Be sure to add glenn@glennsacks.com to your address book or safe sender list so our emails get to your inbox.
 

Glenn Debates Swedish Official Who Claims Men Are to
Blame for Global Warming; New Column

April 1, 2008

 
March Blog Traffic Report

Our blog traffic is up again, as we received 464,586 unique visits and 1,022,089 page views in March.

The blog also received 7,103 comments on 115 posts, an average of 226 per day and 62 per post. This has become the biggest men's and fathers' issues blog in the world, by a considerable margin, and I thank all of you who read and who post.

If you are interested in advertising your product or service on my blog, please click here for more information.

As I mentioned last month, this blog gives you, the reader, a voice. Our blog posts are widely viewed, including, of course, your comments. Also, because of our traffic and the website's history, our entries do very well in Google searches. When you write comments on www.glennsacks.com, odds are that a pretty fair number of people will see them.

To learn more, click on Our Blog Turns 1-Year-Old--a Thanks to My Readers.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.


Glenn Debates Swedish Official Who Claims Men Are Primarily Responsible for Global Warming

"The fact that women travel less than men – measured in person- kilometers per car,

Reach 7.5 Million
Readers Every Year
Are you looking for an affordable way to reach  7.5 million readers a year with your business or organization? My blog and my websites GlennSacks.com and HisSide.com receive over 400,000 unique visits a month. My weekly E-Newsletter has over 55,000 subscribers, and is by far the world's largest regularly distributed E-newsletter devoted to family law reform, fatherhood and fathers' issues. Contact us for more information.

plane, boat and motorcycle – means that women cause considerably fewer CO2 emissions than men and thus considerable less climate change.

"If women’s consumption levels were to be the norm, both emissions and climate change would be significantly less than today. To put it differently, if men were to change their behavior, emissions and climate change might be a much more limited problem as compared to what it is today."--Gerd Johnsson-Latham

I recently debated Gerd Johnsson-Latham of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs on her assertion that men are primarily responsible for global warming. Johnsson-Latham authored a 2007 study called Gender Equality as a Prerequisite for Sustainable Development, excerpted above.

The debate was taped for a UK documentary called The Greener Gender. Below are some of my thoughts on the debate.

One of Johnsson-Latham's main theories is that global warming is a gender issue because men pollute more because they work more, drive longer, take airplane trips, etc., whereas women pollute less because they are at home are not driving or traveling as much. 

I had problems with this for several reasons.  One of them is that I believe that many men do all of those things so they can earn the esteem, affection, love, and loyalty of women.  I said that one of the problems we have is that there is a big, big difference between what feminists want men to do -- focus less on making money, spend more time taking care of their children, be less competitive -- and what women in the dating market place want men to do. 

I had problems with this for several reasons. One of them is that I believe that many men these things in part so they can earn the esteem, affection, love, and loyalty of women. I said that one of the problems we have is that there is a big, big difference between what feminists want men to do -- focus less on making money, spend more time taking care of their children, be less competitive -- and what women in the dating market place want men to do.

I said that this is a problem which I have never heard a feminist take responsibility for. I said, "The first time I hear a feminist say that women have to change their expectations of men and their choices of men, she will be the first." To my surprise and pleasure, she said, "Well, let me be the first" and said that women do need to take responsibility for this.

The English commentator asked me how I got interested in men's issues.  I explained that during the '80s and '90s there was a tremendous amount of man-bashing in our popular media. Men were blamed for everything and anything and their sins blown way, way out of proportion.  She replied, "Glenn is upset about man bashing but I'm upset about woman beating.  Women are beaten, they earn less money, they have less freedom, they have less power, and they face a grim reality."

I replied that while women may indeed face a grim reality in some parts of the world -- and men's reality in those countries isn't much better -- it would be highly misleading to portray American women or Western European women or Swedish women as having "a grim reality."

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.


Ned Holstein: Major Progress Towards Shared Parenting

From Ned Holstein, MD, MS, Executive Director of Fathers & Families:

Major Progress Towards Shared Parenting

Boston, MA-Fathers & Families has made major progress towards passage of shared parenting legislation in Massachusetts, and these gains can be exported to other states.

Here are our major accomplishments:

We demonstrated that ordinary people overwhelmingly support shared parenting as the usual outcome for fit parents. We did this by winning 86% of the votes cast by 600,000 Massachusetts voters on this subject.

We persuaded over one-quarter of the Massachusetts Legislature to co-sponsor our shared parenting bills, including powerful committee chairmen.

Our Governor has established a website (www.devalpatrick.com/issues.php) on which citizens can record the issues that concern them. Of over 500 issues on the website, we made shared parenting the number one vote-getter, even outstripping votes for or against same-sex marriage.

After we met with Governor Patrick’s top aides, he stated publicly that he supported shared parenting, and told legislators that if they passed it, he would sign it.

We brought the research supporting shared parenting to the legislators to be sure they were aware of it. We even had one of the researchers present her findings right in the state capitol building.

Recently, we met with the editorial writers of the Boston Globe. A few days later, they became the first major newspaper in the country to endorse the principle of shared parenting. For instance, they wrote, “Children should have both parents in their lives sharing daily tasks such as homework and household chores as well as big events.”

It is still unlikely that our bills will pass in the current session of the Legislature. Nevertheless, we will be back in the next session, and one after that, and the one after that, until we win.

I want to hear your suggestions about novel tactics that might put us over the top, so post your comments.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

The American Coalition for Fathers and Children
The American Coalition for Fathers and Children is dedicated to creating a family law system which promotes equal rights for all parties affected by divorce. Contact the ACFC at 1-800-978-3237 or visit them on the web at www.acfc.org.
Parenting Plan Calendar Software
Shared Ground (R) is an easy-to-use software program designed for divorced parents to track their parenting plan schedules over many years. Do-it-yourself or let us build your approved parenting plan into a multi-year calendar so that you can print, share, or modify the calendar later. Parents, attorneys, arbitrators and mediators can generate equitable parenting plans, which is especially useful for parents seeking fair division of their children's time. FREE ASSISTANCE TO OUR CLIENTS- $49.95 one-time charge, FREE TRIAL & MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE. Click here for more information.

