The Illicit Flat Screen

Sometime in the middle of the summer, some theory students knocked on my office door, asking if there were any theory students in our office. Joe is in fact a theory student. I said that although I am not in fact a theory student (but rather a computational linguistics student) most of my work is theory work and my supervisor has a cross appointment in theory. They were asking because they were giving flat screen computers to all the theory students. They weren't sure if I would get one, but I might.

Then, sometime around the beginning of September, the computer guys knock and say that I'm getting a brand new flat screen. I think this is great, since flat screens are way cool. However, there is a big theory sticker on the flat screen. This is like a big flag that says "Illegal activity" to everyone who comes into my office (and knows that I am not in fact a theory student). A few days later the computer guy comes back and says that he might have to take it away because I'm not really a theory student, but he's not sure. Thus starts the long battle between David (me) and Goliath (the CS department).

Time passes and I learn to love my new computer. In fact, I assume that it will be around forever. However, two days ago, they finally came and said that they would have to take it away. I expected them to take it there and then, but not so. So, I have started a countdown. I hope that this will be my computer forever, but let's see how long it's mine.

This is Day 2 with the illicit flat screen.