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Nov

30

General Motors’ Roger Smith, of Roger & Me, RIP

Filed Under Business, Culture | 6 Comments

This coverage from NPR includes audio as well as an article on Roger Smith, the former Chairman and CEO of General Motors, who died today at age 82. And, although born in Columbus, he went to University of Michigan.

I loved the movie Roger & Me, even though I knew, as I watched it, that I had to accept that Michael Moore was showing one film and Roger Smith lived a life beyond that one view.

We all do – just like we blog but we live outside our blogs.  We don’t know one another as well as we think, just from reading our blogs.  As forthright as I may be here, it only scratches the surface of who I am.  And I try to remember that when I read posts that bother me  – what does the post really represent beyond the words typed?  A lot, nothing, something in between?

That’s not to say that Roger Smith wasn’t an evil person, as many people who watched the movie may have concluded, not to mention all the folks in Flint, MI and beyond.

But, for example, when Capri Cafaro did Meet the Bloggers, I was determined to hear her talk about and describe what it was like to be a 20 year old whose father was on trial and then in jail, because of what she had to say, with immunity, about actions he’d taken.  And for her to still have so many connections to him, and so publicly.  Now that helps you go behind the music, or mayhem, or motors.

Anyway, RIP, Roger.  I’m curious to read whatever, if anything, Michael Moore might have to say.  Just because, and not because I expect anything in particular.  What, really, could he say that he didn’t say in that movie?

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:39 pm November 30th, 2007 in Business, Culture | 6 Comments 

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Nov

30

Hoya in the ‘house? My classmate, Dennis Murray, Jr. (D) runs for Redfern’s seat

Filed Under Announcements, Campaigning, Elections, Ohio, Politics, Statehouse | 6 Comments

I just read this post on Ohio Daily Blog and I am so tickled. Dennis was one of my very first friends at Georgetown and we took at least a few classes together – I particularly remember an intro to Conlaw class that I nearly flunked (he was a MUCH better student).

I wish him much, much luck in his race and maybe, just maybe, knowing that there might be fellow Hoyas in the ‘house, maybe I’ll consider running for something – after 2015.

Hoya Saxa, baby!

Two other very, very odd coincidences are that a former law school boyfriend of mine worked for the Murray firm in the 1990s and then one of my closest friends from law school worked at the firm for a few years a little bit after that.  Small world indeed.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 6:53 pm November 30th, 2007 in Announcements, Campaigning, Elections, Ohio, Politics, Statehouse | 6 Comments 

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Nov

30

Some Sudanese want British teacher dead

Filed Under Civil Rights, Foreign Affairs, Religion, Social Issues | 36 Comments

This is just unbelievable.

Yesterday’s post on Gillian Gibbon’s odyssey as a teacher.

It’s not that I don’t understand intellectually what they’re saying their belief requires or demands.  But I fail to see how the instigating incident comes anything close to demanding the penalty, if we even accept the penalty as appropriate (which is obviously more than a little “if”).

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:10 am November 30th, 2007 in Civil Rights, Foreign Affairs, Religion, Social Issues | 36 Comments 

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Nov

29

The $1000 bagel & all you could want for Chanuka

Filed Under Jewish, Judaism, Marketing, Religion | 7 Comments

Yes, that’s how I spell it.  I know – not a lot of people spell it that way but still, 355K isn’t to sneeze at (journalists apparently spell it Hanukkah -oy that’s look awful – maybe the fact that I don’t is what makes me just a blogger?).

Anyway – the holiday begins at sunset next Tuesday.  Here are some things you can get your Jewish friends:

A bagel with Alba white truffle cream cheese and goji berry infused Riesling jelly with golden leaves. For $1000.

Nothing here appeals to me.

But you can check here.

Hag sameach.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 6:28 pm November 29th, 2007 in Jewish, Judaism, Marketing, Religion | 7 Comments 

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Nov

29

Hey, Sarah-tell us whether bloggers are journalists, while you’re at it

Filed Under Business, Civil Rights, Economy, Media, Social Issues, Writing | Leave a Comment

I don’t know – maybe she was at the start of a hunger strike – but Sarah Silverman isn’t sounding incredibly coherent on the picket lines for the WGA, but hey, I’m glad she’s out there for the um, you know – I don’t know – yeah – the writers. Watch out for the DB word – luckily, no school admins in sight. Hattip to the Bintel Blog.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:58 pm November 29th, 2007 in Business, Civil Rights, Economy, Media, Social Issues, Writing | Please comment 

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Nov

29

British teacher & teddy bear: sentenced to 15 days in jail, deportation

Filed Under Courts, Crime, Foreign Affairs, Politics, Religion | 8 Comments

Read all about it.

