RECORD EXCHANGE BUILDS COMMUNITY | 3 WAKING UP FROM A DREAM | 4 THUNDER ROLLS INTO FIRST | 12 The Princeton ummer J ournal sA Publication of The Princeton University Summer Journalism Program Monday, August 9, 2010 Founded in 2002 princeton.edu/sjp INVESTIGATIVE REPORT Idling cars, buses damage environment, violate law This article was reported city traffic law that prohibits porters observed several city while awaiting passengers. improve air quality. and heart attack, the study by the staff of the Princeton idling for more than three buses in downtown Brooklyn The city’s anti-idling law, Idling cars and trucks in showed. Summer Journal and written minutes, causing adverse idling for as long as 10 min- first passed in 1971, prohibits New York City emit approxi- “In the U.S., 50,000 to by Elizabeth Gonzalez, Maria health effects and untold utes, presumably with their non-emergency vehicles from mately 130,000 tons of carbon 100,000 people die prema- V. Paredes, Franklin Lee and damage to the environment, air conditioners running, parking for longer than three dioxide per year, according to turely from air pollution each Alfonso Toro Jr. an investigation by the Princ- while bus drivers napped or minutes with their engines a study by the Environmen- year. Vehicles cause about 25 eton Summer Journal has re- talked on their cell phones in- running. The law was de- tal Defense Fund. High car- percent of these deaths,” said NEW YORK—New York vealed. side. In other instances, livery signed to reduce carbon emis- bon levels and other forms of Mark Jacobson, a professor of City public buses and liv- During one afternoon last cabs idled outside high-rise sions from vehicles operating toxins emitted by cars raise civil and environmental engi- ery cabs frequently violate a week, Summer Journal re- office buildings in Manhattan on city streets, and thereby risks for respiratory disease See IDLING page 10 RICH TUCKER AND BRIAN ROKUS :: THE PRINCETON SUMMER JOURNAL A Princeton Summer Journal investigative report in New York City on Wednesday found several vehicles, including city buses, violating traffic laws against idling for more than three minutes. The license plate above has been blurred out. ANALYSIS DINKY Decades Nation’s shortest train may stop dead in tracks By Melina Torres Princeton Junction and the considered, Bus Rapid Tran- a decision after the Regional Princeton University has later, University. Despite this his- sit (BRT), would offer addi- Planning Committee makes said that it does not have tory, community officials and tional stops, allowing passen- a recommendation. an established stance on Brawley,After 145 Calif. years in service, New Jersey Transit have gers to travel further into the “We are responding to this whether a bus or a train dusting off the nation’s shortest commut- been evaluating alternatives community and reducing the possibility since it was raised should be used. Instead, the er train may soon grind to a to “enhance and expand tran- number of commuter parking by the community,” Courtney school’s chief concern is ef- theses for halt once and for all. sit options in the Princeton spaces needed. The Princeton Carroll, New Jersey Transit ficient transportation for its Since 1865, the legend- community,” said Lee Sollow, Regional Planning Commit- spokesperson, said in an e- community. ary Dinky train has been Director of the Princeton Re- tee will meet in September to mail. “No decisions have been “I am completely neutral clues transporting passengers the gional Planning Committee. discuss the issue. New Jersey made, and the cooperative about whether we need a 2.7-mile distance between Under one option being Transit will ultimately make planning effort is ongoing.” See DINKY page 10 By Brenda Duman Brooklyn,During the N.Y. past few years, a ACROSS THE UNIVERSE WIRED MARKET FOR COLD TREATS HEATS UP string of Princeton alumni have risen to powerful seats in gov- ernment, and seemingly each Astrophysics professors For now, time, the media has turned to those Tigers’ senior theses in reach for the stars theses stay search of a window into their political souls and intellectual By Alfonso Toro Jr. