Tabloids

'Amazing saga of the half-human Bat-Boy'

'Saddam Hussein’s efforts to clone dinosaurs for use as weapons of mass destruction'

'Two-headed alien babies'

'Miracle Baby: Love Overcomes Incredible Odds for Paralyzed Wife and Her Gentle Giant'

Here I was, reading Scott McLemee's scholarly take on the tabloid press; all the above 'headlines' are taken from this column, which has pointers to conferences and university courses devoted to tabloids. The whole thing was quite amusing in a charming -- or, should I say, academic? -- way, and I wasn't thinking in terms of blogging about it.

Then I found a link in McLemee's column to a tabloid 'news story' that hit close to home, and I thought, "Gee, the world (well, all five of you, anyways) ought to know!"   More importantly, enquiring minds in you would certainly want to know. Even more importantly, there are these dark, nether regions -- a counter culture, if you will -- called academia in which there is too much going on. The public, who fund most of our activities, really need to know. The student community, from whom we recruit the future members of this ashram, must know about these happenings, so that they can make an informed choice.

So, ladies and gentlemen, [can I have the drum roll, please ...] here is a great story that represents the best in tabloid journalism. We need more of such stories so, as a great commander-in-chief put it so eloquently, "bring'em on".

Oh, btw, don't forget to read McLemee's piece. ;-)