Wild Mountain Thyme is a traditional Scottish folk song which is arguably attributed to Francis McPeake, who recorded it first in the 1950s. It’s a love song set among the lovely heather and sweetly perfumed wild mountain thyme of Scotland.

Here it is being sung.

Today, I found myself recording a wonderful arrangement of this piece on my guitar. I don’t record myself often (mainly because I’m not that good), but it’s always nice to see the end result.

I really hope that you enjoy it.

I hope it helps you forget about your troubles — if only for a brief moment. I hope it helps you get over that stupid, mean person in your life, or helps you deal with the mountain of paperwork awaiting you when you return.

I hope it takes you away to that magical and ethereal place, where the grass is always green, and the sky, unimaginatively clear and blue.

Most of all, I hope it makes you smile.

The medalists for the Spring Convocation of the University were announced today.

And if you look real hard, you can find me.

I’m the loser past the dozens of students who actually did well.

It’s odd, because I’m not used to being relegated to, like, the fiftieth page and the thirteenth column in the middle of the eighth paragraph. I was hoping for a three-peat of the GG’s Medal, which is given to the bestest, most good-looking graduate at a Canadian institution. I took home the bronze medal in high school, the silver in undergraduate, and was hoping for the gold one this year.

That way, I could sell the complete collection on E-Bay.

This marks the third graduation I’ve been to in 3 years: High school (2004), Undergraduate (2006), Graduate (2007). And yeah, I’m a bit tired, I’m a bit cranky, and you, my lovely readers have also joined me as I chronicled my journey, from first ‘A’, to memorable has-been speech, all the while bearing my intense nakedness. I’m not sure what that last part had to do with anything, but I’ll be damned if I didn’t work it in.

But you know what? I’m not as disappointed as I’d thought I’d been. I sort of pictured myself teetering on the Mackenzie King Bridge, holding a bottle of vodka, and having to be talked off by Canadian Mounties, but no, it’s not that bad. I’ve accepted my fate as a second-class student, and I’ve moved on.

“It could be worse,” my mom says.

“Yeah, I know it could be worse. I could have woken up with my right arm gnawed off by wolves. But that doesn’t really help.”

“Get used to it,” my mom shrugs, “life doesn’t just hand you shiny awards on a silver platter.”

I just moan.

I just keep thinking back to a scene from that 1985 movie Better Off Dead. It’s the start of the movie and the lovesick Lane (John Cusack) is watching the ski slopes with his bodacious girlfriend, Beth (Amanda Wyss, right). But there’s a hunky new ski jock in town and after he makes his run, Beth is all, “I’m sorry Lane, but I only go out with ski captains,” and she totally dumps his ass.

I think the next time I watch that movie, I’m going to cry. Because that’s totally me! I’m John Cusack, man!

One day I’ll be at a math party with my future girlfriend, a foxy winner of the 2008 Amanda Wyss Lookalike Contest. And she’ll be all, “Sorry Phil, I only go out with smart math geeks,” and then she’ll dump me for some hunky math guy with crazy hair and a pocket protector.

What’s G103?

G103 is the code for a 4 year (MMath) undergraduate math program at British universities.

G103 is also the title of a short movie that was produced by the University of Warwick (pronounced, “Warrick”) Mathematics Institute.

It boasts a superb soundtrack, oddly high production value, and more than a few laugh-out-loud moments. There’s a hilarious scene about a professor trapped in his room and eating the chalk, a homage to The Matrix and Kill Bill movies, and even some ballroom dancing thrown in for variety.

What about the math? Is it rubbish?

“How do you use that Hausdorff thing?” an unseen character asks.

“I dunno,” the star of the movie mumbles, “it’s probably about balls — it’s almost always about balls.”

Which is, of course, true. Everything — absolutely everything — in math is about balls.

Any movie about mathematicians is going to ride the stereotypes. You know, the hermit-like behaviour, the disorganization, neuroticism, and oddball quirkiness. And so it’s really a matter of striking the right balance between wacky humour and grudging truthfulness. And that’s a balance the movie manages to strike, obviously thanks to the fact it was shot and directed by math students.

And yes, most of us do have this intense fascination with chalk and blackboards.

But I’m just wasting your time. Watch it.

Just skip the cheesy classroom shootout scene.

Wasn’t my last entry super?

Thought so. I’m going to need a minute to recharge.