Mathematics distracts from God

I've just returned from the British Film Institute where I went with my brother to watch Eric Rohmer's 1969 film My Night at Maud's. It's a supremely French film of love, relationships, philosophy and religion.  The protagonist has, among other habits, an interest in mathematics.  Early on there was a quick glimpse of a textbook he was looking at.  I tried to read the subfield of mathematics as we got a glance, but it was too fleeting.  Where I did really wish I could quickly whip out my phone and get a shot, though, was the image where the subtitles gave the character's verdict that "Mathematics distracts from God. A useless, intellectual diversion - worse than other diversions."  It would have made a great picture to put on any number of talks I give.   I might have to get a DVD of the film just to be able to make such a screengrab. 

Here's a still from the film's IMDB page, from Maud's flat, during the titular night

 

Hello 2026

It's my first day back in the office since the Christmas / New Year break and I am a combination of raring to go and slightly filled with trepidation about just how busy the upcoming couple of months are going to be.  For one thing, it is the time of the eyar when I have the most intensive teaching activity, giving two courses in semester 2 on quantum computing.  It's fun, but busy, and it doesn't stop other activities, such as ongoing research projects and associated PhD and postdoc supervision.  There are a couple of big grant submission deadlines coming up that I need to work hard to hit and though my external fellowship is taken into account when allocating University duties, the work needed for both fellowship and University obligations is more than one person's tasks, but I have to manage it as one person.  It's fine, but I just need to be prepared for the time of year when the uneven workload bunches up! 

Later this week I'm off to GANIL in France to give a talk and visit some people I work with there.  I hope the winter ferry crossing is okay 😬 

For a wintery picture to accompany my post, here is me and some friends on the ice rink at the Brighton Pavillion, where I went on Sunday