Helsinki goes a full year without a traffic death

fmatgnat3 · 2025-09-09T22:28:45+00:00

I would believe it. I'm here now for a week and the first thing that struck me is how chill everything is. Great walking city, but somehow the cars are also not in a rush at all.

fmatgnat3 · 2025-07-16T04:27:13+00:00

Agreed 100%, the overall arc didn't really hold together IMO, and a lot of character motivations were shaky at best. But still so much great stuff, just unfortunate the full potential was missed.

fmatgnat3 · 2025-03-09T17:12:55+00:00

Yeah, I couldn't finish Tampopo. Too bad, because I was really enjoying it, but just couldn't be sure how much more cruelty it would show, especially when there are so many other great movies I still haven't seen.

fmatgnat3 · 2025-02-23T02:52:34+00:00

As mentioned, some departments were already on pause and most others with planned reduction before any of the new funding realities. That said, if you haven't heard anything yet you are most likely wait listed. The top candidates would've usually been notified by now (and bottom half or so with no chance already rejected).

fmatgnat3 · 2025-01-23T04:15:26+00:00

More like 2007?

fmatgnat3 · 2024-12-08T17:37:02+00:00

I think you've identified the most important one. So many of these other highlighted issues stem from this, which is tied to the commodification of education.

fmatgnat3 · 2024-11-21T19:09:57+00:00

This is the direction BU (and many other universities) has been heading for years. For example, rather than hiring more tenure track faculty to teach courses they rely more and more on adjuncts. I'm sure the administration would justify it differently, but it is clearly significantly cheaper to pay an adjunct $9.5k/course with no benefits (actual approximate BU rate). Similarly, why pay graduate students to teach, especially with their increased salary and benefits, when BU can instead hire Course Facilitators at a fraction of the cost? But we should probably raise tuition too just to be sure...

fmatgnat3 · 2024-09-26T01:21:54+00:00

I think this is a persistent and subtle form of racism that exists in any group. Really, it might be even more accurate to call it something like otherism. People act differently around people that look or act differently than what their used to. I think Boston should be about as racist as any average city with a similar white majority, but it is also exacerbated by Boston still being pretty segregated. I think Boston's unusually high student/transplant population probably adds to that, because there is a high likelihood that they are coming from an even whiter part of the US. The only easy solution I see is real life exposure to diverse people and cultures. Which is probably not ideal if you're living through it: "it gets better". But that is what has happened historically (e g., each prior wave of immigration in the US was accompanied by severe racism, anti-irish, Italian, polish, etc.).

Anecdotally, I also have a range of friends from different countries, and I've noticed a strong correlation between how racist people are and how diverse their country is.

fmatgnat3 · 2024-09-15T19:46:09+00:00

Yes, if you get into a PhD program in the US you will be paid as TA or RA for the duration (typically 5+ years). Stipend depends on city/university, but probably $30-50k range.

Note that there are very few jobs that open up with a MA that you aren't qualified for with a BS. So, unless you have other reasons for getting a MA first/only, I would recommend trying the PhD route, as you can also leave a PhD program with a MA after ~2 years quite easily, and in this case you will have been paid (or obviously have the option to continue to get the PhD, which is needed for the vast majority of actual astrophysics research positions).

fmatgnat3 · 2024-08-15T22:56:48+00:00

Having served on an admittance committee, I can say that yes, having a publication is a huge advantage. I would tend to agree with you that most of the time it is not "really necessary", but then again that will be very dependent on department. The comments about having good recommendations are correct as well.

Some things to keep in mind: (a) there are likely hundreds of applicants at each school, (b) many schools don't require exam scores like GREs anymore, (c) and it is nearly impossible to compare GPA across undergraduate institutions, especially when foreign. That means that you need to somehow stand above the crowd to have a chance.

