I am downright ashamed of my alma mater, Rutgers University. The university administration has spent huge amounts of money to build a gigantic new football stadium that was never needed (the only one was fine) and cut down a lot of trees in the process. The place stands out like a sore thumb. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent on the football program, especially to pay coaches huge salaries. One even had a house built for him. At the same time, every academic support program from tutors to library hours to number of full time professors to health care providers is being cut left and right. Football “stars” get full scholarships including room and board as long as they maintain a C average while A students have to finance their educations almost entirely with loans. A university is an academic institution, not an athletic institution. I will never donate money to any Rutgers organizations until this is reversed.

you have to see this it explains why the bands work. check it out

As it stands, these people are thieves and should be brought to justice. This is a job for the FBI.

As for the universities, they are supposed to exist to educate people. This implies a duty to denounce flimflammery, be it or not it is associated with their name or logo.

If it bears their logo, by not denouncing it, they become jointly responsible for a great disservice to the public, and they should be held accountable.

Maybe university administrators should start wearing rubber bands to protect themselves, just in case the FBI decides to investigate.

I hope they are not getting any money for their inaction, the thought is too horrible to entertain, universities aiding and abetting. No, that could not happen, or could it?

There is a name for this propensity to do anything for money.
Can’t remember it right now, but then, English is not my native tongue.

Some refer to that by associating it with “the oldest profession”, I am not sure what that means.

P.-S. Please feel no obligation to explain it to me, I which to keep my innocence.

Really?

The other customers must be really stupid to assume that licensing a logo is the same as providing an endorsement.

I have dozens of items with licensed logos. I don’t expect that the licensor stands behind any of these products in any way.

If suckers want to buy $30 rubber bands with licensed logos – let them.

Here is a link to the Independent Investigations Group’s (IIG) preliminary report on our test of Power Balance. Richard Saunders’ explanation of Applied Kinesiology has been awesome! The IIG now has tested Power Balance’s claims of balance, flexibility and strength. The report as shown on Yahoo News, left out a lot; but our final report will be thorough.
http://www.iigwest.org

Now… Where do I sign up to get one of those magic wombats???

I want to learn how to play the game of “magic wom”, too!

Negative ion reducing bracelets. I’m sure I desperately need my negative ions reduced.

Hmmm . . . let’s see . . . Oxidation Is Loss; Reduction Is Gain (of electrons). So, to reduce a negative ion, you must give it more electrons . . . which would mean . . . erm . . . it becomes more negative?

Huh?

Well, sodium hydride is an example of a powerful reducing agent. Does that mean that the “negative ion reducing bracelet” douses you with sodium hydride? ‘Cos I don’t imagine that would be pleasant.

Now… Where do I sign up to get one of those magic wombats???

@Tom K: Ha

Negative ion reducing bracelets. I’m sure I desperately need my negative ions reduced.

# The negative-ions in Trion:Z’s officially licensed collegiate series wristbands are released in measurable and significant amounts at rates 50 to 100 time higher than competing brands.
# Trion:Z products will maintain their negative-ion producing properties when wet- they?re functional in the shower, ocean, and the pool.

As Dr Rae put it: “Sports were seen as important for the development of character, and character considered as superior to intellect.”

The historian, James Morris, in his history of the British Empire, writes of how, as the Empire expanded, and the tasks facing its various administrators became increasingly larger and more complex, so the standard sports-biased education became less and less appropriate to their needs.

Kipling wrote his famous lines, attacking “the flannelled fools at the wicket; the muddied oafs at the goal”, in protest at the way this country placed sports ahead of other, more significant, priorities.

In the course of my researches, I have come across numerous complaints on American Websites concerning the way in which “athletes” are considered more popular than “scholars” on American campuses, and how spending on sports facilities is viewed more favourably than spending on facilities for gifted students. As one commentator put it: “If those charged with education are unwilling to defend the importance of education, who should be expected to do so?”

Those who learn nothing from history may be doomed to repeat it – including those who were taught that sport was more important than history, and those who did the teaching.

Well… as a practical matter, not really, no. This is one of many situations in which having a basic understanding of science and mathematics can help a reasonable person sort out fact from fertilizer.

Re: FDA regulation

Since the bands do not pose any significant risk (i.e., classified as a Class I device), the manufacturers can claim a 510(k) exemption, meaning they do not need to get FDA approval to market it.

Drink six or seven of THOSE and the day goes by really fast.

Gary 7

Universities should be a place where the freedom of speech, even speech that the government or the public disagrees with, is unfettered. That way the best ideas come out. You’ll note that while this university has the bands with their logo’s, they don’t have any Majors in Homeopathy or Chiropracty, and there are no classes on the “Autism Epidemic and Vaccination”. The best ideas arise from freedom, not limiting speech, even when that speech pisses you off.

Katharine, reply 11: Its the KISS principle, slightly modified.

Keep It Stupid, Simples!