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MacArthur Foundation Announces Genius Grants

Chagasi writes: "The MacArthur Foundation has announced this year's 'Genius Grant' awards. The complete list of the 24 recipients can be read here(1) at their web site and here(2) via Google's news service. The winners include a robotics researcher from Dartmouth studying robotics, and a paleoethnobotanist from Penn State studying the ancient plants and foods of prehistoric peoples."

123 comments

  1. Google Google Google by darkov2 · · Score: 1
    via Google's news service

    Does Slashdot have a co-marketting agreement with Google perchance? This is the second reference in the last few hours...

    1. Re:Google Google Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Considering you can block the Slashdot ads via Mozilla, they need to generate revenue somehow. ;)

      Wouldn't be that bad of a deal if they were in bed with Google. The general consensus on Slashdot seems to be that Google is teh rox.

    2. Re:Google Google Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah I know, and weren't we just saying how pointless it is to link to the main page of a website? Especially if the website you should be crediting is Reuters, whose correspondent actually WROTE the damn article.

    3. Re:Google Google Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or maybe the Slashdot editors are just aware that Google have very big computers that might just be able to take a Slashdotting without waving the white flag...

    4. Re:Google Google Google by darkov2 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, like Reuters.com is going to fall over. I don't know why it's mentioned since the link is not actually via Google. Makes you wonder...

    5. Re:Google Google Google by ColaMan · · Score: 1

      I noticed that google news has linked back to slashdot about the "renewed interest in the moon" story.

      Heh, maybe we can get a front page article here about google news and see if we can get a news loop going.

      --

      You are in a twisty maze of processor lines, all alike.
      There is a lot of hype here.
  2. Re:PRIMVM POSTVM by darkov2 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Sorry bucko, but I beat your sorry arse see 4325780. Nah na na na nah.

  3. diversity by nydel · · Score: 3, Interesting

    i'm glad to see such diversity on the list of recipients; it goes from trombone improvisationalists to robotics engineers. it's good to see both linear and non-linear genius recognized by the same organization.

    1. Re:diversity by buswolley · · Score: 3, Informative
      There are quite a few types of geniuses, which cannot always be quantisized empiricly. Musical, spatial, linear, hyper-linear :) , methodic,intuitive, social interaction, etc. And there are even more, of course.

      i.e. Musical geniuses can be easily split between two groups: Those who can write good music, and those who can play it exceptionally well.(not neccessarily excluding each other).

      It is good that genius isnt just Menza members. High I.Q. doesnt quite mean genius either.. Its all what you do with your brain.

      1% inspiration, 99% perspiration (Einstein(I believe))

      --

      A Good Troll is better than a Bad Human.

    2. Re: diversity by Black+Parrot · · Score: 1


      > Musical geniuses can be easily split between two groups: Those who can write good music, and those who can play it exceptionally well.(not neccessarily excluding each other).

      Whoa - you're forgetting the fourth group: those who can do neither.

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
    3. Re:diversity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      1% inspiration, 99% perspiration (Einstein(I believe))

      Try Edison

    4. Re:diversity by buswolley · · Score: 1

      Heck maybe both of them.

      --

      A Good Troll is better than a Bad Human.

  4. One of the awarded and his work by jukal · · Score: 3, Informative
    Daniel Jurafsky, 39, a University of Colorado linguist and computer scientist improving computers' capability of processing natural language.

    His homepage, and research on Speech Recognition and Understanding and Computational Psycholinguistics . They have for example designed a discourse tagging system, in 1997.

    1. Re:One of the awarded and his work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    2. Re:One of the awarded and his work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Karma whore. Why don't you just suck taco's dick and be done with it?

      I hate the 2 minute post timer. I hate it again.

    3. Re:One of the awarded and his work by jukal · · Score: 2
      >Karma whore. Why don't you just suck taco's dick and be done with it?

      That SWBD tagged: fp, ad.

    4. Re:One of the awarded and his work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So what you are really saying is that all of this can be found at some university . How freaking clever! But as the man suggested you have to post it in such a way to increase ones karma and bragging right.

    5. Re:One of the awarded and his work by jukal · · Score: 2
      >So what you are really saying is that all of this can be found at some university [colorado.edu].

