Ann Arbor has a lot of bookworms, according to a new list by Amazon.com.

The online company on Tuesday released its annual list of 20 of the “Most Well-Read Cities in America,” and Ann Arbor has landed the No. 4 spot.

It comes in behind Berkeley, Calif., at No. 3, Cambridge, Mass., at No. 2 and Alexandria, Va., tops the list at No. 1.

But that’s not the only reason we are the leaders and the best …

Navigate through the underground maze of library stacks and study tables in the basement of the Duderstadt Center on the University of Michigan’s North Campus and you’ll find a virtual treasure chest in room B474.

From the outside, the room looks much like the private study rooms that surround it. But on the shelves where books should be there are Xbox 360s, Playstations and more video games than any 12-year-old could ever dream of.

Room B474 is no ordinary library, it’s UM’s Computer and Video Game Archive, which boasts more than 3,000 games for more than 30 systems.

Unlike other video game archives throughout the world, anybody can come into Duderstadt and play any game available, whether for research or just to relax after a long day of studying.

So sweet.

A year ago, in their zeal to give businesses an enormous tax cut, the governor and the legislature considered virtually eliminating the Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor. In the end, they didn’t quite kill it. Instead, they merely took most of it away.

When they did, there was hardly a whimper of protest from the Democrats. About the only group which seemed upset was the non-profit and non-partisan Michigan League for Human Services.

Even the league seemed more relieved that the tax credit wasn’t totally killed than indignant about what the government had done. When the Michigan Senate decided to “only” take 70 percent of the credit away, they were praised by [...]]]>

Happy Wednesday!

• Hail to the Victors. Ann Arbor makes the “most well-read cities” list:
  

  Ann Arbor has a lot of bookworms, according to a new list by Amazon.com.

  The online company on Tuesday released its annual list of 20 of the “Most Well-Read Cities in America,” and Ann Arbor has landed the No. 4 spot.

  It comes in behind Berkeley, Calif., at No. 3, Cambridge, Mass., at No. 2 and Alexandria, Va., tops the list at No. 1.

  But that’s not the only reason we are the leaders and the best …

  Navigate through the underground maze of library stacks and study tables in the basement of the Duderstadt Center on the University of Michigan’s North Campus and you’ll find a virtual treasure chest in room B474.

  From the outside, the room looks much like the private study rooms that surround it. But on the shelves where books should be there are Xbox 360s, Playstations and more video games than any 12-year-old could ever dream of.

  Room B474 is no ordinary library, it’s UM’s Computer and Video Game Archive, which boasts more than 3,000 games for more than 30 systems.

  Unlike other video game archives throughout the world, anybody can come into Duderstadt and play any game available, whether for research or just to relax after a long day of studying.

So sweet.

• Jack Lessenberry has a good article on the impact of the devastating GOP EITC cuts:
  

  A year ago, in their zeal to give businesses an enormous tax cut, the governor and the legislature considered virtually eliminating the Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor. In the end, they didn’t quite kill it. Instead, they merely took most of it away.

  When they did, there was hardly a whimper of protest from the Democrats. About the only group which seemed upset was the non-profit and non-partisan Michigan League for Human Services.

  Even the league seemed more relieved that the tax credit wasn’t totally killed than indignant about what the government had done. When the Michigan Senate decided to “only” take 70 percent of the credit away, they were praised by a former senator, Gilda Jacobs, who is now president of the league.

  “This measure preserves the spirit of the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit,” she said. Well, I have long thought that Gilda was one of the brightest lights in Lansing.

  But I thought then that she was being far too easy on what to me was really a public policy crime. Shrinking the credit, known at the EITC, is about as stupid a move as I can imagine.

  While this is a good article and I generally agree with the sentiment, the fact is that Jack just needs to suck it. Seriously. When the working poor had a chance of getting some real relief a few years ago, Jack was out there beating on Governor Granholm for not working with Republicans to cut more. And now he’s saying the Democrats didn’t protest the EITC cuts? Does he pay attention at all?

  Whatever, Jack.

• Here’s another article about the impact of Snyder + GOP tax increases on the poor:
  

  A new report says Michigan’s low-income working families will pay an estimated $244 million more in state income taxes next year because of reductions in the state’s earned income tax credit.

  The Michigan League for Human Services released the report Monday. It says the state earned income tax credit in 2009 reduced taxes for low-income families by $349 million, but that saving will drop to $104 million for 2012.

• And finally, join us at Beer with Bloggers, on Thursday May 31 at the Corner Brewery in Ypsi:
  

  It’s a chance for us, the men and women behind the html code, to hang out with the folks that read our words and look at our photos and other artwork, answer your questions, and get drunk. Mark tells me the last time he did this (over two years ago), he had 90 people show up.

  The next Beer With Bloggers event is Thursday, May 31 from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti and YOU are invited.

  Here’s Mark Maynard’s post on the event.

  I’m looking forward to meeting everyone!!

Census Daily

Profile America — Wednesday, May 16th. The first motion picture Academy Awards were given out on this date in 1929. Unlike the big hoopla surrounding the awards now, about 270 people attended that first ceremony. The silent movie “Wings” was chosen as best picture. Many of the movie stars honored with Oscars through the years were born in May, among them Katherine Hepburn and John Wayne, along with Gary Cooper, Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart. When the first Oscars were awarded in 1929, Americans spent $720 million that year going to the movies. Now, motion picture theaters generate more than $13 billion in revenue annually.

Solidarity forever, brothers and sisters!!!

The group faces stiff opposition in their fight to recall our Republican governor. However, the fight they are getting is not from Republicans, tea partiers, the business community or conservatives.

It’s from a group that describes itself “independent left”.

I’m not kidding.

The group is Reach Out Job Search which has a website with a variety of writers and a podcast called ROJS Radio LIVE Political Talk Radio w/ Monica RW & Autumn S. The two main contributors to the ROJS effort are Ypsilanti Township Parks Commissioner and “job search expert” Monica Ross-Williams and Autumn Smith who ran the unsuccessful campaign to recall House Speaker Jase Bolger. I assisted Smith in her efforts. For example: HERE.

These two women have been on a nearly eight-month long effort to discredit, defame and ultimately ruin the efforts of Michigan Rising. Their drive to stop Michigan Rising appears to be primarily based on allegations made by a former volunteer and treasurer for the group which was formerly known as the Committee to Recall Rick Snyder (CRRS). This woman, Gail Schmidt, penned a screed on a nearly unknown website accusing the management team of fraud and mismanagement, claiming they have lied about the number of signatures gathered in the first attempt and illegal use of campaign funds. Ironically, it was Ms. Schmidt herself that nearly got the group into trouble when she broke campaign laws when trying to divert the remaining funds from individuals to Kos Media who never gave them the funds in the first place.

