I was reading on of the papers I copyedit and I got to this sentence:
Thus, aerobic microsites for polyphenol oxidation in the rhizosphere could exist in an anaerobic soil matrix in which net methane production occurred (Table 1).
Man! Back in the day, I lived for that kind of thing, sort of. I’d feel so smart and fabulous. Look out world! I’m oxidizing polyphenols. The world is my rhizosphere, the anaerobic soil matrix was dug for me!
Yes, smart! Look at me understanding that stuff! Smart!
Now, however, I actually don’t understand all the words. I could guess at them all and probably get them right (rhizosphere’s the one that’s getting me…why a sphere?). But who cares, really? It’s not dazzling or sexy or fun. It’s most definitely not fun.
Here’s something fun, though. In the acknowledgments, there’s a very Prairie Home Companion little note: In the NSF Office of Polar Programs (OPP) we also thank Knute Heldersson.
It’s so fabulously Nordic and arctic and, well, Polar!
How much fun is it to have a guy named Knute work in the office of Polar Programs? It’s so much fun, that I can’t possibly express it!
Does that take smarts? To know about Knutes and their habitats? I hope so. That way I’m smart and fun and I’ve got plenty to put on my resume.