      No, what I am really saying, that the stuff that he has concentrated his research on is quite interesting, if you happen to develop anything related to the area. Apparently you could use some of the research results as well.

  5. You don't say? by plastik55 · · Score: 5, Funny
    The winners include a robotics researcher from Dartmouth studying robotics, and a paleoethnobotanist from Penn State studying the ancient plants and foods of prehistoric peoples.


    Among the other nominees I see we have a seismologist studying earthquakes, a historian studying history, and a novelist writing books.

    --

    I have a positive modifier on Troll. When I mod someone Troll their karma should go UP!

    1. Re:You don't say? by EmagGeek · · Score: 1
      A seismologist does not only study earthquakes. A novelist may not only write books. The robotics researcher may have been studying ancient Egyptian basket-weaving techniques and made profound and insightful discoveries thereof to win the award.

      Ok, I have to give you the robotics researcher.. ;p

    2. Re:You don't say? by EllisDees · · Score: 1

      Straight from the department of redundancy department...

      --
      -- Give me ambiguity or give me something else!
    3. Re:You don't say? by Suppafly · · Score: 2

      Unfortunately, there isn't one for an editor that does editing..

    4. Re:You don't say? by hitzroth · · Score: 1

      What they need is a network administrator who knows how to deal with the slashdot effect better than "service unavailable."

      --
      In mathematics, one does not understand things, one merely gets used to them.
      --VonNeumann
    5. Re:You don't say? by spiedrazer · · Score: 1
      I'm glad I checked to see if someone had already pointed this out before posting. I wouldn't want to be redundant!

      --
      Keep passing the open windows...
  6. Hey, they forgot me! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I signed the check, where's the goods?

  7. Google's cache... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Googles Cache is smarter than that! jeeze! =P

  8. Re:wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't think you are up for that geinus grant, Mr. confuckis.

  9. Re:wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    stopit you're turning me on igor

  10. Does a Genius Grant translate into success? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Diversity is great, but the Genius grant selection always strikes me as a bit eccentric. Certainly they don't all fit the traditional "genius" profiles. For example:

    An artist working in three dimensions with glass beads (Lou)
    --wow, beads with 3 whole dimensions?

    A molecular ecobiologist studying bacterial communication (Bassler)
    --I think Gary Larson has this one covered ...

    A journalist chronicling tales of those left behind or left out (Boo)
    --hasn't this been done many times over?

    Does anyone know whether Genius Grant recipients tend to distinguish themselves above their artistic/scientific peers later in their careers? Or do they just fade back into obscurity?

    1. Re:Does a Genius Grant translate into success? by nydel · · Score: 1

      i'm sure that nearly all of them succeed, and a large ammount of them probably distinguish themselves above their peers. the macarthur program is very picky about the recipients of the genius grant. the "geniuses" they pick have demonstrated extraordinary abilities in their area. these abilities alone would be enough for their success. the grant is meant to hopefully help them take whatever it is that they do to a new level.

    2. Re:Does a Genius Grant translate into success? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You know, ellipses are supposed to have three dots. If you want to be a Nazi about it, be sure your grammar is in check, cockgobbler.

    3. Re:Does a Genius Grant translate into success? by TheScienceKid · · Score: 1

      I think you'll find that is ellipsis not ellipses, the latter being an oval. Oh, and I don't like your tone.

      exit TheScienceKid.

    4. Re:Does a Genius Grant translate into success? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I was referring to the plural form of ellipsis, fucktard. Here's some proof. From the entry:
      Inflected Form(s): plural ellipses
      Now don't you feel smarter? Dumbass.
    5. Re:Does a Genius Grant translate into success? by Raiford · · Score: 3, Informative
      Well at least one recipient continues to distinguish himself --> Steven Wolfram

      Here's the reference to the Genius Award:

      http://www.stephenwolfram.com/about-sw/interviews/ 81-nyt/

      --
      "player 4 hit player 1 with 0 stroms"
    6. Re:Does a Genius Grant translate into success? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you'd be surprised at what "A molecular ecobiologist studying bacterial communication" actually does, you poohead

  11. cowboy neal? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    damnit they forgot the cowboy neal option!

  12. news.google.com.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ..fvcking owns! hell, i might even replace slashdot as my startup page.

