Posted on 09/24/2006 9:41:00 AM PDT by John Jorsett
Rocket scientists, long considered the gold standard in intelligence among all professionals, are not nearly as smart as originally thought, according to a controversial new study published today by the American Association of Brain Surgeons.
The study, which appears in the organization's monthly publication, Popular Brain Surgery, is entitled "The Intelligence of Rocket Scientists: Myth Versus Reality," and suggests that rocket scientists' reputation for smartness is largely undeserved.
"It does require a superior intellect to function as a rocket scientist," the article concedes. "Having said that, though, rocket science is not brain surgery."
The article drew an immediate rebuke from a spokesperson for the American Society of Rocket Scientists, who blasted the study as "state-of-the-art pro-brain surgeon propaganda."
"As rocket scientists, we take offense at this naked attempt by a devious cabal of opportunistic brain surgeons to supplant us as the smartest people on the planet," the spokesperson said. "If rocket science is so easy, we'd like to see these so-called brain surgeons give it a try one of these days."
Professor Davis Logsdon, a University of Minnesota expert who studies the turf wars between rocket scientists and brain surgeons, said that he believes the latest controversy between the two groups has been overplayed.
"The fact of the matter is, the smartest people in the world have always been, and will always be, University of Minnesota experts," he said.
Elsewhere, after a backup punter at the University of Northern Colorado was accused of stabbing the starter in the leg, he said in his defense, "It was either that or start taking steroids."
Award-winning humorist, television personality and film actor Andy Borowitz is author of the new book "The Republican Playbook," to be published October 2006. To find out more about Andy Borowitz and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship. design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly."
Someone's been watching me for a week again? Well not the last part.
Adam Smith would strongly disagree.
"...Specialization is for insects."
I've posted that entire quotation in several of my classrooms. I love it!
I second your motion.
"And if you touch this bit, the motor nozzles move!" "Cool! Lemme try!" |
Well, that would require foreknowledge that the instructions were on the bottom of the boot...
I suggest placing additional instructions or directions on the side or top of the boot, directing the individual to the location of the instructions..
A simple equation may suffice..
What was his manner of introducing the pennies, and what was the result?
True on point one.
Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater. - Albert Einstein
generally (mathematician and former rocket scientist)
Hell, my wife coulda told you that! She reminds me every day, for cryin' out loud! ;o)
He's not only a rocket scientist....
..he's smart enough to figure out anything he needs to know....
..and that includes mechanics with the cars, or with any appliance in our home.-
--And common sense....he has tons!!
He is one of the smartest men I know, but he would be embarrassed I wrote this, as he's also humble and doesn't call attention to himself.
I balance us by being the more relational one....
It works :)
"That is an urban legend. Einstein was not bad at math. You only need to study the general theory of relativity to know that."
It's not an urban legend, actually. He was lousy at math in the primary grades. He got over it. He was still a social klutz, though, and needed help in choosing his clothing. He had as much fashion sense as I do, in fact: little to none. His parietal lobes were also about 15% larger than normal, according to the autopsy report... Had better things to do with that capacity, after all.
Oh, it's Andy Borowitz. I thought it was real at first. God that guy's funny.
Originally thought by whom?
That is sort of a mischaracterization. He performed poorly in math because he couldn't stand the rigid German school system. It is not so much that he got over it than that he was eventually able to use his mind in a less restricted sense. It wasn't through a great deal of study that he became the greatest physicist of the last century, it was because of his unique reasoning ability.
Andy Borowitz.
Not that there's anything wrong with that. But it always has annoyed me when people say of a particular task "Well it's not rocket science (or brain surgery)."
Fact is, anybody of average intelligence could become a rocket science or a brain surgeon with the proper training and dedication.
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