Disaster Resurrected

@caseydunn.bsky.social

Pete from Best Coast Pairings Tech & hobby pack rat

ugh, can't find the prompt again, but this is the piece of art I'm most proud of - PARTS WITH APPEAL, a painting I made in 2003, thirteen 6 foot square panels, only shown once, purchased by super collector Mark Parker

In studio with three panels of Parts with AppealFirst six panels of Parts with Appeal, leaning against a semi trailer in the parking lot of my studiothree panels of Parts With Appeal in my studiolast four panels of Parts With Appeal in my studio

I just submitted my letter to NSF responding to its proposal to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). I argue that doing so would be an astonishing and avoidable misstep, and that federal support for the institution should in fact be *increased.* [1/4]

Page 2 of letter by Daniel Swain. It begins: constructive suggestions regarding how the already remarkable institutional efficiency and societal impact of NCAR could be further enhanced through increased (not decreased) federal support in the years to come.
Please note: To ensure the highest level of technical rigor, this response focuses exclusively on the core atmospheric and natural hazard science topics within the author’s primary domain of expertise; for this reason, I have omitted a response to Topic 4 (Space Weather)."


NCAR weather modeling and atmospheric observing capabilities
a) Management and operations of weather-related observational platforms, modeling and science as a stand-alone activity.
The proposed management of weather-related research as a stand-alone activity is a scientifically regressive path that ignores the fundamental physical reality of the Earth system. Modern atmospheric science has demonstrated (largely, it is worth noting, due to groundbreaking researcPage 3 of letter by Daniel Swain. It begins: b) Management and operations of weather-related observational platforms, modeling and science as combined with other NSF investments/facilities.
The highly specialized nature of the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center (NWSC) infrastructure represents an extraordinary value proposition that cannot be replicated by combining it with more generalized NSF programs. The NWSC is not a generic high-performance computing (HPC) facility; it is a laboratory uniquely optimized for atmospheric science workflows, with a hardware and storage architecture specifically designed to handle the massive, high-bandwidth data demands of Earth system modeling. Furthermore, its model of providing an excellent, free-at-point-of-use technical support team ensures that the focus remains on the science rather than the overhead of systems administration. This centralized expertise allows individual researchers, smaller labs, and even entire universities—who would otherwiPage 4 of letter by Daniel Swain. It begins: NCAR Mesa Lab (located in Boulder, Colorado)
a/b) Ownership of the NSF NCAR Mesa Lab building for public and private use.
Far more than just an office building, NSF NCAR Mesa Lab is an iconic and purpose-built facility designed specifically for the study of atmospheric science. Its position at the physical interface of the Rocky Mountain foothills and the Great Plains is a deliberate reflection of its mission, serving as a visible symbol—in an iconically American setting—of the federal government's enduring commitment to science in service of society. For many in the field, including myself, the Mesa Lab holds singular importance as a focal gathering point for the global atmospheric science community. My own early career exposure to weather and Earth system modeling, in fact, occurred within these walls, and I have long felt that the facility’s architecture and location inspire a necessary sense of awe regarding the atmosphere’s complexity aPage 1 of letter by Daniel Swain. It begins: Dear Acting Director Stone and the NSF NCAR restructuring team:

I am writing to provide a formal response to the Request for Information (RFI) regarding the proposed restructuring of the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and its critical weather science infrastructure contained within the January 23, 2026 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) entitled “NSF Intent to Restructure Critical Weather Infrastructure.” I submit these comments in my professional capacity as an atmospheric research scientist within the University of California, where my research focuses on the physics and dynamics of atmospheric processes related to extreme weather events and their role in shifting natural hazard and disaster risk.

My perspective is informed by a public-sector career dedicated to bridging the gap between fundamental atmospheric research and real-world application in an academic context, with a particular focus on understanding and mitigating

The Republicans have been promising a specific plan as an alternative to Obamacare ever since it passed in 2010. The promise is 15 1/2 years old now. That's probably why they don't seem very sincerely interested in it.

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Democratic party: we must spend billions to find out what the people want. The people: (loudly and clearly, through the very process the Democratic Party set up) We want this. Democratic party: we must spend billions to fight this.

Republican Senators see their job as aiding the dismantling of Constitutional democracy, facilitating corruption, and spinning that for enough of their constituents. Democratic Senators see their job as being nice enough to those GOP Senators that they stop. The asymmetry is a recipe for problems.

Fertility isn’t dropping. The birth rate is - because the rich ghouls who run this country are making the prospect of having and raising children seem impossible. You want more kids? People need to be able to afford to give them a decent life in order to be incentivized.

Occasionally there’s great stuff on Reddit. This response to a guy who says he’s wasted the last decade on porn and video games might be one of the kindest, best things I’ve read in a while.

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