Excuses remind me of The Trouble with Tribbles from the early Star Trek series: a space trader, Cyrano Jones, gives Uhura a purring ball of fluff known as a tribble. Charmed by the creature, Uhura takes it back to the Enterprise. However, as McCoy soon learns, tribbles are born pregnant and the more they eat … and they eat constantly … the more they multiply. Soon the starship is overrun by the furry creatures. —Beverly Carol Lucey
—The Excuse Machine (The Irascible Professor)

A grumpy professor and a reference to Trek Classic. This one was irresistible.

What’s even funnier is the red-lettered statement at the bottom of this article…

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Excuses, excuses!