Richard Harding Wood was riled up before Occupy. Along with other friends from Malden, the then-20-year-old started coming into Boston on weekends early last year wielding placards to protest the Federal Reserve Bank. So when Occupy Boston settled across Atlantic Ave from the Fed in late-September, it was a no-brainer for Wood to get involved.

Last night in Chicago was surreal . . . There was zero violence, unconditional love, and peaceful pandemonium. I accidentally stepped on some dude’s Jordans and he shook my hand . . . Cell phone lines were so jammed that people couldn’t reach one another, but I was far from alone. I must have wrapped my arms around 100 people .

As is becoming increasingly evident, the actions surrounding NATO add up to a perpetual protest. There's no beginning or end, with shit popping from activist crash pads to streets across the city, where clashes with police are getting more frequent and more intense around every corner. In the past few days I've had countless conversations with journalists, Occupiers, and every type of reporter and aggregator in-between about how most of us won't be able to file extensive accounts until things slow down a bit, since every second spent writing inside is a second that we could and should be documenting from the front lines.

I wasn't even at Daley Plaza for two minutes when I ran into Vermin Supreme. From Austin to Boston to here, I've seen him more than I've seen my family over the last six months . . .

Like Vermin, there were a few thousand other heads out there assembling peacefully at the National Nurses United rally . . .

I'm not following Tom Morello around the country. It might seem that way; in the past few months I've caught him at South by Southwest in Texas, and a few weeks ago for May Day in New York City, where the Rage legacy and Occupy icon organized a GUITARMY to stomp some blacktop swinging axes. But while Morello will indeed be in Chicago today, kicking for tens of thousands in Daley Plaza, his street-side spectacular is hardly the main selling point for my trek to the Windy.

Welcome to "Meet the Mayor," a segment in which we interview local Foursquare Mayors in their natural habitats.

Toppers
Charlene Chow

Tell us about your favorite hats...
Um, my favorite style of hat would probably be berets. There're a lot of different kinds of berets. They can be slouchy, or structured, so I guess I like their versatility.

Porchfest

Buzz Bissinger | The Friday Night Lights author discusses his new book Father's Day: A Journey into the Mind and Heart of My Extraordinary Son at the Brookline Booksmith on Thursday, May 17 @ 7 pm | brooklinebooksmith.com

MWM and JURNE: Algorhythms | New exhibit featuring a series of canvas paintings juxtaposing abstract compositions with calligraphy, representative of conversations between Bay Area graffiti artist Jurne and Portland designer/illustrator Matt W.

Earlier today, the Phoenix Media/Communications Group announced the sale of its radio station, WFNX, to Clear Channel Communications -- the largest radio station owner in the country.

All day, long-time listeners have expressed their thoughts, feelings, concerns, and memories of WFNX over the years.

Below, read what some WFNX fans have been saying on Twitter and Facebook.

[UPDATE 12:21 pm]: Boston Business Journal is reporting the layoffs of longtime personalities Julie Kramer and Henry Santoro, and a possible switch to either a country or Spanish speaking format.

Earlier this morning we reported that WFNX 101.7 FM will be sold to Clear Channel. A few moments ago, the national media and entertainment giant released this statement regarding its latest acquisition.

UPDATE [12:13 pm]: Clear Channel has released a statement regarding its purchase of WFNX.

UPDATE [11:19 am]: I'm told that WFNX's intellectual property -- including the call letters, the archives, interviews, videos, etc. -- are being retained by Phoenix Media/Communications Group in the deal that sends 101.

Welcome to "Meet the Mayor," a segment in which we interview local Foursquare Mayors in their natural habitats.

Public Storage - Self Storage
Christian Campagna

So why are you mayor at this here storage locker?

I just moved into a new place a couple of months ago, and it's been slow moving my stuff in there.

Last week, the Herald reported that a woman was bilked out of $160,000 by a band of rogue hypnotists. (I like hypnotists.) A couple days later, I spoke with the Amazing Kreskin (who, with all due respect to Miss Cleo, is the greatest television mentalist the world has ever known).

Guillermo Sexo play Zuzu on Monday

MassArt Spring Sale | No admission to browse hand-blown glass, ceramics, oil paintings, handmade jewelry, and more at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design on Thursday, May 10- Saturday, May 12 from 10 am-7 pm | inside.massart.edu/springsale

"Endowment for Unexceptional Humans presents a Storytelling Auction" | Nine local authors, including William Giraldi and Christopher Boucher, read stories about personal items of significance -- including signed books and childhood art projects-- and then auction off the items to benefit the local JP non-profit at the First United Church in Somerville on Friday, May 11 @ 8 pm [donations accepted] | unexceptionalhuman.

At 47 years old, Augusten Burroughs has reincarnated himself from the anxiety-addled teen of Running with Scissors to the cocksure ad man plagued by addiction of Dry to the award-winning - sober - author he is today. And he's learned a thing or two along the way, the best of which he shares in his new book This Is How, a self-help manual that offers practical advice like "how to be fat" and "how to ride an elevator."