X
"The calm and tranquility that we yearn for during the holidays is something we already have, but we don't realize it, or we forget it. If we have to make it into something special -- if we have to 'make it,' if we have to go to great lengths to create something special -- then we have a big problem."
-- Bruce Blair, Buddhist chaplain, "All Is Calm;
Creating A Tranquil Holiday Oasis,"
The Hartford Courant, Dec. 3, 2004.
§
"New England's cities were built on steel rails carrying coal and raw materials from the west and south toward factories built here. ... The relative decline of American rail freight -- in competition with the more nimble 18-wheeler -- dominated the late 20th century, but things are changing. Nationally, freight rail is booming again. The industry provides 155,000 jobs, running better than 500,000 freight cars, hauling over a trillion mile-tons of stuff yearly -- the world's largest freight rail system by far."
-- Douglas W. Rae, the Richard S. Ely Professor of Organization and Management, in
his article, "Crash Course; The I-95 Mess and How To Solve It," Hartford Courant, Nov. 14, 2004.
§
"Women [in Japan] are not satisfied with the old way, but they don't have a new way. They're stuck. The way they cope with that is by at least having some career before getting married. They figure once they get married, it's going to be all over."
-- Frances Rosenbluth, professor of political science, "Japanese Women Staying Single Longer," Associated Press, Nov. 22, 2004.
§
"Growing public interest in architecture is as much a product of increasing public participation in government as it is a product of the press' insatiable search for stars and controversies. Public and nonprofit agencies used to make design decisions -- often excellent design decisions -- behind closed doors. But too often in the past design decisions have been the product of backroom deals. In the case of the World Trade Center site, the press has accomplished something that I would not have thought possible: It opened the design process to public scrutiny."
-- Alexander Garvin, adjunct professor of architecture, in his article, "How Ground Zero Changed the Equation," The New York Sun, Nov. 29, 2004.
§
"Humanity is indeed one big family and we're all 100th cousins."
-- Joseph T. Chang, professor of statistics, on his study showing all humans alive today shared a common ancestor about 100 generations ago, "Yale Professor Finds Most Common Ancestor 3,000 Years Ago," New Haven Register, Nov. 28, 2004.
§
''One thing we know is that kids in preschool years need to be in touch with the real world. No matter how brilliant they are, they're not going to learn to walk, to move, to interact with others unless their hands or feet have a direct role in such activity. Plopping kids in front of a TV or computer cuts away a whole aspect of that development.''
-- Jerome L. Singer, professor emeritus of psychology, "Babes in a Grown-up Toyland," The New York Times, Nov. 28, 2004.
§
"There's a mounting quantity of evidence in psychology that repetition and repeated exposure increases liking. So if customers are basically seeing these same [holiday theme] colors, they're going to be more attracted to this, they're going to like it more."
-- On Amir, assistant professor at the School of Management, about companies that incorporate holiday themes into their products to boost sales, "Red, Green and Christmas All Over; No Escape: Holiday Marketing Gets You In Its Commercial Clutches," Hartford Courant, Dec. 6, 2004.
§
''[Mambo is] very much alive, but in strains and tendencies. In a sense nothing has changed, while everything has changed.'"
-- Robert Farris Thompson, the Colonel John Trumbull Professor of History of Art, about the widespread influence of the musical form on Latin music, "A Mambo King in His Twilight," The New York Times, Nov. 28, 2004.
§
''What precipitated [a renewed ban against vaginal births after cesareans, or VBACs] were reports in the literature and reports that came to the college itself about women who had ruptured their uterus, particularly in rural settings, with no doctor and no anesthesiologist around. Babies died, and women lost the uterus in some cases. ... I think the real death knell to VBAC's was the malpractice crisis."
-- Dr. Charles Lockwood, the Anita O'Keefe Young Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "Trying to Avoid 2nd Caesarean, Many Find Choice Isn't Theirs," The New York Times, Nov. 29, 2004.
§
"That is the main problem with this [blood donor] screening process. They are not asking the correct questions to capture those donors that are really a risk to potential beneficiaries of this blood source."
-- Leif Mitchell, community research core coordinator at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, contending that potential blood donors should not be asked if they are gay but if they have had unprotected sex, "Protesters Back Milford Teen Who Was Rejected as Blood Donor," New Haven Register, Dec. 5, 2004.
§
"We really need to emphasize to [postmenopausal] women that they need to get out there and start exercising and eating properly ... I want people's bones to be in good shape. I want their hearts to be in good shape. I want them to have a good quality of life."
-- Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology, "Menopause Update; Yale Doctor Pens Book on Change of Life Issues," Connecticut Post, Dec. 4, 2004.
§
"I do believe there are those in the U.S. who are seeking to utilise [the scandal over the 'drugs for oil' program] in their continuing hostility, which to a certain extent in my opinion is irrational, toward the UN."
-- James Sutterlin, lecturer in political science, "Annan's UN Under a Cloud," The Weekend Australian, Dec. 4, 2004.
§
"We are beginning to get a rational understanding of irrational disorders. ... What we are demonstrating here is that a part is broken. It tells people that we are really talking about a medical illness, not a moral weakness."
-- Amy Arnsten, associate professor of neurobiology, on her work showing that schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have genetic roots, "Meeting of the Minds," The Hartford Courant, Dec. 7, 2004.
