The Ulm Sparrow

The Ulm Sparrow is a landmark and symbol of the German city of Ulm. According to legend, the people of Ulm needed a large beam for the construction of Ulm Minster, but they couldn’t get it through the city gate. As they were about to tear the gate down, they noticed a sparrow carrying a straw for its nest. The sparrow turned the straw from crosswise to lengthwise in its beak, and the people of Ulm realized that they could place long loads along rather than across their carts. They were able to enter the city without rebuilding their gate. This legend has given rise to the Ulm Sparrow Award, which is given to a person who brings forward a seemingly important idea or concept that isn’t at all important, is superfluous, or is rather obvious. The award is generally awarded in jest, but the message is clear: let’s not waste effort on the trivial and non-contributing, let’s focus on what truly matters.