Hundreds of Miles from HomeThe story of a transition from Japan to Cambridge
<br>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79523102005-11-13T20:51:28ZBlogger
This is an Atom formatted XML site feed. It is intended to be viewed in a Newsreader or syndicated to another site. Please visit the Blogger Help for more info.
trueBenjamin2005-12-09T13:21:26-05:002005-12-09T18:21:26Z2005-12-09T18:21:26Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113415248668959490Early morning at Columbia University<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0917-2005.12.09-10.20.02.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0917-2005.12.09-10.20.02.jpg'></a><br />Early morning at Columbia University <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-09T13:20:51-05:002005-12-09T18:20:51Z2005-12-09T18:20:51Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113415245183025302On a walk through the upper west side<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0920-2005.12.09-10.19.38.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0920-2005.12.09-10.19.38.jpg'></a><br />On a walk through the upper west side <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-09T13:19:28-05:002005-12-09T18:19:28Z2005-12-09T18:19:28Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113415236842944712A neat (seemingly abandoned) old church on 116th s...<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0928-2005.12.09-10.19.09.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0928-2005.12.09-10.19.09.jpg'></a><br />A neat (seemingly abandoned) old church on 116th street <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-09T13:18:55-05:002005-12-09T18:18:55Z2005-12-09T18:18:55Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113415233555296699Janna and I at Columbia<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0931-2005.12.09-10.18.32.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0931-2005.12.09-10.18.32.jpg'></a><br />Janna and I at Columbia <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-09T13:18:30-05:002005-12-09T18:18:30Z2005-12-09T18:18:30Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113415231094599609The lights of Rockefeller Center<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0934-2005.12.09-10.18.05.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0934-2005.12.09-10.18.05.jpg'></a><br />The lights of Rockefeller Center <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-09T13:18:22-05:002005-12-09T18:18:22Z2005-12-09T18:18:22Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113415230207926222A sketchy guy next to Spongebob and Dora<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0936-2005.12.09-10.17.37.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0936-2005.12.09-10.17.37.jpg'></a><br />A sketchy guy next to Spongebob and Dora <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-09T13:17:36-05:002005-12-09T18:17:36Z2005-12-09T18:17:36Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113415225601836658A cluster of skyscrapers<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0939-2005.12.09-10.17.17.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0939-2005.12.09-10.17.17.jpg'></a><br />A cluster of skyscrapers <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-09T13:16:38-05:002005-12-09T18:16:38Z2005-12-09T18:16:38Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113415219852905664On the streets of NY<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0941-2005.12.09-10.16.40.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0941-2005.12.09-10.16.40.jpg'></a><br />On the streets of NY <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-09T13:16:36-05:002005-12-09T18:16:36Z2005-12-09T18:16:36Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113415219604164576Janna with curryrice and Calpico, a welcome sight<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0945-2005.12.09-10.16.18.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0945-2005.12.09-10.16.18.jpg'></a><br />Janna with curryrice and Calpico, a welcome sight <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-09T13:16:30-05:002005-12-09T18:16:30Z2005-12-09T18:16:30Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113415219088410522This woman was doing an interview for an Eastern E...<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0957-2005.12.09-10.15.27.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0957-2005.12.09-10.15.27.jpg'></a><br />This woman was doing an interview for an Eastern European new program <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-09T13:16:16-05:002005-12-09T18:16:16Z2005-12-09T18:16:16Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113415217665114577Mmm...mmm...good<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0947-2005.12.09-10.15.56.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0947-2005.12.09-10.15.56.jpg'></a><br />Mmm...mmm...good <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-09T13:15:05-05:002005-12-09T18:15:06Z2005-12-09T18:15:05Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113415210598973024A bit too cold for the naked cowboy<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0959-2005.12.09-10.14.44.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0959-2005.12.09-10.14.44.jpg'></a><br />A bit too cold for the naked cowboy <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-09T13:10:11-05:002005-12-09T18:10:11Z2005-12-09T18:10:11Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113415181177803522Leaving Times Square<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0965-2005.12.09-10.09.09.