I’m speechless, but here are some reactions.

What about you?

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:21 pm November 29th, 2007 in Courts, Crime, Foreign Affairs, Politics, Religion | 8 Comments 

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Nov

29

Harvard says: 88% say campaign coverage focuses on the trivial, media overinfluences

Filed Under Politics | 4 Comments

Hattip to Wendy Hoke at Creative Ink for this post that draws attention to this Editor & Publisher article, “Study: More Than 60% Don’t Trust Campaign Coverage.” You can download the full report as a pdf here.

Other findings, according to E & P:

The findings were among those in Harvard’s Center for Public Leadership National Leadership Index. The survey, which included interviews with 1,207 adults nationwide in September, focuses mostly on leadership issues. But a portion of the findings asked about views on the media in relation to leadership, with some troubling results.

“Our survey finds a pervasive lack of confidence in the leadership of many sectors of society,” the report states. “But Americans give their lowest marks to leaders in the press. Americans are particularly dissatisfied with press coverage of the 2008 presidential campaign.”

When asked if election coverage was politically biased, 40% believed it was too liberal; 21% too conservative; and 30% found it neutral. Nine percent of those responding were not sure.

Key among the findings:

• 64% of those polled do not trust press coverage of the presidential campaign.

• 88% believe that campaign coverage focuses on trivial issues.

• 84% believe that media coverage has too much influence on American voting choices.

• 92% say it is important that the news media provide information on candidates’ specific policy plans, but 61% say the media does not provide enough coverage of policy plans.

• 89% say it is important to hear about candidates’ personal values and ethics, but 43% say there is not enough coverage of personal values and ethics.

Read more

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:09 pm November 29th, 2007 in Politics | 4 Comments 

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Nov

29

PD Openers folks having too. much. fun. I say, with Kucinich

Filed Under Blogging, Campaigning, Media, Ohio, Politics, WH2008 | Leave a Comment

Now, really. I think, secretly, or not so secretly, they love writing this stuff – and who wouldn’t?  I absolutely can’t blame them.  But look down that left sidebar (or, if you are reading this long after it was posted, do a search on “kucinich” – see how many times “Kucinich” appears?  If you’ve ever seen your post’s hits skyrocket on LeftyBlogs.com when it has “Kucinich” in the title, you know what I’m sayin’.

It’s fun to write in a format that let’s a voice come through – whatever voice it is. I refuse and will continue to refuse to believe that allowing that to happen in many instances 100% disqualifies the expression as journalism.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 1:15 pm November 29th, 2007 in Blogging, Campaigning, Media, Ohio, Politics, WH2008 | Please comment 

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Nov

29

Erect an Election Process: Designers Needed

Filed Under Announcements, Blogging, Campaigning, Elections, Government, Media, Ohio, Politics | 1 Comment

Okay – so maybe I miss a Google result here and there, but chances are, when I get an e-mail from someone I don’t know or about something I don’t know about, I’m going to go to Google before I do much else. Or I might e-mail a few folks, or I might do both.

So, when I received an invitation to participate in the Your Billion Dollar President project, I did just that and boy, as usual, I can’t believe they’re asking me (and, as usual, I hope they aren’t sorry that they did).

First, here’s a background piece on the very new bigger picture venture, a morning radio show from Public Radio International and WNYC (NY’s WCPN; Studio 360, On The Media, etc.).

The “they” in this case is producer Jonathan Dyer and journalist (and blogger!) John Hockenberry – do you know that records say he was the first host of Talk of the Nation? Cool. Read more

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:24 pm November 29th, 2007 in Announcements, Blogging, Campaigning, Elections, Government, Media, Ohio, Politics | 1 Comment 

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Nov

29

(Updated) Teacher allegedly insults Islam but could teddy bears named Muhammad be suspect under Violent Radicalization prevention bill?

Filed Under Congress, Education, Foreign Affairs, Government, Politics, Religion, Social Issues | 7 Comments

UPDATE: From the AP, 12:42pm today.

Warning: this is a bit of a ramble because these scenarios just keep coming and tossing sense to the wind.

The BBC has this article about a British teacher who works in a Christian school in Khartoum, Sudan but currently is in custody (though the BBC piece says she may be released very soon). She brought in a teddy bear as part of a habitat study session, asked the kids to name it and they chose Mohammad – one boy says he chose it because that is his name. According to the BBC piece, “It is seen as an insult to Islam to attempt to make an image of the Prophet Muhammad.” The offense is punishable by jail time and a fine.

