If you’ve got some free time this evening (HA!), lie down and look up at the night sky. The Geminid Meteor Shower is going on … well … everywhere tonight, starting at 7 pm. The best place to watch would be dark corners (also good for hook-ups, hint, hint), or the Ladd Observatory, if you’re feeling up for a trek.

Besides, it couldn’t hurt to make some wishes during these upcoming weeks.

Please let me pass Chem0330, please let me pass Chem0330, please let me pass Chem0330 …

Image via.

Photos by Paige Gilley, Glenn Lutzky and Corine Szczesny.

Remember that book that all of us freshmen bonded over our mutual dislike of? No, not Twilight. I’m talking about Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China by Leslie Chang. People like to be down on the First Readings seminars, but try to think back to all the things you liked about Factory Girls: the deeply compelling stories of Min and Chunming, their adventures in and around Dongguan and the intertwining vignettes of Chinese history and the author’s own family story.

For those of you who haven’t seen the thousands of posters on bathrooms and bulletin boards already, Leslie Chang herself will be visiting campus tomorrow for a First Readings Lecture. She will be speaking about her difficulties writing the book, what she learned while writing it and the changes that have taken place in the characters’ lives and the Dongguan factory world since the book was published. This is an amazing opportunity to hear an author talk about her book in her own words, especially since it’s a book that we all read and put so much time and energy into thinking about. The lecture takes place tomorrow, Tuesday October 11, at 4 pm in Salomon 101.

The sprinklers on the Main Green are finally running!  How’s that for a sure sign of summer?  (Un)fortunately, the University seems to be much more interested in spraying passersby than watering the grass.

Photo courtesy of Natalia Nazarewicz

“Does the Moon look bigger than it usually does tonight?”  Yes, in fact, it does. According to NASA, tonight’s Moon is a “super perigee moon,” which will be the biggest Moon since 1993. While it may not be even close to warm out tonight, this is definitely worth a late night Main Green trip.

While Snowpocalypse 2011 continues to make mobility difficult and socks wet, many students have taken this opportunity to make some really beautiful and intense snow creations all over campus.  Arguably the most impressive of all these, however, is the igloo on the Main Green right outside Faunce. Learn about it’s builders and their design, plus more photos, after the jump. [Read more →]

Today, as many people know, is Veterans Day. Though this may mean different things to different people, and everyone will have their own way of understanding and possibly observing it, Brown is offering a ceremony for all. The ceremony will be starting at 12 noon and will go until 1:30 to “honor members of the Brown community who have served our country in times of war,” according to the events calendar. The ceremony will start at the flag pole on the Main Green. According to the events calendar, there will also be “a procession to Soldiers Arch to lay wreaths in tribute to their sacrifice.”

Over the weekend, a mysterious glass structure went up on the Main Green. It started as just a stage, but then glass walls went up along with it, and eventually a glass rooftop, too. So what is this glass building? Nobody really seems to know. Some speculated that it was associated with this past weekend’s A Better World by Design, but it wasn’t. Others now think that it’s for a fundraiser, while some have speculated that it’s for a wedding or some other kind of private event.

If you have any insight, share it in the comments!

Due to the insanely bizarre freak thunderstorm that just happened (you may have noticed the thunder, lightning, pouding rain and hail), SPEC has sent out this message via Facebook regarding its Carnival, which was due to be on the Main Green at 5.

Hey everyone. We just wanted to take a moment to thank you for all of your support these past few days. Due to rain, rides and carnival games cannot be set up outside. Fortunately, we still have PLENTY of food!

COME TO THE BLUE ROOM between 5-8 TONIGHT FOR SNOW CONES, COTTON CANDY, POPCORN, HAMBURGERS AND HOT DOGS!

See you then!

Thanks,
SPEC

P.S. Stay tuned for Carnival Part 2!

Terribly disappointing news for all those who hoped to partake in some inebriated inflatable obstacle course races. Of course they’ll still have food in the Blue Room. And not sure what that Carnival Part 2 thing means. Maybe we’ll have another day of inflated fun on the Green?

Anyway, thanks, Rhode Island weather.