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0965-2005.12.09-10.09.09.jpg'></a><br />Leaving Times Square <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-09T13:09:50-05:002005-12-09T18:09:50Z2005-12-09T18:09:50Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113415179049608895Times Square subway station<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0964-2005.12.09-10.09.33.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0964-2005.12.09-10.09.33.jpg'></a><br />Times Square subway station <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-09T13:08:57-05:002005-12-09T18:08:57Z2005-12-09T18:08:57Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113415173777649846A crazy monument near the Chinatown Bus stop<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0968-2005.12.09-10.08.35.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0968-2005.12.09-10.08.35.jpg'></a><br />A crazy monument near the Chinatown Bus stop <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-09T13:05:00-05:002005-12-09T18:05:55Z2005-12-09T18:05:55Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113415155512378140The Big Apple<p class="MsoNormal">Following last weekend’s shenanigans with the Theta Chi formal and AXO blind date, I got a ride in the back of a U-haul van to South Station at 2AM on Sunday morning to catch a bus to <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:State>. My destination was <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Columbia</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, where the 2005 Japanese Language Proficiency Test was being administered.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Arriving in the city at 5:50AM, I stepped off the bus into the middle of a blizzard in <st1:place st="on">Chinatown</st1:place>. I could barely see across the street and therefore felt like quite a vagabond while I trudged around looking for a subway stop that would take me uptown. A woman who got off the bus with me couldn’t speak English very well and didn’t know where we were so I tried to explain to her friend on a cell phone what street corner the bus had deposited us. Without a map I walked toward a large glowing pagoda which ended up being <st1:place st="on">Chinatown</st1:place>’s main informational booth. Finding a subway station I followed the D line to <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">59<sup>th</sup> street</st1:address></st1:Street> where I switched to the 1 and rode it to the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Columbia</st1:place></st1:City> campus.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">With plenty of time to kill, I did a final review of Japanese before walking around the <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Columbia</st1:City></st1:place> premises down to <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">105<sup>th</sup> street</st1:address></st1:Street>. I was thrilled to be on my own in the city even though snow drifts made walking in street shoes a difficult process. I grabbed a sandwich at a local deli before traipsing back to campus for the test.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Outside of the test hall I was spotted by Janna, my exchange student friend from <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Japan</st1:country-region></st1:place> who I had not seen since returning home (she is now an art major at VCU). She was there with her friend from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Columbia</st1:place></st1:City> and he gave us directions downtown for when we finished the test. Janna and I talked for a while about old times before the test began.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The test itself was not amazingly difficult but there were plenty of tricky parts. I was more surprised by the number of people attending the event; over 100 coming from as far away as <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Pittsburgh</st1:place></st1:City> for the examination. The JLPT is only offered once a year in select cities around the world so I suppose I was lucky to have a relatively short commute.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After the test Janna and I caught a bus (for free, the meter wasn’t working) downtown into <st1:placename st="on">Rockefeller</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Plaza</st1:PlaceType> and <st1:place st="on">Times Square</st1:place>. Most of the snow had melted from the multitudes of people plodding on the sidewalk and we window shopped at a few stores before finding a Japanese bookstore next to the famed Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Continuing with the Japanese vein we ate curry and udon for dinner at a small restaurant near Times Square run by a Japanese-speaking guy from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region> (an interesting contrast from the Mexican restaurant on MIT campus which is owned by a Japanese guy). After dinner we took pictures in Times Square, bought some cheap souvenirs, and boarded a train back to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Columbia</st1:place></st1:City>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">At the station I bid farewell to Janna and caught another train into Chinatown for my trip back to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Boston</st1:City></st1:place>. I got home early the next morning, caught a cab back to Theta Chi, and slept through most of my classes the following day.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">At only $15 a ticket I can’t wait to go back to NY, as long as no tests are involved.