New Column: New LA County 'Deadbeat Dad' Campaign Unfairly Targets Low-Income Fathers

"Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley (pictured, right) and LA County Child Support Services Department Director Steven Golightly (pictured, left) recently announced a sweeping new campaign against so-called 'deadbeat dads.'

"They say their new 'Most Wanted Delinquent Parent' list is modeled on the FBI's fabled '10 Most Wanted' list. On paper the 10 offenders owe over $2 million, but it’s very questionable that Cooley & Golightly will be collecting much--according to the California Judicial Council, 80% of California child support debtors earn poverty level wages."

My new column New LA County Campaign Against ‘Deadbeat Dad’ List Unfairly Targets Low-Income Fathers (Los Angeles Daily News, 3/26/08, Daily Breeze [Los Angeles], 3/27/08), criticizes a new, highly-publicized effort against the mythical multitude of rich, high-living "deadbeat dads." The column points out that many "deadbeats" are, in one form or another, victims of the abuses by the child support system and family courts.

To write a Letter to the Editor of the Los Angeles Daily News concerning Hounding low-income dads won't pay (3/26/08), write to dnforum@dailynews.com. The Daily News is Los Angeles' second largest newspaper.

To write a Letter to the Editor of the Daily Breeze [Los Angeles] concerning 'Deadbeat dads' list singles out working poor (3/27/08), write to letters@dailybreeze.com.

The column, co-authored with family law attorney Jeffery M. Leving, is below.

New LA County Campaign Against ‘Deadbeat Dads’ Unfairly Targets Low-Income Fathers
By Jeffery M. Leving and Glenn Sacks

Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley and LA County Child Support Services Department Director Steven Golightly recently announced a sweeping new campaign against so-called “deadbeat dads.” They say their new “Most Wanted Delinquent Parent” list is modeled on the FBI's fabled “10 Most Wanted” list. On paper the 10 offenders owe over $2 million, but it’s very questionable that Cooley & Golightly will be collecting much--according to the California Judicial Council, 80% of California child support debtors earn poverty level wages.

Golightly’s action is particularly remarkable considering that the California Department of Child Support Services, which supervises the LACCSSD, issued a report in January which contradicts any possible rationale for this campaign.

According to the CDCSS, there are four primary factors creating child support arrearages in California: “high child support orders established for low-income obligors”; “a limited number of child support orders adjusted downward"; “establishment of retroactive child support orders”; and “accrual of 10 percent interest on child support debt.” Over a quarter of these arrears is interest.

The report was based on a study CDCSS contracted from the Urban Institute. According to the study, “assuming every effort was made to increase child support collections and reduce future arrears…only a quarter of the existing debt is collectible.”

 The study found that California is particularly prone to turning dads into “deadbeats”—California arrearages are piling up “much faster” than those in the rest of the country. With only 12% of the US’ population, California’s arrearages represent 20% of the nation’s whole.

Unlike the “Most Wanted Deadbeat Parent” lists put out by most states and counties, the LACCSSD’s list does not contain the occupations of the “deadbeats.” One can understand why. Nationwide these lists are never comprised of well-heeled businessmen, lawyers, and accountants, but instead of fathers who do low wage and often seasonal work, and owe large sums of money which they could never hope to pay off. It is rare to find a person with even a college degree on these lists...

To read more and to discuss this issue on my blog, click here.
 

Faced with a Divorce? Need Help with Family Law? Child Custody? Child Support? Parental Alienation? False Accusations?

Check Out Glenn's New Family Law Help Directory. The Directory Has Experts From All over the Country Who Can Help You

NYC Domestic Violence Killing: Amid Tragedy, Some Progress

"A woman is dead allegedly at the hands of her husband, who neighbors say was the frequent target of her abuse.

"The 50-year old woman was found strangled inside her apartment just before 10 a.m. Saturday at the Red Hook houses at 151 Richard Street. Her 58-year old husband is in critical condition with stab wounds to chest and arms, possibly self-inflicted.

"Neighbors say the couple struggled with alcohol problem and that the wife was abusive to her husband. They say he apparently had enough when she returned home Saturday morning and allegedly strangled her with the belt of a bathrobe.

"He may have tried to commit suicide. Police aren't commenting."

In the audio, the 1010 WINS radio reporter says, "Neighbors say he was the nicest guy, and they wonder why he took the abuse for so long." One neighbor who knew him and his wife said:

"She abused him--she beats him up all the time. He probably couldn't take it no more...she hit in the back of the head with a bat." 

I'm certainly not going to declare the guy an innocent victim or say I'm sure he acted in self-defense, but the third party accounts of his abuse at the hands of his wife certainly suggest it's possible. The step forward is that the radio station actually acknowledged that he may well have been a victim of domestic violence, and that his action may have been in self-defense or retaliation.

To learn more, listen to the audio by clicking here. The story is Domestic Violence Turns Deadly in Brooklyn (3/30/08).

The story is also another example of the large role that substance abuse plays in domestic violence.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

 Fathers & Families: Advocacy for the Child-Father Bond
Fathers & Families is a non-profit organization advocating for the right of every child to have two parents. Fathers are an essential part of a child's life--divorce or separation should not change this. www.FathersandFamilies.org

FALSELY ACCUSED IN TEXAS?
Domestic Violence. Child Sexual Assault. Child Protective Services Defense.
Contact the Law Office of Stuckle & Ferguson
www.PaulStuckle.com / falseaccusations@stuckle-ferguson.com

Steve Moxon's The Woman Racket
The Woman Racket is a serious scientific investigation into one of the key myths of our age – that women are oppressed by the ‘patriarchal’ traditions of Western societies. Drawing on the latest developments in evolutionary psychology, Moxon finds that the opposite is true – men, or at least the majority of low-status males – have always been the victims of deep-rooted prejudice. As the prejudice is biologically derived, it is unconscious and can only be uncovered with the tools of scientific psychology. Moxon reveals this prejudice in fields as diverse as healthcare, employment, family policy and politics.

