A week ago, I suggested a meta-contest for The Trouble With Physics, with a copy of the book going to the person with the best suggestion of an appropriate way to give away the book. The turnout wasn't exactly overwhelming (maybe a little too abstract to really draw people in, or maybe too obviously fishing for comments-- tough to say). Anyway, I've sort of fallen down on reporting the results-- I've been busy with my actual job, and some blog time has been eaten up with getting the SAT Challenge results ready to go.
Anyway, the most notable entries are below the fold:
Honorable mention: Jenn Fallis at #10 with:
The book should go to the first person who writes lyrics for a 'physics troubles' Blues song of "Since my baby left me..." variety. (though I don't have time to take myself up on the challange just yet - maybe by Monday if I'm lucky)
(It's a good idea, but not meta enough. I'd still like to see the song...)
Third place: Chris Oakley at #17 for:
The competition should therefore be to come up with the thing or things that makes the aliens want to leave us for other universes.
I'm voting for "better government," but maybe it's a bad week for that topic.
The battle for the top two places was a tough one, with two very silly competitors. Just edged out for the top prize is cope at #21 for:
The contest should solicit the best, most accurate model of some aspect of string theory (a Riemannian manifold, a Calabi-Yau space or even a D-brane, for example) built entirely of toothpicks, gumdrops and mini-marshmallows. Extra points to be given for using appropriately colored mini-marshmallows.
But in the end, the winner is Opiwan for:
The contest should be to describe what is currently wrong with physics using The Trouble With Tribbles as an analogy. For instance, one entry could be that string theory makes nice calming cooing sounds but really has no real world application and eats up all the food, er, funding, that is available for others as it grows exponentially over time with no end in sight. Entries are to be verbal recordings with the author doing his best Captain Kirk impersonation. Bonus points for getting the intonation for "Spoooock" correct...
Why? Just for the phrase "string theory makes nice calming cooing sounds but really has no real world application." I'm picturing a blissed-out looking Ensign Redshirt listening to Jacques Distler, Clifford Johnson, and Lubos Motl chittering quietly at one another, and boy is that a weird mental image...
Anyway, Opiwan, if you really want a copy of the book, send me an email (orzelc at steelypips dot org) with a real name and a snail-mail address. If you don't want it, I'll find something else to do with it.
And I'll try to come up with something less lame for the next contest...
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You could always have a meta-meta-contest...
There really is no competing with colour appropriate mini-marshmellows or Tribbles is there ;)
Ahhhhh, always trust the Tribbles Gambit, my friends! It will never let you down... heh.
Oh, and as for the silly comment, I resemble that remark!
OK, but if Opiwan and Cope don't want the book, I'll have it - and I'll pay for the postage to the UK.
I must say, I almost didn't post an entry at all after reading the Tribbles entry, mindful as I am of the dead certain dominance of the Tribble's Gambit.
I thought to counter with the Remulac Response but recollected how even that powerful attack had failed in previous "win this Smolin book" contests ("Three Roads to Quantum Gravity" and "The Life of the Cosmos") both offered up, I believe, on the antievolution.org website.
I tip my hat to Opiwan for a game well played.