The Bob (aka AFNIman)
@bobcoxauthor.bsky.social
Retired NIH scientist. Caltech grad. Sci-fi author. Hiker: especially Nepal and the American Southwest.
Happily married.
Out of the blue DMs better be damn impressive.
Happily married.
Out of the blue DMs better be damn impressive.
Pinned
One of these days I’ll finish the sequel(s) to my SciFi novel Quantum Ignition. The problem I’ve got now is about 180,000 words in three parts. Cut it down to one book or massage into two?
In non-Trump news, we are touring Ha Long bay in Vietnam.
January 28, 2026 at 2:44 AM
In non-Trump news, we are touring Ha Long bay in Vietnam.
The grim visage of Skull Arch in Arches National Park. Actually a nice place to eat lunch as hardly anyone goes there.
January 21, 2026 at 3:40 PM
The grim visage of Skull Arch in Arches National Park. Actually a nice place to eat lunch as hardly anyone goes there.
This classical visage is ME, as rendered by MRI and AFNI. Obviously, I could have been a Roman Senator back in the Olden Days of which Gibbon wrote.
January 20, 2026 at 9:31 PM
This classical visage is ME, as rendered by MRI and AFNI. Obviously, I could have been a Roman Senator back in the Olden Days of which Gibbon wrote.
How many people is DJT willing to kill for Greenland? He killed about 100 just to snatch Maduro and wife.
He might not think in those terms, but that's the calculus of saber/gunpoint rattling. Some goals are worth killing for. But a big old hunk of ice?
He might not think in those terms, but that's the calculus of saber/gunpoint rattling. Some goals are worth killing for. But a big old hunk of ice?
January 18, 2026 at 10:08 PM
How many people is DJT willing to kill for Greenland? He killed about 100 just to snatch Maduro and wife.
He might not think in those terms, but that's the calculus of saber/gunpoint rattling. Some goals are worth killing for. But a big old hunk of ice?
He might not think in those terms, but that's the calculus of saber/gunpoint rattling. Some goals are worth killing for. But a big old hunk of ice?
You know, this whole "sex assigned at birth" thing makes little sense. What if the doctor/midwife/... makes a mistake? For example, a CAIS boy (XY chromosomes) assigned as a girl, due to lack of male genitalia? Or the doctor is just drunk?Is the answer "that's just too bad"?
January 16, 2026 at 12:27 AM
You know, this whole "sex assigned at birth" thing makes little sense. What if the doctor/midwife/... makes a mistake? For example, a CAIS boy (XY chromosomes) assigned as a girl, due to lack of male genitalia? Or the doctor is just drunk?Is the answer "that's just too bad"?
Although this looks like it might a brain fresco from olden days ... it was actually a water spot on the floor of a tunnel at the NIH. Overhead was a very slowly dripping pipe.
January 13, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Although this looks like it might a brain fresco from olden days ... it was actually a water spot on the floor of a tunnel at the NIH. Overhead was a very slowly dripping pipe.
These guys are not just psychopathic and evil -- they are stupid. Any sizable nation can spin up fission weapons in a few years (or less). "Force"? Would Trump try to snatch the leader of a nation with nukes?
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...
Stephen Miller Offers a Strongman’s View of the World
www.nytimes.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:10 PM
These guys are not just psychopathic and evil -- they are stupid. Any sizable nation can spin up fission weapons in a few years (or less). "Force"? Would Trump try to snatch the leader of a nation with nukes?
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...
Looking back, it is likely that Jan 6 2021 will be tagged as the effective end of the American Republic founded in 1776 and reforged in blood in the 1860s. Alas, since I loved that nation despite its flaws.
January 6, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Looking back, it is likely that Jan 6 2021 will be tagged as the effective end of the American Republic founded in 1776 and reforged in blood in the 1860s. Alas, since I loved that nation despite its flaws.
Today I went into the NIH to help fix a problem with AFNI brain image and graph displays on MacOS 26 Tahoe. First time doing C programming in 4 years of retirement. And I've still got the touch, baby!
January 6, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Today I went into the NIH to help fix a problem with AFNI brain image and graph displays on MacOS 26 Tahoe. First time doing C programming in 4 years of retirement. And I've still got the touch, baby!
Venezuela: I'm afraid we're about to see another playing out of the truism that people who start wars are very very often not pleased with the outcomes.
January 5, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Venezuela: I'm afraid we're about to see another playing out of the truism that people who start wars are very very often not pleased with the outcomes.
I'm late to this game. I just watched Trump's address to the nation. My summary in two sentences.
Why don't you all love me more?
I'm ordering you to all love me more!
Why don't you all love me more?
I'm ordering you to all love me more!
December 21, 2025 at 12:30 AM
I'm late to this game. I just watched Trump's address to the nation. My summary in two sentences.
Why don't you all love me more?
I'm ordering you to all love me more!
Why don't you all love me more?
I'm ordering you to all love me more!
Graduated Caltech 50 years ago in 2026. Nostalgia: Applied Math 95 (TK Caughey) was one of the pivotal courses for me. Complex analysis. Differential equations and stability. Fourier series and transforms. It all clicked for me, like my brain was just waiting for that stuff. IOW - I loved it.
December 14, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Graduated Caltech 50 years ago in 2026. Nostalgia: Applied Math 95 (TK Caughey) was one of the pivotal courses for me. Complex analysis. Differential equations and stability. Fourier series and transforms. It all clicked for me, like my brain was just waiting for that stuff. IOW - I loved it.