Holly Bowne: 'I saw a female player punch one of our boys in the back of his head...my son's face was smashed into the boards by another'

"But as I sat in the stands of my local indoor soccer facility, watching my son's under-12 boys team being physically abused by a girls team, I couldn't help but wonder if perhaps feminism has finally gone too far.

"During the game, I saw a female player actually punch one of our boys in the back of his head (the ref did not see it) and later, I saw my own son's face being smashed into the boards by another young lady. (The ref did see that.) I noted the parents of the girls' team smiling smugly whenever one of their players managed to knock over one of our boys.

"Now, the fact is, when you get into the age of puberty and beyond, most of those boys could, if they chose, send a girl flying into the boards at any point. Feminism aside, it's a simple fact of nature that men are physically stronger than women. But they are taught never to use that physical strength against a woman.

"Listening to the grumbling coming from the parents of the boys, it was obvious that our guys weren't playing their best game. They would hesitate for a second too long or hold back just a bit, yielding to a baser instinct not to hurt a girl. Our boys were simply not playing full-out against this girls team. And to be honest, I'm not sure I would have wanted them to."

Holly Bowne (pictured) makes some good points about modern gender dynamics in her recent column Feminism may go too far in girls vs. boys (Detroit Free Press, 3/28/08). While feminists relentlessly portray men as being prone to violence towards women, Bowne accurately describes exactly how the overwhelming majority of men normally behave--they'll go way out of their way not to do anything to harm a woman. It's a very perceptive column.

One reason why it caught my eye was that I had a vaguely similar experience playing against a girls' team when I was a kid. It was a soccer game between my team, probably consisting of 12 and 13-year-olds--against a girls' team from the next level up, probably 14 and 15-year-olds. I played goalkeeper, and with a few minutes left in the game their team broke through and a girl had the ball maybe about 20 feet in front of our goal.

I certainly wasn't the most athletic of goalkeepers. However, I was sure-handed and I knew how to position myself and break up plays from having played fullback/defense for many years. Normally in this situation I would charge and slide-tackle the opposing forward and knock the ball away. This time I rushed out to do it and, as I was about to slide into her, my guy programming kicked in and instead I slid off to the side, allowing her to score.

We lost the game by a goal and had to endure a bunch of "girl power/we beat the boys"-type celebrating. I've always been a pretty good sport about losing, but I remember watching this and thinking, "Are you kidding me? Didn't you see me give away that goal?" I thought about saying something but realized that it would immediately be seen as boy-as-sore-loser-to-girls type sour grapes.

Holly Bowne had a few other worthwhile points:

"After the soccer game, I asked a manager why this talented girls team didn't play up a few levels within the girls division instead of entering the boys' leagues. I was told that prohibiting them from playing in the boys division would be considered discrimination. Amazing. Women have fought a long, hard battle to earn equal rights. We now have clubs, sports, colleges and political organizations solely for women and the support of women's rights. But we're still not satisfied.

"We are raising our boys to be men in a world that increasingly disrespects men in a variety of venues. If we truly believe in equal rights, then we women need to speak up and stop allowing TV programs, clothing, and even children's sports to get away with the male bashing that is going on. We need to build up our boys instead of tearing them down. We need to teach them how to be men. Men who are intelligent, sensitive and strong.
Men who know how to treat a lady."

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here. 

Help, Resources for Dads
The National Fathers' Resource Center is a division of Fathers For Equal Rights, Inc. (FER), located in Dallas, Texas, with offices in both Dallas and Ft. Worth. In existence for over three decades, it has services and resources for dads nationwide and is one of the largest and most active fathers' rights organizations in the U.S. www.fathers4kids.org

Venus: The Dark Side
Discover how she has 'played' you. For the first time ever, a book that tells you exactly how manipulative and deceitful women win against their unsuspecting prey – and there's detailed information about what you can do about it. Read Roy Sheppard and Mary T Cleary's book "Venus: The Dark Side".  Amazon 5 star reviewers say "An astounding book." "Required reading for all young men today." Visit www.venusthedarkside.com

Father-Positive Rice Krispies Commercial

A nice, father-positive Rice Krispies commercial. To watch, click here.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

 Parental-Alienation-Awareness.com
Stop Parental Alienation--a terrible form of Child Abuse. Nine states have now officially recognized Parental Alienation Awareness Day. To learn more, go to Parental-Alienation-Awareness.com.

The Rogue Wallet: a Scientific, Stylish Solution
Sometimes great ideas come in unexpected shapes. The Rogue Wallet, the only wallet with a revolutionary curved edge, is designed to fit comfortably in your front pocket. Carrying your wallet in your front pocket makes sense for many reasons, in particular because doing so alleviates back pain caused by sitting on a traditional wallet. Inventor Michael Lyons designed the Rogue Wallet specifically with this purpose in mind. www.roguewallet.com

I Discuss Spitzer Case, Dr. Laura Controversy on the Maria Sanchez Show (Audio Available)

I discussed Dr. Laura's Controversial Comments about the Spitzers on the Maria Sanchez Show on KVTA AM 1520 in Ventura, CA (3/19/08). 

The audio of the interview is available--to listen, click here.

