VOLUME CVIl, NUMBER 28 PASADENA, CALIFORNIA MAy 22, 2006

Abandon Classes @

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unhappy about [the cancellation], all the music end at IOpm and that cations, Dabney did not receive ever, overcame the difficulties. BY: ANNA HISZPANSKI most notably Nommo ago, a the final bus... leave by 11 pm," confirmation that they could host Many members ofthe house spent Despite numerous setbacks, group ofDJ's who had spun at the wrote Kranski. "As most parties their party at Steele until nearly the majority of their days for the Dabney successfully hosted its Drop Day [parties]. .. for the last don't even start until lOpm, this two weeks before the party. past week at Steele building. annual Drop Day Party this past three or four years," wrote Dab­ was clearly an impossible re­ "Had the location of the party "We got a lot built in basically Saturday, May 20th. However, ney House President, Jeff Krans­ quirement to meet." been uncertain for even another four or five days," said Dabney the planning and building for the ki, in an email response. "As they With the date of the party only day or two, Dabney would not sophomore and Social VP Zac party did not come without trou­ had already made arrangements a month away, the Darbs looked have had a true Drop Day this Lizer. ble. to come down all the way from for other viable locations. Steele year since we would not have had "I feel we [did] a spectacular Originally slated to be held at Alaska to play here, they had to House was a top choice, but the nearly enough time to do con­ job on the party, thanks to the St. Luke's Hospital the weekend cancel their plans. They have not, All-Sports Banquet was sched­ struction...," wrote Kranski. "Our hard work of many of our fresh­ after second term's drop day, the to this date, returned any further uled to be held there the day after backup plan was to simply buy a men and upperclassmen, regard­ Darbs had to reschedule the party attempts to get in touch with the party, thus leaving inadequate bunch ofliquor and beer and hold less of the fact that we put it to­ to third term due to filming at the them...." time to remove the construction a big party, though not an inter­ gether in only two weeks," wrote hospital which overlapped the In addition to the problem with from the party. house level party. This was a very Kranski. party. scheduling, Dabney had to com­ Tom Mannion, Assistant VP of real possibility within Dabney With all the difficulties and However, the double-booking pletely overhaul its preparations Campus Life, offered his back­ and one that I worked very hard postponements involved with the was not realized until after plan­ when the house was informed yard as the location of the AU­ to avoid as I [felt] that it would be party this year, sophomore Aaron ning for the party had already be­ that if the party was to be held at Sports Banquet, thereby allow­ a disappointment to a good num­ Hoffer summed the feelings of gun and DJs had been booked. St. Luke's Hospital, it would have ing Dabney to have their party at ber ofTechers...." many in Dabney House: "I'm "Some of the Drs were very to end by lOpm. Steele House. The Darbs' determination to glad it finally happened." "[One] requirement [was that] However, due to miscommuni- host a real Drop Day Party, how-

IRe Explains: Ask-a-Prof: A Blast from the Past Page 2 South Rouse Update Track Team Runs Its Last Mile Page 2 Nate Lewis on Soul Mates Channel 101: Short Videos for Fun Page 6 Page 8 Recent Alumnus Starts a Non-Profit Page 6 Page 6 having to come out of blocks. how it an ends. At this point, I was sprinting This year, I served as a back and forth across the in­ for the team, and what I field of the track so that I could most about the experience was Saturday the 13th, a few die­ that we had more team unity hard members of the Caltech watch the race on both the back­ stretch and the homestretch. I felt than I had seen in my previous track team (not including myself) two years here. We trained to­ concluded their season with a strongly that if I could scream very loudly at our runners twice gether, competed together, joked post-conference meet at Occiden­ together, ate together, and partied tal. They represented the fleetest per lap rather than once, they would run faster. I proved my­ together. Together, we strove and of the fleet, the jumpiest of the excelled and accomplished things jumpy, and the most dashing of self correct when Boyle handed off 2:30 into the race. Tim Tir­ we couldn't alone. For me, the the those who dash. end of the season was not my fi­ Jeremy Leibs and Helen Tai rell was our final hope to chop off the seconds we needed. He threw nal race four weeks ago, nor the competed in the hurdles in hopes team's final triumphant relay. The of qualifying for the national himself into the anchor leg with reckless abandon. (Again a meta­ end was in the photo collage we championships. Although nei­ gave our head coach Julie at the ther of