Using what they refer to as “radio shows” (which are online broadcasts/podcasts), Smith and Ross-Williams proceeded to engage in a series [...]]]>

With friends like these…
The group working to recall Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, Michigan Rising missed a campaign finance report deadline by a few days this month. Though this isn’t entirely uncommon given the unnecessarily complex and cumbersome reporting methods they use, it was still a black eye to a group trying to prove that it has learned its lesson from the first recall effort and pull off a feat that nearly everyone agrees will be a nearly impossible task.

The group faces stiff opposition in their fight to recall our Republican governor. However, the fight they are getting is not from Republicans, tea partiers, the business community or conservatives.

It’s from a group that describes itself “independent left”.

I’m not kidding.

The group is Reach Out Job Search which has a website with a variety of writers and a podcast called ROJS Radio LIVE Political Talk Radio w/ Monica RW & Autumn S. The two main contributors to the ROJS effort are Ypsilanti Township Parks Commissioner and “job search expert” Monica Ross-Williams and Autumn Smith who ran the unsuccessful campaign to recall House Speaker Jase Bolger. I assisted Smith in her efforts. For example: HERE.

These two women have been on a nearly eight-month long effort to discredit, defame and ultimately ruin the efforts of Michigan Rising. Their drive to stop Michigan Rising appears to be primarily based on allegations made by a former volunteer and treasurer for the group which was formerly known as the Committee to Recall Rick Snyder (CRRS). This woman, Gail Schmidt, penned a screed on a nearly unknown website accusing the management team of fraud and mismanagement, claiming they have lied about the number of signatures gathered in the first attempt and illegal use of campaign funds. Ironically, it was Ms. Schmidt herself that nearly got the group into trouble when she broke campaign laws when trying to divert the remaining funds from individuals to Kos Media who never gave them the funds in the first place.

Using what they refer to as “radio shows” (which are online broadcasts/podcasts), Smith and Ross-Williams proceeded to engage in a series of episodes that they described as an “investigation”. Most of this investigation consisted of allowing disgruntled former volunteers to come on the show to complain about the CRRS management team.

During the Kick-off Rally for the second recall attempt, Ross-Williams sent me this snarky Tweet (now deleted):

That afternoon, she posted this on her Facebook page:

[For the record, I appear on the First Shift with Tony Trupiano twice a month and am not paid. I raise funds the same Ross-Williams does: by asking my readers to contribute and through ad sales.]

The “diss” on President Obama she is referring to is when Radio Talk Show Host and rally emcee Tony Trupiano introduced a couple of high school kids with this:

Our next two guests represent “Hope” in a way that actually Barack Obama never did. Our next two guests represent the future in a way no politician ever will because they are high school children…and what they have to say is something that you desperately need to hear.

The reference to bloggers comes, one assumes, from Tony’s introduction of me at the rally:

Our next speaker is my brother-in-arms as I am fortunate enough, two times a month, to have him on my radio show. He is and epitomizes what it means to be a citizen journalist. He speaks truth to power in the way no one in the state of Michigan is right now. He has become my go-to source for when I want the truth on what’s happening in this building behind us.

(Watch video from the rally HERE.)

I contacted Trupiano to ask him about this:

Were you “dissing our President Obama” and saying that other Michigan bloggers are “not worth the keyboard strikes on their computers”?

Of course I was not dissing President Obama and that someone would interpret my remakes while introducing two high school freshman as a diss on the President makes one wonder if the people who were receiving this message were actually listening and, if they were, were they listening with an objective ear? Two 15-year old young people showed up at a rally to recall the Governor because they recognize their futures are at risk and if that doesn’t qualify as hope, I do not know what does. I did say they provided hope in a way the President never could because he hasn’t been 15 in some time. I should know because the president and I are the same age! Anyone who has ever heard my show knows my deep and committed support for President Obama and, even on those few issues where he and I disagree, I have never shown this president anything other than the utmost respect. Shame on a “reporter” who was not even there for inferring otherwise. Shame on them indeed. As for dissing Bloggers, I have a track record, again, including having her on my show, to support any accusation made in the opposite. What a silly and baseless ascertation.

The same night, Ross-Williams and Smith giddily announced on their Facebook page that they “could not resist” and would be hosting a special, unscheduled “radio show” to recap the rally. The podcast is HERE.

They spent the first several minutes chuckling and guffawing about the event, saying what an utter failure it was (though they themselves were not in attendance.) They criticized everything from the speakers to the sale of t-shirts and generally mocked the event for an entire hour while simultaneously claiming it was unimportant and would accomplish nothing.

Then, later that week, in a rather astonishing move for a group that calls itself an independent news organization, they went beyond “reporting” and “investigation” and entered the story themselves by filing a formal complaint with the Secretary of State bureau of elections.

On May 11, 2012, they issued the following press release on their Facebook page:

ROJS News & Radio has issued the following Press Release:

FORMAL COMPLAINT FILED WITH BUREAU OF ELECTIONS AGAINST MICHIGAN RISING POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE

On May 11, 2012, ROJS News and Radio initiated a formal complaint to the Michigan Bureau of Elections against Michigan Rising PAC Committee ID #515623, the group who is trying to Recall Gov. Rick Snyder.

ROJS News and Radio has investigated Michigan Rising campaign finance reportings over the past five months and found questionable activity occurring with the Political Action Committee finances (http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2012/05/michigan-rising-campaign-finance.html).

Michigan Rising failed to file their Tri-annual report which was due on April 25th 2012 (http://bit.ly/J0MTte).

As an arm of Independently financed media, we firmly believe Michigan voters have rights to know the financial affairs of a Political Action Committee (PAC) collecting monetary funds from potential voters donations. With such, ROJS News and Radio has mailed a complaint to the Bureau of Elections-Michigan Department of State regarding alleged violations of Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL’s) and Michigan Campaign Finance Act #388 of 1976.

ROJS News and Radio is an political, OP/ED, informational news site, and weekend based podcast entity founded in April 2010. We strive to provide the latest information from a Independent-Left viewpoint on issues surrounding Michigan & National politics, breaking news, investigative reporting and other stories which impact the unemployed, underemployed and America’s workers. For more information please visitwww.rojsnews.com orwww.rojsradiolive.com.

###

I say this is an astonishing act because not even conservatives in Michigan have done anything like this with regard to the recall effort. I have spoken with activists involved in the recall of Scott Walker in Wisconsin and they tell me that they received no pushback whatsoever from other progressives on the left. Here in Michigan, there is no organized effort to stop the recall effort from any group except for one on the left.

