Aug

28

Ferret Buckeye Bash and Pelotonia This Weekend in Columbus

Posted on August 28, 2009 at 7:54 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under Local | Print This Post | Email This Post | 2 Comments 


I’m not kidding. There is a ferret show in Columbus this weekend. Evidently, it’s the biggest ferret show in America. It was on NPR’s All things Considered this afternoon and they interviewed the coordinator of the event. Her name is … wait for it … Scarlett Gray-Saling.

I guess it’s kind of like the Westminster dog show only it’s for ferrets. It is presented by the Heart of Ohio Ferret Association & Rescue (HOFA). The web site of the Ferret Buckeye Bash can be found here.

I swear, there is a costume competition. They actually dress the ferrets in costumes. You can listen to the All Things Considered interview below.

The ferret show competes with another event being held in Columbus this weekend, the Pelotonia Bike Tour. It’s a 180 mile tour that starts in Columbus, travels to Athens, and then back to Columbus. It features Lance Armstrong and amateur bike riders who seek donations to benefit Ohio State’s James Cancer Center.

From Dodgeball

I think fighting cancer is a hugely important cause so I am going to make a contribution to the James Cancer Center and I hope to attend at least some of the events there.

But let’s be honest. At some point during the weekend, I’ll probably go see the ferrets.

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Aug

27

Mt. Vernon Schools Settle Lawsuit With Student Who’s Arm Was Branded with a Cross

Posted on August 27, 2009 at 10:40 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under Local | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


I have posted many times about the Mt. Vernon science teacher who burned a cross into student Zachary Dennis’s arm with a device that clearly stated it should not touch human skin. If you want background, type in Freshwater into the search box.

Today the students family accepted a settlement from the Mt. Vernon School District.

The district’s insurer has agreed to pay $5,500 to the family of the Mount Vernon Middle School eighth grader who alleged that his teacher, John Freshwater, burned a cross-shaped mark into his arm with a BD-10A Electrostatic Generator, according to a news release from the board of education. The company will also pick up the tab on the boy’s legal fees, which came in at $115,500.

KnoxPages.com

The settlement does not affect other lawsuits surrounding this incident.

The settlement does not affect a similar lawsuit brought by the Dennis’s against Freshwater. Nor does it affect a lawsuit that Freshwater filed against the school district.

The Columbus Dispatch

Based upon the settlement and the ire of the Dennis family, I do not believe they are trying to benefit financially in anyway from this incident. I believe they are horrified that a person who is in a position of responsibility would do something like this. The settlement even had this language:

Terms of the settlement will prevent any staff members from discussing the Freshwater lawsuit with members of the boy’s family and teachers in the future will have to attend classes on First Amendment, religion and public education.

The evangelicals will view the Dennis’s as sinners … I view them as patriots who are protecting the very values our founders believed in. Such as the separation between church and state. If you are unclear on the intentions of our founders, there is a document that can clear up the confusion. It’s called The Constitution.

P.S. You can read about one of John Freshwater’s best friend’s here. It’s xenophobe, homophobe, racist, religious extremest and hater of the constitution Dave Daubmenmire. He recently was on a three county chase to find Congressman Zack Space. I guess it never occurred to him that Space might eventually return to his office. But Daubenmire finally figured it out. He currently sits in a chair outside Space’s office where he burns Koran’s and shows young children pictures of dead fetuses.

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Aug

26

BREAKING - Franklin County ADAMH Board Cuts Become Real

Posted on August 26, 2009 at 12:23 am by Madrigal Maniac Under Local | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


Recently, I posted here about the cuts to area agencies that the Franklin County ADAMH board was planning. Today those cuts became real.

Money to help the mentally ill and to treat and prevent alcohol and drug addiction was slashed by $10.8 million, as the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County approved cuts tonight to next year’s budget and what remains of this year’s.

As of 2006 the cost of just one F22 fighter plane was $361 million dollars.

Without board action last night, “by the middle of 2012, we literally are bankrupt,” Executive Director David A. Royer said.

With added features one Army tank can cost up to $120 Million.

Leaders of other programs facing cuts have said they’re working to figure out how to maintain services to as many people as possible.

In 2008 the United States spent $12 billion a month on the war in Iraq.

