Josh Laison
@joshlaison.bsky.social
Willamette University math professor, board games enthusiast, feminist, dad. Sucker for math gifs. Black lives matter. he/his/him
Reposted by Josh Laison
Someone on Threads noticed you can type any random sentence into Google, then add “meaning” afterwards, and you’ll get an AI explanation of a famous idiom or phrase you just made up. Here is mine
April 23, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Someone on Threads noticed you can type any random sentence into Google, then add “meaning” afterwards, and you’ll get an AI explanation of a famous idiom or phrase you just made up. Here is mine
Reposted by Josh Laison
I saw this topology/knot theory trick on TikTok the other day: wrapping a rubber band around a donut… I mean a coffee cup.
April 20, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I saw this topology/knot theory trick on TikTok the other day: wrapping a rubber band around a donut… I mean a coffee cup.
Reposted by Josh Laison
Many products sold in the U.S. are made in El Salvador. In response to the El Salvador president’s statements today, we’re calling for an immediate boycott of all Salvadoran-made goods. Please help by listing any products or brands made in El Salvador in the comments below.
April 14, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Many products sold in the U.S. are made in El Salvador. In response to the El Salvador president’s statements today, we’re calling for an immediate boycott of all Salvadoran-made goods. Please help by listing any products or brands made in El Salvador in the comments below.
Reposted by Josh Laison
To the world:
We are fighting back. Our movement has been silenced by the media here—but we are not backing down. This is what our streets looked like across multiple cities. Tomorrow, there will be more of us! Raise a glass to freedom.
—With love,
Your American allies.
We are fighting back. Our movement has been silenced by the media here—but we are not backing down. This is what our streets looked like across multiple cities. Tomorrow, there will be more of us! Raise a glass to freedom.
—With love,
Your American allies.
April 5, 2025 at 10:03 PM
To the world:
We are fighting back. Our movement has been silenced by the media here—but we are not backing down. This is what our streets looked like across multiple cities. Tomorrow, there will be more of us! Raise a glass to freedom.
—With love,
Your American allies.
We are fighting back. Our movement has been silenced by the media here—but we are not backing down. This is what our streets looked like across multiple cities. Tomorrow, there will be more of us! Raise a glass to freedom.
—With love,
Your American allies.
Reposted by Josh Laison
In 25 years of covering national security, I’ve never seen a story like this: Senior Trump officials discussed planning for the U.S. attack on Yemen in a Signal group--and inadvertently added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans
U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling.
www.theatlantic.com
March 24, 2025 at 4:11 PM
In 25 years of covering national security, I’ve never seen a story like this: Senior Trump officials discussed planning for the U.S. attack on Yemen in a Signal group--and inadvertently added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
Reposted by Josh Laison
Happy π Day everyone! This year we collided some masses together.
In practise: youtu.be/vlUTlbZT4ig
And in theory: youtu.be/6dTyOl1fmDo
In practise: youtu.be/vlUTlbZT4ig
And in theory: youtu.be/6dTyOl1fmDo
We calculated pi with colliding blocks
YouTube video by Stand-up Maths
youtu.be
March 14, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Happy π Day everyone! This year we collided some masses together.
In practise: youtu.be/vlUTlbZT4ig
And in theory: youtu.be/6dTyOl1fmDo
In practise: youtu.be/vlUTlbZT4ig
And in theory: youtu.be/6dTyOl1fmDo
Reposted by Josh Laison
I was asked to provide activities for Pi Day, so I put up “Pi on the Floor”.
March 14, 2025 at 1:48 AM
I was asked to provide activities for Pi Day, so I put up “Pi on the Floor”.
Reposted by Josh Laison
It’s finally here! Mechanisms as Metaphors: How Board Games Create Meaning takes a look at how board games make persuasive arguments, how they might move us emotionally, and how the ways we talk about the form might hinder its development.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG4z...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG4z...
