2007-05-11 - 8:33 a.m.

..peninsula u / crazy balkan / shootings

Yesterday was a very wonderful day at Peninsula U. I haven't been back there since last January or so because of teaching. This week there were quite a few researchers coming through and so I spent a few days interacting with them. It was really pleasant. Oh, to talk science again.

Unexpectedly pleasant were my interactions with a woman that Bandy calls "The Crazy Greek." Well, she's actually Turkish...and she is indeed crazy. But a heck of a lot of fun, and doing some interesting work related to my own work. I'm going to pass some samples her way next week and we might collaborate a bit on a project. It was so uplifting to go out to Peninsula U and to talk with people who are interested in the same science. I will try to visit there more often now that 'The Crazy Balkan' is there.

In other news, there was a shooting about two blocks from my house last night, about a half hour before I came home. We think it occurred in the cafe where K *used* to play chess. Apparently some guy was shot 3-4 times in the stomach, and six men were seen running out of the cafe afterwards. This is kind of unsettling news. I will be checking out the papers to see if any conclusions are reached - drug related? organized crime? random vendetta? My bets are on the first scenario, but in any case, it is not comforting.

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p.s. thanks for the aphid advice. I've got a spray bottle appropriately labeled "APHID DEATH"