Robert Cunningham writes " Being an active and involved father does make a difference. I am very thankful that now, compared to when I was a child, more fathers want to be actively involved with their children. But does that mean that fathers are simply male mothers? Do they have a distinctive contribution to make? Just as mothers have a distinctive contribution to make. The following is a good attempt to explore this important domain." Interestingly, this report does try to strike a balance between fathers sharing motherhood roles and making their own father-specific contributions as well.

Tonight's chat will be guest moderated by Steve Imparl, who also picked tonight's topic. Steve writes: In William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Anthony declares that the good that men do "is oft interred with their bones." Is this really true? Do our good works live on in our children, our creations, and our interactions with others? Do our good deeds have great value to all of us today and tomorrow? What good deeds are characteristically male actions? This week's chat topic is "The Good that Men Do." We will explore those special things that men offer the world, list them, and consider how to use them in men's activism. The chat begins at 9:30 p.m. ET and may be accessed here. Click "Read More" below for the complete details.

Marc Angelucci writes "The Los Angeles Daily News, which is the biggest competitor of the Los Angeles Times, printed an opinion piece by Glenn Sacks addressing the discrimination that male victims of domestic violence face throughout the County of Los Angeles. It mentions the data, the discrimination, just about everything that can be put in a short opinion piece." This is one of the best examples of careful accuracy and concision in newspaper commentary on these subjects I've seen in a while.

Wendy McElroy examines the other costs of extremist sexual harassment policies on college campuses these days: a rise in tuition. McElroy uses several cases as examples, including one in which California State University at Fullerton was ordered to pay $75,000 to a student whom they basically told to "keep off the grass." The student claimed she was reprimanded because she was female. CSUF is just one school. Sexual harassment policies, procedures, complaints, and lawsuits are ongoing at virtually every university and college in America. No figure exists on how much money harassment suits have collectively cost academia within the last twelve months. Nor is there an estimate on how much tuitions have risen in response.

I know we're not supposed to keep posting articles on Andrea Yates, but this one was far too interesting to pass up. In her latest article Kathleen Parker defends not giving the death penalty to Andrea Yates on the grounds that she was insane (I'm sure we can find a fair few men who got the death penalty for that) she says the tired old line that women do most of the childcare as a seemingly subjective defence, overlooking a father's socializing influence (see here for more info) and his economic contributions to name a few of several factors. However, things get interesting when it's divided down gender lines, I won't spoil it here, but I think most men's activists can spot what's happening.

This story on knoxstudio.com describes how a Bush aide wants to "run with the idea" of paying women an "extra $100 per month" if they marry the fathers of their children. This seems like a desperate attempt to keep the traditional family together, and in the long run it may hurt more than it helps. "Mommy, do you love Daddy?" "No, honey, I'm just in it for the money. Someday YOU can use a man for some extra cash!" Society would be better served by allowing people to remain independent of marriage while supporting fathers in their attempts to be a larger part of their children's lives.

Considering the controversy over boxer Mike Tyson's original conviction of rape in the early 1990s (according to polls I recall from those times, males generally perceived the conviction as a bum rap, females perceived it as justice being served), I thought this story on Excite News was appropriate. A 50-year-old woman recently charged that Tyson raped her while training for an upcoming bout. Prosecutors say there is not enough evidence linking Tyson to the reported crime, and they do not expect things to change, but they're not considering the case closed.

This story on Excite News details new UK guidelines for doctors who are being told they must stop parents from having their female children circumcised. There is no mention of male circumcision anywhere in the story, although male circumcision is obviously more widespread (and, as obviously, more widely accepted). I've always found it interesting that women refer to female circumcision as "genital mutilation" and male circumcision as a "medical procedure."

This story on Excite News reports on a Minnesota wrestling coach who is under scrutiny for "misuse of resources" after he developed a program to fight the gender equity problems caused by Title IX. The coach had managed to gather support and funding from several people and schools before being accused of using school property for personal work.

Marc Angelucci writes "The L.A. Times printed this article today, titled "Moms Are Enough," which essentially says that the success of lesbian parents means dads are not really needed. It's interesting how the author doesn't mention the flipside: the success of gay male parents would mean moms aren't needed. The author also conflates all father's activists with traditional family supporters, which not all of us are. We're just sick and tired of seeing courts blocking fathers from being with their kids. I wrote to them. You can too at letters@latimes.com."

A really passionate article was written on the problems that boys face in the UK Times. While the author writes with a great deal of despair, he accurately describes the many problems that have put boys these days in crisis: suicide, fatherlessness, repression of boys' physical exuberance, etc. Perhaps the article will act as a wake up call to those who claim to care about boys' needs but have taken no action on their behalf as of yet. We can't continue to let things continue this way. The article can be read at this link.

A federal appeals court last week affirmed that the University of Texas failed to take proper action when a male faculty member claimed he was being sexually harassed by a male superior. This story on Excite News details that the man's case was the first to take advantage of the 1998 Supreme Court ruling which established that sexual harassment could take place between members of the same sex.

Anonymous User writes "As if all crimes aren't hate crimes... now we need additional laws to further oppress and strip people of their constitutional rights to appease the radical left. Oppose further dilution of due process and liberty! Be aware of laws like this that pass without opposition!" The link to the story is here. What I'd be curious about is if this law specifically protects women and not men. Certainly, even if it is egalitarian, it will most likely be interpreted in a biased way against men by the courts.

The 8th U.S. Court of Appeals has overturned another court's acceptance of the University of Minnesota's appeal of a sexual discrimination lawsuit filed by a male professor, according to this story on Excite News. Amazingly, one of the university's arguments was that anti-discrimination laws were intended to protect women only! The male professor filed the lawsuit as a result of women-only pay increases after a 1989 sexual discrimination lawsuit settlement. In response to the University's second argument, the appeals court ruled both men and women are protected under sexual discrimination laws. Update: You may e-mail the university's Board of Regents here.

This report on Excite News attempts to remove responsibility for a woman's own sexual choices and place them squarely on the shoulders of her male partners. Men who are bisexual and who do not use protection, the study claims, are directly responsible for an increase in HIV among women. Their solution is to include men in education about condom use. I, for one, had no idea we were being excluded.