Mechanisms as Metaphors: How Board Games Create Meaning
YouTube video by Mary & Amabel Holland
www.youtube.com
March 11, 2025 at 1:09 AM
It’s finally here! Mechanisms as Metaphors: How Board Games Create Meaning takes a look at how board games make persuasive arguments, how they might move us emotionally, and how the ways we talk about the form might hinder its development.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG4z...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG4z...
Reposted by Josh Laison
THIS IS HUGE! Researchers at Stanford University have developed a dual-antibody treatment that remains effective against ALL SARS-CoV-2 variants by targeting a less-mutable part of the virus. This breakthrough could lead to longer-lasting therapies that OUTPACE viral evolution. 🧪🧵⬇️
March 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
THIS IS HUGE! Researchers at Stanford University have developed a dual-antibody treatment that remains effective against ALL SARS-CoV-2 variants by targeting a less-mutable part of the virus. This breakthrough could lead to longer-lasting therapies that OUTPACE viral evolution. 🧪🧵⬇️
Reposted by Josh Laison
You may have encountered the so-called "see-say sequence" before:
1, 11, 21, 1211, 111221, 312211, 13112221, ...
where each term "describes" the sequence of digits in the previous term.
For example, 111221 consists of "3 1's, 2 2's, and 1 1."
I learned something new about it today.
1, 11, 21, 1211, 111221, 312211, 13112221, ...
where each term "describes" the sequence of digits in the previous term.
For example, 111221 consists of "3 1's, 2 2's, and 1 1."
I learned something new about it today.
February 27, 2025 at 2:48 PM
You may have encountered the so-called "see-say sequence" before:
1, 11, 21, 1211, 111221, 312211, 13112221, ...
where each term "describes" the sequence of digits in the previous term.
For example, 111221 consists of "3 1's, 2 2's, and 1 1."
I learned something new about it today.
1, 11, 21, 1211, 111221, 312211, 13112221, ...
where each term "describes" the sequence of digits in the previous term.
For example, 111221 consists of "3 1's, 2 2's, and 1 1."
I learned something new about it today.
Reposted by Josh Laison
May I present some ways that we might ask for our users' sex/gender on our forms in order to comply with new EOs: codepen.io/buttermilkbi...
Malicious compliance gender patterns
...
codepen.io
February 21, 2025 at 1:00 AM
May I present some ways that we might ask for our users' sex/gender on our forms in order to comply with new EOs: codepen.io/buttermilkbi...
Reposted by Josh Laison
Reporter: If you could speak directly to Elon Musk, what would you say?
Rep. Jasmine Crockett: Fuck off.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett: Fuck off.
February 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Reporter: If you could speak directly to Elon Musk, what would you say?
Rep. Jasmine Crockett: Fuck off.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett: Fuck off.
Reposted by Josh Laison
Reposted by Josh Laison
Permutation Group Visualizer
Allows you to input any permutation group at all and manipulate its elements like a Rubik's cube
permutation-groups.glitch.me
Allows you to input any permutation group at all and manipulate its elements like a Rubik's cube
permutation-groups.glitch.me
February 15, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Permutation Group Visualizer
Allows you to input any permutation group at all and manipulate its elements like a Rubik's cube
permutation-groups.glitch.me
Allows you to input any permutation group at all and manipulate its elements like a Rubik's cube
permutation-groups.glitch.me
Reposted by Josh Laison
SHARE WIDELY!
Today over 350 rabbis across denominations have placed an unequivocal statement in The New York Times against Donald Trump’s plans for Gaza.
#SayNoToEthnicCleansing #Gazaisnotforsale
Today over 350 rabbis across denominations have placed an unequivocal statement in The New York Times against Donald Trump’s plans for Gaza.
#SayNoToEthnicCleansing #Gazaisnotforsale
February 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM
SHARE WIDELY!
Today over 350 rabbis across denominations have placed an unequivocal statement in The New York Times against Donald Trump’s plans for Gaza.
