Just in time for Easter, a Harvard professor David Edwards has announced that he has invented “Le Whif”: the world’s first inhalable chocolate. Not only can you now take in your chocolate with an inhaler, but “whiffing” comes with no calories. Le Whif will not give you Le Waddle. You can then grab an e-cigarette to have a whif and a sniff for the perfect night.
Category: Academia
Here my column in Sunday’s Washington Post on the increasing prosecutions in the West for insulting religion. The rise of international blasphemy prosecutions (and the proposal of the international criminalization of blasphemy) has sacrificed free speech in the name of free exercise.
Continue reading “International Blasphemy: The Free World Bars Free Speech”
NASA has captured a picture of what appears to be the hand of God reaching across space. Notably, the picture was taken as former Sen. Ted Stevens (R., Alaska) is about to appear in federal court to declare victory after the Justice Department drops its case against him.
The Fairfax County school system has added yet another example of how ridiculous the “zero-tolerance” drug policy can become when officials refuse to apply a modicum of common sense or judgment. A teenage girl at Oakton High School took her pill at lunch and was immediately seized by a teacher, accused of violating the drug policy, suspended for two weeks, and recommended for expulsion — even though the school acknowledges that she was taking a prescription pill.
Continue reading “Virginia School System Moves To Expel Teenage Girl For Taking Birth Control Pill at Her High School”
Ward Churchill, the controversial former professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has won an important verdict in court. A jury found that he had been wrongly terminated by the university after his public repudiation for referring to the victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks as “little Eichmanns.”
Continue reading “Ward Churchill Wins Major Verdict of Wrongful Termination”
We have yet another teacher facing punishment over her private life. We have previously seen teachers in the United States disciplined over appearing in provocative pictures after hours. In this case, Natasha Gray is not an elementary teacher but a physical education teacher at Manor Community College in Cambridge, England.
Continue reading “Model Teacher: English Teacher Faces Possible Discipline Over Modeling Career”
Principal Catherine Williams has reportedly implemented a perfectly bizarre policy. After a boy was kicked in the groin and sent to the hospital, she announced an absolute “no touching” policy where students may not touch another student at the East Shore Middle School.
Continue reading “Connecticut’s Bubble Boys (and Girls): School Principal Outlaws Physical Contact”
In yet another example of the shrinking values of free speech in England, a University of East London professor of anthropology Chris Knight has been suspended for saying that bankers need to be aware of the fury in the country before they are found “hanging from lampposts.” Knight was helping organize a protest for next week G20 summit.
Continue reading “A Knight’s Tale: Professor Suspended for Hanging Bankers Comment”
In an incredible act, the South African government has barred the Dalai Lama from an International Peace Conference — knuckling under to pressure from China. The very people that once fought efforts to silence Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu are now silencing a Noble Prize winner and international voice of peace because they do not want to insult China.
Continue reading “South Africa Bars Dalai Lama From International Peace Conference”
It appears that Oklahoma legislators are continuing their attempted crackdown on University of Oklahoma for the outrage of allowing evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins of Oxford University speak to its students. After proposing two resolutions denouncing the scheduled appearance, legislators are now demanding answers about the funding and communications with Dawkins. It appears that the legislators would like the school to pull speakers from the renown Institute of Creation Science than that glorified correspondence school, Oxford University.
Continue reading “Oklahoma Legislature Investigates University’s Hosting of Speech by Evolution Advocate”
Long before the blessed holy clothes and apocalyptic tapes, it appears that religious organizations found a way to fleece the faithful. Smith College has reconstructed a coin-operated holy water dispenser designed by the Greek inventor Heron.
Continue reading “Drop A Drachma And Be Saved: Smith College Constructs Ancient Coin-Operated Holy Water Dispenser”
Among the academics making the news this week is former Naval Academy professor Patrick Harrison, 66. It is not the type of publicity a professor craves. He is charged with raping a 12-year-old girl while teaching at the Academy. What is interesting about this case is that the alleged victim took 15 years to come forward with the claims.
Most law professors relish any reliance of a court on their academic writings. This may not be what Seton Hall Law Professor Robert Martin had in mind. Martin wrote about his experience as a juror in the New Jersey Law Journal after he and his co-jurors found a grocery store liable for $876,000. A New Jersey appellate court has now ruled that the publication is a sufficient reason to overturn the verdict based on his described conduct.
Continue reading “Publish and Perish: Law Professor’s Writing on His Jury Experience Leads to the Overturning of Verdicts”
Don McLeroy, controversial Chair of the Texas State Board of Education, has recommended released his top choice of his recommended reading list: “Sowing Atheism” by Robert Bowie Johnson, Jr. — a book billed by creationists as disproving evolution and exposing the worldwide atheist conspiracy. When combined with the effort to create an advanced degree in “Creation Science” in Texas, the state will soon rival Iran and Saudi Arabia as a bastion of medieval thought.
Continue reading “Texas Chair of the Texas Board of Education Puts Atheist-Conspiracy Book on Recommended Reading List”
It was only recently that many of us put away our Square Root Day decorations. Yet, it is now time to celebrate Pi day in all of its irrational glory. The irrational number is rounded off to 3.14, making March 14th the special day for all math geeks — and circle circumference fanatics.
Continue reading “HAPPY Pi DAY!!!”