To learn more, see my recent blog post In Defense of Dr. Laura's Comments about the Spitzers.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

 

 Help for NYC Fathers
The Law Office of Tracey A. Bloodsaw provides quality family law services at affordable rates. We pride ourselves on serving a community that is often neglected--fathers. Our areas of practice include: divorce; child custody/visitation; child support; domestic violence; and many others. Call 718.274.1599 or go to www.traceyabloodsaw.com.

Family Law Help for Dads Nationwide
The Alliance for Single Parents helps dads nationwide with child custody, child support, Parental Alienation, and other family law problems. If you've got a family law problem and are looking for a resolution at a reasonable price, call the Alliance for Single Parents at 1-888-937-3466 (1-888-We're Home) or email them by clicking here. www.allianceforsingleparents.com

Can Anybody Figure Out What on Earth This Guy Did Wrong?

After an El Dorado Hills mom reported observing a strange man speaking with her two children at each of three children's-story events, deputies arrested the man at his Folsom home. Victor Emmer, 49, was arrested March 13 on suspicion of loitering where children gather.

"It's an odd charge," said sheriff's Sgt. Jim Byers, noting the statute intends chiefly to protect school-grounds neighborhoods.

"The family was at the Folsom Borders Books story-telling time, where he (spoke to one of the children), and for lack of a better term, he creeped the mom out. Then, a few days later at the El Dorado Hills Library story time, she saw him again striking up conversation with her children. And then, he does it again. We felt it justified a criminal complaint, she signed it and he was arrested."

The case appears unrelated to recent report of unwelcome advances to children in the area by a middle-aged man driving a dark-colored van or SUV, Byers said.

When investigators heard a low bail amount set for Emmer, they explained to a judge that they believed it was too low. Now bail in the case is set at $100,000, and Emmer has bailed out of custody, Byers said.

Investigators want to hear about any similar incidents, he said.

“He is not a registered sex offender in Folsom or California and we have not found any information to indicate he has any prior offenses,” said Lt. Sheldon Sterling of the Folsom Police Department.

The story is Suspicious conversations with children cause arrest of Folsom man (Folsom Telegraph, 3/19/08). Thanks to Scott, a reader, for sending it. If anybody can explain to me what this guy did to deserve to be arrested and held on $100,000 bail, I'd love to hear it.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

 Falsely Accused? How to Get Beyond the 'He Said/She Said' Dilemma
Restraining orders and supervised visitation orders are often issued after relying solely on statements made by the accuser and the accused. Borders, McLaughlin & Associates are former police detectives who employ a new and different approach to such cases. Their Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Risk Assessments are designed to prove or disprove abuse allegations, and to answer the questions judges face. Contact them at (888) 621-1900 or go to www.bmaa.com

Help for San Diego, Riverside Fathers
The Law Offices of Robert M. Bennett provides caring and compassionate divorce and family law services to clients in San Diego and Riverside Counties. His areas of practice include every aspect of family law, such as divorce, paternity, child custody, child support, spousal support, property division, and post-divorce modification of existing orders. Call 760-631-2082 or go to www.robertmbennett.com

'It was difficult reassuring my boys during my divorce--they say their friends' dads could only see their kids on weekends'

One of my favorite readers is Kelly, a single father with shared custody who lives in the greater Los Angeles area.  Recently he wrote:

"Glenn, there is a comic strip called 'For Better or Worse,' which has a story line about a single custodial dad finding love and trying to bring his young daughter around to the whole idea of a stepmother.

"The scene in this touched me deeply. It was difficult reassuring my boys when I was going through my divorce. They were only three and four at the time. They saw how many of their friends' dads were only able to see their kids on the weekends. I would always hug them tight and say to them, 'I will always be your daddy, and I will always be here no matter what.'"

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Jeff Leving's New Book--Divorce Wars
Jeffery M. Leving, one of America's most prominent divorce lawyers, has written a new book on how to win any divorce fairly, even when your spouse brings out the heavy artillery. Divorce Wars: A Field Guide to the Winning Tactics, Preemptive Strikes, and Top Maneuvers When Divorce Gets Ugly provides essential advice on everything from picking the right lawyer and devising a winning settlement strategy to getting the most from your day in court and dealing with an ex-spouse. Divorce Wars is available here.

SAMSONLAW--Divorce Lawyers for Michigan Men & Fathers
If you're a Michigan man faced with divorce, you need SAMSONLAW on your side--SAMSONLAW defends men.
Smart Advocacy Means Stopping Oppression Now. INeedSamson.com

His Side with Glenn Sacks Radio Commentary: Roger Clemens in Family Court Hell

My recent His Side with Glenn Sacks radio commentary for KLAA AM 830 in Los Angeles discusses the Roger Clemens steroids case and how it relates to false accusations in family law cases. Clemens denies using steroids and asked a Congressional committee, "How do you prove a negative?" This is exactly the position that so many fathers are in when faced with false accusations of domestic violence or child sexual abuse--how do you prove you didn't do something?

To listen to the commentary, click here or on the audio button below. (Sorry for the delayed posting).

To learn more, see my blog post Baseball Star Roger Clemens in Family Court Hell.

His Side with Glenn Sacks radio commentaries are broadcast daily on KLAA AM 830, a 50,000 watt talk station in Los Angeles and Orange County. KLAA AM 830 is owned by Arte Moreno, owner of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

From 2003-2005, His Side with Glenn Sacks ran in a syndicated talk show format in Los Angeles, New York City, Boston, Seattle, and other cities. To listen to show archives, click here.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Help for Midwest Fathers
Cordell & Cordell is one of the largest domestic relations firms for men in the Midwest, representing fathers in Missouri, Illinois, Texas, Kansas, Indiana and Georgia. Men who come to Cordell & Cordell know that their interests and the interests of their children will be aggressively championed. www.cordellcordell.com
Civil War - A Father's Guide to Winning Child Custody
Joseph E. Cordell's Civil War - A Father's Guide to Winning Child Custody  gives fathers clear, easy-to-understand tips on how to achieve the best results possible in a divorce. Comprehensive chapters explain every step of the divorce process, the meaning of legal terms, how courts determine custody, and how to maximize chances of victory at every stage. Cordell is the founder of Cordell & Cordell. 

