Mike Boylan-Kolchin
@mbkplus.bsky.social
Dad, husband, astrophysicist, dog herder. Samuel T. and Fern Yanagisawa Regents Professor in Astronomy at UT Austin. This is a personal account and the views expressed in my posts here are mine. https://mrbk.github.io
Pinned
Mike Boylan-Kolchin
@mbkplus.bsky.social
· Sep 13
Mike Boylan-Kolchin
mrbk.github.io
New (academic) year, new me — well, new title, anyway. I promise to uphold the standards you’ve come to expect from the Samuel T. and Fern Yanagisawa Regents Professor in Astronomy.
It’s encouraging to see some elected Democrats choosing to exercise the powers of their office without delay or apology
January 17, 2026 at 4:37 AM
It’s encouraging to see some elected Democrats choosing to exercise the powers of their office without delay or apology
I am mired in the depths of math surrounding Gaussian random fields, and it's both incredibly cool and very baffling
January 17, 2026 at 3:50 AM
I am mired in the depths of math surrounding Gaussian random fields, and it's both incredibly cool and very baffling
Reposted by Mike Boylan-Kolchin
These people thought they were going to reinvent the university, then managed to make something that has all of the fractured dynamics of a dysfunctional department without any of the intellectual rigor or benefits. Amazing job, y'all.
January 16, 2026 at 6:37 PM
These people thought they were going to reinvent the university, then managed to make something that has all of the fractured dynamics of a dysfunctional department without any of the intellectual rigor or benefits. Amazing job, y'all.
Reposted by Mike Boylan-Kolchin
Pretty wild to live in a world where government agents' identities and likenesses are state secrets but faces and names of peaceful protestors are publicized *by the government*
January 16, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Pretty wild to live in a world where government agents' identities and likenesses are state secrets but faces and names of peaceful protestors are publicized *by the government*
Pretty interesting to read about UATX’s struggles and then see it all predicted in this piece from 5 years ago. It’s easy to talk the talk but there’s a reason universities look the way they do and it’s not because they’re silos of decadent wokeness.
Yeah, this. All of this was as easily predictable (and predicted) as the direction of the sunrise. It's difficult to imagine anything that could have been more easily predicted, to be honest.
www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/o...
www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/o...
January 17, 2026 at 1:15 AM
Pretty interesting to read about UATX’s struggles and then see it all predicted in this piece from 5 years ago. It’s easy to talk the talk but there’s a reason universities look the way they do and it’s not because they’re silos of decadent wokeness.
Reposted by Mike Boylan-Kolchin
@profmarkovic.bsky.social and I have talked about the situation at UVA a few times on the pod and this is a significant update: the incoming governor is looking to immediately change the UVA board in a substantive way. I’ll be following closely how this plays out.
Some U.Va. Board Members Asked to Resign as a Democratic Governor Takes Power
www.nytimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:32 PM
@profmarkovic.bsky.social and I have talked about the situation at UVA a few times on the pod and this is a significant update: the incoming governor is looking to immediately change the UVA board in a substantive way. I’ll be following closely how this plays out.
Reposted by Mike Boylan-Kolchin
Yeah, this. All of this was as easily predictable (and predicted) as the direction of the sunrise. It's difficult to imagine anything that could have been more easily predicted, to be honest.
www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/o...
www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/o...
January 16, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Yeah, this. All of this was as easily predictable (and predicted) as the direction of the sunrise. It's difficult to imagine anything that could have been more easily predicted, to be honest.
www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/o...
www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/o...
Reposted by Mike Boylan-Kolchin
People are absolutely right that Trump is a simple man, it's easy to see what he wants, and he's 100% willing to be bought. However, they also forget that it's almost impossible to guarantee YOU'LL be the one reaping the benefits and you're much more likely to look foolish than to be rewarded.