Now, the U.S. Congress is considering a bill that seeks to study “violent radicalization” and “homegrown terrorism.” “Violent radicalization” is defined as “the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change.”

The process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance….change. Read more

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:17 am November 29th, 2007 in Congress, Education, Foreign Affairs, Government, Politics, Religion, Social Issues | 7 Comments 

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Nov

29

Carnival of Ohio Politics #93 posted

Filed Under Blogging, Carnivals, Ohio, Politics | Leave a Comment

Thank you, Ben of the Keeler Political Report.

Good reading, as always, at the Carnival of Ohio Politics, #93 this week, wow.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 8:01 am November 29th, 2007 in Blogging, Carnivals, Ohio, Politics | Please comment 

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Nov

28

As The Hand Spanks – Or Not

Filed Under Crime, Culture, Government, Mental health, Politics, Social Issues | 2 Comments

First California tried this, and now Massachusetts is trying this.

But California eventually did this,  so will Massachusetts end up doing the same?

Sigh.

Remember this stuff I wrote about behavior? Not changing because of law? Starts long before law is even contemplated?

Yeah. Same thing.

Over, and over, and over.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:58 pm November 28th, 2007 in Crime, Culture, Government, Mental health, Politics, Social Issues | 2 Comments 

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Nov

28

Giuliani’s security should be strong & silent, emphasis on the silent, yes?

Filed Under Campaigning, Elections, Government, Politics, Scandal, WH2008 | 2 Comments

I saw this story at Ohio Daily Blog but it originated at The Politico.

However, it’s this article by the Associated Press that has the ring of candid conversation:

Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign on Wednesday dismissed a report that New York City taxpayers footed the bill for expenses incurred in a Long Island resort as the then-mayor began an extramarital affair with current wife Judith Nathan.

“These were all legitimate expenses incurred in protecting the mayor, and his police detail covered him wherever he went, 24/7,” Tony Carbonetti, Giuliani’s chief political adviser, said in an interview. “You just do what you do and the police go with you. That’s just a fact of life when you’re the mayor of New York.”

Aides, however, offered no explanation for why the tens of thousands of dollars in costs, which they say were routine expenses for protection for the mayor, were billed to obscure city agencies.

My emphasis.

Does Carbonetti have any idea about what he said? Read more

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:01 pm November 28th, 2007 in Campaigning, Elections, Government, Politics, Scandal, WH2008 | 2 Comments 

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Nov

28

(Updated) If I laugh, just a little bit – am I being offensive?

Filed Under Blogging, Culture, Mental health, Social Issues, Writing | 10 Comments

I know I’m not the best barometer of when to laugh, but can a laugh stand alone, without commenting on substance? Or does the laugh itself have to be interpreted?

Because I know that sometimes, I do just laugh, but then, I feel like, if I say I laughed – if I tell someone that I laughed, or that something specific made me laugh, then will I be told, Oh! How insensitive! because even I know that to laugh at some things really isn’t so proper?

Some things that have made me laugh today:

The title of this post – JUST the title

And this one – JUST the title

This picture – JUST this picture

The very idea of the topic of this post – JUST the idea

Should I feel badly about any of them?

A star for the name of the artist who sang this post’s title line.

Update: Check out this article from CNET, “Is political correctness screwing up the workplace?” Echoes this post.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 4:45 pm November 28th, 2007 in Blogging, Culture, Mental health, Social Issues, Writing | 10 Comments 

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Nov

28

Pew survey: journalists say Iraq situation worse than Americans perceive

Filed Under Foreign Affairs, Media, Politics, Writing | 6 Comments

The Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism released a new report today, Journalists in Iraq: A Survey of Reporters on the Front Lines. You can read the full report here.

Quick views, all from Pew:

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 4:17 pm November 28th, 2007 in Foreign Affairs, Media, Politics, Writing | 6 Comments 

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Nov

28

A View Inside: CNN’s GOP debate YouTube video selection process

Filed Under Campaigning, Elections, Media, Politics | 4 Comments

The St. Petersburg Times got permission last week to follow the process.  Read their take here.

Preview of preview:

CNN’s undisclosed location in St. Petersburg is easy enough to find. It’s a giant bus with the network’s distinctive red lettering printed on the side.

The bus is a roving newsroom, complete with 10 flat-panel televisions, hookups for lights and cameras, and a high-definition satellite connection.

It beats meeting in a Mahaffey ballroom, officials said, because it’s CNN’s turf.