Some Great Fatherly Advice from Rocky Balboa

"It's not about how hard you hit--it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward."

In the movie Rocky Balboa (2006), Rocky gives his son some great advice. According to one description,  Rocky's son, Robert (Milo Ventimiglia), is "the opposite of Rocky - a buttoned-down, corporate-minded businessman who is trying to carve out his own place in a very different world. Rocky's relationship with Robert is strained because Robert has always had to live under the shadow of his famous father; he even believes that the only reason he was hired for his latest job was because of his last name."

In the video clip, Rocky has decided to fight one last fight. Robert, feeling that his father will embarrass himself and embarrass his son, tries to talk him out of it. Robert feels frustrated with his life and feels that he's not achieving what he wants to achieve because he is always linked to his father.

To watch the video, click here.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

 Help for Colorado Dads
As someone who has personally experienced the heartbreak of divorce and family breakup, Brett W. Martin, Esq. works to advance the interests and concerns of fathers in domestic and family law litigation. Personal attention is given to clients to help them through a very difficult time in their lives. www.brettwmartin.com

Families Against Confiscatory Child Support (FACCS)
FACCS is the national voice for fair and reasonable child support. FACCS believes all parents have an obligation to support their children financially. However, in high income cases, state and federal laws often result in excessive awards that are effectively alimony in disguise and have little to do with supporting children. Huge child support awards lead to protracted custody disputes, undermines co-parenting, and leaves children worse off financially. www.faccsonline.org / contact@faccsonline.org

Help for Florida Dads
 Neil Leavitt, PA helps Florida dads defend their relationships with their children during divorce or separation. Leavitt specializes in family law and has practiced law for nearly three decades. The Law Office of Neil Leavitt can be contacted by phone at (954) 989-5858.

More Lazy Husbands

More lazy husbands from Dana Summers' comic Bound and Gagged.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

 Help for Houston Fathers
The Law Offices of Thomas A. Martin helps fathers with Family Law and Criminal Defense in Houston and surrounding areas. Martin handles divorce, child custody, alimony, domestic violence, restraining orders and a wide variety of issues fathers face. www.thomasamartin.com

Help for Seattle Fathers
The Law Offices of O. Yale Lewis III is a one-person law firm that focuses on customer care. Mr. Lewis can help you identify and focus on the outcome that you want and implement the steps necessary to get there. www.yalelewislaw.com.

Her mother had said she was holding on so she could see her dad one last time, and maybe it was true...

Background: In 10-Year-Old Girl Dying; Mom Says Daughter's Last Wish Is To See Her Dad, I discussed the heart wrenching case of 10-year-old Jayci Yaeger, who is dying of brain cancer and "has one final wish -- to have her father spend some time at her bedside before she dies."

On March 27, the father was allowed to take leave from prison to go see his dying little girl. He is in a federal minimum security prison on a drug conviction.

The end to an unbelievably sad story. The poor girl. Her mother had said she was holding on so she could see her dad one last time, and maybe it was true--the day after she saw her dad, she died.

I'm posting this and then I'm going to give my little girl a big hug...

Jayci Yaeger Dies After Seeing Imprisoned Father

LINCOLN, Neb. -- A 10-year-old girl has died, just a day after her wish to see her father was granted.

Jayci Yaeger's imprisoned father, Jason, went to her bedside Wednesday -- a visit federal authorities allowed only after being deluged with letters and phone calls from across the nation.

Jayci had terminal brain cancer. Her family had been pleading with federal prison officials in Yankton, S.D., to allow her father to see his daughter before she died.

On Wednesday afternoon, prison guards drove Jason Yaeger to a Lincoln hospice, where he spent less than an hour at her bedside. No one else was allowed in the room except Jason Yaeger, Jayci and the escorts.

Sources said Yaeger did leave the girl's side to consult with hospice counselors and get some direction on how to speak with the girl about what she was going through.

Prior to Wednesday, the prison warden had allowed Jason Yaeger three visits to his daughter, but had denied requests for a longer furlough or an early transfer to a halfway house in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The warden told Yaeger it was not viewed as an extraordinary circumstance.

Letters and e-mails from across the nation have reached the Yaeger family and appealed to the prison to allow the man to see his daughter. The family asked the media to share their story with the hope of encouraging prison officials to allow the visit.

He's scheduled to be released to a halfway house in August.

Yaeger asked President George W. Bush for clemency. Yaeger spent four years in a federal prison on methamphetamine-related charges. Officials with the Federal Bureau of Prisons would not confirm a visit took place.

Officials said they would only comment on a possible visit after a prisoner returned from a furlough.

On Thursday, Jayci's mother described Jayci's condition as minute-by-minute, saying the girl had gone into respiratory distress three times that day.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Help for Orange County Dads--Free Consultation
Family law attorney J. Christian Conrad in Orange County, California helps fathers with divorce, child custody/visitation, child support, domestic violence, property division, alimony, and other family law problems. Call 949 457-0101 for a free consultation. www.jcc-law.com

Pre-Paid Legal Services for Divorced Dads
Pre-Paid Legal gives members access to professional legal counsel both for traditional legal problems and for everyday events where legal review should be routine, but rarely is. For Pre-Paid Legal members, access to legal counsel is only a toll-free phone call away. This is an ideal product for divorced dads--to learn more, click here or call Josh Case.

'It takes a pretty strong woman to come here and take the insults hurled...must I meekly accept the hatred of some men here?'

"Of course, I'm lying - because I'm a woman. It takes a pretty strong woman to come here and take the insults hurled...must I really have to meekly accept the hatred of some men here in order to be perceived as a decent person?"