</p>falseBenjamin2005-12-05T13:22:15-05:002005-12-05T18:22:15Z2005-12-05T18:22:15Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113380693518793258At the Theta Chi formal<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0885-2005.12.05-10.21.22.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0885-2005.12.05-10.21.22.jpg'></a><br />At the Theta Chi formal <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-05T13:20:08-05:002005-12-05T18:20:08Z2005-12-05T18:20:08Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113380680825602272Volkan enjoying his meal<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0889-2005.12.05-10.19.51.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0889-2005.12.05-10.19.51.jpg'></a><br />Volkan enjoying his meal <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-05T13:19:56-05:002005-12-05T18:19:56Z2005-12-05T18:19:56Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113380679687612058Lindsay, myself, Alison, and Volkan at the Brazili...<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0891-2005.12.05-10.19.22.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0891-2005.12.05-10.19.22.jpg'></a><br />Lindsay, myself, Alison, and Volkan at the Brazilian BBQ <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-05T13:19:12-05:002005-12-05T18:19:12Z2005-12-05T18:19:12Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113380675217708473Exploring local Cambridge<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0893-2005.12.05-10.18.48.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0893-2005.12.05-10.18.48.jpg'></a><br />Exploring local Cambridge <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-05T13:18:40-05:002005-12-05T18:18:40Z2005-12-05T18:18:40Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113380672052129742Samba dancing at Ryles<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0899-2005.12.05-10.18.11.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0899-2005.12.05-10.18.11.jpg'></a><br />Samba dancing at Ryles <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-05T13:16:35-05:002005-12-05T18:16:35Z2005-12-05T18:16:35Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113380659552395387Matt, Lindsay, and Bill<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0895-2005.12.05-10.16.16.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0895-2005.12.05-10.16.16.jpg'></a><br />Matt, Lindsay, and Bill <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-05T13:15:20-05:002005-12-05T18:15:20Z2005-12-05T18:15:20Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113380652076400499Alex and his date<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0904-2005.12.05-10.14.56.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0904-2005.12.05-10.14.56.jpg'></a><br />Alex and his date <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-05T13:14:47-05:002005-12-05T18:14:47Z2005-12-05T18:14:47Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113380648717291536Bill and Grant<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0907-2005.12.05-10.14.23.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0907-2005.12.05-10.14.23.jpg'></a><br />Bill and Grant <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-05T13:14:25-05:002005-12-05T18:14:25Z2005-12-05T18:14:25Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113380646518231707Sachin, from the REAL Cambridge, Mikko, and Juan<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0905-2005.12.05-10.13.53.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0905-2005.12.05-10.13.53.jpg'></a><br />Sachin, from the REAL Cambridge, Mikko, and Juan <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-12-05T13:03:00-05:002005-12-05T18:07:10Z2005-12-05T18:07:10Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113380603029650437Ice Rinks and Brazilian Meats<p class="MsoNormal">Lots of craziness this weekend; especially when sleeping on a bus makes one day blur into the next. Before I get into that, the start of the weekend:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Friday was the Theta Chi formal which began with Brazilian Barbeque at a place in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cambridge</st1:place></st1:City>. Massive all you can eat buffets accompanied guys circulating between tables with giant swords of meat. Jackson and Lindsay struck up an eating contest, and I ate far too much in general.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Following dinner, and exploration of a back alley apartment, thirty or so people walked to Ryles Jazz Club for Samba dancing. We got a quick lesson on the Brazilian art and then were left to our own devices. No one was too horrible of a dancer even though we must have looked ridiculous to the people who actually knew what they were doing. After dancing Bill, Alison, Lindsay, Matt, and I took an entertaining taxi ride back to Baker, and then on to LCA where their party had been “cancelled.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">On Sunday AXO sponsored a blind date ice skating and hot chocolate party. I really had no idea who I was going to be set up with but the evening was fun. We skated, talked of long walks on the beach, and ate cake. At 2AM I took a bus bound for NY. And then the real adventure began…</p>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:35:16-05:002005-11-30T05:35:16Z2005-11-30T05:35:16Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332891609154211Mimi the bear<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0784-2005.11.29-21.34.55.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0784-2005.11.29-21.34.55.jpg'></a><br />Mimi the bear <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:34:37-05:002005-11-30T05:34:37Z2005-11-30T05:34:37Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332887790445721A Thanksgiving feast<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0790-2005.11.29-21.34.15.