http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/86 Feel Smart Again Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:18:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/86/comment-page-1#comment-70 Mangesh Fri, 28 Apr 2006 15:12:47 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/?p=86#comment-70 John Green dug up this great fact about the IgNobel awards for our genius, and I thought I'd share: -- During the annual presentation of the Ig-Nobels, the crowd traditionally throws a variety of complex paper airplanes onto the stage (you’ve gotta learn to love this geek stuff if you want to be a genius!). Harvard physics professor Roy Glauber is traditionally the “Keeper of the Broom;” i.e., the guy who sweeps up the paper airplanes. But in 2005, he had to take the year off. Why? Because he was needed in Stockholm to collect a real Nobel. John Green dug up this great fact about the IgNobel awards for our genius, and I thought I’d share:
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During the annual presentation of the Ig-Nobels, the crowd traditionally throws a variety of complex paper airplanes onto the stage (you’ve gotta learn to love this geek stuff if you want to be a genius!). Harvard physics professor Roy Glauber is traditionally the “Keeper of the Broom;” i.e., the guy who sweeps up the paper airplanes. But in 2005, he had to take the year off. Why? Because he was needed in Stockholm to collect a real Nobel.

]]> http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/86/comment-page-1#comment-68 Mary Fri, 28 Apr 2006 14:07:09 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/?p=86#comment-68 That betting site is fascinating, although I have to admit I find most of the supposed nominees a little absurd (Oprah Winfrey? Bob Geldof? IKEA? Oh, wait, that's IAEA). I hadn't heard of this "Thousand Women for the Nobel Peace Prize" project before, either. If I'm reading the group's literature correctly, it is possibly the most wildly offensive thing I have ever seen. They are basically arguing that (a) women are oppressed and never rewarded for any of the good works they do and (b) therefore a thousand random women should get the medal. The first argument seems just a tad outdated. The second seems like a recipe for a catfight... and I can say that, 'cause I'd be participating. That betting site is fascinating, although I have to admit I find most of the supposed nominees a little absurd (Oprah Winfrey? Bob Geldof? IKEA? Oh, wait, that’s IAEA). I hadn’t heard of this “Thousand Women for the Nobel Peace Prize” project before, either. If I’m reading the group’s literature correctly, it is possibly the most wildly offensive thing I have ever seen. They are basically arguing that (a) women are oppressed and never rewarded for any of the good works they do and (b) therefore a thousand random women should get the medal. The first argument seems just a tad outdated. The second seems like a recipe for a catfight… and I can say that, ’cause I’d be participating.

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