A lot of fuss has been made of late about the fact that government-funded research conducted at the College of Charleston in South Carolina by biologist Lou Burnett involved putting shrimp on tiny treadmills.
Since that revelation was made public, the expression shrimp on a treadmill has become synonymous with what some would perceive as a giant waste of taxpayers money. Of course, the truth is not quite so black and white.
Critics point to a half million dollar grant that went Burnett's way. In fact, the treadmill was built from scraps and was practically free. The shrimp, well, these are regular shrimp. They do not cost much. Restaurants like Applebees practically give away endless shrimp.
Though people are talking about shrimp on a treadmill in condescending tones, not least Mike Huckabee, who said I don't want my shrimp going to the gym, the study is actually looking at the health of marine animals in the changing climate. It is a serious issue, actually worth looking at. After all, nobody knows how to read the pulse or blood pressure of shrimp.
Is that a waste of government money - to look at the effects of climate change on marine animals? There are far, far more frivolous uses of taxpayer's funds. The images and cheap gags might be mildly amusing, but the truth is that valuable research is being done.
Having said all that, shrimp DO look funny on a treadmill, and so there is just cause to use government grants to put more animals on gym equipment with accompanying silly music. We say, put a penguin on a stationary bike. A polar bear in a sauna. A giraffe in a hot tub. How much can a silverback gorilla bench-press?
Enquiring minds want to know.
Source: Benzinga
Since that revelation was made public, the expression shrimp on a treadmill has become synonymous with what some would perceive as a giant waste of taxpayers money. Of course, the truth is not quite so black and white.
Critics point to a half million dollar grant that went Burnett's way. In fact, the treadmill was built from scraps and was practically free. The shrimp, well, these are regular shrimp. They do not cost much. Restaurants like Applebees practically give away endless shrimp.
Though people are talking about shrimp on a treadmill in condescending tones, not least Mike Huckabee, who said I don't want my shrimp going to the gym, the study is actually looking at the health of marine animals in the changing climate. It is a serious issue, actually worth looking at. After all, nobody knows how to read the pulse or blood pressure of shrimp.
Is that a waste of government money - to look at the effects of climate change on marine animals? There are far, far more frivolous uses of taxpayer's funds. The images and cheap gags might be mildly amusing, but the truth is that valuable research is being done.
Having said all that, shrimp DO look funny on a treadmill, and so there is just cause to use government grants to put more animals on gym equipment with accompanying silly music. We say, put a penguin on a stationary bike. A polar bear in a sauna. A giraffe in a hot tub. How much can a silverback gorilla bench-press?
Enquiring minds want to know.
Source: Benzinga