I was gonna write about the conference and then this happened. 

First I provided a quote for a news release

Director: "I’m piping in! I would run it by [person in charge] or whomever. My guess: The City won’t appreciate a lead that talks about treacherous streets in the week the Mayor announced the road safety plan. Also, it has an ominous tone, suggesting the cycling lanes are unsafe “real cyclists who get themselves into dangerous situations many times a day,”. If they are it’s fine to say so but since Nancy is just starting to look at the data she doesn’t yet know this."

Then metro news called

Prof: Do you want to join me for a photoshoot on Bloor Street sometime on Sunday?

Reporter: Also, would your grad student be willing to be interviewed briefly over the phone on Sunday for the story?

Prof: "Not that I am very good at this, but when you do talk to the media, aim to stick to the facts, and avoid opinions. At the university we want to project that everything we say has a base of evidence behind it. And try not to over-estimate how dangerous the roads currently are. With Metro News we will not be able to see the article before hand. We will be totally at their mercy."

Me: I'd be happy to talk about my research. My cell phone number is XYZ. Let me know when you plan to call.

Anyways, my birthday is on sunday. 

The first assignment for Transport Demand was just posted

WTF is this shit? I don't think I've ever been so lost. THe lectures are the type where the prof writes illegibly and quickly while your hand can barely keep up and the brain is eating the dust several mile markers back. FML.