Dateline Rice for May 25, 2012

FEATURED ITEM

The 18 best commencement speeches of 2012
A list of the best graduation speeches for 2012 includes a video of Khan Academy founder Salman Khan’s commencement speech at Rice.
ABCNews.com
http://abcn.ws/KoCOmX

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Egypt’s poor turn to age-old help in hard times
Many Egyptians are struggling to cope financially in the aftermath of former President Mubarak’s resignation. Mahmoud El-Gamal, Chair of Islamic Economics, Finance and Management, professor of economics and statistics and Rice Scholar at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
BBC.co.uk (This article also appeared on LondonWired.co.uk.)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18176900

Cruz reaches for a runoff
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in articles about elections in Texas.
National Review
http://bit.ly/JMC7GA
Dewhurst builds poll lead as Cruz picks up Santorum endorsement
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the San Antonio Express-News.)
http://bit.ly/LmYqy1
Will Texas’ Republican establishment take a hit in US Senate election?
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.)
http://bit.ly/KvqCl8
A very long engagement in SD-25
Texas Tribune (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/KY1LV9

Josh Earnest went from baseball in Kansas City to hardball at White House
Alumnus Josh Earnest ’97 is profiled for his career path that led from baseball to principal deputy White House press secretary.
McClatchyDC.com (This article also appeared in the Kansas City Star, the Modesto Bee, the Sacramento Bee, the Myrtle Beach Sun-News, the Centre Daily Times, the Rock Hill Herald, the Bradenton Herald, the Bellingham Herald, the Charlotte Observer, the Lexington Herald-Leader, the Macon Telegraph, the Tri-City Herald, the Fresno Bee, the Biloxi Sun-Herald, the Anchorage Daily News, the San Luis Obispo Tribune, the State, the Merced Sun-Star, the Raleigh News & Observer, the Wichita Eagle, the Bellville News-Democrat, the Hilton Head Island Packet and the Olympian.)
http://bit.ly/K1sMtb

University of Missouri Press to close after 54 years
Rice is mentioned in an article about the closure of the University of Missouri Press.
Los Angeles Times
http://lat.ms/Keo8rR

HOUSTON/TEXAS

A tale of three cities: Mumbai, Stockholm and New York
Alumnus Dan Mayur ’71 is profiled for his career as an author.
IndoAmerican-News.com
http://www.indoamerican-news.com/?p=7106

Healthy eating pioneer and farm fresh restaurant owner dies at age 62
An article remembers alumna Georgia Bost ’72.
Culturemap.com
http://bit.ly/JQ6kVe

Rice Radio’s cultural peek at the Indian drama festival — Natyotsav 2012
KTRU is mentioned in an article about the Natyotsav drama festival.
IndoAmerican-News.com
http://www.indoamerican-news.com/?p=7091

Houston Young Artists Concerts celebrates 25 years
Rice is mentioned in an article about the 25th anniversary of the Houston Young Artist Concerts.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/JIXG54

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KPFT-FM
Ric Stoll, the Albert Thomas Professor of Political Science and scholar at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, appeared on KPFT-FM to discuss relations between Pakistan and the U.S. The interview begins approximately one minute into the clip.
http://archive.kpft.org/mp3/kpft_120524_160007news.mp3

KSAT-TV (San Antonio)
Alumnus Thomas Rodriguez ’05 received his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center.
http://bit.ly/KEdki5

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

‘Cronkite’ biographer Brinkley anchors the man in his moment
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, is profiled for his new biography of Walter Cronkite. Brinkley is also quoted in an article about plans to auction a vial purportedly containing the dried remains of a blood sample taken from President Ronald Reagan.
Des Moines Register (Iowa) (This article also appeared in the Detroit Free Press, the Baxter Bulletin and nearly 40 other media outlets.)
http://dmreg.co/LsTvLg
At auction, Reagan’s blood is pricey but a bargain compared to flag signed by Fidel
KSMU.org (Springfield, Mo.)
http://bit.ly/JYralR

China’s microbloggers ask: ‘What’s the net worth of our government officials?’
Steven Lewis, the C.V. Starr Transnational China Fellow at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy and associate director of the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Center for Asian Studies, is interviewed about political developments in China.
AsiaSociety.org
http://bit.ly/Myt0Hw

New and frozen frontier awaits offshore oil drilling
Barring a successful last-minute legal challenge by environmental groups, Shell will begin drilling test wells off the coast of northern Alaska in July, opening a new frontier in domestic oil exploration and accelerating a global rush to tap the untold resources beneath the frozen ocean. Amy Myers Jaffe, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://bit.ly/Jqe6EM

‘Inexact’ computer chip is 15 times more efficient by making a few mistakes
Researchers at Rice University have built yet another prototype of their probabilistic chip that is faster and more energy-efficient. Avinash Lingamneni, a graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, is quoted.
TreeHugger.com
http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/inexact-computer-chip.html

Weekly roundup
A roundup of art news mentions artist James Turrell’s skyspace at Rice. A video of the skyspace is included.
Art21.org
http://bit.ly/JtpjoS

University Women gives awards
Baker College junior Kathleen Abadie is a recipient of an Ivania Portocarerro Scholarship from the Half Moon Bay, Calif., branch of the American Association of University Women.
Half Moon Bay Review
http://bit.ly/JIU6b9

Norcross High senior class of 2012 graduate
Rice is mentioned in an article about Norcross High School graduates.
Patch.com
http://bit.ly/KiGQwL

Neil Armstrong breaks his silence to give accountants moon exclusive
An article about astronaut Neil Armstrong mentions President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 speech at Rice.
Inform.kz (A similar article appeared on GlobalPost.com.)
http://www.inform.kz/eng/article/2466414

Worthwhile gap year requires well thought-out plan
Duncan College junior Becca Conard is quoted in an op-ed offering advice to students considering taking a year off between high school and college.
Foster’s Daily Democrat (N.H.)
http://bit.ly/MMVaRI

SPORTS

Rice’s loss ends chance at national seed in NCAA Tournament
An article recaps a baseball game between Rice and the University of Memphis.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/KJohRL
Win over Rice puts Tigers in title matchup
Memphis Commercial-Appeal (Tenn.)
http://bit.ly/KontCO

The best coach in the history of every college football team
A photo slideshow of great college football coaches includes Phillip Arbuckle, Rice’s first football coach.
BleacherReport.com
http://bit.ly/K4o3ai

Five new schools to contribute a lot to Conference USA
Rice is mentioned in an article about the Conference USA expansion.
TulsaBeacon.com
http://www.tulsabeacon.com/?p=5978

Berkman set for knee surgery today
Former Rice standout Lance Berkman will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his damaged right knee.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (This article also appeared on Individual.com.)
http://bit.ly/K4idpq

NEWS RELEASES

Adams, Taylor and Chao elected Rice University trustees
Edward "Teddy" Adams Jr., Robert Taylor Jr. and Albert Chao were elected to the Rice University Board of Trustees at its May 17 meeting.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=29276

Acclaimed vocal instructors to join Shepherd School of Music
Two nationally acclaimed vocal instructors — Barbara Paver and Julie Simson — will join Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music faculty next year. Paver, currently with the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and Simson, currently with the University of Colorado-Boulder, will become members of the Shepherd School faculty in July 2013.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=29266

The first physics building at Rice
Working with Centennial Historian Melissa Kean, video producer Brandon Martin takes a look at Rice’s original physics building.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=29163

Higher prices at the pump could return this summer if talks with Iran break down
Gas prices may appear to be plummeting, but a Rice University energy expert cautions against too optimistic of an outlook as Americans head into the busy summer driving season.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=29182