I brought almost no books with me to London, attempting to keep the weight of my luggage to a minimum. While here, I've bought very few books, due to constraints in budget and the heavy thought of carrying or mailing them back home next year. I have been making extensive use of my local library here, which has its own delights, and I've been keeping a list at goodreads.com to remember what I've read.
But I really miss having my favourite books around me. I miss favourite passages and poems that I look up and reread regularly. I miss friends' inscriptions in books that were gifts. Whenever (in spite of the risk to my bank account) I stop by a bookstore and catch sight of the uniform row of the Patrick O'Brian series, I reach out and caress the spines longingly. But the books I visit in bookstores are not mine. They don't open at the right places. They have the wrong covers (or it's wrong that they have a cover at all). They weren't devoured and absorbed and broken and stained by me and the people I've chosen to share them with.
My books are stuffed in boxes in my parents' attic, waiting for me to return and dust them off and restore them to their places of honour.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Blind Light
Yesterday I went with Alicia and some other friends of hers to the "Blind Light" exhibit at the Hayward Gallery. The installation for which the exhibit is named is a rectangular, brightly lit room of fog. Standing in the queue snaking around the perimeter, we watched people inside suddenly appear against the glass and then fade back into the fog. Some would smash against the glass with a loud thwack like birds flying into big windows. Others would tentatively grope for the wall with trembling hands.
Before we went in, I couldn't understand why everyone felt the need to actually touch the glass. Once you're close enough to discern the seams between the panels, and see outside, why would you need to actually press up against the glass as everyone inside seemed to be doing?
Once inside, though, it becomes clear. You can't see at all. The fog is so thick, you can't see your own feet, or even much of your legs. Looking up into the bright white fog, you could very well be outside instead of inside; there's no way to tell. Sometimes shadows would loom up in front of you, giving you a brief warning that there's someone else there, but often you'd just run right into other people. If you weren't walking too quickly, you'd have some notice that you were approaching the glass wall because the fog would get a bit darker. But it was still extremely difficult to discern the distance to the glass. You'd reach for it, and even with your fingers just an inch or two from the glass, you couldn't be sure if it was right there or another foot away. Also, it was hard to tell if you were coming at the glass perpendicularly, or from some other angle, making the glass slope towards or away from you. We were delighted, but some people were clearly disturbed and tried to head straight back out as soon as they got in, though this wasn't necessarily easy.
Installations like this and the slides at the Tate Modern indicate that contemporary artists are appropriating the role of amusement parks. I don't intend that as a criticism. I think their aims have never been particularly dissimilar, and these interactive exhibits are fun. In "Skyblaster Man", Peter Mayer sings "To be convinced you’re alive/It’s a mighty big job for a three minute ride/So he brings his powers to bear/As if he’s in prayer/While they’re in the air". As it was the last day of the exhibit and a Sunday afternoon, we had the queues of an amusement park to add to the impression.
There's a great fountain just outside the Hayward Gallery, with walls of water that subside long enough for you to jump inside the little square rooms. We were already damp from the exhibit inside, and the weather outside wasn't all that different from the interior of Antony Gormley's fog room, so we scooted inside the fountain, leaving us quite a bit wetter and colder than we had been.
We warmed up at a gaudy tex-mex restaurant. So I spent the evening giggling with the girls over tequila. The waiter provided us with cowboy hats, making us look like a hen party instead of a bunch of mathematicians and computer scientists.
I've put a few more photos here.
Before we went in, I couldn't understand why everyone felt the need to actually touch the glass. Once you're close enough to discern the seams between the panels, and see outside, why would you need to actually press up against the glass as everyone inside seemed to be doing? Once inside, though, it becomes clear. You can't see at all. The fog is so thick, you can't see your own feet, or even much of your legs. Looking up into the bright white fog, you could very well be outside instead of inside; there's no way to tell. Sometimes shadows would loom up in front of you, giving you a brief warning that there's someone else there, but often you'd just run right into other people. If you weren't walking too quickly, you'd have some notice that you were approaching the glass wall because the fog would get a bit darker. But it was still extremely difficult to discern the distance to the glass. You'd reach for it, and even with your fingers just an inch or two from the glass, you couldn't be sure if it was right there or another foot away. Also, it was hard to tell if you were coming at the glass perpendicularly, or from some other angle, making the glass slope towards or away from you. We were delighted, but some people were clearly disturbed and tried to head straight back out as soon as they got in, though this wasn't necessarily easy.
