Due to a microphone mix-up, I now looked a complete fool. The problem was that it was my turn to speak, but the mic that I was holding was silent. Meanwhile, an idiotic woman was blethering into the one that was live. With all eyes turned on me, everyone thought that the idiotic woman’s words were mine.

Afterwards, one of the few people who deigned to acknowledge me asked about a possible research role in my group. I said that I would let her know of any opportunities and asked for her business card. She didn’t have one on her, so instead passed over a sticky resin model of a severed toddler’s hand.