The Urbana Daily Citizen reports that Ohio's Secretary of State is looking into possible election law violations by All Children Matter, a pro-Republican PAC masquerading as a pro-charter school PAC masquerading as a pro-education group.
A Virginia-based national political action committee's transfer of $870,000 to an Ohio affiliate has caught the eye of Ohio's chief elections official.
Akron industrialist David Brennan, who also is president of the for-profit White Hat Management charter schools in Ohio and six other states, has given $200,000 since 2004 to All Children Matter, The Columbus Dispatch reported Sunday.
The Virginia group transferred $870,000 to an Ohio affiliate last year to help elect Republicans - the subject of a state election-law complaint.
Brunner's office says the Virginia PAC failed to register with elections officials in Ohio and did not file three required campaign finance reports in 2006. The Ohio group failed to make required changes to their finance reports and exceeded the limit that an Ohio PAC can accept...
All Children Matter was founded by Dick DeVos, the Michigan billionaire (Amway) and right-wing extremist.
A brief web search reveals that ACM has been in hot water over election law violations in both Missouri and Wisconsin.
In this case, the problem doesn't seem to be that the Virginia PAC transferred money to the Ohio PAC, but that it did so without registering as an Ohio PAC. As a result, it avoided PAC spending limits.
The hearing is scheduled for Aug. 23.
13 August 2007
07 August 2007
Hormones vs. Homework
Sorry for the inconsistent postings recently. I have been hard at work on my new novel Deaf, Dumb, and Delicious about a time-machine accident in which Helen Keller's teacher Annie Sullivan swaps places with 1990s porn star Jenna Jameson.
I did come across a couple of interesting items (previous post and this one). From the Chronicle of Higher Education (Aug. 3) comes this interesting survey about sex and education (data is from the 1999-2002 National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey):
Percent of Americans 20 and older who have ever had sex, by education level:
All adults 95.9
Less than high school 91.8
High school 96.3
Beyond high school 97.0
Percent of Americans who were less than 15 yrs. old the first time they had sex:
All adults 15.6
Less than high school 27.2
High school 19.4
Beyond high school 10.4
Percent of Americans older than 21 the first time they had sex:
All adults 14.7
Less than high school 8.0
High school 8.6
Beyond high school 19.3
I did come across a couple of interesting items (previous post and this one). From the Chronicle of Higher Education (Aug. 3) comes this interesting survey about sex and education (data is from the 1999-2002 National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey):
Percent of Americans 20 and older who have ever had sex, by education level:
All adults 95.9
Less than high school 91.8
High school 96.3
Beyond high school 97.0
Percent of Americans who were less than 15 yrs. old the first time they had sex:
All adults 15.6
Less than high school 27.2
High school 19.4
Beyond high school 10.4
Percent of Americans older than 21 the first time they had sex:
All adults 14.7
Less than high school 8.0
High school 8.6
Beyond high school 19.3
Local CEOs Pocket Perks-a-Plenty
The June 29 Business Courier has a good series on the compensation of local CEOs. Apparently one of the new trends in boardroom buttlovin' is the replacement of specific perks (cars, event tickets, club memberships) with cash (which has to be used for specific perks like cars, event tickets, and club memberships).
Here's a breakdown of some of the perks enjoyed by local execs:
Cincinnati Bell's Jack Cassidy (2006 compensation $3.8 million) received $35k for car, club dues, and legal/financial planning services.
Midland's John Hayden (2006 - $1.88 million) - $33k for financial planning, company aircraft, club dues, commuting, event tickets.
Meridian Bioscience's William Motto (2006 - $1.44 million) - $50k for "professional allowances" plus $19k for car.
Omnicare's Joel Gemunder (2006 - $13.4 million) - $60k for financial planning, $58k for car.
5/3rd's George Schaeffer (2006 - $4 million) - $95k for financial planning.
American Financial's co-CEOs Carl Lindner III and S. Craig Lindner (2006 - $10 million) - $400k for airplane services.
Macy's Terry Lundgren (2006 - $16 million) - 40% discount on store merchandise (totalling $48k).
Here's a breakdown of some of the perks enjoyed by local execs:
Cincinnati Bell's Jack Cassidy (2006 compensation $3.8 million) received $35k for car, club dues, and legal/financial planning services.
Midland's John Hayden (2006 - $1.88 million) - $33k for financial planning, company aircraft, club dues, commuting, event tickets.
Meridian Bioscience's William Motto (2006 - $1.44 million) - $50k for "professional allowances" plus $19k for car.
Omnicare's Joel Gemunder (2006 - $13.4 million) - $60k for financial planning, $58k for car.
5/3rd's George Schaeffer (2006 - $4 million) - $95k for financial planning.
American Financial's co-CEOs Carl Lindner III and S. Craig Lindner (2006 - $10 million) - $400k for airplane services.
Macy's Terry Lundgren (2006 - $16 million) - 40% discount on store merchandise (totalling $48k).
