Hiccup

Watching a documentary about CERN on tv.
I still have to catch the exact point in my life when my plan of being an experimental physicist ended explaining how to draw lines with Solidworks.

Mother tongue

Me "Sorry, what's a... Stròmboli?"
Waitress *emphasizing the correction* "Do you mean a strombÒli?"
Me "mmm... I actually really really meant StrÒmboli, but..."
Waitress "It's like an inside-out pizza, with cheese and sauce inside"
Me "Oh... So the Stròmboli is like a calzone?"
Waitress "A STROMBÒLI".

My dues

This had to be my last night in Taipei.
But someone decided that I *might not* be worthy to be a teacher, despite my contract and my faculty position.
I do not know if I am good.
But I do know that I love my job, and I do it as best I can.
And I do know that my students appreciate this.

You, NSA guy. It's not your fault.
But it is not my fault either.
And, see, at the end of the day, I'm a blessed person and I am aware of this. Also if you decide that I'm not worthy to come back and do my job.
But, see, I worked hard for this view and this pool. Don't think it was easy and don't think it was simply granted.
I worked hard to teach in a 150+ years-old public university, in the biggest Department of Mechanical Engineering of the United States. You know, most people with a Ph.D. in chemical engineering decide to work in the industry. They make twice my salary. But I am happy with teaching my pinkish slides color-coordinated with the Incropera textbook. And if you think I'm not worthy of coming back to the USA to my home and my Barbie and my comics and my green oversized tumbler, I cannot change your mind.
I am OK. I am surrounded by people that care about me. In three different continents. In these two weeks of suspension, they wanted to help. And they did help, everyone in his/her own way. And, look. I am not mad at you. But I would love for you to understand.
I had a flight tomorrow, which I will lose. And a course on Monday, that I care about and I cannot teach. My students counted on me. My Chair, my TAs. And I'm sorry about that.
But, you know, in the end, I always find a way.
So, even if, after days and weeks and months you will decide that I'm not worthy, it is ok. I will find another place, another house, and another job.
I will find someone to go to rescue my Barbie and my comics and my oversized green tumbler.
I changed my life so many times that one more will not make such a difference. I would just love for you to understand.
I AM blessed. I truly am.
But the pool, the view, the flight, my house, my job.
Don't think they were given for granted.

A volte ritornano (forse)

I finally had the gut to catch up the new 52's GA.
I survived the terrible Krull start, the boring Giffen fill in, and the even worse (is it possible???) Nocenti run.
The uglier thing I read in comic book history. Period.
But.
I just started the first Lemire arc (after a refreshing Winick come back) and I see the light.
A little more fun and a little less "Arrow" it would be great.
Hope, right now.
I will keep you posted.
(Also if you don't care).

Anything but Gryffindor

When you cheat hard for NOT being sorted as Gryffindor, you are automatically allowed to be a Slytherin, right?

Your Nothing. My something.

In these days, like a lot of other people I guess, I'm thinking about JJ and SW.
I'm SERIOUSLY thinking about JJ and SW.

The fact I don't like Mr. Abrams' visions is not a news and I don't even want to start listing all the reasons because I don't.
With ST, I moved on, repeating "alternate universe" as a mantra.

But this is SW.
Worse.
This is SW with the characters that I love.

Mr. Lucas partially did his mess, but, ultimately, I did not care.
He gave me Qui-Gon and he couldn't ruin the characters I love because they were not born yet.

But now. I am afraid. I mean. I am REALLY scared.
SW formed part of the person I am.
Luke Skywalker formed part of the person I am.
And I know you can find this SAD, but this is it.
I was 4 when I saw TESB in the theater. I read the novelization of ROTJ so many times that I consumed the pages.
I survived bulling during elementary school repeting to myself that anger was the path to the dark side. And, 30 years after, I'm crying while I'm writing this.

So no.
SW is NOT JUST A MOVIE SAGA for me.

I did not see any trailer, I did not read any article.
I DID see the poster. And I noticed WHO is missing.
SO. I'm terrified.

Sorry. I just wanted to say it.

Snipers

I waited almost 40 years for this scene.

And, the greatest thing is, it TOTALLY makes sense.

The fact that they call it "feminist" speaks pages about the closed-mindedness we still need to face.