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0790-2005.11.29-21.34.15.jpg'></a><br />A Thanksgiving feast <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:34:12-05:002005-11-30T05:34:12Z2005-11-30T05:34:12Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332885266307262Kyle carving the turkey<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0792-2005.11.29-21.33.37.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0792-2005.11.29-21.33.37.jpg'></a><br />Kyle carving the turkey <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:33:13-05:002005-11-30T05:33:13Z2005-11-30T05:33:13Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332879349320125Silhouette and the city<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0795-2005.11.29-21.32.36.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0795-2005.11.29-21.32.36.jpg'></a><br />Silhouette and the city <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:32:35-05:002005-11-30T05:32:35Z2005-11-30T05:32:35Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332875528565067Night skies over Boston<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_3534-2005.11.29-21.32.10.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_3534-2005.11.29-21.32.10.jpg'></a><br />Night skies over Boston <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:32:09-05:002005-11-30T05:32:09Z2005-11-30T05:32:09Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332872902790579Mimi and cannon<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0811-2005.11.29-21.31.48.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0811-2005.11.29-21.31.48.jpg'></a><br />Mimi and cannon <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:31:40-05:002005-11-30T05:31:40Z2005-11-30T05:31:40Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332870067986651Gazing out from the statue<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0813-2005.11.29-21.31.00.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0813-2005.11.29-21.31.00.jpg'></a><br />Gazing out from the statue <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:30:59-05:002005-11-30T05:30:59Z2005-11-30T05:30:59Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332865904923919Cityscape<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_3540-2005.11.29-21.30.22.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_3540-2005.11.29-21.30.22.jpg'></a><br />Cityscape <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:30:17-05:002005-11-30T05:30:17Z2005-11-30T05:30:17Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332861798785205Darien and I surveying Providence<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_3547-2005.11.29-21.30.03.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_3547-2005.11.29-21.30.03.jpg'></a><br />Darien and I surveying Providence <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:30:02-05:002005-11-30T05:30:02Z2005-11-30T05:30:02Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332860269594352Long hallways<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0815-2005.11.29-21.29.37.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0815-2005.11.29-21.29.37.jpg'></a><br />Long hallways <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:29:42-05:002005-11-30T05:29:42Z2005-11-30T05:29:42Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332858268173246The spacious dorm room of Darien<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_3548-2005.11.29-21.29.06.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_3548-2005.11.29-21.29.06.jpg'></a><br />The spacious dorm room of Darien <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:28:45-05:002005-11-30T05:28:45Z2005-11-30T05:28:45Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332852562864198Back alleys<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0820-2005.11.29-21.27.52.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0820-2005.11.29-21.27.52.jpg'></a><br />Back alleys <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:28:42-05:002005-11-30T05:28:42Z2005-11-30T05:28:42Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332852261226717Darien has hidden something in this photograph...<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0818-2005.11.29-21.28.27.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0818-2005.11.29-21.28.27.jpg'></a><br />Darien has hidden something in this photograph... <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:27:40-05:002005-11-30T05:27:40Z2005-11-30T05:27:40Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332846063041143Darien, giving a thumbs up to this snazzy car<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0826-2005.11.29-21.27.28.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0826-2005.11.29-21.27.28.jpg'></a><br />Darien, giving a thumbs up to this snazzy car <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:27:25-05:002005-11-30T05:27:25Z2005-11-30T05:27:25Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332844517821026The finest playground installation in Rhode Island...<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0832-2005.11.29-21.26.44.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0832-2005.11.29-21.26.44.jpg'></a><br />The finest playground installation in Rhode Island <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:26:31-05:002005-11-30T05:26:31Z2005-11-30T05:26:31Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332839141336406Mimi above Darien<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0833-2005.11.29-21.26.10.