Planetary Noiz

Genie AI theory: Classical genies granting wishes work maliciously to take the wish at its most literal or context-free to grant the wisher what they said rather than what they meant. LLMs do exactly the same thing because that's all they can do. Malice intended or not, the effect is often the same.

Name a non LotR character who could resist the One Ring.

I first saw The Princess Bride a little less than 39 years ago, and am watching it again in an outdoor movie night outside a favorite wine store. Nearly twice as much life lived after as before, but it hits a lot the same.

The wealthiest man in human history—who clearly performed several Nazi salutes on Inauguration Day 2025—is directly responsible for the deaths of up to 14 million people, including 4.5 million children, by 2030. He's not "quirky" or "weird" or "awkward". He's a fucking monster.

Can life exist, full-cycle, in a planet's atmosphere? We know life spends time in our atmosphere, but does anything live there full time? How about Venus, other solar system planets, or exoplanets? How can we know? Atmospheres as Habitats, now in Astrobiology (open access) doi.org/10.1177/1531...

*standing up on the plane* Here come old flat-top, he come groovin' up slowly He got ju-ju eyeball, he one holy roller He got hair down to his knee Got to be a joker, he just do what he please He wear no shoeshine, he got toe-jam football He got monkey finger, he shoot Coca-Cola He say, "I know you

The U.S. Secretary of Defense just stated that—so far—the war with Iran has cost $37.5 billion dollars. That's since February. That same amount is how much the United States spent on planetary science from FY2013 through FY2026 inclusive. Thirteen years of planetary science or five months of war.

@theexpansegeeks.bsky.social : Which is better?

Starliner, Virgin Galactic, Starship There are probably more, and I can't help but think the over-reach - the absurd mis-proportioning of those names is a problem for and with the modern human space era. Perhaps just the commercial side. Feels like the "XTREME" silliness of the 90's

We've got 50 years to get back to it. Sounds like a long time, but with the damage being done today, it ain't. Still have to try.

Musk embodies the Platonic Ideal of a James Bond villain. The biggest problem with that is we have no actual James Bond.

Russ Vought is a sociopath and should have treated as such decades ago

Post your favourite "Lord of the Rings" character. Wrong answers only.

I'm constantly trying (/failing) to get this point across. If you're a trained expert in a field, then it may be worthwhile to question the scientific consensus of your peers. If you're not, the scientific consensus is absolutely the best you can do and it's arbitrary foolishness to disregard it.

Star Wars (et al) (1977 and on) Superman (1978) Star Trek (TMP et al) (1979 and on) The Blues Brothers (1980) Time Bandits (1981) Raiders of the Lost Ark (et al) (1981 and on) Blade Runner (1982) Tron (1982) Aliens (1986)

Age verification? I made my first fortune one hot and dry day in Lemonsville

Whelp. I've been on Facebook since what, 2012? I've deactivated. At the end of Feb, I'll decide on deletion. It's been a way to keep touch with some communities and a pastime, but other, less destructive places than Meta and its cronies are more worth that time and effort. #resistandunsubscribe

Change a letter, ruin a film. Star Wart

My first editorial in @science.org was published today: what to do (and, importantly, what NOT to do) when your grants are suddenly cut or research funding is uncertain. Please read and share! #AcademicSky #Science #Astronomy www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

The “prosecute the former regime at every level” candidate has my vote in 2028.

A reply to my own question Re: LPSC 2026 abstracts. As of 2:30pm today abstracts are around #1915. <100 or so since the first deadline passed, and if the numbering started at #1000, then the total may come in at N<1000, and I think very likely N<1200

Today is revised deadline for LPSC 2026. Are there any updated abstract counts? Highest # so far? Any action on this year's total?

Movie you’ve watched more than six times with a gif. Hard mode: no Stars (Wars nor Trek), LOTR, or Marvel, Disney Animated or Pixar.

“When and if fascism comes to America it will not be labeled 'made in Germany'; it will not be marked with a swastika; it will not even be called fascism; it will be called, of course, 'Americanism'.” Halford Edward Luccock, 1938 (This quote is an amplification of a post farther down in the thread)

Introduce yourself with 5+ concerts you’ve seen: Triumph / Survivor / Harlequin (1st concert ever) The Who Suzanne Vega Grateful Dead Jethro Tull Indigo Girls / Matthew Sweet U2 Generally can't or won't afford it these days.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, Charlie Brown

The battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party and the American right is coming down to a war between Nazis, Nazi apologists, and Fascists.

Mamdani is going implement Sangria Law. All wine must have fruit in it, and all fruit must be in wine. Mimosas are illegal.

Our new survey of parabolas on Venus, and evidence for True Polar Wander at ~1°/Myr is now published! (TLDR @jtuttlekeane.bsky.social was right. nananana BAT region) agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...

So many people forget that the first country the Nazis invaded was their own. It’s only a quote from a superhero movie, but for me it’s one if the most memorable lines from any of those. Especially these days as the invasion is happening here in real time under different flags.

Khrushchev was wrong. We buried ourselves.

The delusion here is so strong it's painful to read. Safe landing of Starship from orbit In-space refueling Uncrewed landing on the Moon Human rating for Starship All undemonstrated. We'll be lucky if even 2 of those succeed in '26, much less all in time for a '27 launch. This is no race.

In ~5 years, we as a species are on track to embark on an incredible era of discovery, unlocking the secrets of the planet Venus. The missions @ESA_Envision, DAVINCI, and VERITAS will reveal Venus as we have never seen her before. But why should YOU care about our sister world?

If you are interested in supporting NASA science and exploration, and saving it from capricious budget cuts, here's one thing you can do: sign this petition being sent to Senate and House members of their respective appropriations committees. Two days left to sign! www.planetary.org/advocacy-act...

Looking at NSF, don’t think for one second they aren’t going to try to do that to NASA.

ROSES 2025 is now 83 days late. And counting.

Finding Emo