Links of the day

I'm considering a new regular feature on my blog called (quite creatively, I might add), "Links of the day." On it, I'll try to present two opposing viewpoints. What do you think about the idea? Good one? Crappy one? Don't care. Feel free to let me know by showering me with praise, or, in the alternative, flaming me. ;^) Todays two sites are about the SCOTUS debate: Ann Coulter's web site (on which she --an ultra-conservative -- thinks Roberts is a raving liberal, and did I mention she disses the Detroit Tigers in her rant?) and Paul Loeb on the Huffington Post's blog (on which he -- a bleeding heart liberal -- thinks Roberts is a raving ultra-conservative) When you're done telling me what a great (or crappy idea this is), let me know who you agree with (in your own words, of course).

I'm a . . . What are you?

Courtney, my new blogger friend, turned me onto this. Check it out, take the test, and find out for yourself what kind of rocker you are. You Are an Indie Rocker! You are in it for the love of the music... And you couldn't care less about being signed by a big label. You're all about loving and supporting music - not commercial success. You may not have the fame and glory, but you have complete control of your career. What Kind of Rocker Are You? Then let me know by leaving a comment, why don't you?

More on the proposed city income tax

You just gotta' love East Cross Street. He's put up more on the proposed city income tax. You should read about it here. He's also got all the links. If you live in Ypsi, it affects you.

Attorney General Gonzales on Roe v. Wade

Today, Alberto Gonzales, Attorney General of the United States, stated in an interview that SCOTUS is not required to adhere to Roe v. Wade. In his view, any time a new Justice thinks a decision was wrong, SCOTUS can just overturn the precedent. On record as saying exactly the opposite is our newest departure from SCOTUS, Sandra Day O'Connor, who wrote the majority opinion in Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey (91-744), 505 U.S. 833 (1992). In the case, she wrote: Liberty finds no refuge in a jurisprudence of doubt. Yet 19 years after our holding that the Constitution protects a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy in its early stages, Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), that definition of liberty is still questioned. . . . . Men and women of good conscience can disagree, and we suppose some always shall disagree, about the profound moral and spiritual implications of terminating a pregnancy, even in its earliest stage. Some of us as individuals find abortion offensive to our most basic principles of morality, but that cannot control our decision. Our obligation is to define the liberty of all, not to mandate our own moral code. . . . . The obligation to follow precedent begins with necessity, and a contrary necessity marks its outer limit. With Cardozo, we recognize that no judicial system could do society's work if it eyed each issue afresh in every case that raised it. See B. Cardozo, The Nature of the Judicial Process 149 (1921). Indeed, the very concept of the rule of law underlying our own Constitution requires such continuity over time that a respect for precedent is, by definition, indispensable. See Powell, Stare Decisis and Judicial Restraint, 1991 Journal of Supreme Court History 13, 16. . . . . No evolution of legal principle has left Roe's doctrinal footings weaker than they were in 1973. No development of constitutional law since the case was decided has implicitly or explicitly left Roe behind as a mere survivor of obsolete constitutional thinking. (Emphasis added). When O'Connor wrote that majority opinion, she essentially upheld Roe by a single vote. When Justice Roberts takes his seat, assuming he follows Alberto Gonzales' advice and all the Justices currently on record vote the same way as they have in the past, the vote on the next case concerning abortion rights will go the other way, 4-5 against.

Rove is a "turd blossom"?

Today's Doonesbury:

City Income Tax

There is a lot out there concerning the newly proposed City Income Tax. I have yet to see anything particularly positive yet. East Cross Street has been posting updates frequently, which you can read about it here and here and here and oh, just keep hitting the "previous" button at the site. There are too many to put all the links up. East Cross Street also has the Blue Ribbon Committee's report online. You should read it. ypsidixit has also posted recently on the subject. You can read about it here. Mark Maynard has posted on the subject here and (right now the track back feature on his other post isn't working. Sorry. If you go to the Ypsilanti category on the right and scroll down to the Blue Ribbon Panel post, you'll be able to read it.) I'm not going to post on it, b/c I'm not allowed to express my opinion about such things pursuant to Board Policy something or other, which states, and I am paraphrasing: "Since people in general are not bright enough to realize that Trustees are people who have personal opinions, like when they post on their own personal blogs, for example, and because Trustees are held in such high esteem by the public and might be believed or wield influence over others based on their lofty elected positions (yea right), Trustees should feel free to NOT express their opinions in any way, shape or form, or they may be tarred and feathered." I guess that means if you want to know what I think, ask Andy, as he is the BOE's spokesperson. Also, according to East Cross Street, since I'm on the short list of potential scapegoats, my motives might be open to question anyhow. Ha! Like they weren't already . . .

China, Inc.