Sources:
Addiction programs cut
F-22 Raptor
How much does a tank cost?like army tank?
Iraq War Facts, Results & Statistics at July 8, 2009

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Aug

24

Why Haven’t We Ratified CEDAW?

Posted on August 24, 2009 at 8:13 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under International | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


I just found out in an email from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) that there is an international treaty which has been around since 1979 that protects woman’s rights and the United States is the only democratic nation that has not signed it. It’s called the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). It protects a woman’s right to employment, education, and to own property.

Here’s some background information on CEDAW from the NASW.

The United Nations adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in December 1979. The United States, an active participant in the writing of the Convention, signed the treaty at the UN Mid-Decade Conference for Women in July 1980. In November 1980, the treaty was transmitted to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Since then, the closest the Convention has come to ratification was in September 1994 when the Committee reported out favorably on the Convention, by a vote of 13 to 5 (with one abstention). Unfortunately, this occurred in the last days of the Congressional session, when several Senators put a hold on CEDAW, thereby blocking it from a Senate floor vote during the 103rd Congress.

When the new Senate convened in January 1995, the Convention reverted to the Committee for action, where it remains. In order for the U.S. to ratify the treaty, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee must report the treaty out of Committee with a majority vote and, once on the Senate floor, CEDAW must receive a 2/3rd majority vote (67 senators) to pass.

It appears the main opposition to CEDAW comes from the religious right. The good news is that previously the senators that put a hold on the treaty did not have to be identified. Now they do. In addition, there is some Republican support for the treaty.

The other countries who have not ratified CEDAW are Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Qatar, Nauru, Palau and Tonga.

We deplore the treatment of women in many countries and talk about the need for change. But we cannot ratify a treaty which espouses the values that we believe in. This makes no sense to me.

The NASW is asking it’s members to write or call their Senators and the White House and urge them to bring CEDAW to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. I suggest you do the same.

Sources:
National Association of Social Workers
Chances Improve for Ratification of CEDAW

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Aug

21

Casino Proposal May Hurt Charitable Organizations

Posted on August 21, 2009 at 10:18 am by Madrigal Maniac Under State | Print This Post | Email This Post | 6 Comments 


The proposal to place casino’s in four Ohio cities may have unintended consequences. At least that’s what Governor Ted Strickland and Attorney General Richard Cordray believe. They say Issue 3 limits casino style gambling to just the four sites in Toledo, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. However, the gambling lobby disagrees.

Donald J. McTigue, attorney for the pro-casino Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan, said the measure would authorize four casinos and nothing more.

“It has zero effect on any gambling that is currently allowed in Ohio,” McTigue said.

The problem according to Issue 3 opponents is that the measure expressly states that bingo and horse racing are not considered casino gambling. But it says nothing about church’s and other non-profit organizations which hold events that have casino type games such as roulette and blackjack.

By exempting bingo and horse racing but not casino nights, the Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan is inviting a legal challenge that could strike a blow to charitable fundraising, said Sandy Theis, spokeswoman for TruthPAC, which opposes Issue 3.

“The only people who think this isn’t an issue are the sponsors of the ballot measure,” Theis said.

Hypocrisy abounds around Issue 3.

First. Governor Strickland has no problem with Ohio participating in some forms of gambling, but not others. The lottery and slots machines are fine, but casino’s not so much.

Second. The Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan has nothing to do with jobs or growth. It is a measure designed to line the pockets of wealthy casino owners.

Third. TruthPAC has nothing to do with the truth. It is funded by casino owners from bordering states who do not want the competition.

Four times Ohioans have rejected similar proposals at the ballot box such as Issue 3. Let’s make it five.

Source: Casinos to stop church games?

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Aug

18

The House of Hope Celebrates 50 Years of Service

Posted on August 18, 2009 at 9:56 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under Local | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


Thursday from 5:30pm to 8:30pm the House of Hope will honor their 50 years of existence with the annual “Celebration of Hope” silent auction and dinner. Former Columbus mayor Greg Lashutka will be the featured speaker.

The House of Hope is a six month residential program for men who suffer from addiction and is the second oldest treatment program in Central Ohio. They have a strong belief in the traditions and principles of 12-step recovery. Many who work at the House of Hope are in recovery and some have been through the program themselves.

Unfortunately, many important programs such as the House of Hope are facing tough economic times. The program has lost $345,000 in state and United Way funds. They are trying to find new creative ways to generate support and to continue programming.

