Conspiracies

Sorry, my post isn't going to be as exciting as my title. But I'll try my best.

1. I'll start off with a math-related blurb, since you know, I can't stay away from math :P So I'm taking a course in algebraic enumeration this term. And one of the main topics was the q-analogues of combinatorial things. Let's quickly recall that the q-analogue of the binomial coefficient n choose k counts the number of k-dimensional subspaces of an n-dimensional vector space over a finite field of q elements. My professor then mentioned a problem: Find the number of nxn invertible matrices over the finite field Fq (q elements) such that all diagonal entries are zero. I tried for about 10 minutes. I think it's hard. I want to know the solution, but my professor says that the answer and the solution is classified by the government. sigh. Americans. If you find the solution, let me know!

2. Last weekend, I had to drop by the chapel to pick up something from the basement. For the record, MIT has one chapel that is shared by all religions on campus, and the basement is pretty much separate from the main "worship area", so that it is accessible during services. So when I get to the chapel, there is a sign in front of the door that says a service is in progress, and that no sightseeing is allowed. Well, I wasn't there to be a tourist, so I went in to get to the basement. And as soon as I walked in, I saw about 10 girls dressed in pure white dresses, with their eyes covered in white cloths and sitting in chairs right by the entrance to the basement, and about two older-looking girls standing around. I was told that I wasn't allowed to go to the basement (which is unheard of - I've been to the basement during other services before), because the ceremony was "secret", (I might overhear something while I am in the basement) and that it would be over in three hours (it also didn't look like it just started). My guess is that I saw some sort of secret cult ceremony, or some initiation rite for a sorority. But seriously. Three hours?!!

Tomorrow (today) is the Remembrance day (aka Veteran's day here), and we get it off. Word has it that it's one of those suicide prevention days - we have one every month, so I plan to do some homework, and possibly check out the ice rink that is open only between October and March, but we'll see.

Food!!

Mmmmm food. If there is anything in this life that I love other than kitty, it is eating. I'll admit, when I was a first year student contemplating the idea of cooking for myself, I figured that macaroni and cheese, eggs, and noodles would become a staple.

Little did I know that I would come to enjoy cooking, and that cooking really isn't as hard as I thought it would be. I think the whole idea of a 'stove' and 'oven' and 'raw food' and huge grocery stores was just intimidating.

Anyways, when I have the time, I love to cook. I always try to aim to try cooking something new every week. Among the things I've attempted lately: Sweet potato soup with a Thai twist, Slow Cooked pulled pork, and butternut squash fries and glazed salmon. Photo of my sweet potato soup:

Now that was fun. With the help of some spices, limes, cilantro, and a blender (thanks C =P You will get it back eventually!), yams turned into a creamy, Thai inspired soup that was surprisingly filling. Yum...of course, recipes available upon request.

Pulled pork = amazingly easy. I can't believe I pay 9.99 or greater for this simple dish. In short, a slow cooker is AMAZING, a good BBQ sauce is key (I'm partial to Bull's Eye), and sales on pork shoulders help :)

My venture into the butternut squash was interesting, to say the least. Growing up, my mother and I would always admire the squash this time of year, but we had no idea how to cook it. I actually think I remember a year where my mom bought some as decorations for two months. The closest we came to actually cooking it is when my mother tried experimenting with pumpkin. In my case, squash was super cheap at the store (something like 39 cents a pound), so how could I resist? Picked up the smallest one I could find, and decided to do squash fries. Have you ever had yam fries? These are just as good, if not better =P Ridiculously easy to make as well! Oven at 425, cut squash into desired shape, take off the skins, coat with oil + salt + whatever you like (I went for a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, salt, and garlic salt), stick in the oven for 20 - 30 minutes, flipping midway.

Hmm. Now I'm hungry again. Time to go look for a snack...

- S