What am I doing here?

I came to work at MSU with my old friend and colleague, Keith Promislow. I worked with Keith when he was in Vancouver at SFU for many years on a fuel cell modelling project. I have also had a chance to get to know Andrew Christlieb, another professor here who like me is a numerical analyst but who seems to know all the things I don't so I have learned a lot. I have also had a chance to get to know two of their post-docs, Nir Gavesh and Zhengfu Xu who are very bright guys.

I brought a bunch of projects with me, things I thought I could make progress on with the kind of uninterrupted time I have here. I started one of those yesterday and did something useful (I think) but I have mainly spent time working on numerical methods for a problem they are looking at here, modelling structure formation in functionalized polymers. These materials have nanoscale structures that influence their performance in things like fuel cells and solar cells. Predicting their structure based on their chemistry and how they are processed would be a major contribution and the group here has made some real progress. I have been looking at numerical approaches (for easy but related problems) that might be useful as they look at more complicated chemistry.

Actually the point of this post was going to be to show the movies of the computations I have done on the test models (they are kind of cool, mesmerizing like a lava lamp - in shades of blue to red, my favourite). This blog host doesn't seem to want to let me upload the movies, so you'll have to look at some stills from two of the models I have working.

Cider in the US, Spring 2011 experiences

I came to East Lansing from Vancouver to spend May and June working at MSU. My first stop picking up supplies was a drug store - which had two rows of beer in it (unusual for a Canadian). They also had some cider (in the US, "hard cider") which I enjoy more than beer so I thought I would try it out.

My first choice was Woodchuck Amber which is nice, very similar to Grower's cider made in BC. At an organic grocery store, I found "JK's solstice hard cider" which is really fantastic (like that cloudy apple juice you get with a bit of spice in it and a smooth kick - it is sweet so avoid it if you don't like that) but a bit expensive. With two successes I tried out some others. Hornsby's was barely potable but I managed to choke it down. "Woodchuck Spring" was so terrible I can't finish it. Imagine someone adding a large dollop of Aunt Jemima's syrup to your cider... I shudder just to think of it. I will leave the rest it in my room when I leave with a warning that it tastes foul, only to be opened in an emergency. 

Next group was a pair of Crispin's. The first was their artisanal reserve with honey. It is a scrumpy (cloudy) and although probably too sweet for many, I liked it. It reminded me of the "neuer wein" I had in Neustadt while living in Germany (many years ago). This one was nice over ice. The one on the right above is their basic style I guess, billed as "traditional dry English cider". It was similar in taste to Strongbow but less dry and darker in colour - I liked it better. And who is that attractive child in the middle? Must be adopted...

The last selection for this trip is shown above. I added Strongbow just to see how it compared to Crispin above. Actually, they are basically the same and also the Magners above. These English/Irish ciders are all quite nice. Then I tried the "special" Crispin on the right, aged in Tennessee whiskey casks. That small bottle was $9. I guess I was expecting it to be fantastic - but frankly if it were that good it would be bad news, because I would go broke buying it. Luckily it was actually pretty foul (maybe my palate is not refined enough?) and I am happy enough with that. 

Brunch in East Lansing, Spring 2011

I am visiting East Lansing, Michigan, for work for May and June. I am staying on the Michigan State (MSU) campus in Snyder Hall residence, working in the Mathematics Department. I decided to go to brunch every week while I am here on Sundays, trying a different place each time. I am rating the places out of 15 with the following point system:

• 10 points for food 
• 3 points for coffee
• 2 points for atmosphere and service

I am on my own, sending reports and pictures back to my friend, Trent, at home in Vancouver so in the last category I am giving 1 for wireless internet access and 1 for the rest. 

If anyone wants to join me (but probably no one is reading this) I leave from Snyder Hall around 10:00am Sundays. Contact me at bwetton@me.com. I would like to keep the event within walking (or at least biking) distance but if someone had a car that would open up some options. I'd buy your breakfast if you drove. 