31 July 2007
Smart and Not-So-Smart Liberals
I don't get so many jokes in my inbox these days, but every so often I'll get an email about a protest, rally, or online petition. And that's usually worth a snicker.
I've participated in protests, but I don't think much of them. Or to be more precise, I don't think much of protesters. Generally speaking, I think they're more interested in making themselves feel like they're doing something without really doing something. Making a sign and chanting a few stanzas of "Hey, hey, ho, ho" with fellow hippies or fundamentalists (as the case may be) is more of a psychological indulgence than a serious attempt to change things.
Case in point: today's planned protest of John McCain's visit. Putting aside the obvious issue of McCain's snowball's chance in Hanoi of winning the nomination, does anyone really think a gaggle of 20-somethings and their grandparents with signs and lawn chairs will change McCain's mind about anything?
* sigh *
I have more confidence in the efforts of a different group disenfranchised liberals who finally seem to have figured out how to actually be productive in changing things.
And unlike all the protests, rallies, and petitions, it actually works.
I've participated in protests, but I don't think much of them. Or to be more precise, I don't think much of protesters. Generally speaking, I think they're more interested in making themselves feel like they're doing something without really doing something. Making a sign and chanting a few stanzas of "Hey, hey, ho, ho" with fellow hippies or fundamentalists (as the case may be) is more of a psychological indulgence than a serious attempt to change things.
Case in point: today's planned protest of John McCain's visit. Putting aside the obvious issue of McCain's snowball's chance in Hanoi of winning the nomination, does anyone really think a gaggle of 20-somethings and their grandparents with signs and lawn chairs will change McCain's mind about anything?
* sigh *
I have more confidence in the efforts of a different group disenfranchised liberals who finally seem to have figured out how to actually be productive in changing things.
And unlike all the protests, rallies, and petitions, it actually works.
12-Week Maternity Leave for Ohio Moms?
That's what the Ohio Civil Rights Commission is proposing:
The minimum maternity leave is part of proposed changes for the state's pregnancy-discrimination rule, which now requires companies to give women a ''reasonable period of time'' off work to care for their newborn.
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission wants to end confusion by defining what's ''reasonable'' for a minimum maternity leave, said Toni Delgado, spokeswoman for the commission.
It's always tough (at least in this country) to walk the line between pro-business and pro-family. On the business-friendly side, the proposal does not require that employees be paid during leave. It also allows the rules to be bent for small businesses that would suffer undue hardship from losing an employee for 3 months.
On the pro-family side, the proposed changes would apply regardless of how long the employee has been on the job. This is different from federal law, which applies only to employees who have been on the job for at least one year.
The boardroom-backed Ohio Chamber of Commerce is wary of the changes. But maybe we should be wary of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
The minimum maternity leave is part of proposed changes for the state's pregnancy-discrimination rule, which now requires companies to give women a ''reasonable period of time'' off work to care for their newborn.
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission wants to end confusion by defining what's ''reasonable'' for a minimum maternity leave, said Toni Delgado, spokeswoman for the commission.
It's always tough (at least in this country) to walk the line between pro-business and pro-family. On the business-friendly side, the proposal does not require that employees be paid during leave. It also allows the rules to be bent for small businesses that would suffer undue hardship from losing an employee for 3 months.
On the pro-family side, the proposed changes would apply regardless of how long the employee has been on the job. This is different from federal law, which applies only to employees who have been on the job for at least one year.
The boardroom-backed Ohio Chamber of Commerce is wary of the changes. But maybe we should be wary of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
30 July 2007
Dept. of City Planning Has a Director
The CBC reports that Cincinnati has hired a new director for its revitalized Planning Department. Charles C. Graves (the III) will start his job later this summer.
NOTE: for some reason the link won't work even though it's correct. Try this:
http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/07/30/daily12.html?jst=b_ln_hl
Cincinnati used to have a planning department, but it was eliminated in 2002 after some guys in suits told Charlie Luken to eliminate it. That's as sure a sign as any that it was a good thing. Luken, you will recall, is now helping move Ohio forward as a lobbyist for the gaming industry.
This return of the Planning Department should be good for the city because it puts land use decisions in the hands of urban planners instead of land developers. Urban planners know how to plan cities. Land developers know... well, I don't know what they know. I'll ask Chris Bortz next time I see him.
NOTE: for some reason the link won't work even though it's correct. Try this:
http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/07/30/daily12.html?jst=b_ln_hl
Cincinnati used to have a planning department, but it was eliminated in 2002 after some guys in suits told Charlie Luken to eliminate it. That's as sure a sign as any that it was a good thing. Luken, you will recall, is now helping move Ohio forward as a lobbyist for the gaming industry.
This return of the Planning Department should be good for the city because it puts land use decisions in the hands of urban planners instead of land developers. Urban planners know how to plan cities. Land developers know... well, I don't know what they know. I'll ask Chris Bortz next time I see him.
28 July 2007
Post Publishes 1000-Word Bumper Sticker
The Post's headline: The Surge has a Name.
