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Well this took a good while, eh. I finished my thesis! And started working as a full-time software tester the next day. Because aint no rest for the wicked, that and the experience and skills I can get.

It's an interesting experience after four years on university: to have a "real" job. And (for now) way less stressful than the studying used to be. There is a fixed workday, lunch, two (!) days off on weekends and plenty of time to do the job you were hired to do. And even a paycheck, not that large for now, but still eight times what my lab used to pay.

I hope this experience serves me well, even though now it breeds more trouble than it solves.

@johnabs

Lol. 1.5l is a lot, at least in terms of bathroom break time.

@johnabs

It's either tiramisu (although it's tricky to find a good one sometimes) or maple syrup bun with pecan nuts on top. And coffee is usually black, espresso, filter or lungo.

A cup of hot black coffee and some pastry make life a lot more tolerable. Add a cozy cafe with some good beats and you can almost feel alive.

Anyway, how have you been this week, my occasional audience? I promise a more elaborate story in a few days once I get enough sleep to recover and enough alcohol to forget the tomorrow's "intro to philosophy" test. This much may take a while to consume but then again, I am patient.

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Ugh. So... Yeah. Fuck me, that wasnt an easy week.

...what do you mean its only Wednesday?

I have to clarify: it is not more difficult because of the information density (there was more material in some years), but because a) I have to write a thesis and b) teachers mostly have shitty time management and final tests for all subjects overlap on the last two weeks. I already had a day with two credits (one-on-one talk with a professor) and a test.

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@rastinza

Oof, that's gonna be a long answer...

So I'm majoring in materials science, and this is the final semester. There are philosophy, composite materials mechanics (lectures+lab), condensed phases physics and something (lectures+lectures_2+lab, mostly deals with semiconductor physics), radiochemistry, physical chemistry of materials (lectures that mostly deal with metallurgy and ceramics phase transitions). Oh and metal-organic complexes chemistry, but this one is finished.

Oh well, the last semester is exponentially more difficult than all the others were. But I'm managing, more or less.

Sooo my eyes are fine. Another checkup is due in 10 days and after that I'm clear.

I'll make it clear that I decided to do this surgery now, even somewhat urgently, for two reasons.

1) Price. It has gone up 30% within the last month and I wouldn't like to pay even more if there is a way to avoid it.
2) Spare parts. I have an idea about the way these lasers work, and they don't last without new parts and maintenance. Which will be more difficult as the time goes on and logistics/sanctions make things more complicated.

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So I finally obtained clarity. Made laser correction, that is.

Going from -5.25 on both eyes to 100% clear picture is great. 10/10, would recommend. The process is painless, yet unpleasant. What baffles me is that it's cheaper to buy clear vision that an iPhone. Hail capitalism.

I'll describe the process. First, diagnostics are run to determine the cornea thickness. Then, in a wekk (one shouldn't wear contact lenses over this week) the surgery begins. The nurse disinfects eyes and provides you with a nice hat, coat and a mask. You lie down on a table, a sterile cloth is put over your face.

A laser cuts cornea, surgeon puts it aside and another laser burns parts of the eye (the lens, I suppose) to change the focal strength. The cornea is then put back and the process is repeated on the other eye. Unpleasant sensations come mostly from fixators that keep eyelids in place, as well as the vacuum fixator for the eyeball. There is also an intense smell of burned fried eggs that comes from the eye when the laser is on.

If anyone has questions I'll be happy to answer to the best of my abilities, but keep in mind that I'm not a medical professional.

@adamasnemesis

Well, yeah, but this idea is becoming even less realistic over time.

@FailForward

Any choice is a burden, especially if it is an illusion of choice. Or maybe I'm looking for a silver lining in a situation that is otherwise... well, unpleasant.

There is no "safe and stable 9/5 work" anymore, not for my generation. That's even more true for this country. Not that I ever aspired to settle down for a quiet life of an office worker, but the opportunity was there. Now it's not, and it is somehow liberating.

So trying to fight off a cold "on foot" with paracetamol while studying is not a good idea, at least my immune system can't pull that off. For the past few days I've been suffering the consequences and still feel weaker than usual. But hey, I'm alive, that's something. Everithing, actually.

At the time of writing this, my colleague is late for a zoom call she has already postponed. Rude and annoying.

@FailForward

Thanks, both work! I tried invidious a few times but it doesn't work for some reason. I guess I'll use Piped from now on.

I am aware of nitter but don't use twitter so it doesn't really matter. It looks like I'm gonna mostly transition to soundcloud+odysee+mastodon along with a few telegram channels.

@FailForward

This video is unavailable in your country, the owner does not allow streaming from your location. I mean, I can use vpn and stuff but it's insettling.

Well, we entered the new era. Now I routinely use PGP on sensitive data and messages. Viva la cryptography, I guess...

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