Chicken JOoOckey

I was most busy these last couple weeks, hence why you didn't see my name appear on your list of unread emails that are likely sorted to the trash folder. Have no fear! I have returned, and I am alive and well. I've done a lot of very exciting things and we'll see if I can remember them all.

I got research funding! This means that I can do research over the summer and get paid for it. Isn't that sick? I get to learn about cool stuff and get paid for something I'd probably do anyway. I am researching continuous variable quantum key cryptography (CV-QKD), which is basically a part of the science of sending secret messages with quantum computers. Turns out quantum computers are really good at breaking out current secret message protocols. Who would've thought? I would have. I'm very excited for this opportunity because I am not a physics student. I don't have strict deadlines and graduation requirements that include theses, so I don't have to worry about producing direct results. When I went to meet with the professor who is advising me, he said that he was going to take a bit of a risk with me by giving me a project with no clear answer or end goal. He said that opportunities to do things like that don't happen very often in BYU's physics department because of the senior thesis requirement, but math majors don't have that constraint, thus allowing me to research a very current and open problem that blends quantum physics, rigorous mathematics, and computer science. It should be very cool.

I went and saw the Minecraft movie. At the end of the movie, a kid yelled, "water bucket, RELEASE!" and threw a 5 gallon bucket of water in the air. He was then getting interrogated by the police (arrested maybe, although I think he was a juvenile so maybe not). It was a good movie. I waited 10 years for it, so maybe that affected my rating a little bit. Jason Momoa absolutely carried the film with a slight help from Jack Black with typical Jared Hess elements. My friend got kicked out of hers early because people brought a live chicken and trashed the theater. All for a video game. Actually, a movie about a video game. More specifically, a movie whose plot was loosely based on a video game. I also found another doppelganger on the way there.

We were chosen to compete in the escape room tournament. More details are coming on that.

School is almost over and I am almost free. I have finals starting on Wednesday, so that will be most exhausting. However, it means that I am done, so it can't be that bad. Hopefully. I almost cried today because our 4th midterm that would have been due tomorrow got canceled. I was overjoyed. I didn't have to take a test right before the final, which is good, because those tests are murder on a page. The whole sticks and stones phrase was invented by someone who clearly never took a modern physics exam in the testing center. Although, there are often minimal words on there. Mostly archaic symbols that make your mind hurt.

I feel like I definitely had more to say, probably something I was quite interested in, but I can't remember.

Oh yeah, before I forget, Mat from my mission got baptized on Saturday, and I got to watch on Zoom. I'm proud of him, I suppose. I wouldn't say he had to turn his life around or anything for this to happen, but it is admirable that he has found a way to become more involved in religion.

Incredible film, you ask? Oh, I'm so glad you did. I watched A Complete Unknown, the Bob Dylan biopic starring the eccentric Timothée Chalamet. He actually did an incredible job and I can now say I'm a TC fan. I also like Bob Dylan a lot more now. My harmonica skills are coming along, so when you see me on the cover of Time with a black and white filter and some witty quote about the harmonica, don't be surprised. Just kidding. Be very, very surprised, and call me and ask what it's about, because I'd be very interested to hear where they got the picture from.

Today I am grateful for my friends. I love having friends. They're kind of the best ever. Both of my groups of friends are wonderful people that I wish the best for. I also am grateful for work. They are my 3rd group and they make going to work feel like going to have fun at a really fun place with fun cubicles and fun desks. That wasn't sarcastic. I like work. We're actually about to go to Topgolf for a fun work activity, so I guess I should go.

I've been listening to way too much Yung Gravy and bbno$ lately. Just in case you were wondering.

I swear there was something else interesting, but I can't remember. Maybe I'll remember next week.

bye peace and love for you

Wilhelm