Deep thought of the day:
In all forms of heroism, getting out of bed is a necessary first step.
In some cases, it is also sufficient.
In all forms of heroism, getting out of bed is a necessary first step.
In some cases, it is also sufficient.
December 12, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Deep thought of the day:
In all forms of heroism, getting out of bed is a necessary first step.
In some cases, it is also sufficient.
In all forms of heroism, getting out of bed is a necessary first step.
In some cases, it is also sufficient.
America is at the stage where the rich believe they own the nation. Example: the President believes he owns the government personally -- all that does is his to use/take for his own benefit as he pleases. Other great nations have fallen down this way. It happened to Rome, it happened to China.
November 16, 2025 at 3:53 PM
America is at the stage where the rich believe they own the nation. Example: the President believes he owns the government personally -- all that does is his to use/take for his own benefit as he pleases. Other great nations have fallen down this way. It happened to Rome, it happened to China.
I've been gone from BSky for a while. A month hiking in the desert West, often completely out of cell range. For my penance, here's some pictures from our week long Grand Canyon hike. Including one of the true builders of the canyon: coxklosek.com/BobCoxAuthor...
November 4, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I've been gone from BSky for a while. A month hiking in the desert West, often completely out of cell range. For my penance, here's some pictures from our week long Grand Canyon hike. Including one of the true builders of the canyon: coxklosek.com/BobCoxAuthor...
No one I know has been Raptured yet today. So ... either I know a lot of ungodly people, OR the Rapture has been postponed for technical reasons. Oh well, next time.
September 23, 2025 at 12:00 PM
No one I know has been Raptured yet today. So ... either I know a lot of ungodly people, OR the Rapture has been postponed for technical reasons. Oh well, next time.
If there's a Federal shutdown this October, it will annoy me personally - as I have reservations at the Grand Canyon National Park. I'll take the mild annoyance in exchange for the opportunity for the D's to take a stand at last.
Forth now and fear no darkness!
Forth now and fear no darkness!
September 22, 2025 at 4:09 PM
If there's a Federal shutdown this October, it will annoy me personally - as I have reservations at the Grand Canyon National Park. I'll take the mild annoyance in exchange for the opportunity for the D's to take a stand at last.
Forth now and fear no darkness!
Forth now and fear no darkness!
Well, the Supremes have just given ICE all the powers of the Gestapo, save for the power to execute people without any process or hearings. That ruling will be a few weeks away.
September 8, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Well, the Supremes have just given ICE all the powers of the Gestapo, save for the power to execute people without any process or hearings. That ruling will be a few weeks away.
We are in a masterclass whose lesson is "Power is EVERYTHING".
August 30, 2025 at 1:46 AM
We are in a masterclass whose lesson is "Power is EVERYTHING".
The Trumpettes are in some ways more advanced than the Nazis in 1933. They ginned up crises (Reichstag fire) and then declared emergencies. Now, the new way is to just declare an emergency that the media doesn't dare denounce - because doing so would be "partisan", and dangerous.
August 25, 2025 at 1:45 AM
The Trumpettes are in some ways more advanced than the Nazis in 1933. They ginned up crises (Reichstag fire) and then declared emergencies. Now, the new way is to just declare an emergency that the media doesn't dare denounce - because doing so would be "partisan", and dangerous.
So if Nat Guard is sent to Chicago, Mayor, Council, & Supt of Police should prohibit any cooperation. Ticket/tow illegally parked vehicles. Arrest drivers who run lights for with reckless driving (potential jail time). Step into a street - jaywalking ticket.
August 24, 2025 at 8:49 PM
So if Nat Guard is sent to Chicago, Mayor, Council, & Supt of Police should prohibit any cooperation. Ticket/tow illegally parked vehicles. Arrest drivers who run lights for with reckless driving (potential jail time). Step into a street - jaywalking ticket.
This is exactly true. Cities and states need to be ready for attempted military takeovers. Including security plans for governors and mayors against being "arrested" for some vaguely define "crimes".
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/citie...
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/citie...
Cities Are Getting a Preview
One benefit of what is happening in DC is that Donald Trump...
talkingpointsmemo.com
August 23, 2025 at 12:46 PM
This is exactly true. Cities and states need to be ready for attempted military takeovers. Including security plans for governors and mayors against being "arrested" for some vaguely define "crimes".
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/citie...
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/citie...
People (like me) moan about how Trump's team is damaging the nation. Of course, that is the point of their actions. They've said so. Break the American nation, induce fear with paralysis, establish a new and vicious order. So what if the nation is lesser and weaker? But it will be THEIR nation.
August 22, 2025 at 12:36 PM
People (like me) moan about how Trump's team is damaging the nation. Of course, that is the point of their actions. They've said so. Break the American nation, induce fear with paralysis, establish a new and vicious order. So what if the nation is lesser and weaker? But it will be THEIR nation.
I feel sorry for all the Nigerian princes who have lost their livelihoods to AI generated scams.
August 19, 2025 at 1:15 PM
I feel sorry for all the Nigerian princes who have lost their livelihoods to AI generated scams.
It just struck me that among my limited acquaintance, I know 3 people supporting deadbeat kids. Not 20-somethings who still haven't figure life out. 40-somethings where the odds of figuring life out have dropped to the negligible level. THREE! How common is this, anyway?
August 18, 2025 at 6:34 PM
It just struck me that among my limited acquaintance, I know 3 people supporting deadbeat kids. Not 20-somethings who still haven't figure life out. 40-somethings where the odds of figuring life out have dropped to the negligible level. THREE! How common is this, anyway?