Nobel Prizes

Adam Smith · October 2, 2003, 21:02

Winners of this years Nobel Prizes will be announced this week. The Literature winner was was announced today: John Maxwell Coetzee, a South African born, American educated (U Texas) writer currently living in Australia.

Who do you think will win each of the remaining prizes?

Medicine (Oct 6)
Physics (Oct 7)
Chemistry (Oct 8)
Economics (Oct 8)
Peace (Oct 10)

For economics, my long-time "most deserving person who hasnt won yet", Charles Kindleberger, died this past year, so cannot be considered. My next best guess is Peter Diamond for his work in uncertainty and information.

For Peace, possibly Pope John Paul II for his role in Eastern Europe in the 1980's. Hamid Karzai may have been too recent to get serious consideration. Sergio Vieira de Mello was killed, so cannot be considered.

Agathon · October 2, 2003, 21:06

And the usual response to a NP announcement is:

Who?

mrmitchell · October 2, 2003, 22:51

Physics: The pornography industry (hey, I bet they have to do precise motions to achieve maximum jiggle)

reds4ever · October 2, 2003, 22:53

It must have been SO much better years ago, when the lay(ish)man could have an opinion on most of the science prizes!

mrmitchell · October 2, 2003, 22:59

Yes.

For example back in the 1600s all you had to do was prove you fell down and didnt float up. Very easy to complete for anyone.

But now, even basics requires brainpower and/or equipment beyond most individuals...

reds4ever · October 2, 2003, 23:10

Even in 1900 -1930, a reasonably educated man (or an exceptionally educated woman (joke!)), could understand in general terms what a Noble prize winning physicist had achieved and could see how it may affect their lives. These days? forget it!

OzzyKP · October 2, 2003, 23:23

Has JP2 won a peace prize yet?

OzzyKP · October 2, 2003, 23:23

if not then they really need to hook him up soon, he doesn't look like he has much time left.

reds4ever · October 2, 2003, 23:26

Quote:

Originally posted by OzzyKP
Has JP2 won a peace prize yet?

Whats he done exactly? Except be old and be a Pope?

reds4ever · October 2, 2003, 23:35

Quote:

Originally posted by OzzyKP
Has JP2 won a peace prize yet?

Anyhow, in the old days the job of the Pope used to be to START wars not not stop them!

OzzyKP · October 2, 2003, 23:46

Quote:

Originally posted by reds4ever
Whats he done exactly? Except be old and be a Pope?

Isn't that enough? What more do you expect from the guy, he can't even stand on his own. Sheesh.

DaShi · October 3, 2003, 00:08

Once again, I've been overlooked.

Buck Birdseed · October 3, 2003, 02:10

Ah, the good old Swedish Academy, so universally patriarxhal. Yet another man eh? Who'd have thunk it.

Kropotkin · October 3, 2003, 04:04

Quote:

Originally posted by Adam Smith
For economics, my long-time "most deserving person who hasnt won yet", Charles Kindleberger, died this past year, so cannot be considered.

While I do feel sorry for the loss of C.P. Kindleberger I must point out that there's no nobel prize in economics.

As for the winner in literature: Haven't read or heard of him before, obviously. What short articles I've managed to read abouthim yet he seems OK. As there's bound to be some cheap paperbacks out in a while I might read one or two.

Az · October 3, 2003, 04:33

There is a chance that the winner for Medicine would be a person from my University!

Rufus T. Firefly · October 3, 2003, 05:26

Surely the Peace Prize will be shared by Chirac and Schroeder.

Bereta_Eder · October 3, 2003, 05:38

Inconceivably better than Kissinger

FrustratedPoet · October 3, 2003, 05:41

JM Coetzee:

Rufus T. Firefly · October 3, 2003, 05:53

Quote:

Originally posted by paiktis22
Inconceivably better than Kissinger

Indeed. Or Arafat, for that matter.

Solver · October 3, 2003, 09:01

Time to get Physics prize to Stephen Hawking.

Sloth · October 3, 2003, 09:19

Economics: Engle & Granger for their studies on the volatility of financial markets.

Peace: not assigned

JohnT · October 3, 2003, 09:21

Quote:

Winners of this years Nobel Prizes will be announced this week. The Literature winner was was announced today: John Maxwell Coetzee, a South African born, American educated (U Texas) writer currently living in Australia.

Y'all know Sloww is going to brag on this shiite for years, don't ya?

SpencerH · October 3, 2003, 09:47

Personally, I dislike the idea of prizes given for 'journeyman' science. It was envisioned as a prize for innovative discovery not for 30 years of small incremental steps(even if good science).

Az · October 3, 2003, 09:57

I kinda agree with SpencerH.

Bugs ****ing Bunny · October 3, 2003, 15:16

Quote:

Originally posted by Agathon
And the usual response to a NP announcement is:

Who?

Coetzee is well-known. He's won the Booker prize-Britain's top literary award.

He's a little dry for my tastes, but he's certainly good at his job.

chequita guevara · October 3, 2003, 16:00

Quote:

Originally posted by Adam Smith
Winners of this years Nobel Prizes will be announced this week. The Literature winner was was announced today: John Maxwell Coetzee, a South African born, American educated (U Texas) writer currently living in Australia.

Wait!?! Where are the usual suspects complaining that the Nobel committee hates Western Civilization and is alsway promoting inferior literature . . . oh, yeah, he's white. (BTW, only four Africans have won the Nobel prize in literature.)