Construction Projects
<b>Project:</b> Building 10 Dome Renovation<b>Why:</b> Water leakage<b>Began:</b> April 2009<b>Schedule:</b> Scaffolding down by Decem ber 2009<b>General Contractor:</b> Walsh Brothers
Small Fire in 36
A large printer/copier on the second floor of Building 36 began smoldering at 8:07 p.m. last Thursday night, according to MIT spokeswoman Jennifer F. Hirsch.
Jag Patel, Antony Donovan Move In to Senior House
<i>The Tech</i> recently met with Jagruti S. Patel ’97, Antony N. Donovan ’94, and their cat Tyler, interim housemasters of Senior House. Last week, they took over the office left by Henry and Cynthia Jenkins in May 2009, and will serve for the next one to two years.
Dome Cocoon Comes Down in Dec. Media Lab E14 Move-In by October
Construction to make the Building 10 dome weathertight continues through December, while the new Media Lab Extension prepares for new occupants in October, according to MIT Facilities.
Scientists Lucky to Have Spotted Planet
Were astronomers just lucky when they discovered the planet WASP-18b?
Attorney General Plans Overhaul At Civil Rights Division
Seven months after taking office, Attorney General Eric Holder is reshaping the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division by pushing it back into some of the most important areas of American political life, including voting rights, housing, employment, bank lending practices and redistricting after the 2010 census.
Shorts (right)
Amid fevered speculation about possible contenders for the late Edward M. Kennedy’s U.S. Senate seat, Gov. Deval Patrick on Monday scheduled a special election for Jan. 19 and said he would keep pushing the state Legislature to change the law so he could name an interim successor.
Shorts (left)
The Walt Disney Co.’s surprise deal to acquire Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion redraws the architecture of Hollywood and spotlights how the media giant has become more aggressive than its peers about growth.
Unusual Wildfire Threatens Hundreds of Homes in Calif.
A deadly wildfire that has burned for nearly a week in the foothills north of here threatened hundreds of homes on Monday and frustrated firefighters with its unusually rapid and unpredictable spread.
Japanese Opposition Wins Elections in a Landslide
Japan’s voters cast out the Liberal Democratic Party for only the second time in postwar history on Sunday, handing a landslide victory to a party that campaigned on a promise to reverse a generation-long economic decline and redefine Tokyo’s relationship with Washington.
El Niño Projected to Strengthen
As the student population returns to MIT, it hardly seems the time to be looking ahead to the end of the semester and beyond. However, meteorologists must be aware of the atmosphere’s current patterns, and what can be expected to come; being aware of the climate in the next few months is both economically and socially advisable. For example, if drought is expected, farmers and economists alike can prepare for and hopefully mitigate any losses.
Obama to Weigh Buildup Option in Afghan War
A new report by the top commander in Afghanistan detailing the deteriorating situation there confronts President Barack Obama with the politically perilous decision of whether to deepen U.S. involvement in the eight-year-old war amid shrinking public support at home.
For Healthcare, Right Is Wrong
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are the basic, fundamental, and inalienable rights defined by the United States Declaration of Independence and safeguarded by the government. Take a minute to note that healthcare, emergency room treatment, and prescription medicines are notably absent from that list. So are a few other essentials for life: food and shelter.
Corrections
The caption supplied with an Aug. 28, 2009 photograph of Senator Edward M. Kennedy should have read “The late Senator Edward M. Kennedy is seen rallying the crowd at a Barack Obama campaign stop at the World Trade Center in Boston during the 2008 Democratic Primary fight on February 4, 2008.” and should have been credited to Tech photographer David M. Templeton ’08. A late-night photo switch without an accompanying caption switch caused the error.
Heavyweight Crew Competes in Henley Royal Regatta
MIT’s heavyweight eight traveled to Henley-on-Thames, England to compete in the Henley Royal Regatta on July 1–5. Tech defeated Molesey Boat Club to advance to the second round of the single elimination tournament, but the Engineers were knocked out by Brown University the next day, ending Tech’s season.
Ask SIPB
This week’s column covers electronic communication at MIT — e-mail, mailing lists, and zephyr.