If you would like to give to the House of Hope you can go to their website and make a donation through PayPal or you can click on the “Home Edition | Still Free” link in the right sidebar of this site.

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Aug

11

Franklin County ADAMH Board to Make More Cuts

Posted on August 11, 2009 at 10:46 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under Local | Print This Post | Email This Post | 1 Comment 


The Franklin County Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board (ADAMH) is planning to cut funding to providers for the rest of 2009 and in 2010. On August 25, 2009 the ADAMH Board of Trustees will vote to cut 5.6% from providers for 2009 and a 7% reduction in 2010.

“It’s a doomsday scenario,” said Abbie Basile, executive director of Franklin County’s National Alliance on Mental Illness, which receives funding from ADAMH.

“We’re going to start to hear some very upsetting stories,” she said.

ADAMH states the budget cuts are required due to less funding from the state government. Franklin County is losing $11,388,880 from the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH) and $1,047,347 from the Ohio Department of Alcohol & Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS).

Leaders of the agencies that depend on ADAMH say they know that the board has no choice in light of a state budget that decimated mental-health funding.

But state legislators did have a choice, and Governor Strickland and the General Assembly forged a budget that will leave our most vulnerable citizens at risk. As I have written about many times before, this will cost money in the end and people will suffer needlessly. All because Governor Strickland and many democrats did not have the creativity to write a budget to adequately fund these agencies or did not have the political courage to ask Ohioans for a sacrifice to help those in need. Once again Ted, I thought I voted for a democrat.

Sources:
Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board
Mental-health cuts scaring agencies

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Aug

9

Money Now Flows to Dems in Ohio House

Posted on August 9, 2009 at 6:26 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under State | Print This Post | Email This Post | Leave a Comment 


The saying has always been follow the money. For years money has flowed to the republican’s in the Ohio House of Representatives because they had the power. Now that the power belongs to the democrats, donors are switching party allegiance.


That’s great because it currently benefit’s the party I am more closely associated with. But seriously, when are we going to get special interest money out of politics? I believe it’s the day we have publicly funded elections.

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Aug

6

Was Acquittal of 19 Year Old Delayed Due to Issue One

Posted on August 6, 2009 at 9:28 pm by Madrigal Maniac Under Local | Print This Post | Email This Post | 2 Comments 


On August 4th, residents of Columbus approved Issue One, a tax increase designed to save city services including hundreds of police. Did the City of Columbus wait to dismiss a racially sensitive case involving a young African American until after the passage of Issue One?

Today, 19 year old Derris Lewis was acquitted of the murder of his twin brother 17 year old Dennis Lewis.



Upto five men wearing masks had burst into the Lewis home on Jan. 18, 2008 to rob the place. Dennis resisted and was shot and killed. Police charged Derris with the act because a bloody palm print that was found at the scene matched his DNA.

Here’s the problem. After over a year and a mistrial, they found out the palm print was not in blood?

“We’ve got no case without the palm print being in blood,” O’Brien said.

After a year how could prosecutors and police not know that the palm print was not in blood. Private investigator Teresa Edwards who worked on the case for the Lewis family thinks she knows why.

Edwards believes miscommunication between homicide detectives and analysts in the crime lab led to a string of wrong assumptions among police and prosecutors, who simply assumed the print had been tested for blood when in fact it never had been.

…The defense had suspected even at the first trial, based on their own review of the evidence, that the palm print wasn’t in blood but likely had been left in the room long before the killing, a feasible idea since Derris had lived in the family home.

I’m sure there will be lawsuits filed and there should be. In addition, the unprofessional conduct by the police and the prosecutors should lead to an investigation. First, to see if policies were violated or should be changed. Second, to see if some involved were so derelict in there duties they should be dismissed. Third, too see if some engaged in criminal conduct.

After all, a young innocent man lost a year of his life and a family was forced to endure the unthinkable all due to the unbelievable incompetence of city prosecutors and the police.

Some African American’s have a deep mistrust of the police and “the system.” It is easy to see why when you see malfeasance such as this.

While I supported Issue One as did and a high percentage of African American’s, I think it is interesting that this acquittal was not announced until after the vote. Did the city delay the acquittal of Derris Lewis in order to save African American votes and thus Issue One?

Source: Charges dismissed in twin’s slaying

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