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Nov

27

Did Club Isabella close?

Filed Under Culture, Ohio | 4 Comments

I am very bummed if it did.  Does anyone know?  Is it now called Vina Note? Is Vina Note closed too?

I’m so confused. I’ve called the number and the voice says it’s been disconnected, no other info.  I can’t find any info when I google – but now I’m doubting my googling skills (the club comes up, but the number is the same as the one I tried that seems to be disconnected).

Nu?

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:07 pm November 27th, 2007 in Culture, Ohio | 4 Comments 

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Nov

27

IRS 2008 Standard Mileage rates

Filed Under Politics | 7 Comments

The official announcement is here.  It’s an important number for freelancers, among other kinds of workers.  A little hard to believe it’s only going up 1.5 cents but I have never studied the methodology or logic behind the rate’s computation.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2008, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

  • 50.5 cents per mile for business miles driven;
  • 19 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes; and
  • 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations.

The new rate for business miles compares to a rate of 48.5 cents per mile for 2007. The new rate for medical and moving purposes compares to 20 cents in 2007. The rate for miles driven in service of charitable organizations has remained the same.

The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile; the standard rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs as determined by the same study. Runzheimer International, an independent contractor, conducted the study for the IRS.

Runzheimer has a code of ethics you can find here. I couldn’t find a list of officers or board members.  I’m just curious.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 8:03 pm November 27th, 2007 in Politics | 7 Comments 

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Nov

27

WSJ’s 50 Women to Watch 2007 report

Filed Under Business, Media, Women | 2 Comments

The portal to the Wall Street Journal’s 50 Women to Watch is here.

The article is here.

The sortable chart is here. Two women from P & G are on the list, but otherwise, no one from Ohio jumped out at me (there was no state category so I’m not 100% sure on whether there are others from Ohio).  A couple of women from GE and the top woman is from WellPoint, though no other health care concerns contributed, unless you count Pfizer and DuPont. The finance industry is well-represented.

Here’s the White House Project‘s take on the implications:

The Wall Street Journal has released its list of the 50 Women to Watch of 2007, women they believe “have the potential to make a significant impact on business in the year ahead.” We want to congratulate two of our SheSource.org experts who are among this prestigious list of movers and shakers: Erin Callan, who will become CFO of Lehman Brothers, a Corporate Council founding member, on December 1, and Anna Burger, Secretary-Treasurer of the Service Employees International Union.

The WSJ’s list includes Presidents, CEOs and Executive VPs of major corporations, which makes the omission of women on another recently released list hard to ignore. Only one of Fortune’s 25 Most Powerful People in Business is a woman–Indra Nooyi, Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo and speaker at our 2007 EPIC awards-and as the WSJ reports, the number of women in top executive jobs has remained stagnant in recent years. Women still hold only 16.4% of Fortune 500 corporate-officer jobs — positions of vice president or higher that require board approval.

The White House Project’s Corporate Council is working to reverse this trend. The Corporate Council is our innovative initiative to close the leadership gap in the corporate arena, bringing together senior executive women who are active agents of change within their organizations. The Council builds on the urgent need of companies to identify talented women leaders for top positions by making visible the extraordinary group of women who are ready and able to transform the way business is led in the 21st century.

As for why we need women in these roles, I swear I am going to finish that post’s draft this week!

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 6:23 pm November 27th, 2007 in Business, Media, Women | 2 Comments 

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Nov

27

Hattips to Ohio blogs

Filed Under Blogging, Cleveland+, Government, Media, Ohio, Politics, Social Issues, Statehouse, Women, Writing | Comments Off

Because even when they tell me I’m prolific, I know that, alone, none of us can do it all.  Luckily, we don’t have to.

To wit:

I suspected that Emily’s List might be involved because of the area code on the contact info here and how things unfolded for Betty Sutton and Jennifer Brunner getting support from the same group.  That 202 might still be a coincidence, but it’s the kind of question I ask as soon as I see the big money being asked, Tubbs Jones attending and…a 202 area code.  Thanks, Jeff.

From Jerid, we get all the phone numbers and names we need to help convince the folks we need to that the unpaid maternity leave bill should be approved.  Why? Because:

The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) is finally hearing the rule change proposal at their next meeting, Monday December 3rd at 1:30pm.  The business community is coming out hard against this proposal, so we would like to make sure that the members of the committee hear from supporters as well.  If you (or someone you know) has had an experience where they were not given enough time off following the birth or adoption of a child, and would be willing to testify (either in person or via submitting written testimony to the committee) please let me know and I can get you all of the details of what you would need to do.

