Government

University Professor Defends Federally Funded ‘Humor Grant’

A Northwestern University professor is under fire from critics for having accepted a $700,000 “research grant” awarded by the federal government to create joke-telling computer software.

According to Chicago’s WLS-TV, Professor Kristian Hammond received the funds from the federal stimulus package, funds meant to create jobs and help shore up the faltering economy. But Hammond insists the “humor grant” is about serious work:

“Understanding what makes humor, what makes irony, what makes interesting juxtapositions, to understand what that means we can actually create it. We can create new material,” said Hammond.

Comments (95)

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  • stephenb.net
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 11:16pm

    I don’t see a problem with it because humor heals. Laughter unites people. This may be the best use of 700K that I have heard coming from the Obama white house. Comedy is a wonderful thing.

    Report Post »  
    • GBGB
      Posted on September 7, 2010 at 1:00pm

      Stephen, you are so right. However, I don’t really know any people that need a machine to generate humor for them. Whenever I get together with friends and family we are always laughing and joking and even, sometimes, at ourselves!! Course, I see some of the angry liberals on clips showing them looking all angry and full of hate……perhaps they need a machine to create a smile? I don’t think most of us do!

      Report Post »  
  • bclinger
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 11:14pm

    I would do it for half that amount.

    Report Post »  
    • Put_God_ First
      Posted on September 7, 2010 at 2:18pm

      I already have a computer that does that. I just go to MSNBC and watch some of the stuff they say….and LMAO…..LOL

      Report Post » Put_God_ First  
  • extexjb
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 10:41pm

    Yup! We all know where Northwestern is, don’t we?

    Report Post » extexjb  
  • anOpinion
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 10:34pm

    If you argue against this then you should be arguing against NASA, or any government sponsored scientific endeavor.

    Artificial Intelligence has many applications, and humor is one aspect that requires a deep understanding of language and thought.

    Its easy to point to this $700,000, but blame the stimulus itself. The original TARP could have funded over 1,000,000 of these studies.

    Report Post » anOpinion  
  • visceral rebellion
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 10:24pm

    Maybe this professor is trying to discover a method to give Obama a sense of humor to improve his likability. If so, seven hundred thousand won’t be enough.

    Report Post »  
  • jblanks2
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 10:19pm

    I got it….. They are going to install the software on government computers so they can be cheered up in between visiting porn pages

    Report Post »  
  • Jsor2112
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 9:55pm

    Our tax dollars hard at work!! It would have been easier, faster and just as effective to just put $700,000 in a pile and light it on fire.

    Report Post » Jsor2112  
  • danglingbags
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 9:33pm

    It disgusts me how these elitist school with all their fancy book-learin’ get this money. Just another typical case of Chicago politics. Once the republicans get in power in November they will make sure that this money becomes tax cuts for the rich or money for a defense contractor for the next war. We should not have these entitlement for the liberal schools. I think education is over rated. Heck, I did not need a high school diploma to get where I am today. Everyone!! Get out there in November and help get the rich and well connected corporations the breaks the need, And….Buy Gold!!!

    Report Post »  
    • Put_God_ First
      Posted on September 7, 2010 at 2:05pm

      Dingleberry you are so funny!

      We could all tell you didn’t have a high school diploma…..LOL

      Just by saying the propaganda you say…..LOL

      Go on believing in that crapola of the Democratic/ Progressive/ Socialist/ Marxist/ Communist propaganda machine. Keep on believing……LOL

      Pull your head out of where ever you have it tucked away at, and smell your toast burning….LOL

      Love ya! Mean it!……LOL

      Report Post » Put_God_ First  
  • TomBombadil
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 9:21pm

    I like the idea that we have to dissect humor into formulas to be able to understand it; and then because we understand it, we can create it.

    Never mind that humor comes from breaking the formula.
    And that people have been creating humor for… well, as long as we’ve been around.

    It’s just his way of saying he wants his free lunch.

    Report Post » TomBombadil  
  • missmarie
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 9:21pm

    Not funny.

    Report Post » missmarie  
  • danglingbags
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 9:15pm

    That $700,000 could have gone to an American Corporation that needed an off-shore tax haven or used the money as a tax break to send American jobs overseas. This is why I am fed up. The Democrats are eliminating these tax havens and we need to get the republicans back in power. I am a motivated voter and intend to give power to the GOP because they care about the rich guy. The highest form of patriotism is avoiding taxes after all. And lastly, this is why I buy gold.

     
    • PlaneRick
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 9:38pm

      Exactly right, we could have the government buy gold coins at prices higher than its worth in five years. But joking aside, if the Republicans or the independents want votes, they need to get on the side of fewer tax breaks for the rich. “Trickle-down” is a Reaganomics ploy that has shown itself to be flawed in practice. The rich just shuttled the money over seas into tax havens, shelters or foreign labor, and the gap between middle and upper grew. But back to joking, if anyone is interested, Colbert made the perfect analogy to the Republicans current ideal for tax breaks

       
    • 338lapua
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 9:54pm

      You do understand that you are NOT at the Huffington Post or MOVE ON right.

