2010 JHFCU Calendar

"Congratulations on having your photo(s) selected for JHFCU’s 2010 calendar photo contest. We received many entries and had only a limited number of slots, so we picked the photos that we felt best represented the Hopkins community and Baltimore area. [...]"

Since I sent them three and got only limited information, I guess that the one below got chosen! The value of the R1 got proved again!



(Yes, I know the pic is full of artifacts. However, I only accept criticism from somebody who has ever tried to take pictures of dark objects against the sun in snow conditions.)

Triple Woes

First, I canceled one of my two German bank accounts, the one that had a VISA card going with it.

Then, a late charge came in for this account, resulting in an overdraft. I was sent an overdraft notice, which got lost at my Germany place in a stack of mail.

Third, I got wind of that and duly paid the overdraft fee from my other German bank account.

Soon after, I got another overdraft notice, claiming that I still have to pay the amount, now with twice the fees.

At the same time, my Skype account suddenly got blocked, preventing me from calling Germany or any other place. Skype doesn't react to Customer Service Requests.

I suspect they tried to draft some $$$ from a PayPal account that had been linked with the now-defunct VISA card (as mentioned above), so I tried to change the way of payment to my American VISA card. However, PayPal claims that card is already associated with another account (which I can't understand, since there is no other account). PayPal similarly doesn't react to customer requests.

Thus, I am left with:
- a German bank threatening to call in the SCHUFA credit history agency,
- a dysfunctional Skype account and no phone calls,
and
- a dysfunctional PayPal account.

I cannot call the German bank to clarify the issue, because Skype doesn't work.
I cannot get Skype to work, because the account pages are completely locked up and tell me to file a Customer Service Request.
And I cannot get PayPal to work, because it tells me I can't use my credit card.

**** ***, Skype.
**** ***, PayPal.
And **** *** ***, U.S.!

Oh, and I finally reached the bank hotline. However, they are closed and don't offer any clue as to when they'll reopen. **** ***, Postbank!

MRI scans of sushi

Ok, my early-morning search of interesting things terminated here today: with MRI scans of sushi over at BoingBoing.net (http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/17/mri-scans-of-sushi.html).

It's not a day until you scanned some!

Saturday's "First Annual DMIP Beach Retreat" - Radiology organized this year's 2nd retreat, this time with no science at all!

Boston & ISBI 2009

The other week, I've been to Boston, MA to attend the ISBI 2009 conference together with Matthias of Fraunhofer.

2009 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS)

Re: Abstract ID: 1044
Abstract Title: 5DOF Trajectory Reconstruction for Handheld Ultrasound with Local Sensors

Dear Philipp Stolka:

We are pleased to inform you that the above referenced abstract has been accepted for Poster presentation during the 2009 IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS). The symposium will be held from September 20-23, 2009 at the Ergife Palace Hotel, Roma, Italy.

[...]

Luckily I didn't hand in the abstract under its working title "Bastard SpaceMouse".

Kittykat Tyrone!

This cute little tiny kittykat has been with us for a few days (somebody had to babysit it). The other two cats were completely irritated by this CUTE TEENY KITTY!