Thursday's Funpage

1. Attention Hanszen Engineering Students
2. John E. Parish Fellowship for Summer Travel
3. Battle of the Bands
4. CALL TO AUDITION
5. Rice Ally Program Training Session
6. Stephen Minger - Baker Institute - 2/6/2009
7. Keys Found
8. Reminder: Fiscal Wake-Up Tour: 1/29/2009
9. Rice Players are seeking crew for Wyrd Sisters
10. Will Rice Cabaret: A night of theatre
11. CCE's Guatemala International Service Project Summer 2009
~
1a. LOLcat of the Day: Leo House
http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/funny-pictures-your-lego-house-could-not-withstand-your-cat.jpg
2a. XKCD: Contingency Plan
http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/contingency_plan.png
3a. Play with Yourself: Skywire
http://www.miniclip.com/games/skywire/en/
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1. Attention Hanszen Engineering Students
ENGINEERING STUDENTS
Are you interested in how to get involved in research? Did you attend one of the recent internships fairs? If not, or if you still have questions about participating in research, it would be my pleasure to talk with interested students at lunch in the Hanszen Commons. We can discuss organized programs, how to contact lab directors, funding issues, etc. Don’t wait too long! If you want to learn about summer research, the time is NOW.

Let me know if you want to meet – email me at grande@rice.edu. Good luck with your semester!

Jane Grande-Allen
Hanszen Engineering Divisional Advisor
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2. John E. Parish Fellowship for Summer Travel

Wiess College announces competition for the 2009 John E. Parish Fellowship. The winner of the Parish Fellowship will receive support of approximately 2 months travel during the Summer of 2009. The purpose of the fellowship is to enhance the undergraduate education of the Fellow by broadening the range of experience via individual travel. All full-time returning undergraduates at Rice are eligible. For further information, call the Wiess College coordinator (713-348-5743), or see the web page at www.ruf.rice.edu/~parish.

Deadline for application is Friday, February 13, 2009.---------------------------------------------
3. Battle of the Bands
KTRU Battle of the Bands Submission is coming up... again! Like really soon!

Demos due: Friday, February 6, 2009, at 5pm.

**SOMEONE IN YOUR BAND MUST BE FROM RICE TO BE ELIGIBLE**

Each band will perform a 20 to 30 minute set (length TBD), judged live @ Lovett Undergrounds Friday, February 20.

Winning group will receive a spot at the 2009 KTRU Outdoor Show.

For more info, email rachelo@rice.edu or check out the facebook event!
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4. CALL TO AUDITION
"I Took My Gun and Vanished" is a contemporary drama about the isolation of existence and our generation's search for meaning in a world where sexuality has begun to supersede religion. With a rich cast of characters (including three strong female leads), we need the most talented actors and actresses Rice has to offer.

Auditions for this production will be

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (January 20-22)

in the Martel Rotunda from 6:30pm-8:00pm. No preparation is required.

If acting's not your bag, we are in need of an equally talented production crew.
Positions include:

Stage manager/co-stage managers
Set designer/Set Crew
Lighting designer/Crew
Prop Master/Crew
Costume designer/Crew
Publicity Crew

You can email jkroper@ or crompton@ for details about the production, cast of characters, or anything else you need to know.
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5. Rice Ally Program Training Session
The Rice Ally Program is a student, faculty and staff educational program. The Ally Program goals are to raise awareness about the ways homophobia and heterosexism impact everyone, and to teach skills in being an Ally to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and intersexed persons.
Who’s invited? All interested students, faculty and staff.
What’s required? All that is required is that you come with a willingness to learn, explore and discuss. There is no requirement to commit to further action – though options will be discussed at the training.
What is the training like? The training is fast paced and interactive (you will NOT be bored). It includes several group exercises and a panel discussion. You will leave thinking more deeply about sexuality and how to support others.
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6. Stephen Minger - Baker Institute - 2/6/2009
The New Consensus:
How Scientists and Government Created
New Embryo Legislation in the United Kingdom

with

Stephen Minger, Ph.D.

Director of the Stem Cell Biology Laboratory and
Senior Lecturer at the Wolfson Centre for Age Related Diseases at King’s College London

Friday, February 6, 2009
9:00 am Breakfast
9:30 am Presentation

Dore Commons
James A. Baker III Hall
Rice University

During the past three years, U.K. scientists fought a successful battle to allow for the creation of animal–human hybrid embryos to generate cloned human embryonic stem cell lines. The U.K. scientific community together then, with patient organizations, disease-specific charities, major funding bodies and research organizations, worked intensely with the government and the U.K. Department of Health to enact groundbreaking legislation that led to the successful passage of the new Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act of 2008. Minger will outline the major factors which led to this unique partnership, describe some of the key events which transpired during the debate in Parliament, and highlight some of the remaining contentious issues which loom on the regulatory horizon.

