Are you interested in working with teenagers? Do you have an interest in teaching? So then why not join Student Health Outreach (SHOUT) in its new initiative to expand it’s educational outreach to teenagers? SHOUT’s Health Education and Resources for Teens (H.E.A.R.T) program will introduce a new 10-week program in diet and nutrition to a select group of students at the Mott Hall School, a middle school in Harlem. It is H.E.A.R.T’s goal to provide these students with up-to-date nutrition information as well as encouraging students through hands-on-activities and discussions to engage critically with this information. SHOUT is looking for dedicated volunteers that would like to play an active role in this new project. Volunteers will be trained to teach H.E.A.R.T’s comprehensive curriculum to these middle school students. If you are interested, please come to our information session February 3 at 8 pm at 302 Fayerweather. Free food!!

We invite you to submit a paper/abstract to, and/or to organize an Invited session in, the SUMMER 8th International Conference on Computing, Communications, and Control Technologies: CCCT 2010 (http://www.2010iiisconferences.org/ccctj), which is being organized in the context of The 3rd International Multi-Conference on Engineering and Technological Innovation: IMETI 2010 (http://www.2010iiisconferences.org/imeti) to be held on June 29-July 2, 2010 in Orlando, Florida, USA.

The deadlines are the following:

Papers/Abstracts Submissions and Invited Sessions Proposals: February 17th, 2010
Authors Notifications: March 12th, 2010
Camera-ready, full papers: May 19th, 2010

You can also submit your abstract-paper to any of the following conjoined and/or collocated events which have the same set of deadlines:
=======================================================
The 7th International Conference on Cybernetics and Information Technologies, Systems and Applications: CITSA 2010 (www.2010iiisconferences.org/citsa)

The 2nd International Symposium on Energy Engineering, Economics and Policy: EEEP 2010 (www.2010iiisconferences.org/eeep)

The 2nd International Symposium on Optical Engineering and Photonic Technology: OEPT 2010 (www.2010iiisconferences.org/oept)

The 2nd International Symposium on Engineering Education and Educational Technologies: EEET 2010 (www.2010iiisconferences.org/eeet)
=======================================================
Participants in any conference or symposia can attend the sessions of other collocated conferences, and will receive electronic proceedings, via CD, which includes the papers presented at all conferences and symposia.

Submissions for Face-to-Face or for Virtual Participation are both accepted. Both kinds of submissions will have the same reviewing process and the accepted papers will be included in the same proceedings.

Pre-Conference and Post-conference Virtual sessions (via electronic forums) will be held for each session included in the conference program, so that sessions papers can be read before the conference, and authors presenting at the same session can interact during one week before and after the conference. Authors can also participate in peer-to-peer reviewing in virtual sessions.

All Submitted papers/abstracts will go through three reviewing processes: (1) double-blind (at least three reviewers), (2) non-blind, and (3) participative peer reviews. These three kinds of review will support the selection process of those papers/abstracts that will be accepted for their presentation at the conference, as well as those to be selected for their publication in JSCI Journal.

Authors of accepted papers who registered in the conference can have access to the evaluations and possible feedback provided by the reviewers who recommended the acceptance of their papers/abstracts, so they can accordingly improve the final version of their papers. Non-registered authors will not have access to the reviews of their respective submissions.

Registration fees of an effective invited session organizer will be waived according to the policy described in the web page (click on ‘Invited Session’, then on ‘Benefits for the Organizers of Invited Sessions’), where you can get information about the ten benefits for an invited session organizer. For Invited Sessions Proposals, please visit the conference web site, or directly towww.2010iiisconferences.org/ccctj/organizer.asp

Authors of the best 10%-20% of the papers presented at the conference (included those virtually presented) will be invited to adapt their papers for their publication in the Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics.

We invite you to submit a paper/abstract to, and/or to organize an Invited session in, the SUMMER 8th International Conference on Computing, Communications, and Control Technologies: CCCT 2010 (http://www.2010iiisconferences.org/ccctj), which is being organized in the context of The 3rd International Multi-Conference on Engineering and Technological Innovation: IMETI 2010 (http://www.2010iiisconferences.org/imeti) to be held on June 29-July 2, 2010 in Orlando, Florida, USA.

