Robert “The Baste God” McNees
@mcnees.bsky.social
Professor and physicist. Black holes, quantum gravity, cosmology. Rocky Top. Tar Heel. Reposts are spooky action at a distance. These are my views, not my employer's. Just terrible at this.
Pinned
Probably the best thing I ever posted on that other site, wish I could permanently transplant it to my timeline here.
This was a real roller coaster.
November 20, 2025 at 5:38 AM
This was a real roller coaster.
Steven Weinberg’s “The First Three Minutes,” it’s just that it’s a history of a brief period in the very early Universe.
But also Devil in the White City.
But also Devil in the White City.
Ok BlueSky: what are your favorite history books in terms of sheer page-turning, narrative propulsion? Thinking along the line of Killers of the Flower Moon, etc. Nonfiction chronicles that read like novels or movies.
November 19, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Steven Weinberg’s “The First Three Minutes,” it’s just that it’s a history of a brief period in the very early Universe.
But also Devil in the White City.
But also Devil in the White City.
Hilbert's note congratulating Einstein on his Mercury result, #OTD 1915. 🧪 ⚛️
"If I could calculate as rapidly as you, in my equations the electron would correspondingly have to capitulate, and simultaneously the hydrogen atom would have to produce its note of apology about why it does not radiate."
"If I could calculate as rapidly as you, in my equations the electron would correspondingly have to capitulate, and simultaneously the hydrogen atom would have to produce its note of apology about why it does not radiate."
Einstein presented "Explanation of the Perihelion Motion of Mercury from the General Theory of Relativity" #OTD in 1915.
He used his nearly-complete theory of general relativity to explain the 43 arc-second per century anomalous precession of Mercury. 🧪 ⚛️ 🔭
He used his nearly-complete theory of general relativity to explain the 43 arc-second per century anomalous precession of Mercury. 🧪 ⚛️ 🔭
November 19, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Hilbert's note congratulating Einstein on his Mercury result, #OTD 1915. 🧪 ⚛️
"If I could calculate as rapidly as you, in my equations the electron would correspondingly have to capitulate, and simultaneously the hydrogen atom would have to produce its note of apology about why it does not radiate."
"If I could calculate as rapidly as you, in my equations the electron would correspondingly have to capitulate, and simultaneously the hydrogen atom would have to produce its note of apology about why it does not radiate."
It’s almost a shame that we don’t get to see what the time cube guy could have done with this. (It is not a shame.)
Bellingcat’s contact email has always been a magnet for people with fairly unusual views; paranoid delusions, sprawling conspiracies, the works. But recently, the pattern has shifted, we’re seeing more and more emails clearly written with ChatGPT.
November 19, 2025 at 4:31 PM
It’s almost a shame that we don’t get to see what the time cube guy could have done with this. (It is not a shame.)
Reposted by Robert “The Baste God” McNees
Solange Knowles’ Saint Heron has launched a free digital archival library of literature by Black and brown authors, poets, and artists. Readers can borrow rare and out-of-print books for up to 45 days
Solange Opens Free Digital Library Of Rare Black Books
Solange has launched a digital library archive of Black and brown authors where readers can borrow books at no cost.
peopleofcolorintech.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Solange Knowles’ Saint Heron has launched a free digital archival library of literature by Black and brown authors, poets, and artists. Readers can borrow rare and out-of-print books for up to 45 days
Reposted by Robert “The Baste God” McNees
Bellingcat’s contact email has always been a magnet for people with fairly unusual views; paranoid delusions, sprawling conspiracies, the works. But recently, the pattern has shifted, we’re seeing more and more emails clearly written with ChatGPT.
November 19, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Bellingcat’s contact email has always been a magnet for people with fairly unusual views; paranoid delusions, sprawling conspiracies, the works. But recently, the pattern has shifted, we’re seeing more and more emails clearly written with ChatGPT.
A candidate who promised to outlaw fundraising spam would win by the largest margins in history. They’d outperform people running unopposed.
November 19, 2025 at 4:09 PM
A candidate who promised to outlaw fundraising spam would win by the largest margins in history. They’d outperform people running unopposed.
Reposted by Robert “The Baste God” McNees
"But I am a hater, and I will not be polite. The machine is disgusting and we should break it. The people who build it are vapid shit-eating cannibals glorifying ignorance. I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself."
anthonymoser.github.io/writing/ai/h...
anthonymoser.github.io/writing/ai/h...
