Dateline Rice for Feb. 23, 2015 (Weekend Edition)

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Ted Cruz has high-profile, possibly very good upcoming week
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, comments on Ted Cruz’s presidential nomination strategy, the pro-life movement’s promotion of four bills, Texas state lawmaker’s review of extending tax-free shopping, Gov. Greg Abbott’s State of the State address and Houston’s mayoral race. Jones is also cited for his ranking of the political leanings of politicians and is interviewed about the need for tax reform in Argentina.
Miami Herald (This article also appeared in McClatchy D.C. and 37 other media outlets.)
http://hrld.us/1A1b6Dc
Abortion-related bills quietly appear on scene
San Angelo Standard-Times (This article also appeared in Reporter News and Abortion News.)
http://bit.ly/1B5DUQn
Texas tax holidays proposed for guns and ammo
Star-Telegram
http://bit.ly/1GlKdQ2
Greg Abbott calls for action on education, roads, ethics and border
My Statesman
http://atxne.ws/17O3ZY2
Lessons from Senate District 26: Gringos vote and the Democratic base does not
Texas Observer
http://bit.ly/1zaZy07
Houston’s mayoral race starts to take shape
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/17O4iST
Can we use 2016 Democratic primary to highlight next generation of Democratic leaders?
Daily Kos
http://bit.ly/1w3iFZB
Latin pulse: Feb. 20, 2015
Latin Pulse
http://bit.ly/1LvTs0S
Should Lane Lewis resign as HCDP chair to run for Council?
Off the Kuff
http://bit.ly/1EJ0Ofu
Mark Jones: ‘El poder fiscal del Gobierno Nacional debilitó al Congreso’
Diario Alfil
http://bit.ly/1zaZAEY
‘El poder fiscal del Gobierno Nacional debilitó al Congreso’
Elestadista (An English translation is not available.)
http://elestadista.com.ar/?p=5565

Surovell says decline in coal started under George W. Bush
Kenneth Medlock III, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and lecturer of economics, is quoted in an analysis of a claim by the Virginia House of Delegates’ Scott Surovell that the decline of coal started in former President George W. Bush’s administration.
Politifact
http://bit.ly/1En54TP

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Harvesting sunflower seeds: Taiwan’s new politics
Baker College sophomore Aaron Huang authored a blog post about Taiwan’s history of student movements affecting democratic change.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1vsAma3

Texas museums banning selfie sticks
Rice Gallery is included in a slideshow of galleries and museums that may not allow selfie sticks in the facility or during a show.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/18ggs88

Texas manufacturing sluggish as energy sector slows down
Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, spoke at Rice about the threat manufacturing facilities face from the proposed Environmental Protection Agency rules against pollutants.
Fuel Fix
http://bit.ly/1AovEdD

Former ambassador says US must pursue more coherent, comprehensive policy in Middle East
The United States needs a more comprehensive policy in the broader Middle East, according to a new policy paper by Edward Djerejian, founding director of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. The policy should pursue not only important tactical approaches to counter Islamic extremism and terrorism but also shape the larger strategic landscape to secure and promote U.S. interests.
Bellaire Examiner (This article also appeared in Fort Bend Sun, EIN News and Sugar Land Sun.)
http://bit.ly/1BfERqU

Rice students perform at Kennedy Center in Washington, DC
Eight Rice Shepherd School of Music students performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
The Katy Rancher (This article also appeared in Fort Bend Sun, Memorial Examiner and Bellaire Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1JDH5o1

BROADCAST

KTRH-AM
Rice hosted an event for the finalists of VetBizBattle to gain investors in veteran-owned businesses.
http://bit.ly/1AovSl7

KQED-FM
Moshe Vardi, director of the Ken Kennedy Institute for Information Technology and the Karen Ostrum George Distinguished Service Professor of Computational Engineering and professor of computer science, is quoted about the potential of artificial intelligence stealing jobs.
http://bit.ly/1a6M8xi

