:50 AM
I missed that you said something about this, too. This was definitely on my mind the last few weeks. Did you get the sense (or did you ever hear) that anyone ever tried to advise him to get out of his bubble more?
BTW, this was a really interesting observation, and I think it's one that the national folks won't even have any idea about. But I bet if you polled 100 locals, 95 would agree with you.
October 12, 2025 at 9:23 PM
BTW, this was a really interesting observation, and I think it's one that the national folks won't even have any idea about. But I bet if you polled 100 locals, 95 would agree with you.
But another observation - JF celebrated the hiring of Kraft as an improvement over Barbour because of how focused he was on football, which just ratcheted up the expectations even more. Kraft is a football guy always on the field on Saturday. Another AD may have been more patient.
October 12, 2025 at 8:23 PM
But another observation - JF celebrated the hiring of Kraft as an improvement over Barbour because of how focused he was on football, which just ratcheted up the expectations even more. Kraft is a football guy always on the field on Saturday. Another AD may have been more patient.
I have lots of complicated thoughts about this whole situation. Not the least of which is how the University leadership is going to spin how much this is going to cost to fix.
October 12, 2025 at 8:19 PM
I have lots of complicated thoughts about this whole situation. Not the least of which is how the University leadership is going to spin how much this is going to cost to fix.
That being said, not sure any current football coach PSU can hire will be any different. My recollection is that it took two years for BO'B to understand the importance of QB Club, and as soon as he figured it out, he left town.
October 12, 2025 at 8:14 PM
That being said, not sure any current football coach PSU can hire will be any different. My recollection is that it took two years for BO'B to understand the importance of QB Club, and as soon as he figured it out, he left town.
I saw Manny Diaz involved in more community events than I have ever seen JF. I did see Franklin walking, which was one way in which he was "seen" outside of Lasch, but never saw him at a fundraiser in town. I saw him at one non-football PSU event in 12 years.
October 12, 2025 at 8:12 PM
I saw Manny Diaz involved in more community events than I have ever seen JF. I did see Franklin walking, which was one way in which he was "seen" outside of Lasch, but never saw him at a fundraiser in town. I saw him at one non-football PSU event in 12 years.
I feel similarly to you, and this was greatly influenced by seeing a public talk by Jocelyn Bell-Burnell and hearing her story from my mentors in grad school in the 90s. Their more recent decision not to honor Vera Rubin felt like a deliberate choice in reaction to valid criticisms like yours.
October 7, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I feel similarly to you, and this was greatly influenced by seeing a public talk by Jocelyn Bell-Burnell and hearing her story from my mentors in grad school in the 90s. Their more recent decision not to honor Vera Rubin felt like a deliberate choice in reaction to valid criticisms like yours.
I was thinking that she probably needed some grace over whatever stress was the cause, but honestly it was somewhat funny seeing her freaking out and waving at me to go while ~20 students were in the middle of the crosswalk with the crossing guard in her high-vis vest staring at both of us.
September 26, 2025 at 1:09 PM
I was thinking that she probably needed some grace over whatever stress was the cause, but honestly it was somewhat funny seeing her freaking out and waving at me to go while ~20 students were in the middle of the crosswalk with the crossing guard in her high-vis vest staring at both of us.
That it's never RICO?
September 22, 2025 at 5:17 PM
That it's never RICO?
Lot's of folks on other sites have been saying you can write to his staff and request your money back, and they will send you a refund.
September 18, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Lot's of folks on other sites have been saying you can write to his staff and request your money back, and they will send you a refund.