Comments on: Merry Fucking Christmas

By: Apollo

Apollo — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 14:54:32 +0000

Ask yourself ‘How much has SCUBA 2 really cost’? STFC’s continued investment in an instrument that’s way behind shedule, well over budget, and only still reports a faint promise of producing of good science.

By: Kosmische Kuriosa kompakt « Skyweek Zwei Punkt Null

Kosmische Kuriosa kompakt « Skyweek Zwei Punkt Null — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:40:15 +0000

[...] Herschel Blog, In the Dark, SN Condensate, AstroEngine, e-Astronomer, Askew, Left of Centre und Orbiting Frog sowie gesammelte [...]

By: engmoiv

engmoiv — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:37:21 +0000

Sorry TURYEY!!! I mean the BIRD….

By: ttfnRob

ttfnRob — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 07:36:19 +0000

Good to see that my reaction appears justified. I shall do a follow-up post about where the axe fell sometime.

Thanks for posting, Santa. Can we have some post-doctoral fellowships back for Christmas? ;)

By: Santa

Santa — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:39:37 +0000

Hey dude, nice blog Happy Holidays!

By: Weekly Tweet Digest for 2009-12-20 « canspice.org

Weekly Tweet Digest for 2009-12-20 « canspice.org — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:03:39 +0000

[...] is very appropriate: http://orbitingfrog.com/blog/2009/12/15/merry-fucking-christmas/ [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:43:31 +0000

It never ceases to amaze me that people can get so worked up about 7 letters arranged in a certain way. Especially when etymologists are not even sure about the origins of the word, or even whether it was always considered obscene. There’s an excellent article on Wikipedia about it. Amanda doubtless won’t like it.
Like it or not, it very precisely describes the way astronomy has been treated. Anyhow to get back to the subject, Gordon Brown seems happy to throw away £1,500,000,000 on some wild goose chase, but won’t spend £70,000,000 funding proper science. THE STFC laughingly describes itself as ‘independent’. Independent of who exactly? Certainly not the government for it admits to being part of the DBIS. So let’s not put all the blame at the STFC’s door, it’s not them who decide how much money they have to spend.

By: Brett

Brett — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:57:27 +0000

It’s incredibly unfortunate to hear of your predicament, especially with this being the IYA09′. How backward is it that all this money and effort has been but forth to bolster public support, of which the public is enthusiastically responding, yet the very people who can help the public learn are being culled one by one by job cuts. Don’t feel alone though, I’m over in the US and government spending has been rampant, just not in our sector sadly. Even NASA has faced cuts which are spelling doom for future manned space flight programs. On a more personal note, I am in limbo applying to a graduate program here in the States for astronomy and astrophysics and I’ve been warned that there might not be enough money to support more than 2 new grad students per year (down from 5-6/yr). That cuts my chances of even hoping to get in this year or the next. I know the money is there to fund us, even if its a modicum amount, It just needs to get funneled back our way.

By: Day of Reckoning « In the Dark

Day of Reckoning « In the Dark — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:59:01 +0000

[...] Simpson, a PhD student here in Cardiff, is probably expressing the fears of many younger [...]

By: ttfnRob

ttfnRob — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:56:52 +0000

Amanda – do you somehow know what I do outside of this blog? I do in fact often talk with others about better ways to deal with this situation. Alas my view is not very influential as a lowly PhD student. One way I can help to is to make sure the STFC understand the feeling in the community by blogging about it.
I very rarely swear on this blog but I think that UK astronomy being slashed by 70% and many people I know facing the proverbial axe is an occasion where it works quite well. I’m sorry if you are offended by my choice of words, but in this case I’d say you are being overly sensitive.

By: Haley

Haley — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:39:10 +0000

Rob, I’m glad you used that language. It’s entirely appropriate for this situatuib and I feel all the better for reading it. The problem is Amanda, we have all tried to do something about it and we’re not feeling sorry for ourselves, but rather, we are completely astonished by the turn of events, there is nothing we can do anymore. It’s not that some people will lose jobs (we all take the credit crunch very seriously), but that some of the best, inspirational, potential Nobel prize winning, amazingly talented people will not have a chance to ask the big questions anymore. The crazy thing is, on the day of STFC cut announcements, I’ve just been asked to talk to the BBC about the latest Herschel Space Telescope results, and the journalist was really excited! The public are really keen to find out all the exciting stuff being discovered, but it’s being stifled by political and bad management decisions. Thanks for making me laugh Rob!

By: STFCer

STFCer — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:25:53 +0000

Pretty crappy Christmas for Turkey’s too :-(

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:39:12 +0000

Just to add I have lost my job before and no it isn’t much fun with no money and no prospects but I didn’t go around swearing and feeling sorry for myself. If it bothers you that much get together with like minded people and do something constructive and quit moaning.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:33:40 +0000

If any-one from the STFC Council does read the title of this blog then they would probably read no further. Do you really have to use such language. Yes it is frustrating but swearing isn’t going to help especially in a blog that can be accessed by all.
How about going to source with your complaints. I don’t agree with what the STFC is doing either but I also don’t think using language like that is helpful.

By: SarahAskew » Dark days ahead?

SarahAskew » Dark days ahead? — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:40:50 +0000

[...] Rob Simpson, also in Cardiff , says it like it is. [...]