There are only two doors on the bus — and CNN has the keys.

“We control the process,” said [CNN political director Sam] Feist. “That way, we don’t have to worry about people overhearing the question process.”

Feist, political editor Mark Preston, producer Alan Isenberg, political researcher Alan Silverleib, producer Claire Brinberg, senior producer Melissa Block, political research director Rob Yoon, producer Jack Gray and a group of others convened Monday around their Dell laptops to hammer out what immigration questions the Republicans could face.

[Anderson] Cooper, who will lead the candidates’ discussion starting at 8 tonight, was not present.

Feist said Cooper will be able to review the questions and make changes.

There will be about 70 questions prepped for the show, but only 40 may be asked.

Which 40 depends on the dynamics of the debate.

H/t Romensko.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 4:02 pm November 28th, 2007 in Campaigning, Elections, Media, Politics | 4 Comments 

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Nov

28

You know it’s a slow news day when: WaPo pulls out the “are bloggers journalists” story

Filed Under Blogging, Media, Politics, Wide Open, Writing | 28 Comments

There are some interesting points written in this article from yesterday’s Washington Post, “Storming the News Gatekeepers,” but nothing new.

Citizen journalism is bringing folks, young and old, into the public square, giving voice to those who, in the pre-Internet era, may have felt voiceless.

That’s news?

But some challenge the value of all this citizen involvement. Questions pop up. Is it really “journalism”? Are “they” really “journalists”? What’s the difference between citizen journalists and bloggers who write about politics?

That’s news?

Journalists, he continues, “follow a set of standards, a code of ethics. Objectivity rules. That’s not the case with citizen journalists. Anything goes in that world.”

I’m censoring myself not to say what that is.

And sometimes the facts go out the window.

Okay – now, how many times have we read that?

O.M.G. Who edited this WaPo thing? I guess someone who doesn’t read anything related to the flux in the news industry.

Now, the following isn’t news, because we out here know it, but it is worth repeating (and, apparently, even though we’ve been repeating for as long as I’ve been around these parts, I’m not expecting to have to stop saying it anytime soon):

A citizen journalist, [NYU's Mitchell] Stephens notes, is not the same as a political blogger. The former can, and sometimes does, original reporting; the latter, for the most part, is a political junkie armed with opinions and has no bones about sharing them. But these definitions don’t always fit.

“There really is no simple definition for what a citizen journalist is, just lots and lots of examples,” says Dan Gillmor, former technology columnist for the San Jose Mercury News and author of “We the Media: Grassroots Journalism by the People, for the People.”

“It ranges from people who do journalism all the time to people who do what you might call a random act of journalism to people who don’t consider themselves journalists but are in fact practicing journalism.

“The publishing tools — digital cameras, blogging software — are at the people’s disposal,” Gillmor continues. “And for a lot of them, the underlying motivation is frustration with the traditional media.”

 Jay Rosen of PressThink is at NYU too.

And I’ll give the last word to the blogger profiled by WaPo:

“Look, everyone’s trying to analyze what citizen journalism is, what its impact will be in this election. We, the citizen journalists, are figuring it out. You mainstream media folks are figuring it out. But whatever it is, there’s no going back. We’re here. Get used to it.”

 Hattip to Brewed Fresh.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 3:44 pm November 28th, 2007 in Blogging, Media, Politics, Wide Open, Writing | 28 Comments 

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Nov

28

Why didn’t ODOT task force get created in July so we’d be on the way to solutions, not shortfalls, now?

Filed Under Blogging, Economy, Government, Ohio, Politics, Statehouse | 2 Comments

I don’t know what it means, but I’ve been following it since January: what is UP with ODOT’s budgeting?

I do feel like I’m picking on ODOT, which isn’t even an area I know very well. But from the beginning, when the director was chosen from an area familiar to Governor Ted Strickland, and the guy had worked with a tiny budget and was amping up to the state level, I raised my eyebrows and wanted to learn, follow, understand (and trust, honest).

And then, I followed the doubling of the budget. And the summer’s story of a shortfall prediction. And now today’s news from WHIOTV.com:

The administration of Gov. Ted Strickland said Tuesday the state faces a $3.5 billion shortfall in funding for proposed new highway projects previously approved for construction.

In its 2008-2009 Business Plan, the Ohio Department of Transportation said the shortfall was prompting by rising construction costs.

The combined rate of construction cost increases from 2004 to 2007 was 40.7 percent.

The report stated costs went up due to “unprecedented rising costs of oil, increased demand for steel and raw materials in the global economy and the lingering effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.”

