I've read the now-infamous remarks made by Harvard President Larry Summers at a conference on diversifying the science and engineering workforce, and I have only one response: They're a rambling mess.

To be fair, Summers openly stated at the outset that he was speaking "unofficially" and accepted the invitation with the proviso that the conference organizers "wanted some questions asked and some attempts at provocation."

No doubt delivering a rambling mess to any audience is serious provocation, but I'm afraid being the President of Harvard deprives you of that luxury, as no doubt he has learned.

Still, let's start with the science he cited, as well as the conclusions he drew. Well, actually, let's not. And why not? He's not particularly clear about which studies he's talking about, nor is it clear he actually sat down and examined the science they represent.

Therefore, just like everyone else who puts his pants on one leg at a time, I can't give any weight whatsoever to his scientific speculations.

Darn. Still, he gave me plenty else to talk about.

My personal favorite is what he calls his "high-powered job hypothesis." And he ought to know. You see, Larry Summers is an accomplished guy. With degrees in economics from MIT and Harvard, he's taught on both faculties, and received truck loads of prestigious medals and awards.

He's had to move several times between Boston and Washington, DC, where he lately served as Secretary of the Treasury just prior to his current five-year gig as Harvard's President. And just a year or so ago, he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

Larry Summers is a veritable posterchild for the skyrocketing career, and so when he says that you must be prepared to work 80 hours a week over the course of your adult life, I'm inclined to believe him.

He's states that women with children are just not up to making that commitment, and thus, shouldn't be surprised or feel deprived that no one gives them a job at the top of their profession.

Thanks for explaining this, Larry. It clears up a whole lot of things.

If you're still with me Larry, I gotta give you a little piece of data - women are already working 80 hour weeks, and have been for decades. And we pack an amazing panoply of tasks into that effort.

At the same time, Larry, I notice your official resume tells me you didn't have to give up having children to achieve your own success. You have twin daughters, age 13, and a son, age 10. Funnily enough, it doesn't mention a wife. In the resume business, this is usually code for "He's divorced." If that's so, it would mean that you didn't have to give up having children, but you did have to give up living with your family. Hey, Larry, you're absolutely right. You got to make sacrifices if you want to succeed.

But I've got to also tell you that children only hang around your house for about 20 years. After that, you're free, free, free. It was Margaret Meade who noticed the substantial capabilities of women in their fifties. And they've got 80-hour weeks down to a science. And have you noticed Clint Eastwood? He's now in his mid-seventies, and he isn't doing badly.

But here's the trick. To Margaret Meade, these women weren't invisible. To Clint Eastwood, age isn't defining. Your job, Larry, is to work this data into the next revision of your "high-powered job hypothesis." We can't wait.

I'm Moira Gunn. This is Five Minutes.

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