Coincidences abound in the District of Columbia 

Three Cheers

2:15 PM, spring break begins.

George found a turtleneck sweater while we were cleaning the room, tried it on, and then threw it away 

I'm the Thiz 

Blacklight room 

Gonna gig so hard my pants fall off

Saturday night ended with a bang. I drove Bill to the airport at 6AM Sunday and then marveled at my own ability to relocate the house at that hour.

Classic dome photo 

Courtland, my lab partner in 8.02T, Physics Electricity and Magnetism 

Evan and Bill 

Bexxxley 

This is Max Goldberg from Emerson College. I only know this because he screamed his name into a voice memo on my phone 

Names have been changed to protect the innocent 

Whoaaa 

Every good party needs a mannequin 

All I remember about this guy was that he's taking a semester off 

Ubiquitous blurry party pic 

4th large...rear? 

Shamrock

Phew! Another week flies by, leaving only one more before spring break in DC and Minnesota.

I ate dinner at The Tech on Tuesday with Dr. Randolph, Senior Associate Dean of Student Life. Most of the conversation was geared toward mental health at MIT, something with which Randolph is heavily involved. He had some interesting insight into the matter, and hopefully I’ll be writing a feature story on mental health and counseling later this month for The Tech.

I started working this week at the Information Services and Technology department at MIT. The job involves troubleshooting computer issues over the phone, which may sound mind numbing, but I’ll see how this shapes up.

Last night Boston exploded for St. Patrick’s Day. Apparently, to celebrate Saint Patrick’s driving of snakes out of Ireland with a large drum, Americans gather in pubs and bars across the country to drink to a blackout. Bill and I went to a party at Bexley, the most misunderstood (read: awesome) dorm on campus. See Bill’s picture with a colander on his head. Hilarity ensued.

Still Life: Rothberg 

View of Boston from the dorm 

Firetrucks on Beacon Street 

A laid back crowd 

Freddy from Grain Riot 

...ship mixing beats at an apartment in Cambridge 

The whole crew at WMBR 

Ahoy mateys 

Freddy, Sam, and David rocking out 

Bill and Ante in the studio at WMBR 

Cambridge Jam Sessions

Monday night Ante invited me to concert at an apartment in Cambridge. A friend of his from Portland, now at Vassar, was playing a live set from the Freedom Spring Tour. The bands were, in opening order, The Lillypads, Grain Riot, and …ship. I missed most of The Lillypad’s performance because I was at lab late into the evening, but the atmosphere of the whole show was superb. The last guy to play, Ante’s friend, turned off the nights, served gingersnaps, and had everyone sit on the floor of the apartment to experience “the healing power of the music.” He proceeded to play crazy electronic beats reverbed from a guitar and drum kit augmented with a flute, keyboards, a tambourine, and vigorous hand waving. After the show I asked the three bands if they wanted to come on my radio show later that night, an offer none could refuse.

We reconvened at WMBR around 2AM. The band was set up within 20 minutes and we were soon joined by Ante, Bill, Scott, and Gattis for a total of 8 bodies spread out among three recording rooms in the studio. Bill ran around procuring headphones for everyone and then band began to play. After a slightly rocky start, they got into their element and jammed for a good two hours. Check the recording at clearlyno.com.

All three guys will be opening for Get Him Eat Him at AS220 in Providence on Thursday the 16th. For more info about Stovetop Records and the Freedom Spring Tour check out http://stovetoprecords.com.

Women's Lacrosse 

Lady Camels?? 

Classic Ante, ferret in tow 

Glowstick poi at the afterparty 

Come dance on the stage! 

The Cloud Room 

Weee! 

The Death Star reading room 

Whoaa! 

Nonchalance in the Common 

The Boston state house 

Bill at 500 Boylston, Boston Legal style 

Justice 

Theta Chi representing in the Pub at Wellesley 

Bowling at Sigma Kappa 

A little worrisome 

I don't remember who this is, but a neat picture nonetheless 

One of my favorite professors at MIT, Jacob White 

Fellow scientists 

Bogue, who was also at the show 

Belle and Sebastian at the Avalon 

Rockin' out to a packed house 

Can I Kick it? (Yes You Can)

Excitement continues in the Boston area. I invited a friend of mine to be a guest on the radio show last Tuesday and he consequently, albeit subconsciously, swore like a sailor over the air. Luckily not too many people listen live.

The Belle and Sebastian show knocked my socks off. Boston has such a great selection of shows to attend that it’s hard to turn down a venue regardless of price. I met Whitney at the show and she gave me a new mix CD.

Bill and I attended a sushi mixer at Sigma Kappa at their house in Boston. The most striking aspect of the residence was its cleanliness. Sushi was rolled by hand. Scott Barth took a knife to the neck of a stuffed animal. Nothing too outrageous.

Classes are strenuous, at best. Monday through Thursday night is a blur of p-sets and tests but the weekends are fantastic. The weather’s improving, too, bringing the six months of cold to a final halt.

Bill and I explored Boston on foot during the day on Friday. Bill watches a lot of Boston Legal so we took pictures in front of the key locations on the show. Even after living in Boston for a number of months I haven’t taken many long waking tours.

This weekend The Cloud Room played a great live show at the Wellesley museum. They also made an appearance at the after-party along with Ante and a ferret. I watched a lacrosse game the next day and had a conversation with Diana Chapman Walsh, current President of Wellesley College. Not only articulate, Walsh was also personable and funny. She even made fun of the other team, the “lady camels.”

At dinner that evening I met a waiter with interesting sideburns (done by hand with a straight razor) who used to street-race cars with Puerto Ricans. Back at Theta Chi, Ante’s brother Nels was sleeping in my bed so I took Bill’s. Bill, who decided to go to bed around 6AM, was stuck on the couch.

Another sunrise over Boston...

Expect updates soon, after I negotiate this line drawing of the Death Star