Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

Jac (JD)

@jdwilso.bsky.social

210 followers 230 following 370 posts

Major reader, love playing visual novel games, and general #MaximumFun and #DropoutTV fan. Big on #LibraryLife, #RunningLife, and #SoftballSeason. Neurodivergent, ace, she/her/hers.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 1d

Unfortunately, that tracks

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 1d

That's absurd all around, I'm so sorry 😭

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 3d

You shouldn't have to even consider having the bandwidth for that... let alone any of the rest of it, ugh, I'm so sorry 🫂

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 3d

What the absolute fuck all around, I'm sorry Anne

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 3d

Success!!!

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 3d

I hope it's a much better game!! ❤️

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 4d

I knew from the start I was feeling good enough to hit at least my 1.5 mile goal, but around 1.6 hit my stride and each tenth of a mile was like "I guess I'll go another tenth!" Decided to stop at 2 right by the water fountain lol, but so thrilled, especially after skipping last week! #RunningLife

Running stats: 2.00 miles total, 178 bpm average heart rate, 10:11 average pace, 20:25 total duration, 214 calories burned

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 4d

May all schools follow suit and show a united front

Kathleen Clark @kathleenclark.bsky.social · 4d

A master class from MIT in responding to authoritarian overreach:

Your “premise … is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.
… America’s leadership in science & innovation depends on independent thinking & open competition for excellence.

Dear Madam Secretary,
I write in response to your letter of October 1, inviting MIT to review a "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education." I acknowledge the vital importance of these matters.
I appreciated the chance to meet with you earlier this year to discuss the priorities we share for American higher education.
As we discussed, the Institute's mission of service to the nation directs us to advance knowledge, educate students and bring knowledge to bear on the world's great challenges.
We do that in line with a clear set of values, with excellence above all. Some practical examples:
• MIT prides itself on rewarding merit. Students, faculty and staff succeed here based on the strength of their talent, ideas and hard work. For instance, the Institute was the first to reinstate the SAT/ACT requirement after the pandemic. And MIT has never had legacy preferences in admissions.
• MIT opens its doors to the most talented students regardless of their family's finances. Admissions are need-blind. Incoming undergraduates whose families earn less than $200,000 a year pay no tuition. Nearly 88% of our last graduating class left MIT with no debt for their education. We make a wealth of free courses and low-cost certificates available to any American with an internet connection. Of the undergraduate degrees we award, 94% are in STEM fields. And in service to the nation, we cap enrollment of international undergraduates at roughly 10%.

source:
https://orgchart.mit.edu/letters/regarding-compact

• We value free expression, as clearly described in the MIT Statement on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom. We must hear facts and opinions we don't like - and engage respectfully with those with whom we disagree.
These values and other MIT practices meet or exceed many standards outlined in the document you sent. We freely choose these values because they're right, and we live by them because they support our mission - work of immense value to the prosperity, competitiveness, health and security of the United States. And of course, MIT abides by the law.
The document also includes principles with which we disagree, including those that would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution. And fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.
In our view, America's leadership in science and innovation depends on independent thinking and open competition for excellence. In that free marketplace of ideas, the people of MIT gladly compete with the very best, without preferences. Therefore, with respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education.
As you know, MIT's record of service to the nation is long and enduring. Eight decades ago, MIT leaders helped invent a scientific partnership between America's research universities and the U.S. government that has delivered extraordinary benefits for the American people. We continue to believe in the power of this partnership to serve the nation.
Sincerely,
Sally Kornbluth

Reposted by Jac (JD)

Kathleen Clark @kathleenclark.bsky.social · 4d

Another impressive highlight from MIT’s response to the proposed “compact:”

“MIT has never had legacy preferences in admissions.”

Dear Madam Secretary,
I write in response to your letter of October 1, inviting MIT to review a "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education." I acknowledge the vital importance of these matters.
I appreciated the chance to meet with you earlier this year to discuss the priorities we share for American higher education.
As we discussed, the Institute's mission of service to the nation directs us to advance knowledge, educate students and bring knowledge to bear on the world's great challenges.
We do that in line with a clear set of values, with excellence above all. Some practical examples:
• MIT prides itself on rewarding merit. Students, faculty and staff succeed here based on the strength of their talent, ideas and hard work. For instance, the Institute was the first to reinstate the SAT/ACT requirement after the pandemic. And MIT has never had legacy preferences in admissions.
• MIT opens its doors to the most talented students regardless of their family's finances. Admissions are need-blind. Incoming undergraduates whose families earn less than $200,000 a year pay no tuition. Nearly 88% of our last graduating class left MIT with no debt for their education. We make a wealth of free courses and low-cost certificates available to any American with an internet connection. Of the undergraduate degrees we award, 94% are in STEM fields. And in service to the nation, we cap enrollment of international undergraduates at roughly 10%.

