Lots of interesting stuff in the news right now — so much that I don’t have time to read it all, and of the things I have read, I haven’t had time to really parse most of it.
Let’s start with good old Richard Wiseman, who is once again in the news with another of his weird studies. This time, he’s released findings that indicate younger siblings are more amusing. If you need further proof beyond what is in the article, you need look no further than me. I’m the youngest of three, and I’m possibly the most amusing person I know, which is why I spend all my time gazing into space and chuckling quietly to myself.
Skepchick reader Rav sent me this link to a New York Times story on an antisocial mathematician, Grisha Perelman, who may have solved an unsolvable conjecture about the very nature of space. From the article:
In 1960 Stephen Smale, now at the Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago, proved that it is true in five or more dimensions and was awarded a Fields Medal. In 1983, Michael Freedman, now at Microsoft, proved that it is true in four dimensions and also won a Fields.
In 1992, I proved that it is true that I’m the most amusing sibling in my family, and I won a Fields. They’re giving those things out like Courtney Love gives out syphilis.
Finally, there’s a great (yet wicked long, as we say here in Boston) article about fat, also in the New York Times. Is it gluttony? Genes? Or is it tiny bugs in your stomach, as we discussed a short while ago? The bugs are getting quite a bit of backing.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, someone brought cake to work and I need my third piece to get through the rest of the day.
Umm, that New York Times link isn't working for me… does it work for anyone else?
works for me – try this version of it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/15/science/15math….
I'm the eldest, and the funniest, and the smartest.
"Just over half of younger siblings questioned said it was easy to be humorous, compared with just a third of those who were first-born."
Ok, so this was a self-assessment. Surely the headline should have been "Younger siblings THINK they're more amusing". My daughter, the youngest, thinks its funny when she hits her brother over the head with pillow, but he doesn't think so.
I also like how the story is accompanied by names of comedians that are the youngest, ignoring any non-youngest comedians.
Did you know cancerians make the best comics?
http://tinyurl.com/mwm8f