Monday, October 29, 2007,
4:30 PM, McConomy Auditorium, CMU
Joint Physics Colloquium, Dr. Robert Lang, Ph.D in Physics from Caltech and now is a full-time artist and consultant on Origami's applications to engineering problems, "From Flapping Birds to Space Telescopes: The Modern Science of Origami," Cosponsored by the Department of Physics and the School of Art,
Abstract: The last decade of this past century has been witness to a revolution in the development and application of mathematical techniques to origami, the centuries-old Japanese art of paper-folding. The techniques used in mathematical origami design range from the abstruse to the highly approachable. In this talk, I will describe how geometric concepts led to the solution of a broad class of origami folding problems – specifically, the problem of efficiently folding a shape with an arbitrary number and arrangement of flaps, and along the way, enabled origami designs of mind-blowing complexity and realism, some of which you’ll see, too. As often happens in mathematics, theory originally developed for its own sake has led to some surprising practical applications. The algorithms and theorems of origami design have shed light on long-standing mathematical questions and have solved practical engineering problems. I will discuss examples of how origami has enabled safer airbags, Brobdingnagian space telescopes, and more.
Robert J. Lang is recognized as one of the foremost origami artists in the world as well as a pioneer in computational origami and the development of formal design algorithms for folding. With a Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Caltech, he has, during the course of work at NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Spectra Diode Laboratories, and JDS Uniphase, authored or co-authored over 80 papers and 45 patents in lasers and optoelectronics as well as 8 books and a CD-ROM on origami. He is a full-time artist and consultant on origami and its applications to engineering problems but moonlights as the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics.
Tue Oct 30 - 5 PM
CMU lecture , McConomy Auditorium
The School of Art presents Public Art Fund Director Rochelle Steiner. Previously, Steiner was chief curator at the Serpentine Gallery in London.
Tue Oct 30 - 5 to 7 PM
Growler hours at East End Brewery
Wed Oct 31 - 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Halloween
Thu Nov 1 - 5 to 7 PM
Growler hours at East End Brewery
Thu Nov 1 - 7 PM
THIS MONTH: DOCS THAT AREN'T DOCS (in the traditional sense)
Films will include Duck and Cover and excerpts from Koyaanisqatsi: Life out of Balance. Each is an important classic and has been very influential in its own way among filmmakers.
Almost sixty years old, Duck and Cover also has an eerie relevance to the current political climate of cultivating and maintaining fear. Duck and Cover was a Social guidance film produced in 1951 by the United States federal government's Civil Defense branch shortly after the Soviet Union began nuclear testing. Written by Raymond J. Mauer and directed by Anthony Rizzo of Archer Productions and made with the help of schoolchildren from New York City and Astoria, New York, it was shown in schools as the cornerstone of the government's "duck and cover" public awareness campaign. The movie states that nuclear war could happen at any time without warning, and for U.S. citizens to keep this constantly in mind and be ever ready.
Duck and Cover (1952) 9 min.
Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance is a 1982 film directed by Godfrey Reggio with music composed by minimalist composer Philip Glass and cinematography by Ron Fricke. The film consists primarily of slow motion and time-lapse photography of cities and natural landscapes across the United States. The visual tone poem contains neither dialogue nor a vocalized narration: its tone is set by the juxtaposition of images and music. In the Hopi language,
the word Koyaanisqatsi means 'life of moral corruption and turmoil, life out of balance', and the film implies that modern humanity is living in such a way.
Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance (1982) 86 min. (excerpts to be shown)
Presented by Salon member Dan Handley.
Date & time: Thurs, November 1
6:30p Food & Social
7:00p Screening & Discussion
Location: Pittsburgh Filmmakers
Classroom Theater (aka Mini-Melwood)
Schedule
Fri Nov 2 - 12:30 PM
CMU- Rangos Ballroom
The International Festival presents its keynote lecture by Charles Fishman, award-winning journalist and author of "The Wal-Mart Effect." By influencing the way we shop, the products we buy, and the prices we pay everyday, Wal-Mart continues to purposefully drive the American economy. On the other end, it affects the operations of the suppliers and changes what is sold, how products are packaged and presented, and the very lives of the factory workers who make these products around the world. It is, as Fishman describes, the most powerful and influential company in the world. Find out more about the phenomena, the lives it has touched, and what it means for the future of globalization. Tickets for the lecture are free and include lunch for all attendees. Tickets must be obtained at the University Center Information Desk.
Festival
Fri Nov 2 - 6 PM to 11 PM
Penn Avenue Unblurred
Lee Robinson plays saxophone at 8 PM at national city bank on Penn Ave
Sat Nov 3 - 12 to 5 PM
Growler hours at East End Brewery
Sat Nov 3
7-10pm Bhangra in the Burgh
Soldiers & Sailors Museum & Memorial
Don’t miss Bhangra in the Burgh, a national Bhangra dance competition hosted by Carnegie Mellon’s Mayur-SASA and Chak De. Bhangra is a lively and energetic folk dance that originated in an East Pakistan and Northwest India region known as Punjab. It is typically performed while celebrating the annual harvest, but after spreading its popularity, particularly in the United Kingdom, Canada and the US, it has fused with Western elements including hip-hop and reggae. The competition will boast Bhangra dance teams from universities around the country competing for the top prize. All proceeds will go to the Homeless Children’s Education Fund, a non-profit organization that provides access to education for homeless children of Allegheny County. By attending, you are supporting a worthy cause and will most certainly be entertained and given a glimpse of the Punjab and South Asian cultures.
Tickets for Carnegie Mellon community members are $10 and for sale at the University Center Information Desk. Bus service will be provided from the UC Turnaround to Soldiers & Sailors in Oakland.
Bhangra
Sun Nov 4 - 11 AM
Run with the Hash House Harriers, on a 11-mile long trail set by Guy's Queer
Brought to you by GQ, Crazy Ed, & Guy’s Queer. Sticky Beaver is threatening to co-hare.
Mega-Hash length, 10~12 miles.
Wear camo if U got it, U’ll be glad U did. This will be a Contra hash - beer & water will be provided on trail, bring cash for the après. Non-members $5 – San Diego & WV hashers are free. (A half point is available here for anyone who wants to pay for an Apres, call me…)
Gorgeous trails!, waterfalls, shiggy, leaves changing, & 3 high-quality beer stops. Very little cement on trail. This trail is not bikeable. U will want a light. There will be a shuttle available for any ladies who wish to Turkey.
Directions: Get U’rself to Rte 28 North – 1 mile past the Highland Park Bridge – Blawnox exit – go about a mile to the end of the Blawnox business district and U’ll see a Sunoco on the right. Park in the grass lot adjoining/northeast of the Sunoco. [Note start time of 11: am]
(If coming from the North, take 910 exit, then Freeport Rd SouthWest 2~3 miles to the Sunoco on your left)
Iron-clad guarantee: of all the trails you’ve ever run, this will be one of them.
Apres: Primanti’s in Harmarville, at the intersection of Rte’s 28 & 910. U might want to check back here or call me if U’re pimping as the location may change
GQ/Ed 412/592-4949
Saturday November 03 2007, 5:00 pm
Carnegie Mellon Contemporary Ensemble
Alumni Concert Hall
Walter Morales, Music Director
Manuel Guillen, violin
Sung Im Kim, piano
Sun Nov 4 - 10 AM to 1 PM
Orienteering meet aka Land Navigation using map and compass
Pine Ridge park, just off Route 22 east of Blairsville, PA
Followed by end-of-season dinner party
Orienteering Club
Sunday November 04 2007, 7:00 pm
CMU - Alumni Concert Hall
Manuel Guillen, violin
