Robert Cunningham sent in this link and writes "The following service has just begun in Australia. Men's Line Australia is the first national telephone counselling line for men who want to talk about their family and relationship concerns. It provides information, support and referrals. The service is available 24 hours a day from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call." I'm particularly encouraged to see that the helpline seems focused on helping men who are depressed and/or suicidal. You can click here to find out info on how to support the helpline, by volunteering or donating to them.

Richard Doyle from the Men's Defense Association sent in a short essay about father's rights and families in general. Toward the end, Doyle looks at it from a political perspective, and acts to help inform his political party's members about the need to help families by helping men, particularly by putting men and women on a more equal ground when it comes to the family courts. Read More below for his essay.

Considering that tonight is Halloween night for most people in the U.S, I've decided to skip the chat this week. If you still want to show up, feel free to do so, though. I'm also getting a bit short on chat topic ideas, and would welcome any suggestions - post them as a comment to this story, or e-mail them to me at scott@mensactivism.org.

Warren Farrell did an audio interview with Australia's ABC News, and can be listened to from this page. This was actually the first time I've heard Farrell on the air, and he had quite a bit to say in this interview. He touched upon a few issues related to the options that men have vs. women, the importance of fathers in families, and the contributions of men's style of parenting.

Michael Aiello wrote in to let people know about his web site, DivorcePort.com, which offers news and commentary on men's issues and also coverage on the war on terrorism. Aiello's site gives special attention to cross-cultural gender issues. Check it out.

Barbara Ellen wrote an article for the UK Observer which I believe is meant to be a form of satire. It's an essay on how the world will become without the need for men. She begins by explaining that with new reproductive technologies, men are no longer needed and no one is allowed to have male children - only female. Then men are confined to "man zoos," where they serve as examples of what "women had to put up with" in the past. War has ended, but is replaced by "endless international bitching sessions." In the end Ellen states her belief that this brave new world has not changed for the better, and hopefully by this time built up in the reader a sense of disgust at how people could want to live in such a world - a world without men.

Douglas Rome sent in this story from the UK Observer. It's the story about divorced dads who are alienated from their children. One man was quoted as saying, "I have been to court about 13 times, mostly to try to stabilise the access to my children. I've been in front of nine different judges, none of whom has seen my problem. I feel powerless. I started off seeing my children two or three times a week. Now I see them once a week for four hours, if I'm lucky. I have no overnights, no weekends, no holidays. I'm like an uncle they see occasionally, rather than their father." I'm sure many readers know this kind of pain and frustration.

A woman interested in the masculist anthology Steve Imparl and I are working on sent this link to me today. The site is full of stories and poetry, much of it celebrating men. In fact, there's a section specifically dedicated to celebrating men. I urge you all to check out this site if you need a little inspirational boost in your day.

The National Post reports that a mother who became an international fugitive after she kidnapped her three children from their father (who had full custody) was absolved of those kidnappings by a jury, who found her "not guilty by reason of necessity." The outraged father says that the court has now set a precedent for an "open season" on child abductions by non-custodial parents. I wonder if the same jury would've found not guilty a father in this mother's same situation.

Neil Steyskal sent in another story, this one about the draft. To me the most interesting part was her good summary about the recent history of the draft, and why a constitutional challenge to the all-male draft probably won't hold up this time, since women can and do serve in combat positions today. It's an excellent article.

Neil Steyskal pointed me to this NY Times article (free registration required to read) about intimate partner homicide rates. According to a new CDC study printed in The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the "rate at which men were killed by their wives or companions fell by close to two-thirds over the last 20 years...The rate at which women were killed...also fell, by almost a third....The researchers speculated that the sharper decline in the homicide rate for men was related to various social and legal movements that had given better alternatives to women in abusive relationships."

Glenn Sacks' latest column is being included on Mensactivism.org as our newest feature article. Glenn continues to be the only regularly published columnist in the U.S. who writes about gender issues from a perspective unapologetically sympathetic to men. This time, Glenn researches the declining state of male athletic programs at the CA State University system, and how legal attacks by N.O.W. have destroyed dozens of men's sports at schools around the state. Read More below for his essay.

This page serves as a good guide on how to perform a testicular self-examination, a check which should be done monthly for men 15 years old and older. Early detection is the key to beating this cancer, which is highly treatable when discovered early. Remember, being an activist about your own health is the only way you can stay around to be an activist for men's rights!

Steve writes "So many men spoke up against the idea of Men's Day of Shame, that the lawyer who proposed it had a "week of hell." The story is here." I was seeing a lot of activity about this on the men's rights mailing lists, and all I can say is, awesome job people! This is what should happen when someone makes such a public attack on men and fathers!

A federal court ruled recently that those accused of violating a restraining order cannot be arrested unless the police have determined probable cause for arrest. You'd think this is a basic right but this article from The Massachusetts News explains how men are routinely arrested for 209A violations based only on an accusation. An accusation does not and should not create probable cause. This is definitely a step in the right direction for men's rights, and also civil rights in general.