Science and Technology Medals Awarded

An anonymous reader writes "The Boston Globe is reporting that President Bush awarded science and technology achievement medals today to 15 laureates. The list of medal winners includes those who have done work that has 'revolutionized organ transplants, led to development of global positioning systems, and helped feed millions around the world.' "

And here I was hoping ...

[Daniel Dvorkin]

... to get some recognition for my ungodly half-man-half-ape mutant creation, the prototype of the human-animal hybrid super-army which will set me on the road to world conquest. But Bush pretty much put the kibosh on that a little while back.

Damn you, inconveniently timed State of the Union address! DAMN YOU!

Ah, well, no matter. I shall simply toil in obscurity a little while longer -- and then when the day comes, let the planet tremble at my name! You laughed at me! You called me mad! I'll show you! I'LL SHOW YOU ALL!

vague....

[caffeinemessiah]

From the article: Dennis P. Sullivan, City University of New York Graduate Center and State University of New York at Stony Brook, for his work in mathematics, including the creation of entirely new fields of mathematics, and uncovering unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated fields.

Seems that they're REALLY filtering the science news for the masses these days...

Blasphemy!

[garrett714]

From TFA: "--Robert N. Clayton, The University of Chicago, for his contributions to geochemistry and cosmochemistry that provided insight into the evolution of the solar system."

Blasphemy! God created the heavens in six days, it was intelligently designed (TM) from the start! Blasphemy!

Re:vague....

[strider44]

They had to find *some* way of explaining it to George Bush.

Re:Hrmmm?

[Anonymous Coward]

It's not that bad. Think of it this way:

If a Democrat had presented the awards, it would just have gone to show that Democrats are all elitist university-educated intellectuals who think they know better than the rest of us. So their career in politics would be over.

If a non-neocon Republican had presented the awards, they would have had to resign to spend more time with their families like all of the other non-neocons. So their career in politics would be over too.

If a political independent had presented the awards, nobody would care and the ability of the scientists to get adequate funding would be as low as ever. And the political independent's career in politics would already be over, by definition.

But because Bush presented the awards, there are more than the normal amount of headlines due to the irony of the awards being presented by an anti-science imbecile--and that's actually good for the scientists' ability to get adequate funding. And Bush's career in politics might be over due to the sweet merciful relief of the 22nd Amendment, should the Constitution still be around for two more years.

So, you know, look at the bright side.

Good

[tsotha]

I hope these medals were presented on the basis of some sort of reasonable criteria. Hopefully these awards will be what the Nobel prizes used to be before they became a political joke.

Re:So...

[TubeSteak]

...were these hand-picked by Bush himself or suggested to him by an advisor?

Hand picked obviously. I also have no doubt that he read their published papers too.

Bush isn't the intellectual featherweight people seem to think he is and his writings show it. He had a good run as President from '89-'93.

Oh wait... You mean Bush Jr?

National TV coverage

[OldManAndTheC++]

To underscore the importance of these awards, all three TV networks and CNN carried the presentation ceremony live, in prime time.

Viewers were momentarily startled by the appearance of flying pigs in the background, apparently rising out of a hole in the ground leading up from a frozen hell.

what?

[sulli]

no pioneers in intelligent design?

Typo

[Bob9113]

--Robert N. Clayton, The University of Chicago, for his contributions to geochemistry and cosmochemistry that provided insight into the evolution of the solar system.

I believe that's a typo - should read "insight into the intelligent design of the solar system."

Re:wait I'm confused

[I_M_Noman]

when did Republicans become the party of big spenders?

20 January 2000.