A few days ago, while decribing a $1 model project I enjoyed making with my daughters, I expressed concerns about our ability to compete with China, particularly now that China seems to be interested in entering the global marketplace not just as a supplier, but as a major corporate takeover power. You can read my earlier post by clicking here, and then scrolling down to "The Chinese Have Won the Cold War." The New York Times did an article today on the Chinese attempt to purchase UNOCAL, a multi-national oil company, and the security risks that go along with Chinese ownership of a mid-size oil company. It's not my intent to diss the Chinese per se, but I am concerned that we are permitting a communist, dictatorial government with a terrible record on human rights to simply enter the world of investment banker, venture capitalist, arbitrageur, what have you, without batting an eyelash. I hope Congress does more than just talk about it -- I hope they do something about it. I expect more than just talk from our federal gov't on this important issue. You can read the article (reg req'd) here.

Willow Run Sup't in Hot Water

The Ann Arbor News printed a front-page, above the fold article today, on the apparent reasons why Douglas Benit was placed on administrative leave. According to the article: Benit allegedly failed to disclose that he was listed as Treasurer of Coral Technologies, Inc., on its 1999 Ohio tax return. Coral is a company that Willow Run has purchased $160,000 of school supplies from; After being placed on leave, Benit allegedly misrepresented to the News that he was listed merely as an incorporator and had no other ties to the company, even though he is also listed as President of Coral on a GOP campaign contribution filing from 1999; Benit's fiancee, Mary Elam, is an officer of a company the district purchase close to $200,000 of supplies from, American Technology, Inc. Although Benit told the News that she sold her interest in the corporation in 1994, she is listed as Secretary on the 2005 Annual Report, along with her signature. Finally, it appears that Benit may not have obtained competitive bids for all purchases over $18,000, as required by law. Whether he did or not, the paper trail provided to the News is inadequate to establish compliance and rather contradictory if not conclusive. Plenty of smoke here, but it's very hard to tell if any of it is actually fire. It will be interesting to find out where this leads, if anywhere at all . . . BTW: Anyone know how much he gave to the GOP in '99?

What is your first memory?

My new blogger friend, Blond Girl, has a great idea! What is your first memory? Check out her post here. When you're done commenting on her site, come back and duplicate it here to spread the comment cheer, eh? I'll start. My first memory was of a "big kid" in the neighborhood stealing "Harry" which was a small tricycle-like thing painted like a giraffe that I rode around on. Geez, I must have been 3 of 4 at the time. So, what's your first memory?

Wow, what a jerk

As I was reading the Ann Arbor News today, I came across a letter from Jeff C. Weaver of Dexter. He wrote one of those letters that was certainly fine for him to go ahead and write, but then he probably should have waited a day or two, and then instead of sending it, he shoulda just thrown it away. Instead, he sent it, and now he looks like a complete jackass before his home community and tens of thousands of people he doesn't even know. Well, Mr. Weaver, we know you now. For some context, the Ypsi BOE is currently awaiting recommendations from a committee set up to evaluate whether the Braves name and logo ought to be retained, or whether it sends a message offensive to the racial identity of Native Americans. The committee is doing a fantastic job. Even though I sense it is dominated by anti-logo individuals (most of the pro-logo people seem to have resigned), they take their job very seriously and have elucidated in great detail all the arguments for and against each position. I recently attended one of the public hearings, and I can attest that the dialogue was moving, heartfelt, was diverse, represented many sides of the argument, and most of all, was conducted in a very respectful manner. Mr. Weaver's letter, however, essentially ridicules the racial identity that is so precious to many Native Americans. Here's his letter in its entirety: I find it a bit amusing that anyone would be offended by the name or appearance of a team mascot. But apparently there are people who are devastated that there are schools with team names such as the Hurons, Chippewas, Braves, Chiefs, Seminoles, etc. They claim it is demeaning and embarrassing to Native Americans. I sympathize with their plight; if it is so degrading, we should change all team nicknames that make any reference to Native Americans. I would also suggest that we change the name of the Pioneers of Ann Arbor Pioneer High School. After all my forefathers were pioneers and I'm sure they would be devastated that a school adopted their name as a team mascot. That name and mascot are a direct slap against my people. And while we're at it, we had better change the names of the Cowboys, Fighting Irish, Celtics, Hoosiers, Sooners, Boilermakers, Packers, Aggies, Oilers, Mountaineers, Friars, Patriots, Volunteers and Tar Heels, to name a few, because I'm sure those names are equally demeaning and degrading to those groups as well. Although it's funny, because I've never heard a representative from any of those groups make a single complaint about a school using them for a team name or mascot. Strange, isn't it? Jeff C. Weaver, Dexter Gee. I didn't realize Cowboys had a racial identity connected with their chosen profession. I didn't know the Hoosiers had a racial identity connected with their school. In fact, I thought that Hoosiers were fairly diverse as a group ('least now that the Klan isn't so omnipresent there). I can't really relate to the Pioneers, 'cause my forefathers came here from Russia (as a Jew) and Italy in the early 20th Century, so ostensibly they weren't really Pioneers, but I'm not sure the word Pioneers invokes a sense of racial identity anyhow. Maybe Laura Ingalls Wilder was just being PC with all the diversity she included, what with the Hispanic people and the black folk and all. I do know that given my heritage I would find a team called the Reds offensive, or a team called the Kikes offensive (though I'm not Jewish, my great grandfather Benny was). I guess what troubles me most isn't that Mr. Weaver has what I feel is a stupid, ignorant, foolish opinion. It doesn't bother me that he can't keep it to himself. What bothers me is that he feels so comfortable publicly ridiculing others for standing up and advocating an honest, heartfelt, well-articulated view. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the position that our public schools ought not endorse a mascot that many feel is a caricature of a racial group whose identity was brutally and systematically victimized in an attempt to wipe it off the face of the earth, it seems to me completely inappropriate and boorish to ridicule the view. And in the newspaper, no less. I have thought long and hard about how I will vote when this issue comes up. I take both sides very seriously, 'least both the sides minus the jackasses. So far, I have not yet decided. I do know, however, that if a bunch more people like Mr. Weaver come out of the woodwork, it'll make the decision an awful lot easier. What do you think?