    Yes, im a news junkie.

  13. Food of our ancestors... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They ate brontoburgers and drank cactus juice, you fucking twit.

  14. Parent is a pussy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What kind of a cockgobbler replies to a failed first post to rub it in that he has the FP? Logged-in even!

    1. Re:Parent is a pussy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      ... who replies to a failed first post to rub it in...
      That should be "that rubs it in", scatfucker.
    2. Re:Parent is a pussy by darkov2 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Yeah the dangers of cut and paste. Now that you've cured the world of bad grammar you can get back to exploring your mother's anal passage with your penis, cuntface.

      And, unlike you, I don't give a fuck about Karma you arse kisser.

    3. Re:Parent is a pussy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you don't give a fuck about karma, why did you post anonymously above? I sure must have offended you, since you unmasked yourself. You did the equivalent of taking off your gloves in a half-assed attempt to take me on. LOL

    4. Re:Parent is a pussy by EvilSuggestions · · Score: 4, Funny
      First wipe your mouth becasue you've still got your mother's shit on your lips ... I have the courtesy to not effect anothers, you brain dead shiteater.

      I had been wondering how the MacArthur folks can so astutely tell the difference between geniuses and the rest of us, but perhaps it's not that challenging.

      --
      "There is a thin line between ignorance and arrogance, and only I have managed to erase that line." - Dr. Science
    5. Re:Parent is a pussy by darkov2 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      OK, so I might not be so bright, but at least I have a sense of humour. Also you've got to read my comments in context, if you read the whole thread you'll see that I was mearly having a little go at some silly troll. And I was in bad mood ealier this evening (I feel strangely better now). I'm actually a really sweet, sesitive, sympathetic guy. So have you got that through your concrete encased, malformed, unprocessed sewage filled skull you sheep fucking twat? (-: Only kidding :-)

    6. Re:Parent is a pussy by Alsee · · Score: 2

      I had been wondering how the MacArthur folks can so astutely tell the difference between geniuses and the rest of us, but perhaps it's not that challenging.

      Huh?

      --

      Disclaimer:
      Handle with care. This post may contain humor. Not intended for children under three. Do not moderate in or near water. If you experience confusion consult your doctor immediately.


      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    7. Re:Parent is a pussy by fantastic · · Score: 1
      Seems to be prove that really is a thin line between genius and madness.

      an artist in Los Angeles who creates large but delicate drawings in wax, oil and pencil... could so easily turn into an artist who creates drawings out of ear wax, chewing gum and red crayon

  15. yea and....? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    who cares. not me. not you. once again, i pity any poor sap who actually "donates" money to slashdot and signs up for a PREMIUM ACCOUNT! WOWEE!

    poor fucks.

  16. YOUR PENIS IS IN MY SOUP, SIR by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  17. MY APOLOGIES, PLEASE LICK IT CLEAN. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    HOSER.

  18. Geniuses don't do this... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sometimes you can just feel a little bit silly.

    http://www.minca.cz/suzuki/

  19. peliethtono%toboedonist by Sivar · · Score: 2

    The winners include [...] a paleoethnobotanist from Penn StateHe should get another grant just for being able to pronounce his field of study. :)

    --
    Computer Science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes. --E. W. Dijkstra
    1. Re:peliethtono%toboedonist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That wasn't funny. Bugger off you fucking simpleton.

    2. Re:peliethtono%toboedonist by unicron · · Score: 2

      Bugger, huh? Fish and chips the order of the day?

      --
      Finally, math books without any of that base 6 crap in them.
    3. Re:peliethtono%toboedonist by gene_tailor · · Score: 1

      Uh, she, actually...

      --
      It also occurs to me that if one was drowning, yelling "Help! I'm drowning and I lost my bikini top" would probably be m
  20. I INSIST THAT YOU REMOVE YOUR CROOKED COCK AT ONCE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  21. Mod me up pls by Heynow21 · · Score: 0

    I would like to nominate CowboyNeal for a Beowulf cluster of McArthur grants for his work in journalizing Linux and the GPL. PS - Down with Microsoft!