Reposted by Jac (JD)

Kathleen Clark @kathleenclark.bsky.social · 4d

A master class from MIT in responding to authoritarian overreach:

Your “premise … is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.
… America’s leadership in science & innovation depends on independent thinking & open competition for excellence.

Dear Madam Secretary,
I write in response to your letter of October 1, inviting MIT to review a "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education." I acknowledge the vital importance of these matters.
I appreciated the chance to meet with you earlier this year to discuss the priorities we share for American higher education.
As we discussed, the Institute's mission of service to the nation directs us to advance knowledge, educate students and bring knowledge to bear on the world's great challenges.
We do that in line with a clear set of values, with excellence above all. Some practical examples:
• MIT prides itself on rewarding merit. Students, faculty and staff succeed here based on the strength of their talent, ideas and hard work. For instance, the Institute was the first to reinstate the SAT/ACT requirement after the pandemic. And MIT has never had legacy preferences in admissions.
• MIT opens its doors to the most talented students regardless of their family's finances. Admissions are need-blind. Incoming undergraduates whose families earn less than $200,000 a year pay no tuition. Nearly 88% of our last graduating class left MIT with no debt for their education. We make a wealth of free courses and low-cost certificates available to any American with an internet connection. Of the undergraduate degrees we award, 94% are in STEM fields. And in service to the nation, we cap enrollment of international undergraduates at roughly 10%.

source:
https://orgchart.mit.edu/letters/regarding-compact

• We value free expression, as clearly described in the MIT Statement on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom. We must hear facts and opinions we don't like - and engage respectfully with those with whom we disagree.
These values and other MIT practices meet or exceed many standards outlined in the document you sent. We freely choose these values because they're right, and we live by them because they support our mission - work of immense value to the prosperity, competitiveness, health and security of the United States. And of course, MIT abides by the law.
The document also includes principles with which we disagree, including those that would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution. And fundamentally, the premise of the document is inconsistent with our core belief that scientific funding should be based on scientific merit alone.
In our view, America's leadership in science and innovation depends on independent thinking and open competition for excellence. In that free marketplace of ideas, the people of MIT gladly compete with the very best, without preferences. Therefore, with respect, we cannot support the proposed approach to addressing the issues facing higher education.
As you know, MIT's record of service to the nation is long and enduring. Eight decades ago, MIT leaders helped invent a scientific partnership between America's research universities and the U.S. government that has delivered extraordinary benefits for the American people. We continue to believe in the power of this partnership to serve the nation.
Sincerely,
Sally Kornbluth

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 6d

Took contacts out at a reasonable hour and it didn't make a difference subsection 42.b

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 6d

Can't sleep and also need to sleep: Chapter 40x54-22

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 6d

Sending hugs and healing vibes 😭

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 6d

I'd say porque no los dos given infrastructure, but I didn't see any tickets for water today, so I trust you didn't have any waterfalls (truly very happy for you!)

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 6d

Definitely a mix of both for me (I think the only papers I ever started "early" were longer ones, and they were STILL finished at the 11th hour). Learning how to properly "read papers" in grad school was a great thing, sometimes I fully read them, but other times... still got enough out of them

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 6d

Literally went "Is that Britney??" Before reading the alt text... touche

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 6d

(To be fair it's not quite as MUCH as I'd like, but still. Solid showing considering)

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 6d

I love how much of my feed is anti-Yankees and anti-Dodgers lol

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 9d

Did end up with two bruises from a grounder to the shin and a throw to home that hit me as the runner instead, and one scrape from poor sliding shorts coverage lol, but overall nothing feeling too bad this evening, we'll see how the rest of the week goes xD #FaceMelters #SoftballSeason

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 9d

Played 3rd for the #FaceMelters today since we had an abundance of outfielders in having almost half subs, and managed to go 3/4, get an out at 3rd (miracle given I was otherwise fighting my outfield instincts to backup rather than cover the base xD), and ultimately we won 15-13! #SoftballSeason

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 10d

Sending lots of love and hugs your way today- I hope you get to have that cake!!

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 13d

The way I viscerally reacted to the screenshotted post... 😬

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 13d

Happy to contribute to said post-game beers, our numbers for Sunday were not looking great last I checked o.o

At least not great is like 4 down out of 14 rather than 4 down out of 10/11??

Reposted by Jac (JD)

Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 13d

Good morning.

The government is shut down because Trump wants to act like a king and steal from you.

Democrats have no obligation to support a budget that funds the destruction of our democracy - and DOUBLES health premiums to fund a tax cut for billionaires.

Jac (JD) @jdwilso.bsky.social · 13d

My literal thought process seeing this:

Like: Graves has access to a cat, nice!

Comment: wait, ALF has access to a cat, oh no