Dr —-[EDITOR’S NOTE: THE INVESTGATOR HAS ASKED US TO REMOVE HER NAME]—- sent us this note:
Dear Sirs,
I just have read about the latest Ignoble [sic] prize winners in physics and I read the original article of Ramesh Balasubramaniam and Michael Turvey, “Coordination Modes in the Multisegmental Dynamics of Hula Hooping,” Biological Cybernetics, vol. 90, no 3, March 2004, pp. 176-90
The article in not only senseless and not funny, but also absolutely incorrect. The authors completely ignore such a sport-art as RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS, where gymnasts perform with hoops. Hoop is rotate most of the time around WRIST and also around EVERY part of the body. That is something to study! I cannot believe the authors did not even look outside their labs to write about hoop-motion. This is so unprofessional. And it is sad that nobody noticed it.
I am former professional in rhythmic gymnastics, as I did it for 10 years, now I am doing physics, so I know what I am talking about.
It is sad that Ig-noble [sic] committee met such a bad unprofessional choice in 2004.
with kind regards,
Dr ——-
Switzerland