L.I.A.R. -- London Institute for Applied Research. As this has been discussed in Dr. Bear's book about offering $25 honorary doctorates at one time as a novelty. I was doing some surfing and am greatly surprised how many people are claiming a L.I.A.R. credential. For background, if you do not have the book, you may want to read this NY Press article: http://www.nypress.com/15/38/news&columns/oldsmoke.cfm Let me share a few L.I.A.R. alumni found: A non-US law professor who was given the "Honorary title of Doctor of Philosophy in Procedural Law by London Institute for Applied Research in the Convocation held in January 17th 1994 in Islamia University Bahawalpur." http://www.qlc.edu.pk/faculty_12.php Hmmmm, is getting awarded a L.I.A.R. diploma at a convocation in front of people really that impressive! A Czech Concertmaster with a L.I.A.R. Doctor of Fine Arts: http://users.czn.cz/~prantl/master.html Another music director with a L.I.A.R. Doctorate in Music: http://www.members.tripod.com/~Plainfield_Symphony/pautza.htm An Internet Business Consultant with a L.I.A.R. doctorate in Business Management: http://www.drgale.com/bio.htm An archaeologist or cartoon reviewer (not sure, or both) with a L.I.A.R. Doctor of Laws: http://www.wittyworld.com/bios/biolengyela.html An "ordained priestess in the craft" with a L.I.A.R. Ph.D. in Molecular Neuroendocrinepsychology (whew): http://www.witchtools.com/contactus.htm A RC Priest and RA professor with a L.I.A.R. Doctor of Humanities:http://homepages.stmartin.edu/fac_staff/auer/resume.htm A Japanese professor with a L.I.A.R. Doctor of Science: http://www.soka.ac.jp/graduate/bunkei/professor/professor_05.html There were a few others including an obituary where it was reported the person had a L.I.A.R. doctorate in Fine Arts and one in Humanities. Overall, I had a bit of fun researching (surfing) this and just wanted to share. Most folks did claim them as honorary degrees but there were a few exceptions. John
What I find so odd about this is that every one of John's finds lists the degree (a) in something (but "my" LIAR only gave Honorary Doctorates -- not 9u]in[/u] anything, and (b) relatively recent dates (by "my" LIAR operated only more than 30 years ago. Is it possible they are all mis-stating what they did, or is it possible that there was or is a more recent LIAR?
There must be a L.I.A.R. revival? It would be interesting to find out who is actually giving out the degree. John
I remember being told (but never confirmed) that the Dutchman who traded the Ethiopian ear pickers for the L.I.A.R. diplomas in 1973 died ten or more years ago.
Just ran across this from the 2002 Annual Congress of something called the BWW Society. http://www.bwwsociety.org/congress/2002/goldston-morris.htm It doesn't appear that "Dr. Maurine" has any other formal credentials besides L.I.A.R. And the legend contrinues . . . marilynd
Pope John? It's gotta be that apostille asserting that John Bear is also the Pope that makes this L.I.A.R. credential so umm... whatever-it-is. G