A Sampling of Clips for
January 4th, 2007
* UCSD faculty and staff may obtain a copy of an article by e-mailing the University Communications Office
Engineer Cuts Deal Over Files He Took
San Diego Union-Tribune, Jan. 4 -- A former Qualcomm engineer, Michael Laude, who stole hundreds of thousands of computer files – the “crown jewels” according to the company – before taking a job with rival Nokia was sentenced to three years of probation and fined $5,000 yesterday. Laude teaches telecommunications technology classes at UCSD. “We take this information very seriously and will immediately evaluate the situation,” spokeswoman Stacie Spector said. More
Parents Stop Disabled Child's Growth
NBC San Diego, Jan. 4 -- Three months ago, the U.S. medical community learned of a treatment where a disabled girl's growth was intentionally stunted through surgery. The procedure began at Seattle's Children's Hospital in 2004 and has sparked a heated debate among doctors and parents around the world. Michael Kalicheman, Director of Medical Ethics Research at UCSD, said the parents and doctors are standing on a slippery ethical slope. More
Blues Make A Whale Of A Racket
The Hartford Courant, Jan. 4 -- A blue whale can take about 500 gallons of air into its lungs at the surface. (You and I have a lung capacity of up to 1.5 gallons). Researchers believe whales move this huge amount of air through these vocal folds and cartilage to a "sack" in the larynx. This sack is a special piece of anatomy in whales that allows them to recycle air. So they can make more sounds without surfacing for air. (Article quotes Erin Oleson, a researcher at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography) More
Under the Brown Cloud
CounterPunch, Jan. 3 -- You probably haven't noticed, but days aren't as bright as they used to be. Sunlight intensity, averaged across hundreds of locations on all continents, decreased by 1.5 to 3% per decade from the 1950s to 1990s. The dulling of the sky can be traced largely to the burning of fuels, which releases soot, sulfates, nitrates, and other substances that absorb and reflect a portion of the sunlight that normally would reach the Earth's surface. (Article mentions Dr. V. Ramanathan of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography) More
Progressive Progress Slides in '06
Voice of San Diego, Dec. 28, 2006 -- Nationally, 2006 was a landmark year for the Democrats, as the party rode a wave of resentment toward the country's Republican leadership that enabled it to swipe both houses of Congress in the midterm elections. But the momentum liberals, progressives and everyone else under the Democratic tent gained after the Nov. 7 election didn't carry over to San Diego, where incumbency, key endorsements and the well-funded political organization of Republican and conservative causes held the trump card in this year's most competitive and visible races. (Article quotes Steve Erie, a political scientist at UCSD) More