Ohio Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Varner said the administration is not calling for an increase in the gas tax, the main source of revenue for the department.

Varner said the governor will soon appoint members to a new state task force to evaluate the projects that have already been approved for construction.

Oh really? Read more

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 2:55 pm November 28th, 2007 in Blogging, Economy, Government, Ohio, Politics, Statehouse | 2 Comments 

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Nov

28

Psychopaths R Us: Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Act

Filed Under Crime, Culture, Foreign Affairs, Mental health, Parenting, Politics, Religion, Social Issues | 3 Comments

This article about the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Act from In These Times caught my eye in late October, but it kept getting relegated to open tabs that closed on me and, once the Wide Open tsunami of comments and posts hit, I never posted about it (I’ve since quadrupled my RAM and am able to retain a lot more memory – well, my computer can, I wish it was as simple as a chip replacement for me).

A little bit about the bill from the article:

[California Democratic Rep., Jane] Harman’s bill would convene a 10-member national commission to study “violent radicalization” (defined as “the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change”) and “homegrown terrorism” (defined as “the use, planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual born, raised, or based and operating primarily within the United States […] to intimidate or coerce the United States government, the civilian population of the United States, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives”).

The bill also directs the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to designate a “center of excellence,” a university-based research center where academics, policy-makers, members of the private sector and other stakeholders can collaborate to better understand and prevent radicalization and homegrown terrorism.

Now – that’s all well and good. Sort of. But just how much it’s not well and good isn’t exactly what I want to write about.

What I want to write about is – why don’t we have this kind of mobilization to identify potential sex offenders? Or potential murderers? Or potential white collar criminals?

What do all these folks have in common?

Some kind of psychopathology. That ends up hurting other people. And lands them in jail. And costs the taxpayers money. And destroys lives – of the perpetrator and the victims, who are direct and indirect.

Why don’t we have research funded to help determine which parents are going to do unspeakable things to children?  Who will define “unspeakable”? Or when someone is a child?  Or who is a parent? Why not all adults?

Why not a study to help understand and identify these folks, for any of these things, if we’re going to say okay to such efforts on behalf of “homegrown terrorism” and “violent radicalization”?

Because just as they know now about serial killers as well as terrorists, there are few to study and they are extremely rare in society. All we will end up doing is freaking out everyone else from questioning anything and being any different from whomever the people doing the study want to say are the “norm.” Because all a norm does is show us what is out there – not what is possible.

I want safety, security and a life free of terror and terrorism. But all a proposal like this does is foster the notion that we have many things to fear – including each other, especially if we don’t conform to the average – whatever that turns out to be.

With all the kinds of negative, harmful behavior that exists and is so much more rampant, how absolutely sad and scary that this bill is flying through the Congress.

This Huffington Post piece by Philip Geraldi does a decent job of outlining why we should be worried about the bill, H.R. 1955, which you can see here on Thomas.

Hattip to Susan at BlueOhioan.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 1:42 pm November 28th, 2007 in Crime, Culture, Foreign Affairs, Mental health, Parenting, Politics, Religion, Social Issues | 3 Comments 

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Nov

28

Writers Guild strike continues, Carson Daly entices scabs

Filed Under Blogging, Writing | 2 Comments

Update on the Writers Guild of America strike.  My favorite part:

Separately Tuesday, though the WGA didn’t put out any statement on the contract talks, the guild did address the recent news that Carson Daly plans to resume the late-night talk show duties he had suspended in support of the strike.

“We’re disappointed at Carson Daly’s decision to return to work,” the WGA West said. “Mr. Daly is not a writer and not a member of the WGA, unlike other late-night hosts Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Craig Ferguson and Jimmy Kimmel, who have all resisted network pressure and honored our writers’ picket lines.

“We’re especially appalled at Mr. Daly’s call for non-guild writers to provide him with jokes. We hope he’ll change his mind and follow the lead of the other late-night hosts.”

The latter criticism referred to a personal e-mail from Daly to friends and family that was leaked online Tuesday.

Hey, if there are folks begging to do Wide Open with the same restriction in place that caused its closure, you can bet that there are folks who’ll send Daly jokes. Of course, my hope for whomever does decide to do Wide Open is that they demand that the ethic involved with its closure be given respect through something more compatible with the independence bloggers should have on such a forum.  Otherwise, the forum will be no different than anything done by newsroom staff.  Unless that’s what is desired.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 1:06 pm November 28th, 2007 in Blogging, Writing | 2 Comments 

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