  22. OT: Google News by mshiltonj · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Google News, in just a couple days, has firmly established itself as the standard-bearer of news online. Two (The one you're reading and this one) of the last four slashdot articles have referenced Google News.

    Two of the the recent /. articles (This one again, and this one) where at the top of the Google News SciTech section when they were posted to /.

    Google News seems to find the good stories and push them to the top *really* fast. I see myself relying on them more and more.

  23. WAIT A SEC, ARE YOU A GOAT FUCKER? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  24. Don't bother applying by serutan · · Score: 2

    I heard this guy Knight has it locked up.

  25. There is no diversity!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    On the whole list of "geniuses," there are only four minorities on there! The whole list is a total whitewash.

    The MacArthur Foundation is racist to the core. The white people should be stripped of their awards, and the awards must be given to the real genius inventors of our multicultural society: blacks, asians, arabs, and latinos -- not whites!

    The most prestigious award should be given to Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe for his revolutionary actions in uniting the workers against the white ruling class.

    1. Re:There is no diversity!!! by buswolley · · Score: 3, Insightful
      As others have pointed out there are fewer "minorities" on the list. However we must make the distinction between a genius, and a genius who 'does'something. There probably is as many 'natural' geniuses in every minority group, but fewer geniuses in the groups manage to do something about it because of the social conditions in which they are raised.

      Ie. There are few major women scientists from the renasiance.[sp?] This is not because they are dumber. Its because the culture didn't allow them to discover the genius inside them, and go out and do something about it.

      C'mon slashdotters.. this is simple logic ,no?

      --

      A Good Troll is better than a Bad Human.

    2. Re:There is no diversity!!! by doormat9 · · Score: 1

      Could this have been meant in humor?
      I hope so, for the sake of your soul/karma (and who can tell the difference these days *B.S.E. Grin*).
      If one (you) bothers to look at the current recipients, one (you) will be hard pressed to find an undeserving award.

      The truth: If you choose to perceive/dedicate yourself as an emmisary for your race/ethnicity, then the greatest good you can do is to excel at your chosen field, and show the world at large that you/_others_like_you_ can do well in said field.

      The wise path is to rise above/beyond racial/cultural ambitions and make yourself noteworthy. Do, and you will be noted.

      To get WAY off-topic (even more than [parent] post, _IFYOUCANBELIEVE_), I myself have risen from 'white trash' to become a relatively respectable member of modern society. If you can't rise above the expectations of your environment, what are you but a slave to the LOCAL_MACHINE?

      To be way too serious for a moment, shouldn't anyone with any business posting to this site' be on the same team?

      --
      hmm
    3. Re:There is no diversity!!! by mochan_s · · Score: 1

      Of course, you are assuming that "geniuses" are born and not made, which I think is a big assumption.

    4. Re:There is no diversity!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This HAS to be meant in jest...

      Look at what mugabe is actually doing: beating the snot out of his own (black) people, rigging elections, torture, rape gangs, general pillage and plunder.

      All that, plus when you say he's "uniting the workers against the white ruling class" what you actually mean is he's kicking white farmers out of the country (by force). Now, while there may be some justification for taking back land that was seized from native africans, the timing is a little off.

      And what I mean by that is this: ZIMBABWE IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING A KILLER FAMINE... and who are the only people in that dry, ravaged, country actually producing food? THE FARMERS.

      So you can see where kicking the farmers out of the country _just_might_ be a bad idea.

    5. Re:There is no diversity!!! by Suppafly · · Score: 2

      Thats the old nature vs nurture debate.. no one with much common sense puts all their eggs in either basket, as the obvious truth is that both nature and nurture play strong parts in ones development and socialization

  26. Liza Lou by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Check her out, she's a hottie!

    1. Re:Liza Lou by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      She's alright. Pretty eyes, but what's with the adam's apple?

  27. You don't say... by Cl1mh4224rd · · Score: 1
    The winners include a robotics researcher from Dartmouth studying robotics [...]
    Of all the crazy things for a robotics researcher to study. He's wasting his talent I'll tell ya.
    --
    People will pass up steak once a week, for crap every day.
    1. Re:You don't say... by joe52 · · Score: 1

      He's wasting his talent I'll tell ya.

      No way for you to know this, but that robotics researcher is a she.