Here’s the list (they are on JCARR and I highlighted the names I know best):

Rep Ross McGregor- 466-2038
Rep Clyde Evans- 466-1366
Rep William Batchelder- 466-8140
Rep Fred Strahorn- 466-2960
Rep Sandra Stabile Harwood- 466-3488
Senator Tom Niehaus- 466-8082
Senator Robert Schuler- 466-9737
Senator Timothy Grendell- 644-7718
Senator Capri Cafaro- 466-7182
Senator Sue Morano- 644-7613

Oh well – the secret is out, via Adam Brandon at Brewed Fresh Daily. Not that we haven’t been trying to get it out for decades. I’m telling you – the news is that housing prices in Ohio are down only 4.5% while down near double digits in places like Phoenix and Florida.  As I wrote to Carole Cohen within the last couple of days: Ohio is either up 4 or down 4, even when the rest of the country is swinging wildly.  That’s how it was 15 years ago when I decided to settle here.

And it’s a big reason as to why I did.  And for those who still think there’s just too much bad going on around here, I have spent a lot of time in the Cleveland schools lately for some writing work and I have to tell you, it’s just like the Plain Dealer: the talent within these institutions is more than adequate – even, on average, way above average.  But the total package – that final paper at the end of the driveway or the numbers the state or some non-profit churns out – just doesn’t seem to resemble what I know is there – in the newsroom, with the editors, in the teacher’s lounge and the classroom.

I can’t figure it out.  But when someone does, watch out.

I don’t have any best guess as to how long it took Bill Callahan to write this post, but it is absolutely unbelievable.  I never knew how many lightbulbs I had in my head until I started reading Bill, among a few other bloggers, regularly (when I’m not trying to cheat and e-mail him to get the quick answers without having to do the research myself).

Wendy Hoke helps us focus again on why writers push for their rights, all their rights and will most likely remain on strike for some time, unless the other side makes concessions.

And more blogs? No problem. It’s like having more kids – you think you can’t love anything as much as you love your first, and then comes the second, and you can’t think you’ll have any more to give, and then you have a third.  It is, truly, amazing.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 6:11 pm November 27th, 2007 in Blogging, Cleveland+, Government, Media, Ohio, Politics, Social Issues, Statehouse, Women, Writing | Comments Off 

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Nov

27

Dec. 1 & 2– IRE presents “Money and Politics” in Columbus

Filed Under Announcements, Blogging, Education, Elections, Media, Ohio, Politics | Comments Off

I really, really wish I could attend this program:

Dec. 1 & 2– IRE presents “Money and Politics” in Columbus
Investigative Reporters and Editors is offering a workshop, “Money and Politics: Follow the money trail in 2008 elections” Saturday, Dec. 2, at The Columbus Dispatch, Second-floor Conference room, 34 South Third St., Columbus, OH 43215. The workshop, made possible in part by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York, will emphasize money in local and state elections on the horizon, including the impact of “527 organizations,” tax-exempt political groups that do fundraising and advocacy related to political issues or voting at those levels. This workshop will be limited to the first 100 people who register.

Original computer-assisted reporting training will be offered the second half-day. This hands-on, computer-assisted reporting class will build data analysis skills for reporters covering money and politics. This class will use federal and state-level data, including “527” data from the IRS. Instructors will emphasize story ideas generated by the analysis. There are only 14 spaces for CAR training, available on the first-come, first-served basis. Workshop fees, including a six-month IRE membership, are $40 for professionals and $20 for students.

For more information, go to http://www.ire/org/training/MIP/Columbus07

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:28 pm November 27th, 2007 in Announcements, Blogging, Education, Elections, Media, Ohio, Politics | Comments Off 

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Nov

27

For students: write how an author’s work affected you, win trip to D.C.

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

From this week’s Writer’s Week (through Society of Professional Journalists) and the Cleveland Public Library‘s Ohio Center for the Book:

Cleveland Public Library looks for young writers – Dec. 14 deadline
Calling all students in grades 4th through 12th! The Cleveland Public Library is sponsoring a letter writing contest. To enter, readers must write a personal letter to an author, explaining how his or her work changed their view of the world or themselves. Young readers can select authors from any genre—fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic.

The winner has the ability to win an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D. C. for themselves, their parents and their teacher. The trip to our nation’s capital is the national prize in Letters about Literature (LAL), a writing contest sponsored by the Ohio Center for the Book in partnership with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, with the Target Corporation as presenting sponsor.

