OLPC Hits Financial Setbacks
The dream of a laptop computer cheap enough to distribute to millions of poor children is finally coming true — but not quite in the way its backers imagined.
Entrepreneurs Involve Consumers in Product Design, Construction
At a time when most electronic gadgets come out of huge factories in Asia, Limor Fried ’03 works on a different scale.
Police Log
<i>The following incidents were reported to the MIT Police between Oct. 12 and Nov. 7, 2007. This summary does not include incidents such as false alarms, general service calls, larcenies, or medical shuttles.</i>
Chain Acquires Hotel@MIT From Institute
The Hotel@MIT is being sold for an undisclosed price by the partnership of MIT and Forest City Enterprises to HEI Cambridge LLC, an affiliate of HEI Hotels & Resorts. The sale is expected to close by Dec. 5.
Final UMOC Donations
Candidate Charity Total An individual running as “Talia Winters” Transition House $348.32 Natalia N. Chernenko ’08 Charles River Watershed Association $344.74 Miriam A. “Mish” Madsen ’09 Doctors Without Borders $291.46 Adalberto N. Garza ’10 Planned Parenthood $85.31 Jasmine R. Florentine ’11 Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals $42.17 Those Damn Spammers One Laptop Per Child $30.41 Evelyn M. Mervine G James Randi Education Foundation $12.33 Other $107.06 Total $1261.80
News Briefs
A total of $1,261.80 was raised through Alpha Phi Omega’s Unholiest huMan on Campus competition, which ended Nov. 2. The sum will be donated to Transition House, an organization combatting domestic violence.
MIT Alumnus Thain Chosen to Lead Merrill Lynch
John A. Thain ’77 won plaudits as Wall Street’s Mr. Fix-It by revitalizing the embattled New York Stock Exchange. Now, he faces what could be a more formidable challenge: turning around Merrill Lynch, the once-proud Wall Street firm battered by losses from the mortgage debacle.
Shorts (left)
President Bush announced Thursday he was nominating a federal judge and former prosecutor from Chicago as the No. 2 official in the Justice Department.
Senate Panel Drops Immunity From Bush Wiretapping Act
Reflecting the deep divisions within Congress over granting legal immunity to telephone companies for cooperating with the Bush administration’s program of wiretapping without warrants, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a new domestic surveillance law on Thursday that sidestepped the issue.
Ruling Jolts Even Saudis: 200 Lashes for Female Rape Victim
A Saudi court on Tuesday more than doubled the number of lashes that a female rape victim was sentenced to last year after her lawyer appealed the original sentence. The decision, which many lawyers found shocking even by Saudi standards of justice, has provoked a rare public debate about the treatment of women here.
Commercial Airlines Given Priority In Military Airspace to Cut Delays
A week before the peak Thanksgiving travel period, the White House got involved at an unusually detailed level with air traffic, as President Bush announced Thursday that airlines will be able to make fuller use of military airspace to relieve congestion and cut delays.
Despite Emergency Rule Instituted by Musharraf, Pakistan Militants GainPakistan Militants Extend Their Reach
Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistani president, said he instituted emergency rule for the extra powers it would give him to push back the militants who have carved out a mini-state in Pakistan’s tribal areas.
Fatah Leader Calls for OusterOf Hamas From Power in Gaza
Three days after Hamas policemen shot and killed at least seven civilians at a rally in Gaza, leading a number of Gazans to express shock and anger at Hamas, Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president and the leader of the rival faction Fatah, called for the ouster of Hamas from power in Gaza.
Hail to the Victors
Following several clear days with relatively warm temperatures, a low pressure system has brought overcast skies to New England. Today, expect cooler weather as a cold front sweeps through our area. Gusty winds and scattered showers contribute to the chilling effect, although the latter should taper off as the afternoon progresses.
Shorts (right)
Pfizer, the world’s biggest drug company, flopped miserably with a seemingly can’t-miss idea. But Alfred E. Mann is so certain he can succeed that he is betting nearly $1 billion of his own money on the effort.
Corrections
A page 11 photo caption in the Nov. 9, 2007 issue of <i>The Tech</i> misidentified the type of owl pictured. It is a Barred Owl (<i>Strix varia</i>), not a Fulvous Owl (<i>Strix fulvescens</i>).
Letters to the Editor
Mr. Aditya Kohli ’09 criticizes the Undergraduate Association (“A Safe, Simple Solution for SafeRide,” Nov. 13, 2007) for making “no visible progress” on SafeRide issues. He ignores critical successes that we have achieved in partnership with Larry Brutti of the Parking and Transportation Office. Last spring, when funding for the Boston Daytime SafeRide was withdrawn, the UA lead a student effort that included the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Association, and individual fraternities, sororities, and independent living groups. Through our initiative, we secured $40,000 to provide for the continual operation of this service. Without UA leadership, the very service that Mr. Kohli criticizes would not exist, and over 700 FSILG residents would have no convenient method of transportation to campus.
CONCERT REVIEW No Complaints at Menomena, IllinoisA Critic’s Worst Nightmare
It is so so so hard for me to write a live review of a band I really love. Generally I won’t request press passes for my absolute favorites so I can actually enjoy the music without scrutinizing its presentational flaws or departures from album orchestrations. Well, friends, I guess I botched this one, because last weekend, on a PR company’s dime, I saw two fantastic bands play in Boston. And because they were so fantastic, I followed them to New York the following night.
MUSEUM REVIEW MIT Alum Loans Art Collection to MFA
Ronald C. Wornick SM ’60 describes the artwork he has collected as “good friends you welcome into your living conditions.” Good friend probably isn’t the first thought that comes to mind when viewers behold “She Devil,” a ceramic figure of a large-headed, winged, horned, and tailed creature. But take a closer look. The artistry behind this “She Devil” is unlike any I’ve seen before. Yarn is curled around the upper-half of the ceramic being while the lower half is streaked with paint. It’s a crazy invention, created by Michael Lucero, and I think I need to spend some time staring at it before I decide what to think about it.
CONCERT LISTINGS November Concerts
Some great (and cheap) concerts coming to you in the Boston area this November. Special interest shows are noted with stars. Send listing suggestions for this month and the future to <i>arts@tech.mit.edu</i>.
News Briefs
With every MIT wrestler winning at least one match, the Engineers came through with one of their best opening day outings of the last decade at the annual Roger Williams University Tournament last weekend. The Cardinal and Gray finished ninth out of 11 teams with a score of 55, beating out Norwich University (54) and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (35.5).