Rosemarie, one of the top blog commenters on this site (see the "Top Commentators" rankings in the right-hand column of my home page), is tired of some of the sexist nonsense female posters have to endure at www.GlennSacks.com. She recently wrote a great comment about it in response to Roy, another poster.

Roy wrote:

"What is really funny is that men on this site (including me) continue to try desperately to apply logic to understand women. As Nancy Reagan advised -- 'Just Say No!' Freud ended his life saying he was an idiot to have spent decades trying to figure out women. Even today, when women are trying to pantomime as if they are like men, they are frauds. They know they are just masquerading. That is what they do. It is their nature.

"It is not misogynist to make objective observations. A really beautiful woman is at best a temporary illusion. She is there for a while, and then she disappears. It is not her fault. She has a limited number of years to be desirable. Glenn's harem? Please weigh in."

Rosemarie has some choice words on the subject. She writes:

"Roy, you yourself defy logic. You flirt with some women here, then post nonsense such as the above. You deride women because you can't apply logic in an effort to understand them, then make illogical statements yourself.

"You're as bad as the guy who rants about his Japanese wife, advocating marrying only Asians - and his reasoning? Gee, if ONE Asian is like this, they ALL must be like this. If one American woman is evil, they ALL must be evil. And please, gentlemen, I don't want to hear any stuff about how it IS true that MANY American women are horrible and that this country enables them to be so.

"Take that docile doormat out of Japan and if she is the type to be vindictive and materialistic, she WILL become vindictive and materialistic. And you men say we women aren't all that bright?

"That's an objective observation, so please don't view it as a personal attack.

"As far as my 'fading looks' being a temporary illusion, I have never relied on my looks to draw men - actually, I've never been the flirty type. (Of course, I'm lying - all women lie, right?) That said, I wonder why, then, not one but TWO men in their 30s hit on me yesterday? Why does one man follow me around the store when it's obvious he doesn't need any assistance? And I don't dress like a tart, so it wasn't any 'message' I was sending.

"I'm not in the market and I've never been the flirtatious type, but obviously some men don't mind a few wrinkles and no, the men did not seem 1. desperate 2. mentally retarded. I guess they just can't go to Asia to find someone absolutely wonderful by mere virtue of being Asian, and are willing to settle for a date with an ugly, illogical, old American witch.

"Most men are mature enough to understand that, while looks fade, a good heart only beats more strongly as we women age. I have never felt I was a pretty woman but, at 52, I can finally say that I am a good hearted, honest person who has always tried to notice others in need - even if that need was only a kind word.

"But, of course, I'm lying - because I'm a woman.

"It takes a pretty strong woman to come here and take the insults hurled - and sometimes, I'm just not that strong. But some of you guys piss me the hell off. I can't wait for a certain someone's inevitable insult when he sees I've posted - actually, yes, I think I can wait. My motives here are pure and I deeply care about men's issues, esp. false accusations, but must I really have to meekly accept the hatred of some men here in order to be perceived as a decent person?

"Finally, I wonder how many of you men put your money where your mouth is and actually support men's issues WITH YOUR PRECIOUS WALLETS. I have renewed my membership in NCFM and I haven't heard from Fathers4JusticeUS lately; are they even around anymore? I mention this not for any kind of praise - I neither need nor want praise from persons who hate - but I'm getting sick and tired of the few here who seem to follow female posters around and accuse them of all sorts of ulterior motives and lies.

"Let's face it - it's not just some feminists who are nothing but babies. Funny thing is, my harshest critics will be some of the women here (and we're NOT Glenn's harem), a few of whom are intent on proving that when men and women get together, there are always those women who will diss/trash/criticize/hurt another woman in order to get the approval of a man."

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

 Divorce and Family Consultant Jayne A. Major, Ph.D. Helps Parents all over the United States
Dr. Major, founder of Breakthrough Parenting Services, Inc., helps dads all over the US with Parental Alienation Syndrome, child custody, preparing for psychological evaluations, dealing with personality disorders including BPD,
parenting and family relationship issues, and much more. Contact her at  jaynemajor@gmail.com or (310) 823-7846. For more info., click here.

Need Help with Divorce Debts?
Divorce often brings debt. Prosperity Financial can help. Prosperity Financial offers Debt Consolidation (CCCS), Debt Settlement, a Student Loan Consolidation program, and much more. Negotiate lower interest rates, avoid nasty creditors and improve your credit. Call 1-888-611-2809 or visit www.prosperityfinancial.org.

Another Innocent Man Gets Shafted by Spurious Rape Charge

Woman makes rape charge which, according to the County Prosecutor, turns out to be "neither reliable nor credible." She also lied to the police.

Man spends 97 days in jail, loses his job, goes into debt--and is publicly named. Apparent false accuser does no time, loses not a dime, and is not publicly identified. Nice.

The story is below--thanks to Jerry, a reader, for sending it.

Charges dropped after 97 days in jail
By Art Bukowski
Traverse City Record-Eagle, 3/1/08 
abukowski@record-eagle.com

TRAVERSE CITY -- Vindication came for Timothy Wagner, but it took more than three hard months to arrive.

That's how long Wagner sat in the Grand Traverse County Jail awaiting trial on fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and home invasion charges. Last week, his attorney told him the charges were dropped and he was free.

"I was happy as heck. It's not a fun place to be," Wagner, 43, said of jail. "Ninety-seven days for something I didn't even do."

But Wagner is in debt and without a job after his jail stint, he said, and he's concerned about his reputation following the charges.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Wagner Nov. 16, court records show. A woman told investigators he entered her Garfield Township home without permission and grabbed her genitals. Wagner said the woman was a friend and her claims were false.

"I was ... surprised she would say something like that," he said.