them met the qualifying phor. Literally, his abandon had some modest amount of reck in end of the year - an amalgama­ mark, Helen improved her own tion of the year's memories. My school record to 15.19 seconds. it.) Some 48.2 seconds later, he crossed the finish line. hope is that those memories will Helen broke this record repeat­ last our lifetimes, along with their edly throughout the year. Her im­ The Caltech runners exploded in celebration. They hugged greater genesis - the friendships provement this season has been a we forged together. testament to her dedication over and screamed and jumped and which is not helpful during a relay team was putting it all together, whooped. This team had chased In track, like any other sport, four years at Caltech, as well as the athletes tend to catch the glory a testament to, like, being really race, and incidentally makes them but time was running out. the record for two years. Always, difficult to get through airport se­ This final 4x400 at Occidental it danced just outside their grasp, while the true force be­ fast. hind the team its coaches re­ Both hurdlers ended their col­ curity.) The record they sought was a high-stakes race, despite taunting them before hopping to break was 3: 19.0, set in 1936 involving no horses. It was the away, sniggering. But under­ mains the background. Julie, legiate careers with the meet. our head coach, spends countless Two-time conference champion by McLean, Smith, Snelling, and last chance of the year to break neath the bright halogen lights of Creal. Jolly good fellows they the record. If that wasn't enough the Occidental track, whipping hours working for our team and Leibs later remarked that he can making us what we are. Her dedi­ begin masters competition in only were, too. pressure, Ward, Boyle, and Tirrell around broad turns and whistling All four runners were in good are all seniors who were compet­ down quick straightaways, these cation to her athletes shows in ev­ thirteen years. This is a man who ery practice. Scott, our distance plans for the future - and is good form. Three of the team scored ing in their final collegiate race. four men stopped the waiting, the points in the 400m final at SCI­ Considering the talent those three frustration, the suspense, and most coach, always knows what we at arithmetic. need: whether that's a joke, some It was a high-quality meet, and AC Conference Championships, represent, we knew that if the re­ of all the clock - in 3:18.30. while Kiesz had scored points in cord didn't fall that day, it might Sorry, McLean & Co., but re­ inspiration, or, most commonly, after the hurdles I spent a lot of an extra set ofintervals. time being wowed by the perfor­ the 800m, which is twice as good. well be another seventy years be­ cords, like necks of henchmen in Entering the meet, the team had fore we could challenge it again. a Van Darnme movie, are made Ian, our mid-distance coach, mances ofpeople much faster than not only coaches us but trains myself. (Embarrassingly, some of struggled to put together four top­ And by that time we'd all be nine­ to be broken. As the meet ended, notch performances in the same ty years old, which would suck. our assistant coach Ian "Ian" Sha­ right along with us through the them were female. Good thing I toughest workouts. Brian, a new wasn't racing. I do not get beaten relay this year. The gun fired and Kiesz shot piro finished things offby running In 2005, the team ran 3:21. At out of the blocks like a frightened an impressive 15:38 5000m, uti­ addition to our coaching staff this by females.) As the sun set, the year, has been more than just a main attraction dawned (see how the beginning of 2006, with all gazelle, which essentially he was, lizing a fast last lap to ensure he the relay runners returning, the except the gazelle ran on two legs beat my best time for the event. pole vault coach. His pithy advice poetic that was? (Ed: no)). on life and whatnot always reso­ The men's 4x400 team of record seemed sure to fall. Sadly, and didn't have (big) horns. Be­ What a jerk. As I jogged with (for us runners anyway, you prob­ cause Kiesz had the inside lane, him after the race, I reflected on nates with me. Justin, our throws Matt Kiesz, Stuart Ward, Patrick coach, not only taught many of Boyle, and Tim Tirrell set out on ably aren't sad about it, so read all the other runners were spread the season. that as "Ambiguously unemo­ out in front of him, but his confi­ Some of us had finished on a our team completely new disci­ a mission to break a seventy year plines, but also kindly refrained old record. (That is, "record that tionally") several of our sprinters dence held. high note, some on a low. The endured injuries throughout the He kicked all the way in (kicked 4x400 team enjoyed a storybook from skewering me with a javelin had stood for seventy years", not all year. "record for seventy-year olds", season, and as the championships means "ran fast"; this was no ending. For me and Ian, it