    2. Re:You don't say... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      hi joe

      mooooooooooo

  28. Let's try that again, shall we...? by Cl1mh4224rd · · Score: 1
    The winners include a robotics researcher from Dartmouth studying robotics [...]
    Of all the crazy things for a robotics researcher to study. He's wasting his talent I'll tell ya.

    (That'll teach me to use 'Preview'... Ok, I'm lying.)

    --
    People will pass up steak once a week, for crap every day.
    1. Re:Let's try that again, shall we...? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't see what was wrong with your first post, unless you posted in Extrans. Perhaps you encountered a bug?

    2. Re:Let's try that again, shall we...? by Cl1mh4224rd · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I did chose Extrans, which is why my [blockquote] and [i] tags showed. St00pid me. :o)

      --
      People will pass up steak once a week, for crap every day.
  29. Mmm robots. by pyman · · Score: 0

    Q: Why did the robot turn into a ghost?
    A: Because he couldn't rust in peace.

    --
    a ^= b; b ^= a; a ^= b;
  30. Tux the Linux Penguin, Dead at 5 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I just heard some sad news on talk radio - Linux mascot Tux the Penguin was found dead in his Antarctic home this morning. There weren't any more details. I'm sure everyone in the Slashdot community will miss him - even if you didn't enjoy his work, there's no denying his contributions to popular culture. Truly an Open-Source icon.

  31. Re:GoogDot doesn't sound SO good. by buswolley · · Score: 1
    How would we ever **really** know if Slashdot sold out? ie: to Google ??

    Reputation can conceal new realities. Blind Loyalty to /. is like any other Blind Loyalty.

    The fact is, we need /. because it is the tool where people can speak their mind to the masses. Amazing meme distribution. Amazing freedom.

    But, the general subjects that are given to us to discuss, are controlled by the few who run /. They have the power to direct the flow; the focus. And if that power is influenced by business agreements, ie. GOOGLE, then I believe the ethics of the /. community is violated.

    --

    A Good Troll is better than a Bad Human.

  32. How ironic. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How ironic, considering Google runs off of a Windows 2000 cluster.

  33. Clearly, the white race is superior by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The reason no one else got the awards is because white is the master race, you can accept that or not, i really don't care, because if you piss off the white people, you'll get your ass kicked. We own the world, deal with it.

    1. Re:Clearly, the white race is superior by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Please wipe the shit off your mouth before you speak. It really stinks.

  34. Google Images Shows Genuis Drawings by deathcow · · Score: 4, Informative

    Toba Khedoori's Drawings. She is one of the chosen.

  35. They're "Fellows" by BrianWCarver · · Score: 5, Informative

    From the FAQ about MacArthur Fellows:
    Q. Why does the program not use the term "genius" regarding its Fellows?

    A. We avoid using the term "genius" to describe MacArthur Fellows because it connotes a singular characteristic of intellectual prowess. The people we seek to support express many other important qualities: ability to transcend traditional boundaries, willingness to take risks, persistence in the face of personal and conceptual obstacles, capacity to synthesize disparate ideas and approaches.
    So calling them "Genius Grants" is apparently not quite right.

    Brian
    --
    Like Digital Freedoms? Then donate to EFF before they're gone.
    1. Re:They're "Fellows" by Suppafly · · Score: 2

      So calling them "Genius Grants" is apparently not quite right.


      Its not pc anymore.. I believe they were originally called that and then later with it became unpc to say such things, they changed it.

  36. Woo hoo, arxiv.org founder wins big by phr2 · · Score: 5, Informative
    Paul Ginsparg is a great choice for receiving an award. His arxiv.org server has had a huge impact on scientific publishing by distributing papers for free online. The Slashdot story The Future of Scientific Publishing describes some of that impact. Arxiv.org has been doing for math and science papers what the FSF has been doing for software.

    Way to go, Macarthur Foundation!

    1. Re:Woo hoo, arxiv.org founder wins big by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hehe.

      He actually wrote some great papers on string theory (his Les Houches lectures on Applied Conformal FIeld Theory paper is one of the most well used, and strangely not available in his own arXiv), but his last papers were written in 93. After that, like a prof here said, he went bad and spent too much time on the net.