Nutrition linked to school performance

Many believe that children who eat right perform better than children who don't. I just received an article that sings the praises of good nutrition for schoolchildren and attributes part of a school district's improvement to improved nutrition. You can read about it here. What do you think?

'Naked Gardener' causes concern

This just in from Traverse City, (sorry, no pics): Dee Glass wishes talk about Leland's school gardens was as plentiful as chatter about the calendar raising funds to support them. The 2006 daybook, titled "Naked Gardener," features photos of 12 well-known Leland area men posing with carefully placed props in a botanical theme. Glass, a volunteer involved in the school gardens, helped organize the project. It is not affiliated with Leland Public School, but some critics contend that the cause and Superintendent Michael Hartigan's participation as a model are too close for comfort. "Is this an appropriate role model for our children?" said Janice Blackburn, a Leland resident whose children attend Glen Lake schools. "I think he crossed the line. The public perception is that it's associated with the school." Blackburn said she understands the purpose of the school gardens but believes there are more appropriate ways to raise funds. She said she has not reviewed the entire calendar but saw Hartigan's photo, which was published in a local newspaper. Glass said eight other efforts like bulb sales and smelt dinners could only clear so much money. When she and garden designer Tracy Brookfield started talking about doing a calendar, they knew it would raise a few eyebrows. But they thought that most people would see it as the light-hearted project they intended. "I started asking people to be in the calendar and to my amazement, everyone said yes," Glass said. Hartigan said he had no qualms about participating in the "tongue-in-cheek project" that would benefit the school. Other calendar models include Brookfield, a local winery owner and public officials from outside the school district. The educational gardens fill numerous niches around the school, feature native Michigan plants and serve as an outdoor classroom. Maintenance funds include no tax dollars. The outer cover of the calendar features floral scenes and a note inside explains that the school district did not endorse the project. Glass said the calendars are displayed so people can't just leaf through them without purchasing one, making viewing it an individual choice. The first 500 calendars, which sell for $20 each at local merchants, have sold out since their July 1 release and another printing is on the way. Glass said she takes the criticism in stride but wants critics to get the full picture, including the gardens themselves. From the:

The right words can frame an argument, but they will never stand in its place.

Matt Bai wrote a real snoozer of an article in today's New York Times Magazine, dubbed "The Framing Wars." He analyzes George Lakoff's linguistic theories as they have been presented in an oversimplified manner to leaders of the Democratic party, and, though he makes buffoons of many of them, essentially concludes that exercising control over the way one frames an issue can be helpful, but it can't substitute for a real argument or for substance. Duuuhhhhhh! Why it took him so many words to reach this conclusion is the true mystery. We trial lawyers have known this for, like, uh, *forever*. You can hire eloquent masters of persuasion such as Mark Geragos, Geoffrey Fieger or Gerry Spence to argue hooey all day and night, but if it's a crappy case, you're going to lose. If a political party has a crappy platform, it can frame itself around the world in 80 days and guess what? It's gonna lose. The apparent "conclusion" to the long-winded article was summed up in the last sentence The right words can frame an argument, but they will never stand in its place. That's not a conclusion; it's a truism known to pretty much anyone who's made it past elementary school. Shame on the New York Times for an article that spins its wheels in furtherance of nothing but stating a truism. Shame on me for not reading the last sentence first, which would have clued me into the fact that I didn't need to read the article. I am such a sucker! Anyone got any land in southern Florida for sale? I'm your guy . . .

