What's up?

[pumpkinpi]

My dad, my son, and I love numbers. We realized 2020 is a magic year for ages in our family.

Buster: 11
Me: 44
My mom: 77

My sister: 47
My dad: 74

Rooster: 7
Lil'pup (nephew): 14
Cowgirl (niece): 17
MrPi: 47

The only outlier is my sister's husband, who is 49 turning 50.

[SciFiFisher]

Well, he's not really family.

[Thumper]

Ha ha

[code monkey]

all is not lost!

cowgirl * rooster = 17 * 7 = 119
mom - rooster = 77 - 7 = 70

therefore cowgirl * rooster - (mom - rooster) = 49!

and he's back in the family fold.

[SciFiFisher]

all is not lost!

cowgirl * rooster = 17 * 7 = 119
mom - rooster = 77 - 7 = 70

therefore cowgirl * rooster - (mom - rooster) = 49!

and he's back in the family fold.

blessed are the peace makers.

[pumpkinpi]

all is not lost!

cowgirl * rooster = 17 * 7 = 119
mom - rooster = 77 - 7 = 70

therefore cowgirl * rooster - (mom - rooster) = 49!

and he's back in the family fold.

Perfect!!

[pumpkinpi]

It pays to be kind. I got a phone call from an apparent spoofer/scammer, you know the ones that have your area code and first three digits of your phone number and a random last four. I usually let those go, but I am expecting a call from a contractor so I figured it was possible it could be them. Well, it was a lady asking who is this, and I asked her name, and she asked mine, and I asked who she was calling, and she said you just called me. I told her it was probably a spoofer, and that if you ever see numbers that are similar to yours, just let them go! I said I figure if it's important, they will leave a voicemail. She said thank you, I have a learning disability, and it was nice to learn something new today.

[Rommie]

That's wonderful, pumpkinpi.

Did anyone else notice during the beginning of the pandemic the calls disappeared and now they're back? I kind of like the idea that even the family members of these people wouldn't tolerate this shit.

[pumpkinpi]

Let it be known that Rooster now prefers to be known as Sweet Potato in this forum!

[Rommie]

Is SP allowed?

How'd that come up?

[grapes]

My dad, my son, and I love numbers. We realized 2020 is a magic year for ages in our family.

Buster: 11
Me: 44
My mom: 77

My sister: 47
My dad: 74

Rooster: 7
Lil'pup (nephew): 14
Cowgirl (niece): 17
MrPi: 47

The only outlier is my sister's husband, who is 49 turning 50.

I just saw this. All those 7s—don’t you realize that 49 is 7 squared?

[pumpkinpi]

My dad, my son, and I love numbers. We realized 2020 is a magic year for ages in our family.

Buster: 11
Me: 44
My mom: 77

My sister: 47
My dad: 74

Rooster: 7
Lil'pup (nephew): 14
Cowgirl (niece): 17
MrPi: 47

The only outlier is my sister's husband, who is 49 turning 50.

I just saw this. All those 7s—don’t you realize that 49 is 7 squared?

Perfect! Thanks.

[Rommie]

I just realized that earlier post said your niece is now 17, and I don't know if I can handle that reality.

Reminds me, apparently my niece had a meltdown the other night because she's 4 and realized by next year she'll be 5, and apparently that's too old and she just wants to be a little girl forever. Ah, kid, I know the feeling...

[Rommie]

Today I am submitting what is the equivalent of my first million dollar proposal. The VLA costs about $17k an hour to run (I have been told), and we are applying for ~75 hours in my proposal, so you can do the math.

I honestly think the most shocking part of it all is that you can spend all this time (been my full time job for about a month), and still there's no guarantee for success! The one advantage is the VLA allows for the allocation committee to split up your proposal with different levels of priority, so I'm more confident we'll get some of our time instead of all of it, but still- how'd a gal like me end up in a spot like this, eh?

Will let y'all know how it goes- and, of course, thanks to all you American taxpayers if I do get approved!

[pumpkinpi]

Today I am submitting what is the equivalent of my first million dollar proposal. The VLA costs about $17k an hour to run (I have been told), and we are applying for ~75 hours in my proposal, so you can do the math.

I honestly think the most shocking part of it all is that you can spend all this time (been my full time job for about a month), and still there's no guarantee for success! The one advantage is the VLA allows for the allocation committee to split up your proposal with different levels of priority, so I'm more confident we'll get some of our time instead of all of it, but still- how'd a gal like me end up in a spot like this, eh?

Will let y'all know how it goes- and, of course, thanks to all you American taxpayers if I do get approved!

I remember a radio astronomy colleague of mine said the NSF award rate is about 10%. Does that hold true here?

[Rommie]

No, not that bad, this is "only" a 3x over-subscription rate. NSF grants are competitive because there's actual money, this is just a ton of telescope time (and the boss has already secured NSF money to reduce it, aka me).

... I'm applying for NSF money this fall though for myself, so we'll see how that goes when we get to it.

[SciFiFisher]

Today I am submitting what is the equivalent of my first million dollar proposal. The VLA costs about $17k an hour to run (I have been told), and we are applying for ~75 hours in my proposal, so you can do the math.

I honestly think the most shocking part of it all is that you can spend all this time (been my full time job for about a month), and still there's no guarantee for success! The one advantage is the VLA allows for the allocation committee to split up your proposal with different levels of priority, so I'm more confident we'll get some of our time instead of all of it, but still- how'd a gal like me end up in a spot like this, eh?

Will let y'all know how it goes- and, of course, thanks to all you American taxpayers if I do get approved!

As a taxpayer I heartily approve.

[Sigma_Orionis]

Good Luck Dr. Arroway... I mean: Dr. Rommie

[geonuc]

Good Luck Dr. Arroway... I mean: Dr. Rommie

[pumpkinpi]

I just had to share this email quote from our facilities manager (when he learned that the museum's chillers kicked into winter mode last night and thus can't handle the humidity and are running full blast): "If you could hear my eyes rolling right now, it would be a loud groan."

[Thumper]

I get to peruse the forum after a way to long absence because my boss is stuck at the BMV getting a new license. Thanks Ralph.

[pumpkinpi]

I love watching Rooster's creativity in action. I'm working at home and she's at our nearby Lego table. For a half hour she's just been quietly searching through the blocks and making new builds. I so much want to get inside her head and find out how she thinks when she does this!

[pumpkinpi]

My dad's coming to visit today! It will be his first time seeing Rooster since Feb 2020* and Buster since Dec 2019. It will be sad without my mom, but boy are we so excited! Buster turns 12 tomorrow (V DAY!!!) and it's a tradition for birthday visits. I'm glad to be starting them up again.

*When my mom was diagnosed with cancer in Jan 2020, I made a quick decision to go visit. Buster and MrPi were in Spain for a soccer camp so it was just me and Rooster. I am SO GLAD we went!

[Rommie]

12 years already?! Happy birthday to Buster!

[Sigma_Orionis]

Happy Birthday Buster