      Oh by the way, Los Alamos thought he was not good enough so he left and joined Cornell.

  37. about genius by __aahlyu4518 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Genius is often recognized only after the person that contained and displayed that genius has passed away... I think that is true because they forgot ME.... AGAIN !

    1. Re:about genius by Myco · · Score: 2

      So... are you saying you want... help? Being, uh, recognized?

  38. Grants for open source developers by thodu · · Score: 1, Interesting

    How can we lobby these Foundations to give grants to leading open source people like Larry Wall or Linus ? People who are much more than just good programmers but visionaries in their own right.

    1. Re:Grants for open source developers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Stallman won a MacArthur award.

    2. Re:Grants for open source developers by velco · · Score: 1
      How can we lobby these Foundations to give grants to leading open source people like Larry Wall or Linus ? People who are much more than just good programmers but visionaries in their own right.


      "Just For Fun" a vision ?
    3. Re:Grants for open source developers by WolfWithoutAClause · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Richard Stallman won one of these a few years ago; and he well deserved it too. Without the GPL or the toolset he created Linux would probably have languished in obscurity like Minix did.

      --

      -WolfWithoutAClause

      "Gravity is only a theory, not a fact!"
    4. Re:Grants for open source developers by buswolley · · Score: 1

      because they might give it to Bill Gates instead.. uggh. Does great evil = Genius?

      --

      A Good Troll is better than a Bad Human.

    5. Re:Grants for open source developers by selan · · Score: 3, Informative
      Tim Berners-Lee got one.

      But if you want to lobby, good luck. The Macarthur process is set up to prevent lobbying. The nominees are secretly chosen by a secret group of nominaters drawn from a diverse group of people noted in their fields. The best way to get a Macarthur grant is to be known in your field for doing good, interesting work. So I think that Linus or Larry Wall actually have a good chance to get one, one of these years.

  39. Probably? PROBABLY? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There probably is as many 'natural' geniuses in every minority group, but fewer geniuses in the groups manage to do something about it because of the social conditions in which they are raised.

    PROBABLY? In addition to your blatant neanderthal cultural insensitivity, bashing their "social conditions," you are saying that all racial groups are PROBABLY not equal in the number of geniuses?

    Wake up, workers of the world. The only reason minorities don't win the majority of prestigious awards is the RACISM of the white ruling class and people like the MacArthur Foundation!

    You, sir, are a racist right out of Nazi Germany. Hitler would be proud of you, and I hope you die.

    Justice for Mumia. Solidarity with Mugabe.

  40. Good by Alexander · · Score: 1

    Perhaps this will mean less funding for "All (Leftist) Things Considered".

    --
    "oohhh... I didn't know Schopenhauer was a philosopher!" ..."uhhh yeah, he's the one that begins with
    1. Re:Good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree.

      The NPR station here in NYC is just a bunch of pro-israel zionist propoganda.

      It's pretty disgusting.

  41. ewww, to old for me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    dog

  42. lame by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    oh ya lets give 500,000 bucks to some bitch for arranging glass beads in "new and exiting" ways...

    blah.

    This whole thing is just welfare for "eccentric" ruling class people who instead of becoming a senator or CEO decided to do some wacky crap so their family pulls some strings and ...

  43. What a great award ;-) by WolfWithoutAClause · · Score: 2
    The Foundation neither requires nor expects specific projects from individual Fellows, nor does it ask for reports on how the money is used.

    Oh what a great award ;-)

    Something tells me these award wouldn't necessarily be used for the kind of projects they might be expecting. "Well first I had a supermodel, then one of the Superbabes then..." ;-)

    Then again maybe this is a kind of reverse eugenics; perhaps this IS what it's for. e.g. Richard Stallman got a girlfriend after winning this...

    --

    -WolfWithoutAClause

    "Gravity is only a theory, not a fact!"
  44. 3D Art with Glass Beads by SanLouBlues · · Score: 2

    I would be much more impressed if a 2d glass bead were made. No depth to the beads would be mind-boggling and so much . . . deeper I guess.

  45. Kinda looks like "genius" survivor... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    (the subject says it all...)

  46. American Geniuses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    This is like the Nobel prize only being given to Swedes, rather parochial if you ask me

    1. Re:American Geniuses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      These people aren't anywhere near nobel prize level.