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: philosophies. library- But when reporters scruti- Princeton’s nize and summarize the theses BellIt mayGardens, appear Calif. to be just bound of prospective Supreme Court a childish toy, but when Ly- guide to the justices or a First Lady, a ques- man Page blows up a beach By Paty Gutierrez tion arises: Just how much can ball, he is actually blowing galaxy really be learned about some- up a model of the universe. one from a senior thesis written An astrophysicist at Princ- By Elizabeth Gonzalez SantaIn the Maria, basement Calif. of Princ- decades earlier? eton University, Page and eton University’s Mudd “I don’t think there’s much his colleague David Spergel Library is an immense ar- value at all in digging up old se- have mapped nine years of ElLast Paso, week, Texas Princeton as- chive of documents—most nior theses in assessing current satellite research onto the trophysicists Lyman Page of which are one-of-a-kind. public officials and their quali- beach ball’s surface. For their and David Spergel sat in Rows of shelves are filled fications. After all, it’s usually phenomenal research and Spergel’s corner office in the with historical University been many years since the the- years of study, they recently planetarium on the Universi- papers that range over a sis was written,” Sean Wilentz, won the 2010 Shaw Prize and ty’s campus. Abstract colorful century. This collection a history professor at Princeton $1 million, which they will paintings by creative young includes approximately University who advised now- share with their longtime children decorated the filing 60,000 senior theses that Supreme Court Justice Elena collaborator, Charles Bennett cabinet, while a chalkboard Princeton students have Kagan ’81 on her senior thesis, of Johns Hopkins University. displayed mathematical written to graduate. In said in an email. “The universe is really equations. Next to Spergel’s light of the overwhelming And Kagan is not the only big,” Page said. But he and desk sat a treadmill that he trend of digitization that BRENDA DUMAN :: THE PRINCETON SUMMER JOURNAL Princeton graduate who recent- Spergel discovered that the walks on during conference has pervaded the world ly has had her thesis combed by easiest way to explain it is calls. After talking to Page of publishing, some have Patrons enjoy a treat at Fruity Yogurt, one of two frozen des- See THESIS page 11 See STARS page 10 See PHYSICS page 10 See DIGITIZE page 10 sert stores that have opened in Princeton. See story, page 2. Page 2 August 9, 2010 The Princeton Summer Journal BOOGIE DOWN Band takes Palmer crowd to Funkytown By Stephanie Zhou played with different bands in 43 states and 32 countries, he added. Brooklyn,Two men N.Y. were setting up Growing up, Jones listened instruments onstage on the to a lot of 1970s funk from afternoon of July 31 at Palm- musicians like Stanley Clarke er Square. They performed a and Jaco Pastorius. Playing is sound check on a guitar and “the only thing I’ve done since fiddled with wires. A glint 1987,” he said. of sunlight reflected off the Members of Big Funk have sign—“Summer Music Series been preparing to release an on the Green.” album in the fall. Their band, Big Funk, per- “Our mission is to create. A formed as part of a free con- lot of music out there is not as cert series that takes place in creative as it could be,” Jones downtown Princeton on Sat- said, adding that they often urday afternoons during July perform with a great deal of and August. improvisation. “We play some- Soon, people began pouring thing different every night.” onto the grass with picnic blan- Colleen Kraun, a cousin of kets and camping chairs. Tod- Latham, comes to the concert dlers played as their mothers series every year. “The reac- watched. tion from the people is usually Big Funk—with Karl happy,” she said. “Kids come to Latham, 49, on the drums; eat, watch the band, and eat Calvin Jones, 46, on the bass ice cream from The Bent Spoon guitar; Don Braden, 48, on the nearby.” saxophone; and Nick Rolfe, 39, As the concert got underway, on the keyboard—have toured people walking by stopped in Europe, playing funky rock, to listen. A couple paused to with a touch of dance, jazz and watch the band perform. “I live soul, they said. in New York, but we’re on va- But they have not always cation. I just thought the music played together. was relaxing,” Elizabeth Rosa- “Everyone thinks it’s like rio, 29, said. the perfect Hollywood picture, Blues fan Andy Orloski, where the same musicians 57, attends the concert series play on the same band all their annually. “Even when it was life,” said Latham as he adjust- spittin’ a little rain, all kinds ed the microphone. “No one I of people have come,” he said. BRIAN ROKUS :: THE PRINCETON SUMMER JOURNAL know in this business plays “Couples, children, friends. Band members Nick Rolfe, Calvin Jones and Karl Latham (l. to r.) play a concert at Palmer Square on July 31. Their band, Big with just one band.” Jones has . Live music—nothing better.” Funk, blends dance, soul and jazz in a largely improvisational performance. Big Funk blends disparate tastes, cultures in performance By Frances C. Richburg some nice music.” “Music is communication,” :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: A married couple on va- Jones said. “Today’s gig is a cation from California said, gig with no rehearsal.” Princeton gets funky in Palmer Square Bronx,They’ve N.Y.