tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post115877482721832301..comments2024-02-15T23:41:36.425-08:00Comments on SIMPLY WAIT: A GREAT DAY FOR BRAINIACS EVERYWHEREPatry Francishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10961915797919017179noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1159302825091099032006-09-26T13:33:00.000-07:002006-09-26T13:33:00.000-07:00gerry: I'll nominate you if you nominate me. Deal?...gerry: I'll nominate you if you nominate me. Deal?Patry Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10961915797919017179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1159195386648202642006-09-25T07:43:00.000-07:002006-09-25T07:43:00.000-07:00I used to ride the school bus in a rural area. The...I used to ride the school bus in a rural area. The kids with little above the eyebrows loved derisively calling me "Einstein." I don't know where they ended up, but I've enjoyed life of study, reading, and learning, and don't need a financial award to improve on that--not that somebody isn't welcome to forward a large grant!<BR/>Enjoy your weblog.gerry rosserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06095232815291651669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1159163456097851272006-09-24T22:50:00.000-07:002006-09-24T22:50:00.000-07:00coll: That's one great thing about getting older: ...coll: That's one great thing about getting older: you never have to go back to eighth grade. At least, I hope not.Patry Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10961915797919017179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1159158558866199352006-09-24T21:29:00.000-07:002006-09-24T21:29:00.000-07:00There is nothing easy about being in the eighth gr...There is nothing easy about being in the eighth grade. <BR/><BR/>The MacArthur Grants sound wonderful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1158883256039167232006-09-21T17:00:00.000-07:002006-09-21T17:00:00.000-07:00Paris: Yes! That's one of the aspects I most admir...Paris: Yes! That's one of the aspects I most admire, AND they those George Saunders--one of my favorite short story writers.Patry Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10961915797919017179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1158878499091635532006-09-21T15:41:00.000-07:002006-09-21T15:41:00.000-07:00I admire the MacArthur grants too - seem to be muc...I admire the MacArthur grants too - seem to be much more democratic in their distribution, without regard to age, creed, profession, etc.paris parfaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05457437124988976587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1158877153332714512006-09-21T15:19:00.000-07:002006-09-21T15:19:00.000-07:00been trying to comment here. what's wrong with blo...been trying to comment here. what's wrong with blogger?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1158851651514637862006-09-21T08:14:00.000-07:002006-09-21T08:14:00.000-07:00curmudgeon: I agree it's the ultimate fantasy. A n...curmudgeon: I agree it's the ultimate fantasy. A nice half million, which is a manageable sum, not some of the crazy numbers that the lotto awards--and recognition for your brilliance all at once.Patry Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10961915797919017179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1158850489001504022006-09-21T07:54:00.000-07:002006-09-21T07:54:00.000-07:00lorna: Isn't it?marja-leena: My only quibble--what...lorna: Isn't it?<BR/><BR/>marja-leena: My only quibble--what, no bloggers? However, I wouldn't be surprised if one or two didn't show up on the list next time. I can think of a few on my own sidebar who qualify, both in making a contribution, and displaying their own brand of genius.<BR/><BR/>tinker: Definitely--and hopefully, the money will help them bring some of their ideas to fruition. However, I love the fact that nothing is required. <BR/><BR/>bernita: I suppose it's true that even a bad review, or one that misunderstands both the work and the writer still "gets the word out." <BR/><BR/>The worst review I ever read was Michiko Kakutani's take on Jonathan Franzen's latest. Talk about an evisceration! But it probably only added to his sales...<BR/><BR/>r: Thanks, dear.<BR/><BR/>alexandra: I suspect that those "knowledge gaps" are common in anyone who focuses intently on their field of interest; and I'd be willing to bet that most of the MacArthur fellows would admit to the same thing.Patry Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10961915797919017179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1158849761930246842006-09-21T07:42:00.000-07:002006-09-21T07:42:00.000-07:00I used to be called a brainiac, too -- unfortunate...I used to be called a brainiac, too -- unfortunately for me, I grew out of it.<BR/><BR/>You're very generous in your attitude toward the MacArthur genius grantees.<BR/><BR/>But there's a part of me that's so, <I>so jealous</I>: It's an even better fantasy than winning the Lotto. To win Lotto you need blind, dumb luck. Like the Lotto, the MacArthur award takes care of your financial worries -- but, even more, you are publicly held up as a "genius." <I>*sigh*</I>The Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14723009641287783218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1158849072664252892006-09-21T07:31:00.000-07:002006-09-21T07:31:00.000-07:00Why have I never heard of this grant before? What ...Why have I never heard of this grant before? What a wonderful opportunity it sounds like, not that I'd win. I'm teased about my lack of apparently everyday gaps in my knowledge cap. For example, until last year or the year before, I didn't know who the Loch Ness monster was. I'm still hassled about it by a couple friends!Alex Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02109059018269508607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1158840176898384832006-09-21T05:02:00.000-07:002006-09-21T05:02:00.000-07:00She got that many reviews and she's complaining?She got that many reviews and she's complaining?Bernitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05264585685253812090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1158819016878871362006-09-20T23:10:00.000-07:002006-09-20T23:10:00.000-07:00Though being smart and doing the right thing may h...Though being smart and doing the right thing may have its own intangible rewards, it's certainly nice to see these dedicated people reap some tangible benefits as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1158812832739222752006-09-20T21:27:00.000-07:002006-09-20T21:27:00.000-07:00Wow! I like the list of "qualifications". We need ...Wow! I like the list of "qualifications". We need more of these kind of awards, like in Canada.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1158804938075885742006-09-20T19:15:00.000-07:002006-09-20T19:15:00.000-07:00just for being smart? sweet!just for being smart? sweet!Lornahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08976144449873569523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1158788660174673802006-09-20T14:44:00.000-07:002006-09-20T14:44:00.000-07:00I was struck by the same thing, Sara--by what a po...I was struck by the same thing, Sara--by what a positive force these people are in the world. Isn't that the ultimate form of genius?Patry Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10961915797919017179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11695927.post-1158785848781342862006-09-20T13:57:00.000-07:002006-09-20T13:57:00.000-07:00Another thing I've noticed about the MacArthur gra...Another thing I've noticed about the MacArthur grants is that you don't even have to be <I>intellectually</I> smart, per se. It seems to me, at least when they give grants to artists, that they've really sought out people who are doing unique things within their media, seeing and speaking to other people in voices and languages no one else is using, maybe even about topics other people never even try to get close to. No matter what kind of recipient they choose, though -- artists, scientists, businessfolk, whomever -- it also seems that they go out of their way to find people who are really doing something not just to please themselves but to really improve the world, one way or another. I haven't seen where all the awards have ever gone, but these are patterns I've noticed among those I have found out about.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://disstud.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">Penny at Disability Studies, Temple U.</A>, talks about a few of these <A HREF="http://disstud.blogspot.com/2006/09/macarthur-fellows-2006-few-to-watch.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>.<BR/><BR/>See what I mean? And I just love the idea of giving someone really creative half a million dollars to do whatever s/he wants, knowing fully well that this person will probably just put it right back out into the world in some form or other.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com