That fresh, new back-to-school feeling is fading as most University students take their first exams and watch in horror as midterm dates creep closer. Three-night party weekends and lazy mornings are being replaced with frantic study sessions and a complete sacrifice of sleep altogether. So, between extra office hours with your literature professor and falling asleep on your calculus book, take some time to read this week's laurels and darts.
***
The chairman of the MIT Media Laboratory in Cambridge, Mass., has said it plans to introduce a prototype of a $100 laptop to be made available to elementary and secondary school students around the world. This release is scheduled for November with mass production by late 2006. This laptop is a 500 megahertz system that will run on a version of Linux and will be powered by either an AC adapter or a hand-crank. The computer will have one gigabyte of memory, Universal Serial Bus ports, a display that can switch from black and white to color and will be able to share a single internet connection with several other systems. MIT researchers hope that governments will invest in these laptops, and they assure consumers that the cost will be lowered over time.
For striving toward equal educational opportunities for children around the world, the MIT Media Laboratory gets a laurel.
***
On Wednesday, a revised food pyramid, intended to fight childhood obesity, was introduced. The United States Department of Agriculture document encourages children, primarily from ages 6 to 11, to partake in foods from every food group each day and to participate in plenty of physical activity. Like the adult pyramid, the children's food pyramid encourages a greater intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy and protein. USDA also recommends at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. These healthful changes could combat the disturbing upswing of childhood obesity in recent years and prevent the consequences like low self-esteem, Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
For promoting a better quality of life in children and preventing serious health problems in their future, USDA gets a laurel.
***
On Saturday night, Sept.24 , the Light the Night Walk for leukemia and lymphoma research was held on Douglass campus. More than 300 extra people showed up to participate this year, and the walk raised at least $75,000. Supporters held glowing red balloons, and cancer survivors held glowing white ones as they walked, lighting the way and creating an inspirational scene.
For taking steps to save lives and illuminating hope for all those affected with these diseases, the participants of the Light the Night Walk get a laurel.
***
On Monday, U.S. Army Pfc. Lynndie R. England was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to mistreat prisoners, four counts of mistreatment and one count of committing an indecent act. England was shown posing next to naked, lewdly posed Iraqi prisoners in the photographic evidence brought against her. England was sentenced to three years in prison and a dishonorable discharge. England is only one of several Army officers to have been charged in these counts.
For the foul treatment of war prisoners and disgrace to the reputation of the U.S. Army, England and her fellow offending soldiers get a dart.
***
Yesterday, three New Jersey women were convicted of committing fraud against the Homelessness Prevention Program, which provides for people who are at risk of becoming homeless. The women, Carletta Smith, 31, of Somerset; Monica Smith, 28, of Spotswood; and Lisa Smith Foster, 34, in total made almost $34,000 from the agency. The companies for which the women worked were also convicted of official misconduct in a Mercer County court.
Through claiming a fire made them temporarily homeless, the women were able to collect $33,859 in benefits. As part of their sentence, they will have to reimburse the agency, but the formal sentence will be handed down in November.
For stealing money from those truly in need, Carletta Smith, Monica Smith and Lisa Smith Foster and the companies for which they worked get a dart.
Be the first to comment on this article!