Right about this time of year, the Chemistry Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison holds its annual departmental picnic as part of the -whaddyacall- bonding experiences for the new class of graduate students. This event is filled with the normal merriment, grilled foods, root beer on tap... and the centerpiece of it all is the pig roast.
In fact, the event (as alluded to in the title of this post) is called The Greater Chemistry Snout Out, or just Snout Out, for short. There is even a Snout Out trophy (see below)... bragging rights for the winner of the intra-departmental softball game between groups with arcane-sounding names such as "Analytical-Physical" and "Organic-Inorganic."
I never participated in one of these events; they began in 1984, which was the year I was awarded my degree (and I had already been away from Madison for 2 years at my first academic position - yet another story).
So why am I mentioning this at all?
Is there a connection between something called a "Snout Out" appearing at Madison just after I was in graduate school there and our little grey friend?
You bet your ass there is.
And really, only two people on the whole planet actually know the whole story (hi, Wreckless).
I think it's time to tell the tale.
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