Blue States Secede From Red Nation

I received this today on email and thought it was quite funny. You probably will, too, unless you're a red-stater, in which case you may be insulted. But don't be; it's all in good, wholesome, clean fun! And, hey, you won the election and will in the near future control all three brances of federal government! What's there to complain about? NEW CALIFORNIA BLUE STATES NATION! Dear Red States: We are ticked off at the way you have treated California, and we have decided we are leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we are taking the other Blue States with us. In case you are not aware, that includes Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California. To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get Elliot Spitzer. You get Ken Lay. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get OpryLand. We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss. We get 85 percent of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama. We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, and you get to make the red states pay their fair share. Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single moms. Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we are going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they are apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they do not care if you do not show pictures of their children's caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq, and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we are not willing to spend our resources in Bush's Quagmire. With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percent of the country's fresh water, more than 90 percent of the pineapples and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 95 percent of America's quality wines (you can serve French wines at state dinners) 90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the US low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools, plus Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT. With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92 percent of all US mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia. We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you. Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacred unless we are discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent believe that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals than we lefties. By the way, we are taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Mexico. Sincerely, Anonymous (apparently too scared to put his/her/its real name on the piece)

Please visit the blog of my friend in Liberia

An attorney friend of mine who used to live in Chicago has taken a position with the UN in Liberia. She's originally from there, and it is a great opportunity to return, spend some time with her family, and make a contribution to the struggling African country. Visit her blog, why don't you? It's here.

Great God Bird No. 2

Below, from last week, I posted on a recording artist named Sufjan Stevens who wrote a song called the Great God Bird. It really is a fantastic song. The free download is still available on NPR's web site. You really, really ought to just download it. It really is a fantastic song. I just said that, didn't I? Well, I downloaded his most recent record, "Illinois," from iTunes. Oh my God, is it wonderful. It's beautiful, weird, creepy, folksy, and it has a clear Philip Glass influence to some of the brass/woodwind parts. There is even a truly haunting tune about John Wayne Gacy, Jr. I could never write a song about a serial killer, and frankly, it takes guts just to try. Stevens' is more than a try, it is a triumph! Turns out the day after the NPR report, Sufjan Stevens' "Illinois" was one of the top ten records downloaded from iTunes! Talk about a savvy product placement. Utterly brilliant! After you've downloaded Great God Bird (they call it the Great Lord Bird), and I know you will, comment and tell me what you think, eh? And if you like it, download "Illinois." You won't be disappointed. Or if you have time on your hands, listen to the NPR report at the same web site, and report back!

Amy Doyle takes her seat tonight at the Board table!

I'm very, very proud to say that tonight, my friend, Amy Doyle, will take her seat at the Board of Education table for the first time. Need I say that this is not only a time of celebration, but a time of reflection. Just over 2 years ago, we held a 3-4 minority on our BOE. Just over one year ago, on June 14, 2004, we changed it to a 4-3 majority. Today, we change it further still to a 5-2 majority. In just this last year, we: Successfully balanced a budget on the brink of disaster; Elicited long-desired assistance and involvement from community members; Replaced a sup't that many did not think was effective; Successfully negotiated contracts with *all* of our unions; Increased AP offerings; Successfully planned for numerous educational enhancements for next year; Cultivated a collaborative environment in which everyone in the district takes responsibility for excellence; And much, much more! Congrats, Amy! I'm looking forward to working with you on the BOE for many years to come!

Parrot smarter than a toddler?

I just had to post on this. Apparently, a parrot at Brandeis University grasps the concept of zero, or the absence of a quantity. This is something we can't do until we are 3 - 4 yrs old. Read about it here. Oh, and by the way, prairie dogs have a "word" in their "vocabulary" for "human."

The Chinese Have Won the Cold War

I spent the morning having an absolutely delightful time making little wooden models with my daughters. The kits came with pre-cut, pre-sanded high quality wood, sandpaper, paint, glue and idiot-proof instructions. Yep, that's a picture of one of the three we made. First, we painted all the pieces and waited for them to dry. Next, we assembled the pieces using the glue, according to the instructions. The girls were quite enamored both with the task and with the quality of the end products they made. And, dare I say, with spending so much quality time getting paid attention to by their daddy! Each kit cost $1. They were made in China. Now, I'm a proud and patriotic American, but I have my doubts as to whether we can compete with that. One dollar? What's gonna happen when they actually buy that oil company (UNOCAL) they've bid on and start exporting their own brand name electronics and appliances? Anybody see any problems for us and our economy on the horizon? Oh, and by the way, did I mention that my daughters' favorite store in the entire universe is the Dollar Tree? That's where we got the models. Just about every toy they've got there is made in China. And every single one is $1. The stuffed animals, phony cell phones, Barbie and Ariel knock-offs, you name it. I now go there before I grocery shop, and I usually save something like $40-50 getting it there rather than at Farmer Jack's (which is closing soon, I ought to mention). Don't get me wrong, I don't have any issues with China. I just think our federal government, under the leadership of Dubya and Condi, may be neglecting the huge impact their economy is going to have on ours in the foreseeable, or possibly nearer future. Maybe I'll just learn how to speak Chinese. I might need soon . . .

Not a hoax! Little girl found!

