He he, its ME!

Sal that is. Hello adoring fans - I know you've been waiting patiently for me to speak some words of wisdom. So, for all those of you who were content with a bachelor degree, here are some things I have learned at grad school so far.

1. It is easy to lie with statistics through the choice of inappropriate assumptions, data models etc. It is also quite easy to lie with maps (http://www.mcwetboy.net/maproom/2006/05/review_how_to_lie_with_maps.phtml) by colouring things in in unintuitive ways and projecting them wierdly. However, it is even easier to lie over email when at least people can't see your blushing red face. ("Sure Nic, I went to the gym this morning!")

2. It is easier again to be a complete ass without intending to be one. For instance turning up to class (a class with all of 4 people in it) half an hour late on Monday because you got confused about the time is not great. Turning up half an hour late to the same class on Wednesday because you got distracted at about 9:45 and didn't undistract yourself until 10:30 just makes you an ass.

3. Nonlinear systems mean that you don't need to really understand things anymore. Once upon a time I would do what I do with a pen and paper, slogging through horrible algebra. Now I make a computer do it for me and conclude: "Wierd results. Nonlinear system - what can you do? Publish me now please".

4. Everyone, no matter where they are from in the world, why they have come to do a PhD, or what their religious obligations, is secretly dying for a beer by about 1:45 on a Friday. They might be able to fight the craving for 30 minutes or so. But addiction is harsh. Consequently, no work is done from 2:15 pm onwards.

5. Enthusiasm is easy to keep up for 6 months. Then you start to wonder why the weekend isn't longer. (The answer, in case you were interested, is that due to the enthusiasm you secretly pretend you still have, you went into work on both Saturday and Sunday with some vague idea that it might be productive to do so. You sap!).

6. Despite the temptations to whinge, grad school is really the most stimulating and challenging thing I've done in some time (since planning a wedding really) and I recommend it to everyone - especially those who can tell great lies over email, make it to class on time at least once in a week, analyse nonlinear systems with a bit more insight than my recent efforts, suppress beer cravings and maintain enthusiasm despite the lack of regular 3 day weekends.

HURRAH!

That is all.

Carolina Hurricanes beat Washington Capitals 6-2!

Posted by: Nic

Friday night was ice hockey night. We went down to Raleigh, to the amazing RBC stadium, to see the NC Hurricanes play the Washington Capitals.

Not only was this the first ice hockey game I have even seen it was the first professional sporting event I have been to, ever.

We both had a good time and are keen to see another game. Ice hockey was graceful and smooth whilst at the same time violent and grubby. Three fights broke out, although we think the first one was staged. The only complaint we have was that there were too many game-breaks.

Go 'Canes!

The RBC stadium - picture the stadium in Harry Potter and you get close. (This picture is of basket ball, not ice hockey, but you get the idea)

The NC Hurricanes in action.

Nic’s employed!

Posted by: Nic

Hi y’all!

Yesterday I officially signed up for my new job at North Carolina State University. It is a postdoctoral position involving the development of biofuel crops. Here’s a brief summary of what I’ll be doing (according to the job description):

• Lead the research effort on Canola, Hulless Barley, Switchgrass and Coastal Bermudagrass.
• Conduct field studies related to the yield and agronomy of Canola and Swithcgrass.
• Interpret results of USDA Hulless Barley trials.
• Establish demonstration projects on private farms.
• Help develop production guides for the energy crops.
• Help run the Canola Field Day and extension training on energy crops.
• Coordinate sampling and analysis of crops to determine energy potential.

It should be enjoyable and intellectually stimulating work, also I get paid a lot to do it.

I'll keep you updated as things develop.

Nic

P.S. Now we need to Kim to go through with his intention of working in the nuclear industry. Then won't our family gatherings invovle fun arguments!

Gun culture.

Posted by: Nic

As I have mentioned before, we volunteer at a community garden, Seeds, which helps socially disadvantaged children and teenagers. Seeds is in a bad neighborhood, which is quite intentional.

