IN THIS ISSUE a Trumpian Mess

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

IN THIS ISSUE a Trumpian Mess The California Tech Volume CXX number 4 Pasadena, California [email protected] oCtober 17, 2016 A Trumpian mess - a review of the second debate RAMYA DESHPANDE As Morgan Kousser, Professor Page Editor of History and Social Science here at Caltech, puts it, “I was “Because you’d be in jail,” beginning to wonder if I’d just smirked the same man who once romanticized previous campaigns; proclaimed his endless wit in misremembered what had gone avoiding taxes, as he interrupted on, when I happened upon a presidential candidate with 30 rebroadcasts of previous debates years in public service. on CSPAN. But in fact, every “I am very embarrassed by it presidential debate before this year and I hate it, but it’s locker room was much better. Richard Nixon talk and it’s one of those things,” and Jack Kennedy were so much he said, attempting to explain away better prepared than Trump is, sexual assault. and they discussed the particulars “I have great respect for women. of each other’s programs and their Nobody has more respect for own with considerable precision. women than I do”, he continued, Even Reagan was infinitely more standing next to a woman who has serious and, I thought that I’d devoted her career to equal pay, never say this, more acute about reproductive rights and family policy than Donald Trump is”. leave. Let me paint the picture: the It’s difficult to digest the reality. Trump campaign’s guests included This was the second presidential three women who have accused debate for the highest office of the President Bill Clinton of sexual United States and it showed us assault - a base attempt to attack how horrifically unfit a particular a female candidate through her candidate is for the presidency. husband - while Clinton invited Avery students gather to watch the second presidential debate. Photo Courtesy of Antonio Rangel. Avery Faculty-in-Residence a woman with breast cancer, a Rangel), I couldn’t help but feel News briefs from around the globe member of the Little Rock Nine, disillusioned by the predominantly A brief list of events from the past week, compiled by the editors and a woman whose daughter was liberal Caltech crowd: everyone born with hearing impairments to around me scoffed at Trump’s highlight the span of her political gaucheries while applauding career. The first question of the Clinton’s policy points. U.S. hostages freed in Yemen debate asked the candidates if they felt they were modeling appropriate Trump couldn’t possibly get 2 U.S. citizens held by Houthi rebels freed and flown to Oman [BBC] and positive behavior for today’s elected, I thought to myself. youth. Clinton emphasized her Indeed, we’ve become accustomed message of unity, of working with to collectively shaking our heads New York surgeons separate conjoined twins every American and of a future for and rolling our eyes at him and our children and grandchildren; assuming that everyone else feels 16 hours of surgery later, the McDonald twins were separated at the head [BBC] Trump began by claiming he agreed the same. Yet, the reality is that with everything she said and then 41% of likely voters still support proceeded to criticize Obamacare him, 14% of voters felt they were and the Iran deal and expressing more likely to support him after the International community agrees to limit pollutants from ACs his wishes to improve “our inner debate and more Independents and 170 countries will curb use of hydrofluorocarbons to combat global warming [TIME] cities for the African-American white voters favor him over Clinton citizens that are so great”. Amidst [NBC/WSJ poll]. Yes, there exists threatening to send Clinton to jail, a small, frightening possibility accusing the Clinton campaign of that Donald J. Trump could be European probe nearing Mars landing starting the birther issue - “You’re the next Commander-in-Chief of the one that sent the pictures the United States. I say this as a 577 kg satellite has separated from its launcher and should land on Wednesday [BBC] around, your campaign sent the concerned citizen who cannot vote pictures around with President in this election: the blame will rest Obama in a certain garb, that was squarely on our shoulders if this Giant panda believed to be oldest in captivity dies long before I was ever involved. undeserving candidate is elected. So you actually owe an apology” - You, as an empowered voter, have 38 year-old Jia Jia was put to sleep in Hong Kong after her condition worsened over the and discussing his various political the ultimate power to stop it; you blunders, the American electorate can vote and you can influence the past few weeks [BBC] received a shallow coverage of voter population. Because if you issues. As Professor Kousser points don’t, we will forever be labelled out: “Every effort by a moderator or as the era which chose a politically Bridge collapses off Bali island in Indonesia a reporter or an audience member incompetent, racist businessman or Hillary to get below the most over a former United States 8 were killed and 30 others injured due to crowds on an old bridge in Bali [BBC] superficial level on any policy senator, politically active First topic has been unsuccessful, and Lady and Secretary of State. so much of the campaign is about Raging wildfire has destroyed 22 homes in Nevada Trump’s personal qualities that everything else gets squeezed out”. 