If you read my post from a few days ago called "Email Hoax or the Power of the Internet: Do you recognize this little girl?" then you will be happy to know that it was NOT a hoax. 'Twas the power of the Internet! It was, however, outdated. She was found and returned to Germany a long time ago, unfortunately, sans parents. Read about it at About.com.

Willow Run BOE reveals reason for sup't suspension

Today's Ann Arbor News sheds some light on the recent suspension of Doug Benit, Willow Run's sup't: Willow Run Schools Superintendent Doug Benit is listed as an incorporator of a company from which the district last month agreed to buy $22,209 worth of equipment for introductory technology classes at the high school. The school board Thursday night suspended payment on a purchase order from that company, Coral Technology Inc. of Middletown, Ohio, and two purchase orders from another company whose annual report, filed this year in Florida, lists Benit's fiancee as the secretary-treasurer of the company. The address on the incorporation papers is Benit's address as well. District officials had planned to purchase $97,500 worth of computer-controlled building- block systems for classroom use from that company, American Technology Distributors LLC of Riverview, Fla. After the meeting, board President Claudette Braxton said the purchase orders "drew some concerns about Benit," but she would not comment further. The board voted 6-0 to suspend the payments with Braxton abstaining because she was not at the meeting when the purchase orders were approved. The News reviewed documents for both companies on the Web sites of the secretary of state's offices in Ohio and Florida. Benit, who was not at Thursday's board meeting, was placed on paid administrative leave last week after meeting with Braxton and Board Treasurer Scott Wilson. Benit said his salary is $108,120 per year. Benit said he has no interest in either company and that the purchase orders were competitively bid. Benit said he agreed to let colleagues use his name to incorporate Coral Technology in 1995 when he was working in Chicago but had no other involvement in the company. Benit spoke to The News by telephone after the meeting. "I've never been involved in that thing from day one other than sending (my name) in for them,'' he said. "That was 10 years ago. I've never owned an ounce of stock in anything.'' His fiancee sold her interest in American Technology in May 2004 but her name was apparently used in the 2005 filing, Benit said. Attorneys are working on removing the error, the superintendent said. Benit said he would not have considered the American Technology bid if he had known his fiancee's name was still on the paperwork. Benit said he thought it was appropriate to bring the Coral proposal to the board because he because he had never had any stock in the company. The board Thursday did not select an interim superintendent or announce how an investigation into Benit would be handled, two items Braxton previously said could be discussed at the meeting. After the meeting, Braxton said selection of an interim superintendent can wait because Ron Ciranna, the district's human resources director, typically serves as acting superintendent in Benit's absence. "We're going to lean on (Ciranna) until we determine if we even need to go that route (appoint an interim),'' Braxton said. Braxton said the Thrun Law Firm of Lansing, which is the district's legal counsel, will handle the investigation. At the meeting, parents and community members expressed concern about Benit's status, with some urging a full investigation, others expressing support for Benit and others saying they were concerned about several administrative vacancies. Parent and Kettering Elementary PTO president Rhonda McGill asked for more information from the board "so we can decide whose side to be on - Benit's or the school board.'' She asked the board to "work expediently to get (Benit) back into the position so we can move forward.'' Parent and district employee Patrice La Grand said she was concerned about the lack of a middle school principal and the difficulty of filling that vacancy with Benit on leave. La Grand, who works for the district's Head Start preschool program, said she is concerned that summer is usually the time that education jobs are filled. In the telephone interview, Benit said he has candidates for the middle school principal position as well as the academic services director position which is also vacant. He also said appointing an interim finance director might be a temporary solution to fill the finance director's position, which is also vacant. From the:

Email Hoax or the Power of the Internet: Do you recognize this little girl?

I received an email that stated the following today: This little girl in the Phuket Hospital in Thailand. She does not remember her own name or anything! She has lost her parents. She must be of Western origin. She was a victim when she got caught in the tidal wave disaster in Phuket and nobody knows who she is, so we are hoping if we distribute this email around the world someone will know her. Please don't break the chain,your contribution could be the one that solves this little girls problem. Please forward this to all your contacts. Someone might realize who she is. Here is her picture: Do you recognize her? Is it a hoax, or is it real? Are you bothered by the assumption that b/c she's of Northern European descent, that she *must* be from the West? (Note that there's no mention of the language she speaks). How do you figure out whether a plea on the Internet is real or not these days?