Student winners will be selected in three competition levels: Level I – grades 4-6; Level II – grades 7-8; and Level III – grades 9-12. Ohio finalists at each competition level will receive a $100 cash award, Target $50 gift card, and $40 gift card from Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Legacy Village, Lyndhurst, OH.

State winners will be notified in March 2008.  Each state’s first place winners will advance to national judging in Washington, D.C.

Two national winners will be selected in each competition level. Each of the six national winners will receive a $500 Target gift card and a $10,000 community grant to promote reading by children and young adults. Twelve national honorable mentions, four in each level, will receive a $100 Target gift card and a $1,000 grant for their community.

Submission deadline for all levels is Dec. 14, 2007. Entry forms and participation guidelines may be obtained at www.ohiocenterforthebook.org. Teachers, librarians, or parents interested in obtaining the required entry coupon, program specifics, teacher’s guides, lesson plans, black line masters and assessment checklists may contact the LAL Project Director at lettersaboutlit@epix.net. For more information, call (216) 623-2831.

Please spread the word.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:24 pm November 27th, 2007 in Announcements, Education, Ohio, Writing | Comments Off 

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Nov

27

Western Reserve Academy uses faculty, student blogs to attract applications

Filed Under Blogging, Education, Marketing, Media, Ohio, Parenting | Comments Off

A local example of embracing new media for old needs can be seen here.

How much of it is just PR and marketing? Probably a good chunk. But still, the school is using a tool that the kids they hope to attract already find curious and maybe even forbidden at home (WRA is 9-12th).

Check them out – what do you think?

Faculty:

Mr. Aguilar: Life Sciences
Mr. Bunting: Teaching Abroad
Mr. Cronheim: Languages – Latin
Ms. Kidera: Creative Writing

Students:

Callie: Senior Boarder
Cole: Senior Day Student

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:18 pm November 27th, 2007 in Blogging, Education, Marketing, Media, Ohio, Parenting | Comments Off 

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Nov

27

Upcoming events/announcements

Filed Under Announcements, Blogging, Campaigning, Cleveland+, Ohio, Politics | 3 Comments

In alphabetical order:

1. Paul Ackerman – running

2. Robin Weirauch – raising money in Shaker Hts. tonight – 6pm – RSVP to Meghan@robinforcongress.com or call 202-403-1660 – $2300 host/$1000 guest; hosts include Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Subodh Chandra, David Maltz, Susan Helper, Lana Moresky

3. Bazaar Bizarre – selling stuff (good stuff!) Saturday, 12/1, 12-9pm, E 4th and Prospect, The Sincere Building

4. Marie Wilson – speaking Monday, 12/3 Political $avvy Wins for Women, Windows on the River

5. Carnival of Ohio Politics submissions due by 9pm tomorrow night

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 4:47 pm November 27th, 2007 in Announcements, Blogging, Campaigning, Cleveland+, Ohio, Politics | 3 Comments 

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Nov

27

Field Trip announcement and Playaway update

Filed Under Announcements, Blogging, Business, Cleveland+, Marketing, Ohio, Tech | 3 Comments

First, the update, from a comment left by the Plain Dealer’s Chris Seper (thank you, Chris) at this WLST post:

I’d say the Kindle and Playaway are dramatically different products. The Kindle is text, the Playaway is a self-contained audiobook.

I know there was talk of adding video to the Playaway line way back when, but never take over as an e-reader.

They’ve moved a lot of their production from Mexico and overseas to NEO, and Playaway has found a consistent spot in the audiobook space.

Then, Chris Celeste, founder and president of Playaway, left this information:

We have doubled every year since introducing the product in 2005 and will end 2007 having built and shipped out more than 400,000 Playaways from our location here in NEO. We have signed 55 publishers on board who have provided us with more than 1200 titles to date. And after two years of hard work by a team that now numbers north of 50 people, Playaway can be found in 1,000+ retail locations nationwide, as well as more than 6,000+ public libraries and schools.

And here’s where the field trip invite comes in: Chris invites us for a tour of their facility in Solon.  As noted by Chris Seper, Playaway has “moved a lot of their production from Mexico and overseas to NEO…” and wouldn’t it be great to show support for such moves by checking it out and blogging about it?

Celeste says that mornings are best, Tuesday through Thursday, this month, next month, whenever.

If you’re interested, please leave a comment and/or e-mail me.  Before the holidays is fine, especially if you’re a bookworm type or have people on your lists who are, but January works too.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:30 am November 27th, 2007 in Announcements, Blogging, Business, Cleveland+, Marketing, Ohio, Tech | 3 Comments 

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