Corrections
A correction that ran on September 3 correcting the date of the freshman registration deadline, had the correct day of week but the wrong date for the deadline. The deadline was Thursday Sept. 2 — not Thursday Sept. 3, as was printed in the correction.
Once a dynamo, technology sector is slow to hire
For years the technology sector has been considered the most dynamic, promising and globally envied industry in the United States. It escaped the recession relatively unscathed, and profits this year have been soaring.
Stem cell work in limbo awaiting court’s decision
Many stem cell researchers have been left uncertain about their own future and the future of their field as they wait for a federal judge to decide whether to allow the NIH to fund human embryonic stem cell research, within and without of its walls.
Most libraries cut back on operating hours this year
MIT Libraries drastically cut hours for the new 2010-2011 academic year. The libraries Hayden, Barker, Dewey, Lewis, and Rotch lost a combined 27.5 hours of service per week. Most libraries will open half-an-hour later and some, including Hayden, will close an hour earlier.
Table of libraries’ hours
Library Last year’s (2009–2010) hours This year’s (2010–2011) hours Hours Lost Hayden Mon–Thu 8a.m.–midnightFri 8a.m.–10p.m. Sat 10a.m.–10p.m.Sun 10a.m.–midnight Mon–Thu 9a.m.–11p.m.Fri 9a.m.–6p.m. Sat 1–6p.m.Sun 2–11p.m. 25 Barker Mon–Thu 8:30 a.m.–11p.m.Fri 8:30a.m.–7p.m. Sat 1–6p.m.Sun 1–11p.m. Mon–Thu 9a.m.–11p.m.Fri 9a.m.–6p.m. Sat 1–6p.m.Sun 2–11p.m. 4.5 Dewey Mon–Thu 8:30a.m.–11p.m.Fri 8:30a.m.–7p.m. Sat 1–6p.m.Sun 1–11p.m. Mon–Thu 9a.m.–11p.m.Fri 9a.m.–6p.m. Sat 1–6p.m.Sun 2–11p.m. 4.5 Lewis Mon–Thu 8:30a.m.–10p.m.Fri 8:30a.m.–6p.m. Sat 1- 6p.m.Sun 1–10p.m. Mon–Thu 9a.m.–9p.m.Fri 9a.m.–6p.m. Sat 1- 6p.m.Sun 2–9p.m. 8.5 Rotch Mon–Thu 8:30a.m.–11p.m.Fri 8:30a.m.–7p.m. Sat 1–6p.m.Sun 2–10p.m. Mon–Thu 9a.m.–11p.m.Fri 9a.m.–6p.m. Sat 1–6p.m.Sun 2–11p.m. 2.5 Rotch Visual Mon-Fri 8:30a.m.–5p.m. Sat-Sun Closed Mon-Fri 9a.m.–5p.m. Sat-Sun Closed 2.5
TEP sodium drop suit ended in six-figure settlement
In August, <i>The Tech</i> reported on the settlement between Tau Epsilon Phi (TEP) students and cleanup volunteers over injuries resulting from dropping sodium in the Charles River in 2007. <i>The Boston Globe</i> subsequently reported that the settlement was in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to John J. Barton, a lawyer for the victims.
Choice of clerks highlights Supreme Court’s polarization
WASHINGTON — Each year, 36 young lawyers obtain the most coveted credential in U.S. law: a Supreme Court clerkship. Clerking for a justice is a glittering capstone on a resume that almost always includes outstanding grades at a top law school, service on a law review and a prestigious clerkship with a federal appeals court judge.
Draper looks for solutions to energy problems
Draper Lab, the MIT spinoff whiz kids out of Cambridge, Mass., know how to make super-small electronic and advanced medical devices. The firm recently set up facilities both in St. Petersburg and Tampa, Fla. to expand their footprint in high-end security devices and biomedical innovations.
New studying advice a surprise
Every September, millions of parents try a kind of psychological witchcraft, to transform their summer-glazed campers into fall students, their video-bugs into bookworms. Advice is cheap and all too familiar: Clear a quiet work space. Stick to a homework schedule. Set goals. Set boundaries. Do not bribe (except in emergencies).
Shorts (left)
THATA SIAL, PAKISTAN — When the governor of Punjab province arrived recently in this small town with truckloads of relief goods for flood victims, his visit was as much a political mission as a humanitarian one. His message to the hundred or so displaced people gathered under an awning was that the government was there for them.