The suckers payoff: Hassett sold any remaining integrity as an economist to become a Trump booster, and his reward is to never get a top Fed job
In a brief aside this AM, Trump remarked on his latest thinking about who he wants to run the Fed. He singled out Hassett, who's in attendance, for his work on television and said: "I actually want to keep you where you are, if you want to know the truth," essentially bc Hassett is a good spokesman
January 16, 2026 at 5:35 PM
People are absolutely right that Trump is a simple man, it's easy to see what he wants, and he's 100% willing to be bought. However, they also forget that it's almost impossible to guarantee YOU'LL be the one reaping the benefits and you're much more likely to look foolish than to be rewarded.
Reposted by Mike Boylan-Kolchin
It's not just that the situation at UATX isn't "a tragedy worthy of the Greeks", it isn't worthy of Jimmy the Greek. It isn't worthy of the (nonexistent) legacy of the movie "Get Him to the Greek". Look at my 'freethinkers' and 'free speech absolutists' bro. This was quotidian destiny.
January 16, 2026 at 6:37 PM
It's not just that the situation at UATX isn't "a tragedy worthy of the Greeks", it isn't worthy of Jimmy the Greek. It isn't worthy of the (nonexistent) legacy of the movie "Get Him to the Greek". Look at my 'freethinkers' and 'free speech absolutists' bro. This was quotidian destiny.
Reposted by Mike Boylan-Kolchin
Roundup of the insane rhetoric coming from the right at the moment. It's remarkable how *little* violence we've seen from protesters, given the feds' aggression. Maybe I've missed something, but the worst I've seen is people throwing snowballs. The MN weather has injured more cops than protesters.
Right-wing media are describing pro-immigrant Minnesota activists using the language of war
Right-wing media figures and outlets are using the language of war to characterize protests against the presence of violent Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota.The fatal shooting o...
www.mediamatters.org
January 16, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Roundup of the insane rhetoric coming from the right at the moment. It's remarkable how *little* violence we've seen from protesters, given the feds' aggression. Maybe I've missed something, but the worst I've seen is people throwing snowballs. The MN weather has injured more cops than protesters.
Strong writing. Lead with your conclusions (a sometimes controversial choice, but it works here), make your reasoning clear, rephrase your conclusions at the end.
Marriage advice to young ladies from a Suffragette wife 1918
"Do not marry at all" 👀
(pamphlet on display at the Pontypridd Museum, Wales)
#Herstory
"Do not marry at all" 👀
(pamphlet on display at the Pontypridd Museum, Wales)
#Herstory
January 16, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Strong writing. Lead with your conclusions (a sometimes controversial choice, but it works here), make your reasoning clear, rephrase your conclusions at the end.
Reposted by Mike Boylan-Kolchin
A reminder of who this Pablo Reports guy is
January 16, 2026 at 8:59 PM
A reminder of who this Pablo Reports guy is
Reposted by Mike Boylan-Kolchin
Also, typically people in the US are explicitly protesting actions of the *US government*. Otherwise it's usually something like an expression of solidarity for a cause they support. Protestors are trying to move the government more into alignment with their views in addition to raising awareness
It is not "pedantic" to acknowledge that a college protest against Iran makes zero sense. Protests are typically against things, not in favor of rights movements in other countries!
January 16, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Also, typically people in the US are explicitly protesting actions of the *US government*. Otherwise it's usually something like an expression of solidarity for a cause they support. Protestors are trying to move the government more into alignment with their views in addition to raising awareness
I've often said that one of the most challenging parts of my life is ordering pizza from a mid national chain and I'm clamoring for a superintelligent Clippy to take this vexing problem out of my hands
January 16, 2026 at 8:18 PM
I've often said that one of the most challenging parts of my life is ordering pizza from a mid national chain and I'm clamoring for a superintelligent Clippy to take this vexing problem out of my hands
Reposted by Mike Boylan-Kolchin
@mbkplus.bsky.social and I discussed the rushed UVA search on Wednesday--one wonders about the judgment of anyone who would accept an appointment under these circumstances. livefromwatthall.transistor.fm/episodes/adm...
