Michael Kazin on Howard Zinn *

Mar 25th, 2004 | Filed by

‘A People’s History is bad history, albeit gilded with virtuous intentions.’… Read the rest



Lewis Wolpert on What Science Is *

Mar 25th, 2004 | Filed by

It’s not common sense, for one thing.… Read the rest



The Panda’s Thumb *

Mar 25th, 2004 | Filed by

‘dedicated to defending the integrity of science against all attempts to weaken it, distort it, or destroy it.’… Read the rest



Kevin Drum on Intelligent Design *

Mar 25th, 2004 | Filed by

He says it isn’t, and introduces The Panda’s Thumb. … Read the rest



Two People Die at ‘Passion’ Screenings *

Mar 25th, 2004 | Filed by

Heart attacks during the torture scene. Just a coincidence?… Read the rest



Monty Python to the Rescue *

Mar 25th, 2004 | Filed by

Tired of Passion-passion? See Life of Brian instead.… Read the rest



The Pledge, the Deity, the Court *

Mar 25th, 2004 | Filed by

Pledge is not religious, it’s patriotic, says Bush administration.… Read the rest



An Interlude

Mar 24th, 2004 5:15 pm | By

Right, well as long as I’m in a plaintive vein, a threnodic vein, a sorrowful, plangent, mournful, whingey vein – I think I’ll just take a moment to ponder the grief of living in an out of the way corner of the world. And corner it is, too; tucked or rather jammed up in the far far far northwest corner of the whole damn country, not on the way to anywhere except Alaska (and maybe Japan but only if you’re starting from Idaho). It’s not Los Angeles, it’s not San Francisco, and it sure as hell is not New York or Paris or London. It’s not central. It’s not a capital. It’s not a place where things happen and interesting … Read the rest



India Times on Laine Issue *

Mar 24th, 2004 | Filed by

Maharashtra seeking Interpol’s help in arrest of author.… Read the rest



Congress Party Joins in the Fun *

Mar 24th, 2004 | Filed by

Going after the Sena-BJP vote, Congress tries to outdo them in threatening author.… Read the rest



Indian State Seeks to Arrest Author *

Mar 24th, 2004 | Filed by

He said bad things about Shivaji, so bust him.… Read the rest



The State of the State of Feminism

Mar 24th, 2004 | By Cassandra L. Pinnick

Martha C. Nussbaum’s new book, “Sex and Social Justice,” makes a case for liberal feminism.

More than a generation ago, women’s rights established a foothold in U.S. politics. Women’s rights included primarily, though not exclusively, a concern for equal treatment under the law; this in turn focused down to two areas of central concern: equality in access to educational opportunity and equality in compensational structure and career opportunities.

Persons, male as well as female, who supported and campaigned for women’s rights were, and are, feminists. There are few persons today who would openly oppose the general principles of equality that drive feminism.

Feminist political theory has since developed apace. Feminists who believe in the power of legislative and case law … Read the rest



Ave atque Vale, Invisible Adjunct

Mar 24th, 2004 12:02 am | By

Damn! Invisible Adjunct is packing it in. Rolling up the carpets, unplugging the lamps, feeding the leftover cake to the cat. In short, leaving. Leaving both blogging and adjuncting. I don’t know which is sadder. Well yes I do – the latter is. Presumably it was more important to her, so it’s worse that the world of academe closed her out. My Cliopatria colleague Ralph Luker and IA’s real world history teaching colleague is angry about it.

I am stunned! Angry, first of all, at the academy and more particularly at the history profession for its failure. And, yes, it is the profession’s failure, not IA’s. Deeply sorry, secondly, for the loss of a humane and deeply thoughtful voice in

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Shivaji Making Waves Again *

Mar 23rd, 2004 | Filed by

BJP leaders in Maharashtra call for ban on Nehru book that ‘demeans’ Shivaji.… Read the rest



Life Among the Lexicographers *

Mar 23rd, 2004 | Filed by

Compiling a dictionary of regional English, and what one learns thereby.… Read the rest



The Court, the Pledge, the Deity *

Mar 23rd, 2004 | Filed by

What does the word ‘God’ mean, anyway?… Read the rest



Philip Stott on What Ails Academics *

Mar 22nd, 2004 | Filed by

Feuds, rivalries, pecking orders, nasty remarks – too much like kindergarten.… Read the rest



Certification in Three Days? *

Mar 22nd, 2004 | Filed by

To many philosophical counselors, Lou Marinoff is an embarrassment.… Read the rest



Astronauts Regret Doom of Hubble *

Mar 22nd, 2004 | Filed by

Repair mission worth the risk and they would do it again, astronauts say.… Read the rest



Wilentz, Wills, Jefferson *

Mar 22nd, 2004 | Filed by

Is revisionist history recapitulating partisan Federalist politics?… Read the rest