Huitlacoche is a fungus that tastes good but has side effects.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Julian Baggini and Nick Cohen Debate
Aug 23rd, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIs Blunkett’s proposed religious hatred law a good idea?… Read the rest
James Buchan Reviews Ziauddin Sardar
Aug 23rd, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonNo journey can begin if the traveller thinks he has already arrived.… Read the rest
Lear and Paulina
Aug 22nd, 2004 10:12 pm | By Ophelia BensonAnother literary post, this is going to be. That’s two in a row. Well – I have a literary side, so you’ll have to bear with me. I usually cover it up here, I pretend to be interested exclusively in other things – and in fact I am interested in other things; I’ve been getting less and less exclusively literary for years. All my adult life really. Which I guess is just a roundabout way of saying I used to be a rather narrow, boring, incurious person when I was young, and then I outgrew it. (Yes I did. I’m not boring. Stop it at once.)
It’s a Shakespeare poll. And not just any poll, but a poll that … Read the rest
Another Shakespeare Poll
Aug 22nd, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonScofield’s Lear is Topp. Hamlet also well-liked; Paulina is most inspiring.… Read the rest
Too Few UK Students Taking Science Courses
Aug 22nd, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonMany chemistry and physics departments have closed.… Read the rest
A ‘Paradigm Shift’ in Finnish Linguistic Prehistory
Aug 22nd, 2004 | By Merlijn de SmitIntroduction
Any field dealing with “origins” – archaeology, historical linguistics, general history – has seen its share of nonsense, usually painting a glorious past for whatever ethnicity or social group is involved. Thus a hypothesis popular with (certain) feminists and neo-pagans has an egalitarian, matriarchal, peaceful paradise all throughout the neolithic – until patriarchal, warlike, horse-riding nomads destroyed it all (with the exception of what survives underground in today’s Wiccan movement, of course). Another example may be “Afrocentric” pseudohistory, which ascribes incredible technological advancement to ancient Egyptian society, which happened also to be the cradle of ancient Greek philosophy and culture. In these two examples, pseudohistory serves a clear political goal, which could be regarded as progressive – the emancipation … Read the rest
Blair Slashed Homelessness – and Nobody Noticed
Aug 21st, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA dense web of progressive policies that has been badly under-reported.… Read the rest
Conviction in Faked Hate-crime
Aug 21st, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFormer professor painted racist slogans on her own car, it seems.… Read the rest
Noonan/Tressell Not an Elitist!
Aug 21st, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIt’s not elitist to believe all should have access to the best culture, not just the easy version.… Read the rest
Walden and Points East
Aug 21st, 2004 1:49 am | By Ophelia BensonThere is an interesting essay on Thoreau in that wicked newspaper that people around here say such hard things about. I’m very keen on Thoreau, especially Walden, myself. Thoreau was such a damn phrase-maker, for one thing. I once memorized this paragraph, just because I liked it so much:
… Read the restI see young men, my townsmen, whose misfortune it is to have inherited farms, houses, barns, cattle, and farming tools; for these are more easily acquired than got rid of. Better if they had been born in the open pasture and suckled by a wolf, that they might have seen with clearer eyes what field they were called to labor in. Who made them serfs of the soil? Why should
A Good Word for Thoreau
Aug 20th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonYou can read Tressell too though.… Read the rest
Author Admits Fabrications in Honour-Killing Book
Aug 20th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonNot helpful.… Read the rest
McDonald’s Ad Seeks to ‘Balance’ Film
Aug 20th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia Benson‘Super Size Me’ flawed because nobody eats every meal at McDonald’s.… Read the rest
Judging the Booker Prize Longlist
Aug 20th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonSo many novels are competent but pointless. And all those underdogs with hearts of gold…… Read the rest
Besides, She Gets It All Wrong
Aug 19th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonA menace to the public understanding of science; channel 4 should not give her a platform.… Read the rest
Eccentric but Brilliant Doctor – Says Her PR Firm
Aug 19th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonNutrition expert got her PhD from non-accredited correspondence course.… Read the rest
Butterflies
Aug 19th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonFarmers in Tanzania are raising butterflies for export.… Read the rest
A-Levels in the Wrong Subjects?
Aug 19th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonPhysics, German and French are down, psychology and media studies up.… Read the rest
Protests Over BBC Documentary on Black Men
Aug 19th, 2004 | Filed by Ophelia BensonIs it all stereotypes or a response to compelling statistics?… Read the rest