Favorite Boston Eateries

Here is an interactive map of my favorite places to eat in Boston.

View Favorite Boston Eateries in a larger map

NBA Opening Night

Port Richmond Residents Prepare for Hurricane Sandy

Residents of Port Richmond, a neighborhood in Philadelphia, rushed to gather essential groceries on Sunday before Hurricane Sandy was expected to make landfall on Monday. The local ShopRite was extremely crowded with nervous customers, all in a rush to insure they were fully stocked and ready when the storm hit.

I had a chance to interview a number of employees and patrons about what the most in demand items were and why. Bread, water, batteries, and milk were among the most coveted groceries, and by the time I arrived around noon, their shelves were nearly empty.

The check out lines were extremely congested as annoyed customers rushed to get out of the store and back home to continue preparations for the "frankenstorm."

As stressful as the situation may have been for everyone involved, I'm sure the owners of ShopRite weren't disappointed with the pre-hurricane turn out.

Did We Cause Hurricane Sandy?

Last week, I discussed in my blog post the fact that the presidential candidates have stayed relatively mum on the issues of climate change and its potentially catastrophic effects on the environment and the future of our planet. Less than a week after this revelation made headlines, the east coast was hit with what the media is referring to as a "frankenstorm"or "superstorm" - an S-shaped storm that collided with a cold front to create what President Obama has officially declared a disaster in New York and New Jersey.

Kerry Emanuel, a climate scientist at MIT, is referring to the storm as a "hybrid storm," a type that scientists know very little about. He explained, "It is correct to say that in no individual [weather] event can you really make an attribution to anything, whether it is climate change or El Nino or your grandmother had her tooth pulled this morning."

Sandy, Emanuel explains, is a hybrid between a hurricane and a winter storm, and that it has many qualities from the two. The two different kinds of storms are powered by different types of energy sources - hurricanes from the evaporation of sea water and winter storms from a horizontal temperature contrast in the atmosphere. These storms are so powerful because they are powered by both types of energy.

Photo Courtesy of NASA/NOAA GOES Project Team

Emmanuel does not think that climate change caused by humans will increase the length of hurricane seasons going forward. He does, however, note that as water temperatures get warmer, for whatever reason - whether it be human caused or not, there will be an increase of rain and likelihood of such powerful storms. 

However, climate change may not be completely off the hook in this case. 

Another one of the factors that has made Sandy so catastrophic is the rising sea level. It is said by many climate specialists that the rising sea level is a result of warmer temperatures melting the ice caps. Because Sandy hit so many coastal areas, the rise in sea level has had catastrophic results as massive waves crashed far beyond the beach. 

Hurricane waves crash over Winthrop, Mass. on Monday
Photo Courtesy of Getty Images

Kevin Trenberth, a climate scientist for the National Center for Atmospheric Research, is a little more willing to place blame on climate change. He explains that the storm occurred in an area where water and air temperatures have been higher than usual, and this, he says is no coincidence. 

The added moisture from the higher temperatures along the east coast (approximately 5 degrees Farenheit higher than normal, one degree of which Trenberth says can be blamed on climate change) have greatly contributed to the power of this hybrid storm. 

Sandy is being called the worst storm to ever hit NYC by Mayor Bloomberg. It has left millions, including all of lower Manhattan without power. 

For more information of the events of Sandy as they unfolded, you can check Slate's live feed of the storm as it progressed on Monday night.

A Not-So-Green Election

President Obama and Mitt Romney met for their last debate Monday night and noticeably made no mention of environmental change.

Despite the fact that the debate was supposed to cover foreign policy, the two candidates managed to cover a variety of topics including the war in Afghanistan, the performance in Massachusetts elementary schools, and bayonets being obsolete (fun fact, they're actually still used!) There was, however, no mention of the environment or how either candidate would go about any future green initiatives. This marked the first time in 24 years that the environment was not brought up in any of the presidential or vice presidential debates.

Both Candy Crowley, the second debate's moderator, and Bob Schieffer claimed they had intended to ask the nominees about the environment and climate change, but that in both debates the questions were left on the "cutting room floor."

This seemed unsurprising in what has been an altogether non-green election. Neither candidate has spent a significant amount of time discussing green initiatives or ways in which Americans can combat climate change and work towards a cleaner environment.

According to Climate Silence, which uses the hashtag #climatesilence to describe the 2012 debates, climate change was largely a topic discussed by the VP candidates until the Bush/Gore debates of 2000.

In the last presidential election of 2008, climate change was discussed extensively in all three presidential debates as well as the vice presidential debate. Obama said in the second debate of 2008 that climate change was "one of the biggest challenges of our time." He also went on to say on the subject of creating alternative energy that, "it's important for us to understand that it requires a sustained effort from the next president."

Because this was such a debated and heated topic in the last election, for it to be completely eliminated from discussion this time around was noticeable to many. There were a number of mentions of energy, but it was not enough to keep environmentalists satisfied. 

Image courtesy of climatesilence.org

As we move into the election, many voters are still unsure which candidate would do more to encourage green living and better combat global warming.

Do you think this is an important issue that should have been discussed? Or are you glad the focus was kept primarily on war, foreign policy, the economy, and the job market? 

First Attempt at a Video News Story

I've got a ways to go....