Don't blame me for the rising cost of health care

The New York Times ran an article (reg. req'd) debunking the claim that malpractice lawsuits increase doctor's insurance premiums and, by extention, the cost of health care. In fact, the article concludes that the real reason doctor's insurance premiums are increasing is due to profiteering by insurance companies (big surprise there): From 2000 to 2004, the increase in premiums collected by the leading 15 medical malpractice insurance companies was 21 times the increase in the claims they paid, according to the study. (The net totals in the study are calculated after accounting for reinsurance.) Of the 15 companies examined, 9 are mutual insurers owned by their policyholders, 3 have publicly traded stock but are part of larger conglomerates and 3 are publicly traded and focus primarily on medical malpractice. The stock prices of those three companies have each risen more than 100 percent since May 2002. (Emphasis added). "The argument that they have to raise rates because their incurred losses are going up, I don't buy it," Mr. Angoff [former state insurance commissioner of Missouri and a consultant on the study] said, "because incurred losses are estimates and the estimate of future losses can only rationally be built on their paid losses." The numbers in the study, said the Connecticut attorney general, Richard Blumenthal, "cast a completely different picture than the public or many public officials have assumed." The study also debunks the claim that capping noneconomic damages provides significant cost savings to physicians, and by extension, to their patients: Dr. Kreidler [former optomotrist now insurance commissioner] of Washington State is also not convinced that runaway juries are the sole cause for large rate increases. "Focusing exclusively on capping noneconomic damages will have a marginal effect on premiums and it will not have a pronounced dramatic impact," he said. "I think we should be doing something to make the tort system cheaper and making medicine safer." Even one insurance executive agrees that malpractice suits serve an important function in our health care system: "Malpractice insurance has changed how medicine is practiced," said William R. Berkley, chairman and chief executive of the W. R. Berkley Corporation, which underwrites particularly risky malpractice areas. "Part of it is good for patients; doctors are more careful. The problem is the cost." Though I doubt the polarized debate on this issue will resolve any time soon, I do hope that a balance between health care costs and the rights of patients injured by the negligence of physicans and hospitals can be found. As the Attorney General of Connecticut put it, there is both blame and credit to be shared by all in for the problems our health care system and system of justice are facing: [There is] potential to alter the debate fundamentally from seeming to cast the rapacious personal injury lawyers as the complete culprits and the insurers as innocent bystanders with doctors as victims to the insurers as equally responsible, if not more so," Mr. Blumenthal said. Excerpted from

Just in - pics from the 4th of July Parade!

If you read below, due to, ahem, difficulties, shall we say, I didn't get any pics of the family marching in the 4th of July Parade. Thank goodness others, did! Visit my friend, Eric's blog to see some with the girls and I. Or visit my friend, Steve's site, and click on the 4th of July link under Recent Posts. This direct link to a picture might work, but Steve said he is doing some work on his site, so it might not.

Great God Bird

On NPR today, I heard a sound piece centered around the town near where the presumed extinct Ivory Billed Woodpecker was recently found. It was an extraordinary piece. The song that made up an integral part of the piece is called Great God Bird, and it's by Sufjan Stevens (who I'd never heard of until today). Apparently, he makes records about states. What a fantastic idea! One of his records is called Greetings from Michigan, the Great Lakes State. Great God Bird is available for download at http://www.npr.org for free. Download it now. You won't be disappointed. BTW: Sufjan Stevens' records are all available on iTunes for download or on CD from NPR's music store!

