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Sep

19

Remains of the Day, 9-19-07

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1. Tony Blankley is leaving his job as editorial page editor of the Washington Times to join the Edelman public relations firm (no relation to Peter and Marian Wright Edelman for those who follow children and family issues) and the Heritage Foundation. He’s been a regular on Diane Rehm’s Friday political news roundups.

2. If you’re looking for a regular source of information about education at all grade levels and across the country, don’t forget the Institute for Education Sciences National Center for Education Statistics. This “mini-digest” of stats for 2006 is just one of a few emails I get from them each week. You can sign up here.

3. I agree with most of what Americans United for Separation of Church and State does but I confess to feeling a little squeamish when it comes to actually turning my child on to becoming an activist. That’s probably one reason why I don’t and others don’t consider me to be a progressive, on the left of center end of the spectrum. For some issues, sure. For some, maybe. But I am not into telling people what to promote and not promote, for themselves, on most occasions. I don’t want to be intimidated or dictated to, and I don’t feel comfortable doing that to others.

4. Given that I’ve been writing about how wrong it is that Tim Brown should feel forced to withdraw from a congressional race because he doesn’t think a gay Republican in his neck of Ohio could raise enough money to be competitive, I’m going to put in another plug for Just $6 Dollars, this time for their program to have volunteers ask the presidential candidates to support public funding of elections.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:53 pm September 19th, 2007 in Remains of the Day | Comments Off 

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Sep

19

Mental health courts reduce recidivism

Filed Under Crime, Mental health | 2 Comments

So concludes this study. I’ve never stopped thinking about recidivism and how to stop it since my senior year in high school when I did an independent study on adolescent delinquents and their “hireability.”

The study, published in the 9/07 issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry, will get a full read from me. I look forward to reading others’ views of the work.

More good news in this article regarding similar, small-scale tries and another set of ideas are explored here. But this study, on the other hand, seems to have it backwards in its refusal to recognize mental health courts as a means to prevention of juvenile recidivism. It focuses on California and a program in Hamilton County. If anyone reading has knowledge of that program’s trajectory, I hope you’ll comment.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 7:26 pm September 19th, 2007 in Crime, Mental health | 2 Comments 

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Sep

19

Why being ferocious Michelle Malkin 24/7 can fail badly, by Max Factor III@CWRU

Filed Under Announcements, Parenting, Politics, Women | 3 Comments

Ironically, on the very day that Michelle Malkin writes a one-note screed about her one-dimensional approach to mothering, mediator Max Factor III is presenting a lecture at Case Western’s law school titled, “Hardball Negotiating Tactics: Why They Work and How They Can Fail So Badly.” Unfortunately, it’s just ending now, although there’s a reception that’s followed it.

You can read more about Factor’s approach here.

And, just for Michelle, in case her 24/7 lion act loses its impact (read: when all you do is yell, does anyone really listen or hear you anymore?), try this link from Factor’s site. Be forewarned, though – that site uses the words “conflict” and “resolution,” a lot. Might be scary for someone who prefers to be all bully all the time.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 6:06 pm September 19th, 2007 in Announcements, Parenting, Politics, Women | 3 Comments 

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Sep

19

Whatever happened to less regulation, keep off my body, fearing doctor malpractice costs…

Filed Under Politics | 10 Comments

Hmm, well folks, we have a new contender for a piece of Ohio legislation that might need a 57 reasons post. From Plunderbund:

State Rep. Shannon Jones (R) introduced HB 314 yesterday- another crap, anti-choice bill aimed at whittling away at women’s reproductive rights in Ohio by extending our state’s already-restrictive laws on abortion.

The sad part is, two Democrats co-sponsored the thing: Matthew H. Barrett (D-Amherst) and L. George Distel (D-Conneaut).

A similarly-styled bill is all but a memory in South Carolina. [Update: see here for current status of SC bill and here for more on the controversy that sidelined it)

I find these attempts to shove, by law, this decision in a person’s face as insulting. After all the carrying on conservatives do about not wanting a nanny state, about not wanting people in their homes and taking away their guns and bothering their bodies and regulating everything under the sun, after all their concerns about malpractice costs for doctors. How much more hypocritical and nannyish and patriarcal can you get than a law that mandates that:

if an obstetric ultrasound examination is performed at any time prior to the performance or inducement of an abortion or the physician performing or inducing the abortion determines that an ultrasound examination will be performed as part of the abortion procedure, the physician shall do both of the following prior to the performance or inducement of the abortion:
(A) Provide the pregnant woman receiving the abortion the opportunity to view the active ultrasound image of the embryo or fetus;
(B) Offer to provide the pregnant woman with a physical picture of the ultrasound image of the embryo or fetus.
The requirements of division (A) of this section shall be performed at no additional charge to the pregnant woman.