Photo Project

On Sunday, Boston University's newest sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, celebrated their first Bid Day, extending invitations to join their sisterhood to 123 women. This event was attended by the new members, staff members from Theta's national headquarters, chapter presidents and delegates from other sororities, and the Panhellenic Council's executive board. As the Vice President of Chapter Development, I was able to work closely with the colonization process for the new sorority. Here are some photos from the exciting event that boasts a new beginning for BU Greek life.



Maddie Gordon-Lavaee leads a busy life. As a student at Boston University's College of Communication, she spends a good deal of her time working on short films and photography projects for her classes. She is passionate about the film industry and looks forward to moving back to the LA area after college to pursue her passions. She's also an active member of Delta Gamma and has a position on the chapter management team. She loves to cook and spends an ample amount of her time in the kitchen coming up with new recipes. Most of all, Maddie appreciates the beauty in life. She enjoys being outdoors and observing the world around her.

Jumping from the Edge of Space

The world watched on Sunday as Felix Baumgartner, an Austrian professional daredevil, became the first person in history to break the sound barrier outside a craft by skydiving from over 24 miles up. Baumgartner accelerated down to the earth at speeds of up to 833.9 mph.

Baumgartner's jump from 128,097 feet was also the highest skydive in history. Within nine minutes, the daredevil was back on the ground in Roswell, New Mexico after over four minutes of free falling.

Over 7 million people watched "live" on YouTube as Baumgartner completed his 40 step check-list and jumped from his pod attached to a helium balloon. He donned a high-tech space suit designed to keep him warm (at his highest altitude, the temperature was -70 degrees F) and provide him with enough oxygen and stability to overcome the shock waves he would incur in breaking the sound barrier.

The Mission Control at the Red Bull Stratos center directed Baumgartner in his daring mission. Joe Kittinger, the former record holder for highest skydive, advised Baumgartner in his mission and can be seen in the video below giving direction and checking in.

Baumgartner did not break the record for longest free fall. That record still belongs to Kittinger for falling for four minutes and 36 seconds in 1960. Baumgartner free fell for four minutes and 17 seconds.

Not only was this mission an attempt to break a number of records, but the scientists and engineers involved with the project say the data collected can help future astronauts and pilots in the event they would have to exit their air crafts. The Associated Press said his spacesuit may also lead to NASA "certifying a new generation of space suits."

Baumgartner plans to retire now. He said he is looking forward to settling down with his girlfriend.


Watch the jump below:

 

Congratulations, Felix Baumgartner! 

Photography Lessons in Aperture and Shutter Speed

Jerry Sandusky Sentenced to 30 Years

Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach accused of molesting 45 young boys in a 15 year period, was sentenced on Tuesday to at least 30, but not more than 60, years in prison.

I had to stray from Slate.com a bit this week to cover this important story, as not much attention was given to the matter on their site. I turned to CBS News and Sports, as well as the Associated Press to get more coverage of this high-profile sentencing.

Judge John Cleland said that Sandusky was being sentenced for "abusing the trust of those who trusted you" and "for the betrayal of those who looked up to you," according to Armen Keteyian, chief investigative correspondent for CBS News.

The judge said this will likely be a life sentence for the 68-year-old assistant to the late Joe Paterno. While Sandusky maintains that he is innocent, it is unlikely that his defense team's upcoming appeal will reduce his sentence.

Sandusky gave a statement at his sentencing, according to the Associated Press, in which he lamented on the hardships of going to prison and how hard it would be for him to be away from his wife and four children.

He said,"I've forgiven, I've been forgiven. I've comforted others, I've been comforted. I've been kissed by dogs, I've been bit by dogs. I've conformed, I've also been different. I've been me. I've been loved, I've been hated."

According to Slate, under state law in Pennsylvania, Sandusky cannot be released on parole before he has served the minimum sentence ordered by the judge. Because of his age, it is likely Sandusky will never be released.

Not everyone is satisfied with the sentencing, though. CBS Sports Columnist, Gregg Doyel tweeted his disgust from his personal twitter on Tuesday morning, while Sandusky was trending.

Sandusky has continued to play the victim throughout the ordeal that began a year ago. Anderson Cooper tweeted about Sandusky's statements the night before his sentencing.

See the video below for more details on Sandusky's sentencing.

Repetition Patterns in COM

Today in JO 304, we began learning the art of photography. After a number of technical difficulties, I eventually managed to get a couple pictures (with the help of Lisa Braun, as per usual) and create this slide show using soundslide and filezilla. Very cool process! Enjoy! (for a limited time)

Cambridge Mayor Proposes Ban on Soda

In June, Cambridge Mayor Henrietta Davis proposed a ban on the sale of sugary drinks, including soda, in containers of 16 ounces or more in Cambridge restaurants. Davis credits New York City mayor, Michael Bloomberg's recent similar soda ban in delis, restaurants, shops, and movie theaters. 

The proposal has been met with mixed reactions, and the mayor decided to seek recommendations from Cambridge's Public Health department before moving forward. She has suggested that perhaps instead of a legal restriction, there could be a voluntary system of participation, and perhaps the city council could create an incentive program to get Cambridge eateries on board.

I interviewed members of the Boston University community to get an idea of how they feel about the potential ban.

What do you think? Should the government be taking all steps necessary to keep the public healthy, or is the responsibility of the individual to avoid putting his or herself at risk by consuming unhealthy products?

P.S. This is an example of convergence! (see my first post for definition!)