I ran into Ross-Williams while liveblogging the Michigan Summit this past weekend. She was there as what she described as the “exclusive blogging arm” of the Michigan Summit. I asked her for 5-10 minutes of her time to discuss her complaint but she refused to answer my questions, repeatedly saying it had to be “by email”. I asked her over and over for just a few minutes for some questions but was not successful. Later, she told me I could call Smith but, given her previous response, I had already drafted an email and we agreed to go that way. She did promise to email me a copy of their complaint but then refused to send it.

Here is the interview:

Mr. Savage,

The responses are below and will be kept in our records to ensure audacity [sic] to what’s published at your resource. We have no further information to add, besides the answers below, to your piece.

1. Monica, a bit of background first. What is your position with the Ypsi government? I understand you are an “elected official”. What position were you elected to?

Currently, I serve as an appointed member of the Ypsilanti Township Park Commission, since 2011. In this role, we serve to improve our local parks and address concerns raised by township residents.

This somewhat contradicts Ross-Williams’ LinkedIn page [screenshot] and Facebook page [screenshot] where she refers to herself as “a locally elected Ypsilanti Township Parks Commissioner” and a “Locally-Elected official.

2. What does your complaint accomplish that wouldn’t have happened otherwise? What is your intention by filing the complaint?

As a Michigan citizen and registered voter, Michigan Campaign Finance Act #388 of 1976, as amended, MCL 169.201 et seq., gives U.S. citizens’ the rights to file a complaint. Our complaint was mailed to the Bureau of Elections for the departments’ review.

Since this was probably the most important question I had and her response did not even begin to answer the question, I sent a follow-up email and received the following response:

Will you answer this question please? I asked about what your complaint will accomplish and what your intent is. Surely you had a reason for filing the complaint.

Chris,

We have no further information to add, besides the answers sent to your email address at 4:09 PM EDT, for your piece. Thank you.

3. I have been in contact with people from Wisconsin and they tell me there was no opposition to their recall effort from other progressives. Here in Michigan, there is isn’t any organized opposition from the conservatives. Yet you, a self-described “independent left” news blog, are working to end this recall effort in Michigan. How do you respond to those who wonder why you are doing the work of the conservative Republicans in Michigan for them?

ROJS News & Radio is a blog and radio show that covers Michigan and National politics from a Independent Left point of view. We accept no political candidates, political organization, or Political Action Committee paid advertising. With such, we present information based on our research on stories we cover. Michigan Rising via their website states the campaign is a non-partisan based effort. “Michigan Rising is a non-partisan Political Action Committee that is dedicated to restoring the balance in the legislature in the state of Michigan,” Michigan Rising About Us Page.

4. I am assuming you have spoken with representatives from Michigan Rising about why they missed their filing date. What did they tell you?

Michigan Rising has refused contact with ROJS News & Radio. Officials from the committee have been invited numerous times on ROJS Radio LIVE publicly to dispute any of the investigations and, will continue to have an open platform to do so.

It turns out that this is incorrect. I spoke to Bruce Fealk, Communications Director for Michigan Rising. He informed me that “Monica has never contacted anyone in the leadership committee about the late filing of the triannual report.”

What they would have learned, had they contacted Michigan Rising, is that, as soon as MR leadership realized they were going to be late, they immediately began working with the Secretary of State’s office to navigate the reporting site and to correct the problem promptly. At no time was their deception or anything untoward and the SoS was fully engaged in helping correct the situation.

5. Is it your belief that Michigan Rising intentionally did not file their campaign report?

Please refer to the Bureau of Elections Department of State website notification for Michigan Rising Committee ID #515623-7 on May 1, 2012. ROJS News & Radio can’t determine Michigan Rising’s intent.

6. Have you sent your press release to the major media outlets (Detroit News & Detroit Free Press, etc.)? If so, have they picked up the story (I haven’t seen anything yet.)

A press release was sent to professional journalistic organizations on May 11, 2012.

7. How can you call yourself an independent news organization when you are actually making news and participating in the story?

ROJS News & Radio is a blogging arm and podcast radio show. As Michigan citizens, bloggers and registered voters, Michigan Campaign Finance Law #388 of 1976, as amended, MCL169.201 et seq., gives U.S. citizens’ the right to file a complaint to the Bureau of Elections-Department of State.

All the best,

Monica Ross-Williams
ROJS News-Webmaster/Writer
ROJS Radio-Executive Producer/Host-on Blog Talk Radio

Based on Ross-Williams “answers” to these questions, and I used quotes because most of them are actually non-answers, there is absolutely no way to determine what Ross-Williams and Smith are trying to accomplish with their complaint. The Bureau of Elections already knew about the lateness of the filing. In fact, it was because of their letter to Michigan Rising that Ross-Williams and Smith knew about it since it was posted on the Secretary of State’s website.

So, what could their intention be?

I asked this question of Tony Trupiano with regard to the comments she made about him and his answer may provide some insight into Ross-Williams’ and Smith’s motivations:

I cannot imagine why a real journalist, and I am not suggesting that her blog represents real journalism…would have made a remark like that without asking for clarification, which thankfully Eclectablog did, and I must point out she did not. In fact, I read about her comments on my own Facebook page, which I have selflessly allowed her to use for a year now to promote her work. Interestingly, I was very supportive of her efforts early on and had her on my show to showcase her story and her commitment to helping people who felt lost without a job, but I am not sure why she has decided to go in this direction. Anyone who knows me knows my commitment to truth and research and accountability and I have even admitted when I have erred; it’s what professionals do. It surely makes her look bad to attack someone who has a reputation for truth and accessibility, which she herself benefited from. I find her behavior odd and alarming and it also weakens whatever credibility she might once have had.

It was not only Monica that appeared on the First Shift radio show. Because of introductions by me and my advocacy of Smith’s Bolger recall effort, she, too was on Tony’s show to promote her work.

Christine Barry from Blogging for Michigan had this to say:

Progressives have too many battles to fight, particularly in Michigan, to be attacking each other. It really is sad; it doesn’t have to be this way.

Ross-Williams and Smith are clearly working against one of the many allies in these fights and they are disrespecting some of the loudest voices in Michigan progressive politics. Sooner or later, they will lose all credibility in the progressive movement in our state. This may, in fact, already be happening. Last weekend Congressman Hansen Clarke was scheduled to be on their show and pulled out at the last minute. True to form, Smith spent over five minutes on the internet broadcast castigating the Congressman and calling him things like “unprofessional”.

They have also recently locked down their Facebook fan page saying that only those with “verifiable pictures” will be allowed due to “trolling”. The fact that they are facing so much pushback that they have to lock down their page suggests that there are many progressives in Michigan unhappy with their actions.

I am a supporter of the recall effort but have a number of progressive friends who do not. We agree to disagree on this but what we do not do is attack each other.

In their rally day “radio show”, Smith said this about Michigan Rising:

It’s a big, big money scam. Don’t get involved in this recall, it’s not going nowhere.

