Today is Lurker Day, as explained by Chris at Creek Running North, Lauren at Feministe, and PZ at Pharyngula. (Three of the coolest blogs on all the internets, I should add.) That is, lazy bloggers avoid posting original content by asking their readers who never (or rarely) comment to drop by and leave a note saying who they are and what they like about the blog. (Other blogs also ask for something called “constructive criticism,” or perhaps even for suggestions for improvement; we here at CV see no need for such things. But if you are so moved, knock yourselves out.)
I’m especially curious as to two demographic questions: how many readers are professionally science-related in some way vs. how many are from the so-called “real world,” and among the former, how many are students vs. embittered elders. No pressure, obviously; consider this just a chance to pipe up and say hi if you haven’t yet had the chance to comment.
I’m a german lurker who is trying to get a PhD for work dealing with the Black Hole in the Galactic Center.
CV is as great as Preposterous was. I read it every day. Especially the politics threads are very nice. They are the best source of information and everything I know about the USA I know from you. I find some discussions (e.g. ID) a bit strange though. How can it be that this a real discussion?
You mean we have Mets fans reading this blog? I’m not sure if that’s permitted at all.
Hi to Michael D (comment 32). I’ll be in Melbourne (at the Physics Department)twice over the next year or so. Perhaps I’ll run into you.
I’m a graduate student in condensed matter physics.
im a physics undergrad. student in england. followed links from peter woit’s ‘not even wrong’ and found CV about a month ago and have been lurking ever since.
keep up the good work!
Quasi-scientist; MS biotechnology in ’87, now assay/product development… mostly I reformat molecular assays for unsophisticated users. Trying to learn more about everything, and CV has some great teachers.
Just recently discovered Cosmic Variance via a coworker so haven’t been lurking long. I have a Masters in physics and astronomy and still work in the field on the high-energy side of things, although I do more web development and outreach now than anything.
I am currently a graduate student in Computer Science.
My interest in physics is purely non-professional at the moment although as a youngster I did seriously intend to go into theoretical physics but other things caught my eye. Perhaps if CV existed back then I would now be a string theorist or something 😉
I enjoy all the posts personal and non-personal. My favorite kind are those that provide an insight into what physicists think about certain issues that I would otherwise not know about as an outsider e.g the “The greatest paper” topic, the “landscape” post,the “theories vs. fact” post and even “Lets talk about kids” (combining “normal life” with academia is a big issue for many people).
Erm, yeah … Keep up the good work!
Assistant professor of biophysics (yeah, I know…not real physics) at Case Western Reserve University. I found Cosmic Variance by following a link from Peter Woit’s sight “not even wrong” which I in turn discovered reading Cosma Shalizi’s weblog (I actually had legitimate science related reasons for being at CS’s sight to begin with, the rest is just idle websurfing though).
Currently software engineer at a biotech startup. Trying to read here and on Pharyngula (hi, PZ!) every day, originally from curiosity about todays latest theories and results. Originally a PhD in Physics (Uppsala, Sweden; hi, tom!) on thin film materials.
PhD in mathematics (combinatorics), associate prof. of mathematics at a midwestern liberal arts university. I really enjoy the discussions of the public perceptions and (mis)understanding of science and have found some good links on this website. Keep up the good work!
As a lot of people said of them, I also was a lurker at Preposterous and Orange, now here. And I think that Risa, Clifford and JoAnne were excellent “acquisitions” for the blog world. PhD Student in Astroparticle at SISSA, just besides ICTP, Italy.
I’m a science person, but a science journalist, not a researcher. I have a degree in Life Sciences (aka biomedical science). I like to know what’s going on in physics and cosmology and get in depth insight into news reports.
im an RSS lurker studying(now industrial ) engineering after a jaunt through electrical engineering and applied math at ohio university(#2 party school in America!!). in my 5th year, threatening to be a perennial student. i like this blog because it makes me feel smart to read the cool stuff you nerds put up for nerds like me
I’a a grad student in physics. I first found this site through Peter Woit’s blog.
I’m a Condensed Matter Experimentalist with a strong interest in crossovers between CM and particle physics/cosmology. I also try to stay abreast of sociology issues related to science and so this is why I read CV. I came to it through Prep. Univ. I am an American currently based in Geneva Switzerland (but not at CERN), but return to the US next year to take a position at Johns Hopkins.
I’m a Ph.D. student in Physics here at the U. of Chicago, and I’ve had the privilege of taking three (3!) classes from Sean. I say I’m a student, although not for long, as I’m defending my thesis on Gamma-Ray Bursts tomorrow morning, bright and early. I’ll probably not stay in academia long enough to become an embittered elder.
I used to lurk on Preposterous Universe, and I’ve mustered the courage to leave a few comments here on CV (although usually long after the discussion has played itself out :)). It’s a great blog: I love the science and the politics discussions (and I quite enjoy Clifford’s slice-of-life posts as well). Thanks, and keep up the good work.
Not a lurker, so I’ll pass on the personals, but thought the Salon piece referred to in comment #37 was so good it deserved a proper link. Here goes: http://archive.salon.com/books/it/2000/02/28/postdoc/print.html
I’m a regular visitor; I commented maybe once or twice on Preposterous Universe. I’m an investment manager interested in philosophy and science. Excellent blog!
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lurker since cosmicvariance started recently…found u guys thru the announcement on pharyngula when this site started…was not aware of sean’s or mark’s earlier blogs…love the varied perspectives u guys bring to the plate…love the physics posts immensely, but also love the non-physics ones like clifford’s posts on gardening, the arts and such topics that bring out the more everyday aspects of scientists
born, raised and educated in india (bachelors in engineering), came to the US for my masters in the same field, switched over to working in the software industry, and been living in the US since (7 yrs and counting)
been a lover of math and physics since childhood, idolized feynman big-time as a teenager, and still (i suspect) a wannabe nerd suffering from a case of severly suppressed physics-envy (damn u feynman!!)
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Hi Sean,
Well, you and I have met in person, but I’m a lurker at the blog…I’m a book editor, and obviously the way to learn about the kinds of books physicists want is to listen to physicists. Preposterous Universe was terrific, and so is Cosmic Variance.
Blog reading has been incredibly educational, but don’t worry–mentioning someone’s name doesn’t mean I’m emailing them the next day for a project!
I’m a physics/cosmology grad who realized I didn’t have the patience to do the sometimes tedious day-to-day work that good science requires. Now I’m an editor at a science magazine. Love the content, both technical and political. It’s good to see folks of reason respond when attacked.
I’m a mechanical engineer in central Florida. I’ve enjoyed reading everything so far, science related or otherwise. But I really appreciate the physics related posts.
Am I allowed to be an embittered physics grad student? Sean, you might recognize me as the student, who, after hearing your CTP talk last week said loudly: “Interesing idea, but I don’t think it’s real,” as, unbenownst to me, you were walking past my very open office door.
Love the blog, I followed from the preposterous universe. I always leave reading this blog until last while going through my morning blogroll, its like the bonus at the end of sometimes very boring reads, the whip cream to my sundae, the B side of Abbey road….
I am a recently graduated chemical engineer from Venezuela. I ‘ ve been lurking for some time in many science related blogs. CV (and before PU) and Pharyngula are my favorites. Even if I miss the technical details it is fun to read the animated discussions ( especially if Lubos or Peter Woit are involved 🙂 ) .Being a venezuelan I am White Sox fan (Ozzie Guillen, the manager is a native of here). I guess you will accept a ” mediasblancas” fan in your blog, right Sean ?
Greeting and Keep Rocking!!!!