January 16, 2026 at 8:13 PM
@mbkplus.bsky.social and I discussed the rushed UVA search on Wednesday--one wonders about the judgment of anyone who would accept an appointment under these circumstances. livefromwatthall.transistor.fm/episodes/adm...
and that number? Threeve
January 16, 2026 at 7:53 PM
and that number? Threeve
Reposted by Mike Boylan-Kolchin
Channeling my Michael Hobbes and saying "is it, though? Is it really?"
![Because so many of its leaders lean conservative, UATX has been portrayed in some quarters as having been a right-wing project from the start. [highlighted:] However, the truth is vastly more complex.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yj436z2s2v37rvaw33lc4ryq/bafkreicv42vljbbqghnda4uem3kfhficqsdzoupaypqc3vzjkkighrjudq@jpeg)
January 16, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Channeling my Michael Hobbes and saying "is it, though? Is it really?"
Same:
but i will say that if your position is that you'd rather have Vance or Trump than Democrat X, and these are the reasons why, then i'm going to judge you on those reasons, and if it's Vance>Dems WXYZ i am going to suspect we are not in fact meaningfully on the same side
January 16, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Same:
It's not just that the situation at UATX isn't "a tragedy worthy of the Greeks", it isn't worthy of Jimmy the Greek. It isn't worthy of the (nonexistent) legacy of the movie "Get Him to the Greek". Look at my 'freethinkers' and 'free speech absolutists' bro. This was quotidian destiny.
January 16, 2026 at 6:37 PM
It's not just that the situation at UATX isn't "a tragedy worthy of the Greeks", it isn't worthy of Jimmy the Greek. It isn't worthy of the (nonexistent) legacy of the movie "Get Him to the Greek". Look at my 'freethinkers' and 'free speech absolutists' bro. This was quotidian destiny.
Reposted by Mike Boylan-Kolchin
People sometimes make fun of Democrats for the thinness of their CVs (e.g., the 'community organizer' type jabs) but Jennings has really done nothing except flatter power and talk to the media his entire career. He has no expertise whatsoever except in being a conservative pundit.
You're a pundit. CNN wants to put you on a panel with Scott Jennings.
Discuss.
Discuss.
January 16, 2026 at 2:58 PM
People sometimes make fun of Democrats for the thinness of their CVs (e.g., the 'community organizer' type jabs) but Jennings has really done nothing except flatter power and talk to the media his entire career. He has no expertise whatsoever except in being a conservative pundit.
Reposted by Mike Boylan-Kolchin
Seems like one of those "poor planning by you doesn't constitute a problem for me" situations
* U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE SAYS CANADA'S DECISION TO ALLOW 49,000 CHINESE EVS IS "PROBLEMATIC" -- CNBC INTERVIEW
January 16, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Seems like one of those "poor planning by you doesn't constitute a problem for me" situations
People are absolutely right that Trump is a simple man, it's easy to see what he wants, and he's 100% willing to be bought. However, they also forget that it's almost impossible to guarantee YOU'LL be the one reaping the benefits and you're much more likely to look foolish than to be rewarded.
The suckers payoff: Hassett sold any remaining integrity as an economist to become a Trump booster, and his reward is to never get a top Fed job
In a brief aside this AM, Trump remarked on his latest thinking about who he wants to run the Fed. He singled out Hassett, who's in attendance, for his work on television and said: "I actually want to keep you where you are, if you want to know the truth," essentially bc Hassett is a good spokesman
January 16, 2026 at 5:35 PM
People are absolutely right that Trump is a simple man, it's easy to see what he wants, and he's 100% willing to be bought. However, they also forget that it's almost impossible to guarantee YOU'LL be the one reaping the benefits and you're much more likely to look foolish than to be rewarded.