[15126] in APO News
Re: Big Screw Awards - some history
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (YaleZuss@aol.com)
Tue May 8 09:08:04 2012
From: YaleZuss@aol.com
Date: Tue, 8 May 2012 09:07:31 -0400 (EDT)
To: bradt@mit.edu, ccarter@mit.edu, kaashoek@csail.mit.edu, nickolai@mit.edu,
hrm@math.mit.edu, dgrazian@mit.edu, big-screw@mit.edu,
big-screw-interested@mit.edu
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Let me add a little to the Big Screw lore:
I was Big Screw PC in 1971.
The earliest screws had been made of wood, but a metal one was generated
for the year Dean Wadleigh won, probably 1969. Thereafter, we borrowed the
Wadleigh screw to put on display at the Big Screw booth. In my year, we
tried to make a new one, but various approaches to making a mold failed. I
ended up having to promise my winner, Dean Browning of the Housing Office,
that he would get one, however eventually. I did a junior year abroad
program, which supposedly guaranteed me the right to return to the dorms when I
returned, but when I applied, the response from Dean Browning was: "After I
get my screw." Bill Anderson eventually made two of them, one went to
Browning, the other became the rotating trophy we used for more than twenty
years.
During many of those years, I took the screw into Boston for engraving.
I used the T, and the responses I got from other people on the trains were
really great. Young children particularly took note and always commented.
Young men connected it with sex. Women made a point of trying to look
like they hadn't seen it. When asked where I got it, I told them it was
salvaged from the days when the John Hancock tower was covered in plywood.
In the mid-seventies, during one of the early spring weekends, Erland van
Lidth de Jeude and I conducted a "screw fight" where the objective was to
ensure that the screws did NOT come into contact. A picture of this event
was part of the 75th in November. Erland was well over six feet tall,
strong enough to dance on his hands, and could sing really well. He went on to
star in a number of films, including Stir Crazy with Gene Wilder, and
Tarzan with Bo Derek. Sadly, he died very young.
One year, the winner was away at a conference during the contest. His
daughter was a departmental secretary and asked that the screw be delivered to
her, and of course we complied. She then undertook to take it to Logan
Airport to make the presentation to her father as he stepped off the plane.
Somehow, she managed to convince the security apparatus to allow it!
--Yale
(PS: I was also one of Prof. Bradt's students in a course on Astrophysics)
In a message dated 08/05/2012 08:24:49 Eastern Daylight Time, bradt@mit.edu
writes:
As a former Big Screw winner (2001), I congratulate each of the
finalists. I am sure that each and possibly all of you rank high
because your students have an affection for you and appreciate your
efforts. That screw makes a wonderful desk ornament and conversation
starter for the year you have it. It sits tall and upright on its
base, the flat head of the screw.
A story: there was some controversy among some Physics faculty as to
whether it was in good taste or good PR for Physics for me to actively
seek the BS award. It was my last year before retirement and in
lecturing 8.02, so I went with the game. After winning, totally
corruptly, I debated taking the screw to a large physics dept.
retirement dinner for me and three other faculty at the Marriott in
Kendall Square and proudly exhibiting it on the table I was at.
However I decided not to do so. It was a good thing I didn't because
the Marriott was crawling with secret service agents looking after
Laura Bush who was speaking at an affair in the adjacent ballroom. I
am sure a four-foot left-handed aluminum wood screw would have
attracted a lot of attention (this was a few weeks after 9/11!) and
could well have been confiscated.
Again congratulations and thanks to the students who work hard to keep
this tradition alive.
Hale Bradt
__________________
Hale Bradt
11 Church St. Unit 201
Salem MA 01970-3753
1-978-744-4322
bradt@mit.edu
On May 8, 2012, at 12:10 AM, Daniel R Grazian wrote:
> Hi everybody,
>
> My apologies for the error in my previous email. The awards ceremony
> will be this Wednesday, 5/9, at 6pm in 1-135. My previous email
> incorrectly stated Wednesday, 5/7, a date which does not exist (this
> year at least.)
>
> I hope you can all make it! And congratulations again.
>
> Best,
>
> Daniel Grazian
> APO Big Screw Project Coordinator
>
>
>> Dear Professors Carter, Kaashoek and Zeldovich, and Miller,
>>
>> Congratulations, you're among the top three finishers in this year's
>> Big Screw competition! We'd like to invite you to attend the awards
>> ceremony, this Wednesday, 5/7 at 6pm in 1-135.
>>
>> The winner will be awarded the Big Screw traveling trophy, a four-
>> foot
>> aluminum wood screw engraved with the winners' names. Runners-up will
>> also be awarded prizes. Refreshments will be provided.
>>
>> If you can't attend, we encourage you to send someone in your place
>> as
>> a delegate.
>>
>> We hope to see you on Wednesday!