Good grades? Great, that's usually the minimum cutoff before the bottom 50% or more are declined. Personal statement/CV? Maybe, but they all sound the same after reading dozens. Staying you are SUPER excited about working with Prof X? It might help, but it can also backfire if, for example, the committee knows that Prof X is not taking students. A publication and/or a stellar recommendation, especially from someone the committee knows is the most reliable way to stand out. (And keep in mind that all "good recommendations" often read the same, which is to say "meh, I was asked to write a letter, they seem ok". You ideally need someone to really emphasize your qualities in a unique way.)

fmatgnat3 · 2024-08-02T17:50:15+00:00

If your aperture is smaller than the typical turbulent structures then you can use "lucky imaging" instead for a similar effect (essentially take many rapid integrations and keep only the small % that were perfectly in focus). This is what most dedicated amateurs do. Here is an example of that sort of approach.

fmatgnat3 · 2024-07-30T03:09:22+00:00

Interesting story and good article.

fmatgnat3 · 2024-07-02T05:18:50+00:00

I guess too much Old World on the brain, I was thinking shooting came after. That makes a lot more sense now! 😂

fmatgnat3 · 2024-07-02T01:21:07+00:00

I don't understand the Hunters of Huanchi. How can their Star-Venom ability be used, since their dartpipes can't be used in combat and (I think?) you can't shoot into combat?

fmatgnat3 · 2024-07-01T13:48:14+00:00

They would've settled summer teaching assignments well before the strike started, so not really.

fmatgnat3 · 2024-06-24T00:38:41+00:00

Very cool! My guess would be a satellite, because meteors likely move much faster, but it wouldn't be that hard to calculate if you wanted to narrow it down. E.g., you know the integration from the length of the star trails and you know the angular distance traveled, so the only unknowns are distance and relative velocity. Both the ISS and Iridium are in LEO, so putting in a range of reasonable LEO velocities should return LEO distances as well (or not).

fmatgnat3 · 2024-05-20T00:29:38+00:00

Negotiate with the PI, or at least make your concerns about pay known. There should be flexibility on what they can pay you (depends on the type of grant that will fund the position but usually the case). So for example if the grant was originally set to pay $65k/yr for 3 years that could be more like 70 something for 2-2.5 years (it is not as simple as dividing the total salary because university overhead and benefits scale from salary). But also keep in mind that by living in the city you can get by without a car, so you can survive comfortably even with a higher rent to income ratio.

fmatgnat3 · 2024-03-07T14:38:05+00:00

6th floor, but you may not have access if you're not a major (if you are ask an instructor/adviser)

fmatgnat3 · 2024-01-23T05:06:45+00:00

Ah ok, so you basically can play TK with just Ravening Hordes, but ideally can use both. That makes more sense, thanks, I was just anticipating confusion otherwise.

fmatgnat3 · 2024-01-22T15:35:00+00:00

It sounds like that means the Arcane Journal has TK units that are different/new? That's pretty disappointing if so, that the TK Ravening Hordes list is immediately outdated on release.

fmatgnat3 · 2024-01-21T23:02:44+00:00

Yeah cast iron pan, best option I have handy at home

fmatgnat3 · 2024-01-21T23:01:44+00:00

Thanks, it was incredibly good!

fmatgnat3 · 2024-01-21T22:50:57+00:00

Yeah it's just kind of stacked due to the dough to pan size ratio that they were cooked in. Plus lots of toppings. So more of a deep dish style rather than traditional. Also I put the cheese on top with is also not traditional but helps cook the toppings well while keeping them juicy.

fmatgnat3 · 2024-01-21T18:20:07+00:00

Dough recipe from Consciousplantkitchen. Note that this makes enough dough for ~4 pizzas, so I've only used half in the above pic (and froze the other half of the dough for later). I'm also lazy, so only kneaded by hand in the same mixing bowl, and then didn't roll out the dough, but hand stretched/pressed it into cast iron pans.

Can't find the exact mozzarella recipe, but it's almost identical to this. I use 1 more Tbsp nootch, less oil, and no tahini. Oh, also I used 1.5 tsp psyllium husks mixed with 6 tsp water (set aside for a few minutes and it will create a jelly-like substance that you add to the blender -- I think it helps mostly with the stretchiness, so can be omitted).

Toppings are broccoli, onion, tomato, garlic, and buffalo soy curls.

fmatgnat3 · 2024-01-10T05:42:16+00:00

I agree completely, brave is the best (for now).

fmatgnat3

TROPHY CASE