Tag Archives: michigan

Michigan Bill Would Require Doctors Offer “Keepsake Ultrasounds” To Women Seeking Abortions

Jessica WakemanApril 26, 2011 //

There’s a now famous spoof from The Onion News Network about a fake Arkansas law that would require women to pick a baby name and paint her nursery pink or blue before having an abortion. Well, Michigan is marching towards making that spoof a reality: a Republican state senator has proposed a bill that would require doctors performing an abortion to do an ultrasound, offer to describe the fetus’ current stage of development, offer an opportunity to listen to any detectable heartbeat, and offer a hard copy of the ultrasound image. (“Keepsake ultrasound” is the macabre, but fitting, moniker of the Michigan Messenger newspaper.)

A woman can refuse any of these intentionally heart-tugging actions, but she would still have to sign a statement acknowledging these offers had been made. Keep reading »

Attorney General Fired After Harassing Gay Student

Julie GersteinNovember 10, 2010 //

Well, it’s about time: Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvelll, who admitted to harassing the openly gay student president of the Michigan Student Assembly, was fired this past week. His boss, Attorney General Mike Cox, said he fired Shirvell after discovering he was using state resources in an inappropriate way.

Cox initially defended Shirvell, on First Amendment grounds. And in a statement after firing Shirvell, Cox reiterated his stance. “To be clear, I refuse to fire anyone for exercising their First Amendment rights, regardless of how popular or unpopular their positions might be,” said Cox. “However, Shirvell repeatedly violated office policies, engaged in borderline stalking behavior, and inappropriately used state resources, our investigation showed.” Keep reading »

Judges In Michigan Can Force Muslim Women To Remove Their Veils

Nikki DowlingAugust 26, 2009 //

In a controversial move, the Michigan Supreme Court has ruled that judges can force Muslim women to take off their headscarves in court. The law says they can exercise “reasonable control over the appearance of parties and witnesses” so that the “demeanor of such persons may be observed and assessed by the fact-finder and ensure the accurate identification.” Translation of the legal mumbo jumbo: they have to take off their headscarves so the judge can be sure they’re actually who they say they are. Keep reading »

Monday Quickies!

Annika HarrisJuly 14, 2008 //
  • Just ask for it. The female version of the “happy ending” massage is no longer taboo. [Tango]
  • A 10-year-old Yemeni bride has successfully divorced her husband. [Los Angeles Times]
  • “Man Showers” are the new trend in pre-wedding bonding. [Boston Herald]
  • The next time you try on a swimsuit, look for the rusty razor blade in the crotch. [copyranter]
  • Scary: Flint, MI police can now arrest anyone wearing saggy pants. [Shine]

    • Keep reading »

    Martha Stewart Must Stay On This Side Of The Pond

    Catherine StrawnJune 20, 2008 //

    Despite being, well, Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart has been denied a visa by British authorities because of her criminal convictions. “Martha loves England and hopes this can be resolved and that she will be able to visit soon,” a spokesperson for Martha told Britain’s Telegraph newspaper. Until then, she’ll have to stick to visiting the estates of Henry and Edsel Ford in Dearborn, MI. [Sydney Morning Herald, The Martha Blog] Keep reading »

    Girl Scouts Wear Badges For A Reason

    SimchaApril 17, 2008 //

    Mmmm, Girl Scout Cookies. The things I’ve done to a box of those bad boys are too embarrassing to type. But it turns out I have more that one reason to feel guilty for eating so many. Two 12-year old Girl Scouts in Ann Arbor, Michigan, are refusing to hock the schlock treats because the palm oil used to make them is causing the deforestation of Indonesia. While demand for palm oil is on the rise because is lacks trans-fat, Madison Vorva and Rhiannon Tomtishen have asked their organization to stop contributing to the problem by selling the cookies. The pair have started a petition to stop the destruction, and since the Indonesian rain forest there is home to many orangutans, even Jane Goodall has signed it. All their hard work has reached Girl Scout HQ, where a spokeswoman for the organization said that ABC Bakers, who produces the cookies, has agreed to only buy palm oil from already established producers. But that’s not good enough for these smart cookies, who promise to continue being Scouts, but won’t stop protesting palm oil’s devastating production. We think they deserve a merit badge for this! [Seattle Times] Keep reading »

    Bartering With Sex

    Catherine StrawnApril 11, 2008 //

    Sex is all about give and take. A study at the University of Michigan School of Public Health found that even though 475 U of M undergrads didn’t need to use sex to get provisions (that’s what parents’ bank accounts are for), many did use it to get other things — help with Econ 302, maybe? Since the students didn’t have any needs that they actually had to use sex to fulfill (i.e., hummingbirds mate to gain access to the most productive flowers guarded by larger males), this suggests something hard wired about the behavior. Keep reading »