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0833-2005.11.29-21.26.10.jpg'></a><br />Mimi above Darien <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:26:08-05:002005-11-30T05:26:08Z2005-11-30T05:26:08Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332836849938865Jungle gym at night<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_3554-2005.11.29-21.25.53.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_3554-2005.11.29-21.25.53.jpg'></a><br />Jungle gym at night <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:25:50-05:002005-11-30T05:25:50Z2005-11-30T05:25:50Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332835003702481Trapped in a web<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_3562-2005.11.29-21.25.34.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_3562-2005.11.29-21.25.34.jpg'></a><br />Trapped in a web <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:25:38-05:002005-11-30T05:25:38Z2005-11-30T05:25:38Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332833872350145Canal running through downtown Providence, RI<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0836-2005.11.29-21.25.09.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0836-2005.11.29-21.25.09.jpg'></a><br />Canal running through downtown Providence, RI <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:25:06-05:002005-11-30T05:25:06Z2005-11-30T05:25:06Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332830620569438Mimi's reaction after Darien said that all the fis...<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0837-2005.11.29-21.24.50.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0837-2005.11.29-21.24.50.jpg'></a><br />Mimi's reaction after Darien said that all the fish in the river died <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:25:03-05:002005-11-30T05:25:03Z2005-11-30T05:25:03Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332830323353871Fig A: Concrete tube, Darien<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_3571-2005.11.29-21.24.12.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_3571-2005.11.29-21.24.12.jpg'></a><br />Fig A: Concrete tube, Darien <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:24:08-05:002005-11-30T05:24:08Z2005-11-30T05:24:08Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332824881450033Inside a giant gear in Providence<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_3574-2005.11.29-21.23.32.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_3574-2005.11.29-21.23.32.jpg'></a><br />Inside a giant gear in Providence <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:23:27-05:002005-11-30T05:23:27Z2005-11-30T05:23:27Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332820744130467Wind bubbles<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0858-2005.11.29-21.22.33.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0858-2005.11.29-21.22.33.jpg'></a><br />Wind bubbles <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:23:24-05:002005-11-30T05:23:24Z2005-11-30T05:23:24Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332820459515520Trying to get some work done at Theta Chi<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_3578-2005.11.29-21.23.12.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_3578-2005.11.29-21.23.12.jpg'></a><br />Trying to get some work done at Theta Chi <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:22:59-05:002005-11-30T05:22:59Z2005-11-30T05:22:59Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332817975923050This is what bubbles should look like all the time...<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0846-2005.11.29-21.22.50.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0846-2005.11.29-21.22.50.jpg'></a><br />This is what bubbles should look like all the time <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:22:06-05:002005-11-30T05:22:06Z2005-11-30T05:22:06Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332812698404968Bubbles at night<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0862-2005.11.29-21.21.49.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0862-2005.11.29-21.21.49.jpg'></a><br />Bubbles at night <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:21:33-05:002005-11-30T05:21:33Z2005-11-30T05:21:33Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332809326533054The basement of Bexley dorm at MIT<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0880-2005.11.29-21.21.09.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0880-2005.11.29-21.21.09.jpg'></a><br />The basement of Bexley dorm at MIT <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-30T00:12:00-05:002005-11-30T05:12:32Z2005-11-30T05:12:32Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113332755213486621Special Guest<p class="MsoNormal">This weekend Mimi came all the way to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:City> for the long weekend. We ate Thanksgiving dinner at Theta Chi, lovingly prepared by Sal and Ross; two alumni with a predilection for cooking. Rooftop photos were taken, museums were visited, and on Saturday Mimi and I took the bus to <st1:city st="on">Providence</st1:City>, <st1:state st="on">RI</st1:State> to visit <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Darien</st1:place></st1:City>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Rhode Island School of Design, <st1:city st="on">Darien</st1:City>’s college, is conveniently nestled between downtown <st1:city st="on">Providence</st1:City> and <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Brown</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">College</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Darien</st1:place></st1:City> gave us the grand tour of the area, including his massive penthouse-style dorm room build above an old bank that would make any college student jealous. His artwork is fantastic, as usual, and he’s been dabbling in video editing as of recent. I didn’t get to meet his room mates because they were still on vacation but some other students in the building stopped by for a game of Boggle.