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The Chosen One

He is The One.

Don’t scorch the skies yet — New Jersey Congressman (and former Assistant Director of Princeton’s Physics Lab) Rush Holt may just become this century’s Neo from the Matrix.

After IBM supercomputer Watson trounced all-time champions Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter in a game of man vs. machine Jeopardy! a few weeks ago, it looked as if the world was doomed to artificial intelligence supremacy. (Especially after Jennings revealed himself to be a traitorous robot sympathizer, writing “I for one welcome our new computer overlords” on his Final Jeopardy answer.)

Benedict Arnold [Schwarzenegger]. (source: ABC)

pictured: Benedict Arnold (Schwarzenegger)

But hope is not lost. Yesterday, our 12th district representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) beat the supercomputer Watson 8,600 points to 6,200 in a “Congress vs. Computer” Jeopardy tournament on Capitol Hill.

Holt was a former nuclear physicist and five-time champion on Jeopardy! over 30 years ago, making him a seasoned contender against the supercomputer.

According to the L.A. Times, Holt kicked Watson’s hard drive in categories like “Presidential Rhyme Time” and “Also a Laundry Detergent.” (Whitman College residents who watched the fateful Jennings v. Watson episode in February noticed the computer isn’t very good at wordplay. Are puns the last refuge of humanity?)

Despite Holt’s redeeming victory, I still don’t trust robotic technology. It’s not too long before a couple of THESE buggers get a mind of their own and begin attacking us like a swarm of killer bees.

Holder Hall

Holder Hall

It snowed! Or rather, it’s snowing… a lot. According to our ruler, we’ve received about six inches of snow so far. Which means … snow day!!! Oh, wait, it’s Saturday. And Princeton doesn’t do snow days for a measly six inches. Cass Cliatt, Princeton’s spokesperson, tells us that campus has only closed three times due to weather conditions in the past 15 years. So let’s not all cross our fingers too soon.

(Although we would recommend calling if you’re going anywhere on Nassau. We know Labyrinth’s closed today, and Panera’s got weird hours, so save yourself a snow-trudge and call ahead.)

Still, it’s an impressive amount of snow. The historic blizzard is sweeping from Virginia to southern Pennsylvania and central Jersey, leaving as much as two feet of snow in some locations. We can’t expect that much, but we’ll get a few more inches before the day is over.

Between this blizzard and the epic storm that hit in December, we concede that winter does exist in New Jersey. We may get more snow and have far chillier temperatures in my native state of Michigan — but New Jersey can still hold its own.

And did anyone notice that all the walks and stairways were magically plowed and shoveled by 10:30 a.m.? The easier for you to slip and fall, guys!

marijuanaWhile Princeton students have been burying their heads in their laptops and textbooks, oblivious to the outside world — well, except for the occasional Facebook “study break” or “Whitman wail” — the state of New Jersey has been making headlines. The New Jersey Legislature passed a measure to legalize medical marijuana. And the bill was co-sponsored by Princeton’s very own Assemblyman, Reed Gusciora. Now Governor Jon Corzine just needs to sign the bill before he leaves office next week.

But lest any students think that New Jersey will become the next California…

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source: backstreets.com

source: backstreets.com

By now it’s obvious that Princeton professors have a big old crush on Bruce Springsteen.  First there was this fall’s course on the sociological implications of the Boss.  Next up: AMS401: At Home in New Jersey, a spring seminar that promises to investigate Bruce’s first studio album Greetings From Asbury Park “at a more sophisticated and advanced level.”

But elsewhere, (less sophisticated?) Bruce-watchers seem to have grown weary of the Jersey Shore troubadour.  Hipster collective Pitchfork Media gave Springsteen’s latest  effort, Working on a Dream, a lackluster 5.8 out of 10 and called the track Queen of the Supermarket Maybe the worst thing he’s ever written.” (Ouch.)  They also named the album’s cover art the absolute Worst of 2009.  (Ouch again.  Also: true.)

So who wins–Indies or Eggheads?

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