Hurricane Sandy's Effects on the East Coast

MIT was closed yesterday due to considerations for Hurricane Sandy. There were no classes, and all non-essential personnel were off work for the three shifts of the day. While most of MIT Medical was closed, Urgent Care remained open.

McCormick and Baker Dining were open with limited service yesterday evening, though Simmons Late Night was closed. The rest of the dining halls functioned as usual.

The MBTA shut down service at 2 p.m. Monday, and all U.S. markets closed in preparation for the storm. This was the first market-wide shutdown since September 2001. Markets will remain closed today, though the MBTA is still planning to operate as of this writing.

The Tech has compiled a Sandy FAQ which can be found at http://techblogs.mit.edu/news/2012/10/hurricane-sandy-faq-how-not-to-get-eaten-by-your-labmate.

The Institute announced its closing at 8:15 p.m. Sunday through http://emergency.mit.net, MIT’s website for communicating campus emergencies. Alerts were sent to cell phones around 8:30 p.m. through the MIT Alert system, and a campus-wide email was sent at 8:34 p.m.

Hurricane Sandy brought winds of nearly 65 miles an hour to Massachusetts Monday afternoon, with the Green Building weather station monitoring gusts peaking at 40 mph. There was severe flooding in New Jersey, as well of pockets of flooding throughout Massachusetts. Sandy is the second largest Atlantic storm in the past 24 years (which is how long hurricane data has been tracked), having broken Hurricane Lili’s record from 1996. By press time Monday evening, over 350,000 homes in Massachusetts had lost power, and more blackouts are expected as the storm progresses.

The worst of the storm hit Massachusetts Monday afternoon — though Boston experienced only the outskirts of the storm. Sandy made landfall in New Jersey around 8:00 p.m. Monday, and as of this writing has been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone. Rain will continue throughout Wednesday afternoon.

MIT will be open today, the Institute announced at 9:50 p.m. Monday through the emergency website, though it will have a delayed starting time of 9 a.m..

Preparations for Sandy

MIT took a number of steps to prepare for the storm. Residents in all dormitories were urged to keep a light source handy and to close their windows to prevent rain and wind damage. Jason Doucette, house manager of Next House, said in an email to the dorm that towels were available to students to help block their windows in case of leakage.

Roof drains and external drains of residence halls were cleaned of leaves to help prevent flooding, and water vacuums and sump pumps around campus were tested. MIT Dining received a number of large food deliveries Monday in case the storm caused transportation issues or food shortages. LaVerde’s and Café Spice remained open Monday (Dunkin’ Donuts, Subway, and Anna’s Taqueria were only open for the morning), though the rest of the restaurants in W20 were closed. The menu at LaVerde’s was limited, and a number of items on the grill were not available.

Facilities around MIT, including the Zesiger Center, were closed for the day. In an email to the athletics staff, Julie Soriero — director of athletics, physical education, and recreation — announced that if MIT closes, “all of our buildings, programs, practices, and PE classes will be cancelled.”

How do you prepare for a hurricane?

Students were encouraged to pack loose items and move furniture away from windows — all of which should be closed and locked. Any items in outdoor areas should be brought indoors, and electronic devices should be unplugged. Cell phones should be charged before the storm. People should stay inside and be aware that the power might go out. While all dormitories have emergency generators for powering the fire alarms and hallway/exit lighting, bedrooms and apartments will lose power. In an email to all housemasters, Dennis Collins, director of residential life for capital renewal and construction, warned that if Massachusetts lost power, MIT’s cogeneration plant would initially go down, activating the emergency generators. While the cogeneration plant should be able to restart within a few hours, those in the northwest area of campus who do not rely on the cogeneration plant may be on emergency power for a longer time.

“Power on campus is supplied by the Co-Gen plant,” said Kirk D. Kolenbrander, vice president and secretary of the MIT Corporation. “It’s quite reliable.”

Collins’ email also included other tips for weathering Sandy, such as things to include in a hurricane preparation kit (“useful items such as non-perishable food items and snacks, juices, soft drinks, bottled water, manual can opener, change of clothing, sturdy shoes, portable radio, first-aid kit, batteries, flashlight, eating utensils and containers for holding water. Refill prescription medicines,” the email read). He also noted that refrigerators without power can safely hold food for up to 12 hours if they are opened infrequently.

