This year, the Nobel awards were equalized by gender, with two of the female winners having, shall we say, far less imposing credentials than previous- and/or current-year male prize recipients. So Pat could have written this piece about the entire award system adopting the principle of affirmative action. He could have, but he didn't, because like so many Americans, he has a special loathing and contempt for African-Americans that will never go away.