Dateline Rice for March 7, 2013

FEATURED ITEM

Comet to visit skies over Houston
Comet Pan-STARRS, which makes its closest approach to the sun Sunday, will finally become visible in parts of the Northern Hemisphere, including Texas. Patricia Reiff, professor of physics and astronomy, is quoted in this front-page article.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/YCR1Ud

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

BBC World Service
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in news items about the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. English translations of the Clarin and Pravda articles and a link to the America’s Radio News Network broadcast are not available.
https://soundcloud.com/riceuniversity/mark-jones-on-bbc-world
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio
https://soundcloud.com/riceuniversity/mark-jones-on-abc-radio
Hugo Chavez mourned by sea of Venezuelans dressed in red
ABCNews.com (This article also appeared on Yahoo.com.)
http://abcn.ws/WSrvgL
Chavez’s death not affecting oil — yet
Houston Business Journal
http://bit.ly/12uEHKZ
Wall Street breakfast: Must-know news
SeekingAlpha.com
http://bit.ly/XQQair
US wants to improve relations with Venezuela, but has doubts about Maduro
Clarin (Argentina)
http://bit.ly/YeGD1S
Chavez’s death opens up more options
Pravda (Slovakia)
http://spravy.pravda.sk/svet/clanok/273334-mrtvy-chavez-ma-vyhrat-dalsie-volby/
America’s Radio News Network

Using billboards to stake claim over ‘jihad’
Backing a continuing effort that has featured billboards on the sides of Chicago buses, a national Muslim advocacy group has been promoting a nonviolent meaning of the word "jihad." David Cook, associate professor of religious studies, is quoted.
New York Times (This article also appeared on NDTV.com.)
http://nyti.ms/16b9U4M

Gone in 30 minutes: Chinese tweets purged by army of censors
Censorship on Weibo, China’s version of Twitter, is near real time and relies on a workforce of more than 4,000 censors who stop work during the evening news, according the first detailed analysis of censorship patterns. Dan Wallach, associate professor of computer science and in electrical and computer engineering, is quoted.
The Register (U.K.)
http://bit.ly/ZsgheT
Censors in China seem to like the 7 p.m. nightly news
Fast Company
http://bit.ly/YzG1Hd
Thousands of censors delete China’s tweets
TGDaily.com
http://bit.ly/ZsYvbr

Deep underground, worms and ‘zombie microbes’ rule
A dark realm far beneath Earth’s surface is a surprisingly rich home for tiny worms and "zombie microbes" that may hold clues to the origins of life. Rajdeep Dasgupta, assistant professor of Earth science, is quoted.
Arab News
http://bit.ly/WwEu7f

Zack Kopplin, 19-year-old Rice University student, wins Moyers’ troublemaker award for anti-creationism crusade
Hanszen College sophomore Zack Kopplin appeared on Public Broadcasting Service’s "Moyers & Company" to discuss his fight against creationism in public schools. (Editor’s note: We have notified HuffingtonPost.com that Kopplin received the Troublemaker Award from investor Semyon Dukach, not from Bill Moyers.)
HuffingtonPost.com
http://huff.to/15y9fsV
Zack Kopplin’s full interview with Bill Moyers
TheInd.com
http://bit.ly/13FQghG

HOUSTON/TEXAS

KTRU and KPFT have great reasons to get outside
An article discusses the KTRU Outdoor Show.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/15zQcP1

‘Code red’ for the voucher bill
An article about the Texas legislative session mentions statements made at a public education symposium at Rice University. The symposium was hosted by the Texas Tribune and Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and Hobby Center for the Study of Texas.
Odessa American
http://bit.ly/WX7plI

Tech hovers in Houston’s background
An article about technology innovations in Houston mentions the discovery of buckyballs at Rice.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required) (This article appeared on the front of the Business section.)
http://bit.ly/13IP4uk

Home tours heat up for spring
As part of Rice University’s Centennial celebration, the Rice Design Alliance tour this year will feature 10 homes designed by Rice-affiliated architects.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/XUDmYn

All about SwishaHouse: Label bosses tell (almost) all at Rice seminar
An article discusses a panel discussion about hip-hop label SwishaHouse at Rice University.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/10hieQ3

How should history be taught at A&M and UT?
Alumnus Paul Burka ’63 authored this op-ed about teaching history in Texas.
Texas Monthly
http://bit.ly/YNLtDh

The new crusaders
Rice is mentioned in a cover story about Texas Southern University’s jazz program.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/14tG5ce
Joe Sample attempts to bring TSU back to relevancy
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/WK7KlS

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KHOU-TV’s ‘Great Day Houston’
Rice is mentioned in an interview with organizers of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.
http://bit.ly/12wGPSv

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Local merchants have ‘been to the rodeo’
Rice research is cited in an article about social couponing websites such as Groupon.
Business2Community.com
http://bit.ly/WMHDdY

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

UpFront: Let’s MOOC it out!
Rice is mentioned in a column about Massive Open Online Courses.
AACSB.edu
http://www.aacsb.edu/enewsline/upfront/lets-mooc-it-out.asp

All play and no work makes Jack a … ?
Moshe Vardi, the Karen Ostrum George Distinguished Service Professor of Computational Engineering and professor of computer science, is quoted in a column about how automation will affect the job market of the future.
Fayette Tribune (W.Va.)
http://www.fayettetribune.com/local/x657747646/Guest-Column

Broad-spectrum nanotube photodetector built
A nanotube-based photodetector that gathers light in and beyond visible wavelengths promises to make possible a unique set of optoelectronic devices, solar cells and maybe even specialized cameras.
OverclockersClub.com
http://www.overclockersclub.com/news/33794/

55 things that are definitely bigger in Texas
The James Turrell "Twilight Epiphany" Skyspace at Rice appears in a list of "Things that are definitely bigger in Texas."
Buzzfeed.com
http://bit.ly/10gNcrE

NOCCA senior selected by elite orchestra
Rice is mentioned in an interview with a Benjamin Franklin High School student.
Baton Rouge Advocate (La.)
http://bit.ly/XTnp5D

SPORTS

Gibson’s senior moment caps Cougars’ win
Articles recap a men’s basketball game between Rice and the University of Houston.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/WwDbFB
Where have you gone, UH basketball heroes?
Houston Chronicle (subscription required) (This article appeared on the front of the Sports section.)
http://bit.ly/YeQtkf
Houston 84, Rice 62
FoxSports.com (Coverage of this game also appeared in the Lexington Herald-Leader, WUSA9.com [Washington, D.C.] and nearly 20 other media outlets.)
http://on-msn.com/WWYbWu

Bearkats beat No. 19 Rice 3-0
An article recaps a baseball game between Rice and Sam Houston State University.
KBTX.com (Bryan/College Station, Texas)
http://bit.ly/WwAp36

UH football schedule set, but sites aren’t
Rice is mentioned in an article about University of Houston football.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/12wGrU5

Martinez keeps focus on game
Former Rice baseball player Philip Humber is mentioned in an article about the Houston Astros.
Houston Chronicle (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/10kPFRK

Takeaways: Bucs 9, Sox 3; Holt’s utility belt
An article discusses former Rice baseball player Brock Holt’s performance in baseball.
ESPN.com
http://es.pn/ZtzrkK