re: #204 NJDhockeyfan

Those are usually bought by collectors. I don’t see where this would be wasteful spending anyway. Those would be sold pretty quickly.

Now this is wasteful spending:

Prof Gets $700K in Stimulus Cash to Write Jokes

That’s a real good example of Intentionally Missing The Point (I just made that up, don’t fall all over yourself in awe). Here’s the part you didn’t quote:

They’re working to create programs that mimic how people think when searching for information to create original, sometimes funny, content. The goal is to teach a computer to find information based on what you are working on, where you are located and what you’re reading, among other things, without even having to ask for it. And one day, Hammond says, that type of automated content generation will replace modern search engines.

Hammond made the research proposal about humor because it’s an “interesting human dynamic” that’s attractive to very smart students who otherwise might not consider being involved in an artificial intelligence programming research project.

So far, Hammond’s group has dozens of programs in development, and they’ve filed intellectual property patent applications for some of their work. The three-year stimulus grant funds four full-time jobs, pays for equipment and provides tuition and small stipends to two graduate assistants.

Groundbreaking research? check
Attracting college students to new fields? check
Jobs? check
Creating whole new industries? Maybe.

From the first paragraph, you’d have to be pretty dense not to see how that could go far beyond “search engines” and well into the realm of “helping disabled people regain some independence”.

We’re way way way way wayyy behind the rest of the 1st world in terms of scientific literacy. This should be a source of profound national shame, but somehow it isn’t. Of all the beefs I have with the GOP and conservatives in general, their gleeful mockery, demonization, and grotesque oversimplification of scientific endeavors remains at the top of the list.