I really hate sitting at my computer without a desk such that I am sitting on the floor. It kills my back. But I need to record this moment for posterity.

My hypersensitivity to noise may be a problem here. I didn’t really think that there would be Duke party noise where I’m at, or at least any “party houses” are a…okay, this won’t sound like a lot…full block away. I figured I’d barelyh hear any party noise.

But at 1:30AM, I heard the bellowing of significant sound system. It reminded me of what I could hear from the Wallace Wade P.A. system from my dorm in Craven Quad years ago.

I was determined to find the source of the disturbance, so I ventured outside. I ventured outside on a friggin’ 60-degree January night. The source turned out to be the Sirens Lounge, a full 0.4 mile away. I always figured that was a tiny place, but they apparently had a huge crowd, and they have a sound system that I wish they didn’t have.

Is this what I have to look forward to every Saturday night at 1:30AM?

I also learned that exploring the area right off East Campus at 1:30AM on a weekend is not the best way to unwind. Apart from the noise eminating from Sirens, Markham Avenue was mostly quiet. But occasionally, I’d witness some spectacle right out of the infamous Rolling Stone article about the culture at Duke, and I wanted to unload some pent-up anger.

Ironically, I experienced some of the best of what Duke has to offer in the way of campuis culture earlier today. Kevin, Jason, Jenn, and I enjoyed $2 tickets to a rematch of last year’s women’s college basketball final–Duke vs. Maryland–at Cameron. The atmosphere was great, as good as I remember Cameron having been for men’s games. And the women played a great game, routing Maryland. Considering I hadn’t been interested in any sporting events in recent memory, I enjoyed the women’s game a lot. I didn’t even learn until this evening that the Duke men had lost their last game and have begun the ACC season 0-2; I don’t even care.

So I’m away at this awful hour. There is much to be written about. But I really ought to try to get to sleep. Besides, even if my back isn’t killing me, my left wrist is.