The Nobel Prize Committee took its share of lumps over the weekend for awarding its Peace Prize to President Obama, a nomination that occurred after only his 12th day in office. Now, they've made another seemingly counterintuitive move by awarding the economics prize to two American economists, Elinor Ostrom -- the first woman to receive the award -- and Oliver Williamson.
That's right, the same America whose economic collapse ushered in the worst global recession since the Great Depression has now produced a pair of Nobel Economics Laureates. This reminds us of the 1978 Don Sutton baseball card that says "Don Sutton is the winningest pitcher in Dodger history. He's also the losingest pitcher in Dodgers history."
Of course, as Think Progress points out, the prize given to Williamson ("for his analysis of economic governance, especially the boundaries of the firm") and Ostrom ("for her analysis of economic governance, especially the commons") isn't a "real" Nobel Prize. It's actually the The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, and was conceived in 1969 as a way of getting economists some play.
Now that we know that you can just make up new prizes willy-nilly, we think it's high time that the Nobel Committee added some new ones. Here are a few of our suggestions:
Nobel Prize for Home Economics
Awarded to the individual or organization that submits the best sewing project and/or makes most effective use of "double coupons." This year's nominees include your mom.
Nobel Prize for "Home Medicine"
Awarded to the individual or organization that exhibits excellence in backyard medicinal arts, including, but not limited to, Excellence in Nyquil Mixology, Hydroponic Agriculture and Best Meth Lab Explosion. This year's only nominee was Zeke.
Nobel "Piece" Prize
Awarded to the individual or organization who writes the best Penthouse Forum letter. This year's nominees include "pizza deliveryman," "female plumber" and David Letterman.
The Nobel Prize for Onscreen Chemistry
Awarded to the individual or organization that made the best fireworks onscreen.
This year's nominees include Kanye West and Taylor Swift, Megan Fox and anybody, and Bill Nye the Science Guy.
The Nobel "Peace Out" Prize
Awarded to the individual or organization that advances excellence in stylish exiting. This year's nominees include Brett Favre, Brett Favre and Brett Favre. Sadly, Brett Favre was disqualified.
What Nobel prize would you like to see awarded?


























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