Posting is slow, partly because of other commitments, and also because my co-bloggers are poopyheads. So this is as good a time as any to resurrect our occasional de-lurking threads, in which loyal readers who tend not to comment on ordinary posts can peek their heads up and introduce themselves. If you see your shadow, it’s six more weeks of winter.
Don’t worry, there are great things ahead, including some potentially very cool guest blogging (you know who you are). And you are welcome to take the opportunity here to advertise important events or links that you think people should know about — for example, Chanda points us to the 2008 joint annual meeting of the National Society for Black Physicists and the National Society of Hispanic Physicists to be held in Washington DC on February 20-24, 2008. And I can point you to the upcoming Categorically Not in Santa Monica on January 27, featuring what promises to be a lively discussion on Hollywood Physics. Stuff like that.
Occasional poster here–particle experimentalist in real life. (As much as grad school can be considered real life.) I always enjoy the more cerebral posts, and the “how to be a good grad student” series was brilliant!
Sean I am still waiting for a blog
about this conference, which u promised you would , but never did 🙂
20something with no real world science cred who still manages to love physics and maths of all types (I do quadratic equations out longhand to clear my head, for example).
Love the blog!
Shantanu, did I? If so, sorry about that — at this point I don’t even remember enough about what happened to relate it with any accuracy.
I enjoy Cosmic Variance because not being at the forefront of Science (Computer Science major) but I love learning about new aspects especially with regards to physics it lets me keep up with some cool new changes. Also going to copy Nonnormalizable and say the “Grad Student” series was really cool even for me who isn’t or hasn’t been a grad student.
Mostly a lurker, have left comments on rare occasio: I’m a writer, my life, intellect and sensibility in the arts… but believe profoundly that science and the arts are not enemies or competitors, but siblings.
I could only wish for more parallel confirmation from those dedicated primarily to science… and by that I mean, something more than passive “appreciation.”
Active involvement in the basic intellectual and critical issues confronting artists/writers today.
I’m an astrophysicist who is a community college professor. I’m lurking at AAS in Austin right now. I really enjoy the blog!
I love Cosmic Variance, it is great reading. I don’t comment enough, but I’ve decided to remove myself from the ranks of the lurkers on this and MANY other sites.
I’ll take the fact that I haven’t commented in a while as a sign that I’m actually working during the days now instead of just reading blogs. (It’s probably not entirely true, but it’s a nice thought …)
Hey, I discovered this site a few weeks ago, and I’ve been watching it since. I’m currently in grad school studying astrobiology, and I really enjoy the variety of topics you all cover. And now that I’ve de-lurked, I’m sure I’ll add some comments to future posts.
I’m an economist from India, lurking here for quite a while. I loved physics in high school and have tried to keep in touch since. And I also have fun reading about US academia and society on this blog.
I’m a grad student in experimental particle, lurking from LA. First time I came across this site was doing a search in Google on “getting into Grad school” and came upon one of Sean’s post about the same topic. I was immediately attracted to his writing style (and soon after, to the topics of the other posters!). One phrase I recall from that post was “We here at CV know what’s good for you…” or something like that.
Hmm…. I think I’ve posted a comment here before, but I mostly lurk. I’m a nascent scientist (grad student in applied math, to be precise), an atheist, a left-leaning libertarian, and I have three noses. I also run my own sleepy little blog, devoted to whatever I find interesting.
Hi! I’m not really a lurker–I’ve been assigned by the Non-Apostolic Ministry of the Purest Faith to monitor your site (among others) for those to be dealt with after we take over. This is one of my best sites, in that, so far, everyone–posters and commenters both–will suffer the damnation of everlasting hellfire for all eternity.
I’ll try to put in a good word for you (well, some of you), but the Minister is kinda tough, y’know? And the NSA software also scores you, so I can’t go too far. Anyway, good luck in the torture chambers.
I lurk about 99% of the time. 🙂
I have nothing to do with physics, really. So of course I have a cause that is not at all physics related.
I started a fundraiser for the Below The Line crews who are totally screwed with the work stoppage (WGA Strike).
The addie is Cash for the Crew, and if you donate to the Motion Picture Television Fund, I’ll enter you into a drawing to win signed scripts. We have some from Battlestar Gallactica, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly, and some film writers have written to say that they’re mailing me some scripts as well. I think Jericho is also sending some stuff.
BTL crew are the gaffers and carpenters and costumers and that guy who holds the boom. They’re out of work, and will likely be so until the actors go out in June, or unless the DGA strikes a deal and the AMPTP and WGA agree to the same terms.
The MPT Fund helps people out with a rent check, or other such emergencies until they can get back to work.
Donations are tax deductible, and all you have to do is forward me your confirmation (just delete the financial info before forwarding) and I’ll enter you into the drawing.
That’s my opportunistic shill for the evening.
Well, pshaw. Astrophysicist and biologist by education; a travelling punk-rock musician by preference, a lurker by nature??? No, that did not sound right. But love the blog, nevertheless…
Studied biotech, but now I’m in the mining industry somehow. I’m still a scientist at heart though.
Prospective graduate student and high energy experiment group member lurking here. Cosmic Variance is my favorite blog on the google reader for two reasons. The religious arguments are excellent; and the arrow of time has been my favorite topic of meditative thought for as long as I can remember. I would love to believe that I have an interesting and unique way of attacking the problem (don’t we all?) and I hope that in the near future I will be in a position to discuss this with Sean in an academic setting.
hi,
i’m a theoretical hep from germany and mainly i read your blog to somewhat follow us politics (especially the scary right-wing fundamentalist actions) from a sensible point of view. hope you are not disappointed that the physics posts are not the highlights for me 🙂
Professional astrophysicist in the UK (permanent position) working on active galaxies and high-energy astrophysics. Like to read blogs before breakfast to start my brain working.
I am a grad student in theoretical physics, working on the Quantum Hall Effect and rotating Bose-Einstein condensates. I lurk from Oslo, Norway.
My recommendation for a tidbit of the internet is Destination: OUT, a jazz blog with soundbites leaning towards the free and avant-garde.
Hi All!
I guess I’d classify myself as a “new lurker” as I only discovered your fine BLOG a couple of months ago and have watch daily since. My avocation has always been in the physics realm but, besides high school science fairs, being an avid amateur astronomer and AAVSOer is the closest I been to involvement.
I especially enjoy listening in because I enjoy the physics and it’s very seldom that any subject matter isn’t treated in a sensible manner; enlightening and uplifting.
Rick
Physics student here and occasional astrophysics researcher (this year’s topic – planetary atmospheric studies). Been reading here since Phil Plait pointed in this direction a few months back.
Engineering student from India, been lurking around for about six months now. (Was recommended the Cosmic Variance feed by Google Reader, been reading wide-eyed since then.)