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Daniel Grazian
>> APO Big Screw project coordinator
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<DIV>Let me add a little to the Big Screw lore:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I was Big Screw PC in 1971. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The earliest screws had been made of wood, but a metal one was generat=
ed=20
for the year Dean Wadleigh won, probably 1969. Thereafter, we borrowe=
d the=20
Wadleigh screw to put on display at the Big Screw booth. In my year, =
we=20
tried to make a new one, but various approaches to making a mold=20
failed. I ended up having to promise my winner, Dean Browning of the=
=20
Housing Office, that he would get one, however eventually. I did a ju=
nior=20
year abroad program, which supposedly guaranteed me the right to return to =
the=20
dorms when I returned, but when I applied, the response from Dean Browning =
was:=20
"After I get my screw." Bill Anderson eventually made two of them,=20
one went to Browning, the other became the rotating trophy we use=
d for=20
more than twenty years.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>During many of those years, I took the screw into Boston for=20
engraving. I used the T, and the responses I got from other peo=
ple=20
on the trains were really great. Young children particularly too=
k=20
note and always commented. Young men connected it with sex. =20
Women made a point of trying to look like they hadn't seen it.&nb=
sp;=20
When asked where I got it, I told them it was salvaged from the days when t=
he=20
John Hancock tower was covered in plywood. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In the mid-seventies, during one of the early spring weekends, Erland =
van=20
Lidth de Jeude and I conducted a "screw fight" where the objective was to e=
nsure=20
that the screws did NOT come into contact. A picture of this event wa=
s=20
part of the 75th in November. Erland was well over six feet=20
tall, strong enough to dance on his hands, and could sing really=20
well. He went on to star in a number of films, including Stir Crazy w=
ith=20
Gene Wilder, and Tarzan with Bo Derek. Sadly, he died very young.</DI=
V>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>One year, the winner was away at a conference during the contest. =
; His=20
daughter was a departmental secretary and asked that the screw be delivered=
to=20
her, and of course we complied. She then undertook to take it to Loga=
n=20
Airport to make the presentation to her father as he stepped off the=20
plane. Somehow, she managed to convince the security apparatus to all=
ow=20
it!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>--Yale</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>(PS: I was also one of Prof. Bradt's students in a course on=20
Astrophysics)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 08/05/2012 08:24:49 Eastern Daylight Time, bradt@mi=
t.edu=20
writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px">=
<FONT=20
style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=3D#000000 size=3D2 face=3DA=
rial>As a=20
former Big Screw winner (2001), I congratulate each of the =20
<BR>finalists. I am sure that each and possibly all of you rank high =
;=20
<BR>because your students have an affection for you and appreciate your&n=
bsp;=20
<BR>efforts. That screw makes a wonderful desk ornament and conversation&=
nbsp;=20
<BR>starter for the year you have it. It sits tall and upright on its&nbs=
p;=20
<BR>base, the flat head of the screw.<BR><BR>A story: there was some=20
controversy among some Physics faculty as to <BR>whether it was in =
good=20
taste or good PR for Physics for me to actively <BR>seek the BS awa=
rd.=20
It was my last year before retirement and in <BR>lecturing 8.02, so=
I=20
went with the game. After winning, totally <BR>corruptly, I debated=
=20
taking the screw to a large physics dept. <BR>retirement dinner for=
me=20
and three other faculty at the Marriott in <BR>Kendall Square and=
=20
proudly exhibiting it on the table I was at. <BR>However I decided =
not=20
to do so. It was a good thing I didn't because <BR>the Marriott was=
=20
crawling with secret service agents looking after <BR>Laura Bush wh=
o was=20
speaking at an affair in the adjacent ballroom. I <BR>am sure a=20
four-foot left-handed aluminum wood screw would have <BR>attracted =
a lot=20
of attention (this was a few weeks after 9/11!) and <BR>could well =
have=20
been confiscated.<BR><BR>Again congratulations and thanks to the students=
who=20
work hard to keep <BR>this tradition alive.<BR><BR>Hale=20
Bradt<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>__________________<BR>Hale Bradt<BR>11 Church St=
.=20
Unit 201<BR>Salem MA=20
01970-3753<BR>1-978-744-4322<BR>bradt@mit.edu<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>On May 8=
,=20
2012, at 12:10 AM, Daniel R Grazian wrote:<BR><BR>> Hi=20
everybody,<BR>><BR>> My apologies for the error in my previous emai=
l.=20
The awards ceremony <BR>> will be this Wednesday, 5/9, at 6pm in=
=20
1-135. My previous email <BR>> incorrectly stated Wednesday, 5/7=
, a=20
date which does not exist (this <BR>> year at least.)<BR>><BR=
>>=20
I hope you can all make it! And congratulations again.<BR>><BR>>=20
Best,<BR>><BR>> Daniel Grazian<BR>> APO Big Screw Project=20
Coordinator<BR>><BR>><BR>>> Dear Professors Carter, Kaashoek =
and=20
Zeldovich, and Miller,<BR>>><BR>>> Congratulations, you're am=
ong=20
the top three finishers in this year's<BR>>> Big Screw competition!=
We'd=20
like to invite you to attend the awards<BR>>> ceremony, this Wednes=
day,=20
5/7 at 6pm in 1-135.<BR>>><BR>>> The winner will be awarded t=
he=20
Big Screw traveling trophy, a four- <BR>>> foot<BR>>> aluminu=
m=20
wood screw engraved with the winners' names. Runners-up will<BR>>> =
also=20
be awarded prizes. Refreshments will be provided.<BR>>><BR>>>=
If=20
you can't attend, we encourage you to send someone in your place =20
<BR>>> as<BR>>> a delegate.<BR>>><BR>>> We hope t=
o see=20
you on Wednesday!<BR>>><BR>>> Best,<BR>>><BR>>> D=
aniel=20
Grazian<BR>>> APO Big Screw project=20
coordinator<BR><BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>
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