Ross-Williams said this:

This crap that happened up in Lansing today? That’s not important. That’s not gonna change anything… This is just a joke, it’s a joke. For Michiganiers [sic] to take part in this joke when they don’t know…that this crap is a joke and they still playing a joke on the Michiganian [sic] people – shame on you, shame on you and shame on radio hosts that are part of this joke.

Christine Barry is absolutely correct. We DO have too many battles to fight to be accusing each other of such bizarre, irrational and illogical actions. We don’t all have to agree on the strategies and techniques other groups use. But neither do we have to attack our supposed allies simply to make a name for ourselves. That is counterproductive and hurts the cause in general.

No other group is working to thwart the recall of Rick Snyder. Not the Republicans. Not the conservatives. Not the tea party. Not the business community. Only Reach Out Job Service who say they are “independent left” are doing the recall opponents’ work for them.

Those who engage in attacking allies (and both Ross-Williams and Smith claim they want Rick Snyder recalled) instead being part of the overall solution lose credibility as Tony Trupiano said. And, in the case of Monica Ross-Williams and Autumn Smith of Reach Out Job Service, I believe they HAVE lost credibility through their actions.

UPDATE: From the comments at my site:

I did not get to attend the kickoff rally, but I was listening to the pod-cast throughout the day. I was very impressed with the speakers and was feeling very pumped. At that time, I still had ROJS as a “friend” on my page. I first noticed the “Attention all Michigan Bloggers” comment, which was both shocking (because I had been listening and I heard the speech) and upsetting. I replied to the comment, saying that I thought there was a misunderstanding, and that I had not gotten the same message out of what was said, at all. Then the second comment quickly followed, (100 people and a bad comedian comment). There was another person on-line also replying with a different point of view at the same time as myself. I confronted them on that comment, sayig that their comments were based more on opinion than fact, and asked them “What is your agenda here?” They did not like that question, and as it turned out, they accused myself and the other commentor of “harrassing them”. And the next day, on their radio show, they implied that we had harrassed them. When a different point of view, and a question about your agenda is “harrassment” that doesn’t seem professional, or unbiased in any way. I believe I made a comment to that affect. I also attempted to refer people to the live pod=cast, and made it clear that I wanted no more to do with their “business”. I got a comment about how I could go ahead and delete them because I was about to get banned. Sadly they deleted all of our comments, which gives them the ability to imply that they were “being harrassed” or whatever they are trying to imply.

All in all their comments on the web were completely biased, and their behavior is about as far from professional as any I have ever encountered. I have to say that I do not believe that they are on the left, since generally those on the left are more open to seeing both sides, they lean toward respecting the rules of journalism, and toward supporting grass-roots efforts (those that are run by every day people, like you and me) and to protecting democracy, fighting the enemy and working for the common good.

The people running the recall are not professional “recall runners”. They have no experience in running a recall- do you? They care enough about this state and the democratic process to try- against all of the odds. Are they doing that for the advancement of a career or for the “glory”…? They are doing this because it has to be done- because Michigan needs it to be done. Why not offer to help? Why not realize how difficult this process is and how hard it must be for a few ordinary, every day people to try? Why not applaud their efforts and recognize their courage? I support the recall effort, and in doing that I volunteer to get signatures, I work hard to find people that also support the effort and direct them to the people they need to see. I talk to others in the group, try to lend my support or help when and where I can. go michigan rising. Keep fighting the good fight!

[Image credits:
Facepalm CC image credit: Alex Proimos | Flickr
Autumn Smith image credit: courtesy of Google images
Monica Ross-Williams image credit: courtesy of Google images

Cross-posted from Eclectablog.

The ad hits below the belt referring to teacher’s unions as bullies and implying that unions are the the reason the U.S. is scoring lower than the Chinese on the international science and math test known as the PISA.  Not surprisingly, the Chinese don’t play fair when it comes to these tests.  While most countries taking the PISA use a sampling of all the students in their country, the Chinese kids that topped the PISA were from Shanghai, perhaps China’s most advanced city.  No kids were tested from China’s rural areas where the droput rate sometimes reaches 40%!  Besides, even the Chinese have concerns about the the importance of these tests.  Some are concerned that creating ”test-takers” comes with the cost of a poor imagination and low creativity.  They are also concerned that creating “test-takers” comes at the expense of an enjoyable childhood.  Not only is the Chinese comparison suspect, so is the connection between unions and test scores.  In Finland, 95% of its teachers are in unions.  That is significant because Finland often holds the top spot in these type of tests, and they are often regarded as having the strongest education system in the world.  Back in the U.S. 9 out of the top 10 scoring states on the NAEP test are states with where school teacher’s unions are strong.

These attack ads should be seen for what they are, political action.  While these conservative organizations would like you to believe they care about kids, they really [...]]]>

The ad hits below the belt referring to teacher’s unions as bullies and implying that unions are the the reason the U.S. is scoring lower than the Chinese on the international science and math test known as the PISA.  Not surprisingly, the Chinese don’t play fair when it comes to these tests.  While most countries taking the PISA use a sampling of all the students in their country, the Chinese kids that topped the PISA were from Shanghai, perhaps China’s most advanced city.  No kids were tested from China’s rural areas where the droput rate sometimes reaches 40%!  Besides, even the Chinese have concerns about the the importance of these tests.  Some are concerned that creating ”test-takers” comes with the cost of a poor imagination and low creativity.  They are also concerned that creating “test-takers” comes at the expense of an enjoyable childhood.  Not only is the Chinese comparison suspect, so is the connection between unions and test scores.  In Finland, 95% of its teachers are in unions.  That is significant because Finland often holds the top spot in these type of tests, and they are often regarded as having the strongest education system in the world.  Back in the U.S. 9 out of the top 10 scoring states on the NAEP test are states with where school teacher’s unions are strong.

These attack ads should be seen for what they are, political action.  While these conservative organizations would like you to believe they care about kids, they really only care about making money and political power.  They will do anything to get conservatives elected so they can pass their extreme policies including privatizing education in order to profit from it.  From www.michiganpopulist.com

Note: The SGLF and the RSLC share the same address and the SGLF’s page states that they are “affiliated with the Republican State Leadership Committee.”

Let’s start with some Great Lakes.

From the MDP release:

“Even most Republicans have supported the ban on drilling in the Lakes because they recognize that a disaster like the BP spill in the Gulf or the Enbridge spill in Michigan could destroy the Great Lakes–and the jobs and industries that depend on them. Pete Hoekstra’s dangerous plan to allow Big Oil’s drills into the Great Lakes would threaten hundreds of thousands of jobs and our state’s most important natural resource.”