Installations like this and the slides at the Tate Modern indicate that contemporary artists are appropriating the role of amusement parks. I don't intend that as a criticism. I think their aims have never been particularly dissimilar, and these interactive exhibits are fun. In "Skyblaster Man", Peter Mayer sings "To be convinced you’re alive/It’s a mighty big job for a three minute ride/So he brings his powers to bear/As if he’s in prayer/While they’re in the air". As it was the last day of the exhibit and a Sunday afternoon, we had the queues of an amusement park to add to the impression.
There's a great fountain just outside the Hayward Gallery, with walls of water that subside long enough for you to jump inside the little square rooms. We were already damp from the exhibit inside, and the weather outside wasn't all that different from the interior of Antony Gormley's fog room, so we scooted inside the fountain, leaving us quite a bit wetter and colder than we had been. We warmed up at a gaudy tex-mex restaurant. So I spent the evening giggling with the girls over tequila. The waiter provided us with cowboy hats, making us look like a hen party instead of a bunch of mathematicians and computer scientists.
I've put a few more photos here.
Old Standbys
Artichoke Pizza
olive oil
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 small orange or yellow bell pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/4 cup mayonaise
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 9 oz can artichoke hearts, drained
1 pizza crust
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Heat oil in a skillet. Add bell peppers. Saute for 3 minutes. Add half the garlic, saute until peppers are tender, then set aside. Combine remaining garlic, mayonaise, crushed red pepper, black pepper, and artichoke hearts in a food processor (or blender, or just mash). Process until finely chopped. Place pizza crust on baking sheet, top with artichoke heart mixture, then bell pepper mixture. Sprinkle with cheeses and thyme. Bake at 450 for 10-15 minutes.
Leek, Mushroom, and Lemon Risotto
8 oz trimmed leeks
2-3 cups crimini mushrooms
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 garlic cloves, crushed
6 Tbsp. butter
1 large onion, roughly chopped
1 3/4 cups risotto rice
5 cups simmering vegetable stock
grated zest of 1 lemon
3 Tbsp. of lemon juice
2/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup mixed chopped fresh chives and parsley
salt and freshly ground black pepper
lemon wedges, to serve
Wash the leeks well. Slice them in half lengthwise and chop them roughly. Wipe the mushrooms with paper towels and chop them roughly.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan and cook the garlic for 1 minute. Add the leeks, mushrooms, and plenty of seasoning and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, or until softened and browned. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Add 2 Tbsp. of the butter to the pan. As soon as it has melted, add the onion and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, until softened and golden.
Stir in the rice and cook for about 1 minute, until the grains begin to look translucent and are coated in the fat. Add a ladleful of the stock to the pan and cook gently, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has been absorbed.
Continue to add stock, a ladleful at a time, until all the stock has been absorbed. This should take 25-30 minutes. The risotto will turn thick and creamy and the rice should be tender but not sticky.
Just before serving, stir in the leeks, mushrooms, remaining butter, grated lemon zest and juice. Add half the grated parmesan and herbs. Adjust the seasoning and sprinkle with the remaining parmesan and herbs. Garnish with parsley, if you like, and serve with lemon wedges.
Marbled Cheesecake Squares
2 cups plus 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, slightly softened
16 oz. (2 pkgs) cream cheese AT ROOM TEMP
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 Tbsp whipping cream
4 oz. semisweet chocolate, melted (melt later)
opt.: raspberry jam, for swirling
Heat oven to 350 degrees f.
