Jonathan Byrd
@jonathanbyrd.bsky.social
Preacher’s kid, Gulf War vet, songwriter, teacher, physics student
Pinned
Jonathan Byrd
@jonathanbyrd.bsky.social
· Dec 13
Jonathan Byrd | Substack
I'm a career songwriter, storyteller, and teacher from North Carolina. Now I'm a physics student. Even I don't know what I'm going to write about, but I know I'm going to write. Click to read Jonathan...
jonathanbyrd.substack.com
Howdy, BlueSky. I’m a songwriter, poet, and essayist from North Carolina in the US. In 2023, I accidentally became a physics undergrad. I might make you cry: jonathanbyrd.substack.com
My son took this from our driveway. He calls it “Orion’s kilt”
February 19, 2025 at 1:34 PM
My son took this from our driveway. He calls it “Orion’s kilt”
When the recipe says add 1 teaspoon of vanilla
a man with a beard is pouring soda into a glass
ALT: a man with a beard is pouring soda into a glass
media.tenor.com
February 15, 2025 at 2:25 PM
When the recipe says add 1 teaspoon of vanilla
“Disability is a family you can join at any point in your life.” — Judith Heumann
February 11, 2025 at 4:32 PM
“Disability is a family you can join at any point in your life.” — Judith Heumann
ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Gemini are all pretty good at physics and calculus, ymmv. However, they are all terrible at differential equations. Can any smart people weigh in as to why?
February 10, 2025 at 10:01 PM
ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Gemini are all pretty good at physics and calculus, ymmv. However, they are all terrible at differential equations. Can any smart people weigh in as to why?
When she says, “Find the parametric equations of the line tangent to the spacecurve at t=1”
a close up of a young boy 's face with the words ncaa college world series winner on the bottom .
ALT: a close up of a young boy 's face with the words ncaa college world series winner on the bottom .
media.tenor.com
February 9, 2025 at 2:10 PM
When she says, “Find the parametric equations of the line tangent to the spacecurve at t=1”
When Plato says art can be used for the good of the State, I just think, Wow. Those were different times.
February 6, 2025 at 7:23 PM
When Plato says art can be used for the good of the State, I just think, Wow. Those were different times.
I had a differential equations problem today, and the only way I found to solve it was to create an excel spreadsheet and iterate for 16,000 rows, the whole time thinking about those NASA ladies doing that by hand for the space program, but also I HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DO PROFESSOR
February 6, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I had a differential equations problem today, and the only way I found to solve it was to create an excel spreadsheet and iterate for 16,000 rows, the whole time thinking about those NASA ladies doing that by hand for the space program, but also I HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DO PROFESSOR
My son did this last night in our backyard. I’m kind of flabbergasted.
February 5, 2025 at 9:48 PM
My son did this last night in our backyard. I’m kind of flabbergasted.
Women casually make magic.
February 5, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Women casually make magic.
Sometimes the timeline is a magic eight-ball of wisdom.
February 2, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Sometimes the timeline is a magic eight-ball of wisdom.
What I really think about rubies.
Wild and Precious
My lover asked me, “Do you like rubies?”
open.substack.com
January 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM
What I really think about rubies.
Reposted by Jonathan Byrd
Government scientists & employees: I'm a freelance journalist who writes for NYT, Science, SciAm, Nature, etc. If you want to securely discuss disruptions to your work, I'm available on Signal at mgreshko.01. Use a personal device on a trusted network. 🧪
January 28, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Government scientists & employees: I'm a freelance journalist who writes for NYT, Science, SciAm, Nature, etc. If you want to securely discuss disruptions to your work, I'm available on Signal at mgreshko.01. Use a personal device on a trusted network. 🧪
Mom, reality’s here. Something about a check.
‘Quad-demic’ Hitting US With Flu, COVID-19, RSV, Norovirus Surging
U.S. surges of COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and norovirus have collectively been dubbed a "quad-demic." Here what you can do.
www.forbes.com
January 28, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Mom, reality’s here. Something about a check.
Wait professors have to be the enemy now too?! They’re going to have to drop some board meetings
January 27, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Wait professors have to be the enemy now too?! They’re going to have to drop some board meetings
We did Jack’s DNA and turns out he’s 100% good boy
January 26, 2025 at 3:20 PM
We did Jack’s DNA and turns out he’s 100% good boy
Struggling today with applying calculus. Wouldn’t it be strange if I memorized a bunch of chess games but didn’t know how to use a bishop? Stranger still if I made As in Chess I & II! That’s how it feels. I know how to integrate but not why. Just venting.
January 24, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Struggling today with applying calculus. Wouldn’t it be strange if I memorized a bunch of chess games but didn’t know how to use a bishop? Stranger still if I made As in Chess I & II! That’s how it feels. I know how to integrate but not why. Just venting.
I’m in Calculus III right now and LOSING MY FRIGGIN MIND! This is wizard school!
January 22, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I’m in Calculus III right now and LOSING MY FRIGGIN MIND! This is wizard school!
It’s a pancake morning.
January 22, 2025 at 12:30 PM
It’s a pancake morning.
Painters: I started with five pigments and recently started playing with two others:
1) Burnt umber
2) French ultramarine
3) pyrrole rubine
4) cadmium yellow
5) titanium white
Then
6) ivory black
7) yellow ochre
Honestly not finding the black very useful. Yellow ochre, maybe? What about you?
1) Burnt umber
2) French ultramarine
3) pyrrole rubine
4) cadmium yellow
5) titanium white
Then
6) ivory black
7) yellow ochre
Honestly not finding the black very useful. Yellow ochre, maybe? What about you?
January 21, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Painters: I started with five pigments and recently started playing with two others:
1) Burnt umber
2) French ultramarine
3) pyrrole rubine
4) cadmium yellow
5) titanium white
Then
6) ivory black
7) yellow ochre
Honestly not finding the black very useful. Yellow ochre, maybe? What about you?
1) Burnt umber
2) French ultramarine
3) pyrrole rubine
4) cadmium yellow
5) titanium white
Then
6) ivory black
7) yellow ochre
Honestly not finding the black very useful. Yellow ochre, maybe? What about you?
I had my own, private swearing-in ceremony.
January 20, 2025 at 2:24 PM
I had my own, private swearing-in ceremony.
Assume a spherical bird
January 19, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Assume a spherical bird
“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.”
— George Orwell, Animal Farm
— George Orwell, Animal Farm
January 19, 2025 at 2:18 PM
“The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.”
— George Orwell, Animal Farm
— George Orwell, Animal Farm