http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/Andrew Heller's outlook and commentsenMovable Type Enterprise 4.29-advance http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/noAndrew Heller's outlook and commentsahellerhttp://feedburner.google.comhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/ORDnD3Tww3w/flint_is_making_progress_but_i.htmlAndy's Journal columnsAndrew Heller | Flint JournalWed, 30 May 2012 06:38:25 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8417208 ]]>More voices are calling for a complete state takeover of Detroit because the half-measure consent agreement isn't producing much yet. Does this surprise anyone? Half measures don't work. Not even half the time.http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/05/flint_is_making_progress_but_i.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/QZgLweIX0xM/where_are_flints_giants.htmlAndy's Journal columnsAndrew Heller | Flint JournalMon, 28 May 2012 13:53:13 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8406889 ]]>What is happening to our city? Where are the giants of the '50s, '60s and '70s who dedicated their careers to the Flint community and especially to Community Education and to the youngsters who attended our schools? http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/05/where_are_flints_giants.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/BB7o0SBfXLY/life_begins_at_graduation.htmlAndy's Greatest HitsAndy's Journal columnsAndrew Heller | Flint JournalFri, 25 May 2012 06:10:33 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8392596 ]]>It began 13 years ago with a nervous backward glance at us as the school bus doors swallowed him for the first of a thousand times.http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/05/life_begins_at_graduation.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/sTpvHlVJgkk/were_hypocrites_when_it_comes.htmlAndy's Journal columnsAndrew Heller | Flint JournalWed, 23 May 2012 15:54:42 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8375164 ]]>The Flint schools are laying off 237 teachers. It’s necessary, we’re told, so we should be celebrating, right? Whoohoo! So how come it feels so awful?http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/05/were_hypocrites_when_it_comes.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/oOIslaOrVFI/you_write_i_write_the_may_edit.htmlAndy's Journal columnsCome Heller high water...Andrew Heller | Flint JournalMon, 21 May 2012 05:35:16 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8359827 ]]>The problem with politicians is the good ones move on too quickly or are forced out and the less than stellar ones (insert Rose's name here if you like) hang around forever because of name recognition. The result is bad, lazy government.http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/05/you_write_i_write_the_may_edit.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/PvCe7_1kPho/listen_up_candidates_heres_how.htmlAndy's Journal columnsAndrew Heller | Flint JournalFri, 18 May 2012 04:04:12 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8341807 ]]>Mitt Romney's recent apology for bullying a classmate back in his high school days was flat-out awful. But it was also a teachable moment for presidential candidates.http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/05/listen_up_candidates_heres_how.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/nsXWbgjNY1I/is_a_fracking_ban_in_the_const.htmlAndy's Journal columnsCome Heller high water...Andrew Heller | Flint JournalWed, 16 May 2012 04:29:02 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8328763 ]]>Come Heller high water: Oh, c’mon, it wasn’t a shock to learn that Genesee County Register of Deeds Rose Bogardus filed to run for the combined county clerk-register of deeds job. It would have been a shock if she hadn’t.http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/05/is_a_fracking_ban_in_the_const.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/tX-KO7RTi1w/time_cover_nonsense_will_only.htmlAndy's Journal columnsAndrew Heller | Flint JournalMon, 14 May 2012 05:14:37 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8310921 ]]>Have you seen the Time magazine breastfeeding cover? If you haven't, ask your teenage son for a copy. He probably has a few under his mattress. http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/05/time_cover_nonsense_will_only.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/EOm_pCOtrTc/moms_wear_many_hats_and_thank.htmlAndy's Journal columnsAndrew Heller | Flint JournalFri, 11 May 2012 05:09:34 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8295217 ]]>Of course, to them – to the best of them, anyway – it's not work. It's love - even if it often feels like work. Does that make sense?http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/05/moms_wear_many_hats_and_thank.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/ecmsa4CvNB4/mitt_saved_flint_and_other_myt.htmlAndy's Journal columnsCome Heller high water...Andrew Heller | Flint JournalThu, 10 May 2012 18:06:57 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8281296 ]]>Truth suffered a quick and painful death in this year’s presidential election.http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/05/mitt_saved_flint_and_other_myt.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/TcZ5sHCfbzI/should_flint_township_become_t.htmlAndy's Journal columnsAndrew Heller | Flint JournalMon, 07 May 2012 07:34:52 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8260680 ]]>A committee has formed in Flint Township to discuss whether the township name needs de-Flinting. This is nothing new. The question comes up every 10 years or 300 murders in the township's namesake, whichever comes first. http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/05/should_flint_township_become_t.