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James Davenport

@jradavenport.com

5.6K followers 320 following 2K posts

Coffee drinking, year-round-plaid wearing space dad. Astronomy professor in Seattle. Searching for ET, caring for humans. https://jradavenport.github.io

jradavenport.github.io

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James Davenport @jradavenport.com · Jan 22

I listen to @npr.org every day (s/o @kuow.org). Today I'm lucky & proud to be part of a piece talking about SETI and the amazing future of 🔭🧪🎧⭐ with @vrubinobs.bsky.social. Thank you to my friend Regina & the Short Wave team for having me on!

www.npr.org/2025/01/22/1...

Why some astronomers are excited about the search for alien life : Short Wave

Around the turn of the century, 3.8 million people banded together in a real-time search for aliens — with screensavers. It was a big moment in a century-long concerted search for extraterrestrial int...

www.npr.org

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Reposted by James Davenport

Celeste Labedz @celestelabedz.bsky.social · 16h

A lot of comments on Mars rovers or Moon landings, but it's important to remember that the planet NASA studies most is Earth. This is less about cutting flashy things like moonwalks and more about keeping communities in the dark on climate, weather, agriculture, pollution, natural hazards, and more.

Reuters @reuters.com · 19h

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers reut.rs/4302N2L

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on Monday it will cut nearly 550 jobs as part of a restructuring, not related to the current U.S. government shutdown.

reut.rs

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James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 14h

For certain values of “pleased”

James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 14h

An apple a day keeps the doctor away… unless you have gout

Reposted by James Davenport

Sam Reich @samreich.bsky.social · 18h

Last season of Game Changer, we did a cool activation with LinkedIn in which they helped us give Jacob a prize of $100,000.

This season, I have a similar opportunity for the right brand willing to give us $50,000+ worth of their product.

Hit me up ASAP if you're interested!

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James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 19h

Seems like local and state law enforcement's job should be to defend our cities from para-military gang attacks... like the ones ICE is launching.

Local cops: stand with your neighbors, defend our streets, and don't cooperate with ICE/DHS.

Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 1d

The only violence I’ve been seeing in Portland is from the so-called Feds!!!

Keep sharing these videos; it’s evidence.

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James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 23h

Coffffffeeeeeeee

a fluffy kitten is sitting next to a cup of coffee and has its hair blowing in the wind .

ALT: a fluffy kitten is sitting next to a cup of coffee and has its hair blowing in the wind .

media.tenor.com

Reposted by James Davenport

Nicholas Hunt-Walker @nhuntwalker.bsky.social · 1d

It really shouldn't be lost on people that in less than a year since the Republican party gained full control of the entire US government, our country has gone into almost immediate decline in just about every sector.

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James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 1d

The pitch for ICE was “what if we had the Uber of Gestapo?” and these incompetent DoorDash Fascists now show up in their own crappy car and outfit, with mismatched handcuffs, to whatever unfortunate city Trump just heard about. Their cruelty is eclipsed only by their incompetence

Michael J. Kramer @michaeljkramer.bsky.social · 1d

Why are there so few (none?) news stories about individual ICE agents themselves? Who they are, what motivates them, any moral dilemmas they face? Why aren’t protesters trying to get some to speak out?

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Reposted by James Davenport

Tim Onion @bencollins.bsky.social · 2d

theonion.com/ice-raids-my...

MYTH: ICE agents lack proper training.

FACT: Most have been racists their entire lives.

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James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 3d

Do they have any that look cool? The ones on Amazon look like up-cycled aquarium parts.

James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 3d

Why has inhaler technology not improved since I was a kid?! How come all the people who bullied me now have lightsaber vapes, and I just got the same Wheeze and Squeeze I had in be 80’s?!

a man wearing glasses is sitting on a couch in front of a bookshelf that says trendizisst on it

ALT: a man wearing glasses is sitting on a couch in front of a bookshelf that says trendizisst on it

media.tenor.com

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James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 3d

Had to get an inhaler today. They said side effects include anxiety. Sir, I’m 41 and getting an inhaler Rx, again, I already HAVE anxiety

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Reposted by James Davenport

Grimdoot @grimdoot.bsky.social · 3d

"DoorDash fascists" is gonna stick with me, I think.

James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 3d

I swear to god these are DoorDash fascists. Showing up late, in their own crappy car, no idea what they're doing. Did they get the wrong house? Too bad, you can contact AI support in some app probably.

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James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 3d

*grant funded rugs

James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 3d

PhD education for US Astronomy is not in a good place, considering most of our students are funded by federal Fellowships or Grants. But also *some* universities/colleges are broke for entirely other reasons and can no longer sweep it under grand funded rugs

mynorthwest.com/local/uw-col...

UW College of Arts and Sciences Faces Immediate 5% Cuts

The UW mandates immediate budget cuts in the College of Arts and Sciences, potentially impacting future academic programs and resources.

mynorthwest.com

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Reposted by James Davenport

Sarah Tuttle @niais.bsky.social · 3d

Are you someone who is interested in astronomy graduate school? This is a list of many/most departments and their expectations for admissions this year. Please feel free to spread it far and wide. If you are doing admissions and you'd like to update your entry, reach out as per the form!

US Astronomy Graduate Admissions, AY 2025-2026

docs.google.com

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James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 3d

My current conspiracy theory... I see these videos of men in Walmart balaclavas, driving 2019 Kia Sorentos, trying to arrest people picking up their kids from soccer and... I'm 100% wiling to believe they're not ICE/DHS

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Reposted by James Davenport

Derek Fox @partialobserver.bsky.social · 4d

For those who haven’t heard the news about Lowell Observatory, a storied institution in financial straits, restructuring and eliminating tenure - 🔭 🧪

Dr. Gerard van Belle @fringedoctor.bsky.social · 4d

Brief life update: On Monday I resigned from my appointment at Lowell Observatory. I wish my remaining friends and colleagues the best of luckin their endeavors in increasing new visitor center visitation, and continuing to pursue world-class research in the face of having ended tenure today.

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James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 4d

My kids came home saying “6 7” today, and I’m so happy for them. We used to say pointless shit constantly, I still do, and it’s nice to belong to the moment you’re in. #thekidsarealright

Reposted by James Davenport

Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 10d

I think for me the most compelling answer for "why fund basic research?" (and the one most relevant to the people doing the work) is that humans are curious and finding stuff out makes us happy and fulfilled. Science is a thing humans like. Life would be more dull and sad if we didn't do it.

end/🧵

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James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 4d

Inflatable frogs costumes are under $60 online right now, with delivery by next week… just in time for the next wave of fascist propaganda. Order yours soon!

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Reposted by James Davenport

Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 4d

www.wweek.com/culture/2025...

Can you put into words what that purpose is? You and the frog have really become icons of this protest.

There’s been a nice overall whimsy that has shown up. The frog is amazing. We had a bunch of other inflatable people here last night, too. I saw people playing Twister the other day.

What they rely on is fear. So by coming out in an absurdist manner, it speaks to them, to some extent, that we’re actually not that afraid.

It also dismantles their narrative a little bit. When they try to describe this situation as “war-torn,” it becomes much harder to take them seriously when they have to post a video saying [U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security] Kristi Noem is up on the balcony staring over the Antifa Army and it’s, like, eight journalists and five protesters and one of them is in a chicken suit.

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James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 4d

They always had a soft money portion of their operations for folks, but it reads to me like now not giving people stability if they can’t bring in $$$$.

James Davenport @jradavenport.com · 4d

It often takes us two months to review applications, sometimes more. It doesn’t hurt to just inquire about the timeline once, as others have noted, but don’t be surprised if things are moving slow.