Joseph Weizenbaum
Joseph Weizenbaum, professor emeritus of computer science at MIT who grew skeptical of artificial intelligence after creating a program that made many users feel like they were speaking with an empathic psychologist, died March 5 in Berlin. He was 85.
UROP Proposal System Moves to Web for All Students by Summer
In many departments, UROP research proposals can now be submitted online by students and approved online by faculty and UROP coordinators.
Report Urges New Focus On Math, Problem Solving In U.S. Education System
American students’ math achievement is “at a mediocre level” compared with that of their peers worldwide, according to a new report by a federal panel, which recommended that schools focus on key skills that prepare students to learn algebra.
Most Undergrads Pay Less Tuition Despite Increases, MIT Says
What should you make of MIT’s voluminous response to the Senate Finance Committee, which asked it to explain exorbitant tuition costs in light of a sixth-in-the-nation endowment?
Franklin Company’s Bloodless Glucose Monitor Passes Test
A small Franklin company says it is developing a novel device that could potentially let diabetics continuously monitor their blood-sugar levels — without having to draw blood.
China Tightens Security on Tibetan Monks After Protest
Chinese security forces were reportedly surrounding three monasteries outside Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, on Thursday after hundreds of monks took to the streets this week in what are believed to be the largest Tibetan protests against Chinese rule in two decades.
Kidnapped Iraqi Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Found Buried
The body of a Chaldean Catholic archbishop who was kidnapped in the northern city of Mosul last month as he drove home after afternoon Mass was discovered Thursday buried in a southeastern area of the city.
Politics and Fiscal Agendas Mix in Voting on Capitol Hill
The House passed a $3 trillion Democratic spending plan on Thursday as Congress engaged in a day of budget theater that had as much to do with the political bottom line as federal fiscal policy.
Small Businesses Struggle With Cut In Immigrant Work Force
For years, William Zammer Jr. has relied on 100 seasonal foreign employees to turn down beds, boil lobsters and serve cocktails at the restaurants, golf course and inn he owns on Cape Cod and in nearby Plymouth.
Policymakers Propose Stronger Mortgage Rules
The nation’s top economic policymakers, hoping to prevent a repeat of the excesses that led to the mortgage bubble and bust, on Thursday proposed a broad series of reforms aimed at tightening oversight of financial institutions.
Marching Storms
As if stepping to a drumbeat, storms keep catching us on the weekend. The jet stream is currently situated like a welcome mat from sea to shining sea allowing storms to quickly traverse across the country. This flow, which is known as a progressive pattern, is characterized by quick hitting but frequent storms. The first in a series of storms will come through Saturday morning giving us a light bout of rain, which will quickly clear out in the afternoon.
Shorts (left)
Jerome Kerviel, the former trader at the bank Societe Generale, has told French investigators that an assistant on his desk conducted at least one large fictitious transaction last spring on their boss’ computer — as the boss looked on, according to a court document obtained Thursday by The International Herald Tribune.
Shorts (right)
With sorrow, seriousness and a dollop of humor, Lt. Gov. David A. Paterson opened his first full day as governor-in-waiting on Thursday, pledging his continued commitment to Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s agenda but breaking markedly with the governor’s style.
Letters to the Editor
<i>This letter is in response to </i>The Tech’<i>s March 4 article on the death of Robert M. Wells ’08:</i>
MOVIE REVIEW ★★ ½ Spices Alone Do Not A Curry Make
The ingredients are more than tasty: exotic curries, a spicy relationship with a business partner or lesbian lover, a secret marriage, a generational culture-clash, and a televised cooking competition involving Indian family-owned curry restaurants, all set in Glasgow, Scotland. From this tantalizing stew comes “Nina’s Heavenly Delights,” a flavorful romantic comedy during the first half that soon stumbles and struggles and winds up undercooked.
INTERVIEW MIT, Vegas, Hollywood
In 2002, Ben Mezrich released Bringing Down the House, the story of how a group of MIT students counted cards to win millions playing blackjack. Later this month, <i>21</i>, the movie based on the book, will be released. Recently, <i>The Tech</i> sat down with Mezrich and Jeffrey Ma ’94, who is the real life basis for Ben Campbell in the film. Below is an excerpt from the conversation.
Geesman Named All-American at NCAA Division III Championships
By just qualifying for the Division III national wrestling tournament, MIT heavyweight standout Glenn J. Geesman ’09 had already accomplished the remarkable. But what the junior sensation achieved Friday night at the U.S. Cellular Center was beyond extraordinary. In the late evening hours, MIT’s most prolific muscleman was hailed as an NCAA All-American after pinning his opponent from York College in 2:27. Just before that match, Geesman soundly defeated his counterpart from the State University of New York at Oswego, 10-1.
Taekwondo Finishes Second at NYU Amid Field of 370 Athletes
The MIT Sport Taekwondo Club took second place at a tournament held at New York University on Feb. 24, the largest tournament in the history of the Ivy Northeast Collegiate Taekwondo League. Of the twenty four colleges competing, only Cornell University surpassed the impressive score of MIT’s team, coached by Master Daniel Chuang.
Figuring Out Fashion
With all the shopping we’ve done for Figuring Out Fashion, we found ourselves with a new trouble — waking up in the morning, staggering in a daze to get dressed, and finding so many choices, colors, and styles that we would just throw on the first thing we could see. We quickly realized we needed to simplify our morning routine by building a base of, well, basics. Comfortable clothes that always look put together without much effort. Here’s the list we came up with:
Ask A TA
This week features a fairly serious question that I think many of us have had to contemplate before. While normally we pride ourselves on answering questions we’re absolutely unqualified to handle, this week actually features knowledgeable answers from experienced TAs. As always, if you have any questions, e-mail us at <i>AskaTA@tech.mit.edu</i>.
