http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/Unique opinions and observations from columnist Brad Flory of the Jackson Citizen Patriot.enMon, 09 Nov 2009 20:33:26 PSTMovable Type Enterprise 4.29-advance http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/noUnique opinions and observations from columnist Brad Flory of the Jackson Citizen Patriot.bradospherehttp://feedburner.google.comhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/vwW1Z22yh2w/if_wife_is_pissed_try_playing.htmlColumnsBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotMon, 09 Nov 2009 20:33:26 PSTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3920331 ]]>Citizen Patriot file photoSorry, women, but today's column has valuable information intended for men only.Men, here is a groundbreaking discovery to solve the problem of what to say to females.Four powerful words will work no matter the situation, the location...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/11/if_wife_is_pissed_try_playing.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/rusnaZDw4K4/cheers_to_hall_of_famer_monett.htmlBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotMon, 09 Nov 2009 11:46:24 PSTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3918421 ]]>Monetta "Mo" HarrHall of Fame night: On Saturday I was part of a prestigious and sober (except me) delegation of Jackson Citizen Patriot staffers who traveled to Mount Pleasant to see two of our own honored by the Central Michigan...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/11/cheers_to_hall_of_famer_monett.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/Ql-8BaSgbwg/mr_nofs_dont_go_hating_detroit.htmlColumnsBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotThu, 05 Nov 2009 05:36:38 PSTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3883867 ]]>Kick me out of the Michigan Hicks Club.I don't hate Detroit.Some people must assume I hate Detroit because I wear plaid shirts, own a shotgun and live next to a cornfield.By "some people," I mean you, Mike Nofs.Congratulations on winning...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/11/mr_nofs_dont_go_hating_detroit.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/LGjuVhP5TnI/your_source_for_half-baked_pos.htmlBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotWed, 04 Nov 2009 12:32:38 PSTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3879747 ]]> The big surprise from election day in Jackson is Jackson Public Schools passed its $16 million bond. Not many people saw that coming. Not this year, anyway. I won't even pretend to explain it.On three other election fronts:1. Mike...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/11/your_source_for_half-baked_pos.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/K7CJrDC51kY/election_nights_arent_the_part.htmlCitizen Patriot - OpinionColumnsBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotTue, 03 Nov 2009 06:12:02 PSTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3868565 ]]>Citizen Patriot file photoTechnology accomplishes wonderful things, but it has bleached the fun out of election nights.When I arrived in Jackson in the 1980s, covering an election night for the newspaper was like going to a party where I had...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/11/election_nights_arent_the_part.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/ZR_WWTS5poc/the_verdict_is_in_call_him_mar.htmlBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotMon, 02 Nov 2009 12:14:03 PSTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3864041 ]]>Name game, part 2: Whoops. Maybe I exaggerated the extent to which State Rep. Martin Griffin of Jackson considers it disrespectful to be identified by his nickname, "Marty."The subject came up because campaign advertisements against Griffin invariably call him "Marty."...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/11/the_verdict_is_in_call_him_mar.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/Pbl2MN6spO4/the_not-so-mysterious_mind_of.htmlColumnsBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotMon, 02 Nov 2009 08:24:32 PSTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3864030 ]]>Secrets of consumer behavior sometimes fail to reach the highest levels of our service economy.One recent Sunday I went into a pharmacy to refill a prescription for antibiotics. It happened to be a Rite Aid pharmacy, but the same thing...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/11/the_not-so-mysterious_mind_of.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/AjB_KNa0pOw/judge_for_yourself_crap_or_not.htmlBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotFri, 30 Oct 2009 18:29:36 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3848925 ]]> Musically yours: A link to the "Our Lady Michigan" video arrived by e-mail today with the comment "may be the worst @#$& ever." I thought the song is arguably overly sentimental but OK. And I like the pictures. Thus...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/10/judge_for_yourself_crap_or_not.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/ghiVq9yoJOY/my_lack_of_sentiment_cannot_be.htmlColumnsBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotMon, 26 Oct 2009 20:06:26 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3826546 ]]>Last week I heard a judge lecture a woman who stole jewelry from relatives."Those things had sentimental value far beyond the weight of the gold," Circuit Judge Chad Schmucker said.The sting and shame of my disease returned right there in...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/10/my_lack_of_sentiment_cannot_be.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/WcZElyYsL7Q/name_your_griffin_martin_or_ma.htmlBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotFri, 23 Oct 2009 14:16:17 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3810649 ]]>Respect and nicknames: In one of his occasional outbursts of complaint against the Citizen Patriot, State Rep. Martin Griffin once accused the paper of intentionally showing him disrespect by calling him "Marty" in print.  Many of Griffin's friends call him Marty,...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/10/name_your_griffin_martin_or_ma.