staying sane through big changes
work
Things at work are still pretty crazy. I still feel like all my projects kicked into high gear. With one of them, though, I think we've decided to just target an early eprint/arXiv version, so at least that deadline is more flexible. The main other one that I'm pushing on though requires a lot of writing on my behalf. I feel like I'm running point on about 75% of the paper. It's really exciting, because the results are pretty cool, but it definitely makes me focus.
At the same time, I still don't feel like I'm done onboarding at Stevens. I'm getting more into the drift of things. But I still have a few people to meet with and benefits/accounts that need to set up properly. The department is a little chaotic right now too, because of the recent higher-ed drama with the Trump administration, the economy, and how to use AI. (To be fair, though, this isn't unique to Stevens at all). It just feels like a lot to navigate right now.
It makes me really glad that I don't have to teach till next semester. Although, I'm definitely excited to actually teach crypto! I went to a seminar that gave teaching advice that really hyped me up. It's pretty fortunate that I'll get to teach something that I'm so passionate about.
non-work
At the same time that work is ramping up, My partner and I are traveling to San Diego next week, where she'll stay for a while. The trip will cut into my work and non-work time significantly, but I'm fortunate I have the flexibility to go with her. We're planning to make a really fun trip out of it too, going to see all sorts of things around the area. I also expect to visit there for the next while, so I'll try to feel as at home as possible.
But because of this, we've gotten to spend a lot more time together while she's between jobs! It's let us do a lot that we would've done in New York earlier. Like just yesterday, we were able to go the Metrograph and see Maybe Happy Ending. It was super fun! Definitely a little stressful with everything going on at work. Multiple life changes and busy times are always going to be exhausting though, and all things considered, these are good times.
As a smaller aside, it doesn't help that Silksong released just over a week ago. It is crazy that a game is distracting during such a turbulent time in my work and life. But I am a really big Hollow Knight fan. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't trying to squeeze in as much Silksong as I reasonably can right now. (And in case you were wonder, it is an amazing game.)
Overall, my goals are set at a pretty low bar right now: just to stay stable and sane over the next few weeks.
things i saw this week
Quantum information supremacy is claimed to have been demonstrated, which is pretty cool
questions
How will AI change what cryptography should work on in the future?
Assuming that AI is a normal technology, it will still have a transformative impact on how people use the internet.
I've worked on watermarking before, but I think it's pretty limited in practice.
But broadly, how will current systems change and what security will they need? I sometimes drift and try to think ahead for what will be needed though as systems change.
Thanks for reading to the end! Here's a picture from the musical we went to:
