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In the 1950’s, Arthur Samuel—a research scientist at IBM—developed a checkers-playing program that got better and better by mindlessly playing against itself, redesigning itself by learning from losing matches and generating new mutations. The program’s skills eventually transcended that of the programmer himself, and even the best checkers players in[...]
[FICTION] by Alex Kravitz ~~ The protagonist’s son, “Hussein — a sophomore — had walked into the locker room before P.E. and punched a freshman in the eye, seemingly without provocation.”
The sequester, a series of automatic federal spending cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act, has prompted critics to call it a “self-inflicted wound from Washington.” The sequester will predominantly harm low-income families and citizens who depend on health services made possible by federal grants. Conversely, others claim that these cuts[...]
[FICTION] by Alex Kravitz ~~ “I can handle critiques of my patriotism, and I’m a Muslim with sons named Hussein and Osama. Tell me something real, something honest.”
by Alex Kravitz, Opinion Editor ~~~ Harvard “history” professor Niall Ferguson said that John Maynard Keynes was short-sighted because he was gay and childless. Prof. Ferguson exemplifies everything wrong with academia.
100 of the 166 prisoners held at the Guantanamo Bay facility are now on a hunger strike, 21 of whom are being force fed and treated in a hospital. The U.S. military confirms the presence of a 40-person medical back-up team to help the staff at Guantanamo. The strike comes[...]
With Justice Kagan recusing herself from the case, the Supreme Court’s much-anticipated decision on Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin will likely limit, or overturn, previous rulings in Regents of the Univ. of California v. Bakke and Grutter v. Bollinger. These rulings established the constitutionality of affirmative action, articulating the[...]
New budget cuts in California government have raised questions about which programs citizens can count on being funded. Many people are concerned that the California government has been irresponsible with their tax dollars, and are now demanding answers. Jerry Brown’s new spending plan for 2013-2014 provides a feasible plan for[...]
The quote “first, do no harm,” derived from the Latin phrase primum non nocere, is a leading principle for medical practitioners. The idea is that in some cases, medical intervention may actually do more harm than good. Thus, in these scenarios, it may be best to just leave the[...]
While the international community has maintained its distance from the Syrian civil war, the use of chemical weapons might open the door for direct intervention. President Obama has already indicated that the U.S. has to “re-think” its range of options in regards to its orientation towards Syria, while the Pentagon[...]
The Supreme Court has been hearing contentious, high-stake cases regarding same-sex marriage and affirmative action over the past few months. By June, it will also decide on a case that could alter the future of science and medicine. On April 15th, U.S. Supreme Court Justices examined difficult questions about patents[...]
When you think of May Day, you might think of maypoles, ribbons, flowers, and the May Queen. If you grew up outside the U.S., you might associate it with workers’ rights and labor unions. If you grew up in a big American city, you might think of immigrants’ rights demonstrations[...]
Arts & Entertainment · Blog · Opinion
The Supreme Court is once again debating gay marriage, and were a verdict to come out in favor of the institution, society would take another step forward towards acceptance. New polls show that a majority of Americans now support same-sex marriage, but even as the concept of gay marriage gains[...]
Undoubtedly, an act of terrorism is an abominable action. But even as things calm down – suspects caught, victims recovering – a new type of tragedy sets it: American ignorance. Though the Boston bombings left three dead and over two hundred injured, Americans have no right to blame an entire[...]
Macedonia, or should I say the “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” (FYROM), has been attempting to join the E.U. since 2004. In 2005 the country received candidate status from the European Union and since then has been attempting to comply with the 1993 Copenhagen Conditions. Of course the FYROM has[...]
Last week, Giorgio Napolitano became the newly reelected president of Italy. He is the first Italian president to ever serve a second term and at the age of 87, many people wonder if he will live through the entirety of the 7-year term. Although the presidency is a mostly ceremonial[...]
Of Artificial Bondage: The Future of LaborJune 13, 2013
Homusland: A Homeland Parody (5 of 12) [FICTION]May 12, 2013
Sequestration in California: Public Health Services on the Chopping Block?May 10, 2013Homusland: A Homeland Parody (4 of 12) [FICTION]May 6, 2013
Encore: Harvard “history” professor Niall Ferguson strikes againMay 5, 2013
setaco on:Sequestration in California: Public Health Services on the Chopping Block?
Marc Herman on:The Legal Black Hole: Guantanamo Bay and the Recent Hunger Strike
Jewish SJP member on:A Look Beneath the Surface: Divestment’s Path from Committee to Senate FloorJewish SJP member on:A Look Beneath the Surface: Divestment’s Path from Committee to Senate Floor
VivekaJ on:Chemical Weapons: A Game Changer in Syria?
