The best offence is...

So the dissertation defenses have begun!

So far I've missed the first two, seeing as I spend so much time in my cube or in the library. However I had the good luck of not missing the department after party of one defense. Mmm... cake... There are four more from this batch (I believe four fifth years, and two sixth years were graduating and had jobs lined up), but those are not exactly high on my list of priorities.
I heard my micro prof. talking to one of them about job hunting, and was pleased to hear, "They are always looking for English speaking professors, or researchers in 'such-and-such' university in Barcelona." Hopefully that remains the same in four years.
This batch apparently did not keep their options as open as previous years, which led to a bit of a panic last month about jobs. They all applied to American university jobs (no professional applications turned in, purely academic job market) and heard nothing back during the first round. This of course made the department a happy, sunny, place to spend time in where you could always talk to a fifth year without getting depressed. Wait... no. But one of them suddenly nabbed two offers (one in TX, one in Louisiana), and the flood gates opened during the second round. One student however was forced to put the job offer on hold for a year as he had yet to complete his military obligation to his country (Turkey). So he is going back in July to enlist for the required 6 (8?) months, where's he's hoping to God he's not sent South East (take a look at the map if you're unsure of what I mean). His fiancee of course is just ecstatic about this. When they asked him why he didn't put it off a few more years, he said that the deadline for his age (26, or 27) had nearly passed, and if he put it off another year he would lose his citizenship. At that point he would lose his student visa and status as a resident alien in the States, and basically become a man without a country. Another Turkish student is planning to serve his term in a year, and the others that I've met have already served. So the graduating batch seems to have made it out alright. Not necessarily where they all thought they would be, but I learned a few important things. Don't narrow your search too much, apply to as many places as possible, and look at both academic and professional track careers.

And before that we had the make-up micro class and "lunch with the prof." at a Turkish restaurant somewhere near Inwood Theater. That was nice of him.

In other news an old friend of mine from high school came into town, and the ardilla, another old friend of mine, and "Berlindy" had dinner and wandered aimlessly around Greenville for a bit trying to figure out what to do. Aimless wanderings... brings back memories of high school. Got to hear some interesting Gerry stories and expose (or perhaps "subject" is a better word for it) ardilla to more people who will vouch for my lunacy.
As la ardilla is swamped tonight (pobrecita) I am most likely going to study study study... then head out for karaoke at this place my friend knows. Then back at home and in bed before 12:30. Then up before 8 to... you guessed it... study study study.

K has decided that after six years of smoking a pack a day, he is going to quit. This decision occurred this past Monday, and Wednesday morning he was found in the fetal position in the library on the couch, whispering strange Indian curses (as well as a few English ones), and shivering while sweating. He has also developed a twitch, and it looks like has gained some weight over the week. Dang...
When M and I asked him how he ended up in the library all night, his explanation went, "I was at home, and I had just aired out my apartment completely. No smoke. I figured this was fine. The air was clean, and I would sleep. At about 3 AM, the air seemed too clean. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't sleep. So I went to department to study. But air in department too clean, so I went to library. But library is too cold" (at this point I should mention that the library in the Lee Center is freezing at night due to the air conditioner which for some reason always runs at full blast) "So I decide to sleep. But I don't sleep. But I don't want move. And all night I'm thinking 'damn I want cigarette.'"
Again I say... dang.
He had one relapse on Wednesday when one of the more devious Turks offered him a cigarette, but so far has not gone back. He apparently did not sleep from Monday to Thursday, and only showed up this morning for an hour or two to work on a few things before going back home. The worst of it has seemed to subside for now, but he still has a twitch (and I mean a full body wince every now and then just randomly), and every morning when I ask him how he's doing he has said, "I really want cigarette, but I haven't taken it."
So M and I offer as much support as we can, and try to keep him away from the chain-smoking Turks. At least until the twitching dies down. Man that's creepy... and also strangely funny.

The NYU guy was hired, which is good. They might do another round of hiring next year to see what else can turn up.

That's it for now. Gotta get through chapter 12 Mas-Colel this weekend and study for the metrics final. Fun fun fun.