I had received my student's latest text by 8 a.m., but couldn't do much with it since I was packing. The hotel I was transiting through didn't have an overnight room ready, and no business center to speak of. (I had mistaken their security room for a business center. It had a computer workstation built into a wall and was not occupied or guarded. The actual public computer was an old HP junker in the lobby.) It also didn't have much of a lobby (three chairs). So I could either cram myself into a subway or visit the local analogue of the Lincoln Memorial to find a place to sit down and work. (The amazing thing about this city is that it provides very few public sitting places in an effort to discourage vagrancy.) I left my luggage and computer at the front desk (which was also the unoccupied security desk and headed out to the memorial. It provided no public seating (except under the drizzle).
Two hours later: The hotel room has exactly one accessible power outlet, to which the entire entertainment system is connected. To access it requires forcing my way behind the 30" flat-screen TV... My sitting place (there was no desk in the otherwise immaculately appointed room) was one of two non-reclining easy chairs by a ground-floor window facing the local alley-side coffee and snack shop. 2.5 hours later, I sent my comments on the "final" copy of the thesis, along with a PDF of the comment summary. This should give him plenty of time to edit things before sending it to the opponent.
Late that evening (for the student), he sends a copy of his thesis to myself, my co-supervisor, and my opponent. It has some minor text issues.
I'm scheduled to arrive in time for the usual Thursday afternoon meeting time, but the student does not think he needs a meeting.
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