Studies show that allowing drilling for oil in the Great Lakes would produce a very small amount of oil–the U.S. Geological Survey says that even if oil companies got every drop of oil possible out of the Great Lakes, it would provide the country with a little over two weeks (16 days) worth of energy (USGS estimates that there is about 312 million barrels of oil recoverable in the Great Lakes, and the US consumes 19 million barrels per day). An amount that small would have virtually no impact on world markets or affect the price of gas at the pump. But while the benefits of Great Lakes drilling would be incredibly small, the risk of a spill could be potentially devastating to the Lakes and the multi-billion dollar tourism, boating and fishing industries that depend on them. Risking the Great Lakes’ devastation for literally a few days worth of oil is widely viewed as a risk not at all worth taking–which is why so many in both parties are against Great Lakes drilling.

The research buoy that is collecting data for Grand Valley State University’s offshore wind assessment was placed 35 miles offshore of Lake Michigan May 7, where it remain until December.

More info on the buoy here.

A timelapsed look at [...]]]>

Tuesdays are just plain sexy, aren’t they?

Let’s start with some Great Lakes.

• First, here’s the Hoekstra trying to trade our lakes for some oil:

  From the MDP release:

  “Even most Republicans have supported the ban on drilling in the Lakes because they recognize that a disaster like the BP spill in the Gulf or the Enbridge spill in Michigan could destroy the Great Lakes–and the jobs and industries that depend on them. Pete Hoekstra’s dangerous plan to allow Big Oil’s drills into the Great Lakes would threaten hundreds of thousands of jobs and our state’s most important natural resource.”

  Studies show that allowing drilling for oil in the Great Lakes would produce a very small amount of oil–the U.S. Geological Survey says that even if oil companies got every drop of oil possible out of the Great Lakes, it would provide the country with a little over two weeks (16 days) worth of energy (USGS estimates that there is about 312 million barrels of oil recoverable in the Great Lakes, and the US consumes 19 million barrels per day). An amount that small would have virtually no impact on world markets or affect the price of gas at the pump. But while the benefits of Great Lakes drilling would be incredibly small, the risk of a spill could be potentially devastating to the Lakes and the multi-billion dollar tourism, boating and fishing industries that depend on them. Risking the Great Lakes’ devastation for literally a few days worth of oil is widely viewed as a risk not at all worth taking–which is why so many in both parties are against Great Lakes drilling.

• Check out the GVSU research buoy, launched in Lake Michigan on May 7:

  The research buoy that is collecting data for Grand Valley State University’s offshore wind assessment was placed 35 miles offshore of Lake Michigan May 7, where it remain until December.

  More info on the buoy here.

• And just for a moment of awesome, here’s a time-lapse view of the Super Moon rising over Lake Michigan:

  A timelapsed look at the Super Moon rising over Lake Michigan. More specifically, over West Bay near Traverse City, Michigan, USA.

  The photographer is Ken Scott, you can find him on Facebook here.

Land based reading ..

• Here’s a cool idea.
  

  This is Pure Michigan and somebody ought to run with Sen. Tom Casperson’s idea: A football game between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions staged in the Upper Peninsula.

  …

  Since it appears the Upper Peninsula folks think everybody else takes them for granted, it would be a chance for the lower Peninsula residents to show them a little love by attending the game.

  I would TOTALLY go to that game. If for no other reason than to heckle Aaron Rogers.

• Clark Durant has turned in the signatures that he needs to be defeated by Pete Hoekstra in the primary:
  

  “It’s been a long journey here,” he said of the push to collect signatures in all 83 counties, an effort undertaken by campaign staff and volunteers. Polls show the 63-year-old Grosse Pointe resident isn’t nearly as well-known as Hoekstra to many Michigan voters, but Durant said the signature collection “was a wonderful way to get people to know about our campaign.”

  And as if his political opinions weren’t enough to make you want to barf …

  In a nod to actor James Dean, Durant said Monday he wanted to bring the petitions to Lansing by motorcycle to show he’d be “a rebel with a cause” in Washington if he wins the August GOP primary and beats Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in November.

  And by rebel, he means anarchist.

  Gary Glenn still hasn’t turned any signatures in. What a shame.

• Hey, have you ever wondered how the Republicans can convince people to do away with consumer protection such as state licensing? They wrap it up in crap like this:
  

  Area residents will have a chance to learn about obscure Michigan laws the state Legislature is working to eliminate as well as voice their own concerns about outdated regulations that affect business growth or quality of life at a special May 17 meeting in Gladwin.

  …

  Johnson said some of the older laws that have been researched so far are just plain silly — such as that a man is prohibited from cutting his wife’s hair, even with her consent. But some of the older laws that haven’t been reviewed in decades provide serious obstacles that keep local businesses from adding jobs.

  So yeah, we need to take a look at whether or not a speech pathologist should be licensed, because if a man cannot cut his wife’s hair then it really interferes with business growth. And don’t even get me started on toilet seats.

Census Daily

Tuesday, May 15th. Flying became more comfortable on this date in 1930 —when United Airlines made the first flight with an airline stewardess, Ellen Church. She tended passengers on a flight from San Francisco to Cheyenne, Wyoming. The criteria for the job was that she could be no older than 25, no taller than 5 feet, 4 inches, and weigh no more than 115 pounds and be a registered nurse. The idea caught on, and being a stewardess became one of the most sought-after jobs for young women. Today the proper term is “flight attendant,” and they are a vital part of the U.S. airline industry. In 1930, there were just under 500 airliners in service. Today, that number is more than 7,800.

Solidarity forever, brothers and sisters!!!

We need good-paying jobs, corporations to pay their fair share in taxes, access to affordable health care and other services and a pathway for working immigrants to be granted citizenship.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Republican Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra have both made it clear that they are not for Michigan’s or the rest of the country’s working and middle-class. Take action and sign our petition against Hoekstra and Romney:

http://action.goodjobsnow.org/page/s/say-no-to-hoekstra-romney

Mitt Romney supports everything that has crippled America economically and socially including huge tax breaks for corporations, privatization of unemployment benefits and Social Security, cutting federally-funded programs and promise to repeal Healthcare Reform. While governor of Massachusetts, the state ranked 47th in job growth, he vetoed $11 million in job training funds and insurance costs rose more than 20 percent.

He claims to be “a son of Detroit,” but suggested to “let Detroit go bankrupt” and was did not support the auto bailout, which ultimately saved thousands of jobs and revitalized Michigan’s economy. Like many of the big-time corporations who make mega profits at the expense of tax payer dollars, Romney doesn’t pay his fair share in taxes. If he had to pay his fair share, Romney would owe the 99% $3.95 million.

Pete Hoekstra is running against current Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow. The former US Representative for Michigan’s 2nd district, recently referred to the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act as “a nuisance.” Voting against a measure that provides channels for women to receive equal pay for equal work not only continues the culture of gender discrimination, but hurts our economy.