      Report Post »  
    • PlaneRick
      Posted on September 4, 2010 at 1:34am

      Yeah…and…so…what?
      This discourse is about a relevant and logical and the rest of the comments. It’s easy to bash something from one side without hearing the other, and its is only laziness or ignorance that could prevent someone to finding the other side of this one. This could be a case study in confirmation bias that only saddens the state of current discussion.

      Report Post »  
  • damon1212
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 9:06pm

    I’m a graduate of Northwestern University. Between Bernadine Dohrn and this dip-s$#t . . . I am embarressed to admit that.

    Report Post » damon1212  
  • PlaneRick
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 9:06pm

    What looks like a joke telling machine, look to me to be a form of either artifical intelligence or, more useful, a cloud computing program that could seriously be effect. To take something as intricate as humor which, by reading these comments, isn’t easy for most people and extrapolate a usable interface which takes into account the psychological, sociological, and comprehension necessary for producing results it amazing. The $700,000 is what per taxpayer? The applications are too many to name on such a small entry space for proper understanding, but this is only pilot programming,that leads to companies taking the technology from the university and government to exploit future uses. (possibly leading to future jobs). This is similar to the same paths many technologies have started (like the internet), and it is short sighted and arrogant to write it off as simply a “joke machine”.

    Report Post »  
    • PlaneRick
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 9:12pm

      What would you all rather spend it on, entitlements?

      Report Post »  
  • danglingbags
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 9:04pm

    We need to spend our money on tax cuts for the super-rich so we can raise the social security retirement age to 72, cut farm subsidies and veterans benefits. This is why I am voting republican in November, The rich need a break!!!!! Who is with me!!!!!

     
    • AlaskanWolf
      Posted on September 4, 2010 at 2:48pm

      Way I see it hotshot, if you want to tax the wealthy, then you better add everyone in Congress and the Senate. Specially people like Kerry,who is at the top of the wealthy list @ $188 M net worth.Oh,and lets not forget Gore. With all the money he makes for his talks and film, he should be glad to help the country. Opps,silly me. I forgot,Liberals only want to spend OTHER peoples money, never their own.

      Report Post »  
  • bbabbitt
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 8:56pm

    We should also give money to the people who write computer viruses — look at the jobs that they create in companies that sell anti-virus software, and in other companies that fix computer problems.

    Report Post »  
    • PlaneRick
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 9:08pm

      If you take the time to learn how your computer works to the basics, you can keep you computer secure and not pay an arm and a leg to fix it. If that helps.

      Report Post »  
    • bbabbitt
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 10:30pm

      Planerick, this was a satirical comment related to the idiotic policies coming out of Washington, not about problems with my computer. I didn’t think that I would have to explain that in this forum.

      Report Post »  
    • PlaneRick
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 10:53pm

      It was just a satirical comment for a satirical comment if you knew how much of the industry is actually related to computer antivirals or computer repairs. Seemed to be about as constructive.

      Report Post »  
  • Texas_Mom
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 8:49pm

    What a WASTE!!! There is no excuse – humor / jokes – who’s laughing. There are so many people in American hurting and this jack**s waste our money for a joke

    Folks – the jokes on us and I’m not laughing

    Report Post »  
  • NoLongerSilent
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 8:24pm

    Hey…ONE MORE JOB SAVED! Where do I sign up?

    Report Post »  
  • gspthebest
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 8:13pm

    I could tell what makes humour work for half the price. Topic and timing.That will be $350,000 Mr. POTUS

    Report Post »  
  • tommyboy
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 8:10pm

    People are losing thieir homes. Many don’t know how they are going to put food on the table. And our Govt. is wasting hard earned money on this? This is a slap in the face. These people are just plain evil. There’s a hard rain gonna fall.

    Report Post »  
    • Belle Hyde
      Posted on September 5, 2010 at 7:06pm

      If people are losing their homes due to lost jobs, it’s a sad thing. Were i in a position to help I would

      If people are losing their homes because they really shouldn’t have qualified for a loan in the first place, is what’s to be expected. Were I in a position to help, I’d council them to get real, and not try to overextend their finances.

      There IS a difference.

      Report Post »  
  • bluerose
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 8:08pm

    Grants- Earmarks- Bribes. My tax dollars could be better spent.

    Report Post »  
  • Rickfromillinois
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 8:08pm

    Good grief. Just another case of throwing tax dollars away.

    Report Post » Rickfromillinois  
  • parmajohn
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 8:02pm

    You Have to be Kidding!? 7 HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS….The funniest jokes are in washington ie whitehouse Or the new motel 6 since its only occupied what 3 days a week if were lucky…..UNBELIVABLE……

    Report Post »  
  • woodswalking1
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 7:58pm

    Pure nonsense.

