Monthly Archives: December 2010

One of my roommates finally went downstairs to the landlord’s office to complain in person about our frigid apartment situation. That appears to have done the trick; by the time I got in this afternoon the temperature was exceedingly comfortable. … Continue reading →

I think this server, which I got for free from my roommate Simon when he moved out almost 3 years ago, is finally wearing out. Twice in the last week it’s suddenly locked up hard without explanation. I blame the … Continue reading →

I should probably have read the forecast more carefully. I expected a snowstorm this afternoon, so I planned to drive back to Boston in the morning. Thus, I was alarmed to see the snow already starting to fall as I … Continue reading →

I had planned to come home to Connecticut for this weekend, with the idea to spend the holiday with my parents and childhood friends, all flown back to the nest for Christmas, instead of alone in my apartment in Cambridge. … Continue reading →

Friday: Attempted to make a new ultrasound+MRI polyacrylamide phantom. The gel process works by combining a bunch of nasty chemicals that cease to be toxic once they have combined into a gel. Except this one never gelled; by Monday it … Continue reading →

Today was the first snowstorm of the season, just in time for the official start of Winter. I’m awfully glad I didn’t trust the mild forecast and bike to work. Sometimes laziness is a virtue. Unfortunately I’ve also gotten a … Continue reading →

I came home this weekend to go to my second cousin Spencer’s bar mitzvah this morning on Long Island. It took me a while to figure out that he was my second cousin, and longer still to work out who … Continue reading →

Today was maybe our first really solidly cold day: windy, dim, and with a daily high well below freezing. An early taste of January. Unfortunately the cold seems to have brought us a small new roommate. I sealed off the … Continue reading →

The DAC process proved incredibly helpful. I got very lucky with my selection of advisors, who all had great constructive suggestions about how to develop and apply my research. It was really an energizing experience, to get so much positive … Continue reading →

Tomorrow afternoon I have my first Dissertation Advisory Committee meeting. For the first time in my graduate career, I will have to convince a group of experts that my dissertation project is sensible, achievable, and worthwhile. If I’m lucky, I … Continue reading →