Six degrees of physicists
Peter Steinberg learns that, on average, it takes a chain of 5.9 people to connect one person in the particle physics community to another. That's right, particle physicists "have the...distinction of defining 'six degrees of separation.'" They have a lot of work to do if they want to catch up to the rappers, who have only about 3 degrees of separation. "I do tend to see the same people over and over again, but in far-flung locales," Peter writes.

Gordon Watts would probably agree. He touched base with lots of colleagues at the annual DZERO Christmas party. "The collaboration meeting is large enough that everyone shows up. For example, almost everyone from Marseille, CPPM (where I spent the summer) was there." he writes. He also saw fellow Quantum Diarist Ursula Bassler.

Ursula herself reports that, even when physicists do see each other, they don't necessarily pay attention. "Most people think that if there is something important in a meeting, they will catch it even while continuing working on their laptops. I am suspicious if this is true."

But someone they always look up from their laptops for is Fermilab's director, Pier Oddone. Rob Gardner attended the director's brown bag lunch talk--and took notes.

Unexpected passions
Caolionn O'Connell finally admits her "dirty little secret": She actually liked her quantum mechanics class. "Not only was it a little trippy (I mean, the cat is half dead AND half alive until you look at it, DAMN!), but there was something zen-like about solving the problems...All of it so elegant, so beautiful – I honestly loved it."

Gordon Watts reveals an unusual interest: type."I’ve read what I could in my spare time about typeface, its design, and page layout. All of these disappear into the background for someone with my day job, but reading the books you quickly realize there is a whole art form you are missing."