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The Parent Trap: The Battle Hymn of the Anti-Tiger Mother
We parents are a gullible lot, suckers.
Forever searching for the latest study, the cure-all answer to our problems. We get sucked in by marketing scams, too many short-sighted studies, and questionable advice. How many copies of Amy…
Detroit Society of Professional Journalists Dishes Up Awards to Ann Arborites
"Journalists, if they do their jobs right, are never very popular. Much of the time, we’re bringing you bad news, and some of the time, we are obnoxious about it."—Jack Lessenberry on "Why Journalism Matters." To read the rest of the April…
The Parent Trap: The Entitled Nation Becomes The Enabled Nation
A typical day for my best friend of 40 years, who just happens to be a secretary at a public middle school, goes something like this:
Student comes in to office, needs to use the phone.
"I need the phone. I forgot my lunch."
My friend…
The Parent Trap: Make a Behavior Chart? Have a Martini? Let Me Think….
I am so sick of charts.
If I draw up, Google, copy, fill out or even see another chart, I may just hop on the next AATA bus that conveniently goes by my house every 20 minutes, and go to the nearest martini bar.
Confession: There is one…
National Media Slam AnnArbor.com For Ethical Lapse & Conflict of Interest
March has not been a good month for Ann Arbor's 18-month-old digital media extravaganza AnnArbor.com. Today, the digital site was lambasted by national media for a perceived ethical lapse and conflict of interest in appointing a U of M PR…
The Parent Trap: The Entitled Nation
Less is more. Tell that to any American kid and see what kind of a response you get.
If for some reason, you are having a hard time picturing entitled kids (which I doubt), think of the book/film Willy Wonka with the lovely Miss Varuca…
The Politics of La La La La: AnnArbor.com Readers Beg For Explanation of Last Week’s Newsroom Staff Cuts
On March 11, 2011 A2Politico broke the story (with some help, of course) about the layoff of 14 newsroom staff at AnnArbor.com. MichiganRadio followed up with a short blurb, and by this beginning of this week, local bloggers, including Mark…
Urban Exile: “Curbing” the Panhandling “Epidemic” Gets Sexy
A2PNotes: In 2010, John Hieftje and First Ward Council member Sandi Smith both ran for re-election and patted themselves on the back for "doubling beds at the homeless shelter." If you count a chair as a bed, Hieftje and Smith were…
The Parent Trap: Spending Quality Time With A). My Kids or B). The Turtle.
This isn't the first time it crossed my mind to write about parenting, but the first time I embraced the opportunity seriously. Whenever I would read about parents who blogged, I had one thought: You people are writing about what you're…
Urban Exile: Common Courtesy & Every Day Strangers
A2PNotes: In 2010, John Hieftje and First Ward Council member Sandi Smith both ran for re-election and patted themselves on the back for "doubling beds at the homeless shelter." If you count a chair as a bed, Hieftje and Smith were telling…