162. Five most important things that happened to me in 2008

This post number 161 is the last one that I write in the year 2008 as it passes away and waves us his hand. What did it bring to my life?

1. Agata was born – my little, lovely, hyperactive, noisy, extremely creative and restless daughter was born in the end of September, and my life has changed so radically, that I am not yet sure I can understand and observe all the changes that happened to me, Ganna and our life So far, I feel that the most important thing that happens to a man is that he starts to feel responsible. The birth of your child is really your childhood’s end.  Also, my male frields and readers – if you are married, if your wife expects a baby, I strongly encourage you to take part in your future baby’s delivery process. It is experience of a life time, you will never forgive yourselves if you miss it. And most of all, your wife will really need you near her at that moment.
2. A couple of new ideas has come on my mind – about information loss paradox (paradoxically , this one came out of our discussion with Lubos Motl), about the nature of quark confinement, about chaos in QFTs and finally about essentially non-equilibrium formulation of AdS/CFT. I believe, all four ideas are not so bad actually, but it took so much time to implement every single one of them, that publications are going to be definitely postponed till the Spring of 2009.
3. I’ve started this blog - and it became an almost infinite source of fun and inspiration for me. It also allowed me to get in touch with many amazing people. Ttake James Kotsybar for one, who grows and sells beautiful orchids in California and writes nice poems about physics and physicists when he has enough time. And you did not have a chance to listen for music he writes yet Thanks to all of you, who accepted my invitation to give a guest blog post at NEQNET. I hope that eventually this blog will actually become a kind of community of theoretical physicists and people interested in theoretical physics, where we all be able to share our ideas with each other in the easiest possible way – online.
4. I finally managed to talk to Polyakov at Strings 2008 and, as it seems, was even able to sell him a couple of my ideas (see above). Well, at least, he did not kick my … away preferring to carefully listen instead It is a bit painful to admit but a single conversation with him was my dream for the last decade. As for the topic of our conversation – you are eventually going to learn about it, but in 2009 Stay tuned.
5. I started and failed on FOREX. The stupidest time (EVER) to enter the market – when the global crisis is just going to take off. There were two reasons why I entered the FOREX in 2008. The reason (a) was that I actually knew about crisis coming (and discussed it with professionals back in the autumn of 2007). I even correctly predicted the timing – Autumn of 2008. The reason (b) followed from the reason (a). I thought – if I am so smart to predict the timing correctly and I also have a model explaining how events will develop further (I had, indeed), why not to gain something out of the crisis? I think, ultimately, my idea was correct – it was possible to gain from the crisis (take a look how much return Renaissance Technologies had in 2008), I had to learn so many things – for example, how painful the leverage and margin calls can be Fortunately, we did not loose much, I was quick enough to leave and never return

Too conclude, it was amazing year. And it does seem to me, the next one will amaze us even more

Agata, Ganna and me would like to wish you a very Happy, Prosperous and Creative New Year 2009!

P.S. By the way, what are the most important 5 things that happened to you in 2008?