As you no doubt have noticed, I haven't been blogging as much lately. I blame this on prelims. The UW Math Department's preliminary exams, known at some other institutions as qualifying exams, or 'quals' if you will, are next week. Four hours each. I'll be taking Algebra on Monday, and Complex Analysis on Wednesday. This imposes something of a gruelling schedule on me, as I make ready...Studying, watching Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, exponentiating random matrices for a laugh, sleeping ten hours...It takes a toll on a chap. I'm all worn down to a frazzle. It'll all be over in another week...Either I shall triumph, or the ducks shall gnaw my bones on the ash-heap of History.

In the mean time, here is a duck. Amuse yourselves quietly.