3400 acres of land have been affected by fire that 1000 firefighters are working to con- Watching the debate (generously tain [CNN] hosted by Avery’s Faculty-in- Residence, Professor Antonio news | Page 3 news | Page 3 sPORTS | Page 5 OPInIOn | Page 7 In thIs Pasadena Is the hOw the BuIld- Bradley POsts ascIt PresIdent cIty Of Ing BlOcks Of lIfe career hIgh In encOurages Issue astrOnOmy cOme tO Be water POlO “rOtatIng” announCements 2 oCtober 17, 2016 the calIfOrnIa tech EARNEST C. Caltech Y Column Caltechlive! WATSON CALTECH Y LECTURE SERIES identification requirements. Dr. Katz will The Caltech Y Column serves to inform discuss how to estimate the impact of these students of upcoming events and volunteer laws on turnout, particularly on minority as Wednesday, October 26, 2016 l 8 PM opportunities. The list is compiled by well as older voters. He will pay particular Katherine Guo from information given by attention to the difficulties in using existing the Caltech Y and its student leaders. data to make reasonable estimates. Founded by students in 1916, the Y was RSVP Required: https://goo.gl/ Diagnostics for global HealtH organized to provide extracurricular activities forms/4gRhP9yIgiSLHVan2 planned and implemented by students as an anD antimicrobial stewarDsHip opportunity to learn leadership skills and 4. Griffith Park Observatory - discover themselves. The mission of today’s Y Caltech Y Explore LA Series remains the same—to provide opportunities Saturday | October 22nd | 5:00 - 10:00 that will prepare students to become PM | Cost: $15 | Transportation provided engaged, responsible citizens of the world. Sign-up starting Thursday, Oct 13th at the The Y seeks to broaden students’ worldviews, Caltech Y at 10:00 AM raise social, ethical, and cultural awareness (Payment due at time of sign up) through teamwork, community engagement, rustem IsmagIlov activism, and leadership. More information Join the Caltech Y on a journey to the etHel wilson bowles & about the Caltech Y and its programs can be center of the universe through Griffith robert bowles found at https://caltechy.org. The office is Observatory. It is Southern California’s professor of cHemistry & located at 505 S. Wilson Avenue. gateway to the cosmos! Visitors can look cHemical engineering Ongoing and past programs hosted by the through telescopes, explore exhibits, see live Caltech Y: shows in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, Alternative Spring Breaks: Peru, Costa and enjoy spectacular views of Los Angeles Rica, New York, Yosemite, San Diego, San and the Hollywood Sign. Diagnostic devices capable of ultrasensitive biomark- Francisco This offer is for students only; however, er measurements are poised to revolutionize medi- Make-A-Difference Day: Hillsides Home students purchasing tickets are permitted to for Children, LA County Arboretum and purchase tickets for up to one guest each - cine—from providing critical point-of-care diagnoses Botanic Garden, Children’s Hospital Los and that guest can be a non-student. Explore to enabling real-time clinical monitoring and improv- Angeles (Coachart), Eaton Canyon, Lifeline LA is coordinated by the Caltech Y. The for Pets Caltech Y is located in the Tyson House 505 ing development of therapeutics. Explore LA: Lakers game, Next to Normal South Wilson (Bldg. 128). musical, Norton Simon Museum trip RISE Tutoring program (an afterschool 5. The Big Bang Theory - Live TV math and science-focused tutoring program Taping that serves public school students between Tuesday | November 15th | 5:00 - 11:30 Free Parking grades 8 and 12) PM (including travel) | Cost: $7 | Burbank public lecture l free admission l free parking Spaces Limited to Undergrads – first Upcoming Events come, first served caltech’s beckman auditorium 1. Union Station Adult Center Sign Up: https://goo.gl/forms/ (626) 395-4652 l www.events.caltech.edu Saturday | October 15th | 5:15 - 9:15 PM r2UD9XcgTI6XtaIz2 | Pasadena Are you interested in seeing a live taping Scientists, Politicians, and Caltech Alumni. Join SEPAC (Science and Engineering Prepare and serve dinner to the residents of the Big Bang Theory? We are preparing Don’t miss this opportunity! Policy at Caltech) for a discussion with at Union Station Adult Center in Pasadena. to order tickets for Tuesday,The November TECH 15th.
