Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

West Bank Story

The State Department today dispatched special envoy George Mitchell to the Middle East peace talks to try to keep them from collapsing. Palestinians threatened to walk out of the talks after Israel decided to resume construction of settlements on the West Bank following a 10-month moratorium. Dr. Rami Shapiro, adjunct professor of religion and an ordained rabbi, says, “Israel has given the Palestinians clear moral authority in this instance (something they often lack), and they should have taken full advantage of it. I would have walked out, gone home and announced the unilateral creation of a Palestinian state on January 1, 2011. Against all advice to the contrary, this is what Israel did in May of 1948. They declared themselves a nation and then took up arms to defend it. This is what I would do today if I were president of Palestine.”

Read Shapiro’s blog at http://rabbirami.blogspot.com/.

Too poor to window shop

According to the latest Middle Tennessee Consumer Confidence Index, only 24 percent of consumers surveyed expect spend more this year than last year. However, that’s an increase from June, when only 19 percent believed they would increase their spending. And the number of consumers who believe they will spend more went up slightly from 33 to 35 percent. Dr. Tim Graeff, director of MTSU’s Office of Consumer Research, says, “Even through this does not offer much hope for local retailers (more consumers expect to decrease their spending than increase their spending), it does suggest that some local consumers have not completely given up on consumer spending. Whether or not these consumers actually increase their spending from last year remains to be seen.”

Contact Graeff at 615-898-5124.
tgraeff@mtsu.edu

Chemistry and cars

The state’s two biggest export industries led the increase in Tennessee exports last quarter. Dr. Steven Livingston, editor of the Business and Economic Research Center publication Global Commerce, writes, “Tennessee’s chemical exports increased by a full third and crossed the billion-dollar mark to quarterly sales. Most of this huge gain was in the plastics sector (especially in cellulose derivatives and polyesters). But both organic (up 39 percent) and inorganic (25 percent) chemicals also did very well. The gains were truly global, with East Asia, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, Australia and Singapore being among the strongest markets. The auto industry did equally well. Car and SUV exports more than doubled (to $245 million) thanks to substantial new exports to the Middle East (especially Saudi Arabia) and Canada.”

Contact Livingston at 615-898-2720.
slivings@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

TO HAVE AND HAVANA--Visiting Cuban scholar Rodrigo Gonzalez and Dr. Ric Morris, professor of Spanish and linguistics and adviser for linguistic studies in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, will speak to faculty and students about study abroad opportunities in Cuba today, Sept. 28, in Room S-128 of the Business and Aerospace Building. The first session, set for 4:15-5 p.m. is for students. The 5-5:30 p.m. meeting is intended for faculty. For more information, contact Morris at 615-898-2284 or rmorris@mtsu.edu.

IF YOU YEARN TO LEARN—“Adventures in Learning,” the annual mini-school for adults age 50 and above, will take place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4, at First United Methodist Church, 265 W. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro. The purpose of the event, which is planned by an interfaith coalition, is to provide a program by and for older adults in which they can share knowledge, talents and skills for lifelong learning and personal growth. As usual, retired and active MTSU faculty will play prominent roles in the event. A highlight will be “Mount and Mountain,” a dialogue between Dr. Rami Shapiro, adjunct professor of religious studies and an ordained rabbi, and Dr. Michael A. Smith, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. This class is based on online conversations Shapiro and Smith conducted about the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount. To register, or for more information, contact Mary Belle Ginanni at 615-895-6072.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK/A WONDERFUL TOWN—MTSU’s Baldwin Photographic Gallery is proud to play host to “New York, September 11” by world-renowned photographic cooperative Magnum Photos through Oct. 18. This stunning exhibition of 39 rare photographs began touring the nation five years after the terrorist attacks on the United States. These pictures capture images as they happened—many from an intimate, street-level perspective. Also included are beautiful photos of the World Trade Center twin towers before their fall. The Baldwin Gallery is in the McWherter Learning Resources Center. Exhibitions are free and open to the public. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 12-4 p.m.