Random Update (2.10.13): Blizzard Edition

A few of us took a trip to Cleveland Circle, an area with some stores and food places, yesterday afternoon to eat burritos and see what the blizzard left behind. The burrito place was closed, but the burger place was open, if anyone is keeping score. 

Entrance to the Res. A few brave soles tried going that way. 

That's a lot of snow. Also, that's Miguel. 

The Reservoir + frozen+ snow on top.

Again.

Miguel, Jim, Angela, and me. And the reservoir. Again.

View from me and Pat's window. 

We decided that 7/11 uses street snow mush in their coke-flavored Slushies.

Random Update (2.6.13)

Last weekend was the Super Bowl, and there was a lot of hype surrounding Beyonce, power outages, and a decently entertaining match. Unfortunately, I left halfway through the fourth quarter to go play soccer, so I missed the end. I heard Baltimore won. Also, I went to a basketball game on Saturday with Jonathan, we beat Clemson which was cool. The roommates and I have been playing a lot of cards and dominoes, watching a lot of M*A*S*H, and listening to a lot of good Spanish music in the late evening after class and homework is done. Oh and smoothies. I love me my smoothies. And brie. Brie too.

Go eagles.

Final score. We went ~56% from beyond the arc. Crazy three's. 

Gasson in the snow. Some sight.

This coming weekend is going to be busy. We have many people visiting. J.M.'s brother, Veb's brother, two of Zach's friends from home, and Luke! So excited. The common room or living room will be very full. It will be extra fun because 5/8 of us are dancing in the 'culture show.'  Even me... yes. Even me. J.M. and Veb choreographed it. The show is Saturday night, and should be a lot of fun. 

Random Update (1.31.13)

Sunday was full of activities. Pat and I had our first intramural basketball game. We played the defensive line of the Boston College football team and lost. I am not brave enough to mention the score publicly. Soccer was later in the evening, and much nicer. We won 1-0, although I took a direct hit to a sensitive area so I crawled off the pitch a few minutes early. All better now though. 

I had jury duty on Monday, the 28th, so I had to get up really early (for college) and go downtown. Basically, I waited in a big room with other people in the 'jury pool' until my number got called (227? I forget what it was) and then the group of 40 of us went in the elevator up to the court room, where a nice old judge explained what's important about being on a jury, why it's important, what sort of mindset one needs, etc. I was the first possible jury called up for the 1v1 interview with the judge, after the group questions were asked to everyone at once. He offered to excuse me because I was a student, which was nice. So I said yes, and barely made it back in time for Modern Physics lab at 5:00 PM. Overall a good experience, I got a good bit of reading done while I waited (it was a long wait!) mostly Kant's Metaphysics of Morals. It was kind of funny because he talks about 'duty' all the time, and I was on jury duty... maybe funny is the wrong word. 

Modern physics is cool. Relativity is really interesting and intuitive. And in lab, we get to measure most of the fundamental constants, like c, h, k, and maybe permeability and permitivity, I forget. Definitely the first three though. My lab partner is Olivier, he's an exchange student from Amsterdam, and he's a really good fellow. We went to a local bar with some other friends after lab on Wednesday to watch the Real Madrid - Barcelona game (Arsenal - Liverpool and Man U - Southampton were also showing).

The last few weeks I've been going to dance practice at night because my roommates (J.M. and Veb) convinced me to do the sophomore dance... so for example this evening (Thursday) we all went to a classroom in Gasson, moved chairs around, and practiced. Zach (another roommate) and Jonathan (soccer mate) are dancing too. There are 8 guys and 16 girls, it's actually more fun than I thought... I guess if anything I appreciate anyone who can make dancing look cool a lot more than I used to... it's hard. I imagine having nimble soccer legs helps, but still. I'm tall and white... not the best dancer gene combo there.

Tomorrow I have an early Spanish class, and then I'm done! Also hard to believe January is over. However, it's also amazing how it's only been half a month since we've been back too... speaking of relativity... college is definitely empirical evidence of its existence. 

Random Update (1.21.13)

It's weird to type "13" at the end up there. But as new years go, this was a pretty normal switch. I can't explain why, but I offer that opinion. 

After a good ol' "syllabus week" full of not too much work because people are still switching classes (until this Tuesday, I believe), I got to hang out with the roomies on Friday. Fridays are nice because I only have one class at 10:00 AM! Which is Spanish, if you're keeping score. This semester I've been inspired to go to the gym, known around Boston College as "the Plex," a lot more than I ever have. There is definitely truth in the shoe company ASICS, which stands for "anima sana in corpore sano." They must have sold a lot more shoes back then than they do now. No one speaks Latin now! Respect for sticking to your Roman roots, ASICS. Respect. Anyways, as I was saying, my head feels better when my body does, so I've been exercising more. And playing soccer, or at least kicking a soccer ball around, as much as I can. Everything is simpler when I have a soccer ball. On the subject of soccer, there may be a few Spring season games for the BC club team. Not quite sure yet. 