was neared, the team had run no fast­ Jackie Chan maneuver) and hand­ a satisfying one that left us hun­ And so thank you to my coach­ and not "record for seventy year­ es, to my teammates, and to ev­ olds", both of which I imagine er than 3:27. At the conference ed the baton offto Ward. Leaning gry to return next year. For Helen championships, they all stepped around the first tum, Ward passed and Jeremy, it was a bittersweet eryone who supports the track would be rather weak, because team and athletics at Caltech. We old people are slow and can't hold it up a notch to clock 3:23. The a slower runner and ripped off mix of running well, but missing next week, at Claremont, (during his lap, passing the stick to Boyle lofty goals. For a few, the end it­ might not always win (or ever their pee in, and seventy-year­ win, come to think of it), but at olds just drool a lot and you have a race held there - they didn't go right at ] :41. The pace was for self had simply come and gone, a to Claremont just for fun), they 3:22, just a bit too slow, but the mundane anticlimax that marked least if we lose we'll mock our­ to slap them on the back to make selves in print afterwards. Until them burp or else they explode, improved marginally to 3:22. The final two runners would get run- a stopping point, not a resolution. as to Kiesz But a track season is not about next year... ) decisions also magnifies their administrators explicitly intend The Tech takes a trip down don't have, they seem BY: JIALAN WANG impact. Committees have been to exploit the undergraduates, memory lane with these two edi­ to be forgetting a few of the bad formed regarding health care but that our values cannot be rec­ torials, originally published in parts that are unique to Caltech. Does Caltech care about its and parking, but it will be at best onciled with a business strategy. 2001. They both express fear that At other schools, more than 30% undergraduates? Recent deci­ difficult to achieve a reversal of Caltech's main purposes as an decisions that have already been changes to Caltech would erode of the students are women. At sions regarding budget cuts, institute are to foster world~lass made. its unique culture in coming years. other schools, students don't con­ health care, the Ricketts firepot, science and produce world-class sider taking "only" five classes to Other universities would not Have those fears been born out? and parking have tested the con­ scholars. This includes maintain­ be a light courseload. Life at Tech viction of those of us who still even give a thought to student in­ ing an undergraduate population, is so terrible that crippling de­ think so and have given more volvement, but Caltech was sup­ BY: CHRIS EUON but we are just one of its many pression is a perfectly appropriate ammunition to those who are posed to be different. As adver­ constituents. name for a comic strip, not a rea­ tised, students are supposed to be Ifyou've been reading the Tech discontented. Timing, in this Campus-wide decisions are son to see a psychiatrist . case, seems to have been of the treated like intelligent adults who made to "maximize utility" with for the past few weeks, you've Ifthe current trends continue, I are given the freedom and respon­ probably noticed a trend. Re­ essence. Not only hilVe several the resources available, and predict a pretty bleak future. All of major changes been announced sibility to influence the decisions words like "bottom line" and cently, the administration seems the positive things that differenti­ affecting them. determined to get rid of the few in close succession, but they "cash flow" were undoubtedly ate Caltech from the alternatives also come against the backdrop As the nation enters economic thrown around during decision­ things that make Caltech unique will be gone, but the tons of work and tolerable. Parking spaces, of the largest donation ever to a recession, we would certainly un­ making. However, the magic of and frustration will still be here. university. derstand the need for budget cuts, the undergraduate experience health insurance, and little things Why, then, would anybody want like course catalogs have all Of course, it is not fair to and we might even have sugges­ does not fit into that equation. to come here? I don't know about simply use the Moore gift as a tions to make the best of the new One budget cut or one fewer been targeted. In a few weeks, anyone else, but I'll be telling the the Task Force on Undergradu­ reason Caltech should allocate budget. However, not only were freedom is not enough to destroy brutal truth to all of the prefrosh more funding to undergraduates. students not given the chance to that magic, so it is just treated as ate Residence Life will present this year. Donations from alumni its proposal for changes to the However, its symbolic influ­ influence recent changes, but the a constant. is sure to take a huge hit too. If ence is powerful and magnifies existence of similar policies