“The built environment is the natural habitat of humans. The traditional paradigm
is to transform natural landscapes into built landscapes. … Buildings
are huge consumers of resources and producers of pollutants. There’s a
big disconnect between humans and nature. They don’t see where the waste
goes.” §
“The Republicans have shown they can use the filibuster very effectively.
The party will continue to do so when it comes to labor-friendly bills. ... The
Senate vastly over-represents union-unfriendly, rural states. Unions would be
better off channeling energy into boosting membership on a local level than trying
to surmount the legislative hurdle of the filibuster.” §
“While companies have long known that they need to deal with government
regulators and respond to questions from environmental groups, they are suddenly
facing questions from a whole new array of entities. Communities where companies
operate increasingly want to know about the environmental exposures their residents
face. And employees have become a vocal constituency for more aggressive environmental
strategies. Customers have become a very critical driver of environmental focus.” §
“It’s natural to look inward, but while most people pull out when
they’ve done it enough, an overthinker will stay in the loop. ... [Spending
10 minutes focused on some other distraction is] about the minimum time needed
to break a cycle of thoughts.” §
“Too many of our current generation of older men and women have inherited
an image of inevitability about the process of ageing that fails to take into
account the value of approaching it with creativity, with the possibility that
it can be a form of art. ... We must study how to be old. Although such an undertaking is best begun in one's
middle years, it can be done at any age. We have unknowingly begun it when we
are much younger, not only by the increasing experience of life, but by deliberately
reflecting on that experience so that it can be called upon when needed during
the later years.” §
“Like most if not all aspects of human physiology, stress has a functional
basis, familiar to us all as the ‘fight or flight’ response. This
programming converts the perception of a threat into a surge in hormones called
catecholamines — such as adrenaline and noradrenaline — that power
up our muscles, heart, lungs, and vision. … So the system that helped
us deal with stalking predators and the club-wielding denizens of a neighboring
clan is all we’ve got to deal with income tax forms, utility bills, voicemail
wastelands, spam and other people being nasty because they have to deal with
all those things, too.” §
“In surveys, 60 to 70% of white Americans say racism is a thing of the
past. From a white person’s view, when certain incidents occur that are
blatant, it is easy to recognize them, but the outrage is more localized. If
you don't believe racism is widespread, you think once you take care of that
little event, you can go back to business as usual. ... Sixty to 70% of black
Americans see racism as a continuing problem in America. Events will occur and
minorities will see it not as an isolated event, but the tip of the iceberg of
what they have been experiencing.” §
“Poker enthusiasts have argued for online legalization [against software
designed to beat human players], saying that poker is a game of skill. And of
course, it is (just like chess and checkers). But ironically, it’s because
poker is a game of skill that humans’ chance of winning are undermined.
Unlike checkers, the key to poker is to predict whether other players are bluffing.
On the Internet (without the possibility of visual cues), computers are probably
better at predicting a rival’s hand from his or her past play. But computers
are much better at confounding the expectations of their human opponents. Computers
can play randomized strategies much better than we can. Our brains are so hardwired
to see patterns, it’s devilishly hard for most of us to generate random
behavior.” §
“Allowing your child to go to the computer for a limited time each day
is important. This is an electronic world, and we have to be sophisticated about
it. But I think what happens is that many parents think that the computer is
more interactive than TV, and they don’t set time limits on it, and then
the child is caught up in just playing with his computer.” §
“[The I-131 isotope treatment is] like the ultimate magic bullet. Radioactive
iodine goes straight to thyroid cells and kills them. If only we had such a wonderful
magic bullet for other cancers, we’d have a lot fewer cancer deaths in
this country.”
T H I S
ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS
— Stephen Kellert, the Tweedy/Ordway Professor of Social Ecology, “Growing
and Greener,” New Haven Register, Nov. 5, 2007.
— Jacob Hacker, professor of political science, “Unions Ready To
Cash In On Dem Win,” Capitol Hill Blue (VA), Nov. 5, 2007.
— Daniel C. Esty, the Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy,
director of the Center for Environmental Law and Policy, director of the World
Fellows Program and director of the Center for Business and Environment, in his
article, “The Green List: Ride the Wave Or Go Under,” Guardian (UK),
Nov. 5, 2007.
— Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, professor of psychology, “Six Ways To Stop
Dwelling On It,” CNN.com, Nov. 7, 2007.
— Dr. Sherwin Nuland, clinical professor of surgery, in his article, “Aging
Well Is All Skill and Practice,” Sydney Morning Herald (Australia), Nov.
11, 2007.
— Dr. David L. Katz, associate professor adjunct in public health practice
at the School of Public Health, in his article, “Don’t Worry, Be
Healthy,” The Times (London), Nov. 11, 2007.
— John Dovidio, professor of psychology, “Reduced to the Small Screen,” The
Washington Post, Nov. 11, 2007.
— Ian Ayres, the William K. Townsend Professor of Law, in his article, “Poker
Bots on the Rise: A Guest Blog,” The New York Times, Nov. 12, 2007.
— Dorothy Singer, senior research scientist in psychology, “Back
to Make-Believe,” Florida Today, Nov. 17, 2007.
— Dr. Robert Udelsman, the William H. Carmalt Professor of Surgery, “It
Kills Thyroid Cancer, But Is Radiation Safe?” USA Today, Nov. 19, 2007.
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
Fossil from giant sea scorpion found
Paleontologist named next Peabody director
Yale senior and Law School student win Rhodes Scholarships
Renovation of Yale Bowl celebrated at The Game
Victor Vroom is named the inaugural BearingPoint Professor
Jonathan Feinstein appointed the John G. Searle Professor
Going the Distance: Scientist takes students to the Amazon . . .
Kissinger to take part in symposium on . . .
Venezuela’s future under Hugo Chávez will be explored . . .
Museum celebrates 200th anniversary of fall of ‘Weston’ meteorite
An old classic is seen through a modern lens at Yale Rep
Babies’ preference for altruists suggests social evaluation . . .
Monsanto expands support for center’s plant research
A likeness
Symposium will examine the architecture of Yale’s 22 libraries
Special events to highlight holiday season in New Haven
Gallery of gifts
Back to ‘The City’
Memorial service for Dr. Melvin Lewis
Yale Books in Briefs
Campus Notes
Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events|In the News
Bulletin Board|Classified Ads|Search Archives|Deadlines
Bulletin Staff|Public Affairs|News Releases|
E-Mail Us|Yale Home