Some see a ploy as Craigslist blocks sex ads
SAN FRANCISCO — Craigslist, by shutting off its “adult services” section and slapping a “censored” label in its place, is engaging in what some analysts describe as a high-stakes stunt to influence public opinion.
Grim housing choice: help<br />today’s owners or future buyers
The unexpectedly deep plunge in home sales this summer is likely to force the Obama administration to choose between future homeowners and current ones, a predicament officials had been eager to avoid.
Labour politicians call for a second look at a phone scandal
LONDON — Senior opposition politicians are calling on the government to respond to renewed accusations that Downing Street’s chief communications officer, Andy Coulson, encouraged reporters to illegally intercept messages from the cell phones of public figures when he was editor of The News of the World.
American Muslims ask,<br />will we ever belong?
For nine years after the attacks of Sept. 11, many American Muslims made concerted efforts to build relationships with non-Muslims, to make it clear they abhor terrorism, to educate people about Islam and to participate in interfaith service projects. They took satisfaction in the observations by many scholars that Muslims in America were more successful and assimilated than Muslims in Europe.
Shorts (right)
The unexpectedly deep plunge in home sales this summer is likely to force the Obama administration to choose between future homeowners and current ones, a predicament officials had been eager to avoid.
A warm start to classes, then rain and chilly winds
An area of high pressure centered to our south in the Atlantic will continue moving eastward. As it does so, southwesterly winds will reach New England, providing a quick surge of warm air for today. Highs will likely reach the mid 80s over the area, but remain below those of last week’s heat wave. Temperatures should cool off somewhat for Wednesday as the next storm system approaches, bringing a weakening low pressure across southern Canada toward Nova Scotia. This system will swing a cold front through the east Coast by Wednesday night. Skies will become cloudy and rain should begin falling on Wednesday as showers, or possibly thunderstorms. The fast moving cold front will give way to cooler temperatures (around 70°F) by Thursday, and allow some showers from the accompanying low pressure to move southward from Canada. Don’t worry, no tropical cyclones in sight for now.
Baghdad attack highlights still dangerous role of U.S.
BAGHDAD — Insurgents mounted a coordinated attack on one of the main military commands in Baghdad on Sunday, briefly drawing fire from American soldiers, an event that underscored the ambiguity of the American military role in Iraq after the declared end of its combat operations.
While Karachi slowly burns
In the game of geopolitics, Pakistan was dealt a terrible hand. It began its existence situated next to an aggressive and mortal enemy who, both in population as well as gross domestic product, outnumbered it by more than three to one.
Sure it’s fake, but does it have to be boring too?
Boom! TD Bank Garden erupted in cheers as the lights went down and pyrotechnics fired off on Monday night. “Sports” entertainment company World Wrestling Entertainment aired their 900th episode of Monday Night RAW. Since its debut 17 years ago on January 11, 1993, the WWE has produced the most episodes in the history of primetime TV. In fact according to a fun fact displayed during a commercial break, if MTV’s Jersey Shore continues to run at its current rate, it will reach its 900th episode in 2083 when Snooki is 96 which is older than Betty White’s current age.
After a glum Sox on Sox weekend, time to move on
All summer, I’ve read about the declining TV and radio audiences for the Red Sox, but in order to gain a full grasp on the changing market for Red Sox baseball, I needed to go down to Fenway and wait in line for seats. In years past, I’d arrive outside the ticket window at Gate E a full five hours in advance of the first pitch and find thirty to fifty people camped out in the shadow of the Green Monster, spread out on blankets, sipping coffee, and listening to radio hosts dissect the Red Sox. As I arrived on Saturday morning at the ballpark two and a half hours before game time, I found just eight people in line ahead of me. In the thirty minutes between my arrival and the time tickets went on sale, the line in front of me dwindled to a mere four people as scalpers offered face value for “box seats” (be wary of scalpers: aside from the fact that the seats are grouped in rectangular sections, there was nothing “box” about those seats). The first-row, infield grandstand seats that I purchased offered an excellent view of what promised to be an intriguing pitchers’ duel in the first game of Saturday’s double-header.
VARIOUS STAGES OF UNDRESS A hands-on tutorial
Oh man, sometimes I wish I was back in high school. College is exciting and everything, don’t get me wrong, but there is something to be said for a blossoming sexuality and raging hormones.
Too busy to be ill
Years from now, I will still remember the moment when I first stepped into MIT. It was a cloudy Sunday, and the nearly-empty campus looked like a blank slate. Though I had traveled alone, my mom still wanted to accompany me on those first minutes in college, albeit symbolically, and the digital echo of her voice was the only sound that pierced the silence.
