Ode to the OTA

by | Jul 25, 2009 | Blog, Occam's Razor, OTA, Science Policy

Ode to the OTA from Occam: (I particularly appreciate the line about “public input”.)

Around 1599 Shakespeare penned “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day,” to an unnamed lover.  As I believe that imitation is the sincerest form of laziness – and in recognition of the Science Cheerleader’s tireless efforts to get a 21st century version of the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment opened  – I have taken the liberty of adapting this poem to my would-be lover, the OTA.  I could go into several reasons why a revamped, participatory OTA is needed, but here may be the most salient, and maybe you’ve seen it on this site already:  a higher percentage of Tennessee Titans cheerleaders have formal science training than do members of congress.

Oh OTA, shall I compare thee…

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou shine year round yet do not give cancer
Summer proceeds with no care, come what may
But you ne’er rest lest you have an answer
Thou toil at task what e’er the weath’r may do
But sun gives buss only when clouds do part
Each day of summer must commence anew
But you’ll be in the omnibus from start
Summer days end with warm, still, dark coda
With public help your experts on advise
And live past Newt not giv’ng one “i-OTA”
All science known, for Congress you’ll summ’rize
The Bard outshines and his words will me slay
I shall thus finish: “bring back O-T-A!“
 

1 Comment

  1. Paul Shin
    Paul Shin on July 25, 2009 at 1:43 pm

    Renews my appreciation for Shakespeare- just like the Star Trek movies do! (Oh, that’s a good thing!)

    Reply

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