Take the bus back home

You're riding the bus back home when your phone rings.

"Mike speaking."

"Why do you make fun of me?"

You recognize the Slavic accent. "Is this Anna? I'm not trying to make fun of you."

"All make fun of me. My dissertation topic rejected. All have good laugh."

You wonder if she is trying to sound like Natasha from the Bullwinkle show.

"I'm working on a computer project and, as part of my research, I came across the topic of digital physics. I thought I would look into it and the guys in your office told me to talk to you."

"Ah. They are asshole."

"There's a lot of that going around."

"Tell me about."

"Well, anyway, sorry if I hit a sore spot. Getting your dissertation topic rejected sounds like a bummer."

"Two years work fucked."

Yeah, that would be a bummer.

"It's not much, but I could buy you a coffee and pick your brain."

"You buy me nice dinner, wine. I tell you what I know. Deal?"

{if Saturday1 = true}

"Yeah, okay. Can't do it tonight because I'm going out drinking with my friend but--"

"I can do the drinking. Text me what bar. You buy drinks."

"Ah, sure. I can do that."

So much for your plans to get lucky... and with the noise volume of the bars Jeremy likes, you doubt you'll get much physics education. But maybe it's a start.

{else}That sounds expensive. Still, it sounds like she's your best hope to learn something about digital physics.

"Deal," you say. "I assume you need to stay in Berkeley."

"Yes. Good restaurants here. You call me when ready."

"Great. I'll do that."{endif}