When I was in college, I majored in English literature. And even though that it meant sweating through Chaucer and ploughing through Milton, I loved (almost) every word of it.
Shakespeare, Donne, Austin, Galsworthy, Donne, Pope, Swift, Blake, Shelley, Keats, Byron, Shaw, Yeats, Eliot, Lawrence. Gods, geniuses. What was not to like?
Besides, what choice did I have? I really stunk at math, and as far as science went…
Let’s climb into Doc Brown’s DeLorean time machine and set the dial for 1965. Sophomore year New Trier High School, Winnetka, Illinois. Miss Crotty’s three level biology class.
Class Notes Sidebar: Blonde, blue-eyed, pretty and young, Miss Crotty was the first teacher I had ever had to whom I could relate. She didn’t seem that much older than the rest of us, and because of her youth, sweet nature and winning personality, all the kids tried hard in her class. She was sincere and so darn cute-looking that even the smart aleck, goof-off boys were disarmed by her.
Okay, now back to class, kids.
Up until this point in my academic career, I had always harbored the sneaking desire to be a vet. I loved animals- especially dogs and horses- and fancied myself a modern day Dr. Doolittle.
I had done fine in my science classes at my junior high, and I saw no reason that I couldn’t continue the Madame Curie thing right through veterinary school.
So when it came to biology, I breezed through the book part. I was good in the classroom. Gregor Mendel and his peas and that dominant and recessive gene stuff was a snap. Book test after book test I got A’s.
But then came THE LAB.
OMG. I was terrible. Klutzy with scalpel, bored by the bunsen burner, loathed the “bangs and stinks.”
I wouldn’t touch the frog, was grossed out by the formaldehyde-embalmed poor little fetal pig, and generally used the lab time to flirt with Jimmy E. and gossip with my girlfriends.
But even with those social distractions, the lab seemed like an amalgam of everything I hated about home economics- measuring, cutting, heating, testing, recording notes, graph paper.
YUCK.
Luckily, we were assigned lab partners, and I drew red-headed nice guy Bob Field as mine. I shamelessly played the “I’m so helpless and you’re so smart” card, and whether batting my brown eyes at him had anything to do with it or not, night after night, Bob patiently filled in his “frog notebook”- and more importantly, mine.
Thanks to Bob, I breezed through biology with great grades, and then blithely signed up for chemistry junior year.
What had I been thinking? A week in, I was the biggest bomb since Fat Man and Little Boy. I don’t recall one thing from that class but my rush to drop it before it sunk my GPA.
As a sigh of relief engulfed me and my drop slip, I also bid adieu to the picture of me as vet. Goodbye to all that. It was strictly the liberal arts for me from then on.
So imagine my surprise when I ended up in Natural Selections, the Rockefeller University monthly newsletter.
In case you’re not familiar with Rock U. allow me to explain what it is. (I’m quoting from their site here.)
“Located in New York City, the Rockefeller University is a world-renowned center for research and graduate education in the biomedical sciences, chemistry, bioformatics and physics. The university’s 75 laboratories conduct both clinical and basic research and study a diverse range of biological and biomedical problems with the mission of improving the understanding of life for the benefit of humanity.”
It was founded in 1901 by John D. Rockefeller, and throughout its history, 24 of its scientists have won Nobel Prizes, 21 have won Lasker Awards and 20 have garnered the National Medal of Science, the highest science award given by the United States.
And now I was in Natural Selections, newsletter of interest to Field’s Medal winners and distinguished scientists.
Gosh.
I owe my by-line to George. Better make that Dr. George Barany, Distinguished McKnight University Professor of Chemistry at the University of Minnesota.
(And brainiac Rock U. alum.)
I rode in on George’s puzzle-making coattails when our puzzle, “Over The Moon,” was chosen to be featured in the November issue of the newsletter.
(And if you’re not curious enough to click on the crossword puzzle link above, take a look at the fan letter that George and I just got from a very famous crossword aficionado.)
Nice, huh? A presidential seal of approval, no less.
(Btw, the “Vic” it’s addressed to is Victor Fleming- fellow crossword constructor, judge and home boy of WJC. Vic sent it on to him, and then forwarded the former CIC’s reply back to us.)
Rock U. has the highest number of Nobel Prizes in relation to personnel involved in research in the world. Thus I’m honored to be read by such high-falutin’ company- as well as former POTUSes.
And I’m amused at the thought of all these math and science wizards wrestling with the clues that this English major thought up in her bedroom.
“Scientia Pro Bono Humani Generis.”
“Science for the benefit of humanity.”
That’s the Rockefeller University motto.
“Cruciverbia Pro Bono Humani Generis.”
“Crosswords for the good of humanity.”
That’s my motto.
I hope Miss Crotty would agree.
Now put this under your microscope.
