At this point, you’re doing as much science as I am: my laser broke while I was out gallavanting across the west coast for 3 weeks. Now, I’m presently fighting with the company about this.

But, instead of getting down about it, I painted the word “DUD” across the top in white out and laughed about it. I’m not sure whether “dud” or “lemon” is more appropriate. I guess it depends upon whether the laser is more like a bomb or a car. I’m actually more willing to compare this particular $250,000 paperweight to a BM than anything, in which case I should probably have scrawled the word “PILE” all across it…

I spoke with the prof in Belgium who invited me out there. His laser is the same kind as mine, and surprise, surprise: it’s broken, too!

But, he repeated his offer of 2 months, all housing expenses paid for me to come out there and take data with them—as long as my boss agrees to it. When I went up to my boss to bitch about the laser, I told him about this as a possibility, he smiled and seemed to be vaguely open to the idea. But, I think he wants us to see our shear waves first.

So, who knows: there’s still small a chance that I’ll be eating waffles, fries, and witloof before too long. That’s the latest. In the meantime, I think I’ll just stick to moshing out to Wolf Parade in my lab.