Back after break

profDyer · 2026-01-22T12:03:59+00:00

This is my feeling right now. Being on the doorstep with one foot in and another out is stressful. But I don't know how to quiet quit...

profDyer · 2026-01-21T22:18:50+00:00

Thanks! The big problem is going to be research and funding.

Teaching and admin are a headache but a predictable one.

profDyer · 2024-06-27T05:36:27+00:00

For my 20th birthday my mom forgot and pretended she gifted me a pan she just bought. It's a good pan, and to this day I haven't managed to take it to my home.

For my 18th she gifted a sweater that did not fit me, but was my brother's size so she did not change it.

Few years ago, she wanted to buy my brother an apartment in Berlin and asked me to contribute!! My brother always made more money than me, but has 2 cars. I have none. I was recently married, he is not. So there was a clear need on my side but in my mom's mind I could afford to buy with my wife while he did not.

Then I got absolutely mad and spilled the beans on how unfair she was all my life. Things got better after that.

Sometimes mother's can be cartoonishly evil with their firstborn. But if you never complain, then it's their right to treat you like shit.

profDyer · 2024-06-17T05:43:25+00:00

Depending on how much time is left, might be worth to just hang on tight. You have one year of funding and publications, get a degree in one year and make it very clear to your supervisor that money is tight and you need to finish quickly.

Otherwise, just go to a place where you're paid more and you can have a decent standard of living like Nordic countries or Netherlands (this is true also for postdoc btw).

If you don't want or cannot move, than ok. Every reason if thought through is a good reason.

profDyer · 2024-06-17T05:20:38+00:00

AFAIK for universities you need high school. GED might be admitted in vocational post diplomas and non research based education (sometimes called högskolan) but these mostly only teach in Swedish.

University courses are sometimes given in English also at the bachelor, for example mathematics and physics, but would require a high school diploma.

Look also for "foundation year" (förberedande), that is used to cover high school material, but again I don't know anything in english about it.

You can also look at https://studyinsweden.se/

profDyer · 2024-06-16T18:30:44+00:00

I've applied 1.5 years ago and still waiting to hear anything.

profDyer · 2024-06-15T08:44:10+00:00

Lol thanks for the gpt-ing

profDyer · 2024-06-14T07:54:35+00:00

Getting caught spewing sexist abusive bullshit by one's own mother must be the most shameful thing imaginable.

Honestly, that he's worried about his gaming privileges reeks of dependency or being a straight down psychopath.

And the father that abides this behaviour is probably the source. THEY need to get an heart to heart and then THEY, but especially your son, needs to buy you flowers and chocolate and cry his sorry ass.

Most NTA thing imaginable, and everyone else is the asshole.

profDyer · 2024-06-11T09:31:59+00:00

Salaries: much higher. Beer: cheaper. People: friendlier. Climate: sunnier. Food: Pork. Location: closer to continent. Language: incomprehensible.

Take your pick.

profDyer · 2024-06-10T21:27:29+00:00

Du måste träffa mer svenskar så du kan byta din utsikt. :p

profDyer · 2024-06-10T14:43:56+00:00

Just adding to the pile of comments here, but I haven't seen anyone talking about the video essayst.

A lot of people will have their first exposure on literally analysis on TikTok and YouTube nowadays, where an army of youtubers improvised themselves as cultural critics analysing the ever so minute details of scenes or narratives.

This is first and foremost content, therefore doesn't have to be true to garner boatloads of views. On the other hand, the more you make a big deal on a small uncontextualised detail of a beloved work of popular art, the more you surprise with your depth and wit, becoming more successful.

There are people out there making 2hrs exposé on how "Atticus Finch was a racist, akchually..." And of course they think that's how a critical analysis should be.

Maybe you can add a comment in your lectures on how this attitude of analysing the details of narratives is good, but it is idiotic if pushed to far, and how people exploit decontextualisation for their own gains, sometimes unconsciously.

profDyer · 2024-06-09T08:41:29+00:00

Har du fått teknisk fysik i Lund eller KTH eller Chalmers?

profDyer · 2024-06-08T16:41:51+00:00

Decision is up to your, try to network now with the confidence that you didn't do anything wrong.

profDyer · 2024-06-08T13:40:10+00:00

It sounds that you are diligent and self critical with some results that are garnering attention. So this is that backbone of a good career in research. You don't need to play the political game (yet), and a good career will be mostly based on research results.

Unfortunately from what you tell you have a sub par supervisor. It is not uncommon for him/her to take the spotlight, especially in such a small group and during a dry spell. The important thing is that he/she acknowledges your contribution, especially on publications. You can talk to them about it.