Records show Wagner's bond eventually was set at 10 percent of $100,000, and he said he couldn't afford it. So he sat in jail until shortly after prosecutors dismissed the charges Feb. 20.

The dismissal of charges doesn't necessarily mean the woman lied, Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Alan Schneider said, but her credibility was too questionable to pursue charges.

"You have to have a certain level of reliable and credible evidence to go forward, and when (it's) neither reliable nor credible, then you can't proceed," he said.

The woman told investigators she didn't call Wagner on the day of the alleged incident, Schneider said, but phone records later showed she called him multiple times. Those records weren't examined until relatively recently, Schneider said.

Read the full article here.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

 The Men's Legal Center--Help for Men & Fathers
 The Men's Legal Center, Family Law Advocates specializes in representing men in Family Law Court in San Diego. They also provide guidance and assistance for fathers all over California. Contact them at 619.234.3838 or by email by clicking here.

Online Dating Rights
Online Dating Rights opposes the new federal International Marriage Broker Regulation Act, which requires Americans who seek to meet foreigners via the internet to have a criminal background check and an intrusive report about intimate details of one's life BEFORE any communication--the first time in US history that such checks have been required. www.onlinedatingrights.com

Audio Available of Glenn on Outside the Wire with Rick Wright

Last night I appeared on the nationally-syndicated talk show Outside the Wire with Rick Wright. To listen to the audio, click here.

We discussed some of my experiences relating to fatherlessness when I was a high school teacher, and also the perils that male school teachers face.

The show is based in Jacksonville/St. Augustine Florida and is also broadcast in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and other parts of Florida, New York, New Jersey and South Connecticut.

To learn more about Outside the Wire and the Intel Radio Network, click here.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

Fathers' Rights Legal Help
If you need help with divorce, child custody, child support, alimony and visitation issues, The Law Offices of Jeffery M. Leving, Ltd. is one of the only law firms in the country focused almost exclusively on fathers' rights in divorce. Leving did heroic work on the Elian Gonzalez case, helping reunite Elian with his father. He also co-authored Illinois' Joint Custody Law, and was named one of "America's Best Lawyers" by Forbes Radio. Leving is the author of Fathers' Rights: Hard Hitting and Fair Advice for Every Father Involved in a Custody Dispute. Call today for an initial consultation (312) 807-3990 or visit us on the web at www.dadsrights.com.
Legal Help for Los Angeles Fathers
If you live in Los Angeles and you're facing a divorce, separation, or a child custody issue, the law firm of Oddenino & Gaule can help. www.OddLaw.net

www.WHYJUDGELITTLE.com
My goal is to inform the public about the rulings made by Madison County, Alabama, Judge Loyd H. Little, Jr. that have turned my son’s life upside down the past two years. Judge Little’s rulings affect everyone in Alabama because they become LAW. A judge ruled (made LAW) in Bayliss vs Bayliss (1989) establishing child support beyond age of 18 which is now applied standard statewide to all unmarried or divorced parents. – Chris Hobbs, Father www.WHYJUDGELITTLE.com

Knock Me Over with a Feather--At the Women, Action & the Media Conference, Amanda Marcotte Says...

I'm not sure if anything any public figure has ever said has surprised me less than the following. In a recent blog post, www.feministing.com editor Vanessa Valenti blogs live from the Women, Action & the Media conference at MIT. Vanessa writes:

"Amanda Marcotte (pictured) talks about how a reproductive justice framework 'makes it easier to communicate our values to the public.' Really understanding the reproductive justice framework can also help you debate anti-choice people, particularly anti-choicers who aren't necessarily activists.

"She says we need to talk about things in really blunt, frank terms (like 'sex,' as scared as the public may be to talk about it) in order to reach out to people, and even using humor in the process. She also suggests to not be afraid to take the cheap shot when you need to." (emphasis added)

"Take the cheap shot when you need to"? Amanda's journalism consists mostly of taking cheap shots--distorting opponents' words beyond recognition and then vilifying them for what they (didn't) say.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.
 

 Help for Georgia Dads
Georgia attorney Edwin M. Saginar has 36 years of experience in family law and criminal defense, including domestic violence. He has seen many spouses falsely accuse their significant others of family violence, and knows how to defend your rights. www.edwinsaginar.com

My Sara
My Sara--How the Adoption Assistance Agency stole a baby girl away from her loving family and put her up for adoption, for a nice profit. To learn more about this incredible story, go to www.my-sara.com

Michael Jordan Must Have a Good Attorney--He Won't Have to Pay $5 M to Woman Who Didn't Bear His Child

"The Illinois Supreme Court declined on Wednesday to hear an appeal in the long-running legal dispute between Michael Jordan and a former lover who claims the retired superstar promised her $5 million.

"Karla Knafel contends that the former Chicago Bulls superstar agreed to pay her the money for remaining silent and agreeing not to file a paternity suit after she learned she was pregnant in 1991.

"Jordan denied making the promise and sued the woman in 2002, saying that she was trying to extort money from him and the child was not his. DNA tests later showed that Jordan was not the father.

"In December, a state appeals court ruled in Jordan's favor, saying that even if Jordan made the agreement, the deal was unenforceable because Knafel had misled him about whether he was the child's father."

It shows how bad things are that I'm actually pleasantly surprised that Michael Jordan doesn't have to pay $5 million to a woman to support a child who is not his. He must have a good attorney.

God knows how much he'd have to pay in "child support" if it were his kid.

The story is Michael Jordan's ex-lover stymied by Illinois Supreme Court (Chicago Tribune, 3/27/08). Thanks to Justin, a reader, for sending it.

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here.