The deadlines are the following:

Papers/Abstracts Submissions and Invited Sessions Proposals: February 17th, 2010
Authors Notifications: March 12th, 2010
Camera-ready, full papers: May 19th, 2010

You can also submit your abstract-paper to any of the following conjoined and/or collocated events which have the same set of deadlines:
=======================================================
The 7th International Conference on Cybernetics and Information Technologies, Systems and Applications: CITSA 2010 (www.2010iiisconferences.org/citsa)

The 2nd International Symposium on Energy Engineering, Economics and Policy: EEEP 2010 (www.2010iiisconferences.org/eeep)

The 2nd International Symposium on Optical Engineering and Photonic Technology: OEPT 2010 (www.2010iiisconferences.org/oept)

The 2nd International Symposium on Engineering Education and Educational Technologies: EEET 2010 (www.2010iiisconferences.org/eeet)
=======================================================
Participants in any conference or symposia can attend the sessions of other collocated conferences, and will receive electronic proceedings, via CD, which includes the papers presented at all conferences and symposia.

Submissions for Face-to-Face or for Virtual Participation are both accepted. Both kinds of submissions will have the same reviewing process and the accepted papers will be included in the same proceedings.

Pre-Conference and Post-conference Virtual sessions (via electronic forums) will be held for each session included in the conference program, so that sessions papers can be read before the conference, and authors presenting at the same session can interact during one week before and after the conference. Authors can also participate in peer-to-peer reviewing in virtual sessions.

All Submitted papers/abstracts will go through three reviewing processes: (1) double-blind (at least three reviewers), (2) non-blind, and (3) participative peer reviews. These three kinds of review will support the selection process of those papers/abstracts that will be accepted for their presentation at the conference, as well as those to be selected for their publication in JSCI Journal.

Authors of accepted papers who registered in the conference can have access to the evaluations and possible feedback provided by the reviewers who recommended the acceptance of their papers/abstracts, so they can accordingly improve the final version of their papers. Non-registered authors will not have access to the reviews of their respective submissions.

Registration fees of an effective invited session organizer will be waived according to the policy described in the web page (click on ‘Invited Session’, then on ‘Benefits for the Organizers of Invited Sessions’), where you can get information about the ten benefits for an invited session organizer. For Invited Sessions Proposals, please visit the conference web site, or directly towww.2010iiisconferences.org/ccctj/organizer.asp

Authors of the best 10%-20% of the papers presented at the conference (included those virtually presented) will be invited to adapt their papers for their publication in the Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics.

We invite you to submit a paper/abstract to, and/or to organize an Invited session in, The SUMMER 8th International Conference on Computing, Communications, and Control Technologies: CCCT 2010 (http://www.2010iiisconferences.org/ccctj), which is being organized in the context of The 3rd International Multi-Conference on Engineering and Technological Innovation: IMETI 2010 (http://www.2010iiisconferences.org/imeti) to be held on June 29-July 2, 2010 in Orlando, Florida, USA.

The deadlines are the following:

Papers/Abstracts Submissions and Invited Sessions Proposals: February 17th, 2010
Authors Notifications: March 12th, 2010
Camera-ready, full papers: May 19th, 2010

You can also submit your abstract-paper to any of the following conjoined and/or collocated events which have the same set of deadlines:
=======================================================
The 7th International Conference on Cybernetics and Information Technologies, Systems and Applications: CITSA 2010 (www.2010iiisconferences.org/citsa)

The 2nd International Symposium on Energy Engineering, Economics and Policy: EEEP 2010 (www.2010iiisconferences.org/eeep)

The 2nd International Symposium on Optical Engineering and Photonic Technology: OEPT 2010 (www.2010iiisconferences.org/oept)

The 2nd International Symposium on Engineering Education and Educational Technologies: EEET 2010 (www.2010iiisconferences.org/eeet)
=======================================================
Participants in any conference or symposia can attend the sessions of other collocated conferences, and will receive electronic proceedings, via CD, which includes the papers presented at all conferences and symposia.

Submissions for Face-to-Face or for Virtual Participation are both accepted. Both kinds of submissions will have the same reviewing process and the accepted papers will be included in the same proceedings.

Pre-Conference and Post-conference Virtual sessions (via electronic forums) will be held for each session included in the conference program, so that sessions papers can be read before the conference, and authors presenting at the same session can interact during one week before and after the conference. Authors can also participate in peer-to-peer reviewing in virtual sessions.

All Submitted papers/abstracts will go through three reviewing processes: (1) double-blind (at least three reviewers), (2) non-blind, and (3) participative peer reviews. These three kinds of review will support the selection process of those papers/abstracts that will be accepted for their presentation at the conference, as well as those to be selected for their publication in JSCI Journal.