It’s a nuisance when Hoekstra voted against a bill that closed $14 billion in tax loopholes for companies that shipped job overseas. It’s a nuisance when Hoekstra allowed CEOs of bailed-out [...]]]>

As you know, the 2012 elections are less than six months from now and the stakes are higher than ever. Whoever wins this election will determine whether our nation will continue to move to a new tune or rewind the same old song. We want leaders who can relate to and implement measures that will benefit the 99%.

We need good-paying jobs, corporations to pay their fair share in taxes, access to affordable health care and other services and a pathway for working immigrants to be granted citizenship.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and Republican Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra have both made it clear that they are not for Michigan’s or the rest of the country’s working and middle-class. Take action and sign our petition against Hoekstra and Romney:

http://action.goodjobsnow.org/page/s/say-no-to-hoekstra-romney

Mitt Romney supports everything that has crippled America economically and socially including huge tax breaks for corporations, privatization of unemployment benefits and Social Security, cutting federally-funded programs and promise to repeal Healthcare Reform. While governor of Massachusetts, the state ranked 47th in job growth, he vetoed $11 million in job training funds and insurance costs rose more than 20 percent.

He claims to be “a son of Detroit,” but suggested to “let Detroit go bankrupt” and was did not support the auto bailout, which ultimately saved thousands of jobs and revitalized Michigan’s economy. Like many of the big-time corporations who make mega profits at the expense of tax payer dollars, Romney doesn’t pay his fair share in taxes. If he had to pay his fair share, Romney would owe the 99% $3.95 million.

Pete Hoekstra is running against current Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow. The former US Representative for Michigan’s 2nd district, recently referred to the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act as “a nuisance.” Voting against a measure that provides channels for women to receive equal pay for equal work not only continues the culture of gender discrimination, but hurts our economy.

It’s a nuisance when Hoekstra voted against a bill that closed $14 billion in tax loopholes for companies that shipped job overseas. It’s a nuisance when Hoekstra allowed CEOs of bailed-out banks to receive bonuses.

Hoekstra and Romney are both out of touch with the reality of the 99 percent. If you don’t want these two leading our state and nation in the wrong direction, sign our petition here.

For more info, visit our website at www.goodjobsnow.org. You can also Like our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter: @GJNdetroit.

Let’s brief!

The fact is, it’s hard to fashion a convincing case that gay marriage undermines American values or hurts society. If you accept the idea that homosexuality is a biological trait versus a choice, than denying gays and lesbians the right to marry seems arbitrary, even mean-spirited. The benefits to those couples is obvious; the harm to others is, frankly, elusive.

That said, I’m among those deeply concerned about the state of marriage in America. It’s an institution in crisis, but in my opinion, it has nothing to do with gays wanting to marry. Rather, it’s the growing reluctance of heterosexuals to commit, even when children are involved.

I’ve made this point before, but it bears repeating: One of the most worrisome trends in U.S. society is the increasing number of babies born outside of wedlock.

…

There’s also a larger irony that so much time and energy is being expended on debating whether gay marriage undermines American family life when the real, far more pressing problem is elsewhere.

The scary GOP boogyman “unmarried teen mother” is not the problem. Single mothers are becoming mainstream. Phobe McBigot is back and pushing more of his purity legislation:

About 150 people gathered Thursday near the state Capitol to hear advocates for House and Senate bills modeled after a proposal dubbed “American Laws for American Courts” and written for a group called the American Public Policy Alliance. Similar legislation has been proposed in about two dozen states and approved in three.

The Michigan bills don’t specifically mention Sharia law, which broadly refers to codes within the Islamic legal system. But Sharia was frequently cited as a concern by speakers and others at Thursday’s event.

…

“We’re in a battle for the very conscience of this nation,” said William Wagner, a constitutional law professor at Cooley Law School in Lansing. “(This legislation) is a very small but important step.”

The House version of the bill is sitting in committee and its sponsor, Grandville Republican Dave Agema, urged those gathered near the Capitol to call [...]]]>

Yes! I love Mondays!

Let’s brief!

• Julie Mack has an interesting observation on marriage equality:
  

  The fact is, it’s hard to fashion a convincing case that gay marriage undermines American values or hurts society. If you accept the idea that homosexuality is a biological trait versus a choice, than denying gays and lesbians the right to marry seems arbitrary, even mean-spirited. The benefits to those couples is obvious; the harm to others is, frankly, elusive.

  That said, I’m among those deeply concerned about the state of marriage in America. It’s an institution in crisis, but in my opinion, it has nothing to do with gays wanting to marry. Rather, it’s the growing reluctance of heterosexuals to commit, even when children are involved.

  I’ve made this point before, but it bears repeating: One of the most worrisome trends in U.S. society is the increasing number of babies born outside of wedlock.

  …

  There’s also a larger irony that so much time and energy is being expended on debating whether gay marriage undermines American family life when the real, far more pressing problem is elsewhere.

  The scary GOP boogyman “unmarried teen mother” is not the problem. Single mothers are becoming mainstream.

• Phobe McBigot is back and pushing more of his purity legislation:
  

  About 150 people gathered Thursday near the state Capitol to hear advocates for House and Senate bills modeled after a proposal dubbed “American Laws for American Courts” and written for a group called the American Public Policy Alliance. Similar legislation has been proposed in about two dozen states and approved in three.

  The Michigan bills don’t specifically mention Sharia law, which broadly refers to codes within the Islamic legal system. But Sharia was frequently cited as a concern by speakers and others at Thursday’s event.

  …

  “We’re in a battle for the very conscience of this nation,” said William Wagner, a constitutional law professor at Cooley Law School in Lansing. “(This legislation) is a very small but important step.”

  The House version of the bill is sitting in committee and its sponsor, Grandville Republican Dave Agema, urged those gathered near the Capitol to call on his fellow lawmakers to move the measure forward.

  And not everybody is happy about it:

  The Catholic Conference said it strongly opposes the bill because it would likely affect the application of Catholic canon law, the judicial structure governing the church.

  “Any measure that could have the impact of interfering with the internal life of the Catholic Church shall be viewed as an attack on religious liberty itself and must be opposed,” Conference President and Chief Executive Paul Long said in a statement.

  This speaks volumes:

  Richard Thompson, former Oakland County prosecutor who now serves as president and chief counsel for the Ann Arbor-based Thomas More Law Center, a Christian legal advocacy group, thanked Agema and others for their work on the legislation. However, he criticized Republican Gov. Rick Snyder for his involvement in events such as the Michigan Muslim Capitol Day last year.

  “He took enough time to learn the greeting in Arabic,” Thompson said. “This year, he’ll probably have his wife dress up in a hijab.”