 Help for Los Angeles/Ventura County Dads
Certified Family Law Specialist Peter M. Walzer was one of the key figures in our successful legislative struggle to preserve the LaMusga move-away decision. As Chair of the State Bar of California Family Law Section Executive Committee, Walzer lobbied the state legislature to improve California laws on child support and child custody. He's an American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Fellow who has authored numerous articles on custody issues, business valuation in marital dissolutions and spousal and child support.  www.California-Divorce.com
LaMusga Divorce Financial Planning
Divorce brings about a myriad of financial challenges and changes. Often divorcing couples make important decisions in a rash manner, with emotions impairing their judgment. These decisions may at times serve the parties well in the short-term, but can result in damaging and unnecessary long-term financial hardships.  Gary has successfully completed the training and testing required for designation as a Certified Divorce Financial AnalystTM and can assist you and your attorney in the process. To learn more, click here or call 925-287-1567.  Tracking Number  6790, DOFU 11/07

Fathers & Families News Digest, 4/1/08

Below are some recent articles and items of interest from Fathers & Families' latest News Digest.

Program helps deadbeat parents pay (News 14, 3/24/08)

Father questions child support payments (KGET.com, 3-25-08)

House advances child custody bill for veterans (Waterloo & Cedar Falls Courier, 3/26/08)

'Deadbeat dads' get a choice: pay up or give up hunting (Bloomington Pantagraph, 3/27/08)

Changes urged in measure affecting reports on contractors (Tulsa World, 3/27/08)

State leader in e-payment child support (Dowagiac Daily News, 3/27/08)

2 Akron men arrested for not paying child support (Akron Beacon Journal, 3/27/08)

Framingham immigrant custody battle continues (Metrowest Daily News, 3/29/08)

She's 16, yours & here's the bill (The Sun, 3/31/08)

Centralia grandmother accused of domestic violence for slapping (Associated Press, 3/31/08)

To discuss this issue on my blog, click here, or visit the Fathers & Families blog here.

Steven Carlson, the Custody Coach, has helped thousands of parents with child custody.

Steven Carlson's How to Win Child Custody
Are you contemplating divorce or separation but are unsure about how child custody will be determined or what you can expect from attorneys and the family court system? Knowing these things can help you win custody. Steven Carlson is the author of "How to Win Child Custody" and the founder of Child Custody Coach in Orange County, California. Don't get caught unprepared, download your copy of "How to Win Child Custody" today. If you need Steven's Custody Coach services, click here.

Be sure to add glenn@glennsacks.com to your address book or
safe sender list so our emails get to your inbox.

The Feminist Dissident: 'A lot of women, including feminists, are not honest about how their desires diverge from their politics'

"One of Glenn’s readers said...it was irresponsible of feminism to subvert, and attack, the traditional gender roles and then offer men nothing to fill the void—that we’re left twisting in the wind, with only an idea of what we’re not supposed to be...

"They tell us to be all sensitive and accommodating even though the guys they really want to sleep with are the most traditional kinds of macho guys.

"I buy some of that, I guess, at least to the extent that a lot of women, including a lot of feminists, are not honest with themselves about the degree to which their desires can diverge from their politics. They may say they want a nice guy, but really they want a nice guy sometimes, and a hairy beast at other times."--Dan Oppenheimer, The Feminist Dissident  

The purpose of "The Feminist Dissident" is to give feminists a chance to speak directly to my audience, and my audience to debate the issues with them in a civil manner.

The first two contributors to this are male feminist bloggers Dan Oppenheimer and Jamie Berger of the blog Masculinity and its Discontents. If you are a feminist and are interested in submitting a blog post, please email me at glenn@glennsacks.com.

The Clothes Men Wear (or, Wow! That’s a nice shirt!)
By Dan Oppenheimer

Although I dress in a pretty conventional guy kind of way, I have a name for my style: David Duchovny chic. It involves wearing clothes—jeans, T-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, all in natural fibers and a little bit weathered-looking—that say to the world, "Hey, maybe you happen to think I look good in a subtle, unpretentious, relaxed kind of way, but if so, that’s mostly an accident. I’m just being who I am, man."

Where I’m moderately unusual, for a straight white guy, is that I enjoy talking about clothes. I like watching Project Runway and What Not To Wear (w/Clinton and Stacy). I like looking at men on the street and trying to intuit something about them based on the clothes they’re wearing. I like writing about clothes. See The clothes men wear, once more, this time with rappers, It's raining Toms, and The clothes men wear.

I bore my wife with long soliloquies on the necessity of having a few really good pairs of jeans.

I like looking at this shirt (h/t Manolo for the Men), and saying, "Wow, what a shirt!"

I mean, really, that’s a beautiful shirt. So beautiful, in fact, that if I had the $18,000 (or whatever it costs) to burn, I’d buy it, ignore the bemused voice of David Duchovny in my head telling me that if I wore it, I’d be violating the prime directive of Duchovny chic—Never Look Like You’re Trying—and I’d flaunt it. Because Jeebus, that’s a nice shirt.

Of all the harms that gender stereotypes have wrought on men in America, one of the silliest—though not one of the gravest—has been the perpetuation of the idea that it’s unmanly to care about, and talk about, clothes.

We can talk about how cars look, how planes look (how all modes of transportation look, really, with the exception of really femme ones like the scooter or the Segway). You can wax sentimental about the skills of your tattoo artist, or admire your buddy’s iPhone. You can even, in certain specific circumstances, compliment a guy on his clothes—when he’s wearing a tuxedo, maybe, or just got a nice new leather jacket.

But tell a guy, on an average Tuesday, that you like his new Gap khakis, and well, I don’t think you get gay-bashed anymore, but you’re gonna get a queer look. And you’re sure not likely to get into an interesting conversation about how much better plain front khakis are than pleated khakis. And that’s sad, because, after all, pleats are awful.

One of Glenn’s readers said something, last week or the week before, about how it was irresponsible of feminism to subvert, and attack, the traditional gender roles and then offer men nothing to fill the void—that we’re left twisting in the wind, with only an idea of what we’re not supposed to be. And when they do give us any advice, it’s t