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/Zwh6LVcop_8/jackson_county_fair_has_change.htmlColumnsBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotWed, 21 Oct 2009 20:41:03 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3802043 ]]>A brainstorming meeting Monday to revive the Jackson County Fair brought an unexpected question to mind.What would Herman say?Herman Gumper built Jackson's fair into one of the best in the state as fair manager from 1961 to 1993.Shyness was never...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/10/jackson_county_fair_has_change.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/mNMzuCP-IqI/griffin_and_nofs_together_toda.htmlBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotWed, 21 Oct 2009 12:24:32 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3799422 ]]>Martin GriffinMike NofsJoint appearance: Count me among the people who would have enjoyed being a fly on the wall of my boss's office today.State Rep. Martin Griffin, Jackson Democrat, and former representative Mike Nofs, Battle Creek Republican, made what I...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/10/griffin_and_nofs_together_toda.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/Px3aDoTvhKU/reasons_why_i_shouldnt_run_sta.htmlCitizen Patriot - OpinionColumnsJackson - Special SectionsBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotTue, 20 Oct 2009 05:34:38 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3792406 ]]>If nominated, I will be confused. If elected, I will be a disaster.Today I announce my campaign not to be elected governor of the great state of Michigan!One reason I am unsuited to be governor is I fail to see...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/10/reasons_why_i_shouldnt_run_sta.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/NW-SsvFp6mA/dexter_and_sinister_and_the_ra.htmlBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotMon, 19 Oct 2009 11:54:15 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3789846 ]]> Old Circumspice: For a brief, shining moment, I thought I discovered the elk and moose on Michigan's flag have names. I thought they are named Dexter and Sinister.Michigan has a law, 98 years old, that describes the coat of arms on...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/10/dexter_and_sinister_and_the_ra.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/i64o-I9RJR4/jackson_harness_raceway_its_st.htmlColumnsBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotMon, 19 Oct 2009 10:44:03 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3789627 ]]>Talk about bad timing for Jackson.After 60 years of trotting and pacing, Jackson Harness Raceway closed 10 months before a political initiative that just might have saved it.We’re talking about slot machines again. Except now, the slot machines have grown...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/10/jackson_harness_raceway_its_st.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/LJygXZdTh40/blue_cross_and_cold_cash.htmlBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotFri, 16 Oct 2009 12:03:36 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3775645 ]]>To clarify: I regret leaving one point out of the news story about Allegiance Health's run-in with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.More than one perplexed reader asked how Allegiance can poor-mouth when Blue Cross rates we pay for health...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/10/blue_cross_and_cold_cash.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/Jdbc2ugjBFA/father_and_son_sink_teeth_into.htmlColumnsBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotThu, 15 Oct 2009 08:04:40 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3770432 ]]>It started, as many family battles do, in the bathroom.Just as I finished flossing my teeth and was preparing to brush, my teenager son shot me a startled look.“Wait,” he said, “you floss before you brush? Dude, that’s messed up....http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/10/father_and_son_sink_teeth_into.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/7PWaJ57DzhQ/lies_exaggeration_and_newspape.htmlBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotWed, 14 Oct 2009 11:11:32 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3766627 ]]>The truth about truth: Sometimes people ask if the drivel I write in newspaper columns about my family adventures is really true. The answer is yes. Almost always every word is true. Almost always.But once in a while these family...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/10/lies_exaggeration_and_newspape.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/lSbNV95mPG8/fair_needs_ideas_from_right_he.htmlColumnsBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotMon, 12 Oct 2009 21:22:39 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3760592 ]]>Las Vegas will be a little lonelier over the Thanksgiving weekend this fall.For the first time in decades, no Jackson County government appointees will visit that desert paradise to learn stuff about fairs.The Jackson County Fair really is in crisis...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/10/fair_needs_ideas_from_right_he.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/bdb0qckjZNU/meet_your_new_neighbor_walloon.htmlBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotMon, 12 Oct 2009 10:40:50 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3758139 ]]>Warning! Fake news storyJACKSON, Mich. — Relax, frigid friends and chilly chums because Jackson now has an explanation for all the cold air you've noticed lately.Mayor Jerry Ludwig explains with a jolly laugh."We secretly moved Jackson 230 miles north," Ludwig...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/10/meet_your_new_neighbor_walloon.htmlhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/bradosphere/~3/jWujx0m6yBE/the_problem_with_fair_raises_a.htmlColumnsBrad Flory | Jackson Citizen PatriotMon, 12 Oct 2009 05:44:35 PDTtag:blog.mlive.com,2009:/bradosphere//1583.3757477 ]]>Normally the argument for giving pay raises to Jackson city employees makes perfect sense.City Council laid out the normally sound justification last week when it voted  to boost pay to nonunion workers by 3 percent.Fairness demands raises, the argument goes,...http://blog.mlive.com/bradosphere/2009/10/the_problem_with_fair_raises_a.htmlnonadult