§
"[A]s practiced by the U.N., which does not mention 'democracy' in its charter, and which has posed no obstacle to the presence of rogues and despots in its membership, collective security has been a flop. The U.N. is not dead yet. A final opportunity to save it exists. But perhaps it would be wise to start thinking about a new world organization, one with a membership that is committed to democracy."
-- Charles Hill, lecturer in international affairs and distinguished fellow in International Security Studies, "How to Save the U.N. (If We Really Have To)," Wall Street Journal, Dec. 7, 2004.
§
"The nature of our society has different stereotypes as to what it takes to be a man. A man is decisive, take charge. He doesn't admit to his mistakes. But learning from your mistakes is the essence of common sense."
-- Robert Sternberg, the IBM Professor of Psychology and Education, on why many men won't ask for directions when they are lost, "Looking for Common Sense; Ben Franklin Was Noted for His Brains and Practicality, but in a High-Tech World Is that Mix Harder To Find?" The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Nov. 27, 2004.
§
"[South Africa's (SA)] racist past left its people scarred. SA has to instill empowering values in its society to heal these apartheid scars. Values such as candour, entrepreneurship and partnership need to underpin SA's transformation agenda. They can forge a bridge between SA's past and its future. These values will also communicate to society what must be cherished. ... [V]alues are to a national agenda, what soul is to a human being."
-- Mteto Nyati, postgraduate fellow in the World Fellowship Program, in his article, "SA Needs to Root Its Growth in Vital Values," Africa News, Dec. 2, 2004.
§
"A distinction should be made between 'relief' and 'reparations.' Relief suggests something like assistance in the case of such natural catastrophes as earthquakes and floods, and reparations explicitly acknowledges responsibility and guilt. Reparations shares something with the truth and reconciliation commissions that helped to heal South Africa after the injuries of apartheid and Argentina following the junta's dirty war."
-- Robert E. Lane, professor emeritus of political science, "Start Talking Now About Reparations For Iraq," The Hartford Courant, Nov. 29, 2004.
§
"There have been interesting innovations in the last five years. I think it is a combination of the functional benefits they have and prices coming down. There is both the sizzle and the steak in electronics this year."
-- Ravi Dhar, professor at the School of Management and the Department of Psychology, on the popularity of consumer electronics gadgets this year, "Flash, Noise Take Cash This Season," Detroit Free Press,
Dec. 9, 2004.
§
"Do we create incentives for developers to turn away from commercial centers that already exist or do we create incentives to reinvest in older suburban communities? Do we reinvest in Main Street rather than make fake main streets? So much of this stuff is an elaborate fiction."
-- Alan Plattus, professor of architecture and urbanism, on developers' focus on "life-style centers," new retail centers designed to mimic old-fashioned main streets, rather than existing downtowns, "Outdoor Scenes from a Mall," The New York Times, Dec. 5, 2004.
§
"Serving others is not only an act but also an attitude. It is a way of life and journey that is inclusive of and yet goes beyond whatever our religious beliefs may be to a kind of faithful living which embraces a vision and sees the poetry of humanity that makes our creator smile."
-- The Reverend Frederick J. Streets, University chaplain, in his article, "Serving Others Gives Purpose to Life," The Hartford Courant, Nov. 28, 2004.
§
"IBM's move [to sell its PC operation to a Chinese company] speaks loudly about personal computer technology. So far as IBM can figure, PCs have reached a plateau. IBM can't think of any practical way to sell its PCs for significantly more money than other companies charge. And IBM is no random group of bums off the street."
-- David Gelernter, professor of computer science, in his article, "How to Build A Better PC? Don't Give Up," The Wall Street Journal, Dec. 9, 2004.
§
"For a certain segment of the movement ... [the failure of efforts to legalize gay marriage] means that the error was that we were wanting too much too fast. It is entirely characteristic for them to believe that what is required is a sort of retrenchment and a return to a more moderate message. They are, of course, completely wrong."
-- Jonathan Katz, executive coordinator of the Larry Kramer Initiative for Lesbian and Gay Studies, adjunct associate professor of women's, gender and sexuality studies and of the history of art, "After Series of Losses, Gays Rethink Strategy," The International Herald Tribune, Dec. 10, 2004.
T H I S
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
AIA honors British Art Center for its 'enduring significance'
Saybrook Orchestra aims to inspire young music lovers
Making spirits bright
Three scientists win $1 million for research on infectious disease
ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPSCarlson appointed to Higgins Professorship
Elimelech has been named to Goizueta Chair
Jacobs-Wagner is new Singer Assistant Professor
Dr. Merson to step down as EPH dean
Study suggests vaccinating wildlife may be a key to . . .
In Focus: The Learning Center
Fellowship to bring together architecture students, developers
Researchers find the drug Ritalin is effective both for children . . .
Arts Library acquires the archive of pioneering book artist Richard Minsky
United Way Campaign honors Yale departments for their efforts
Study links unconscious race bias to particular brain region
Artist Franck donates sculpture to ISM
Study: Brain's nicotine receptors also a target for antidepressants
Supports help maltreated children who are prone to depression, study finds
Awards to fund innovative theological courses
New journal explores globalization's impact on health . . .
Linda Degutis to chair national public health group
Artistic tribute
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