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Motor proteins prefer slow, steady movement
A new theoretical approach clarifies interactions between motor proteins and yields the discovery that both weak and strong forces influence how they keep a cell’s transport system robust. Anatoly Kolomeisky, professor of chemistry and of chemical and biomolecular engineering, is quoted.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1A1majA

Simulating superconducting materials with ultracold atoms (w/ video)
Rice University physicist Randy Hulet and his collaborators have used ultracold lithium atoms to create a state of matter that may help solve some of the mysteries of high-temperature superconductivity. Their results are described this week in the journal Nature. Hulet is the Fayez Sarofim Professor of Physics and Astronomy.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1B5PevK

Architect of Brockman Hall speaks on how vision is transformed into reality
James Timberlake, whose architecture firm designed the award-winning Brockman Hall for Physics, lectures on that project and more at Rice. Alumnus Randhir Sahni ’71 sponsored the lecture.
AZo Build
http://bit.ly/1D3nUet

Stories in the sediment
Gerald Dickens, professor of earth science, is quoted about Tom Cronin, a geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey.
ScienceLine.org
http://bit.ly/1Lyt0Wi

Reconstructive surgery proved to be good business
Alumnus Pablo Prichard ’96 is featured.
AZCentral.com
http://bit.ly/1EnLRBC

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Bun B talks about the ‘Hip-Hop and Religion’ course he teaches at Rice University
Religion and Hip-Hop Culture is a new free edX online course being offered by Rice University’s Center for Digital Learning and Scholarship. Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and professor of religious studies, and Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning’s Distinguished Lecturer, will lead the course.
HotNewHipHop.com (Similar articles also appeared in Hip-Hop DX and 17 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/18fT0rE

What video games can teach us: From ages past to cultures unknown
The Rice course “Scandinavian Fantasy Worlds: Old Norse Sagas and Skyrim” is mentioned.
The Mary Sue
http://bit.ly/1D3QNqX

Mission to Mars better be serious
John F. Kennedy’s speech given at Rice in 1962 is mentioned.
York Region
http://bit.ly/1ACMkwW

2014 Public Servant of the Year: Darrel Wells
Alumnus Darrel Wells ’74 was named 2014 Public Servant of the Year.
Item Online
http://bit.ly/1ABXrpS

Carwile to lecture at Cooley House Foundation Series
Alumnus Guy Carwile ’87 will guest lecture at Louisiana Tech University’s School of Design – Architecture’s Cooley House Foundation Lecture Series.
The News Star
http://tnsne.ws/17qqPFi

SPORTS

Take a tour of the region’s most notable stadiums
Rice Stadium is featured in a slideshow of the largest football stadiums in Texas by capacity.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1w3E3ha

Rice baseball beat the University of Arizona 8-5 and 6-4 in a three-day series at Hi Corbett Field in Arizona.
Arizona upsets Rice with walk-off steal of home plate (video)
Yahoo! Sports (This article also appeared in Yahoo! France, Yahoo! Xtra and WPMT-TV.)
http://yhoo.it/1GlPUxn
No. 15 Owls drop heartbreaker on wild final play at Arizona
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1DeIhrG
Arizona beats Rice on walk-off steal of home plate
Sporting News
http://bit.ly/1Bf8YyP
Rice versus Arizona baseball final score: Wildcats split 1st 2 games with Owls
AZDesertSwarm.com
http://bit.ly/18gaSm9
Arizona Wildcats literally steal a win away from Rice
Arizona Sports
http://bit.ly/1DeJuPM
Newman, Cats steal Saturday thriller
Arizona Wildcats (This article also appeared in KOLD-TV, WTOL-TV, WNEM-TV and KPLC-TV.)
http://bit.ly/1BFWZdg
College baseball top 25 scores: Virginia, Texas A&M undefeated
College Baseball Central
http://bit.ly/1Aovymn
No. 17 Rice hands Arizona 1st loss
WLOX-TV (This article also appeared in WNEM-TV, KOLD-TV and WTOL-TV.)
http://bit.ly/1BHVScT

