Glad I'm not a scientist!

[Wit Memo Jeff]

A depressing study reported in the NY Times, from, of all place, the Czech Republic, and conducted, fittingly, by a Dr. Grim:

"According to the study, published in February in Oikos, a highly respected scientific journal, the more beer a scientist drinks, the less likely the scientist is to publish a paper or to have a paper cited by another researcher, a measure of a paper’s quality and importance."

"“I was really surprised,” said Dr. Tomas Grim, the author of the study and an ornithologist at Palacky University in the Czech Republic, who normally studies the behavior of birds, not scientists. “And I am happy to see that the relationship I found seems to be very well supported by my new observations in pubs, bars and restaurants.”

"Some scientists suggest that biologists in the Czech Republic could prove to be an anomaly, given that the country has a special relationship to beer, boasting the highest rate of beer consumption on earth."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/science/18beer.html?_r=2&ref=science&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Hmmm... beer... Czech Republic ... Dr. Grim .... How far off is April 1??

[steveh]

Yeah, Dr. Grim. Didn't his brothers write fairy tales too?

I guess all the papers and research published by brewing scientists
don't count?

S.

[guildofevil]

I suppose that explains why beer swilling Europe was responsible for so few scientific discoveries down through the centuries. No wonder so few inventions came out of countries like Britain and Germany.

[darylM]

I suppose that explains why beer swilling Europe was responsible for so few scientific discoveries down through the centuries. No wonder so few inventions came out of countries like Britain and Germany.

Germany during WWII was developing stealth aircraft. A lot of that research went into the B-2. It was on the backs of German engineers' research that got America and USSR into space.

I think the British made the tank in WWI, ending the war.

I am not trying to knock you Guild, just showing that some significant and far reaching things have developed out of Europe recently.

[steveh]

Daryl... Guild was being sarcastic.

He could have also mentioned all the recognized literary genius Ireland has wielded over the centuries... much of it fueled by the pub culture.

S.

[steveh]

Of course, I don't know if there's anything that proves Wernher Von Braun was a beer drinker or not! :confused:

S.

[darylM]

Of course, I don't know if there's anything that proves Wernher Von Braun was a beer drinker or not! :confused:

S.


DOH!!!! :eek:

I guess Guild and I need to share a few pints so I can get to know when he is being serious or not. I am no stranger to sarcasm but its harder for me to detect it when I don't know them or can't see their face.

[DecoJuicer]

I suppose that explains why beer swilling Europe was responsible for so few scientific discoveries down through the centuries. No wonder so few inventions came out of countries like Britain and Germany.

Guild,

Did you ever see the episode of Family Guy where they showed Ireland in the past? It was a VERY futuristic society and everything was high tech and advanced. Then a scientist invented beer or whiskey(I can't remember which). Immediately the whole Utopia fell right apart. Your post reminded me of it and I got a good laugh. Thanks.

[Jeff]

I think Deco is refering to this clip:

http://www.mypartypost.com/watchvideo/3030/Family_Guy-_Ireland_Before_Alcohol

[dparsons]

I participated in a scientific brainstorming meeting last week with a collection of scientists and engineers. One member of our group declared his source of inspiration at a potential solution as "two pints." The idea was welcomed by most and practiced that evening. :D

[guildofevil]

I was of course being sarcastic. To hell with German stealth aircraft, what about the printing press? The steam engine was invented in Britain, sparking the industrial revolution, which was then fuelled by coal and porter.

The point that I was trying to make was that Europe was a the forefront of scientific discovery and invention for centuries, during which time Europeans drank huge amount of beer.

[steveh]

To hell with German stealth aircraft, what about the printing press?

Movable type. The number one invention of the Second Millennium.

Did Gutenberg drink beer?

S.

[Robo]

Movable type. The number one invention of the Second Millennium.

Did Gutenberg drink beer?

S.

In 15th century Mainz he might well have been drinking wine.

[steveh]

Not like beer wasn't around...

http://www.brauerei-weihenstephan.de/

S.

[Robo]

There was plenty of beer, of course. But Mainz was founded by the Romans and it's a part of Germany where wine can be as important as beer. My point was only that it wasn't all beer all the time. Gutenberg probably drank both, possibly to excess.

[steveh]

it's a part of Germany where wine can be as important as beer.

In certain regions, but I understand the point.

S.

[SoxyinMO]

Makes me think of the WKRP episode when Venus Flytrap gets totally wasted and Dr. Johnny Fever upsets the cop by actually improving his reaction time with every drink.

[steveh]

Improves in his reactions until... something happens ...and it all hits him like a ton of bricks!

S.

Wot tha heck was it that happened..?

[SoxyinMO]

He SAW something...I'm thinking. Someone in a chicken suit, maybe? Or am I mixing episodes. It's such a drag they can't get the music rights and put that show out on video.

[steveh]

It's such a drag they can't get the music rights and put that show out on video.

I totally agree.

Boooger.

S.

[DecoJuicer]

Happy Birthday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGD891wwIss

Sorry that it's so jumpy, but it must be from a VERY old video tape.

[chazwicke]

I'm wondering now if it's because of beer that I have not invented anything? :(

[steveh]

Happy Birthday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGD891wwIss

Sorry that it's so jumpy, but it must be from a VERY old video tape.

Must'a been the Carp! ;)

S.

[dparsons]

Thanks for the WKRP post. I forgot how fun and inventive that show was. I always suspected the writers of tossing a few brews back before they started writing.

[SoxyinMO]

Must'a been the Carp! ;)

S.

Oh man! Thank you, Deco! It was the KPIG pig painting "PIG" on the lobby walls. Oh god, I haven't laughed so much in ages!