at But if each year a few friend­ House system, and some of these Tech didn't give anything to you will certainly be changes for the the devastation on morale. It is other universities was used as jus­ ships are never made because (besides emotional scars), why difficult to keep believing that tification for both the health care worse. should you give anything back to freshmen don't have cars to go One of the frequent justifica­ Caltech cares when the institute and parking decisions. to Tommy's, and a few more Tech? This sort of duplicity not only tions given for these recent chang­ Now, I'll admit, some of this receives unprecedented gener­ people have to drop out because es is that many other universities osity as our health insurance is undermines many administrators' they can't cope with medical is overreaction. The outcry over genuine efforts to distinguish do things a different way. Other health insurance has prompted slashed and when we see new problems and school at the same schools don't let freshmen park buildings being built all around Caltech from more authoritarian time, the effects of these deci­ the administration to rethink its universities, but is against the on campus, so we don't need decision, and some students are us as our own living environ­ sions propagate. If decisions to. Other schools don't provide ment continues to decay. Some very nature of the Caltech honor like these continue to be made, now on the committee that will code. Even if the same decisions health insurance to their under­ decide the final policy. But this of the gift is rumored to be dedi­ quietly and gradually, something grads, so we don't need to. They sort of thing is likely to continue, cated to the renovation of the were made, having student in­ beautiful and extraordinary will have a high tuition, so we should and we need people to complain student houses, but now many volvement before the decisions become prosaic. If our way of raise ours too, even though we every time that they try to sneak students doubt that more than a were made would have lessened life is to continue, someone just received the largest donation something by us. So speak up, or small fraction will ever trickle our dissatisfaction instead of add­ along the chain of command has in history. else the efforts to make Caltech down to us. ing disenfranchisement to our list to see the difference between While the administration is busy like "other schools" will make us The lack of stud.mt participa­ of grievances. strict economics and intangible getting rid of benefits that other worse than all of them. tion or even consultation in the I think the problem is not that assets. THE CALIFORNIA TECH NEWS MAY 22, 2006 3 Dozens ofCongregations Leave Episcopal Church Due to Ordination of and other Russian lawmakers, as BY: MARISSA CEVALLOS well as Russian Orthodox Patri­ Homosexual Bishop arch Alexy II will meet with the Episcopalian congregations have been leaving the Episcopal group. Pakistan Attempt to Church, the American branch of Hamas refused the Russian re­ Tensions Asia the Anglican Church of England, PresidentBush visitedIndia and quest that it recognize Israel as a due to its acceptance of gay bish­ Pakistan this week in an attempt sovereign nation. Many nations ops. to decrease tensions between the are concerned that Russia has The Episcopal Church, a Prot­ two nations and improve U.S. re­ stepped forward and recognized estant sect that allows priests of lations in South Asia. Hamas as a legitimate political both genders to marry, elevated Security was heavy at both lo­ organization, breaking the inter­ Bishop Gene Robinson, who has cations, and some protests and national front against the group. a same sex partner, to lead the riots occurred, despite the fact On Thursday, South Africa also diocese of New Hampshire. Two that both nations are considered invited Hamas for talks, fur­ of the five candidates for Bishop U.S.-friendly. The Pakistani gov­ ther weakening the international of California are also openly ho­ ernment has allied itself with the stance against Hamas. mosexual. U.S. in the 'war on terror' and 71 Churches have been changing percent of Indians reported a fa­ Bush's Approval! their allegiance to African and vorable perception of America. Disapproval Ratings Near South American branches of the Anglican Church that condemn The protestors are primarily Mus­ AU-Time LowslHighs Ryan Farmer, Meng-Meng ership Award is for outstanding lims upset with Bush for his ac­ Polls showed Bush had a 38 homosexuality as immoral and banned by the Bible. So far more Fu, Rebecca Adler, and Matthew Caltech students who have dem­ tions in Iraq. percent approval rating and a 60 Walker were awarded the 2006 onstrated exceptional leadership During Bush's visit, the U.S. percent disapproval rating this than 36 churches have left, but the national Episcopal Church is Robert L. Noland Leadership abilities and have encouraged and and India approved a plan to open week. Nearly sixty percent of not worried, comparing this exo­ Award at a dinner presentation in supported others in realizing their some Indian nuclear facilities to those polled thought Bush wasn't the Athenaeum Library on May own leadership capabilities. managing the government effec­ dus to the situation 30 years ago inspectors and increase economic when the church decided to ac- 17th. The Robert L. Noland Lead- ties between the two nations. In­ tively, and that he was not paying cept female priests. 