      The term "genius" is used extremely loosely.

      Basically anyone from an ivy league school who couldn't get a real job after graduation so they fucked around doing so whisy washy artsy fartsy crap is elligible.

  47. This is more my speed ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now here's a hottie. If only she'd crack a smile ...

  48. Richard Harris - MacArthur's Park by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Spring was never waiting for us, girl
    It ran one step ahead
    As we followed in the dance
    Between the parted pages and were pressed,
    In love's hot, fevered iron
    Like a striped pair of pants

    CHORUS
    MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
    All the sweet, green icing flowing down...
    Someone left the cake out in the rain
    I don't think that I can take it
    'cause it took so long to bake it
    And I'll never have that recipe again
    Oh, no!

    I recall the yellow cotton dress
    Foaming like a wave
    On the ground around your knees
    The birds, like tender babies in your hands
    And the old men playing checkers by the trees

    CHORUS

    There will be another song for me
    For I will sing it
    There will be another dream for me
    Someone will bring it
    I will drink the wine while it is warm
    And never let you catch me looking at the sun
    And after all the loves of my life
    After all the loves of my life
    You'll still be the one.

    I will take my life into my hands and I will use it
    I will win the worship in their eyes and I will lose it
    I will have the things that I desire
    And my passion flow like rivers through the sky.
    And after all the loves of my life
    After all the loves of my life
    I'll be thinking of you
    And wondering why.

    MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark
    All the sweet, green icing flowing down...
    Someone left the cake out in the rain
    I don't think that I can take it
    'cause it took so long to bake it
    And I'll never have that recipe again
    Oh, no!
    Oh, no
    No, no
    Oh NO!!

  49. Sheesh by MxTxL · · Score: 4, Funny

    The winners include a robotics researcher from Dartmouth studying robotics, and a paleoethnobotanist from Penn State studying the ancient plants and foods of prehistoric peoples."

    Ok, i can see why they would need to tell us what a robotics researcher does, but sheesh, who in the world doesn't know what a paleoethnobotanist does??

  50. Uncommon Genius by spiel · · Score: 2, Interesting

    An interesting book I read a few years back - Uncommon Genius by Denise Shekerjian. She interviewed a number of the MacArthur Foundation winners to try to determine what makes a genius.

    What she found was that none of the winners could imagine doing anything else.... they did what they did out of love for their field.... and that they had all been doing it for a long, long time, day in and day out, just doing their work. Even the youngest winner she interviewed -- who I think was a linguist in his 20's -- had been studying languages since he was 6 years old.

    Also some interesting background on the MacArthurs and the Foundation if I recall.....

    --

    The fundamental nature of the ordinary man is to go on out and do the best you can. -- John Prine
  51. Excellent book by selan · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Uncommon Genius: How Great Ideas Are Born by Denise G. Shekerjian

    This is a great book about the Macarthur fellows and the fellowship program, and about creative thinking in general. It contains a series of interviews with forty fellows and tries to understand how they get their ideas.

    Anyone want to write a /. review?

  52. Someone's missing by DuctTape · · Score: 2

    Where's Al Gore?

    --
    Is this thing on? Hello?
  53. Who John MacArthur was by Animats · · Score: 2
    Very few people know who John MacArthur was. He made his money selling life insurance by mail. Considered a very shady operator, his company was prohibited from operating in several states, and was notorious for not paying claims. At one point, his insurance company was down to a net worth of $4. Yes, four dollars. MacArthur introduced the use of big newspaper ads to sell insurance, which previously was sold by insurance agents on commission.

    His biography, The Stockholder, by William Hoffman, is forgotten and out of print, but was one of the best business books of 1968. The Library of Congress has a copy.

    He set up the MacArthur Awards scheme in his will the way he did to annoy people. (The Skipper probably said "piss people off"; he was that kind of guy.) He thought the other big foundations were too establishment-oriented, and giving money to people outside the academic establishment, and not through it, was intended to annoy academia.

