The iFeminists.com web site had an article by Wendy McElroy about battered men. It discusses the uphill battle male victims of DV and their supporters have to climb in order to get help and recognition by society, and mentions the recent battered men conference which was held in Portland, ME. From the article: "For self-interested reasons, many women's shelters continue to deny that men comprise a significant portion of those victimized by domestic abuse. Their funding depends on the denial...The only right abused men seem to have retained in full is the right to remain silent."

John Leo's column in U.S. News and World Report covers the IWF's feminist myth-busting ad, and serves as yet more embarrassing coverage to colleges and universities which no longer tolerate free speech and open inquiry. Leo analyzes the attacks on the ad, noting that the tactics of campus feminists are to portray the ad as creating a hostile environment for women, and trying to shift the perception of the ad as an issue of free speech to one of violent speech. Leo then quotes Stanley Kurtz with, "Once words we don't like have been equated with acts of violence, there's no place left for free speech." I thought this was a great article for making this issue more explicit.

Nightmist writes "This foolish article in the Christian Science Monitor attempts to defend negative portrayals of men in modern advertising as a way of attracting male buyers to products, and that men aren't offended by such ads, but use them as excuses to be stupid. One moron quoted in the article says the ads resonate with women, too, because "Women know a lot of stupid men." Newsflash, jerk, I've known many a stupid woman in my time."

Terence Hallinan, who is considering running for mayor in San Fransisco, has explicitly stated that he wants the "charge count" on domestic violence cases increased - "We've got to do better even if it means tightening up the charging criteria" he said. In response, a police officer was quoted as saying, "It's B.S...the cases are just going to get tossed [out of court] anyway." What is most frightening about this is that due to the highly political climate around domestic violence, his chances of winning the mayor seat are benefiting from this. The story is the second topic covered in this column from the San Fransisco Gate.

Nightmist writes "This story on EurekAlert details how teachers for children in low-income, at-risk households were routinely ignoring the role and interest of fathers (or father figures) in the educational development of such children. After some study and sensitivity training for the teachers, they began to include fathers more. The misperception among teachers, according to the study, is that most of these children have no fathers."

Nightmist writes "The Washington Post is reporting in a news brief that "Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and a civil rights group announced the creation yesterday of a Commission on Black Men and Boys in the District to find services to combat joblessness, crime, illness and family dysfunction that disproportionately strike African American men." This program is reportedly the first of its kind for D.C."

Nightmist writes "This frightening article posted on Excite claims that a common treatment for prostate cancer is causing loss of bone mass to accelerate in men. Bone loss which would normally occur within 10 years occurs within one year of starting the treatment. The treatment suppresses testosterone, which is responsible for spurring growth of prostate tumors, but is also responsible for healthy bone mass."

Nightmist writes "LA's Second Annual Champions For A Cure Run/Walk is scheduled for the day before Father's Day. Says the article: "The event will be hosted by sports legend Wayne Gretzky and is expected to draw thousands of Los Angeles area residents to participate in the 10K/5K Run/Walk, the 1K "Kids Dash For Dad" and the Interactive Sports Festival."" Registration information for the event is included in the article - please consider attending or participating if you're in the area.

Nightmist writes "Research by Finnish scientists claims that eating fatty fish like salmon and mackerel may significantly reduce a man's risk of getting prostate cancer. "The men who ate no fish had a two-fold to three-fold higher risk of prostate cancer than those who ate moderate or high amounts," one researcher said. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Swedish men."

Nightmist writes "This column on Excite is no doubt meant to be humorous, but it also points out some very real frustrations for males who date females. As the author says, "And that's when I came to a shocking conclusion: We're not equal. Somewhere along the way, we poor men got the short end of the deal."" This was a great column to see being printed in a campus newspaper - a young man coming to the revelation that women and men are equal, until it comes to paying for dates, initiating relationships, etc.

New Hampshire's Portsmouth Herald printed a front page story about the proposed Commission on the Status of Men in NH, which has passed the House stripped of the program's funding and is headed for the Senate. The article outlines many of the findings of the research group which proposed the commission, listing several key areas where men are not doing well, including health issues, fatherlessness, and education. FYI, the legislative report can be downloaded here.

Now there's a headline for you. :) Nightmist writes "This article on Excite explains how several young Colombian women have been rubbing narcotics on their breasts, then luring male victims to lick them. The men are rendered unconscious and then robbed. On rare occassions, the article says, victims of this type of drugged robbery have died."

Nightmist writes "From time to time, I e-mail various corporations about their advertising campaigns. If I find a campaign particularly offensive to men, I send a scathing e-mail. If I find a campaign presenting men in a rare positive light, I will send a congratulatory e-mail. Recently, I sent one of each to Tylenol. Click "Read More" below for the results of those letters."

This article from the New York Times (free registration required to read) was announced on the Men's Health America mailing list. The story is about a report that H.I.V. infections among young black gay men in large cities is dramatically above the rates for young white men - up to six times as much. The report should expose the need for more aggressive screening and educational programs about H.I.V, and "that programs for black men "must address the stigma of homosexuality which prevents many of these men from identifying themselves as gay and bisexual and may keep them from accessing needed prevention and treatment services.""

Marc Angelucci writes "The Pasadena Star News printed my letter responding to their editor's downplaying of male victims of DV. In the original editorial in which the editor belittles the numbers, the editor made a fool of himself because he assumed the National Institute of Justice was some crazy advocacy group and he said "something called the National Institute of Justice says . . ." When I pointed this out to him and showed him the data, he became upset and evasive, called it "nutty," and said "I don't believe your data." (As though it were "my" data and not the National Institute of Justice's data.) I think he's just upset that he made himself look like a fool." Update: I've fixed the link to the story. Another update: But now it's broken again! Read More to view instructions on how to access it.