Updates

First, the hostage situation was diffused without casualties.  It was surprisingly easy.  LBJ called the customs people.  Someone actually answered the phone.  A week or so later, the wine glasses arrived (without paying any VAT).

The second update is on my work computer.  The monitor finally arrived on Monday.  I was very excited.  But the computer didn’t work.  Specifically, nothing would show up on the screen.  This was the same problem I had with a couple of different monitors (borrowed from elsewhere in the department), so I was quite disappointed.  I suspected that part of the problem lay in the cables.  Dell provided a VGA cable, but the computer has a DVI connection.  Dell included an adapter, but I don’t think it works.  I went into city center (as they call it here) for a meeting on Tuesday, so I went to an electronics store (where LBJ got our transformer for running our wine fridge and mixer, which we brought from the U.S.) and got a DVI cord.

Lo and behold, the computer worked fine when I hooked up the cord.  I had a few challenges installing Microsoft Office because I didn’t realize that the computer had a preloaded “starter” version (that doesn’t really work) as well as the version I downloaded from the university IT website (i.e. the version licensed for staff).  But I eventually worked that out.

All I need for my work computer is a copy of Stata.  I could have more challenges here.  Although there is a “spare” license I can use, all the department's licenses expire in late August.  One of my colleagues has inquired (multiple times) about getting a renewal, but he is not optimistic.  So I plan to run a lot of Stata between now and late August and hope for the best.