No Dentist Left Behind

Some of you have seen this. For those that haven't, read on . . . My dentist is great! He sends me reminders so I don't forget checkups. He uses the latest techniques based on research. He never hurts me, and I've got all my teeth. When I ran into him the other day, I was eager to see if he'd heard about the new state program. I knew he'd think it was great. "Did you hear about the new state program to measure effectiveness of dentists with their young patients?" I said. "No," he said. He didn't seem too thrilled. "How will they do that?" "It's quite simple," I said. "They will just count the number of cavities each patient has at age 10, 14, and 18 and average that to determine a dentist's rating. Dentists will be rated as excellent, good, average, below average, and unsatisfactory. That way parents will know which are the best dentists. The plan will also encourage the less effective dentists to get better," I said. "Poor dentists who don't improve could lose their licenses to practice." "That's terrible," he said. "What? That's not a good attitude," I said. "Don't you think we should try to improve children's dental health in this state?" "Sure I do," he said, "but that's not a fair way to determine who is practicing good dentistry." "Why not?" I said. "It makes perfect sense to me." "Well, it's so obvious," he said. "Don't you see that dentists don't all work with the same clientele, and that much depends on things we can't control? For example, I work in a rural area with a high percentage of patients from deprived homes, while some of my colleagues work in upper middle-class neighborhoods. Many of the parents I work with don't bring their children to see me until there is some kind of problem, and I don't get to do much preventive work. Also many of the parents I serve let their kids eat way too much candy from an early age, unlike more educated parents who understand the relationship between sugar and decay. To top it all off, so many of my clients have well water which is untreated and has no fluoride in it. Do you have any idea how much difference early use of fluoride can make?" "It sounds like you're making excuses," I said. "I can't believe that you, my dentist, would be so defensive. After all, you do a great job, and you needn't fear a little accountability." "I am not being defensive!" he said. "My best patients are as good as anyone's, my work is as good as anyone's, but my average cavity count is going to be higher than a lot of other dentists because I chose to work where I am needed most." "Don't' get touchy," I said. "Touchy?" he said. His face had turned red, and from the way he was clenching and unclenching his jaws, I was afraid he was going to damage his teeth. "Try furious! In a system like this, I will end up being rated average, below average, or worse. The few educated patients I have who see these ratings may believe this so-called rating is an actual measure of my ability and proficiency as a dentist. They may leave me, and I'll be left with only the most needy patients. And my cavity average score will get even worse. On top of that, how will I attract good dental hygienists and other excellent dentists to my practice if it is labeled below average?" "I think you are overreacting," I said. "'Complaining, excuse-making and stonewalling won't improve dental health'...I am quoting from a leading member of the DOC," I noted. "What's the DOC?" he asked. "It's the Dental Oversight Committee," I said, "a group made up of mostly lay persons to make sure dentistry in this state gets improved." "Spare me," he said, "I can't believe this. Reasonable people won't buy it," he said hopefully. The program sounded reasonable to me, so I asked, "How else would you measure good dentistry?" "Come watch me work," he said. "Observe my processes." "That's too complicated, expensive and time-consuming," I said. "Cavities are the bottom line, and you can't argue with the bottom line. It's an absolute measure." "That's what I'm afraid my parents and prospective patients will think. This can't be happening," he said despairingly. "Now, now," I said, "don't despair. The state will help you some." "How?" he asked. "If you receive a poor rating, they'll send a dentist who is rated excellent to help straighten you out," I said brightly. "You mean," he said, "they'll send a dentist with a wealthy clientele to show me how to work on severe juvenile dental problems with which I have probably had much more experience? BIG HELP!" "There you go again," I said. "You aren't acting professionally at all." "You don't get it," he said. "Doing this would be like grading schools and teachers on an average score made on a test of children's progress with no regard to influences outside the school, the home, the community served and stuff like that. Why would they do something so unfair to dentists? No one would ever think of doing that to schools." I just shook my head sadly, but he had brightened. "I'm going to write my representatives and senators," he said. "I'll use the school analogy. Surely they will see the point." He walked off with that look of hope mixed with fear and suppressed anger that I, a teacher, see in the mirror so often lately. If you don't understand why educators resent the recent federal NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT, this may help. If you do understand, you'll enjoy this analogy, which was forwarded by John S. Taylor, Superintendent of Schools for the Lancaster County, PA, School District.

The 4th of July Totally Rawked, Dude!!!

I'll start with an apology. When I crossed town to march in the Ypsilanti 4th of July Parade (with my daughters in tow), I forgot my camera. So, I asked my wife to bring it when she came down to watch us march. She did show, but it was a good 10 mins. after we finished. So, there ain't no pictures. :^( But, we started the day at BOE President Andy Fanta's house. Every year, he and his family make breakfast and have the BOE over to socialize before marching in the parade. And if I have to endure another "Open Meetings Act Violation" joke, wink-wink, nudge-nudge, I think I'll die! Alas, the parade was a big hit! About average crowd, fly-overs by vintage airplanes, and my good friend (newly elected Trustee Amy Doyle) was there with the rest of we fellow Trustees marching proudly in support of our public schools! And, don't forget this, the new interim sup't actually marched with us and socialized! How about that? Someone ought to mention to him, though, that there is an off button on that cell phone. We then went to Amy (and Bob's) Annual 4th of July Cookout, which was massively attended! Note to Amy: track the invites, and don't use the Internet. One of these days, it's gonna get out of hand, and we don't need no police or nuthin' like that! And write bigger on the Public Notice of Alley Vacation signs. Who do you think you're kidding? All I was on notice of was that something was hangin' on the tree! The next cookout was at Julie (and Sam's) house (via an invite from a comment on a post below). We played guitars, swam, ate wonderfully delicious food, drank beer and just generally had a good time. Lotsa fun people were there, but the most fun was Gary, who I played guitars with for an hour or so. I intended to return to continue making music after dropping off my daughter at home to go to sleep, but, I flaked. It's a long, boring, less-than-inspiring story, so I'll spare you the details. Sam and Julie still have my guitar (unless they've sold it by now!) All in all, though, it was a fine 4th of July. Happy Independence Day, everyone!

You Really Can't Fight City Hall

This is my historic house, built in 1884: The story is that the Depot manager built this home with the tower in front at the top of the hill so he could see the Depot from home while he wasn't at work. I don't know if it's true, but it's a good story. This is my addition, that was completed fairly recently: This is me scraping tar off of the back of my house: Can't you just see the excitement on my face as I scrape the ancient tar off the siding? I'm trying to get my final inspection completed for my addition. When the City came out, they needed three things before they clear me: paint, Historic District Comm'n approval for my back door, and removal of the tar on the back of the house. You see, since the early 90s, my home has been in transition from a two family dwelling to a one family home. There used to be a staircase down the back to access the upstairs apartment, and the roof of the staircase was tarred to waterproof it. Consequently, when we did the addition and removed the staircase, there was a long, diagonal line across the back of my house made up entirely of old, hardened tar. I got to use my entire day heating the tar with a torch just so I could scrape it off. What fun! Now, it's all scraped off, and I've primed over the diagonal line. I can paint any time I like. 1 down, 2 to go!