What’s an “active ultrasound image” – they mean, during the time that the doctor is conducting it, as opposed to a still from some other person’s womb?

And who is paying for that section that says “performed at no additional charge”? The Ohio government that the Republicans don’t want to overhaul health care coverage?

No apologies here. This is a patriarchal, ulterior-motive-driven bill.

And I’m embarrassed that my state representative, Josh Mandel, from whom I haven’t heard in a very long while (reminds me that I need to email the nice guys in his office to find out what’s been up lately) would support such intrusions on the relationship between a doctor and a patient. Being pro-life is one thing. Supporting extremist measures that in the end will only torture the person who has already made up their mind after jumping through every other legal hoop created is another.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 4:26 pm September 19th, 2007 in Politics | 10 Comments 

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Sep

19

Reminder: Ted Gup@UAkron tomorrow on “The Dangers of Obsessive Secrecy”

Filed Under Announcements, Government, Politics, Writing | Comments Off

Read more here.

Vital Vittles:

Date: Thursday, Sept. 20

Buffet Lunch: 11:45 a.m.

Program: Noon

Location: Martin University Center, 105 Fir Hill, on the University of Akron campus. Click here for directions

Cost: $10 for Akron Press Club members; $15 for non-members.

The program will start immediately following the luncheon, both of which are open to the public.

Reserve a spot: Reservations are requested. Contact Abe or Nancy Zaidan at 330-835-4980 or at azaidan@neo.rr.com.

I’m going to try to make it. So far, so good.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 4:07 pm September 19th, 2007 in Announcements, Government, Politics, Writing | Comments Off 

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Sep

19

On AG nominee Mukasey being an Orthodox Jew

Filed Under Government, Jewish, Judaism, Media, Politics | 4 Comments

Maybe the choice of Judge Michael Mukasey to replace Alberto Gonzales will temper and possibly even eradicate the image of Jack Abramoff as The Orthodox Jew in government (though many people may think more in terms of Joe Lieberman, and I can’t honestly say which, if either, is preferable). Maybe the choice of Judge Mukasey will re-install the possibility that President Bush can put forward competent people period. Maybe there’s some stealth idea that by choosing someone who is Jewish to head up a USDOJ that now focuses so much on civil rights as interpreted though Bush’s “war on terrorism,” no one will complain (ha).

Frankly, my dears, I don’t give a damn if he’s Jewish. It’s cool. It’s nice. I’m happy for him if he’s happy for him. But until I got this article an hour ago in my regular newsletter from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, I had no idea that he was Jewish, and an Orthodox Jew at that, they say.

Neat.

But what else would you want me to say?

I know.

That I’m thrilled that not a single other article I’ve read or heard about the nominee mentioned his religion. And I would guess from what the JTA piece says about Mukasey, he would be equally thrilled that his religion is not the center of attention.

It shouldn’t be.

But, I will allow, it’s a very interesting footnote. Snark coming: I bet Susan Purtee thinks at least that.

P.S. Apparently he wanted to be a journalist before he decided to go to Yale Law School.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 2:50 pm September 19th, 2007 in Government, Jewish, Judaism, Media, Politics | 4 Comments 

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Sep

19

Rage against the Michelle Malkin: doesn’t speak for me & thank God she isn’t my mother or my kids’ mother

Filed Under Parenting, Women | 3 Comments

I’ve read Michelle Malkin. I’ve watched Michelle Malkin. I’ve even tried to write Michelle Malkin, to no avail (several months ago, maybe even a year ago) and I hate that she doesn’t allow comments; obviously she’s worried that if everyone followed her be ferocious beliefs, well – who would want to face nothing but ferocity in their comments post after post after post? I stand corrected. It’s been a while since I’ve visited her site and it appears that comments are now open. Good for her. I like that.

But just as she says that Sally Field doesn’t speak for her when it comes to the sorority known as Motherhood, Malkin sure as sunshine doesn’t speak for me.

Watch Field at the Emmy’s Sunday night.

Now, first thing, Michelle – get a grip. Field is an actress. Second, she was giving a speech. Third, she is facing cameras, on a stage, that go out to millions. Why on Earth do you think she was even talking to you in particular? She was, you know, generalizing?

Second thing, Michelle – you are dead wrong about all the black and white lines you assert exist:

“There are sheep moms. There are lion moms. We know which kind Sally Field is.”

Garbage.

“Our maternal instincts supposedly lead us to shun fights and coddle bullies instead of disciplining them”

More garbage.

Third thing, Michelle, what you say here is not garbage. It’s very true:

Motherhood and peace-making are not synonymous. Motherhood requires ferocity, the will and resolve to protect one’s own children at all costs, and a life-long commitment to sacrifice for a family’s betterment and survival.

But aw, here? Fourth and final thing: here’s the biggest pile we need to haul and chuck into the garbage heap:

Conflict avoidance is incompatible with good mothering.

