Musings for today

It just occurred to me that Sei Shonagon was like a blogger in her time. At least she became one when her pillow book was made public. She was ordered to continue writing for the entertainment of the royal and aristocratic circle. Now we are talking of the valuable insight she provides towards Heian Japan, the social and philosophical advancements evident, and her wonderfully original and lively prose. What would become of famous bloggers of today? Would all the reports of lovers and complaints (and poetry too, if there's any) be equally timeless?

I met the Japanese "visiting scientist" today and was surprised that he looked really young. Later on things finally made sense when I learnt that he's a postdoc. Is it a fallacious stereotype to connect "visiting scientist" with dignity, distinguishedness and age, and "postdoc" with a big shiftless child who still didn't want to leave school?

The postdoc sitting next to Yoshi, no Toshi (that's his name), is from Germany and speaks with a telling accent which reminds me of my Professor Dieckmann from undergrad research Cornell. I said yes I'm a rotation student for the quarter and I'd probably stay with the group. He said, oh you shouldn't conclude so early because you can't make the assumption that you'd be able to. "Rotation students would have to show enthusiasm if they're interested in the group. There is competition and all that. But of course I'm not asking you to get your sleeping bag into the lab."

I was puzzled at this uncalled for strictness, for he seemed light-hearted enough like one of those regular continental Europeans who become hyper and joker-ish when they come to America and when their sense of humour goes all awry (he could have been so when he first came, but being postdoc he should have gotten considerably mellowed). Sure enough he went on to explain that the rotation student he had last quarter didn't ever go to the lab and had had excuses such as sprained ankles and sick cousins. "Such a person is not likely to be accepted by Zhenan if she had wanted to join eventually," he concluded.

I know the girl he was referring to. She is rather one who needs more than average academic help, and with the classes of statistical mechanics and advanced math we were taking last quarter, I wasn't surprised that she neglected lab rotation. In fact I could recall her saying that she "told her postdoc exactly what she has time for". The sprained ankles and sick cousins could have been her invention. Or the postdoc's since she didn't strike me as being dishonest. Though I'm not sure if being brutally simple-minded and idealistic in the American fashion translates into honesty. I guess it does. Don't they always say "honest, law-abiding American citizens"?