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">That evening the three of us took a sidetracked walk from the graveyard to the riverfront where we found a most magnificent jungle gym. Consisting of rope connected in geometric figures, the large structure was an inquisitive child’s dream playground edifice. We played for a while, walking back through a construction site before dinner at Neath’s, a fancy restaurant near <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Darien</st1:place></st1:City>’s dorm. Thoroughly exhausted and pleasantly stuffed, Mimi and I rode the bus back to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Boston</st1:City></st1:place>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The rest of the weekend was a blur of smiles, bubble blowing, midnight expeditions to restricted pool sites, and candlelight fig pizzas. Sunday night Mimi surprised Jennifer at Harvard and sat in on a class the next day. The four day break was not my most productive but seeing friends from home made the last four months not seem so long. Strange how friends pick up right where they left off even after being apart. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Three more weeks left in the term.</p>falseBenjamin2005-11-23T16:44:12-05:002005-11-23T21:44:12Z2005-11-23T21:44:12Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113278225229237254There she is, the cheap rusted beauty<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0731-2005.11.23-13.43.49.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0731-2005.11.23-13.43.49.jpg'></a><br />There she is, the cheap rusted beauty <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-23T16:43:44-05:002005-11-23T21:43:44Z2005-11-23T21:43:44Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113278222483377586Andrew, who fell asleep inside of Darwin's "On the...<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0729-2005.11.23-13.43.13.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0729-2005.11.23-13.43.13.jpg'></a><br />Andrew, who fell asleep inside of Darwin's "On the Origin of Species" <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-23T16:42:41-05:002005-11-23T21:42:41Z2005-11-23T21:42:41Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113278216133114746The library, turned dining room<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0739-2005.11.23-13.42.24.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0739-2005.11.23-13.42.24.jpg'></a><br />The library, turned dining room <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-23T16:42:01-05:002005-11-23T21:42:01Z2005-11-23T21:42:01Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113278212100877895Jordan and Ante give their closing speeches<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0747-2005.11.23-13.41.42.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0747-2005.11.23-13.41.42.jpg'></a><br />Jordan and Ante give their closing speeches <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-23T16:40:42-05:002005-11-23T21:40:42Z2005-11-23T21:40:42Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113278204250024147Guests at the Rush appreciation dinner<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0749-2005.11.23-13.40.21.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0749-2005.11.23-13.40.21.jpg'></a><br />Guests at the Rush appreciation dinner <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-23T16:40:14-05:002005-11-23T21:40:15Z2005-11-23T21:40:14Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113278201499421505"The boot"<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0751-2005.11.23-13.39.51.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0751-2005.11.23-13.39.51.jpg'></a><br />"The boot" <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-23T16:39:45-05:002005-11-23T21:39:45Z2005-11-23T21:39:45Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113278198554908727At Alewife station this guy was riding a Segway!<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0757-2005.11.23-13.39.17.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0757-2005.11.23-13.39.17.jpg'></a><br />At Alewife station this guy was riding a Segway! <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-23T16:39:25-05:002005-11-23T21:39:25Z2005-11-23T21:39:25Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113278196526146060A neat freight house with free triain tours that m...<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0760-2005.11.23-13.38.34.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0760-2005.11.23-13.38.34.jpg'></a><br />A neat freight house with free triain tours that marks the end of the Minuteman Trail <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-23T16:38:29-05:002005-11-23T21:38:29Z2005-11-23T21:38:29Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113278190941881310The road to Lexington<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0758-2005.11.23-13.37.49.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0758-2005.11.23-13.37.49.jpg'></a><br />The road to Lexington <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-23T16:37:21-05:002005-11-23T21:37:21Z2005-11-23T21:37:21Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113278184124182306Neil Pallaver's childhood home (I'll hope he's fam...<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0763-2005.11.23-13.36.40.