JMC gets honorary degree from Harvard

[pg]

http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2008/06.05/01-honorands.html

[helveticaman]

FYI: JMC is John McCarthy.

[hugh]

Aarg. Not another set of initials to learn!

Even after looking at the article it took me a while to figure out who "JMC" was since I expected his last name to start with a C, not an M, and that James P. Comer guy threw me for a little while.

[akd]

It's not clear that these honorary degrees have any meaning or purpose.

[Hexstream → akd]

Meaning of an honorary degree: a (potentially prestigious) education establishment formally attests to the relevance of one's contribution to society.

[hhm]

Also, J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, got her honorary degree from Harvard together with JMC. Very surprising.