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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer
@todlauer.bsky.social
1.9K followers 130 following 1.2K posts
Extragalactic observer (black holes, galaxies, galaxy clusters, stellar pops) that also dabbles in planetary astronomy. Really, basically a pixel pusher.
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Reposted by Tod Lauer
profkelsey.bsky.social
Kelsey Johnson @profkelsey.bsky.social · 3h
Procrastination takes may forms. Tonight as a service to the astronomical community I offer help with your JWST proposal titles.
#JWST 🧪🔭✨
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 1d
Too late. It’s already been accepted by everyone that Biden became President in 2020 about when COVID started up.
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 2d
When I was starting 6th grade in Chicago, my Dad got transferred to Atlanta. They played GBA every morning at high volume into the classrooms. I had never heard it before being stuck in the deep south, and I couldn't stand it. I'll stand for the Anthem, but not GBA.
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 2d
Gawd - I stayed out of that stuff. Went to a preschool meet once, where a few parents were on about 10^3 things. One of them PO'ed about my nonchalance, asked what my deal was, and I was, "If I get my kids back in one piece at the end of the day, I'm fine with that..."
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 3d
Cats...
todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 3d
This is where I have to get out my British/American translation guide. I would understand “a tad miffed” to be “f’ing pissed.”
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 3d
Jeez! They’re like a pack of thieves!
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 3d
Fave memory was watching my oldest turn teen and kinda forget how to properly drive her body around - and she was always so coordinated. But after a bit that was that and a decade plus later she’s a black belt in judo.
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 4d
You made my day! Very glad to hear that things like that still happen with kids ;)
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 5d
You might appreciate how easy going Avi is when interacting with fellow scientists, such as Jill Tarter who's entire career has been dedicated to looking for sign of extra-terrestrial intelligence: www.youtube.com/watch?v=InBq...
Avi Loeb fires back at SETI expert J. Tarter ( UFO skeptic)
YouTube video by Phobos Project
www.youtube.com
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 5d
So this is great. We've got a guy at HHS just making up stuff. What more would you need to look after the health of 350 million US citizens?
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 6d
That would be interesting.
todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 6d
The only amendment that means anything is the 2nd. The SC is about to declare that the 14 amendment is in fact unconstitutional.
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 6d
Oh yes - this has occurred to me. "I say it was done by Professor McGaugh with the DESI spectrograph in the 4m."
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 6d
I loved this game as a kid - always thought it would be fun to do with a bunch of drunk astronomers.
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 8d
My particular irritation is that the media reaches for an ancient and lazy trope. Brilliant scientist with incredible insight suffers the disdain of his stultified mediocre colleagues. The story writes itself and makes great copy - especially now when "common sense" beats scientific insight.
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 8d
I think it's a complete lack of feedback. We all need our colleagues to help us set norms and yank us back when we start to drift away. He believes in his intellect over all others, which is deadly with a strong lack of self awareness. The result is that he's essentially decoupled from his peers.
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 8d
Not sure that the PP even applies here. No one promoted AL into a position of authority over how planetary scientists conduct their research. He simply has a loud voice and knowledge of how to get attention to it.
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 8d
You may know that in the spirit of the times his name has come up for both NASA and the NSF.
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 8d
Avi is doing real damage. It's one thing to have an ego. It's another thing when its expression is done through denigration and diminishment of one's fellow scientists. It is 180 degrees around from how skilled and gifted leaders bring people together successfully for common cause.
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 8d
It's a nice touch, don't you think?
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Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 8d
The effort put into understanding 3I/Atlas has been spectacular, imaginative, professional and well-organized. Planetary scientists don't need Avi Loeb put in charge of an international directorate to tell them how to do their jobs.
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 8d
This is an incredibly brilliant idea. We need to set up a UN body in charge of all work and resources for the study of interstellar objects. After all, planetary science is too important to trust to the planetary scientists. But who would direct it?

arxiv.org/pdf/2510.01405
Avi Loeb nominates himself to lead the world's study of interstellar objects.
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 8d
The nastiest part of Avi's take is the ever present presumption that the planetary scientists engaged in the problems of interstellar objects have zero idea of how to do their own work.
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todlauer.bsky.social
Tod Lauer @todlauer.bsky.social · 8d
I first met Avi when we were both postdocs in the 80s. I really don't know what has happened to him, but he's moved from an annoying eccentric to doing real damage. Positioning himself as the reincarnation of Galileo - where does one even start with that?
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