#SayNoToEthnicCleansing #Gazaisnotforsale
Today over 350 rabbis across denominations have placed an unequivocal statement in The New York Times against Donald Trump’s plans for Gaza.
#SayNoToEthnicCleansing #Gazaisnotforsale
Reposted by Josh Laison
made this little tool, govwayback.com. add “wayback.com” to “.gov” on any US gov website and it’ll redirect you to that page on @archive.org … from before January 20th 2025
February 6, 2025 at 7:15 PM
made this little tool, govwayback.com. add “wayback.com” to “.gov” on any US gov website and it’ll redirect you to that page on @archive.org … from before January 20th 2025
Reposted by Josh Laison
Forced Resignations Are Illegal – 5 CFR § 715.202 states that federal resignations must be voluntary. An email implying "uncertainty of your position" while pushing resignation deadlines could be considered coercion.
February 3, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Forced Resignations Are Illegal – 5 CFR § 715.202 states that federal resignations must be voluntary. An email implying "uncertainty of your position" while pushing resignation deadlines could be considered coercion.
Reposted by Josh Laison
Earnest post, but: a thing I like here is it’s okay to have moments of happiness in public without being broadly scolded, and I believe that sustaining this kind of humanity will be very important as we resist fascism.
We have to sustain each other. Making joy isn’t denial, it’s how we will survive
We have to sustain each other. Making joy isn’t denial, it’s how we will survive
November 12, 2024 at 1:22 AM
Earnest post, but: a thing I like here is it’s okay to have moments of happiness in public without being broadly scolded, and I believe that sustaining this kind of humanity will be very important as we resist fascism.
We have to sustain each other. Making joy isn’t denial, it’s how we will survive
We have to sustain each other. Making joy isn’t denial, it’s how we will survive
Reposted by Josh Laison
The entire archive of CDC datasets can be found here.
HUGE shoutout to data archivists- this work is important 👏🙌🏻
archive.org/details/2025...
HUGE shoutout to data archivists- this work is important 👏🙌🏻
archive.org/details/2025...
February 1, 2025 at 6:33 PM
The entire archive of CDC datasets can be found here.
HUGE shoutout to data archivists- this work is important 👏🙌🏻
archive.org/details/2025...
HUGE shoutout to data archivists- this work is important 👏🙌🏻
archive.org/details/2025...
Reposted by Josh Laison
Quick, I need 109 maths nerds to join me over on YouTube…
I’m gonna beam queer, lefty, long ass maths videos into your eyes ✨🌈👁️👄👁️
I’m gonna beam queer, lefty, long ass maths videos into your eyes ✨🌈👁️👄👁️
February 1, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Quick, I need 109 maths nerds to join me over on YouTube…
I’m gonna beam queer, lefty, long ass maths videos into your eyes ✨🌈👁️👄👁️
I’m gonna beam queer, lefty, long ass maths videos into your eyes ✨🌈👁️👄👁️
Reposted by Josh Laison
The price of eggs in the US is spiking, mostly due to #H5N1 bird flu. Solving the problem requires urgent, important communications from the CDC & FDA* and rapid development of research by the NIH**
* Currently paused by Executive Order
** Grant reviews now all canceled
www.kcur.org/news/2025-01...
* Currently paused by Executive Order
** Grant reviews now all canceled
www.kcur.org/news/2025-01...
Egg prices are soaring again. Here’s why and what to expect
Bird flu has killed millions of hens in recent weeks, shrinking the supply of eggs and hiking up prices at grocery stores.
www.kcur.org
January 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
The price of eggs in the US is spiking, mostly due to #H5N1 bird flu. Solving the problem requires urgent, important communications from the CDC & FDA* and rapid development of research by the NIH**
* Currently paused by Executive Order
** Grant reviews now all canceled
www.kcur.org/news/2025-01...
* Currently paused by Executive Order
** Grant reviews now all canceled
www.kcur.org/news/2025-01...
Trans rights are human rights.
January 22, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Trans rights are human rights.