The Irascible Professor is the brainchild of Dr. Mark Shapiro, a professor at California State University-Fullerton. Begun in 1999, the prime purpose of the site is "to provide intelligent commentary on the successes, failures, and foibles of the American education establishment." The Web site features commentaries by Dr. Shapiro, along with periodic contributions by outside contributors, on the state of education in the United States. Topics covered by these highly informative and entertaining pieces include the increase of non-tenure track instructors throughout institutions of higher learning, the SAT, and political correctness. An archive of these pieces is available on the site, and many of the commentaries include hypertext links directing readers to full reports and news articles mentioned within each piece. Overall, the site will appeal to those persons who are seeking an offbeat and alternative perspective on American education.