Mako shark: ‘cheetah of the ocean’
MSNBC.com – Nov. 27
…”The Mako has evolved to be the cheetah of the ocean,” said Amy Lang, an aerospace engineer at the University of Alabama who specializes in experimental fluid dynamics. “It has evolved to chase down tuna.” A Mako shark’s side-to-side swimming motion requires flexible scales on its sides and behind the gills – especially when the shark wants to pull a quick change of direction without drag. Lang and her colleagues found that the scales can bristle at angles of 60 degrees or more. The scales act similarly to how dimples on a golf ball control flow separation and allow the ball to travel farther in the air – though there are differences. “Unlike a golf ball, which has no preferred separation of flow, a shark is always swimming in one direction,” Lang told LiveScience.
Los Angeles Times – Nov. 27
Alabama’s First Lady Patsy Riley makes a difference
WSFA.com (Montgomery) – Nov. 25
…Today, the state’s Parenting Assistance Line (PAL), based in Tuscaloosa at the University of Alabama, has apparently been a hit. “It was the worth the effort,” said Mrs. Riley. Consider the results; since PAL got off the ground 3 and a half years ago, the hotline has received more than 9,600 calls from every county in Alabama, 29 states and Canada…Mrs. Riley started PAL with the idea that stressed out parents need someone to talk to, someone to help them step up and reach out for help. That’s where the PAL counselors come in. The counselors begin by listening and giving tired parents a chance to ‘vent.’…
City weighs hiring from Teach for America
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 27
…Joyce Stallworth, a senior associate dean in the University of Alabama’s College of Education, Teach for America’s higher education partner in Alabama, said the College of Education partnered with the organization because the school’s graduates do not typically gravitate toward teaching positions in rural West Alabama. They saw Teach For America as one strategy to place service-oriented people into classrooms with teacher shortages. “These individuals do have undergraduate degrees in the area that they’re teaching,” Stallworth said. “It’s about people who are competent in the teaching area and who are working for certification. For example, someone who majored in math would be working in math.”…Stallworth said she observed those teachers at their schools and discovered that they weren’t doing quite as well as expected. “There were classroom management issues and we encourage them to seek out some of the veteran teachers for help with that, such as us,” she said. “I’m not going to say that we’re jaded, but there are challenges with this group.” Stallworth said some of the Teach For America teachers were also experiencing frustration in part because they lacked an understanding of Black Belt culture, state education laws, policies and procedures. “Research informs us that clinically prepared education makes a more positive impact on student achievement,” Stallworth said. “The clinical preparation part of that is crucial. Our (education) program is clinically based. They start very early going out to city and county schools learning how to teach. The clinical preparation is not part of the TFA model.” Stallworth suggested that before the board makes a decision to hire Teach For America teachers, which the board will put to a vote at its Nov. 30 meeting, they should speak with the principals of the Alabama schools where those teachers are currently teaching. The board is slated to vote on the issue Tuesday.
N. Texas cities’ use of federal ‘green’ funds lags
Dallas Morning News – Nov. 25
…Andrew Morriss, a law professor at the University of Alabama, said the grants may be targeting worthy projects but have so far had a minimal economic impact. The money is meant to provide an instant economic boost, while helping cities trim energy use and bills and cut greenhouse-gas emissions. But Morriss said those goals conflict, since many of the projects undertaken require lots of lead time and research. “We’re trying to do short-term stimulus with measures that are designed for long-term infrastructure replacement,” said Morriss, who is a senior fellow at the Property and Environment Research Center I Montana…
Unemployment claims fall in Alabama
Birmingham News – Nov. 25
…drop in initial unemployment claims is a leading indicator of an improved job market, said Ahmad Ijaz, an economic researcher at the University of Alabama. But jobless claims will have to fall at a much faster pace to make a big dent in Alabama’s unemployment rate, which at 8.8 percent in October remains far higher than the 3.7 percent rate of October 2007. “Jobless claims are falling at an extremely slow pace all across the country,” Ijaz said. “This seems like another jobless recovery, very similar to the 1991 and 2001 recessions.”…
U.S. jury convicts 5 Somali men of piracy in Navy ship attack
Associated Press – Nov. 24
…Ken Randall, dean of the University of Alabama School of law and a piracy scholar, wrote in an e-mail that the verdict set an important example for the world. “On the seas, as well as in the courts, every nation should follow the US lead in redressing piracy,” he wrote…
Changes sought for Jefferson County manager plan
Birmingham News – Nov. 28
…Robert Brooks, professor of financial management at the University of Alabama, said he doesn’t see the wisdom in separating the CFO from the county manager. “Just as two starting quarterbacks often don’t work for a football team, two leaders at that level most likely will not be effective,” Brooks said. “What’s the county manager to do if he can’t direct the CFO? If the commission wanted additional information it seems to me he could bring the CFO with him.”…
‘Innovator’ ready to pass the torch
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 28
…Barry Mason, dean of the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce, has worked closely with Aycock since the late 1980s. “He was an ever-creative innovator and always had a vision of what Tuscaloosa could be,” Mason said of Aycock. “He has a strong belief in reaching out to all segments. … I think he brought a together a lot of groups.” Mason said Aycock was a catalyst in Leadership Tuscaloosa, the riverfront development, downtown redevelopment and the first expansion of Bryant-Denny Stadium, improving education, Adopt A School and work force development. Education remains a major interest for Aycock, and one that he said will remain on the chamber’s agenda…
Opinions vary on the benefits of free trade with Korea
Birmingham News – Nov. 29
…The lack of a free trade agreement with South Korea is causing the U.S. to fall behind other countries in trade, said Michael Brooks, assistant director at the Alabama International Trade Center at the University of Alabama. Brooks said that Alabama companies trying to put products in South Korea face tariffs of up to 300 percent. Under the proposed agreement, most tariffs would be wiped out. “The longer we wait to get an FTA enacted, the more of a competitive disadvantage we’re going to be at,” Brooks said…
Free feasts help feed the area’s less fortunate
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 25
…The Project Blessings crew doesn’t do electrical, plumbing or roofing work, but they get those skilled labors performed at about one-tenth of their usual cost. Volunteers paint, clean, hammer or whatever else it takes. One project had dozens of students from the University of Alabama’s Alpha Gamma Delta sorority show up, so that all that house’s necessary work was finished in a single day, Sprayberry said. The Alpha Gams then made a $2,000 donation to the project, which paid for all the work on another house…
Identical twins split over Iron Bowl loyalty
Birmingham News – Nov. 26
As identical twins, Philip and Thomas Cato share the same genetic code, the same interest in sports and the same academic pursuits. But when it comes to colleges and football loyalties, the similarities end. Philip is a freshman at Auburn University. Thomas is a freshman at the University of Alabama…Both twins are undeclared pre-med majors, and both are enrolled in honors programs at their universities.
Eagles’ Wings still in running for national $250,000 grant
Tuscaloosa News – Nov. 28
…Crossing Points, a collaboration between the University of Alabama’s Special Education & Multiple Abilities Department in the College of Education and the Tuscaloosa City and County School Systems, is in the running to receive a $50,000 grant. Crossing Points provides transition services for 18- to 21-year-old students with disabilities and was ranked 128 in the $50,000 category Wednesday…
Sororities take part in Crimson Tidings
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – Nov. 27
Several University of Alabama sororities opened their doors to the public tonight. Ten sororities took part in the “Crimson Tidings” event. Each sorority decorated their house in the Christmas spirit and gave tours as people arrived.