Most credit for the origin of April Fools’ Day to King Charles IX in 16th Century France when he move New Years from the end of March to January — with those still marking the new year in April mocked as fools. But history emeritus Professor Joseph Boskin still gets media calls each year asking about how he told an AP reporter in 1983 a phony story about April Fools’ origin – as a joke – and they ran the story anyway.
“So it doesn’t matter what I’ve written or have done, my Warholian 15 minutes is an April Fools’ Day story.”
Amphastar Pharmaceuticals reportedly paid more than $100,000 to a private investigative firm to snoop on FDA officials they suspected of having a too-chummy relationship with a competitor drug maker. Amphastar insists it did nothing wrong, but Senate Finance Committee investigators are looking into the case. Law Professor Kevin Outterson, an authority on drug law and marketing, says it's disturbing.
"I don’t know what is more disturbing: that Amphastar hired the private detectives or that they are unapologetic about it after being caught."
On the heels of victorys on healthcare reform, a nuclear-arms agreement with the Russians, and student loans, President Obama seems to be getting more willing to be confrontational with Congressional foes. Political science Professor Graham Wilson, author of "Only in America?American Politics in Comparative Perspective," says it appears the 2008 campaigning Obama is back.
"Is this because key adviser David Plouffe [above] is back with him? The change in style seems to coincide with Plouffe’s return. Certainly the days of Obama being a punching bag for the Republicans seem to be over."
In what could break the AT&T monopoly on iPhone sales in the U.S., Apple Inc. reportedly is planning to produce an iPhone that can be sold by other carriers like Verizon using the CDMA wireless network. School of Management Professor N. Venkat Venkatraman, chairman of the Information Systems Department, says it's a strategic move by Apple to establish superiority in the USA.
"Consumers love Verizon’s network and that has allowed Google’s Android to gain a stronghold. This will ensure that consumers get iPhone on their favorite network and then Apple can migrate them to iPad and other future devices."
Contact N. Venkat Venkatraman, 617-353-7117, venkat@bu.edu
On his visit to the U.S., French President Sarkozy has made it clear that France is "an invaluable partner and ally of the United States." Does that mean he'll send more French combat troops to Afghanistan, as President Obama is requesting at their White House meeting? International Relations Professor William Keylor says opinion polls in France, England, Germany and other allied countries show dwindling support for the NATO mission in Afghanistan.
"The mood seems to be, after all of these years, what is the mission, and how do we know when it has been accomplished?"
Ok, this might sound strange, but we're hearing a lot about sweater vests lately. Yes, sweater vests. Apparently they're making a comeback on campus...? If you're here and you want to join the craze, go to the SED lobby TODAY at 3 PM (wearing your sweater vest, of course).
In the biggest bipartisan display since Obama took office, 90 Democrats and 40 Republicans wrote a the Treasury and Commerce secretaries demanding that China appreciate its currency or face a financial duty. But, as international relations Professor Kevin Gallagher explains in a Politico commentary, appreciating the Chinese currency still won't regain lost U.S. jobs.
"Rather than beat on the Chinese we should borrow from the China playbook ... They've become the biggest producer of solar power on the planet ... Wouldn't it be better to put together a bipartisan coalition for a low-oil import economy?"
The Obama administration announced a new strategy to fight home foreclosure, including requiring lenders to cut or eliminate monthly mortgage payments for many jobless homeowners. School of Management Finance & Economics Department chair Professor Jack Aber says some borrowers may unfairly benefit at the expense of others, but breaking the impass still makes sense.
"Purging these underwater loans out of the financial system will reduce uncertainty and ultimately strengthen the financial condition of lending institutions."
Most credit for the origin of April Fools’ Day to King Charles IX in 16th Century France when he move New Years from the end of March to January — with those still marking the new year in April mocked as fools. But history emeritus Professor Joseph Boskin still gets media calls each year asking about how he told an AP reporter in 1983 a phony story about April Fools’ origin – as a joke – and they ran the story anyway.
Amphastar Pharmaceuticals 
On the heels of victorys on healthcare reform, a nuclear-arms agreement with the Russians, and student loans, President Obama seems to be getting more 
In what could break the AT&T monopoly on iPhone sales in the U.S., Apple Inc. reportedly is 
On his visit to the U.S., French President Sarkozy has made it clear that France is "an invaluable partner and ally of the United States." Does that mean he'll send more French combat troops to Afghanistan, as President Obama is 
In the biggest bipartisan display since Obama took office, 90 Democrats and 40 Republicans wrote a the Treasury and Commerce secretaries demanding that China appreciate its currency or face a financial duty. But, as international relations Professor 
The Obama administration announced a 