Guercy, Gearhart carry Rice past FAU, 76-69
Rice men’s basketball beat Florida Atlantic University 76-69 at FAU Arena.
CBSSports.com
http://cbsprt.co/1DL1OT7
Basketball: Florida Atlantic Owls lose 9th straight, fall to Rice 76-69
University Press
http://bit.ly/1FPnezt
Rice (9-16) at Florida Atlantic (8-16)
Miami Herald (This article also appeared in Charlotte Observer, Bradenton Herald, Modesto Bee, Sun Herald, Lexington Herald-Leader and Tri-City Herald.)
http://hrld.us/1zAoOxY
Recap: Florida Atlantic versus Rice
Idaho Statesman (This article also appeared in News & Observer and 12 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1FPnHBr
Panthers take thriller versus Owls
FIUSM.com
http://bit.ly/1vsMRCp
Guercy scores career-high 25 points in Owls’ road win
Sugar Land Sun (This article also appeared in Memorial Examiner and Fort Bend Sun.)
http://bit.ly/1DLlkit

Owls men’s golf finishes strong at Bayou City Collegiate Championship
Rice men’s golf finished in 14th place at the Bayou City Collegiate Championship. Golfers Mitchell Meissner, Kevin Reilly, Tommy Economou, Alex Levy, Joe Beck III, James Lee and Trey Johnson are mentioned.
Memorial Examiner (This article also appeared in Sugar Land Sun and Bellaire Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1FOGIEl
NM State men’s golf concludes Bayou City Collegiate Championship
New Mexico State Sports
http://bit.ly/1BH0OPc
Sophomore Alex Levy paces Owls in his 1st action since last May
Bellaire Examiner (This article also appeared in Fort Bend Sun, Sugar Land Sun and Memorial Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1Gm5nO2

2015 Conference USA women’s swimming championships and men’s invitational
The Rice women’s swimming team competed at the 2015 Conference USA Championships. Swimmers Erin Flanigan and Casey Clark are mentioned.
Swim Swam
http://bit.ly/1Gl52ek

UH’s Joey Mbu, Rice’s Christian Covington looking to take the next step in NFL
Rice football player Christian Covington discusses his plans to play for the NFL. Alumnus Luke Willson ’12 is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1ABP7GH
Son of CFL Hall of Famer hoping character matters to NFL teams
24 Hours Vancouver (This article also appeared in 67 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1FPGH2T

NEWS RELEASES

Asphaltene analysis takes a giant step
Rice University researchers have developed an easy and accurate technique to detect and quantify the amount of asphaltene precipitated from crude oils, which bedevils the oil industry by clogging wells and flow lines.
http://bit.ly/1zb0uRZ

Simulating superconducting materials with ultracold atoms
Rice University physicist Randy Hulet and his collaborators have used ultracold lithium atoms to create a state of matter that may help solve some of the mysteries of high-temperature superconductivity. Their results are described this week in the journal Nature.
http://bit.ly/1a6KNXt

Motor proteins prefer slow, steady movement
A new theoretical approach clarifies interactions between motor proteins and yields the discovery that both weak and strong forces influence how they keep a cell’s transport system robust.
http://bit.ly/1Lz3EYu

Rice physicist Wei Li named Sloan fellow
Rice University physicist Wei Li is among the 126 American and Canadian scholars awarded 2015 Sloan Research Fellowships. The prestigious fellowships, awarded annually since 1955 by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, are given to early career scientists and scholars whose achievements and potential mark them as rising stars.
http://bit.ly/1GlZb8D

US must pursue a more coherent and comprehensive policy in the Middle East to address the challenge of Islamic extremism, says former Ambassador Djerejian
The United States needs a more comprehensive policy in the broader Middle East, according to a new policy paper by Edward Djerejian, founding director of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. The policy should pursue not only important tactical approaches to counter Islamic extremism and terrorism but also shape the larger strategic landscape to secure and promote U.S. interests.
http://bit.ly/1Lw8tQg