Universities often spend copious resources and time to predict which applicants are most likely to excel as academics and researchers. Now, the respected scientific journal Oikos has published a study showing that beer drinking among scientists may be the most reliable measure of whether they will be Darwins or Duds. Continue reading “Pub Light: Study Shows Correlation Between Publication Performance and Beer Drinking Among Scientists”
Category: Academia
Samantha Power is an award-winning and respected academic has served as Mr Obama’s key foreign policy aide. She has now resigned after the Scotman newspaper published an off-the-record comment about Hillary Clinton, calling her a “monster” who will do or say anything to get elected. What I find most disturbing is the complete absence of journalistic ethics on the part of this newspaper. Years ago, I had a run in with the Scotsman over their publication of an interview or column that they attributed to me. I never gave them an interview or spoke with them. Continue reading “Beware of Scotsman: Aide Fired After Newspaper Publishes Off-Record “Monster” Comment”
If you are hiring a lawyer in Brazil, you may want to be sure to call before Dora the Explorer comes on. Joao Victor Portellinha recently passed the entrance test for law school despite the fact that he is in the fifth grade. Continue reading “I’ll File, You Drive: 8 Year Old Passes Law School Entrance Exam”
Arkansas Robert Steinbuch won an appeal to the Eighth Circuit in his case against former Senate aide to Mike DeWine, Jessica Cutler — the so-called Washingtonienne. Steinbuch sued after he was identified by initials by Cutler in her account of sexual affairs in Washington. It is a case of some significance for bloggers and those who keep online diaries that could be challenged as defamatory or violations of privacy. Continue reading “Grapes of Wrath: Law Professor Steinbuch Wins Appeal Over Book Detailing Alleged Affair with the “Washingtonienne””
Mukasey’s Paradox;
On further review, his manipulations on torture and contempt are a beautiful, twisted thing. Continue reading “Mukasey’s Paradox”
There is an interesting controversy brewing at Harvard University. The university has banned men from one of its gyms to create women-only hours – to accommodate Muslim women. While the effort is a commendable effort to accommodate a part of the Harvard community, it also constitutes a serious question of gender discrimination. Continue reading “Religious Tolerance or Gender Discrimination? Harvard Goes to Women-Only Hours at Gym”
Tim Goeglein, special assistant to the president and deputy director of public liaison, admitted this week that he has published plagiarized work. His undoing was at the hands of a blogger, Nancy Nall, who found that one column was lifted from the writings of a former Columbia and Dartmouth professor, Jeffery Hart. Nall and others now claim that there were other columns. Late Friday, reports indicated that Goeglein has resigned. Continue reading “Blogger Uncovers Plagiarism by Senior Bush Official”
The American Field Service (AFS) is facing a possible lawsuit in a shocking case of alleged abuse and negligence. Maine teenager
Jonathan McCullum lost 60 pounds while placed with a family in Egypt. When he returned he was so weak that he had difficulty carrying his luggage and had to be hospitalized . AFS has refused to comment and referred inquiries to a lawyer who has also refused to comment. This could present some novel tort issues, but it appears that AFS has much to answer for. Continue reading “Food Not Included: AFS Exchange Student Starved in Eygpt and Hospitalized Upon His Return”
Arizona Bus driver Kim Sullivan has been charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct after the video below was shown to authorities. On the video, Sullivan is shown in a full hair-pulling wrestling match with a student. Three students were also charged. It seems likely that civil litigation will likely result from the controversy. Continue reading “Video: Criminal Charges Filed After School Bus Video Shows Fight Between Bus Driver and Students”
Madonna Constantine, professor of psychology and education at Columbia’s Teachers College, has been sanctioned for plagiarism. Constantine was previously involved in a controversy over a noose found on her door. Continue reading “Columbia Professor in Noose Controversy Sanctioned for Plagiarism”
As the legacy of the Roberts Court has started to form over the last few years, one of its most pronounced trends has been a highly pro-business bent. This trend continues this term with a series of rulings, including a very significant ruling in favor of medical manufacturers on the question of federal preemption in torts in Riegel v. Medtronic. Continue reading “Open for Business: Roberts Court Delivers Another Victory for Business in a Major Torts Ruling”
More than three dozen current and former lacrosse players at Duke have sued the University for its actions during the infamous rape case. They have grounds for the lawsuit after the University discarded every principle of legal process and fairness to join the mob against its own students. Continue reading “Duke Lacrosse Players Sue Duke University Over Rape Case”
A recent survey in Chicago shows that only one in four Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms contained in the first amendment. Only one in a thousand could name all of the freedoms. However, more than half can name at least two members of the Simpson family. Doh! Of course, Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart and the rest of the characters are not devoid of constitutional significance, as discussed below. Continue reading “Freedom of Speech . . . and Freedom from Knowledge: Only One in 1000 Americans Polled Could Name the Five Freedoms of the First Amendment”
In an indictment of the once-unassailable British educational system, a quarter of British citizens believe that Winston Churchill was a purely fictional character. However, half believe that Eleanor Rigby, the Beattles’ creation, was a real person.
Continue reading “Winston Who?: One in Four British Citizens Believe Churchill Never Existed”
An Oklahoma businessman has pledged $70 million to Oral Roberts University — a move that could prevent the closing of the financially strapped school in the midst of the latest scandal. Continue reading “Oral Roberts University to Receive $70 Million Gift”