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"Memory sells. Memory is quite a commodity now. There's a certain melancholia about all this. There's
a certain fear that drives this."
-- David Blight, director of the Gilder Lehrman Center and the Class of 1954 Professor of American History, about commemorating events such as Sept. 11,
"The Depths of Our Memory About Sept. 11,"
Baltimore Sun, Sept. 5, 2006.
§
"People in Florida haven't awakened and found themselves in the same boat as people in Los Angeles. If there were a massive magnitude 7.0 earthquake,
I'd advise people to get off the beach. You'd probably still be safe in Disney World."
-- Jeffrey Park, professor of geology and geophysics, about the Sept. 10 6.0-magnitude earthquarke in Florida, "Florida Shouldn't Worry Too Much About Quakes, Experts Say," Associated Press,
Sept. 12, 2006.
§
"The [Venezuelan political] system is more democratic than many people believe, though that could change in the future."
-- Thad Dunning, assistant professor of political science, "Venezuelan Democracy Looks Alive, Despite Doubts," Reuters News, Aug. 18, 2006.
§
''[A new strain of tuberculosis found in South Africa is] essentially not treatable. ... It's a potential time bomb. It's an extremely serious thing. I don't want to convey a sense of panic -- it's not Ebola. It's urgent, but it's not the same.''
-- Dr. Gerald Friedland, professor of medicine and of epidemiology and public health, "Doctors Warn of Powerful and Resistant Tuberculosis Strain," The New York Times, Aug. 18, 2006.
§
"Today the world knows that Pluto is not unique. There are other Plutos, just farther out in the solar system where they are a little harder to find."
-- David Rabinowitz, research scientist in physics, "Scientists Cast Pluto Back Into the Outer Darkness," Yorkshire Post (UK), Aug. 25, 2006.
§
"[A]s every secretary-general has discovered, it remains convenient for the major powers to blame the [United Nations] for their own failures to cooperate. And this, as some weary U.N. officials suggest, may be one of the organization's most important roles -- for if there was not a United Nations to blame for inaction in the face of disaster, then the finger might point directly at the various governments themselves. Horrors!"
-- Paul Kennedy, the J. Richardson Dilworth Professor of History, in his article, "Thank U.N. for Being the Scapegoat," Times Union (NY), Aug. 29, 2006.
§
"When it comes to Cuba, bigotry is still acceptable in the highest circles. ... The foundation on which this bigotry rests is at bottom a racist one: There are still far too many comfortably affluent First World people who judge all Third World people as inferior beings who must play by different rules. This is why Fidel [Castro] not only escapes the kind of censure other dictators normally receive, but continues to be revered, despite the fact that he has driven 20% of the population into exile; and imprisoned, tortured and executed thousands more people than his Chilean counterpart Augusto Pinochet ever did. The mere fact that he boasts of free education and health care for his dark-skinned people makes him a great leader. Never mind the fact that no one who praises him in the First World would be willing to live under his rule."
-- Carlos Eire, the T. Lawrason Riggs Professor of History and Religious Studies, in his article, "The Ignorance Behind the West's Castro Cult," National Post (Canada), Sept. 12, 2006.
§
"Basically, we see children getting burned out in school as early as kindergarten, maybe even preschool years. How much can you really truly push down educational expectations in terms of ABCs and one, two, threes and letters and shapes on very young children?"
-- Walter Gilliam, assistant professor of child psychiatry and psychology, "Profile: Today's Classroom; Child Psychologist Neil Bernstein and Newsweek's Peg Tyre Discuss Today's Kindergarten," NBC News, Sept. 5, 2006.
§
"Kim Jong Il's most recent belligerence has engendered a rare moment of unanimity in the U.N. Security Council. But few regional leaders have offered plausible suggestions on how to prepare for, and peacefully precipitate, a post-Kim, unified Korea. A Korean Marshall Plan might do the trick. Creating a multi-billion dollar stabilization fund could help bring about peaceful regime change, by emboldening the North Korean people. ... It would show the long-suffering North Korean people that the world stands ready to help rebuild the shattered country if they are willing to rise up and overthrow Kim's dictatorship."
-- Michael R. Auslin, associate professor of history, in his article, "North Korea's Marshall Plan," Wall Street Journal Asia, August 2006.
§
"From my own practice, I have come to believe -- and by the way, both as a pediatrician and as a parent -- I've come to believe that sleep deprivation may be a very important triggering influence [in post-partum depression in fathers]. And people are just beginning -- there's some interesting research which is just looking at this question, but I believe that the serious sleep deprivation that many new parents experience really can contribute to really, really serious depression."
-- Dr. Sydney Spiesel, associate clinical professor of pediatrics and clinical professor of nursing, "Post-Partum Depression Can Hit Dads, Too," National Public Radio, Sept. 6, 2006.
§
"Many in government worry about instability if economic growth [in China] is not very fast. But I think instability is a far greater threat from people who find they're being poisoned by the environment."
-- Daniel C. Esty, the Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy, "Chinese People Acting Against Deadly Pollution," Associated Press, Sept. 3, 2006.
§
"We need to focus on fuel efficiency at the bottom of the range, not the top. The miles-per-gallon statistic focuses our attention on the wrong end of the distribution. Instead of looking for 100mpg wonders, we need to spend more time coaxing slightly better fuel efficiencies out of gas-guzzlers, especially high-mileage ones, such as taxis."