Recommended publications
  • Paul Hertz NASA Town Hall with Bonus Material
    Paul Hertz Dominic Benford Felicia Chou Valerie Connaughton Lucien Cox Jeanne Davis Kristen Erickson Daniel Evans Michael Garcia Ellen Gertsen Shahid Habib Hashima Hasan Douglas Hudgins Patricia Knezek Elizabeth Landau William Latter Michael New Mario Perez Gregory Robinson Rita Sambruna Evan Scannapieco Kartik Sheth Eric Smith Eric Tollestrup NASA Town Hall with bonus material AAS 235th Meeting | January 5, 2020 Paul Hertz Director, Astrophysics Division Science Mission Directorate @PHertzNASA Posted at http://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/documents 1 2 Spitzer 8/25/2003 Formulation + SMEX/MO (2025), Implementation MIDEX/MO (2028), etc. Primary Ops ] Extended Ops SXG (RSA) 7/13/2019 Webb Euclid (ESA) 2021 WFIRST 2022 Mid 2020s Ariel (ESA) 2028 XMM-Newton Chandra (ESA) TESS 7/23/1999 12/10/1999 4/18/2018 NuSTAR 6/13/2012 Fermi IXPE Swift 6/11/2008 2021 11/20/2004 XRISM (JAXA) SPHEREx 2022 2023 Hubble ISS-NICER GUSTO 4/24/1990 6/3/2017 2021 SOFIA Full Ops 5/2014 + Athena (early 2030s), Revised November 24, 2019 LISA4 (early 2030s) Outline • Celebrate Accomplishments § Mission Milestones • Committed to Improving § Building an Excellent Workforce § Research and Analysis Initiatives • Program Update § Research & Analysis, Technology, Fellowships § ROSES-2020 Preview • Missions Update § Operating Missions and Senior Review § Webb, WFIRST § Other missions • Planning for the Future § FY20 Budget § Project Artemis § Supporting Astro2020 § Creating the Future 5 NASA Astrophysics Celebrate Accomplishments https://www.nasa.gov/2019 7 NASA Astrophysics
    [Show full text]
  • Dawn at Ceres
    PRESS KIT/MARCH 2015 Dawn at Ceres Contents Media Contacts & Services . 2 Quick Facts .................................................................4 About the Dawn mission .......................................................6 Why Dawn? .............................................................6 Top Findings at Vesta . 7 Mission Science Objectives . 7 Dawn at Ceres ...............................................................8 About Ceres . 8 Ceres Activity Plan ........................................................9 Ceres Timeline . 9 Spacecraft .................................................................11 Structure ..............................................................11 Telecommunication ......................................................11 Ion Propulsion ..........................................................11 Solar Power ............................................................12 Science Instruments .....................................................12 Program & Project Management ................................................14 NASA’s Discovery Program ................................................14 Appendix: Selected Images & Videos ............................................15 Media Contacts & Services Dwayne Brown Policy and Program 202-358-1726 NASA Headquarters, Management [email protected] Washington, DC Elizabeth Landau/Preston Dyches Dawn Mission Management 818-354-6425/818-354-7013 NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Operations [email protected] Pasadena, California
    [Show full text]