Sandy in Boston

MIT was not the only school in the Boston area to close for the day. All public schools in the Boston metropolitan area were closed, and a number of other colleges — including Harvard University, Boston University, Babson College, Wellesley College, and Northeastern University — shut operations down on Monday in preparation for Sandy. Public schools should be open today.

In a press conference Sunday afternoon, Governor Deval Patrick requested schools to close and for Bay Staters to stay off the roads during Sandy.

Federal aid is now supplementing local efforts, as President Barack Obama signed an emergency declaration for Massachusetts Sunday afternoon.

Logan Airport remains open, though the reliability of individual airlines will vary. Danny Levy, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Port Authority, suggested that travelers “check with airlines before venturing to the airport,” according to The Boston Globe.

Hurricane Sandy has been touted as the second “Perfect Storm” after the deadly storm of 1991, which inspired the 2000 film of the same name starring George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg. While the prior conditions for the storms are similar, they are not the same, and Sandy is not predicted to be as damaging.

Students who have problems with leaks or other storm-related issues should contact MIT Facilities at 617-253-1500. While MIT has increased the number of mechanics on shift for the next few days, those making calls should expect delays. More information about Hurricane Sandy can be found at the NOAA’s website at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/.

Vocabulary Week 10

aficionado- a serious devotee of some particular music genre or musical performer

browbeat- to discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate

commensurate- able to be measured by a common standard

diaphanous- Of such fine texture as to be transparent or translucent

emolument- Payment for an office or employment

foray- A sudden raid or military advance

genre- A realistic style of painting that depicts scenes from everyday life

homily- An inspirational saying or platitude

immure- To confine within or as if within walls; imprison

insouciant- carefree or unconcerned;
light-hearted
matrix- a substance, situation, or environment in which something has its origin, takes form, or is enclosed

obsequies- A funeral rite or ceremony

panache- A bunch of feathers or a plume, especially on a helmet.

persona- The role that one assumes or displays in public or society; one's public image or personality, as distinguished from the inner self

philippic- a bitter or impassioned speech of denunciation; invective

prurient- unusually or morbidly interested in sexual thoughts or practices

sacrosanct- Regarded as sacred and inviolable

systemic- Of or relating to systems or a system

tendentious- Marked by a strong implicit point of view; partisan

vicissitude- A change or variation

Literature Analysis #2

Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck

1. Of Mice and Men takes place in Central California, somewhere around the Salinas River Valley. The two main characters are George, the smarter, leader, and Lennie, the mentally handicapped friend who travels with George. The two have always been friends and they have a goal of owning their own ranch someday. Lennie is always getting the two in trouble. They have been released from their last job, and now at the new ranch, Lennie has a new focus, the boss' son's wife. Lennie really doesn't know his boundaries which leads to him getting much to close to Curley's wife, and ultimately breaking her neck. At this point, Lennie leaves and runs away back into the country where George instructed him to go if anything happens. George shows up later and shoots his friend in the head to save him from what would happen if Curley and the guys at the ranch got a hold of him.

2. The theme of this novel is friendship and tragedy. Lennie and George always have each other's best interests at heart. Even when George shoots Lennie, he is doing what is best for Lennie. The ending of the novel is tragic, as George has to kill his best/only friend as Lennie is thinking the "ranch dream."

3. John Steinbeck maintains a somber tone throughout the book. He starts by outlining the duo's lifestyle, which appeals to the readers emotions and makes us feel sympathetic to Lennie..Now feeling this way, Lennie is thrown an array of challenges which leads to his end.

• "I wisht we'd get the rabbits pretty soon, George."
• "I want you to stay with (Lennie)."
• "You got it by heart,you can do it yourself".

4. FORESHADOWING: 

• The dead mouse that Lennie finds at the start was an indication of Lennie's lack of finesse and led me to believe that more death was in the midst. This was foreshadowing for Curley's wife death, since both she and the mouse were "cuddled" by Lennie.
• "You seen a girl around here?"
• "God awmightly I never seen such a strong guy."
• "He was so little," said Lennie. "I was jus' playin' with him....... an' he made like he's gonna bite me....an' ....an' I done it. An' then he was dead."

DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION:

• " They are an unlikely pair: George is small and quick and dark of face. Lennie is a man of tremendous size, and has the mind of a young child.
• "Let the big guy talk."
• "Lennie looked timidly over to him."
• "His huge companion..."(Lennie) 

IMAGERY:

• "He took off his hat and wiped the sweat-band with his forefinger and snapped the moisture off."
• "His huge companion dropped his blankets and flung himself down and drank from the surface of the green pool; drank with long gulps, snorting the water like a horse."
• "George knelt beside the pool and drank from his hand with quick scoops."

DICTION:

• "Lennie never done it in meanness."
• "He's such a nice fella. I didn't think he'd do nothing like this."
• "All the time he done bad things, but he never done one of 'em mean."
• "I.... I ain't gonna.... say a word."
• "An' live off the fatta the lan'"

SETTING:

• The novel is set in the 1930's in California. This sets up the farming and ranch dream of Lennie and George. It also is portrayed through the female role of Curley's wife as being subordinate to men.
• "A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green."
• "There is a path through the willows and among the sycamores, a path beaten hard by boys coming down from the ranches to swim in the deep pool, and beaten hard by tramps who come wearily down from the highway in the evening to jungle-up near water."
• "I don't like Curley, he ain't a nice fella"

Tools That Change the Way We Think

One of the pros of the Internet has to do with the rapid access of information that would require many more hours of research resorting to the older more traditional methods.Interested people can order products from traditional chain stores such as Macy's, or order products from Internet based business. Some Internet users use the Internet to socialize on line with people who share common goals and interests. There is Facebook and various Blogs available to match compatible people of the same age. A lot of Internet community sites target the younger generations.

To Facebook or not to Facebook ?

Pros:

1. Keep in contact with loved ones.

2. Post pics of yourself looking fabulous.

3. Show travels.

4. Watch your friends, be involved in their lives.

5. Post funny videos.

6. Part of mass culture.

Cons:

1. Stalk people.

2. Misrepresenting who you are.

3. Shallow way to engage others.

4. Waste time.

5. Flash judgements.

6. Privacy issues.

7. Emphasized material over meaning.

info from:

http://www.proconlists.com/list/society-culture/facebook/2133

Who was Shakespeare ?

I was first introduced to William Shakespeare's works as a freshman, reading Romeo and Juliet. William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. Shakespeare was born and brought up in Stratford-upon-Avon. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnetand Judith. Between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part owner of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men. He appears to have retired to Stratford around 1613 at age 49, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive, and there has been considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, sexuality, religious beliefs, and whether the works attributed to him were written by others.Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1589 and 1613.His early plays were mainly comedies and histories, genres he raised to the peak of sophistication and artistry by the end of the 16th century. He then wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, and Macbeth, considered some of the finest works in the English language. In his last phase, he wrotetragicomedies, also known as romances, and collaborated with other playwrights.

resources used:

http://shakespeare.about.com/od/shakespearebasics/tp/Who_Was_Shakespeare.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare

Notes on Hamlet

Act 2:

2.1

• Polonius tells Reynaldo to spy on Laertes. Ophelia reveals Hamlet visited her and acted strange.
• Tells Reynaldo to say Laertes does bad things to see if people agree or disagree.

2.2

• King asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to watch Hamlet and see what’s up with him. Norway king states that they will not attack and asks if his troops can come through Denmark. Polonius says Hamlet is crazy because of his Daughter rejected love. Make plan to put Hamlet and Ophelia together. Hamlet tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern he is no mad for love. The players come in. Hamlet know them, speaks with them.
• Hamlet recites speech showing his love of theater and his intelligence.
• Story of Priam’s death and Huckaback sadness
• Hamlet [speech] second soliloquy “Ay, so, goodbye to you – Now I am alone. O, what a rouge and peasant slave am I” Tells about how he feels he has failed the Ghost, and does not know if the Ghost is from heaven or hell. Compares himself to player and how emotional player seems and how unemotional Hamlet seems. Makes a plan to make the King watch a play acting out the situation of the murder to see if the king is guilty.