Thanks Ellen for introducing my alma mater, The Rockefeller University, to your international readership. Rockefeller has always been, and continues to be, a very unique place to conduct scientific research–no formal departments, no undergraduate program, and no coursework in the humanities. We were trained and mentored by Nobel laureates (or laureates-to-be) and National Academy types, kind of a throwback to the European apprenticeship system that has served mankind well since the middle ages. Yet lest anyone concludes that we were all a bunch of nerds and geeks, the fact is that most of my Rockefeller friends and acquaintances were very well read and informed, with their natural curiosity extending to music, literature, film, and the classics, as well as sports and current events. And yes, many of them tend to be crackerjack crossword puzzle enthusiasts. In short, C.P. Snow’s “two cultures” concept is hogwash.
I do want to add two more thoughts. (1) Thanks for convincing me to work on that “Over the Moon” theme with you, and for concocting clues tough enough to challenge even 42. (2) How about replacing that arithmetical captcha with a little poem fragment for your commentators to complete (“roses are red, violets are ___”)?
Thanks for the the suggestion, George. Yes, a new way to do the captcha thing might be in the offing. I just need a Rock U. grad to help me make the changeover. And here’s to many more fun collaborations. I think of us as the Betty Comden and Adolph Green of the puzzle world. I’m so glad that you helped me on to The Band Wagon.
Wait a sec, Ellen, are you comparing me to Fred Astaire and yourself to Cyd Charisse? Who do you have pegged in the Oscar Levant role?
If I may get serious for a moment, Rockefeller put on a wonderful film festival, a different movie every Sunday night, all free, in Caspary Auditorium. It was there that I first saw some landmark movies that I will never forget, like “The Bicycle Thief,” “Some Like It Hot,” and “Dr. Strangelove.” Also a few that I never want to see again, like “Rashomon” and “Last Year at Marienbad.”
Kenny can play Sid. As for not liking “Rashomon,” that’s your story.
I actually went into medicine rather than anything associated with the humanities because I found it much more logical and straight forward. Seriously, who really talks like Chaucer, Shakespeare, or James Joyce? The problem with medical training (and there are many) is that all of the exams were multiple choice. Seeing my first patients as an intern – after hearing their complaints and my examination I was waiting for the patient to give me a list of diseases from which to give the correct answer.
Forsooth only a knave would spake so ill of Geoff and the Bard! Fie, varlet! But thanks, Doc. If I ever see you professionally, I’ll give you a choice : A. Sodium Pentothal B. Ether C. Nitrous Oxide D. Propofol
Here is my nephew’s midterm exam in meta-ethics(still not sure what that means). He is majoring in philosophy at McGill.
“According to the fitting attitude analysis of final value (FA), x is finally valuable (or good) if and only if it is the fitting object of a pro-attitude. The principal objection to FA is the wrong kind of reason problem (WKR). Explain what WKR is. Assess the plausibility of either Gerald Lang or John Skorupski’s solution to WKR, being careful to bring out any methodological assumptions implicit in whichever proposal you choose.” And these people are serious about this stuff.
Glad I stuck with my multiple questions education in medicine.
Meta-ethics is a branch of analytic philosophy that explores the status, foundations, and scope of moral values, properties and words. What could be clearer than that?
I can see your nephew is going to have a lucrative career on Wall Street. Or as a divorce attorney.
It only took me two terms to finish high school…………
Eisenhower and Kennedy’s!!
I once came home with a report card that had three “F’s” and a “D”.
My dad said, “Son, you’re spending too much time on one subject”!!
Rimshot! Nice going, Bernie. Just what this post needed. I bet you were teacher’s pet. (Or was it class clown?) Either way you get an “A” today.
Flashing back to the Final Exam Dream. Night before last it was me, a day before final exams for an LLM, having studied none of the materials, gone to none of the classes and wondering (typical English Major) if artful BS could carry me through. I think I won’t go back to school after all.
I still have the “I cut too many gym classes and they’re not going to graduate me” dream. What are these really about? Maybe we can get a group rate in analysis. Or at least discuss them with Jimmy Feld’s smart philosopher nephew.
Thanks, John. LA is looking pretty dreamy right now.
Thank YOU Ellen for your contribution to Natural Selections and of course (and as always) George. We are indebted to kind contributors such as yourselves that result in pushing NS further and to be the best that it can be.
Cheers!
Jim
Chief Copy Editor, Natural Selections
My pleasure, Jim. Proud to be in such illustrious company. And can I interest you in our Three Stooges puzzle for the January issue?
Hi Ellen,
I know that George is submitting a crossword for our Dec/Jan issue, but the name escapes me. Would this be in addition to that one? (Sorry for the delayed response, busy week!)
Cheers!
Jim
He’s got a whole new puzzle to run in your next issue. I think you should get the deets from him. (I tested it and it was swell.)
Jim, Ellen is correct. My puzzles, on a myriad of topics and themes, typically have from one to three coauthors. Some are suggested by my collaborator(s) and others are initiated by me. In addition, we have a whole team of test solvers to make sure the puzzles reach the highest standards, subject to the caveat that just about all of us have day jobs.
Most of the puzzles that Natural Selections has been running were originally published on my website. However, the upcoming one for Dec 2014/Jan 2015 was written specifically for Natural Selections, and it is a bigger-than-usual size. I hope that the Rockefeller community has fun with it, and that Ellen will tell her readers about it too once it “goes live.”
Thank you for the info. George! We’re looking forward to it! 😀