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If I could avoid Waterman Street—potentially the most difficult thing to cross since the Red Sea—I would. But alas, it is smack dab in the center of campus. So, I, like most Brown students, encounter it every day.

What makes crossing Waterman so unpleasant is not the fact that it is a main artery (or at least as main as any street in Providence can be). I have eyes and ears. I can cross the street.

There are two main reasons why the Waterman crossing experience sucks. Firstly, at the corner of Waterman and Thayer, the Walk/Don’t Walk sign never ever displays the “walk” signal. When I say “never ever,” I’m not using it idiomatically. I have actually never seen that beautiful fluorescent man purposefully walking to his destination. Instead, I am greeted every time by that obnoxious red hand.

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For your finals week entertainment, BlogDailyHerald presents the second installment of the Brunonian take on MTV Cribs, where Chris (’14) and Rob (’14) give us the inside scoop on life inside the Meat Mansion. Welcome to the Crib.

You nominated seniors. You voted—not to mention on various devices and with multiple IP addresses—until the polls physically couldn’t withstand the force of the collective Brunonian community. The power was in your hands: the competition was fierce, voting came down to the wire, and those who came out alive are here to tell the tale. Let all who are curious come and read, as this is the story of the Class of 2014 that will live for eternity in the depths of the Interwebz only to be uncovered by future generations. It’s time to meet the Class of 2014 Senior Superlatives. [Read more →]

As I’m sure you have all recognized as early as your first month at Brown, the word “midterm” doesn’t necessarily mean that the test takes place in the middle of the term, as the definition below suggests. Instead, midterms occur all-year round and happen about once a month. Why professors even call them “midterms” completely boggles the mind.

Regardless, they’re exams, and horrible exams in general. We’re able to get through them, for the most part; but when a midterm is scheduled the week before reading week, or better yet, during reading week, that is just cruel. CRUEL. It is not a “midterm” and it is not fair. And here is why:

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If this compromises her location, I swear…

I’ve recently entered a relationship, or a love affair, rather, that has gotten pretty serious. When I wake up, I think of seeing her (sometimes with disdain). I have the urge to just go see her and get in the zone for a couple hours. As I approach the place I know she will always reside, my heart races with excitement, also frightened at the possibility of her having no interest in me, but not by choice. I am tormented when I walk by and see another paramour spending the quality time with her that I know I would enjoy more. I feel cheated. I am talking, of course, of my newfound love for my favorite study space. Oh yes, it’s finals season.

I’ve never been one for relationships with the library. It used to pain me to trek to the SciLi in the winter to work on that problem set or reading assignment. I’d rather hang out on my bed and do my work than hunker down in the stacks. All that changed, however, when I found, well, let’s call her Settia (I found a fake poinsettia there today so it seems fitting) to protect her identity and my ability to access the space. Her light-colored, upbeat wood, the enticing silence surrounding her, her refined, curvy accompanying chair. Oh man, she’s perfect. When I’m with her, it’s just me, her, and my War and Politics books. Romantic, huh? [Read more →]

Chronic indecisiveness affects about 99% of the Brown student population, and this is best exemplified by the ordeal that is trying to find just the right study spot to work away during griev… uh, reading period. To help make the struggle bus ride a tad less bumpy, we have created a guide to help match your current mood with the most apt study spot. Hopefully, you’ll be able to maximize your productivity, and spend one hour on Buzzfeed instead of four.

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Finals are here and—wait for it—they suck. In other groundbreaking news, an independent study conducted by students finds that drinking is more fun than studying. But, while drinking to avoid the stress of finals can be fun, drinking red wine alone in your room on a Monday night while staring at your chem textbook and progressively wondering how flammable it is, is both depressing and concerning. Instead, what this imaginary student-trope character needs (besides a chem tutor, evidently) is a fun holiday-related excuse to drink socially without having to actually brave the winter elements. And so BlogDailyHerald presents the top 5 holiday movie drinking games of the season as created and judged by yours truly.

(NOTE: must be 21 years of age or older to enjoy):

5. The Holiday

Drink every time:

• Cameron Diaz is seen editing movie trailers because, as it turns out, this is a made up career (which came as a huge disappointment to 11-year old me who had recently turned in a “what do I want to be when I grow up” paper modeled largely on this character).
• You question the casting of Jack Black as Miles.
• Kate Winslet’s character says the name Jasper.
• A 3-way call goes horribly awry and makes you wonder why you aren’t important enough to ever have 3 way calls.
• You remember that Jude Law had an affair with his children’s nanny.
• A character makes a dumb life decision (NOTE: this is up for interpretation, but use sparingly as this occurs often). [Read more →]

Reading Period is a stressful time, no doubt. And for many of us, the weather can be an auspicious (at least for a few days, until it really hits us how gravely we need to hit the books) soporific. One thing I love about Brown, though, is that—assuming you are awake and willing to walk around campus—there are so many things that accent Reading Period with positivity. Candy Land, free pizza in the Rock and SciLi, Gingerbread S’mores in the Blue Room, and—dare I say—the Naked Donut Run are some good examples. While these four events involve food as we know it, there are other kinds of nourishment—there is indeed musical sustenance, food for the soul, “good vibes.”

Tonight, the Midnight Organ Concert‘s has us covered in this department. In Sayles Hall, you can enjoy the dulcet sounds of fourteen of Brown’s finest a cappella groups—The Higher Keys, Alef Beats, ARRR!!!, Bear Necessities, Brown’s Tones, Chattertocks, Derbies, Disney A Cappella, Harmonic Motion, Jabberwocks, Madrigals, Shades of Brown, Ursa Minors, and Wubappella—as well as those of student organist Joseph Cadabes. Doors will open for admission at 11:30. As the Facebook page advises, “Grab a blanket, a pillow and a friend or LOVER” and get ready for that ethereal musical experience you’ve been waiting for all semester.

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