Combine 2 cups flour and brown sugar in mixing bowl. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Spread and pat firmly onto bottom of an ungreased 9x13 pan. Bake until lightly browned, about 15 mins. Place pan on a rack to cool and lower oven temp to 325. Combine cream cheese and sugar in a mixing bowl. Beat until fluffy and smooth. Add eggs one at a time. Stir in remaining tablespoon of flour along with the vanilla and whipping cream. Pour batter evenly onto baked crust. Spoon melted chocolate over topping. Using a table knife, swirl the chocolate (and, optionally, raspberry jam) through the cheese topping until marbled throughout. Return to oven and bake until center is set, about 35 mins. Place pan on a rack to cool; cut into 2-inch squares. Serve slightly warm, at room temp or chilled.
Makes about 24 squares. Store covered in the pan for one day at room temp or in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
olive oil
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 small orange or yellow bell pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/4 cup mayonaise
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 9 oz can artichoke hearts, drained
1 pizza crust
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Heat oil in a skillet. Add bell peppers. Saute for 3 minutes. Add half the garlic, saute until peppers are tender, then set aside. Combine remaining garlic, mayonaise, crushed red pepper, black pepper, and artichoke hearts in a food processor (or blender, or just mash). Process until finely chopped. Place pizza crust on baking sheet, top with artichoke heart mixture, then bell pepper mixture. Sprinkle with cheeses and thyme. Bake at 450 for 10-15 minutes.
Leek, Mushroom, and Lemon Risotto
8 oz trimmed leeks
2-3 cups crimini mushrooms
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 garlic cloves, crushed
6 Tbsp. butter
1 large onion, roughly chopped
1 3/4 cups risotto rice
5 cups simmering vegetable stock
grated zest of 1 lemon
3 Tbsp. of lemon juice
2/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup mixed chopped fresh chives and parsley
salt and freshly ground black pepper
lemon wedges, to serve
Wash the leeks well. Slice them in half lengthwise and chop them roughly. Wipe the mushrooms with paper towels and chop them roughly.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan and cook the garlic for 1 minute. Add the leeks, mushrooms, and plenty of seasoning and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, or until softened and browned. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Add 2 Tbsp. of the butter to the pan. As soon as it has melted, add the onion and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, until softened and golden.
Stir in the rice and cook for about 1 minute, until the grains begin to look translucent and are coated in the fat. Add a ladleful of the stock to the pan and cook gently, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has been absorbed.
Continue to add stock, a ladleful at a time, until all the stock has been absorbed. This should take 25-30 minutes. The risotto will turn thick and creamy and the rice should be tender but not sticky.
Just before serving, stir in the leeks, mushrooms, remaining butter, grated lemon zest and juice. Add half the grated parmesan and herbs. Adjust the seasoning and sprinkle with the remaining parmesan and herbs. Garnish with parsley, if you like, and serve with lemon wedges.
Marbled Cheesecake Squares
2 cups plus 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, slightly softened
16 oz. (2 pkgs) cream cheese AT ROOM TEMP
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 Tbsp whipping cream
4 oz. semisweet chocolate, melted (melt later)
opt.: raspberry jam, for swirling
Heat oven to 350 degrees f.
Combine 2 cups flour and brown sugar in mixing bowl. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Spread and pat firmly onto bottom of an ungreased 9x13 pan. Bake until lightly browned, about 15 mins. Place pan on a rack to cool and lower oven temp to 325. Combine cream cheese and sugar in a mixing bowl. Beat until fluffy and smooth. Add eggs one at a time. Stir in remaining tablespoon of flour along with the vanilla and whipping cream. Pour batter evenly onto baked crust. Spoon melted chocolate over topping. Using a table knife, swirl the chocolate (and, optionally, raspberry jam) through the cheese topping until marbled throughout. Return to oven and bake until center is set, about 35 mins. Place pan on a rack to cool; cut into 2-inch squares. Serve slightly warm, at room temp or chilled.
Makes about 24 squares. Store covered in the pan for one day at room temp or in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Friday, August 17, 2007
新词
我昨天晚上去上中文课. 春燕给我们的新词太多了, 而且成语也太多了. 她给了我们四个新成语!
