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"Belichick used results from dynamic programming!"
[posted by lespindle on 2009-11-17 23:45:14]

"I know he's not to blame, but..."
[posted by ndilello on 2009-11-17 14:14:41]

"In sickness and in health..."
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"Obama's MIT visit"
[posted by jsun on 2009-10-25 15:03:05]

Oct 25, 2009

Obama’s MIT visit

Boston was abuzz on Friday with the arrival of President Obama, who was to visit a few research labs at MIT and then give a speech on clean energy at Kresge Auditorium.  Although the event was on our home turf, very few MIT students were allowed to attend the speech, which just made everyone even more curious.  Students, staff and visitors crowded around Mass Ave behind metal blockades and police, hoping to catch a glimpse of the motorcade and perhaps the man himself.

As a Tech photographer, I was instructed to bring my camera and capture the chaos as it unfolds.  However, besides a small contingent of congenial protesters, the whole scene was relatively tame and not particularly newsworthy.  I decided instead to give up a good view of Mass Ave for the quiet service roads behind the buildings of MIT, where I was sure the motorcade will eventually park.  Joining a crowd of about 40, I waited between Buildings 12 and 24.  I was sure this is the right spot since there were a bunch of police, tracking dogs and even a couple of snipers on the rooftops.

After a 45-minute wait, the motorcade did indeed arrive, but quickly turned to another side road to the collective groan of the group.  We did see Senator John Kerry and the press corp, but of course my camera battery managed to die at that precise moment.  Disappointed and angry at the camera, I decided to get some lunch and then go to my lab to watch the live stream of the speech.

After grabbing food and walking back towards my lab, I was about to pass the entrance to the service roads on Vassar Street when I was stopped by a cop.  Right then, the president’s motorcade came out and I got a great view of President Obama and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick in the backseat of their limo. To the cheers of the small crowd that gathered, the president waved and sped off to Kresge for his speech.  During this stroke of good luck, I instinctively reached for my camera… and its dead battery.  I will never forget my spare again.

post2_kresge

post2_protest

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3 Responses To This Entry:

    John, I was also between 12 and 24, but in the indoor corridor….it was definitely disappointing when the limos turned the other way! Fooled again! I am glad you got a glimpse after all. Interesting statement with the boxing gloves dress!!

    Posted by: Janet on October 26th, 2009 at 2:08 pm

    Interesting!

    Posted by: Fereshteh on October 29th, 2009 at 2:36 pm

    Bummer about the battery, dude. But perhaps you can take some comfort in the prospect that this small agony may be more memorable than the photo you would have snapped.

    Posted by: tgolfinopoulos on October 30th, 2009 at 11:05 pm

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