  These people are disgusting.

• The Chinese may be coming to Michigan, en masse:
  

  The southeastern Michigan city of Milan, a 40-minute or so commute to Toledo or Detroit industrial centers, might become the new home for a 200-acre or larger “China City” that would house Chinese business people.

  Milan, a city of 6,000 surrounded by farm fields, is the locale for an unusual deal in the industrial heartland as the rocky relationship continues between the People’s Republic of China and the United States.

  A group of mainland Chinese known as Sino-Michigan Properties LLC paid $1.9 million for 200 acres of farmland on Milan city limits in purchases this year and in 2011, according to local officials and property records.

  …

  The investors intend to build a 415-unit housing complex complete with artificial lakes and up to 6,000-square-foot homes, as well as a cultural center, Michigan officials briefed on the project said.

  The township has questions on the purpose and other details of the project, as well as some concerns on how the natural wetlands of the area will be handled. This sounds to me like exactly what Governor Snyder wanted when he started begging immigrants to come to Michigan with their money.

  Call me cynical but I suspect that 415 unit housing complex will house some low cost imported labor. Or at least, we will need some low cost imported labor to staff the housing complex and the cultural center. Why do I also forsee minimum wage exemptions and other types of watered down laws for the labor housed here. But like I said, call me cynical.

• The other day when the Mittster was here in Michigan, he invoked Bill Clinton’s centrism in his attempt to appeal to the middle. Policymic has a piece on why that was dumb:
  

  Romney’s attempt to hijack the Clinton legacy to garner moderate Democrat and independent voters, however, is an abundantly misguided strategy. Most obviously, although Clinton is a centrist New Democrat with a history of embracing more conservative policies than Obama, such differences have not stopped Clinton from supporting Obama and his vision for America. Obama and Clinton have already campaigned together, and the former president’s influence may actually be far more powerful. There are reports of Clinton functioning as a campaign whisperer, imparting crucial advice pertaining to message framing and the appropriate characterization of the Republican opponent.

  There is also the issue of the other Clinton. Bill’s wife and longtime political confidante, Hillary, is currently serving as Obama’s Secretary of State. She consistently ranks among the most popular public officials in the country, if not the most popular, and is potentially harboring her own presidential ambitions in 2016, although she has consistently denied such rumors.

• And finally, a nice editorial on why the GOP needs to stay the F out of university stem cell research:
  

  If there was any serious question in Michigan whether stem cell research is a valuable and morally acceptable means of advancing medical science, it was resolved in 2008 when voters approved a constitutional amendment that allows researchers to create embryonic stem cell cultures and use them in medical research. The people of Michigan understood that embryos used in this form of research would be discarded otherwise, and the potential benefit to human health is too great to shut down such promising avenues of study.

  Unfortunately, there are lawmakers who would defy the will of the people by attacking stem cell research through backdoor means. The current budget bills include a provision that threatens funding to U-M unless it complies with stem cell “reporting requirements’’ being imposed by the Legislature. The bills, including the stem cell provision, passed along party lines in both chambers, with Republicans carrying the majority.

Census Daily

Monday, May 14th. Women in military uniform serving in dangerous areas of the world are no longer a cause for surprise. It all started this week in 1942, when an act of Congress made it possible for women to enlist for noncombat duties in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. Its members were called “WACS.” At the time, only single women could join and they were prohibited from either smoking while walking or chewing gum in public. By 1978, women were integrated into the regular Army. Today, they account for almost 39,000 officer and nearly 167,000 enlisted personnel on active duty in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.

Solidarity forever, brothers and sisters!!!

Let’s start with how it started. The Michigan Office of Regulatory Reinvention (ORR) put together an advisory board of 14 “attorneys, occupational association professionals, business owners and policy analysts” (Crain’s Detroit, April 29, 2012). This advisory board found that 18 occupations did not require regulation, on the basis that the regulation stifles entrepreneurship and adds cost to the business.

These are the occupations:

Acupuncturist – Involves inserting sterile needles into people. Auctioneer – Involves sales, marketing, and financial record-keeping. Community Planner – Planning for expansion, water flow, etc., and keeping records on land use, demographics, and so on. Consumer Finance Services – omg. Dietitian and Nutritionist – Provide meal plans for various groups, including sick people. Forensic Polygraph Examiner – Many law enforcement officials and prosecutors use these examinations as an investigative tool. Forester – These folks plan sustainable foresting. They also participate in ecological restoration (such as after a disaster like a fire) and they help manage protected areas. Immigration Clerical Assistant – These people provide services related to immigration matters. Insurance Solicitor – Contacts customers, takes applications for insurance, and accepts payment for insurance products. Interior Designer – In addition to aesthetics, designers work with architects in matters of safety and quality of internal spaces. Landscape Architect – Urban design, environmental restoration, and a whole lot more. Ocularist – This is the person who fits you with your glass eye. Professional Employer Organizations – These are the companies that contract employees back into companies. They provide hiring, payroll, and other overhead functions for organizations that have to cut costs. All of our teachers will work for these companies, should the GOP get their way … Proprietary School Solicitor – People who meet with prospective private or career school students, discuss financial aid, etc. Respiratory Care – Seriously? Security Alarm Contractor – These are the people who will come to your home and business and consult with you on the best way to [...]]]>

I’ve chatted a little about the proposal to eliminate state licensing for certain professions. See here, here, and kinda here. Here’s a little closer look at the subject.

Let’s start with how it started. The Michigan Office of Regulatory Reinvention (ORR) put together an advisory board of 14 “attorneys, occupational association professionals, business owners and policy analysts” (Crain’s Detroit, April 29, 2012). This advisory board found that 18 occupations did not require regulation, on the basis that the regulation stifles entrepreneurship and adds cost to the business.

These are the occupations:

• Acupuncturist – Involves inserting sterile needles into people.
• Auctioneer – Involves sales, marketing, and financial record-keeping.
• Community Planner – Planning for expansion, water flow, etc., and keeping records on land use, demographics, and so on.
• Consumer Finance Services – omg.
• Dietitian and Nutritionist – Provide meal plans for various groups, including sick people.
• Forensic Polygraph Examiner – Many law enforcement officials and prosecutors use these examinations as an investigative tool.
• Forester – These folks plan sustainable foresting. They also participate in ecological restoration (such as after a disaster like a fire) and they help manage protected areas.
• Immigration Clerical Assistant – These people provide services related to immigration matters.
• Insurance Solicitor – Contacts customers, takes applications for insurance, and accepts payment for insurance products.
• Interior Designer – In addition to aesthetics, designers work with architects in matters of safety and quality of internal spaces.
• Landscape Architect – Urban design, environmental restoration, and a whole lot more.
• Ocularist – This is the person who fits you with your glass eye.
• Professional Employer Organizations – These are the companies that contract employees back into companies. They provide hiring, payroll, and other overhead functions for organizations that have to cut costs. All of our teachers will work for these companies, should the GOP get their way …
• Proprietary School Solicitor – People who meet with prospective private or career school students, discuss financial aid, etc.
• Respiratory Care – Seriously?
• Security Alarm Contractor – These are the people who will come to your home and business and consult with you on the best way to protect your property and your lives. Usually involves an installation of a system.
• Speech Pathologist – These people specialize in communication and swallowing disorders.
• Vehicle Protection Product Warrantor – These folks offer products to protect cars from theft, damage, etc., and are required to pay for the theft, damage, etc., upon a proper claim. Here is a list of the licensed warrantors in Michigan.