下课后春燕和我一起走路回家. 她说<<你走路太快了. 我跟不上>>. 她还说<<你很聪明, 学得很快>>. 我说<<我学得不快. 数学很难. 我学得太慢了>>. 她说<<你是美国人! 你应该说 "是的! 我学得很快!">>.
今天晚上我去酒吧. 明天晚上我做晚饭. 我的朋友来我家吃晚饭.
我现在不想说英文.
下课后春燕和我一起走路回家. 她说<<你走路太快了. 我跟不上>>. 她还说<<你很聪明, 学得很快>>. 我说<<我学得不快. 数学很难. 我学得太慢了>>. 她说<<你是美国人! 你应该说 "是的! 我学得很快!">>.
今天晚上我去酒吧. 明天晚上我做晚饭. 我的朋友来我家吃晚饭.
我现在不想说英文.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Red Bean (or Green Mung Bean) Soup
Here are Chunyan's suggestions for making the soup, which I believe can be served warm or cold. We used to have the green one as a drink accompanying breakfast sometimes in China. The green version is supposed to cool your body down, while the red one warms you up.
Red Bean Soup
red beans (2-3 handfuls)
dried lotus nuts (about 10)
dried dates (about 10-15)
XI MI (西米 - tapioca) (0.5 - 1 handful)
1/3 of 1 stick of Chinese brown sugar
1. wash red beans, dates and lotus nuts, sink in the water for 2 hours;
2. boil the water, put the red beans into the pot;
3. after boiling, put the XI MI and lotus nuts in;
4. after boiling put dates in;
5. after boiling, cook on low for 2 hours (until the red beans look open like flower), put the sugar in, then cook on high for half hour (may add some water during this period, and you may half open the lid)
Red Bean Soup
red beans (2-3 handfuls)
dried lotus nuts (about 10)
dried dates (about 10-15)
XI MI (西米 - tapioca) (0.5 - 1 handful)
1/3 of 1 stick of Chinese brown sugar
1. wash red beans, dates and lotus nuts, sink in the water for 2 hours;
2. boil the water, put the red beans into the pot;
3. after boiling, put the XI MI and lotus nuts in;
4. after boiling put dates in;
5. after boiling, cook on low for 2 hours (until the red beans look open like flower), put the sugar in, then cook on high for half hour (may add some water during this period, and you may half open the lid)
Suddenly busy
Visitor #5 is in town. Jess J. has been telling me about her time living in Korea. She taught English there and so she's here now visiting with her fellow English teachers from England and Ireland. Somehow she managed to live in Korea for four years without learning Baduk (or, for that matter, Korean). She did say that some of her students would go to Baduk classes after school.
Chunyan took Alicia and I out for dim sum this afternoon ("Chinese afternoon tea", she called it). 很好吃 - It was delicious. The waiter came by at one point and asked, "好吃吗?" ("Is it ok?"). Chunyan responded and, after he left, asked me if I understood. I told her that I had, but it takes me a minute; I don't realize that I understand in time to respond. She told us that the first time she had met a foreigner in China, they were on a bus and he saw some pine trees outside, so he pointed and said, "Christmas!". She said it wasn't until she got home that evening that she realized what he had said: "Oh! Christmas!"
We stopped by at one of the Chinese grocery stores on the way back so she could show me what to buy to make red bean or green mung bean soup. I bought all the ingredients, and she was trying to describe how to make it, but, even though it sounds simple, I'm a bit dubious. She says throw in a handful of this and a bit of that, but I complained that her hands are a lot smaller than mine. She says that all Chinese recipes are like this. "It's not like in Germany," she told me.
I might go out with Alicia and some of her other Mexican friends for tacos and dancing on Thursday. We'll see. I will definitely go with them on Sunday to the Blind Light exhibition. And on Saturday evening, I'm having Brenda and Alicia over for dinner. I haven't cooked in ages, so that'll be interesting.
Chunyan took Alicia and I out for dim sum this afternoon ("Chinese afternoon tea", she called it). 很好吃 - It was delicious. The waiter came by at one point and asked, "好吃吗?" ("Is it ok?"). Chunyan responded and, after he left, asked me if I understood. I told her that I had, but it takes me a minute; I don't realize that I understand in time to respond. She told us that the first time she had met a foreigner in China, they were on a bus and he saw some pine trees outside, so he pointed and said, "Christmas!". She said it wasn't until she got home that evening that she realized what he had said: "Oh! Christmas!"