Authors of accepted papers who registered in the conference can have access to the evaluations and possible feedback provided by the reviewers who recommended the acceptance of their papers/abstracts, so they can accordingly improve the final version of their papers. Non-registered authors will not have access to the reviews of their respective submissions.

Registration fees of an effective invited session organizer will be waived according to the policy described in the web page (click on ‘Invited Session’, then on ‘Benefits for the Organizers of Invited Sessions’), where you can get information about the ten benefits for an invited session organizer. For Invited Sessions Proposals, please visit the conference web site, or directly towww.2010iiisconferences.org/ccctj/organizer.asp

Authors of the best 10%-20% of the papers presented at the conference (included those virtually presented) will be invited to adapt their papers for their publication in the Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics.

Photo by Lacey Harris-Coble

On Thursday evening, ABC News director of polling Gary Langer appeared on behalf of the Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy (ISERP) to deliver a lecture on the Whys and Wherefores of Newspolling. Lacey Harris-Coble, the Premiere Poobah of lecturehopping, reports.

Seen the real poll numbers on Obama’s ratings post-SOTU? Bullshit – unless, of course, they came from ABC News and were inspected by its celebrated data cop, the Premier Poobah of newspolling, Gary Langer. A two-time News & Doc Emmy winner and a leader in the newspolling industry, Langer, a pleasant fellow, arrived on campus and did not hesitate to begin bashing the omnipresent Internet click-in polls, which he calls manufactured data that easily “acquiesces to biases.”

That’s right – the data on the news is not real data, says Langer, who claims to be one of the few men left in news with standards and who can allegedly guarantee news reporters good, credible data while “shit-canning the bad.” To Langer, bad data is an epidemic spreading everywhere from CNN to The New York Times, the American Medical Association (AMA), and even occasionally ABC News itself (but only when the Good Morning, America hosts can do the fact-checking, of course). So where does this ubiquitous bad data come from? People like you! You’ve seen those pop-ups asking you to sign up to be an online survey-taker and get paid for it; well, some people actually do sign up, collectively completing thousands of surveys each day. The results of these convenience surveys are presented and sold to the news companies as accurate statistical fact, and the news companies in turn present the data as truth.

Read more…

Come support Haiti by joining Hillel for a FREE Pizza Dinner study break! Hillel is taking part in the university-wide There is Hope: Mission Haiti Campaign.

Donation boxes will be set up in order for you to contribute however much you are able to so that Hillel can accomplish our goal of joining the Columbia mission to raise money for relief services!
Bring canned goods to donate to the relief effort!

Eat pizza, catch up with friends, and donate to a great cause at the 3rd Floor Lounge in the Hillel Building!

Crack passwords, read secret files, get root access! From networks to cryptography, the ACM Security Competition exposes you to the dark side of technology. When programming contests just aren’t enough, take it to the next level and join in on the computer security competition. It all starts February 4 at 6:00 pm in the CS Lounge and ends February 12 with free food, a chance to win an Xbox 360, tons of gift cards, and have lots of fun. Grads vs. undergrads!

Sign-up and more information here: http://tinyurl.com/acm-hacker

As students at Columbia, we are fortunate to be exposed to both global and local issues through our professors, distinguished speakers, and our studies. COLUMBIA NET IMPACT gives you the opportunity to magnify your impact through working together on tangible projects with existing organizations that are already making a sustainable difference. Don’t find anything that resonates with your own passions? As a newly recognized group, we look forward to helping you make your ideas happen! Refreshments will be served.

– Net Impact’s international network of professional, graduate, and undergraduate chapters

– Exciting projects with our partner organizations, including Nomi Network and United Prosperity

– Net Impact’s professional and career development resources for socially and environmentally-minded job sectors

–Net Impact’s open leadership positions and how to apply

–Net Impact’s upcoming events

Location will be posted on Facebook page.

contact email: netimpactcolumbia@gmail.com

contact website: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=303898029202&ref=ts

http://netimpact.org/

Come to Math 31 for a fast-paced version of our standard mixology course. Cover the same material in half the time! The accelerated course will meet twice a week for five weeks on the following dates. All our classes use real alcohol to teach you hundreds of drinks. $200.

Contact email: nick@columbiabartending.com

Link: http://columbiabartending.com/

Come to Math 31 for a fast-paced version of our standard mixology course. Cover the same material in half the time! The accelerated course will meet twice a week for five weeks on the following dates. All our classes use real alcohol to teach you hundreds of drinks. $200.