Translation of the Post's headline: Put that head back up your ass and keep it there.
As the Army's Fort Thomas-based 478th Engineer Battalion trains at Fort McCoy, Wis., for its second deployment to Iraq, its citizen soldiers know the war has lost popularity. But that, said one, is for the pollsters to worry about.
Nothing to worry about here, folks. Just a few egghead pollsters with time on their hands trying to be trendy (like their Hollywood friends). Just like Bush said. And his powers of discernment are very good.
At this point I generally ignore most Iraq news. Same shit, different day. But on the few occasions when an Iraq-related story manages to make it past the bullshit filter, it usually triggers my recollection of something I heard a media analyst say: the MSM's Iraq reporting consists only of operational issues (the surge, e.g.) and partisan rhetoric. Crucial issues of lies, legality, and corruption are not asked, let alone investigated.
And that's actually the good part. Even more pitiful is the fact that corporate newspapers continue to fart out fluff like this Post piece on a regular basis. I'd like to see the publishers and editorial boards spend 6 years sitting next to someone lactose intolerant and see how they like their senses being offended regularly.
You're doing a heckuva job, Postie!
Translation of the Post's headline: Put that head back up your ass and keep it there.
As the Army's Fort Thomas-based 478th Engineer Battalion trains at Fort McCoy, Wis., for its second deployment to Iraq, its citizen soldiers know the war has lost popularity. But that, said one, is for the pollsters to worry about.
Nothing to worry about here, folks. Just a few egghead pollsters with time on their hands trying to be trendy (like their Hollywood friends). Just like Bush said. And his powers of discernment are very good.
At this point I generally ignore most Iraq news. Same shit, different day. But on the few occasions when an Iraq-related story manages to make it past the bullshit filter, it usually triggers my recollection of something I heard a media analyst say: the MSM's Iraq reporting consists only of operational issues (the surge, e.g.) and partisan rhetoric. Crucial issues of lies, legality, and corruption are not asked, let alone investigated.
And that's actually the good part. Even more pitiful is the fact that corporate newspapers continue to fart out fluff like this Post piece on a regular basis. I'd like to see the publishers and editorial boards spend 6 years sitting next to someone lactose intolerant and see how they like their senses being offended regularly.
You're doing a heckuva job, Postie!
13 July 2007
Tourist Crap Trap?
China city debuts opulent public toilet.
They're flush with pride in Chongqing, where a recently opened porcelain palace features an Egyptian facade, soothing music and more than 1,000 toilets spread out over 30,000 square feet.
"We are spreading toilet culture. People can listen to gentle music and watch TV," said Lu Xiaoqing, an official with the Yangrenjie, or "Foreigners Street," tourist area where the bathroom is located. "After they use the bathroom they will be very, very happy."
They're flush with pride in Chongqing, where a recently opened porcelain palace features an Egyptian facade, soothing music and more than 1,000 toilets spread out over 30,000 square feet.
"We are spreading toilet culture. People can listen to gentle music and watch TV," said Lu Xiaoqing, an official with the Yangrenjie, or "Foreigners Street," tourist area where the bathroom is located. "After they use the bathroom they will be very, very happy."
11 July 2007
Ultimate One-Way Ticket
Zheng Xiaoyu is China's former Food & Safety chief. Earlier this year he was sentenced to death for corruption; the execution was carried out yesterday.
(This is nothing new in China; they execute more people than all other countries combined. I think Texas is 2nd)
What caught my eye was this biography which lists his execution under "Recent Travel & Appearances".
(This is nothing new in China; they execute more people than all other countries combined. I think Texas is 2nd)
What caught my eye was this biography which lists his execution under "Recent Travel & Appearances".
From Drug Addict to Triathlete
A remarkable Josh Hamilton-esque story of addiction and recovery of Toledo native Todd Crandell:
Pick a drug, pick a vice –– Crandell did them all... Like the time when, as a high school senior and the star player on Sylvania's hockey team, he got busted snorting cocaine on the bus while en route to a game, and was booted off the squad, kicked out of school and his parents' house, lost the Ohio State University sports scholarship that was virtually in his grasp, and effectively ended his childhood dream of playing for the National Hockey League.
"For me, one drink was too many, and a thousand was never enough," says Crandell. He can still only vaguely recall the details of the time he went out to have a couple beers with a friend in Bowling Green –– and woke up two days later in Georgia. "I knew no limits."
Pick a drug, pick a vice –– Crandell did them all... Like the time when, as a high school senior and the star player on Sylvania's hockey team, he got busted snorting cocaine on the bus while en route to a game, and was booted off the squad, kicked out of school and his parents' house, lost the Ohio State University sports scholarship that was virtually in his grasp, and effectively ended his childhood dream of playing for the National Hockey League.
"For me, one drink was too many, and a thousand was never enough," says Crandell. He can still only vaguely recall the details of the time he went out to have a couple beers with a friend in Bowling Green –– and woke up two days later in Georgia. "I knew no limits."
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