We stopped by at one of the Chinese grocery stores on the way back so she could show me what to buy to make red bean or green mung bean soup. I bought all the ingredients, and she was trying to describe how to make it, but, even though it sounds simple, I'm a bit dubious. She says throw in a handful of this and a bit of that, but I complained that her hands are a lot smaller than mine. She says that all Chinese recipes are like this. "It's not like in Germany," she told me.
I might go out with Alicia and some of her other Mexican friends for tacos and dancing on Thursday. We'll see. I will definitely go with them on Sunday to the Blind Light exhibition. And on Saturday evening, I'm having Brenda and Alicia over for dinner. I haven't cooked in ages, so that'll be interesting.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Progress?
I just need some place
where I can lay my head
"The Weight"
J. R. Robertson
It looks like I finally got my program to work for Gamma_1(N). Of course, there's still so much to do. I need to:
- implement characters other than the trivial one
- modify it to work over \bar{\FF_{\ell}} instead of \CC
- finish implementing support for Gamma_1(N) intersect Gamma(p)
- maybe someday make it work for imaginary quadratic fields other than \QQ(i)
That's just for my code. Then I need to go back to actually formulating this conjecture and I also need to come up with Galois representations corresponding to the modular forms I will hopefully find.
Monday, August 06, 2007
On Tour
After Linda tipped me off, I went looking for a few paintings in the National Gallery's Grand Tour. 
They've hung (reproductions of) a bunch of major works around the streets of Soho, which, conveniently, is right by my office. 
Of course, one can and should just go see the real paintings in the National Gallery, but I think art on the street is a good thing.
Also, I don't know that it's intended as such, but I think it's a fun answer to Banksy -- he hangs his work in major museums, so they put their paintings on the street.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Delivery
Last week I received a package which I probably should have gotten the previous week, except that no one had been home to sign for it. The package was returned to one of the Royal Mail's parcel depots and a notice was despatched to me, informing me of what happened and what I needed to do to get my package.
The notice said I could call or use the postal service website to arrange delivery. Opting for the latter, but not realizing that the website they gave me was not quite the one I needed, I ended up just emailing them and explaining what I wanted. In reply, I got an automated email which included the link I needed to set up the delivery. I did this and was able to collect my package from my local post office for a nominal fee in just a few days.
I had no complaint with this process, but the day after I picked up my package, I found the following email in my inbox:
I couldn't believe it.
Last night, I received another package. I guess this one didn't require a signature, so when no one was home at our flat, they left it with one of our neighbors and a note at our place saying that we should go pick it up there. Again, I was dumbfounded.
The notice said I could call or use the postal service website to arrange delivery. Opting for the latter, but not realizing that the website they gave me was not quite the one I needed, I ended up just emailing them and explaining what I wanted. In reply, I got an automated email which included the link I needed to set up the delivery. I did this and was able to collect my package from my local post office for a nominal fee in just a few days.
I had no complaint with this process, but the day after I picked up my package, I found the following email in my inbox:
Dear Becci,
Thank you for using our website.
Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to your email, and also for any inconvenience that may have been caused on this occasion.
I have checked our tracking information, and it states that your parcel was delivered too Borough Post Office,
The parcel was delivered on 24/07/07 at 13.41 and was signed for by Mrs Su.
If you require any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us again using one of the methods below:
E-mail us at: parcelforce@parcelforce.co.uk
If sent to any other email address a reply will not be received.
Telephone: 08708 50 11 50
Text phone: 08000 85 58 54 (for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing)
Fax: 01924 294 205
Kind Regards
Debbie Sproston
Internet Advisor.
I couldn't believe it.
Last night, I received another package. I guess this one didn't require a signature, so when no one was home at our flat, they left it with one of our neighbors and a note at our place saying that we should go pick it up there. Again, I was dumbfounded.
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