1-. _ dia has not signed the Nuclear attention to what his administra­ Cunningham received cash changes it seems likely the bill Non-Proliferation Treaty and re­ tion was doing, and 73 percent and gifts to in exchange for influ- will pass. The approval of the bill fuses to limit possible production believed big business had too Congressmen Sentenced ence in his decisions on a power- indicates that Bush still has strong of nuclear weapons. large an influence on President to Over Eight ful subcommittee that approves support in Congress, despite Bush. Federal Prison spending for defense programs. some conservatives speaking out Halm~ls ~~el:Jlufjrs Russia's The recent Congressman Randy "Duke" He bought a mansion, yacht, against the President as midterm internal distur­ Cunningham of California re­ Rolls-Royce and condominium elections approach. Call to Recognize ceived the highest sentence ever near Washington with the money. The renewed version of the Hamas, the militant group that bances in Iraq, which inspired given to a former member of bill includes three changes, al­ recently won control of the Pal­ congress for taking 2.4 million lowing individuals to challenge estinian parliament, sent a delega­ a ban on all Patriot Act Renewal civilian vehicles, contributed to dollars in bribes from at least Passes Senate, Receives a requirement to not tell anyone tion to Moscow to meet with Rus­ three defense contractors. The if they have been subpoenaed in sian leaders this week. doubt about Bush's plans in for­ Support in Congress. eign policy. Reports that Bush charges were for conspiracy to The extension of George W. a terrorist investigation, elimi­ Previously no nation had rec­ commit bribery, mail fraud, wire nates a requirement to tell the ognized Hamas, which is con­ was unaware of a deal to place Bush's anti-terror law, decried by a Dubai-based company in con­ fraud, and two separate cases of some as an attack on civil liber­ FBI about any lawyers consulted sidered a terrorist group by Is­ tax evasion. The maximum sen­ trol of several American ports, as ties, passed the Senate and is like­ about National Security Records, rael, the European Union and the tence would have been 10 years, well as disapproval of the plan by ly to be approved by Congress on and states that most libraries are United States. Russian President but was reduced somewhat due not required to give up informa­ most citizens has also hurt Bush's Tuesday. Vladimir Putin did not meet with to Cunningham's age, health and tion about suspected terrorists. the Hamas leaders in order to numbers. The USA Patriot act would military service, and could be fur­ expire on March 10th without limit protests by Israel. Russian ther reduced should he continue renewal, but with some minor Compiled from the BBC, CNN, MS­ Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to cooperate with authorities. NBC and Yahoo News.

1 Cordova Street Pasadena 626.578.1862 (FAX) 626.578.7507 www.hanagrill.com E ELI ERIC ER Hours: 11 am-9pm Daily· WE VALIDATE UNDERGROUND PARKING 4 THE CALIFORNIA TECH MAY 22, 2006

BY: ANONYMOUS omorrow comes so sweet RellllirLdulg aU that an in all is well. The behold! The sun to meet, And lot The of the ben-- Such new games and Without doom your guard. Yet sensations stirred by dreamlike fear Alarm the one who finds his quest too hard. Elab'rate love arid war, So stories as one. Oh how to some more! Ahls....teuape'ral, tlet~tmg ...stiH undone. alone work instead. to go to

Scm'ves in a tub, along with who knows what sorts offruits and goop. This abomination ofa tub was located by Millikan Library. THE CALIFORNIATECH FEATURES MAY 22, 2006 5

HANLEY flI1TnrW'S note: ] in no way the violation the the

;)'1·UIl:rr PT. No teaching adlll1illist:en~d test: E-mail resume, 6 FEATURES MAY 22, 2006

