MIT Professor’s Invention Might Help You Send the Right Signals
People who want to improve their communication skills may one day have an unusual helper: software programs that analyze the tone, turn-taking behavior and other qualities of a conversation.
Chomsky Discusses Economy, Military Hegemony
<i>This is the second of a three-part interview with Institute Professor Noam A. Chomsky, conducted in early September by Subrata Ghoshroy, a researcher in the Science, Technology, and Global Security Working Group at MIT. In this part, Ghoshroy and Chomsky discussed the development of the modern tech economy, the current economic crisis, and the power of U.S. propaganda.</i>
Ochsendorf Talks About Receiving MacArthur
“That is not possible,” thought Professor John Ochsendorf when he got the call from the MacArthur Foundation President, Jonathon F. Fanton. On September 15th, Ochsendorf, an associate professor of Architecture, was in his office with a student when he received a phone call asking if he was alone and sitting down.
N.H. Senator Sununu ’87 Faces Tough Reelection Battle
Jeanne Shaheen, the former governor running for the U.S. Senate, rarely mentions her opponent’s name without mentioning George W. Bush. The Democrat’s supporters wield signs depicting the president and U.S. Senator John E. Sununu ’87, a fellow Republican, arm in arm. Outside a debate this week, Shaheen backers hoisted a loudspeaker that blared Bush’s voice: “John Sununu was with me from the beginning … John Sununu was with me from the beginning …”
Media Lab Extension Nearing Completion
The new Media Lab extension is in its final stage of construction and the exterior will be completed by the end of November. Construction on the interior will continue and if everything goes according to plan, the new lab (building E14) will be operating by October 2009.
With the Stock Market Sliding, Students Go to Cheaper Schools
One of Tom Woodbury’s sisters went to Vanderbilt University, the other to Boston College. But they didn’t choose those pricey private colleges during a financial market meltdown that took a sizeable chunk of the family’s college savings.
Police Seek Intruder Who Tried to Assault Student
An intruder tried to sexually assault at least one Senior House resident early Sunday morning. The intruder apparently fled after attracting attention from residents.
Shorts (right)
A suicide attacker in a police uniform blew himself up inside a police station in the northern Afghan province of Baghlan on Monday, killing two American soldiers and an 8-year-old boy, Afghan officials said.
Shorts (left)
Google, the Internet search and advertising giant, is increasingly eyeing the energy sector as a potential business opportunity.
Tension Grows Over Role Of Kurds in Iraqi City
A new Iraqi military offensive is under way in this still violent northern city, but the worry is not only the insurgents who remain strong here. American commanders are increasingly concerned that Mosul could degenerate into a larger battleground over the fragile Iraqi state itself.
Yen Surges, Fueled By Abrupt End of Borrowing Scheme
Tumbling stock markets and falling currencies are causing global concern, but the Japanese yen is generating high anxiety for rising too much. The yen surged as much as 10 percent against the dollar last week. In the last month, it has gained an astounding 34 percent against the euro.
Candidates Aim for a Balance Between Confident and Cocky
Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain have been ever vigilant in recent days for signs of an unseemly affliction in the realm of presidential medicine: January Fever.
Alaska Senator Convicted On Felony Ethics Charges
Sen. Ted Stevens, Alaska’s dominant political figure for more than four decades, was found guilty on Monday of violating federal ethics laws for failing to report tens of thousands of dollars in gifts and services he received from friends.
U.S. Special Forces Raid Into Syria, Kill Iraqi Militant
A raid into Syria on Sunday was conducted by U.S. Special Operations forces who killed an Iraqi militant responsible for smuggling weapons, money and foreign fighters across the border into Iraq, U.S. officials said Monday.
I See You’re Eyeing Those Snow Boots
Well, I’m sorry to get your hopes up; Boston just isn’t far enough inland for that delightful white fluffy stuff. We get rain. Sorry. I feel your loss, really: after half of a semester of Experimental Physics 1, I’m more than ready to throw snowballs at all my friends. So, why are we not getting snow? It’s simply not cold enough here yet; remember how unseasonably warm it was on Sunday with a high of 66°F? The source of today’s storm is a low that strengthened as it moved from off the middle Atlantic coast to New England. It has enough moisture to give us anywhere from a quarter to a half inch of rain today in Cambridge (grab your umbrellas!), and drop anywhere from a few flakes to a few inches in the Berkshires and at other high altitudes far inland. Don’t worry too much though about your missed snowball fights; we’ll get our wintry weather soon enough.
Diagnosing Problems with ‘The Human Factor’
MIT recently launched a fundraising campaign titled “The Human Factor.” Their website, <i>http://thehumanfactor.mit.edu</i>, uses video and text to encourage donations to MIT, outlining several fundamental beliefs about students at MIT. While I am not against getting more money for MIT and its students, as a current student of MIT there are several reasons why I find The Human Factor to be misleading and over-simplified.
Why I Support Barack Obama
The fundamental question we should ask when selecting our next president is — twenty years from now, when I’m raising a family and I look back at this choice, which candidate will have made me and the rest of America better off?
Fizzling Out
John McCain was in trouble before Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama. Now, he’s in a desperate uphill battle just to stay competitive in the race. The former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s endorsement couldn’t have come for a worse time for McCain.
Palin’s Anti-Science Rhetoric
In her first policy speech in Pittsburgh last Friday, Sarah Palin spoke about the need for government programs to aid children with disabilities and disorders, highlighting the importance of scientific research into disorders such as autism:
Women’s Soccer Tops Mount Holyoke, 4-2Men’s Water Polo Takes Second at Division III Eastern ChampionshipBrown’s Big Day Carries MIT Past Salve Regina, 34-19
Assisting on the Engineers’ first two goals, Alisha D. Lussiez ’12 capped the scoring with a beautiful individual effort as MIT defeated Mount Holyoke College, 4-2.
New Synthetic Turf Soccer Field Named For Junior’s Parents
On Saturday, Chancellor Clay addressed the crowd of students gathered at Steinbrenner Stadium to celebrate the dedication of Roberts Field.
Underground Inquiry
Bottled water is losing ground these days. In major cities all over the world, schools, religious groups, city governments, and restaurants are all ditching bottled water for the free water flowing out of their taps.
Talk Nerdy To Me
Impulsive shopper that I am, I spent an ungodly amount on a Halloween costume last year. Costumes are like red carpet outfits: it’s a fashion sin to be caught in the same one from a previous year. For guys, it’s not as big of a deal because their outfits are rarely memorable in both situations.
Brouhaha Rhythm
Operating under the assumption that I am occasionally funny, this is a humor column, and few things are quite so humorous as the quasi-coordinated trying to dance.