Contact email: nick@columbiabartending.com

Link: http://columbiabartending.com/

Come to Math 312, and learn the basics about red, white, rose, and bubbly wines. We cover everything from history to terroir, tasting dozens of major grape varietals. $120.

The weather in Morningside Heights over the past couple of days may not have been particularly cooperative, but neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night could keep these Columbians from stepping out in their winter best. This week, Bwog began to prowl College Walk and various Columbia/Barnard haunts (i.e., cafeterias) in the hopes of catching a snapshot and interview with some of the school’s classiest characters. Here are some highlights; interviews and more photos after the jump.

Morris Michael, SEAS ’11

What’s your major? Biomedical engineering.

Favorite thing about New York? I guess just the people. You meet people from all over the world.

Where are you from? Sudan.

What’s one thing you always wear? My necklace. (Pulls out necklace with white fang-shaped charm.)

Is that a shark tooth? No, it’s ivory. I guess this necklace is the one thing I always wear.

Hairin Bahren and Yurina Ko, BC ’11

Where are you from? Hairen: Singapore. Yurina: Tokyo.

What’s your favorite thing about Barnard/Columbia? Hairen: New York!

What do you like most about winter, clothing-wise? Yurina: Wearing a scarf. And hat. My scarf and hat. Hairin: And boots. Yurina: Yeah, boots!

Which is your favorite fashion brand or designer? Hairin: Stella McCartney. Yurina: Uniqlo. This hat is from Uniqlo. Hairin: My scarf is from Uniqlo! Yurina: And my coat. . .

Sheng Yanyu, Ye Xinyi, and Zhang Bi Yuan, Foreign Exchange Graduate Students from China

What are you studying? Yanyu: Economics. Xinyi: Journalism. Yuan: Mathematics.

What do you like about Columbia? Bi Yuan: Its history and location.

What’s your favorite thing to wear in winter? Bi Yuan: I like those black clothes – clothes in black that you wear inside.

Crafty squirrel outside of Carman, preparing to consume a juicy tomato. You can look, but don’t touch!

Barnard cafés: now with even less bang for your (mandatory meal plan) buck

A couple of months ago, Dean Dorothy Denburg proudly announced that Barnard was to open a new café. “Liz’s Place,” as this café called itself, was to be a “wonderful resource” and “an expanded and improved-upon replacement for Java City” – presumably so flowing with mouth-watering snacktime treats that all mandatory meal-plan haters (read: everyone at Barnard) would suddenly realize their mistake and atone for their mandatory meal plan-hating ways.

Everyone held their breath as the doors parted to Liz’s Place on opening day. What could Dean Denburg have possibly meant by “improved”?, the students wondered to themselves. Would there be “100% fruit smoothies” that were actually made entirely of fruit and not of sugar- and dairy-enhanced fruit syrups? Would there be scones that didn’t crumble at the touch?

Here’s what these students found at Liz’s Place: muffins, donuts, and prepackaged sushi that were somehow even less compelling than their old Java City counterparts. The color scheme of the café (white + that uniquely Diana strange orangey color) set a sort of minimalist tone, and none of Java City’s big, comfy couches were anywhere in sight (R.I.P.). The lone two “improvements” Bwog could detect were that the sushi packs, confined at Java City to a food display case, had been (in keeping with said minimalist flair) oddly relocated to a stark-looking bed of ice, and that a new price list affixed to the café’s wall revealed products’ calorie information. (The caloric content of the food, incidentally, is a bit less in keeping with the minimalist flair). Also, there was chocolate pudding.

Now what didn’t the students find at Liz’s Place? Among the items absent from this fine establishment were the handful of school supplies and personal care items formerly available at Java City: highlighters, Bic pens, tampons, cough drops, and Pepto-Bismol. Bwog’s guess is that these products have gone into storage and will be making their return as the “new convenience store opening in the Quad next fall”; Bwog doesn’t expect too many people to be holding their breath on that opening day.

Liz’s Place is located on the first floor of the Diana Center and open from 8 AM to 12 AM Mondays through Thursdays and 8 AM to 8 PM on Fridays. You can visit the website and see a picture of what hot chocolate there doesn’t look like here.

People taking cars that don’t belong to them. (NY Daily News)

People taking children that don’t belong to them. (Yahoo! News)

Strange people doing strange things. (Gothamist)

“Jobs and industries of tomorrow taking root beyond our borders.” (NYT)

Colors you’ve never heard of before. (Jezebel)

Reality stars who just won’t go away. (Entertainment Weekly)

Columbia on TV. (C-SPAN)