... e of ntertainment book, Gmail, CNN, MySpace, professional. ' BY:ClNDYKO Slashdot... and now, I bring you Lots of them feature recogniz­ ChannellOl.com. My best friend, me, you able celebrities, like Sara Chalke Lara Pickle who goes to UCSD, (from Scrubs) doing "The 'Bu" time online to avoid showed me this site a while back work. if it's a few minutes and Jack Black (from every an­ and I've been hooked ever since. noying and obnoxious noise you here or there, you just can't func­ Channell01 features short tion without a good distraction to ever heard in your life) doing (about 3-minute) web movies "The Computer Man." keep you from working at max with plots, characters, structure, productivity. For every show, a new episode drama, and so much more. They pending on the number of votes, is modeled after VHl-type music Anyway, I'mhere to add to your is supposed to come out every are all 'homemade' to some ex­ the show can be cancelled or live specials, like "Behind the Mu­ list of websites to "check" every month orso, and then viewers give tent, but more like 'homemade- for another month to come. sic." Yacht Rock tries to go back five minutes-you know: Face- a thumbs up or thumbs down. De- In addition to showing the top in time, to the legends of Doobie rated shows, the website also fea­ Brothers and their smooth rock tures, "This Month's Top Failed friends, to find the real stories that Pilot," which is kind of like a inspired the music. 'haha, your movie stinks a lot, Not only is it really entertain­ let's show everybody!' type of ing, the camera treatment is really deal. cool-I feel like I'm watching old Anyway, this is the website that yellowy footage from the 1970s. brought you "House of Cosbys," Yacht Rock continues to be a which was about a Cosby fan that pretty popular show, the longest invented a way to replicate clones running in the history of Chan­ of Bill Cosby by use of a Cosby nellOI (which mayor may not be hair. To keep track of his Cosbys, saying much). they all have a number and a de­ To be sure, check it out and see fining characteristic, e.g. Bathtub what joy three minutes can bring Cosby. to your otherwise routine search It started out pretty funny in for mild entertainment. its own way, but I think the guy who wrote it eventually got sued Feel free to send in your own by Bill Cosby. Anyway, by that website review! Let us know point, it was already not that fun­ where you go to seek the lat­ ny. Lots of shows kind of end up est news, buy your stuff, or take like that. a break between problems sets. My favorite show on Chan­ Email [email protected]. nellOl is "Yacht Rock," which Channel 101 offers a wide variety of entertaining videos to watch. The videos are short dips by nsers. Ask- If we print your material, we gTrue Love tTech will pay you up to the amounts rite for listed below (at our discre­ . places) to even have a chance! tion). Email submissions to BY: DR. NATE LEWIS Q: I am a IoneIy undergrad In P.S. I found nune. where a good search 0 f my SIMou ate. How . [email protected]. d ... "'-d h ? A d hId Techer would, m the grad chem- In the second installment of this o .Il uu er. n w en 0, ist lab e eeh News $25 column, a short and sweet re­ how do :I: tell her how :I: truly ry . Features $20 sponse; is made to an actual feel? Nathan S. Lewis is the George L. Ifyou are interested in working question submitted by a Caltech A: You're asking me, a former Argyros Professor of Chemistry. He for The Tech, feel free to attend Sports $20 student. Keep emailing your ques­ Techer-Lloydie, how to find a graduated from Caltech in 1977 with our weekly meetings on Fridays Commentary $20 tions and suggested profs to us at Soul Mate while at Tech? I had to a B.S. and M.S. and is known for his from noon to IPM at the Broad [email protected]. go to grad school, at MIT (of all Ch1a class. Cafe Comics $15 Countries review the Caltech auxil­ speakers of as many lowing some advice he found on BY: HAMILTON FALK iary operations. as 18 languages. the Internet. While working for Despite the poverty A program like eKheti.com Unlike many ofthose that grad­ Caltech Venkat got in­ present in India, it is could diversify local markets and uate from Caltech, alum Parth volved in the Caltech En­ one of the most wired streamline commerce between Venkat is avoiding pure science trepreneurs' Club and with nations in the world, markets, enrich people after graduating, but still using John Howard (the club's with internet access who would lack the what he's learued in other areas. president), and Venkat very common and information to improve their situ­ He is trying to build a business as learued about a project in an initiative by the ations. well as help those for whom ac­ a class that was creating a government to install Venkat hopes to recruit Caltech cesses to technology can be a life­ farming message board in 600,000 kiosks. students and alumni to work on changing option. rural India. This is primar­ various portions of the project, Venkat runs the non-profit or­ When the class ended, ily because the Indian including things like financial ganization Growing the World, Venkat took over the proj­ department of agri­ work, product management and which attempts to create finan­ ect and founded the Grow­ culture hopes to use web design. He hopes people will cially sustainable software that ing the World nonprofit information technol­ visit the project website at www. will benefit less developed por­ organization, which he Parth Venkat is a Caltech alum starting a non­ ogy solutions to help growingtheworld.org and possi­ tions of the world. believes will not only?e profit organization that will develop software. rural