Vienna

I was kindly invited to the University of Vienna to visit Josef Hron and his group, to give a colloquium on observations of supergiant stars that I've collected over the years with the Palomar Testbed Interferometer. My talk went well, and I was able to build on some very interesting professional contacts with the Vienna group.

The branches hanging outside of the tavern indicates that the wine is in season.

At the Vienna Observatory.

I had a quick visit - only a couple of days. However, the second morning found me with a couple of hours free, so I journeyed into town to visit the museum of that most famous and most favorite of Viennese sons - no, not Mozart. And not Ah-nold, either. I mean that towering giant of 20th century psychology: Sigmund Freud.

Should I have brought my mother?

The museum was the apartment he lived in, conducting most of his professional life in Vienna (didn't know that) before being exiled to London in 1938 (didn't know that) and passing away in 1939 (didn't know that). Many other things I didn't know prior to my visit: he was a contemporary of Einstein and had the occasion to meet him (remarking in a later letter, "I knew as much physics as he knew psychology, so we had a very pleasant conversation."), avidly followed archeology and collected Egyptian artifacts, had children and grandchildren, some of whom went into psychoanalysis themselves, and was rarely seen (or even photographed) without a cigar. Died of cancer, unfortunately. All in all, the museum was very interesting and taught me a great deal about the life & times of Dr. Freud. My only criticism was that it was a little thin on taking about his work - I still have no idea what his major accomplishments were, professionally, aside from the background noise of random culturual references that have seeped into my subconscious. (Freud would have a field day with that comment, I'm sure.)

Can you believe this? In the museum gift shop, a Freud snow globe - complete with couch!

Found on the train. Even the Euro2008 cup is Freudian apparently. Must have something to do with the balls.

How does one top a visit to something like the Freud museum? By visiting the private, invitation-only collection of the Wien Sternwarte. (Ok, if you ask nicely, they'll pretty much let anyone in, but this sounds better.) They have an astonishing collection of astronomical instruments dating back one, two, even three to four hundred years - but even more astonishing is their collection of antique manuscripts. Original, first editions of manuscripts from Kepler, Copernicus, Galileo - even artifacts that /predate/ those individuals can be found in their fireproof safes. To see these books in person, to even hold them, was coming to touch directly the astronomer's equivalent of the Rosetta Stone.

A first edition of Copernicus's De Revolutionieus - the book that started the Scientific Revolution, despite being "the book nobody read" (a myth debunked by Owen Gingerich).

Title page for De Revolutionieus. The inscription in Greek warns, effectively, "Those who do not know math should not read further." The handwritten note below the title remarks that the copy was given to the university as, basically, tuition for a student. Discoloration of the lower half of the pages was due to a spilled oil lamp.

The heliocentric system shown in its full glory. On the right hand page is seen margin notes, seen frequently in manuscripts from that time.

A textbook by Puerbach that predates the Copernican manuscript by decades, to the mid-15th century, which instructs the reader on the geocentric system. Copernicus apparently had Puerbach, or at least this textbook, for instruction as a student of astronomy early on.

All in all, a tremendously successful visit to Vienna. Had a lovely time, met wonderful people, enjoyed delightful local cuisine, discovered interesting things about the cultural background of the world I live in, and had compelling, personal interactions with the scientific tapestry that defines my career. Couldn't wish for more in a visit!

Only in Vienna could one find a Falco tribute band!

Arlington, VA

On March 26th I traveled back to the US to sit on an unnamed federal government review panel (confidentiality rules prohibit me identifying it - it's like secret spy stuff!) It was quite an interesting experience returning to the United States for the very first time since our Big Move to Munich.

Our trusty steed, ready to depart Munich.

Almost done with the ~8 hour flight!

Some of my airplane reading. Anyone see anything wrong with this pronouncement of "unacceptable behavior"? (Hint: try replacing 'atheism' with, say, 'Buddahism', or 'women's rights'.)

It's been over 6 months, and it was interesting to see how my perceptions had shifted ever so slightly. I must admit to a pulse of warm pride entering the passport queue under the "Welcome to the United States" sign. This was quickly doused by the 20 minute wait, but such is life.

Mmmmm.... really good beer. Don't get me started on how I can't find a really good beer in Germany.

During my visit I was able to visit my old pals, Steve and Carrie Haase. This was the first time I saw their son Christopher, who is about 6 months old. Christopher is a wonderful kid - clear proof that genetics works (and that he is the fortunate recipient of Carrie's).

