There’s a story percolating through the internet that originally appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle and has now made its way to places like The Huffington Post*. I don’t fault Justin Berton, the Chronicle writer, because i realize that he probably didn’t write the headline. None-the-less, “Biblical scholar’s date for rapture: May 21, 2011″ is shite…though it was enough to pique the interest of the fluff chasers at the Huff Po.

Having never heard of Harold Camping before seeing this article, i had to do a little research. My suspicions were confirmed.
Full story »

Scholars & Rogues wishes a very special Happy 2010 to our fans – all 164 of them. Hey, it’s about quality, not quantity, right?

We know there are more than 164 really smart people on Facebook, though, so if you aren’t already following us you can do so here or by clicking on the Facebook icon you see in the column to the right.

We’re also on Twitter, and you can follow our Twitstream here.

Now, go watch some football – it’s back to work tomorrow…

On January 1 most of the world rolled forward into a new decade. The Catholic Republic of Ireland, meanwhile, rolled backward into a former century.

Lawmakers in staunchly Catholic Ireland passed the law in July, but it came into force January 1.

A person breaks the law by saying or publishing anything “grossly abusive or insulting in relation to matters held sacred by any religion, thereby causing outrage among a substantial number of the adherents of that religion.”

Errrm, wait a second. Full story »

To most NFL fans, the term Wildcat conjures up an image of a running back receiving the snap. Whether or not this lends an element of diversity to a team’s attack is debatable. More certain are the formation’s implications to the offensive coordinator: that during running plays his team is no longer at a numerical disadvantage to the defense.

Usually when a quarterback hands off, he proceeds to take himself out of the mix, thus leaving the offense with but 10 players matched up against the defense’s 11. The Wildcat, in contrast, provides a contingency blocker. In any event, like many “innovations” in sport (as well as art and fashion), the Wildcat is actually a homage to the past — in football’s case, the venerable single-wing. Full story »

Happy 2010, folks. We hope everybody’s football schedule runneth over.

If you have a minute, how about telling us what your New Year’s resolution is? Maybe we can all be one great big mutual support group, huh? 

Happy New Year from the staff of Scholars & Rogues. Full story »