This long weekend had some american football games. Mi padre likes the 49er's and we ended up in Atlanta on Saturday, ready for the game on Sunday. Let's start from the beginning. Atlanta is a huge airport. My sources tell me it is the largest in the USA, which I believe. James and Mitchell picked me up sometime in the evening from the airport (they drove to Atlanta) and we went off to the hotel. Between the hotel, hotel parking, and the waiting staff at the Mellow Mushroom, Atlanta was found to be full of not incompetent people... but almost incompetent people... they're more like... frustrating people. The hotel was really cool. The inside plaza thing went up however tens of stories to the roof, and the balconies of the rooms I could see reminded me of Mos Eisley (think sandy).

Inside.

Cool art inside.

After dinner we watched 'Pawn Stars' on the History Channel. The music, the pageantry... wow, what a musical. The funniest moment was probably the (assuming here) drunken chants in the middle of the night from a poor 49er's fan... "Let's, go, Niners," which was occasionally answered by the odd other drunken 49er's fan. It was pretty hilarious, except I was kinda sleeping so it wasn't really that hilarious in the moment. 

The game was awesome. The Georgia Dome is huge and fits many people, most of whom scream very loudly at the top of their lungs whenever a non-Georgia team is trying to score or when a Georgia team scores. It got really loud, is the point I'm making here. San Francisco went down 24-14 first half, but shut out Atlanta in the entire second half to win, 24-28. Pretty amazing game, even for american football. Here are some photos.

Front of Georgia Dome. Adequately sponsored. 

Empty.

Still empty. Other side. 

A hero of ESPN. John Clayton (in HD, he is hard to watch...)

Announcing Atlanta's team with flare. 

Wow, America. Big ol' flag there. 

Coin toss.

Kick off. 

This is the "TV Timeout" guy. He signals to the referees when to take a TV timeout with big orange dish-washing gloves. I think that's hilarious. 

A play with Matt Ryan (BC graduate) at the helm of the attack. 

Random Update (1.15.12)

It's good to be back. Sunday I washed my sheets and blankets (starting the semester right) after saying hello to a few people and roommates and stuff. I had been up since 7:30 CST (central standard time? I have no idea if that's the abbreviation) to watch the Manchester United vs. Liverpool and Arsenal vs. Manchester City soccer matches on TV, so I was tired and went to bed around midnight (so early!). On Monday I had two classes: Spanish and Economics. I really like them. Actually I can probably describe/organize all this better, one moment...

Monday

Navigating the Nation: Cityscapes and Countryside 

10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

This is a Spanish elective class that covers literature and art in Spain from the 18th-21st centuries with the same professor as last semester who I really enjoyed. It focuses on the contrast between rural/urban identity in Spain. I just barely took up the last spot in this class because it is technically my "overload" or 6th class and I could only sign up by going to student services and getting an overload approved in person. 

Modern Physics Lab

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

This starts January 28th. 

Microeconomic Theory

6:00 PM - 7:15 PM

The follow-up course to Principles of Economics, this class takes a closer look at a few topics from the intro course. The teacher is a part-time guy in his 30's who knows his stuff and makes the class really enjoyable. He's pretty funny in my opinion. Also, Pat's in this class with me. It's the first class I have ever had with any roommate, ever, besides Mike in Physics (but he dropped Physics so that doesn't count anymore). Also this class is in the new building on campus, called Stokes. It's an honor to have class there (but really it's so freakin awesome). 

Tuesday

Principles of Macroeconomics

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM

The second intro econ course after the one I took last semester. The teacher seems pretty normal, it's a big class though so it's always harder to be a compelling teacher in front of 200 seats. Unfortunately, when he talks for extended periods of time, his saliva froths up on his lower lip. Yes. I went there. The world needs to know. 

Modern Physics

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Relativity and basic quantum. Let's go. There was a little of a "thinning of the herd" effect this semester in physics, Sean, Matt, and Mike (and maybe another one or two people I don't know) dropped physics. So it's a little smaller. But the professor, like most physics professors, seems really great. 

Western Cultural Tradition

3:00 PM - 4:50 PM

Continuation of last semester's class, a few substitutions to the roster, but generally the same students. We are reading stories of the Hasidim (Jewish peeps) right now and later Brothers Karamozov. Started Brothers over break and I like it a lot. 

