Quantum Physics 123: Wednesday 7 December

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor looks vaguely hungover, and generally as if he doesn't want to take any crap today. All things considered.]

After Monday, it struck me that most of you haven't exactly done piles of research--Ms Belmont excepted. [He puts his hand up.] Don't give me any excuses, I don't want to hear them. I'm turning you loose today on the library, and I'm going to be in my office during the rest of class time to answer questions and take requests for more information you can't find on your own.

And if you can't figure out the card catalogue...why Adam doesn't bloody computerise it is beyond me...I have the Dewey numbers for you, so that's no excuse either. Quantum teleportation is 539. Time travel is 530.11 and 530.12.
This does not mean you have permission to go into Special Collections. If you need that, see me.

And I will KNOW if you skip out. [A long steady look at them all.] So don't.


((I expect EVERYONE in this class to respond either here or in the library, except Cally, who has a RL excuse. Dewey numbers are real, because I'm anal like that.))

Comments

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Perfectly acceptable, Ms Carter. [He nods at her.] And...written on the walls? Don't you want something a bit more permanent?

Re: Bother the Doctor

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

She shook her head. "Not at this stage. I had them in a notebook originally, but I kept erasing and tearing out pages. I couldn't think, or was thinking too small and structured, I'm not sure." Sam grinned a bit ruefully at herself. "I think better with dry erase markers."

"Once I think I know what I'm doing, I'll recopy everything into a notebook. Then photocopy the notebook. And leave the copies locked in a safe deposit box, wrapped in some kind of fire-proof material. In different banks." She shrugged. "Y'know, just off the top of my head."

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He looks at her curiously.] I...see. Bad experience with losing data before?

Re: Bother the Doctor

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

She smiled. "No, but it never hurts to be prepared for every eventuality, right? Especially if I ever manage to get anywhere."

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

I suppose that's true. [He smiles at her, a faint smile, but unforced.] Can you summarise for me where you are right now, or would that be too complicated to do without showing me equations?

((Back later...sorry 'bout that.))

Re: Bother the Doctor

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam summarized her work to the best of her ability. Which meant, basically, that she was neither brief nor without diagrams, equations, and tangents.

((NP. Let me know if you need more detail, because I am physics impaired, even if Sam isn't.))

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor listens carefully and nods when she's through.] You're getting somewhere. But remember this--being able to present a synopsis means that one has a higher understanding...there's something you're not getting at, right?

((I'm also not stellar at physics, so fear not.))

Re: Bother the Doctor

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

She rolled her eyes. "Honestly? There's a ton of stuff I'm not getting at. I feel like I'm all over the map on this right now."

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He thinks for a moment, chewing on the end of his pen, then looks at her.] All right, here's what we'll do...at the end of term, you'll present to me what you have more formally--I want to see things typed or written down--or photographs of your whiteboards. I'll think about how to help you over the break, and in early January, we'll start working together, say, once a week.

Re: Bother the Doctor

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

She sighed with relief. John and Janet were great, but she wasn't comfortable working completely without guidance--John was a teenager and quantum physics wasn't Janet's specialty. "That would be wonderful, thank you, sir."

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Good, I'm glad you're agreeable. [He sighs, looking tired, and looks up.] So, I suppose I want your findings...when is best for you?

Re: Bother the Doctor

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"I don't know when your grades have to be in, so whenever is convenient for you is fine with me."

"Is something wrong, sir?"

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

I didn't sleep well, never good for the soul. [He runs a hand through his hair.] How about we meet next week Wednesday, after class, if that fits into your schedule?

Re: Bother the Doctor

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry to hear that, sir." She knew all about nightmares, though she'd been lucky not to have any lately. Her look at him was sympathetic. "Next Wednesday after class is fine."

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Good. I'll see you then?--and you don't have to call me sir.

Re: Bother the Doctor

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Next Wednesday," she nodded, then smiled slightly. "And I'll try to stop, but my father was Air Force. It's kind of habit."

Re: Bother the Doctor

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

Don't worry about it. Just letting you know you don't HAVE to. [He smiles.] Have a good day, Sam.

Re: Bother the Doctor

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

"Thank you. You too, s..darnit. You too."

She smiled sheepishly and left, planning to head towards the library.