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/rRMu-AcaY7A/how_about_proms_for_grownups.htmlAndy's Journal columnsAndrew Heller | Flint JournalFri, 04 May 2012 05:57:04 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8231385 ]]>The entire educational system is set up to maximize the fun that kids have while adults are completely free range when it comes to a social life, which is why many of us have none.http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/05/how_about_proms_for_grownups.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/HX6AfmzUXSk/flint_protesters_need_to_look.htmlAndy's Journal columnsCome Heller high water...Andrew Heller | Flint JournalWed, 02 May 2012 08:14:53 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8214212 ]]>What’s missing in their outrage though is any sense that they had anything to do with it. City coffers have been dwindling for decades. http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/05/flint_protesters_need_to_look.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/lEf7mbEn6fU/are_my_detroit_tigers_serious.htmlAndy's Journal columnsAndrew Heller | Flint JournalMon, 30 Apr 2012 17:43:17 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8198829 ]]>The Tigers need to send a signal to players that the team takes substance abuse seriously.http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/04/are_my_detroit_tigers_serious.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/OZYebHa3zYE/times_most_influential_list_is.htmlAndy's Journal columnsAndrew Heller | Flint JournalSat, 28 Apr 2012 05:53:15 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8179398 ]]>Time magazine's list of the top 100 most influential people in the world came out recently. As usual, I have to wonder what they were smoking around the Time offices. http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/04/times_most_influential_list_is.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/jnzTIurZ9UI/celebrate_government_layoffs_i.htmlAndy's Journal columnsAndrew Heller | Flint JournalWed, 25 Apr 2012 05:00:47 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8165446 ]]>People love it when government employees get laid off. Flint’s overlord, for instance, wants to lop 20 percent of the workforce, which sounds great – if you’re not one of the 147 human beings in that 20 percent. http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/04/celebrate_government_layoffs_i.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/TOZJKk2zdnw/finally_michigan_is_going_to_g.htmlAndy's Journal columnsAndrew Heller | Flint JournalMon, 23 Apr 2012 16:39:13 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8152404 ]]>The way I see it adding stun guns to our already stuffed arsenals can only mean more fear of and paranoia about our fellow man, more kids getting hurt and more weapons in the wrong hands when they are inevitably stolen.http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/04/finally_michigan_is_going_to_g.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/xpjz2P-FR0E/hey_congrats_blog_readers_we_w.htmlAndy's Random Blog Thoughts -- Enter at your own riskAndrew Heller | Flint JournalSun, 22 Apr 2012 17:45:35 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8152333 ]]>Hey, blog readers, I'm late in getting around to this but we won an award. A couple of weeks ago, the Michigan Associated Press Editorial Association (MAPEA) announced the winners in its annual news writing, graphics and news photo contest, and yours truly was listed as No. 1 among the state's largest newspapers for "digital presence."The category is fairly new, and I haven't seen the definition of what exactly AP means by digital presence, but I think it's safe to assume it means my corner of the Mlive news universe, at the very least, is pretty active. And of course that's because of you. I post stuff, sure, but a blog is only as strong as the contributions from the people who read it. And if there's one thing this blog is known for it's lively, passionate discourse. (Yes, sometimes too much of it, but hey.)So congratulations. This does NOT mean I'm buying you a Coca Cola at the award ceremony, however. Just so we're clear. Here's the blip from the MAPEA: Digital Presence: 1, The Flint Journal, "Come Heller High Water," Andrew Heller; 2, The Grand Rapids Press, "Head of the Class: Grand Rapids Education and Schools News," Dave...http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/04/hey_congrats_blog_readers_we_w.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/fU34MqSMLK4/putting_mitts_dog_story_to_res.htmlAndy's Greatest HitsAndy's Journal columnsAndrew Heller | Flint JournalFri, 20 Apr 2012 05:26:33 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8139877 ]]>You knew it would happen. Someone tracked down and interviewed Mitt Romney's dog, who lives in a gated retirement community in Florida. http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/04/putting_mitts_dog_story_to_res.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/2YyyvZkJNhY/flint_911_failed_miserably_no.htmlAndy's Journal columnsCome Heller high water...Andrew Heller | Flint JournalThu, 19 Apr 2012 06:39:19 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8126832 ]]>From the transcripts and descriptions I read, it doesn’t seem like there’s much to look into. They failed, plain and simple. They failed as emergency responders and they failed as human beings.http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/04/flint_911_failed_miserably_no.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/aheller/~3/o8VzEf7txDk/why_the_three_stooges_are_educ.htmlAndy's Greatest HitsAndy's Journal columnsAndrew Heller | Flint JournalMon, 16 Apr 2012 04:50:13 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2012:/flintjournal/aheller//1580.8113200 ]]>In a metaphorical sense, how the Stooges treat one another is how males often treat other males in the real world, so by allowing boys to watch, enjoy and learn from the Stooges, one is in essence helping them prepare to survive the male world. http://blog.mlive.com/flintjournal/aheller/2012/04/why_the_three_stooges_are_educ.htmlnonadult