Work

Sustainable neighborhood development must be pedestrian centered

[Another blog entry I wrote for ACE]

October 22, 2008

Over the course of a month this summer, three pedestrians were struck and injured by cars along Washington Street between Dudley Square and Melnea Cass Blvd. These tragedies are common and indicative of the unsafe conditions that traffic congestion creates in Dudley Square. Pedestrians from nearby parks, schools, stores, and housing must contend with cars and buses, often speeding down Ruggles Street, Washington Street and Shawmut Avenue (which bound ACE’s office at 2181 Washington Street). Read more…

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Read Full Post | October 22 2008 | Work |

The Hidden Curriculum

Monday was my second session of Introduction to Education.  Our theme for the day was the “hidden curriculum” of schools.  We spent the afternoon discussing and analyzing the socially reproductive functions of the classroom in socializing children along lines of class, gender, and race.  There was some engaging discussion, especially about the hidden curriculum of Oregon Trail the computer game.  We started the class by writing nametags.  I couldn’t help but think that this was part of a hidden curriculum preparing us to be teachers.  Or at least a hidden evaluation of our “teacher” handwriting…

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Read Full Post | September 09 2008 | The Swat Fit and Work |

Water Quality Lab

My lab group collecting samples in Ridley Township [Photo courtesy of Professor McGarity]

Last week was my first lab session for my Water Quality and Pollution Control class.  Our group retrieved and analyzed samples from an autosampling setup on a tributary to the Little Crum Creek.  It was good to be back in the Engineering Department Suburban for the first time this year.  It’s always an adventure having professors drive around in the Suburban (which is even older than my dad’s truck).  I also enjoyed feeling like I was back in a chemistry lab after a few years of heavily mechanical/electrical labs.  We analyzed the samples, which had been taken during a recent rain event, for total suspended solids, nitrates, and phosphates.  Professor McGarity’s work on local watershed issues is outlined here.

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Read Full Post | September 08 2008 | The Swat Fit and Work |

Summer Recap: Chipotle

My roommate James was absolutely infatuated with Chipotle this summer, so I had it fairly regularly over the summer. I’ve been on a long journey with Chipotle. I initially hated it because the one in Irvine had undercooked rice and low quality food the first couple of times I went. Since then, I’ve grown to love Chipotle burritos. They’re large and the guacamole is delicious. While the burritos at Anna’s are smaller, Anna’s also has the most amazing horchata I’ve ever drank. In the Boston area, I ate burritos from the Chipotles in Davis Square, Harvard Square, Cleveland Circle, and Braintree and the Anna’s in Porter Square and MIT. One of the highlights of my summer was taking a four hour lunch break with James to go get free Chipotle burritos. The video below documents this epic trek…