The Senate’s top watchdog on government waste, in a new report Thursday, said taxpayer money has gone to fund such programs as Jell-O wrestling at the South Pole, testing shrimp’s exercise ability on a treadmill and a laundry-folding robot, all funded by the National Science Foundation.
Sen. Tom Coburn, Oklahoma Republican, said he identified more than $3 billion in mismanagement at NSF, ranging from questionable studies to exorbitant operating costs, and in some cases duplication by the science agency of operations performed by other agencies.
At a time when the federal government is struggling with record deficits and bumping up against its borrowing limit, Mr. Coburn said the agency is a prime example of the kinds of spending taxpayers should no longer tolerate.
“There is little, if any, obvious scientific benefit to some NSF projects, such as a YouTube rap video, a review of event ticket prices on stubhub.com, a ‘robot hoedown and rodeo,’ or a virtual recreation of the 1964/65 New York World’s Fair,” Mr. Coburn said in a letter to taxpayers he wrote introducing the 73-page report, documented by more than 350 footnotes.
Real Science 
It’s not easy to catch a greased pig.
Not doubt all peer reviewed!
Jello wrestling is a valid science project! I am doing my masters on it. 😉
I hope you find more “talented” graduate assistants.
At -100º doesn’t jello get a little dangerous ?
And what about the cowboy poetry ?
The men are men, and the penguins are nervous.
Yippy Ti YI Yay get along little penguin
It’s your misfortune and none of my own
Yippy ti YI Yay get along little penguins
You know Argentina will be your new home
http://mesh.biology.washington.edu/penguinProject/home
A must listen for you cowboy men are men dudes.
lol, off to try and discern why my recent attempts at manipulating spheres on planes have gone horribly wrong. I’m told the answer is in the hops. Proceeding with my studies!
An interesting term of address for the MD. turned conservative republican senator. “Mr. Coburn.”
What a gravy train. No wonder they continue to lie and deny in the face of observed facts.
It is obvious that there are way too many people on the gravy train that never did an honest day’s work in their life. They would be totally helpless in the real world.