Yesterday Sal and I were at Seeds, working in the cold sunny weather with one of the supervisors, a wonderful guy called Obie, and three school students. It was noon and we were digging new garden beds when a series of gun shots rang-out only 50 meters from where we were standing. I didn’t see what happened but one of the teenagers said later that a white car pulled up, fired down a side street and then drove away. We all stood around in stunned silence. I had thoughts running through my head like – Should I call the police? Should we drop to the ground? Should we see if anyone is hurt? I looked at Obie but he just stood there quietly watching carefully with a very serious expression. No one was hurt, apparently. There was no reaction from any of the people on the street or on the front verandas of their houses. After a moment they all went back to what they were doing, as did Obie and the students. No police arrived. The teenagers said it is a common occurrence.

Oh, so that's what we aren't as pure as!

Posted by: Nic

We woke up this morning to snow falling in Durham. The weather forecasters seemed surprised at how heavy it was - about 25 mm. The North Carolina drivers in Raleigh-Durham seemed unprepared - nearly 15 injury accidents before 7 AM. And the researchers at Duke from places colder than here scoffed at how light and pitiful it was.

Well, Sal and I thought it looked pretty and it made riding to work interesting

"Wicky-wa wild wild west!"

Posted by: Nic

Okay, this one had to go on the blog eventually. No explanation is needed.

I'm a big kid now!

Posted by: Nic

We've been meaning to get our North Carolina drivers licenses for a while but have kept putting it off - going for a driving test again felt too much like being a teenager.

Our wonderful neighbour Dalia went for hers today and asked me to come along. I was pleasantly surprised when I got it first go! Boo-ya!

Nic and Sal - the return!

Posted by: Nic and Sal

Hello everyone, we are back from our Christmas and New Years holiday. We had a great time! Sal says we got the best present ever - the company of our friends - Bec, Gaj, Ciaran and Kat. Nic thinks Sal is a dork, although he did enjoy seeing his friends. Below is a picture of Gaj and Bec, unfortunately we don't have one of Ciaran and Kat.

For our holiday we went to the Appalachian Mountains, which are about 300 km west of Durham. We set off in a nice spacious mini van (feeling like a group of pensioners), to which we attached an Aussie flag (it is the one mum sent us!). We are impressed because it survived the whole trip gaffa-taped to the aerial.

We stayed in a tiny town called Chimney Rock, which is in Hickory Nut Gorge. It is only a few miles from Lake Lure, where they filmed Dirty Dancing. The day after we arrived Cousin Edie was playing basketball at a school in Asheville as part of an Australian High School basketball tour of the USA. We went to watch the game, which the Aussies won 63 to 30, go Aussies! Edie was really awesome. She is the one below with the blue arrow.

We spent New Years Eve in a red-neck bar in Lake Lure. A large ex-marine hot-rod mechanic and his girl friend insisted on buying us jugs of magaritas. As a result we all got drunk, but also had lots of fun hanging with "mountain folk". We listened to a 3 piece bluegrass band (named: "Fat Boy and the Eeee-claires") and attempted to avoid our new fat friend's overtly sexual conversation. For instance, while some of our friends were dancing, he said to Sal: "Do you know how to use your legs?" and Sal, thinking he was asking her to dance, said: "not really, no", to which he replied: "Well, don't need to know much, just put them over my shoulders"... needless to say, Nic thought this was hilarious. Sadly we have no pictures of the red-neck bar. However, the guests in the neighbouring chalet decided to launch New Year fireworks, which we did get a picture of.


After sleeping off New Years Eve we decided to go out and enjoy nature. Many of the national parks in the area close in winter but we still found plenty to see. We climbed Chimney Rock (pictured below) which is where parts of The Last of the Mohicans were filmed. We also took a drive through the surrounding mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway. More pictures of the Appalachian scenery are below.

We hope everyone back home had a good New Year!

Nic and Sal

Chimney Rock Lake LureLake Tahoma Knobs...?