As I wrote on Nixguy (who gets the hattip for this post) in pertinent part:

Malkin is also wrong on the conflict avoidance being incompatible with motherhood. That’s just pure BS. Motherhood relies on knowing when to hold em and when to fold em and an intimate knowledge of and excellent facility with conflict avoidance will get a parent a lot farther in raising good human beings than simply being ferocious….

Now, Michelle, I’ve written more than a few mother-centered columns. Even won top awards for this one and this one.

Sure, nothing like your books and all. Congrats to you on your success. But over the last four years, I’ve gotten a nice number of emails and pats on the back from mothers who tell me I speak for them. I haven’t yet had someone tell me that I don’t, but then, I don’t project that I speak for anyone other than myself. If someone finds my tales to resonate, that is icing on the proverbial cake. If not, well, then, you know – not.

Look. I didn’t even watch the Emmys, Michelle. It was a school night. I have to conserve my energy for things that matter. Somehow, watching Sally Field get an award, let alone beating up on Sally Field – of all people – just doesn’t rank for me. If I was going to beat up on anyone, it would be whomever beat out Aidan Quinn (wow – is he really that gray now!?).
He’s one of the very, very few figures in anything whom I’ve ever lusted after and I wanted him to win, but that was only because of this Sunday Weekend Edition piece that was done with him that morning (I didn’t even know the Emmys were on or that Quinn was still acting (in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, which I couldn’t have watched anyway since we don’t get HBO)) until I heard the radio while I was driving to the CVS from dropping my kids off at Sunday school because I had to get a new bottle of Gummy Vitamins and a bottle of Tinactin for one of my kid’s foot fungus – such a sheep, I am).

But I’m very appreciative that you wrote what you wrote, because it gives me fodder for my next Mommy Matters column about the space between…well, everything.

Feel free to let’er rip on anything I’ve written, but, if I were you, I’d wait until October gets posted. It’s fashioned after this post about lice, which I titled, How I Know I’m Strong. Cuz honey – until you’ve battled those ferocious little PITAs, you ain’t no lion or lioness in my book. If either of your kids have had lice, Michelle, then I am sure you know what I am saying!

Oy – I could go on and on, but I have to stop. My daughter starts cartooning class today and her younger brother decided that he wants to take it too and there is room in the class but I have to go over and sign him up in person and then go over to his school and fill out a permanent bus change slip so that they know that he has an after-school class and not to put him on his regular bus and then make sure that they let him know about the change because I wouldn’t want him to miss the class that I’ve now put him in.

The life of a sheep in lion’s clothing, or is it a lion in sheep’s clothing? Well, whatever it is you thought you were saying about mothers and all? It’s never dull, whether you’re being ferocious or avoiding conflict.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:10 am September 19th, 2007 in Parenting, Women | 3 Comments 

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Sep

19

Buckeye Institute presents “policy briefing on school spending inequities” tomorrow

Filed Under Announcements, Education, Ohio, Politics | Comments Off

Bummer that I cannot attend this event in Columbus on Thursday, September 20.  But I confess, from the Buckeye Institute’s description of the briefing, it sure sounds more like the briefing itself is going to be unequitable:

A Buckeye Institute report, to be released next week, blasts a hole in school bureaucrats’ demands for more spending under the pretext of addressing inequities in Ohio school funding.  The superintendents’ and teacher unions’ so-called ‘Get It Right’ ballot amendment campaign wants billions more in tax dollars spent on schools in the name of the Ohio Supreme Court’s DeRolph decision.

However, as will be documented in our report Shortchanging Disadvantaged Students: An Analysis of Intra-District Spending Patterns in Ohio, it turns out that school bureaucrats themselves routinely create large inequities through their spending patterns within school districts.  As the title points out, the inequities of spending within school districts disproportionately impact the district’s poorest students.

Ohioans should insist that public schools put their own house in order before committing to a constitutional amendment that would put school bureaucrats in charge of the public purse under the guise of addressing inequities in school spending.

Hmm.  Think Buckeye Institute’s head, David Hansen, means that charter schools, which are funded by tax dollars and some of which are for-profit, need to “put their own house in order” too, given all the problems they have with meeting students’ needs? 

If anyone goes, I hope you’ll blog about it. I’ve requested a copy of the report for those of us who can’t be in attendance.  Read more here for how to sign up and go.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:42 am September 19th, 2007 in Announcements, Education, Ohio, Politics | Comments Off 

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Sep

19

Carnival of Ohio Politics #83 now posted

Filed Under Blogging, Carnivals, Ohio, Politics | 2 Comments

Please visit Carnival of Ohio Politics #83, now posted here, for a fantastic collection of ideas and thoughts expressed only as Ohio bloggers can do it.

Thanks to all the participants, and to all the readers.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:05 am September 19th, 2007 in Blogging, Carnivals, Ohio, Politics | 2 Comments 

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