"Just call me babe magnet."

Yes, those are sweet potatoes in the ice tray. Special mother trick passed down through the Garner line.

One of the ulterior motives in making the trip was to indulge in some much-desired shopping for those things we can't seem to find in Germany. Some of you may be saying, "suck it up, find different things in Germany to like" - and you're altogether correct to do so - but it's hard to resist the opportunity to bring back a load of some good home cookin' to help ease our transition into Bavarian living.

For some reason, I can't find a good bagel in Germany.

So, I had a protracted and intimate visit of both a local Safeway and local Target store, and also took the opportunity to beat the bushes for uniquely American comfort food: Arby's. (McDonald's, Starbucks, and even Burger King don't qualify, having invaded the Older Continent some time ago. Plus, they're by and large just plain icky.)

Shopping!

Suitcase #1: Goldfish, Peanut Butter Crunch, cookie mix. Doritos were included just to fill out the bag.

Suitcase #2: Peanut butter, laundry.

Alas, my time in the US was far too short, and my experience with United for the return was *far* too nasty. Since I'm now a resident of Germany, and primarily flying Lufthansa, I'm switching from being a loyal member of United's frequent flier club to being one of Lufthansa's. But, since it's one big happy friggin' Star Alliance family, it's no big deal, right?

My evil United 777.

Uh, that'd be a big fat no, sportsfans. I checked in, waving around the magic Gold Premiere Executive United card (gives average Magic User Astronomers a +8 on their Charisma, and a +12 on their Save Versus Economy Class roll) and I was told I couldn't get into the much envied Economy Plus seating class (you know, the one designed like you actually /have/ legs and a lower torso in general) since I wasn't Premiere Executive or even (gasp!) a lowly Premiere member. I continued to swing the card around like a scythe, hoping it could cut through the check-in agent's stony faced recitation of the positively bizzare rule, and had to resort of shameless, effusive charm instead. Thus, I ended up with a seat in Economy Plus, having the $80 dollar fee promoting me from plain vanilla Economy waived, but trapped in a dreaded middle seat - no window, no aisle available, she said. Check at the gate.

Waiting to board, thinking very nasty thoughts about a very nasty gate agent.

The gate proved to be a problem, being staffed by what appeared to be a demon from the 5th or 6th level of hell, cleverly disguised as a pitchfork-voiced middle aged woman from the local area. She informed me that yes, they had an aisle or even a window seat available, but she'd have to charge me that $80. To move me - from Economy Plus to Economy Plus. She also took it upon herself to strenously reiterate the aforementioned Bizzare Rule - that I wasn't Premiere Executive even though I had my Magic Clubmember Card proof to the contrary.

Anyway, to make a long story long, upon takeoff (seated, sandwiched between a family & a businessman in a middle seat), I noticed there were two seats all by themselves, available right next to us in Economy Plus. That prompted me to violate one of the sixteen hundred invoilate FAA Rules of Flight and I moved my behind into one of those seats before the seatbelt light went out. A good outcome, but one that made me curse the Demon Gate Agent all the more.

So, here is my Message to United: remember, remember, remember that I have a choice with whom I fly. In fact, having moved to Germany and making the switch to a new carrier, I am sitting on the crux of a choice to stick with Star Alliance or not. If you, United, feel for some reason that your membership in Star Alliance is worth something - and want us to feel the same way - then accord the members of your partner airlines the considerations they've earned by seeing altogether way too much of the inside of a flying round sardine can. More importantly, don't take it upon to disenfranchise your current flying club members (my card does say "Expires in Feb 2009") because we've decided to start dating your sibling instead of you. It's all too tempting to look much more closely at SkyTeam or OneWorld at this particular juncture.

Blue Dots Team in Paris

I had the pleasant occasion to travel to Paris for a two-day meeting at Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, for the "Blue Dots Team", an effort to build community support for space mission aimed at directly detecting terrestrial planets orbiting nearby stars.

My former boss & mentor, Chas Beichman, discussing the SIM space mission.

Also present was Giovanna Tinetti, exoplant atmospheres expert extraordinare. Notice the contrast between fashion sense (left) and lack thereof (right).

Such an auspicious kickoff deserved a toast!

An appropriately named cafe for our BDT dinner.


French cafe culture does not seem to have suffered from the smoking ban - indeed, as long as there's French wine, how could it?