  54. Making the world a better place? by ccnull · · Score: 1
    I am alternately amused, baffled and disgusted:

    Over the lifetime of the Macarthur Grant,

    12 people have won in the category of DANCE, while 11 people have won in the category of PUBLIC HEALTH

    Dance, genius, dance!

    chrisnull.com - read my book, Half Mast - filmcritic.com - New Architect

  55. Geography of the Selections by kninja · · Score: 1

    Did anyone notice how the nominators all seem to be in New England or California?

    I saw one CO, TN, and MI. That's all. 4 from NY, 8 from CA, 8 From New England, (Not NY).

    There are talented people everywhere, these folks were just in the right place at the right time.

    Go Luck!

  56. Diversity and shit by Myco · · Score: 2
    Hmmm, I dunno, I dunno. Some of these people are really impressive, and it is good to see recognition for excellence vastly different fields. But I have to wonder whether they're being so careful to avoid focusing too much on traditional targets for awards (e.g. scientists) and finding people like the bead lady instead. Now, the world needs its bead ladies, no doubt. But as someone pointed out, when a foundation has given out more awards for dance than for medicine, you've got to wonder whether they're really accomplishing the most social worth with their power. What I'm getting at is that there seems to be a bit of self-congratulatory, "look how enlightened we are for recognizing the bead ladies of the world"-ness going on.

    Not to pick on the bead lady... that's kind of cool, actually. But you see my point, I hope.

  57. I lost again??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How in the HELL can they fail to see my genius? Oh well, back to Cartoon Network...

  58. UpClose is going to interview then tonight by Mike+McCune · · Score: 2

    It's on ABC after Nightline. I'm setting my Tivo for it.

    "Genius is perhaps something one is born with. Creativity is something I
    think which requires effort."
    --Daniel Socolow, director MacArthur Fellows Program

    It's a cross between the Publishers Clearinghouse Prize Patrol and that
    classic television show "The Millionaire," where a man comes to your home
    and presents you with a check for $1 million. Suddenly and without
    warning, you receive a call that makes you $500,000 richer. But you
    haven\222t entered a contest. You've been secretly nominated and then
    selected as a MacArthur Fellow.

    For this year's 24 winners, ranging in age from 29 to 60, the news came
    both as a shock and in strange ways. Photographer Camilo Jose Vergara was
    shopping for a mattress when he retrieved a message on his cellphone that
    the MacArthur Foundation President was looking for him. Vergara began
    photographing the World Trade Center towers in 1970 with the construction cranesbehind them. Today, his exhibition of World Trade Center photographs is
    at the New York Historical Society.

    He's one of the new crop of MacArthur Fellows correspondent Michele Norris
    will introduce you to this evening on UpClose. She'll profile seven of
    the winners, including Liz Lerman of Takoma Park, Md., an
    award-winning choreographer; George Lewis, a LaJolla, Calif. jazz
    trombonist and composer at the University of California, San Diego; Liza Lou, a
    +California artist who turns glass beads into something extraordinary; New York+documentary filmmaker Stanley Nelson who picks historical African-American
    +subjects for his spotlight; Daniela Rus, an associate professor at Dartmouth
    +who works with robots that can change their shape; and Brian Tucker, a Palo
    +Alto seismologist who works to minimize damage from natural disasters in
    +developing countries.

    What these and the other 17 MacArthur Fellows have in common is a sudden
    infusion of cash -- $100,000 each year for the next five years -- to
    pursue their creative interests or whatever they choose. There are no
    strings attached.

    They've been nicknamed the Genius Awards. But Daniel Socolow, the
    director of the MacArthur Fellows Program tells UpClose: "The true genius
    is that the awards are designed to remind us that once a year that
    extraordinary talent can be found anywhere."

    Richard Harris
    Senior Producer
    Nightline UpClose

    -----------
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    --

    In a world that is Free and Open, who needs Windows and Gates?

  59. Last Post! by alpg · · Score: 1

    Microsoft Corp., concerned by the growing popularity of the free 32-bit
    operating system for Intel systems, Linux, has employed a number of top
    programmers from the underground world of virus development. Bill Gates stated
    yesterday: "World domination, fast -- it's either us or Linus". Mr. Torvalds
    was unavailable for comment ...
    -- Robert Manners, rjm@swift.eng.ox.ac.uk, in comp.os.linux.setup

    - this post brought to you by the Automated Last Post Generator...