BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006

Subject: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Emma B
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 06:06 AM

at last a cure for hiccups



http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003291381_ignobel06.html

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 06:29 AM

Well, I don't know about the hiccup cure - but the sonic teenage repellent sounds like a splendid innovation. There should be an enormous market for those.

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Wolfgang
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 07:26 AM

I'll have to find that hiccup cure article. I can imagine that a foreign finger would stop me immediately (think back how much I "like" the prostata tests), but would my own work?? I'm not curious enough to find out.

I've read that article about the teenage repellent. There is an interesting alternative mentioned there or in another article. The basic idea is the same: a "noise" that repells teenagers but not adults. They discussed opera music as a teenager repellent, but I think folk music might work as well. And those who still sit there in my experience are very nice.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 07:27 AM

We've had several of those for ages. It's called a bodhran...

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Bagpuss
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 07:54 AM

Apparently you can now get the sonic teenage repellent as a ringtone and the kids use it so that they can be alerted to calls and texts without the teacher knowing (I suppose as an alternative to vibrate).

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Paul Burke
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 07:58 AM

How do they KNOW woodpeckers don't get headaches? Do they get hiccups (I stuck my finger...)?

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Amos
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 09:11 AM

Literature: Daniel Oppenheimer, for his report "Consequences of Erudite Vernacular Utilized Irrespective of Necessity: Problems with Using Long Words Needlessly."


Damn, I wish they'd included a detailed report!



A

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 09:51 AM

yes, Amos...the intricacies of the parameters of arbitrary exploratory perusal of polysyllabic vicissitudes would indeed intrigue some of us!

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Amos
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 09:58 AM

Monadal Archetypes in a Jungian Analysis of Sesquipedalian Antidotes to Diurnal Stressors in Normalized Socio-Economic Categories

A paper well worth not writing....


A

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 10:49 AM

do you need a co-non-author? Or can you not write it all by yourself?

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Amos
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 11:16 AM

LOL!!! Most kind, but I'll just bite my own tongue, thank you.


A

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Mrrzy
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 01:07 PM

I'm still snickering about the prostata -would you like salsa with yours?

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 06:07 PM

I just gave a printout of the article to my boss, in case he needs any ideas for his after dinner remarks and before he introduces a keynote speaker at a conference we're hosting here this weekend.

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Rapparee
Date: 07 Oct 06 - 12:25 AM

These are, and have long been, the most important prizes awarded.

I especially like the concept of Little Miss Cutie Pie, eight-year-old girl who, when the speaker exceeds a certain time limit, stands up and says, "Please be quiet, you're boring me."

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Oct 06 - 04:09 AM

Oz was well represented with a paper about how many times a group photo needs to be taken to be sure that no-one blinks!

Tho our previous winner, Dr Karl can never be beaten -
Dr Karl's survey on Belly Button lint

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 07 Oct 06 - 11:52 AM

You can watch a video of the Ignobel Prize awards ceremony from their website. The group also has a "Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists," because the public digs scientists with long hair. You can apply for membership from the website if you have--or think you have--luxuriant, flowing hair. Photos of members are posted.

IgNobel Prize website

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: frogprince
Date: 07 Oct 06 - 09:00 PM

But we can't be sure about the hiccup cure until someone does a study with a treated group, an untreated group, and a group who are administered a placebo...

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Mr Red
Date: 08 Oct 06 - 08:16 AM

KY jelly at the ready --------- SIR!

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 Oct 06 - 11:05 AM

I have been able to excuse my extra photos of people at a conference I covered this weekend by citing the Ig Noble research on the number of shots required to be sure that all in the photo have their eyes open. It got some great smiles along with open eyes!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: The IgNobel Prizes 2006
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 08 Oct 06 - 11:29 PM

SRS - I wish I could pass on your research, but even tho I heard the winners intervied on our national broadcaster, there was nuffin' when I searched. Maybe they take a few days to archive?

sandra