-- Ian Ayres, the William K. Townsend Professor of Law, and Barry Nalebuff, the Milton Steinbach Professor of Management, in their article, "Easy Savings," Forbes, Sept. 4, 2006.
§
"The face of IC [insterstitial cystitis, a painful bladder syndrome] is often hidden because there's little education about IC and its symptoms are commonly associated with more familiar conditions, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), overactive bladder and endometriosis. Clearly, there are women cycling through various diagnoses and treatments, suffering from recurring symptoms for years without relief and finding it very difficult to function well at work or at home."
-- Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology, "Interstitial Cystitis Is Often Unrecognized and Misdiagnosed," Science Letter, Sept. 12, 2006.
§
"Autism has a strong genetic basis as evidenced by the high recurrence rate in families and its associations with Fragile X syndrome and tuberous sclerosis. Early diagnosis of autism is important, given the potential for improvement with intervention."
-- Dr. Fred R. Volkmar, director of the Child Study Center and the Harris Professor of Child Psychiatry, "Physician Knowledge About Autism Is Increasing," Vaccine Weekly, Sept. 6, 2006.
§
"Get out ... as fast as you can. We are suffering a major strategic defeat. We've improved al-Qaida's standing, we've improved the Iranians' influence, we have lost our allies big time and we are down half a trillion dollars."
-- William Odom, adjunct professor of political science, about the war in Iraq, "Fight, Flight or Decentralization?; Experts Clash Over Strategies for Continued U.S. Role in Iraq," North County Times, Sept. 5, 2006.
§
"Emerging countries such as India, Brazil and China are already experiencing substantial industrial restructuring as they become more open to trade. These countries have relatively inflexible labor markets and would need to devote more public funds to implementing direct policies such as unemployment insurance, retraining or job search assistance. However, the countries understandably target health and education for fiscal priorities, leaving little scope for labor-market interventions. Hence, given strong political opposition to liberalizing labor markets, the inability or unwillingness to provide safety-net payments will likely jeopardize trade liberalization."
-- Gustav Ranis, the Frank Altschul Professor Emeritus of International Economics and senior research scientist at The MacMillan Center, and David Corderi, in their article, "When Labor Loses Out to Trade," Daily Times (Pakistan), Aug. 14, 2006.
§
"Disability in bathing -- the need for personal assistance to wash and dry one's whole body -- is highly prevalent in older persons and is a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality."
-- Dr. Thomas Gill, professor of internal medicine (geriatrics), and of epidemiology and public health, and associate professor of investigative medicine, "Bathing a Marker for Nursing Home; Chronic Troubles Risk Admission," Washington Times, Sept. 5, 2006.
§
"It is not clear that eliminating early admissions will result in the admission of more students from low-income families. ... What is really needed is what Harvard, Yale and others have been doing in recent years: that is making efforts to increase the pool of low-income students who apply and strengthening the financial aid packages they receive."
-- Richard C. Levin, University President, "Harvard Ends Early Admission," USA Today, Sept. 13, 2006.
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"The health problems of Ground Zero responders should be assumed to be due to their exposure until or unless proved otherwise, and comprehensive health coverage provided. These 40,000 brave souls gave us their best, and deserve ours. They did not ask the cost when they rushed to the scene of a catastrophe; we should not be asking the cost now that they are the victims in need."
-- Dr. David Katz, associate professor adjunct in public health practice in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, in his article, "9/11 To Bring Ill Effects for Years To Come," New Haven Register, Sept. 4, 2006.
T H I S
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
University launches 'Yale Tomorrow' campaign
Gift of $50 million to create Greenberg Yale-China Initiative
Greenberg: 'Flexibility' will be key Yale asset in China
Program will educate corporate leaders about . . . climate change
V.P. and union president co-chairing Yale-United Way Campaign
This year's 'Science Saturdays' for children celebrates women scientists
Alumnus Robert Burger is named an assistant provost
MEDICAL CENTER NEWS
Yale receives $7.2 million grant for cardiovascular imaging
Team finds promising treatment for hookworm
Training program may help control behavior of children with TS
Study: Vets often sicker than civilians with same illness
Genetics may play a role in premature infants' lung problems . . .
Keck Foundation honors endocrinologist for insulin research
More Yale-related MacArthur Fellows
Yale's Endowment earns 22.9% in the past fiscal year
Erin Lavik and Tarek Fahmy win biomedical engineering awards
Are we alone? 'Alien Earths' explores scientists' quest to find out
Exhibit explores connections between art and music in different period
Yale novelists, poets and playwrights will read from their works
Works by photojournalists in Iraq on view at ISM
Study finds affirmation exercise boosts minority . . .
Conference to explore ways to increase diversity in higher education
Traveling Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival comes to campus
Ancient coins will be showcased in 'The Romans in Asia' symposium
Two noted scientists serving as visiting scholars . . .
Five alumni to be honored with Wilbur Lucius Cross Medals
Five junior faculty members are honored by The MacMillan Center . . .
Memorial service for Jaroslav Pelikan
University of Michigan professor wins Yale's Douglass Prize
Campus Notes
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