Wednesday

Navigating the Nation: Cityscapes and Countryside 

10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

Microeconomic Theory

6:00 PM - 7:15 PM

Thursday

Principles of Macroeconomics

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Modern Physics

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Western Cultural Tradition

3:00 PM - 4:50 PM

Friday

Navigating the Nation: Cityscapes and Countryside 

10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

There she is, my schedule. In other news, we have been playing a bunch of card games the last few nights, including but not limited to Spades, Hearts, Palace (or Castle), Cribbage, and Spectrum. I bought frozen strawberries and brie yesterday, but left "This is a Book" by Demetri Martin in the checkout line after I emptied my backpack to fill it up, so I went back to get it today. It's getting cold over here in Boston. Not too much soccer outside, unfortunately. But indoor 7v7 season is starting up, and I am liking me and my roommates' prospects. What else. Oh yeah. Marilyn came. 

Random Update (12.16.12)

The last day of classes was last Monday, which is followed by 'study days' until finals, with exams running from Thursday until the following Thursday the 20th. I had a Spanish essay due last Monday and an honors paper due on Wednesday which I have turned in. Earlier this morning (Saturday) I had my Spanish final exam, which was pretty easy. What I have been studying for the most is Economics. Rereading chapters, taking notes on them, reworking tests, etc. I'm about 65% done and have all of Sunday to finish up the more recent material, which I'm hoping is a little fresher in the ol' noggin. So I have an Economics exam on Monday at 9:00 AM, an honors exam on Tuesday at 9:00 AM (+ a talk with professor Cohen which counts as the final essay of the semester), and a Physics exam on Wednesday at 9:00 AM. I am a little scared of Physics, but after Economics I will basically only be studying for that for two days, and then I get to fly home! So it will be worth the effort. Oh, and I also have a 12 page history paper (1.5 spacing! Ah!) due Monday by midnight. I'm 9.5 pages into it, so no worries there. 

Midway through the non-stop studying and essay writing, there arose a need for a break. That break took the form of a 16-man FIFA 13 knockout tournament with a mix of roommates and intramural teammates (we lost in the quarterfinals in the intramural playoffs... maybe I forgot to mention that before). Anyways, the invitation was sent out, and 15 glory-hungry Boston College students arrived around 7:30 PM earlier this evening (Saturday) to duke it out (one of our Spanish-speaking roommates feared he would shame himself and his family by losing, and dropped out with little warning, giving Patrick a first-round bye). Attire for the event was suit and tie. Rules for attire were loosely enforced. After about three hours of yelling, Torres jokes, and quality simulated football, we arrived at the final match, staged in London's one and only Wembley Stadium. Barcelona (Frank) vs. Arsenal (me, somehow). After a quick two goals midway through the first half by Theo Walcott and Lucas Podolski, Arsenal was looking strong. However, even the home-field advantage could not hold back the silky goal machine of Barcelona. A quick goal before half, and two more in the second secured them more silverware, despite Gervinho's heartbreaking shot off the post and Walcott's late header over the bar. 

FIFA Formal, as we called it, was not a normal tournament. There were some added rules for football flavor, taken from the wonderful, creative playground of the internet. These are known as FIFA Apology Rules. They read as follows.

Lose by the following number of goals and face the following consequences:
5 - Write a Facebook apology to your opponent praising them for their brilliance. 
6 - You must kiss the feet of your opponent. 
7 - You must make your opponent a tasty sandwich. 
8 - You must be the slave of your opponent for an hour. 
9 - You must eat a tablespoon of various kitchen ingredients of your opponent's discretion. 
10 - You must send a Moonpig apology to your opponent 
11 - Winning player gets 11 minutes on the losers Facebook to do whatever they wish (No changing passwords). Whatever is put on there has to stay for at least 11 hours. 
12 - You must play the next game fully naked 
13 - You have to go to your next door neighbours and start describing the game in its full detail, minute by minute, and where fundamentally you went wrong; if they shut the door move on to the next house and pick up where you left off. 
14 - The person must wear a custom t-shirt, designed by the winner, it must have on the back, " I lost by 14 on Fifa 13 " on the front, it can have what ever the winner desires. The loser must then walk around town explaining to 14 different people why they have lost so badly and get them to sign the t-shirt. A picture must then be uploaded to facebook with the T-shirt on for further abuse. 
15 - You must send a letter to FIFA explaining in great detail why you lost by 15 goals. 
20 - You are not allowed to play FIFA, ever, ever, EVER again. 