1. May 15, 2011. I went to Beggar's Banquet (http://www.beggarsbanquet.com/Index.htm). I had eggs benedict (5/10 just OK). The coffee was terrible, like they used cheap coffee and then used it the second time to make my cup (0/3). The service was good and they had wireless (2/2). This gives a total score of 7/15. By the way, I had lunch there and it was really very good, much better than that breakfast I had. I went back the next week to get a picture, but the East Lansing art exhibition was on and I couldn't get a good shot. I'll add one when I get a chance (done now). 
2. May 22, 2011. I went to the Wanderer's Tea House (http://www.wanderersteahouse.com/). I had a berry crepe which was quite good (6/10). I am trying to be generous here because crepes are not my favourite, but that is their specialty. Coffee was weak but bitter 1/3. Service scored my easy 2/2 for a total 9/15. Pics below. 
3. May 29, 2011. I went to Hanna's Koney Island (http://www.yelp.com/biz/hannahs-koney-island-east-lansing) as a last minute change in plans. I had the breakfast special with hash browns, poached eggs, sausages and toast. It was diner fare, but very well done. The poached eggs were perfectly cooked 8/10. Coffee was weak but tasted good - I even had more than one cup 2/3. Service was the best I have had so far with internet access 2/2, for a total of 12/15.  Not high end, but very enjoyable. 
4. June 7, 2011. I ended up cycling with my host and his family all the way down the river trail into Lansing city on Sunday. This is an excellent cycling route and we had a great lunch there at Pablo's Old Town restaurant. They have a good breakfast menu so on a nice Sunday I will try and get there again for brunch. Having missed Sunday brunch, I just delayed it to today. With limited options I knew that some of the counter service places near campus would have to make the list. I chose the nearby Bruegger's Bagels (http://www.brueggers.com/) today. I got a breakfast bagel, which was nice 5/10. The staff were fine, but counter service doesn't get a point and although they advertised free internet it was not up while I was there 0/2. The coffee was weak and uninteresting 1/3, for a total of 6/15. The place is perfectly fine, just gets a low score for the kind of brunch experience I am looking for. The bagel was not bad, I will go back and get a bag of them tomorrow for lunches. 
5. June 12, 2011. I went to the State Room (http://stateroomrestaurant.com/) at the Kellogg Centre for their brunch buffet. I actually planned to go there two weeks ago, but it was closed without notice (due to the long weekend?) and then planned to go last weekend but ended up not being free on Sunday morning. I finally made it this week. I think the campus maintains this hotel and restaurant at some expense just to have somewhere in town of this quality for visitors - family and alumni who they want to impress. There was some sort of parent orientation event going on when I was there. I am quite happy to be subsidized for my $15 all inclusive upscale brunch. I had three courses - breakfast stuff which was good but standard (eggs, sausage, bacon), then there was savoury lunch stuff, followed by the dessert table. Food was great 9/10, coffee was good as well 3/3 and they brought a carafe of it for me. Service was not great for that kind of place, but ekes out that point. They had the same campus internet I have available in my room but for some reason I could not connect there 1/2. This gives a total of 13/15. One small warning - the place is populated with the nouveau riche who imagine it is OK to go to a place like that in their pyjamas and baseball caps and act like they are at home with their families. 
6. June 19, 2011. I couldn't face the crowds for Fathers' Day brunch, so this week I decided to make breakfast for myself. I had a cheese omelette - made just the way I like :) People who know me will confirm that I love my own cooking! 8/10. At other places I gave higher scores for worse coffee, but it is harder to lie about your own brew 2/3. I had internet but the service sucked - I had to get my own coffee and wash the dishes afterward! 1/2. I give myself a total of 11/15. 
7. June 25, 2011. In my residence, there is cafeteria called The Gallery (http://eatatstate.com/menus/gallery) you can pay to use as well as get meal plans. A couple of people recommended it to me, but it is a disappointment as a brunch spot, food 3/10, coffee 1/3, service 1/2 (internet but counter service). Could be good for other meals, though. It is set up as a food court, with different stations, most of which are not open at breakfast. Anyway, I am here on Saturday because I am out with my host and his family tomorrow. Total 5/15.

Possibilites for next time I visit: Coral Gables (http://coralgablesrestaurant.com/); Pablo's Panaderia (http://pablosoldtown.com/) in Lansing, Sawyer's Gourmet Pancake House in Lansing; Golden Harvest Restaurant in Lansing; International Restaurant & Tuba Museum (http://www.travelerstuba.com/) in Okemos. 

Just in case you think I am some kind of Canadian coffee snob that is impossible to please, Espresso Royale (http://www.espressoroyale.com/) scores a coffee 3/3. This place has muffins and so on but not enough breakfast items to be a potential brunch location (unless I run out of other options).

Week#1 Beggar's Banquet

Week #2 Wanderer's Tea House 

Week #3 Hanna's Koney Island

Week #4 Bruegger's Bagels

Week #5 The State Room in the Kellogg Centre

Week #6 In my apartment in Snyder Hall

The Gallery, Cafeteria in Snyder Hall

 Best Coffee in East Lansing