India. bly contact him about joining the The company's first project, a successful NPO, but WIll One example of project. eKheti.com is an online forum­ help him enter the world of busi­ The company believes that rev­ how this information can help based community targeting ru­ ness. enues from advertising are essen­ poor farmers is the case of BT ral India. The Tech talked to this The idea of Growing the World tially unlimited, while the costs of cotton, a strain of cotton that has alumni entrepreneur about what is to take advantage of the ben­ creating effective software is very been engineered to include a pro­ The California Tech he is doing, and why he decided efits of software and technology low. tein that kills mosquitoes but is Caltech 40-58, Pasadena. CA 91125 The company's first project is harmless to humans. This crop is advertising desk: (626) 395-6154 to do it. to create a business that can help editorial e-mail: [email protected] Venkat was a double major in the citizens of poor developing eKheti, which is aimed at rural no more expensive than regular Biology and BEM, and worked nations economically and also let Indian communities, and future cotton, and has a greater potential VOLUME CVil, NUMBER 28 David Chen Chris Yn at JPL for two years, where he them become financially self sus­ projects are planned which will cotton yield, but due to lack of Jonathan Malmaud Business Manager learued about science, presenting, taining. focus on a social networking proj­ knowledge about it very few rural Jonathan Senn Chandra Barnett writing and formulating plans. He The project uses open source ect for EI Salvador, a web portal farmers use it. Co-Editors Circulation also learued that he didn't like software to streamline their mar­ for Costa Rican high schools and Another problem that is wise Gary Libman pipetting, and didn't want to con­ kets and help deliver information a global enviromental awareness spread is India is a lack of local Advisor tinue on in high level biological where it is needed. site. diversity in production. In some The eKheti program is a com­ cases there will be 50 farms in the The Tech is published weekly except dnring research. The people behind Growing the vacation and examination periods by the As­ At the same time, he enjoyed World believe that software is un­ bination of a message board and same area all producing the same sociated Stndents of the California Institute business website. It supplies use­ thing, which means that no one of Technology. Inc. The opinions expressed his BEM classes, and with men­ derdeveloped by large businesses herein are strictly those of the authors and toring by Preston McAfee (the because there are no large entry ful items like maps, information has any bargaining power and that advertisers. on agricultural methods, classi­ the local soil becomes completely Letters and submissions are welcome: e-mail BEM officer), Venkat decided he barriers to prevent competition, snbmissions to [email protected] as plain-text could would rather go into busi­ but can be utilized effectively by fieds and other tools the internet stripped of the nutrients required attachments, inclnding the author's name. can supply for rural farmers. for that crop. by Friday of the week before pnblication. ness. a small number of volunteers to The Tech does accept anonymous contribu­ After applying in several places created targeted content for peo­ The site relies on information A great success story ofa farm­ tions. The editors reserve the right to edit and from academics and American er using IT involves a man who abridge all submissions for any reason. All as a consultant and not receiving ple with few resources. written work remains property of its author. any offers that excitedhim, he was The company likens itself to non-profit organizations, as well reads on the Internet the advan­ The advertising deadline is five p.m. Friday; as user-generated content, which tages of selling emus, and thus all advertising should be snbmitted electroni­ on the edge ofaccepting a job just American websites like gap.com, cally or as camera-ready art, but The Tech can to pay the bills when he was of­ eBay or orbitz, which have used are cheap and useful for the tar­ changes his business from rais­ also do simple typesetting and arrangement. geted audience. ing chickens to raising emus. The All advertising inqniries should be directed fered a temporary job at Caltech relatively simple software to to the bnsiness manager at business@caltech. by Tom Mannion. He worked as boost commerce by making ac­ The project is aimed at people new product sells well and the edu. For snbscription infonnation, please send an analyst and consultant, and cess to information easy and ef­ without technical ,skills, low man becomes one of the wealthi­ mail to "Subscriptions." worked directly with McAfee to ficient. bandwidth and it must deal with est people in town, simply by fol- I •••

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