Player Rules
Score a hat trick with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink against someone else and they must refer to you as *your name* of *your town of choice* for a fortnight. 
Score a hat trick with Park Ji Sung and your opponent has to jog everywhere he goes, instead of walking. 
Score a hat trick with Andy Carroll/Torres/Moura and your opponent must go into a shop and insist on paying more for an item than it is worth. 
For every headed goal you concede to Aaron Lennon - you will have 2 slits shaved into your eyebrow. 
Score a hat trick with Dimitar Berbatov, and in the next game you play against your opponent, their striker cannot use the sprint button. 
Get a man sent off while playing as Arsenal and you must play the remainder of the match blindfolded. If Wenger did not see the incident, then neither shall you. 
Lose against Accrington Stanley with any top tier team, loser must reply with "Who are they?" to anything said to him for 24 hours, unless someone says "Who are they?" to which the loser must reply "Exactly". 
If you score with Phil Neville, your opponent must go to bed for the rest of the day. PENALTIES DON'T COUNT! 
Score with a hat trick with Emmanuel Adebayor against Arsenal - Your oponent must run the full length of the garden and powerslide, regardless of the weather conditions, while all others present pelt with rubbish and leftover food. 
Score With a Keeper Twice in One Game - Your opponent must buy you food from a take-out to the value of 7 quid under the name of "Fabianski". 
Score with Rory Delap - Your opponent must dry everything with a towel before use for 24 hours 
Score a hat-trick with Sotirios Kyrgiakos and your opponent must dress as a Spartan, go into their local supermarket, and shout 'THIS IS SPARTA' until thrown out. 
Be awarded 2 penalties in one game with Neymar/Busquets/Suarez - next time you are in town you will fall over dramatically 5 times when brushed by any passers by. If you wish you can scream REFFFFFFF while falling. 
Score the winning goal with Ryan Giggs against Arsenal and your opponent must replicate the celebration in your local street - swinging the shirt above the head is a must!

A brilliant bit of human creative genius, that. If you notice in the following photo, PSG lost to Barcelona 7-2. Here is what a FIFA 13 Apology looks like (an original creation!)

Dearest Frank, 

This past Saturday night, I did you the great disservice of wasting 10 minutes of your time in challenging you to a FIFA 13 match. It was with great hubris that I attempted to fell the mighty tree that is your FIFA prowess. Like the foolhardy Icarus, I ventured too near your burning sun of skill that gracefully sheds its warmth on us all. Gods should not be challenged, rather they should only be revered. So I, with a heavy heart, do intend to remain humble forever more. 

Sincerely, Airen [middle name] [last name] (esq.)

Final Bracket

Oh, and there was a big meteor shower on Friday night at 2:00 AM. That was cool.

Random Update (12.2.12)

Campus was pretty dead two Saturdays ago when J.M. and I got back from Thanksgiving in Maryland. So not that much happened Saturday night, and Sunday was a lazy day full of FIFA 13 and then some pesky Paradise Lost reading (it just takes so long... silly 17th century English epic blank verse). The truly exciting part of last week was meeting with my study abroad advisor on Tuesday afternoon. We went over studying abroad in Spain. I want to go for the entire year. The tricky part is deciding if being abroad for a full year is worth it, for example I'd miss a bunch of people at BC and family and club soccer, but also everyone I talk to who has been abroad says to go for a year if it's feasible. Which it is. I was leaning towards Barcelona for a lot of reasons. They have a great school for economics (Pompeu Fabra) they have beaches, they have unlimited soccer, and they have a ton of other stuff that I'm excited to go find. My biggest concerns are the size of the city I decide to go to, the quality of education there, and safety. I like smaller towns for the last reason, plus a smaller city is much easier to get to know quickly. However, not going to a school like Pompeu Fabra is hard to do as well. So, deciding what place for how long is the big issue. But the best thing is that I have options, it's all possible, and I'm flexible. Next year is going to be a blast. 

However back to this year, we celebrated Veb's 20th birthday this weekend, Friday night to be exact. That was a lot of fun; our 8-man suite was full of friends and everyone had a great time. Jim and I had a great photo, which you'll see displayed  below. Saturday evening, stopped by Sam and Matt's Christmas party they had in Ignacio, which they really did well. Unfortunately I couldn't stay for too long because I had to catch the last show that a school comedy group was putting on at 10:30. The group is called "Shovelhead" and a couple friends from Newton are in it. It was hilarious; I watched with Nick (roommate this summer) and some other folks. After that, I pretty much went to bed, after grabbing some food in Lower with Alex and Pat and people.

Today was a day for thinking. I read Paradise Lost for a few hours in the library. Then Christine invited me to a casual bible discussion with a few people she knew. So, I went to Cleveland Circle (a short bus ride away, CC has a bunch of little places for food and other little things like haircuts and CVS products). I got a haircut and then the four of us went to Chipotle for dinner. We talked for about 1.5 hours about Christianity, God, faith, heaven, Jesus, sin, love... you get the idea; we talked about a lot of questions to which no one has a satisfying answer. Then since Christine is losing her mind because her dreams are slowly becoming reality, she and some roommates watched the trippy movie Waking Life (2001). Oh! Also, my friend Lev had a little t-shirt project this summer, and it came through using kickstarter.com, here are the fruits of his labor. Also, it snowed. A little.

Synonymous T-shirts

Jim and I (Gemini). Frightening, I know.