I Am An AI Hater
I am an AI hater. This is considered rude, but I do not care, because I am a hater.
anthonymoser.github.io
November 19, 2025 at 3:46 PM
"But I am a hater, and I will not be polite. The machine is disgusting and we should break it. The people who build it are vapid shit-eating cannibals glorifying ignorance. I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself."
anthonymoser.github.io/writing/ai/h...
anthonymoser.github.io/writing/ai/h...
Reposted by Robert “The Baste God” McNees
NASA astronaut Eileen Collins was born #OTD in 1956. She was the first woman to pilot the space shuttle (in 1995) and the first woman to command a shuttle mission (in 1999). 🧪 👩🔬
November 19, 2024 at 3:31 PM
NASA astronaut Eileen Collins was born #OTD in 1956. She was the first woman to pilot the space shuttle (in 1995) and the first woman to command a shuttle mission (in 1999). 🧪 👩🔬
Reposted by Robert “The Baste God” McNees
We had a somewhat informative discussion of the Princeton University Press Einstein archives and how they are rather spottily covered on by the Internet Archive, here:
mathstodon.xyz/@ajcain/1153...
mathstodon.xyz/@ajcain/1153...
Alan J. Cain (@ajcain@mathstodon.xyz)
I have just noticed that the previously-#OpenAccess Digital Einstein Papers site is no longer available, and will become a subscription database [https://einsteinpapers.press.princeton.edu/einstein-da...
mathstodon.xyz
November 19, 2025 at 2:31 PM
We had a somewhat informative discussion of the Princeton University Press Einstein archives and how they are rather spottily covered on by the Internet Archive, here:
mathstodon.xyz/@ajcain/1153...
mathstodon.xyz/@ajcain/1153...
Reposted by Robert “The Baste God” McNees
he's running
At almost 100, Dick Van Dyke won't sit still — and is eying one more big role
Ahead of his 100th birthday, the legendary actor reflects on his life and movies and his secret to longevity.
Ahead of his 100th birthday, the legendary actor reflects on his life and movies and his secret to longevity.
At almost 100, Dick Van Dyke won't sit still — and is eying one more big role
Ahead of his 100th birthday, the legendary actor reflects on his life and movies and his secret to longevity.
www.nbcnews.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:25 AM
he's running
Reposted by Robert “The Baste God” McNees
Engagement on our updates re: ICE kidnappings/fed siege of Los Angeles is significantly lower on Bluesky compared to Twitter. Do ppl on here not care about LA anymore? Are feeds being taken over by liberal commentators? What's going on?
Community members on the ground can't do it all. We need help.
Community members on the ground can't do it all. We need help.
The feds are escalating in Los Angeles. We've seen record high kidnappings and our communities are under attack. The media focus on LA has died down so electeds don't feel the need to even feign opposition.
People are out here fighting. We need all of us. Join the struggle. Defend your neighbors.
People are out here fighting. We need all of us. Join the struggle. Defend your neighbors.
DAILY MEMO: Over 50 Arrested in Record Raids: Baby, Pregnant Mom, Gardeners, Sons, Elderly, Vendors, Unhoused In Last Two Days
Full report: lataco.com/daily-memo-o...
Full report: lataco.com/daily-memo-o...
November 18, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Engagement on our updates re: ICE kidnappings/fed siege of Los Angeles is significantly lower on Bluesky compared to Twitter. Do ppl on here not care about LA anymore? Are feeds being taken over by liberal commentators? What's going on?
Community members on the ground can't do it all. We need help.
Community members on the ground can't do it all. We need help.
Same.
November 19, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Same.
Quick, name any selfless thing he has ever done, or even just something that wasn’t grossly self serving.
The move that perfectly describes America under Trump: Elon Musk alone will make make more money than every elementary school teacher in the country, combined. Boundless avarice, as the pope says. www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Elon Musk could make more than every elementary school teacher in the U.S.
Tesla shareholders approved a $1 trillion pay package for the world’s richest person
www.independent.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Quick, name any selfless thing he has ever done, or even just something that wasn’t grossly self serving.
Well then he didn’t really give it away now did he
Elon Musk’s foundation gave away a record $474 million in 2024, with the vast majority again going to entities he controls
Elon Musk Gave Away $474 Million in 2024, Mostly to Entities He Controls
Elon Musk’s foundation gave away a record $474 million in 2024, with the vast majority again going to entities he controls.
bloom.bg
November 19, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Well then he didn’t really give it away now did he
Folks will be mad when they hear this, but how could you do it without Charles Grodin?
Am I a hypocrite for wanting this after giving a hard no to muppet knives out
Okay, I'm making my case for the only Muppet I want to see on Broadway right now...
November 19, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Folks will be mad when they hear this, but how could you do it without Charles Grodin?
