AN IGNOBLE DISTINCTION —————— by Steve Nadis
A week or so ago, I attended the 15th Annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony at Harvard and wrote two articles about the event for a prestigious science journal. The prizes offer a humorous alternative to the Stockholm variety, rewarding achievements that “make people laugh, then make them think,” but mostly make them laugh. I now have an embarrassing admission to make: I’ve attend every one of these ceremonies (and written more than 20 articles about them over the years), which puts me in very elite — and you might say incredibly nerdy — company. I am probably one of just a handful of people, including the event’s organizer, who’s been to every single one. This year prizes went to scientists who cataloged the smells produced by stressed-out frogs, calculated the internal pressures required for successful defecation in penguins, and made other mindbending breakthroughs. But what of my achievement? People often say that life is, in large measure, a matter of “just showing up.” If they’re right, one day my accomplishment might be recognized as I pick up my very own Ig Nobel Prize for Attendance. I’m already preparing my acceptance speech which, in accordance with the strict ground rules, I’ll keep to less than 60 seconds.
Posted by
at
16:13:37
I am picturing you holding up a "100% Attendance" certificate. LOL……and people in the audience grumbling that you attended some of these events while ill infecting others, etc. You know all the things we jealous people say who have never gotten a 100% attendance award. Nonetheless, I am in awe. You had to pay attention to write an article. You’re not fooling me. No sir. P.S. Some of that brilliance obviously seeped in. P.S. I’m glad you don’t have my epileptic golden retriever who is on phenobarbital (2X daily). It might just be too much temptation. Because he is a happy dog. He should be; he’s stoned all day.
OK, I obviously didn’t PROOF. I probably should have left off the P.S. or at least made the second one P.P.S.S.
Thank you, Windfall, for having the wisdom to grasp what a remarkable thing I’ve done here. You’re right about another thing too: I’m glad my kitten is not hooked on an addictive sedative. For her sake and for mine. Now I must get back to my acceptance speech.
Well, I not only showed up everyday of my life, but I was hall monitor for a good deal of it.
Hello Indigo — That’s certainly worth of a prize. We just need to think of the right category.
Steve,
How come it says "Sanders Theatre" in the prestigious science journal, although it should be "Sa_u_nders Theatre"? I worked in the LMA for seven years and I am pretty certain that a "u" is missing in the text, at least in the online version.
Just curious,
Jan
Hi Jan — Thanks for your note. I make plenty of mistakes, and spelling has never been my forte’, but in this case ("Sanders") I do believe I got it right. But thanks for keeping me on my toes all the same.
I’m really impressed. Any indication that the winners who did the penguin defecation study will be doing a follow-up study on how whether the, uh, you know, freezes before it hits the ground?
Great idea, Roses. That sounds like a prizeworthy study in itself.