  • New Clues to Ceres' Bright Spots and Origins 9 December 2015, by Elizabeth Landau
    New clues to Ceres' bright spots and origins 9 December 2015, by Elizabeth Landau they say. "The global nature of Ceres' bright spots suggests that this world has a subsurface layer that contains briny water-ice," Nathues said. A New Look at Occator The surface of Ceres, whose average diameter is 584 miles (940 kilometers), is generally dark—similar in brightness to fresh asphalt—study authors wrote. The bright patches that pepper the surface represent a large range of brightness, with This representation of Ceres' Occator Crater in false the brightest areas reflecting about 50 percent of colors shows differences in the surface composition. sunlight shining on the area. But there has not been Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA unambiguous detection of water ice on Ceres; higher-resolution data are needed to settle this question. Ceres reveals some of its well-kept secrets in two The inner portion of a crater called Occator new studies in the journal Nature, thanks to data contains the brightest material on Ceres. Occator from NASA's Dawn spacecraft. They include highly itself is 60 miles (90 kilometers) in diameter, and its anticipated insights about mysterious bright central pit, covered by this bright material, features found all over the dwarf planet's surface. measures about 6 miles (10 kilometers) wide and 0.3 miles (0.5 kilometers) deep. Dark streaks, In one study, scientists identify this bright material possibly fractures, traverse the pit. Remnants of a as a kind of salt. The second study suggests the central peak, which was up to 0.3 miles (0.5 detection of ammonia-rich clays, raising questions kilometers) high, can also be seen.
    [Show full text]
  • Re Going to Fly Around the Dwarf Planet Ceres
    Buckle Up – We’re going to fly around the dwarf planet Ceres By Mark Young, SouthFloridaReporter.com Managing Editor, Aug 7, 2015 – Fasten your seatbelts and place your seat backs in the upright position, we’re about to fly around the dwarf planet Ceres. Courtesy of NASA. In this dramatic 3-D video you will fly over the mountains and craters, pausing every so often as Marc Rayman, Dawn Mission Director, describes the scenes below you. Here’s more information from NASA: Striking 3-D detail highlights a towering mountain, the brightest spots and other features on dwarf planet Ceres in a new video from NASA’s Dawn mission. A prominent mountain with bright streaks on its steep slopes is especially fascinating to scientists. The peak’s shape has been likened to a cone or a pyramid. It appears to be about 4 miles (6 kilometers) high, with respect to the surface around it, according to the latest estimates. This means the mountain has about the same elevation as Mount McKinley in Denali National Park, Alaska, the highest point in North America. Among the highest features seen on Ceres so far is a mountain about 4 miles (6 kilometers) high, which is roughly the elevation of Mount McKinley in Alaska’s Denali National Park. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/LPI “This mountain is among the tallest features we’ve seen on Ceres to date,” said Dawn science team member Paul Schenk, a geologist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston. “It’s unusual that it’s not associated with a crater.