Einstein presented "Explanation of the Perihelion Motion of Mercury from the General Theory of Relativity" #OTD in 1915.
He used his nearly-complete theory of general relativity to explain the 43 arc-second per century anomalous precession of Mercury. 🧪 ⚛️ 🔭
He used his nearly-complete theory of general relativity to explain the 43 arc-second per century anomalous precession of Mercury. 🧪 ⚛️ 🔭
November 18, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Einstein presented "Explanation of the Perihelion Motion of Mercury from the General Theory of Relativity" #OTD in 1915.
He used his nearly-complete theory of general relativity to explain the 43 arc-second per century anomalous precession of Mercury. 🧪 ⚛️ 🔭
He used his nearly-complete theory of general relativity to explain the 43 arc-second per century anomalous precession of Mercury. 🧪 ⚛️ 🔭
Rowlf on the piano howling “One of Us Cannot be Wrong” with all the anguish of the Father John Misty cover.
November 18, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Rowlf on the piano howling “One of Us Cannot be Wrong” with all the anguish of the Father John Misty cover.
At long last, Republicans get the War on Christmas they have always wanted.
"Agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, ERO, and CBP intend to implement a comprehensive plan to target Spanish-speaking churches across the country during the upcoming holiday season between Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, and Christmas, Dec. 25."
Exclusive: Trump DHS Plans Immigration Raids on Churches Over Holidays
The Trump Dept. of Homeland Security is briefing federal agencies on plans for immigration enforcement operations inside churches over holidays.
thisweekinworcester.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:25 PM
At long last, Republicans get the War on Christmas they have always wanted.
She gets another z every time she has an affair with a weird, hopeless presidential candidate.
November 18, 2025 at 4:59 AM
She gets another z every time she has an affair with a weird, hopeless presidential candidate.
[reading the Olivia Nuzzi posts, completely stunned]
you're trying to tell me that Mark Sanford ran for President?
you're trying to tell me that Mark Sanford ran for President?
November 18, 2025 at 3:04 AM
[reading the Olivia Nuzzi posts, completely stunned]
you're trying to tell me that Mark Sanford ran for President?
you're trying to tell me that Mark Sanford ran for President?
Reposted by Robert “The Baste God” McNees
Mathematician and astronomer August Ferdinand Möbius was born #OTD in 1790. 🧪 🔭
He is best known for devising a surface that not even the New York Times could find a way to both-sides.
He is best known for devising a surface that not even the New York Times could find a way to both-sides.
a bunch of ants are crawling around a circular object that looks like an infinity sign
Alt: A bunch of ants are crawling around a Mobius strip, which is a one sides object produced by twisting one end of a flat strip by 180 degrees and then gluing it to the other end.
media.tenor.com
November 17, 2024 at 8:37 PM
Mathematician and astronomer August Ferdinand Möbius was born #OTD in 1790. 🧪 🔭
He is best known for devising a surface that not even the New York Times could find a way to both-sides.
He is best known for devising a surface that not even the New York Times could find a way to both-sides.
Sadly, a perennially relevant post.
Mathematician and astronomer August Ferdinand Möbius was born #OTD in 1790. 🧪 🔭
He is best known for devising a surface that not even the New York Times could find a way to both-sides.
He is best known for devising a surface that not even the New York Times could find a way to both-sides.
a bunch of ants are crawling around a circular object that looks like an infinity sign
Alt: A bunch of ants are crawling around a Mobius strip, which is a one sides object produced by twisting one end of a flat strip by 180 degrees and then gluing it to the other end.
media.tenor.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Sadly, a perennially relevant post.
For comparison, the interest (~$52 million) is nearly double the annual budget (~$29 million) of Lane Tech, the city's largest selective enrollment high school (around 4600 students). It's top 3 school in the state, top 75 nationally. Just the interest could provide that for another 7500 students.
NEW: Chicago must borrow $283.3M to cover the soaring cost of lawsuits alleging CPD officers committed a wide range of misconduct as part of the city’s 2026 budget, Mayor Brandon Johnson said, calling the move "prudent." @wttw.bsky.social
Chicago Set to Borrow $283.3M to Resolve Police Misconduct Lawsuits
It will likely cost Chicago taxpayers approximately $52 million in interest to borrow that money and pay off during the next five years, according to estimates provided to the Chicago City Council by ...
news.wttw.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:10 PM
For comparison, the interest (~$52 million) is nearly double the annual budget (~$29 million) of Lane Tech, the city's largest selective enrollment high school (around 4600 students). It's top 3 school in the state, top 75 nationally. Just the interest could provide that for another 7500 students.