In addition to those occupations, the ORR also recommended the elimination of these 9 boards:

• Board of Acupuncture
• Board of Auctioneers
• Board of Carnivals & Amusement Rides
• Board of Dietetics & Nutrition
• Board of Occupational Therapy
• Board of Respiratory Care
• Board of Speech Language Pathology
• Osteopathic Medicine Advisory Board
• Ski Area Safety Board

The ORR was created by Governor Snyder, with the mission to “simplify Michigan’s regulatory environment by reducing obsolete, unnecessary and burdensome rules that are limiting economic growth.” The site boasts a net reduction of 635 rules since 4/25/11.

The keywords here are “obsolete, unnecessary and burdensome,” and this is where the issue will break down on ideology and party lines. Republicans do not believe in regulation of any kind; as such, all regulation will fit that criteria when viewed through the lens of the GOP. They believe that the elimination of rules is pro-business, and it doesn’t matter what rule it is. Not everyone agrees with that. From Lessenberry at the Dome,

A spokesman for the Michigan Speech-Language-Hearing Association said they were stunned by the news. Until legislation was passed in 2009, Michigan was one of only two states that didn’t require speech pathologists to be licensed professionals. It took time to agree on a procedure, but the licensing process was supposed to be complete by next year.

…

The governor has been outspoken in favor of streamlining government and limiting regulation, especially when it affects job creation. That was very much on the mind of Steven Hilfinger, who heads the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

He told the Gongwer News Service “this study found that each occupation that a state regulated … would experience a decrease in the rate of job growth by 20 percent on average.”

Critics shot back, however, that if that meant keeping the unqualified and incompetent out, it was well worth it.

The job growth number is only part of the picture. Landscape Architects, for example, are required to be licensed if they want to bid on government projects. Every state but Michigan licenses this occupation.

Licensed professionals have been speaking out against the changes:

“We definitely need regulation to keep our patients safe. It’s the only way people can know they’re being treated by someone who is trained,” Biris said, noting acupuncturists are regulated in 48 states.

That’s how Warren Rauhe feels, too. The associate professor of landscape architecture at Michigan State University said the field is licensed in all 50 states — and for good reason.

It’s “for the safety of citizens,” Rauhe said. “We’re talking about parks, trails, storm water management. It’s not six shrubs and a patio.”

…

Speech pathologists are on the governor’s list, too. They do things such as fit cancer patients with tracheoesophageal prostheses to replace their voice boxes, assist victims of Lou Gehrig’s disease with swallowing, help stroke victims re-learn to speak, and work in schools to aid children with speech delays.

“It’s a very complex field,” said Elaine Ledwon-Robinson, director of speech pathology for the University of Michigan Health System. “We’re in the operating room for some procedures.” She added she was voicing her own views, not those of the university.

Governor Snyder’s office said that the deregulation of these occupations will require further analysis and input on the part of the stakeholders and the public. He also said it’s an “important first step,” which in Snyder speak means that if the legislation ends up on his desk, heck yeah he’ll sign it.

I have talked in the past about this issue because I am in an unlicensed field that really should be licensed. Mind you, licensing would never pass at this point, even in the most friendly of political climates, because it would complicate the crap out of my industry. Still, we deal with things like security systems, confidential documents, and HIPAA & HITECH protected information. There aren’t very many of us who are trained and credentialed in these things. For consumer protection there should be a standard.

I’ll be talking about this more on First Shift with Tony tomorrow morning at 8am.

Download audio file (steph_comm_guru.mp3)

Oh yeah baby!

Communications Guru does great work reporting on talk show politics. If I recall correctly, his first post on talk radio went up last August, after 1270am switched from sports to right-wing talk. His most recent post is in response to the schedule change which dropped Michael Patrick Sheils into Stephie’s 9am-noon weekday time slot. Stephie was bumped to 10pm-1am.

I tried to listen to MPS. It’s unpleasant.

If you would like to contact the station to politely register your disappointment in the program change, here’s the info:

Detroit’s Progressive Talk!

If you want to stay connected to the AM 1310 WDTW-AM through snail mail, email, phone, or in person!

Mailing Address WDTW-AM Radio Station 27675 Halsted Road Farmington Hills, MI 48331 Click for a map

Phone Numbers Business Phone: 248-324-5800

Location The WDTW-AM studios are located in the Clear Channel Radio Building. Clear Channel Radio is located on Halsted Rd at 12 Mile Rd on the south-west corner.

Big thanks to Steph & mooks for putting this on her radar And way to go Communications Guru, for the great blogging!

(If you can’t use the flash player, you can download the audio file here.)

Skubick wrote, “Meanwhile regarding the Michigan recall aimed at Mr. Snyder, he is not exactly shaking in his boots over that. Which means he is not drafting a four-page plea to his conservative friends to bankroll a counter campaign. He won’t need it.

Just like the first effort last year that fell on its nose, this renewed “campaign” is headed in the same direction.

It lacks money; it lacks a statewide organization, the folks behind it are inept and on top of that they just blew a chance to get some free media, which the “movement” so badly needs.

Some time ago the Michigan Public TV stations attempted to contact the campaign by going to the Michigan Rising website. At least they have one of those, but the site contained no names of any human beings behind the drive and not one phone number or email of any of the leaders. The stations wanted someone to appear on Off the Record.

The stations could only leave a note in the message box on the site.

That was over two weeks ago and still no sign of life from the campaign.

Hello. Are you there?

As is often the case with angry folks who want to recall governors, that’s about all they have is anger.”

While it is true that Michigan Rising could use a big influx of money, we do have County Coordinators in many counties across Michigan.  I checked our media list and Skubick is on the list with two different e-mail addresses, so I’m pretty sure he did receive at least two press releases with my name, phone numbers and e-mail address.  As soon as I read his e-mail to me, I called Mr. Skubick, which was no easy feat, since the MLive web site did not list his e-mail address or phone number, and agreed to appear on Off The Record with a group of journalists unfriendly to the recall effort.