    [Show full text]
  • Paul Hertz NASA Town Hall
    Paul Hertz Dominic Benford Felicia Chou Valerie Connaughton Lucien Cox Jeanne Davis Kristen Erickson Daniel Evans Michael Garcia Ellen Gertsen Shahid Habib Hashima Hasan Douglas Hudgins Patricia Knezek Elizabeth Landau William Latter Michael New Mario Perez Gregory Robinson Rita Sambruna Evan Scannapieco Kartik Sheth Eric Smith Eric Tollestrup NASA Town Hall AAS 235th Meeting | January 5, 2020 Paul Hertz Director, Astrophysics Division Science Mission Directorate @PHertzNASA Posted at http://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/documents 1 2 NASA Astrophysics Celebrate Accomplishments https://www.nasa.gov/2019 4 https://www.nasa.gov/content/hubbles-30th-anniversary 5 https://chandra.harvard.edu/20th/ 6 After 16.5 yrs of science exploration on the infrared cosmic frontier as one of NASA’s Great Observatories, Spitzer will end its Spitzer Space Telescope mission on Jan 30, 2020, 2:30 PST. Spitzer enabled discovery near and far, to the edge of the universe, yielding 8,700+ refereed papers. • First detection of light from an exoplanet • First detection of molecules in exoplanet atmospheres • Measurement of star formation history of the Universe to z>2, looking back >10 Gyr • Measurement of the stellar mass of the Universe Engineering feats extended mission life post- to z>8, looking back ~13 Gyr cryo in 2009 and overcame challenges due to Spitzer’s increasing distance from Earth. www.spitzer.caltech.edu/final-voyage NASA TV Press conference: January 22, 2020 Spitzer’s Scientific Legacy – Mon Jan 6 @ 10:00 AM in Room 320 TESS Completes First Year
    [Show full text]
  • Press Kit File
    THE FARTHEST ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT CONTENTS Synopses Crew Biographies Crossing the Line Productions Biography Contributor Biographies Full Credits Reviews / Press Screenings / Awards Contact CROSSING THE LINE PRODUCTIONS, Barr an Uisce, Killincarrig Rd, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, Ireland TEL: +353 1 287 5394 EMAIL: [email protected] www.ctlfilms.com SYNOPSES Logline: 12 billion miles and counting... Synopsis: It is one of humankind's greatest achievements. More than 12 billion miles away a tiny spaceship is leaving our Solar System and entering the void of deep space - the first human-made object ever to do so. Slowly dying within its heart is a nuclear generator that will beat for perhaps another decade before the lights on Voyager finally go out. But this little craft will travel on for millions of years, carrying a Golden Record bearing recordings and images of life on Earth. In all likelihood Voyager will outlive humanity. THE FARTHEST will celebrate these magnificent machines, the men and women who built them and the vision that propelled them farther than anyone could ever have hoped. Longer Synopsis: Is it humankind's greatest achievement? 12 billion miles away a tiny spaceship is leaving our Solar System and entering the void of deep space. It is the first human-made object ever to do so. Slowly dying within its heart is a plutonium generator that will beat for perhaps another decade before the lights on Voyager finally go out. But this little craft will travel on for millions of years, carrying a Golden Record bearing recordings and images of life on Earth.
    [Show full text]
  • Nustar Finds New Clues to 'Chameleon Supernova' 25 January 2017, by Elizabeth Landau
    NuSTAR finds new clues to 'chameleon supernova' 25 January 2017, by Elizabeth Landau 2014C dramatically changed in appearance over the course of a year, apparently because it had thrown off a lot of material late in its life. This doesn't fit into any recognized category of how a stellar explosion should happen. To explain it, scientists must reconsider established ideas about how massive stars live out their lives before exploding. "This 'chameleon supernova' may represent a new mechanism of how massive stars deliver elements created in their cores to the rest of the universe," said Raffaella Margutti, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Margutti led a study about supernova SN 2014C published this week in the Astrophysical Journal. A supernova mystery Astronomers classify exploding stars based on whether or not hydrogen is present in the event. This visible-light image from the Sloan Digital Sky While stars begin their lives with hydrogen fusing Survey shows spiral galaxy NGC 7331, center, where into helium, large stars nearing a supernova death astronomers observed the unusual supernova SN have run out of hydrogen as fuel. Supernovae in 2014C . The inset images are from NASA's Chandra X- which very little hydrogen is present are called ray Observatory, showing a small region of the galaxy "Type I." Those that do have an abundance of before the supernova explosion (left) and after it (right). hydrogen, which are rarer, are called "Type II." Red, green and blue colors are used for low, medium and high-energy X-rays, respectively.
    [Show full text]