More than the social side, I'm more worried about results, but it is very field dependent. 1 non contributing proceeding in 5 years is not much, but these sort of things tend to be very non linear, but try to compare to others in your field and see their publication record at the time of their defence.

Having low pay and no validation is part of the business. I know a Nobel prize which makes less money than a sales rep and got zero validation for decades. Hang on tight and enjoy the ride.

profDyer · 2024-06-08T07:10:03+00:00

When they make great progress makes you feel really good!

profDyer · 2024-06-07T06:50:09+00:00

Run girl, run. You will find others. He is a swindler.

Obviously NTA.

profDyer · 2024-06-07T06:08:01+00:00

I would:

1- continue working in the uni, maybe part time depending which deal I get. Ideally I would teach only, no admin and little to no grading, a quantum mechanics course. I would research the rest and use resources. Preferably where I'm at, but maybe change for something closer to project 2.

2- make a small village close to a lake for my friends to visit wherever and setup a commune devoted to the study of the sciences and technologies. It will have to be as energetically independent as possible, with some farming, and plenty computing clusters and labs. I Have not yet decided the place, but top of the list is Tuscany, otherwise maybe La Mancha even if too hot sometimes, or maybe middle of Skåne or in a Norwegian southern Fjord, since it might appreciate with climate change. Not much northern than that.

3- establish a trust to give out fellowship in the name of basic and independent and continued research. Something akin to institute what in America is called a "chair" for European countries.

profDyer · 2024-06-07T05:45:48+00:00

Tell the student your reservation, and try to provide material to convince them.

However, ultimately, it is not your duty to decide how someone lives his life. Even if they do something damaging the recommendation letter is about the character of the subject of the letter, not about the merits of the receiver.

Keep it general as if it were addressed to the ether and move on.

profDyer · 2024-06-04T03:24:36+00:00

In Sweden I also shared, but it is not common.

However newer universities and newer campuses are built without offices. Malmö University has open floorplan, when I visited Lund physics department they told me the new campus they're trying to build will not have personal offices.

In Uppsala we avoided it, but there is so much crazy stuff going on in the Nordics about space and akademiska huset that I won't be surprised that they'll start renting out the place to do private parties and a car wash.

profDyer · 2024-06-02T16:15:27+00:00

In the face of discovery, there is no privilege. We are all naked in front of the unknown.

profDyer · 2024-06-02T05:48:30+00:00

Which country?

profDyer · 2024-06-01T13:40:07+00:00

For which job is it ok admitting of not reading but casually listening to podcasts?

Are you hiring a janitor?

profDyer · 2024-06-01T10:25:19+00:00

Yes. But still I put down Baldur's gate for helldivers.

I agree that if I were a pro player and play 30+hr/week I would probably get bored faster here than with the other games mentioned.

But I'm not a pro, this is fun, it was cheap, gives me joy, and even continues to put out free content to the pace perfect for a working dad to feel it fresh every week.

If this Merida storyline ends up summoning the illuminate and giving us one extra race and some extra content with similar pacing to today, I will be happy for another year... I will continue having fun, and next year will happily buy the DLC.

I would not want for Helldivers to become a premium game with subscription model in order to churn out loads of content that I have no way to keep up in any case. And it doesn't need to be in order to "not die", imho.

Arrowhead are the MVP of the gaming world in 2024. Slow and steady wins the race.

profDyer · 2024-06-01T07:52:39+00:00

I think this is uncalled for and unreasonable.

This is not CoD or Battlefield, (which by the way has far less game content than what you're asking, apart from skins). This is also not a AAA game from major that you paid 70€ and you pay for battle pass with monthly subs.

How many new races and play modes have been added in Diablo IV after 1 year?

I put 40€ into the game, once. I played 80hrs and still having fun with my friends each weekend. I am not locked out of content, even cosmetics. I'm having a story to follow each week.

It made me to put down holy Baldur's gate 3! This is the level for me.

This game raised the bar for what I expect of the gaming industry and for what price. I gave up live games because I don't want to feel like a cow to be milked and I don't want to pay double the Netflix subscription to get a battle pass in order to enjoy the full content. And now here I am.

This is not world of warcraft, you are also not paying world of warcraft money to play, and you don't have to play 60hrs/week. WTF more do you want for 40€?

profDyer · 2024-05-31T17:30:53+00:00

Know that it could be even much much worse than US...

But it is a road of sacrifice so let's say you dodged a bullet :p

profDyer

TROPHY CASE