thomasconnor

thomasconnor, 5 days ago to random

Thing I just realized: the next STS mission after Chandra's launch was the HST serving mission that swapped out all 6 gyros (which would all be swapped out again 10 years later).

The late '90's were certainly a mood...

thomasconnor, 6 days ago to random

Ugh, failure cascade on the #MBTA today. And to think, platform screen doors could have prevented all of this...

thomasconnor, 6 days ago to Astro

I have a Love/Hate (mostly Hate) relationship with the Ars Technica comments section, particularly where space is concerned, but it's heartening to see this pro-#ChandraXRay comment sitting on 94 updoots to 0 downdoots on the Hubble Gyro article.

It has been a bit disheartening the past three months to worry about our healthy, productive, and unique mission being terminated abruptly, and so it's good to see the public is getting that message.

https://www.savechandra.org/

#SaveChandra #Astrodon

thomasconnor, 8 days ago to random

Work just sent around an update on parking rates, apologizing for the cost going up, and -- MAN are we subsidizing car travel! My #MBTA rail pass is more expensive than on-site parking several blocks from Harvard Square.

thomasconnor, 12 days ago to random

In other great news, #DirectFile continues on, with all 50+1 states invited to join next year!
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2385
#USTaxes

thomasconnor, 12 days ago to random

Just watching some #OBrotherWhereArtThou clips, as one does...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt4C8j439IE

thomasconnor, 12 days ago to random

👍

thomasconnor, 12 days ago to boston

Bit of a swim into work today, innit? #Boston #Commute

thomasconnor, 22 days ago to random

Cops have the cut through at Arsenal Sq. blocked off, they seem to be talking to a truck driver whose truck is stopped mid-turn, and a cop is holding a blue bike.

No ambulance, so maybe that's a good thing? I've had close calls at that intersection before...

thomasconnor, 25 days ago to random

Predatory journal emailed me with the salutation "Wishes of the Day" and -- I gotta be honest -- I kind of like that one.

vicgrinberg, 26 days ago to random

I love Ursula LeGuin to bits (in three languages) - the shelf is (part of the) proof. But I never got the excitement about "The Ones Who Walks Away from Omelas".

I know what the story, the metaphor tries to say. But all that I see is how this is a story about walking away. Not stay and change: be the change, start the change, convince the others that things need to be better. But a story about keeping one's conscience clean and walking away. And the injustice left behind continues.

thomasconnor, 26 days ago to random

Well, it was bound to happen eventually...

Anti-Personnel Vehicle rusting on Garden St. in Cambridge.

thomasconnor, 1 month ago to random

Absolute bust looking for aurorae but I did catch a shooting star!

thomasconnor, 1 month ago to random

Can't even see a single star out right now with all the clouds. #Aurora

thomasconnor, 1 month ago to random

Europe aglow!
https://www.foto-webcam.eu/
#Aurora

thomasconnor, 1 month ago to random

I'm listening to the #Halo2 soundtrack as background music for work this afternoon, and it's triggering a midlife crisis.

thomasconnor, 1 month ago to cycling

I biked far too far yesterday on a bike in need of lube and with underinflated tires. On the plus side, it's back at my house, where I can maintain it ... but man are all my muscles tired today... #BikeTooter #MastoBike

globepitchbot, 1 month ago to boston

NY Times and Washington Post win 3 Pulitzers each. While we did not win any Pulitzers, the winner of the fiction prize did teach at these Boston-area universities

#boston

thomasconnor, 1 month ago to random

Local news websites are like

"Police brutalizing someone already in handcuffs"
autoplay next video
"Perfect spring pasta with Lisa Washington"

thomasconnor, 1 month ago to Astro

One of my silliest hills that I will die on:

STS-31, the #SpaceShuttle mission that deployed the #Hubble Space Telescope, launched #OTD in 1990: April 24.

However, the astronauts didn't deploy the observatory until April 25.

My view -- which is not held by the good folks at STScI -- is that Hubble's birthday is thus the 25th; I liken it to April 24th is when Hubble's parents drove to the hospital / went into labor, but the 25th is when it was born.
#Astrodon #HistoryOfAstronomy #NASA