RSVP by fax to 713.348.5993, by e-mail to bipprsvp@rice.edu or
online at www.bakerinstitute.org/events/minger before Wednesday, February 4, 2009.

Support for this program has been generously provided by the State of Qatar and the emir of Qatar, His Highness
Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, through the State of Qatar Endowment for International Stem Cell Policy.
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7. Keys Found
Please be advised that some car keys and possible house keys were turned in to Baker College office today (1/22). If you think they are yours, please come by.
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8. Reminder: Fiscal Wake-Up Tour: 1/29/2009
Fiscal Wake-Up Tour
The Honorable David M. Walker
President and CEO, The Peter G. Peterson Foundation

Robert L. Bixby
Executive Director, The Concord Coalition

Brian M. Riedl
Senior Policy Analyst and
Grover Hermann Fellow in Federal Budgetary Affairs,
The Heritage Foundation

Thursday, January 29, 2009
6:00 pm Reception
6:30 pm Discussion

Doré Commons
James A. Baker III Hall
Rice University

Please RSVP by fax to 713.348.5993, by e-mail to bipprsvp@rice.edu
or online at www.bakerinstitute.org/events/fiscaltour
before Tuesday, January 27, 2009.

About the Event
The cost of the multiple government bailouts and other economic measures to combat the current financial crisis is well over $3 trillion and increasing rapidly. This figure, however, pales in comparison to the funds needed to bail out the U.S. government. In fiscal year 2008, the government’s annual budget deficit totaled $455 billion,
with that figure projected to potentially increase to over $1 trillion in 2009. The total national debt stands at $10.8 trillion as of Sept. 30, 2008, while the government’s total fiscal exposure, which includes explicit liabilities the government is legally obligated to fulfill, is more than $53 trillion. Continuing on the path of fiscal irresponsibility is no longer viable and could have dramatic consequences in the next 20 years if actions are not taken to balance the federal budget. Strong and principled leadership is needed to correct the United States’ structural budget problems, which threaten to significantly reduce the welfare of future generations.

The Concord Coalition believes that an engaged, informed and involved public is key to resolving the nation’s fiscal challenges. The Fiscal Wake-Up Tour’s mission is to cut through partisan rhetoric and stimulate a more realistic public dialogue about our nation’s fiscal future and what the costs might be. Our elected leaders in Washington, D.C., know there is a problem, but they are unlikely to act unless forced to by their constituents. The tour began as a series of public forums around the country and now includes in-depth local committees to further focus attention on our nation’s daunting long-term fiscal challenges.
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9. Rice Players are seeking crew for Wyrd Sisters
The Rice Players are looking for backstage crew members for their production of the comedy Wyrd Sisters, directed by Tommy Mings. Crew members will be needed for dress rehearsals the week of January 31-February 5, and for performances on February 6,7, and 12-14. Email Catherine.E.Bratic@rice.edu for more information.
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10. Will Rice Cabaret: A night of theatre
Will Rice Theatre Presents:
Will Rice Cabaret: A night of theatre
An information Session will be in THIS Monday, Jan. 26 at 7 pm in the Will Rice Commons.Come find out what it's all about! We'll be putting on an eclectic collection of theatrical scenes and musical numbers. There are no try-outs: just you, some friends, and fun. The info discussion will cover ideas for the performance, help you find fellow cast members, directing help, and costume help. We'll also clue you in on the performance date and other details. Bring your ideas and take part in a low time commitment showcase of talent and theatre!
Got questions or can't make it to the meeting? Contact director Jessica Cruz at jessica.l.cruz@rice.edu or margeux@rice.edu.
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11. CCE's Guatemala International Service Project Summer 2009
The Community Involvement Center's thirteenth annual International
Service Project will once again be returning to San Lucas Toliman,
Guatemala. Guatemala has the largest population of any country in
Central America, however about 80% of its citizens live in poverty and
two-thirds of that number--or 7.6 million people--live in extreme
poverty. Guatemala's infant mortality and illiteracy rates are also
among the worst in the hemisphere.

Join the Community Involvement Center as a participant in this amazing
two-week service immersion experience this summer (approximately May
10-24, 2009) in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala.

To learn more about the program and to apply, please visit the
Community Involvement Center's web site (http://www.rice.edu/service).
For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact
Alex Tran (alex.tran@rice.edu) or Siya Mehtani (siyasiya@rice.edu).


In Mike and Casey We Trust