random wtf's
The institute of Geology I work in moved to a new building about 5 years ago. And when such a new building is build apparently there is a certain budget for art and culture. Things like minerals in showcases, a rock/boulder garden in the back yard etc. They are not just pretty, but have a connection to the earth sciences.
But this money has to be spend, it can't be transfered for other uses. (One of the iron clad rules of university administration. If you have a budget for a gazillion Erlenmeyer flasks, but you only need 10, then you can never ever spend this money on petri dishes. You buy those Erlenmeyer flasks or the money goes bye bye.)
And this resulted in some 'decorations' for our cafeteria. There are a wires strung on the ceiling. On these wires are tiny cube like robots. They constantly move from one end to the other. And the best of all, they play bird sounds... And I'm not even kidding.
The second interesting thing today was the realization that Antonio, our Spanish exchange PhD student knows exactly two German phrases. 'Prost' (no surprise there, although I wasn't the one who taught him, honest) and 'Zur Mitte, zur Titte, zum Sack'. I really would like to know if he has any ides what that means. *ggg*
But tonight I get the chance to ask him, because a few of us PhD's are going out to have a cocktail or two. Bad diabetic, bad. ;)
But this money has to be spend, it can't be transfered for other uses. (One of the iron clad rules of university administration. If you have a budget for a gazillion Erlenmeyer flasks, but you only need 10, then you can never ever spend this money on petri dishes. You buy those Erlenmeyer flasks or the money goes bye bye.)
And this resulted in some 'decorations' for our cafeteria. There are a wires strung on the ceiling. On these wires are tiny cube like robots. They constantly move from one end to the other. And the best of all, they play bird sounds... And I'm not even kidding.
The second interesting thing today was the realization that Antonio, our Spanish exchange PhD student knows exactly two German phrases. 'Prost' (no surprise there, although I wasn't the one who taught him, honest) and 'Zur Mitte, zur Titte, zum Sack'. I really would like to know if he has any ides what that means. *ggg*
But tonight I get the chance to ask him, because a few of us PhD's are going out to have a cocktail or two. Bad diabetic, bad. ;)