Willow Run Sup't Put on Administrative Leave

In a bizarre turn of events, Willow Run Sup't Doug Benit has been placed on paid administrative leave. According to the A2 News: Doug Benit, superintendent of Willow Run Community Schools, was placed on paid administrative leave Friday, but district officials aren't saying why. Board Treasurer Scott Wilson said he and board President Claudette Braxton met with Benit mid-morning Friday and placed him on administrative leave "in order to facilitate an investigation.'' Wilson said it is standard procedure to place an employee on leave when conducting an investigation but declined to specify what the investigation involved. Benit, who started at Willow Run on July 1, 2003 with a salary of $106,000 said he was unprepared for the action and that the meeting with Braxton and Wilson was puzzling. "(They) still haven't told me why,'' Benit said. "I don't know what the allegations are, they haven't told me,'' Benit added. Readers of this blog will recall that Willow Run ran a number of sleazy ads trying to lure kids and families into his district. Though I doubt this is the reason for the "investigation," let's hope that this experience causes him to tread more lightly when involving his neighboring districts in his ad campaigns. Or, perhaps his replacement will.

Brooke Shields on Depression

This, by Brooke Shields, from the Op-Ed page of the New York Times: I WAS hoping it wouldn't come to this, but after Tom Cruise's interview with Matt Lauer on the NBC show "Today" last week, I feel compelled to speak not just for myself but also for the hundreds of thousands of women who have suffered from postpartum depression. While Mr. Cruise says that Mr. Lauer and I do not "understand the history of psychiatry," I'm going to take a wild guess and say that Mr. Cruise has never suffered from postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is caused by the hormonal shifts that occur after childbirth. During pregnancy, a woman's level of estrogen and progesterone greatly increases; then, in the first 24 hours after childbirth, the amount of these hormones rapidly drops to normal, nonpregnant levels. This change in hormone levels can lead to reactions that range from restlessness and irritability to feelings of sadness and hopelessness. I never thought I would have postpartum depression. After two years of trying to conceive and several attempts at in vitro fertilization, I thought I would be overjoyed when my daughter, Rowan Francis, was born in the spring of 2003. But instead I felt completely overwhelmed. This baby was a stranger to me. I didn't know what to do with her. I didn't feel at all joyful. I attributed feelings of doom to simple fatigue and figured that they would eventually go away. But they didn't; in fact, they got worse. I couldn't bear the sound of Rowan crying, and I dreaded the moments my husband would bring her to me. I wanted her to disappear. I wanted to disappear. At my lowest points, I thought of swallowing a bottle of pills or jumping out the window of my apartment. I couldn't believe it when my doctor told me that I was suffering from postpartum depression and gave me a prescription for the antidepressant Paxil. I wasn't thrilled to be taking drugs. In fact, I prematurely stopped taking them and had a relapse that almost led me to drive my car into a wall with Rowan in the backseat. But the drugs, along with weekly therapy sessions, are what saved me - and my family. Since writing about my experiences with the disease, I have been approached by many women who have told me their stories and thanked me for opening up about a topic that is often not discussed because of fear, shame or lack of support and information. Experts estimate that one in 10 women suffer, usually in silence, with this treatable disease. We are living in an era of so-called family values, yet because almost all of the postnatal focus is on the baby, mothers are overlooked and left behind to endure what can be very dark times. And comments like those made by Tom Cruise are a disservice to mothers everywhere. To suggest that I was wrong to take drugs to deal with my depression, and that instead I should have taken vitamins and exercised shows an utter lack of understanding about postpartum depression and childbirth in general. If any good can come of Mr. Cruise's ridiculous rant, let's hope that it gives much-needed attention to a serious disease. Perhaps now is the time to call on doctors, particularly obstetricians and pediatricians, to screen for postpartum depression. After all, during the first three months after childbirth, you see a pediatrician at least three times. While pediatricians are trained to take care of children, it would make sense for them to talk with new mothers, ask questions and inform them of the symptoms and treatment should they show signs of postpartum depression. In a strange way, it was comforting to me when my obstetrician told me that my feelings of extreme despair and my suicidal thoughts were directly tied to a biochemical shift in my body. Once we admit that postpartum is a serious medical condition, then the treatment becomes more available and socially acceptable. With a doctor's care, I have since tapered off the medication, but without it, I wouldn't have become the loving parent I am today. So, there you have it. It's not the history of psychiatry, but it is my history, personal and real. From

The Fight Begins

Sandra Day O'Connor is retiring from the U.S. Supreme Court. The impending fight is likely to eclipse the impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton. Read about it here.