As I still suffer from the aftermath of that oyster adventure (or i got something more chronic, who knows) let me ask a question to my friends with the more useful variant of a doctor title: where do I get an adult sized incubator? A refurbished iron lung, perhaps. Something snuggly and warm.

While we are at it, can we all agree to make bathroom floors warm? Seems like a design flaw in that moment when there is not enough strength to remove ones head from the porcelain throne and crawl away. Not that I would not have been back every few minutes.

Also: My research group does incredible work. But some moments make me more proud than others. Like when they inherit just a little criminal energy. Standing at an airport, having to switch my sim card, I had to think of that wise council one of them gave me: go to the jeweler, and pretend to try out earrings. Those little pins are damned useful to get that tiny compartment open.

Love you all. Incredibly proud. Next I am going to teach you about Igusa zeta functions and how to topple a government using cherry-flavored cupcakes, a ballpoint pen and peppermint schnapps. But first something about stringy cohomology! 🥰🍒🖊🥃❤️

Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.

As there is a short break in the opera and Jochanaan may have a brief chance to leave the building with his head where it belongs, I reflected on the final report for my first ERC grant I submitted recently. I felt a sentiment of immense pride when wading through the collected works, amazed at the diversity and depth of ideas and results that my group members produced, ranging over different areas so beautifully that I had trouble summarizing them. From entropy and secret sharing (I already mentioned this) over spectra of groups to combinatorics of manifolds, from embeddings and simplicial depth and Lefschetz to resolution of singularities, I probably forgot most of it. I think I will have to devote more posts to what resulted, and to ongoing projects still rippling forth from it.

That said, very proud to have had the opportunity to work with all of you! And excited to see what comes next.