    Report Post »  
  • rocktruth
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 7:47pm

    What a joke! We need this like a hole in the head.

    Report Post » rocktruth  
  • A1955Rosie
    Posted on September 3, 2010 at 7:42pm

    As a taxpayer, I’d give this idea the stage cane. It is not suited to these times of hardship and could be put to better use.

    A1955Rosie  
    • Skandelon27
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 8:42pm

      Glenn, can you put your reporters on finding out WHO the NUTJOB is who made the decision to give this project tax payer money? Someone had to approve this and they should be held to account!!!!

      In fact, wouldn’t it be a good idea to get a list of all the stupid things they spend our money on and find the people who approve it? Let’s make these idiot people INFAMOUS!!! They’ll think twice about approving such frivolous spending!!!

       
    • gbear041
      Posted on September 3, 2010 at 8:49pm

      I couldn’t agree more that this is such a waste of resources. People are BORN with a sense of humor….I don’t need some schmuck from Liberalville stealing the tax money that I pay for something like this. This is such a tragedy!!!

      Report Post »  
    • George Washington
      Posted on September 4, 2010 at 12:44am

      If you only knew how much money the taxpayers pay to fund useless projects, you might easily have a heart attack and/or stroke. If our government has the money for all of that nonsense, it has the money to lower taxes.

      Report Post »  
    • JusticeBlaze
      Posted on September 4, 2010 at 1:54am

      700 Grand is nothing. Do you have any idea how much is spent on defense every year? Just look at the F-22, they are $150 million each. And guess what? They haven’t been used in combat since they went into production in the 1980s. The F-22 malfunctions in the rain, and guess what clouds are made of? That’s right, water. So if we are truly and honestly interested in cutting stupid spending then let’s be serious and focus on the lowest hanging branch, and that’s starts with wasteful junk like the F-22. The F-15 is fine, it has never lost in combat…ever. So why do we have over 150 F-22′s sitting around in hangars?

      $700,000 for research is a great idea. That money will probably be spent on materials (American, I pray) and income for research assistants (aka students who need the money), both of which jump-start the economy in small ways, all so that human beings can learn something we didn’t know before, which is how things are developed. What has always made America so great is that we used to consistently be at the forefront of technological research and development. We haven’t been there for a while and we need to get back.

       
    • Freelancer
      Posted on September 4, 2010 at 8:53am

      It doesn’t take a genius to figure out WHY this guy got the grant. Northwestern in in Chicago, Northwestern is run by very shady people and as we have seen, people from Chicago have absolutely NO problem ripping off ANYONE. Half of the White House is from Chicago and the other half will end up there when they leave.

      Report Post » Freelancer  
    • IntegrityMatters
      Posted on September 4, 2010 at 3:33pm

      I agree wholeheartedly with Skandelon27′s comment. Controlling this wasteful earmarking and pork should be on everyone’s mind and allowing the American voters to decide where their money goes should be paramount! Whatever happened to the democratic process where WE get to choose? -now it’s I pay, YOU GUYS decide how much and on what! Even a kid knows it’s not fair to take their money and buy gum for the neighbor.
      The Voters have a right to informed consent, and the Legislators and Congressmen have an obligation to be forthright and honest about the intended purpose of collecting our monies. If I wanted to know what makes humor humorous, I’d go the comedy clubs and write a book. I certainly wouldn’t tell others they must pay for my “research.”
      In Washington State, we have this wonderful idea that the money for Vehicle license tabs (once $276/year for my 12-year old Olds) should be used only for car licensing. What a concept! Turns out the state was tacking on fees and levys for all sorts of things, including daycare facility inspections. Now the state has to ASK -God forbid we should ever say yes- for moneys for a certain thing. We demand to be asked if we want to pay for something. Now the fees are around thirty dollars for any vehicle.
      In addition, we have a law that mandates that only one subject at a time (usually also only one question at a time as well) be asked as a voted-on measure. IE: Should the legislature raise the fee on Vehicle license tabs by such-and-such amount to make a total amount of such-and-such dollars to defray the cost of Washington Highway Signs alerting drivers of potential Illegal Immigrants on foot with children in tow coming into Washington from Canada? (not really)

      Why must we be at the point where we are INDIGNANT about this before the public servants are doing anything about it?

      IntegrityMatters  
    • timthetim
      Posted on September 8, 2010 at 11:31pm

      I see all your comments and some are right and some crazy. I have this to ask however ” Which one of you has the petition to stop spending like this? Who of you has any intention to do anything about it. Bring it up in town meetings, though I’ll bet many of you have never seen one, write your senators. Even if they don’t respond at least you took some kind of action . Step out of your fear and say something, take action anything!!!!!.

      Report Post »  
    • Dianagrace
      Posted on September 11, 2010 at 11:47am

      Sorry, there is never a better time to use your money and mine to promote this idiocy. The joke is on us folks!!! We keep electing the same stupid people and expect a different outcome. But his takes the cake!!!!

      Report Post »  
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