Scientists Like Jokes

One day a shepherd tending his flock was approached by a stranger. The stranger said, "If I can guess how many sheep are in this flock without counting, will you let me take one?"

The shepherd agreed to this offer. The stranger sized up the flock for a second or two and said, "Eighty-three!"

The shepherd realized that he actually didn't know how many sheep he said. But eighty-three seemed roughly right to him. So he said, "That's amazing! Now, can I make an offer to you before you go? How about you give back the one that you just picked up if I can guess your occupation."

The stranger agreed to this offer. The shepherd said, "You're a
mathematical biologist."

The stranger said, "Yes, I am! How did you know?"

The shepherd said, "That's my dog that you're holding there."

Stuff GenX Scientists Like

Barack Obama

Again, this is a White thing as much as a Scientist thing. Scientists liking Barack Obama is probably just a consequence of scientists often being White.  I was prompted by this post at Cosmic Variance.  Finally, I have to add that I strongly suspect that it is less that scientists are pro-Obama that they are pretty much anti-Bush, and Republicans are associated with Bush.

ScienceDebate2008

Comments

I've loosened requirements quite a bit for comments. Anonymous are now allowed, and verification is no longer required.

Retro Stuff Scientists Like

ASCII pr0n.

For The Love Of Obscurity

Remember that band that opened before the the opening band at the emo show? Or that couple performing puppetry with a minimal electronic soundtrack? You bet can be a lot of scientists do--they love to love the obscure! However, should said artist gain notoriety and popularity, he or she immediately falls our of favor.

[See Razib's chart from Friday.]

Bumper stickers, etc.

Scientists like *real* microbrews

Heckling works. Invite further recommendations in the comments....

Scientists like Beer

Microbrews especially.  Graduate students and Post-Docs especially like beer.  PIs might like beer...but perhaps they drink in their office so much that the phenotype is more cryptic....