Nadav Kander, TIME

This past week, TIME announced their 2012 Person of the Year: two-time winner, President Barack Obama. Though noted for his dynamic leadership skills “amid great adversity,” TIME‘s choice has already been criticized with people claiming that the title is obsolete. According to one reporter for The Atlantic, 

[it is] impossible to think of a less interesting, more predictable choice than Barack Obama, who also won the award four years ago… It’s a big missed opportunity. Just look at the other finalists – especially Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teen blogger shot in the head by the Taliban for her advocacy for women’s rights. 

2009 TIME 100 honoree Sarah Palin had similar thoughts, sharing the following on Fox News:

…TIME magazine, I think there is some irrelevancy there, to tell you the truth. I mean consider their list of the most influential people in the country and the world, some who have made that list — yours truly! that ought to tell you something right there regarding the credence we should give TIME magazine and their list of people.

Yet, what stands out about her argument is not calling the TIME 100 list and Person of the Year “irrelevant,” but questioning the magazine’s reasoning for including herself on the list.

Ironic? Or just oblivious?

Ellen Handler Spitz, honors college professor of visual arts, was a guest on the “Marc Steiner Show” on Tuesday, December 18, to discuss children’s literature, the best children’s literature of the year, and books that make good gifts.  Spitz was joined by Deborah Taylor, School and Student Services Coordinator for the Enoch Pratt Free Library, and JoAnn Fruchtman, owner of The Children’s Bookstore in Roland Park.

Spitz spoke to the bond that books can create between a parents and a child.  Because children cannot read when they are very young, the experience of books must be shared with an adult, which creates a bond.

“Even though we have all kind of wonderful technology, the books are there for a relational cultural experience,” she said.

Spitz also encouraged parents to take care with the books they share with their children.

“I feel passionately that just as we think about the food that we give to our children, and we want to give them something nourishing, I think what goes into their minds, into their heads, is equally important.  I think parents, and teachers, and editors, and the writers themselves, need to think very seriously about the cultural lives of children. When you are a child, you are a sponge.  Everything goes in; every subtle hint becomes a part of your psychic equipment,” she said.

The full segment can be heard here.

2013 Research Experience for
Undergraduates* *(REU) Program in Computational Sensing and Medical
Robotics* at The Johns Hopkins University in the Computer Integrated
Surgical Systems and Technology Engineering Research Center (CISST
ERC) / Laboratory for Computational Sensing and Robotics (LCSR).

The
REU program is an intensive ten-week program of laboratory research
and instruction. In the program, each REU student receives hands-on
laboratory research experience under guidance from faculty and
graduate student mentors. The students will also receive classes on
ethics in research and technical communication. The students will have
the opportunity to tour a local government laboratory and a private
company. *The students will be provided housing and a stipend of
$4,500 for the 10-week period will be paid.*

I would greatly appreciate, if you can pass on to your students the
promotional flyer that I am sending with this communication. The
deadline to apply is February 1, 2013. Your students can access our
online application in the following link: - lcsr.jhu.edu/Education/REU
<https://www.lcsr.jhu.edu/Education/REU> around December 15, 2012.

I have also attached the flyer for the “Summer Research Expeditions”
program at Johns Hopkins. The website for this program is available at
cs.jhu.edu/sre <http://cs.jhu.edu/sre>

If your students have any questions, they can reach me at 410-516-6841 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 410-516-6841 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
or email me at asampath@jhu.edu <mailto:asampath@jhu.edu>

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Anita Sampath

Sr. Academic Program Coordinator

CISST ERC/LCSR

Here’s wishing our wonderful alumni a safe and happy holiday season, and a brilliant new year! We look forward to seeing you in 2013!