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0763-2005.11.23-13.36.40.jpg'></a><br />Neil Pallaver's childhood home (I'll hope he's famous one day and this photo is worth millions) <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-23T16:36:25-05:002005-11-23T21:36:25Z2005-11-23T21:36:25Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113278178590977195The Goldberg family residence<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0766-2005.11.23-13.35.55.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0766-2005.11.23-13.35.55.jpg'></a><br />The Goldberg family residence <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-23T16:35:47-05:002005-11-23T21:35:47Z2005-11-23T21:35:47Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113278174763893594Autumn streets of New England<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0769-2005.11.23-13.35.25.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0769-2005.11.23-13.35.25.jpg'></a><br />Autumn streets of New England <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-23T16:35:21-05:002005-11-23T21:35:21Z2005-11-23T21:35:21Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113278172126196515You can't quite tell, but these people are playing...<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0778-2005.11.23-13.34.39.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0778-2005.11.23-13.34.39.jpg'></a><br />You can't quite tell, but these people are playing Bocce ball. That makes four countries in which I've seen this game being played <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-23T16:33:06-05:002005-11-23T21:33:06Z2005-11-23T21:33:06Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113278158604481682Sunset over Massachusetts<a href='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/640/IMG_0772-2005.11.23-13.32.38.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:1px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://web.mit.edu/gleitz/www/blog/hello/468337/320/IMG_0772-2005.11.23-13.32.38.jpg'></a><br />Sunset over Massachusetts <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a>falseBenjamin2005-11-23T16:28:00-05:002005-11-23T21:28:38Z2005-11-23T21:28:38Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113278131854097170The Long Road To Freedom<p class="MsoNormal">It’s almost Thanksgiving. For students, that means it’s time for some well deserved relaxation. For professors, that means it’s time to assign large assignments and tests before the kids can escape to faraway lands for a few days of freedom.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The past few weeks have been hectic, to say the least. From the basement of Baker dorm I procured a free bicycle; a rusty mess with a chain that wouldn’t turn more than a few inches. With a little elbow grease and some oil-based lubricant, I’ve restored my new chariot of fire to a general working condition that I am hoping will not be a health hazard.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As a test, I rode from <st1:city st="on">Cambridge</st1:City> to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Lexington</st1:place></st1:City> along the Minuteman Trail last Sunday when the weather was crisp with no rain in sight. My destination was Neil’s parent’s house where my extra clothing from <st1:country-region st="on">Japan</st1:country-region> was being kept following Neil’s short return to the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The bike performed well along the trail, and I mistakenly rode the Minuteman Trail out to its end before realizing my error. Turning back, I navigated the streets of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Lexington</st1:place></st1:City> until finding the Pallaver residence. Sadly I did not get to meet the Pallavers (the next door neighbor informed me that they are quite an outdoor family, not to be found at home on such a glorious day), but they left my clothing in a box inside the garage. Filling my pack with sweaters, scarves, hats, and gloves, I set off for my next destination.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jeffrey Goldberg, long time friend and schoolmate of my father from kindergarten to college, lives with his wife and kids in the rural town of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Lexington</st1:place></st1:City>. A short ride from the Pallavers, I found no one home at the Goldberg residence when I first arrived. Riding until I found a sub shop (and getting a few stares at my giant backpack from the locals) I stopped for lunch and watched cars drive through the sleepy town.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When I found my way back to the Goldberg’s house for the second time, the family had just arrived home. Jeff and his wife were surprised to see me, to say the least, and I stopped for a while to chat and hear old stories about my father before racing out of Lexington before the sun set beyond the horizon.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Also this week was the Rush appreciation dinner at Theta Chi. All the new pledges were waiters at the meeting, which was hectic but well run, according to those that have been to many an appreciation dinner.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Happy Thanksgiving.</p>falseBenjamin2005-11-18T14:25:00-05:002005-11-18T19:32:35Z2005-11-18T19:32:35Ztag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952310.post-113234235588253582Clueless
The Microsoft Puzzle Challenge 2005 puzzles have been posted. If you have a twelve hour block of time, or nothing better to do, you can try your hand at a few. Of the 21 puzzles, The Puzzled Puzzling Oxen solved: