Afflicting the Comfortable: Conservative Peter Kirsanow

Photo credit: beneschlaw.com with permission

President Obama's State of the Union address did not impress Peter Kirsanow.  Nor did it surprise the Cleveland-based labor attorney.

Kirsanow is a member of the U.S.Civil Rights Commission, and has served on the National Labor Relations Board.  He also provided expert testimony on a bill then-Senator Obama sponsored, an encounter that helped shape his opinion of the President. 

In this interview, he shares that story, and explains why he opposes an increase in the minimum wage and providing a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, as supported by the president.

United Way Nears Current Campaign Home Stretch

Photo of Bill Kitson provided by the United Way

The United Way of Greater Cleveland is nearing the end of its current campaign, and President and CEO Bill Kitson says reaching the $42.5 million dollar goal is a struggle. He blames the local job market for the lack of pledges.  The amount pledged this year will be announced at the annual meeting March 7th. 

The United Way recently announced a Community Impact Agenda.  It has identified three key areas of focus for its funding: Education, Income and Health.  Requests for Proposal are now being accepted

St. Rita Math Teacher "Flips" His Classroom

Math teacher Matthew Richards, student Nicole Trimble, her brother Matt Trimble and their mom Wendy

What is a "Flipped Classroom?"  St. Rita Catholic School math teacher Matthew Richards explains in this interview.  Wendy Trimble, the mother of one of Mr. Richards' students testifies to the effectiveness of this high-tech teaching technique.

The interview is timely, coinciding with Catholic Schools Week in the Diocese of Cleveland.

Mr. Richards' "Flipped Classroom" involves a series of videos, posted on you tube and accessible to everyone, so if you want  to brush up on your 7th and 8th grade math, click the link above.
 

Pot No More Dangerous Than Booze? This Dad Disagrees

President Obama's controversial comments about marijuana and alcohol do not set well with Rob Brandt.  The Medina man has established the web site Robby's Voice following the overdose death of his son Robby.

Superman's Doctor Becomes Personal Superman To College Student

Dr. Raymond Onders and Daniel Darkow/Photo credit: UHCMC

Dr. Raymond Onders of Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital and University Hospitals Case Medical Center discusses a procedure known as Diaphragm Pacing System.  It has been used on paralyzed patients with spinal injuries to help them breath without a ventilator. Superman actor Christopher Reeve benefited by DPS and now, so has Daniel Darkow.  The Wright State University student has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and has become the first SMA patient to be assisted by the procedure.

In this interview, Dr. Onders explains how Daniel wound up on a ventilator following a routine procedure, and details his journey from the hospital back to college.

Brad Meltzer Highlights Real Heroes in Children's Books

Author Brad Meltzer has launched a series of children's books, meant to highlight real-life heroes, to counteract the influence reality stars and sports celebrities who make headlines for all the wrong reasons.

The first two books in Brad's Ordinary People Change the World Series are I Am Abraham Lincoln and I Am Amelia Earhart.

In this interview, the prolific author and host of the Decoded series on the Discovery Channel talks about his past best sellers, like Inner Circle and Book of Fate, and the next installment for the new series of children's books, which will feature the story of Rosa Parks.

He also divulges plans to write down the road about Jerry Siegel and Jerry Shuster, the Cleveland teenagers who created superman, and how he helped save the house in Collinwood where the Man of Steel was born.

Baby Boomers Retrain for Encore Careers At Tri-C

Cuyahoga Community College has been awarded a grant to help retrain workers 50 years of age and older.
The Plus 50 Encore Completion Program is a national effort to help baby boomers find jobs in health care, education and social services.

Ronna McNair, Assistant Dean of Student Learning and Career Development at Tri-C explains that the goal is to provide a seamless support system through the Encore program, which is sponsored by the American Association of Community Colleges.

Obamacare Sending More People To Emergency Rooms

Ohio has high quality emergency medicine, at least when compared to the rest of the country, according to the report card just issued by the American College of Emergency Physicians.  Dr. Thomas Tallman, Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Disaster medicine at the Cleveland Clinic explains why Ohio's rank moved from 18th in 209 to 7th last year.

Dr. Tallman also offers his assessment of the effect Obamacare is having on emergency room use.  He says people with insurance purchased on the health care exchanges are turning more to hspital emergency rooms for treatment of various ailments, because an increasing number of health care providers aren't accepting patients with insurance provided under the Affordable care act.

Envisioning a New Concert Venue at Chippewa Lake

Remember Chippewa Lake Park?  A local music promoter envisions returning the old amusement park to its former glory, not as a place for thrilling rides, but as a venue for national music acts.

Scott Jones has named his company Flying Cages, after one of the old rides at Chippewa Lake. In this interview, Scott shares his vision for developing a new outdoor concert venue and campground.

US Coast Guard Veterans of WWII and Their LSTs

Andrew Zimmerman's grandfather served on the most highly-decorated Landing Ship Tank operated by the U. S. Coast Guard during WWII.  His book offers an in-depth examination of what one Navy historian called "the most useful all-around craft invented by the Navy."

We Got Each Other Home also explores the lives of many of the men who served on LST 66, and the duties they performed in service to our country, when our country needed them most.

India Declared Polio Free With Help From Rotary

He holds his index finger an eighth if an inch away from his thumb and says "we're this close" to eradicating polio from the face of the Earth.  But, Mike Johns, past Rotary International Director says we need to finish the job.  Rotary started it in 1978, and since then has vaccinated an estimated two billion children from the crippling disease.

This week, India became the latest country to eradicate polio, when officials there marked the third year without a case of the disease reported.  Rotary International's contribution is acknowledged in this article from The Economist.

Polio is still prevalent in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.  Rotary is hoping to change that with a push to raise $700 million. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has committed to donating two dollars to every dollar Rotary raises, up to $70 billion.

Mike Johns and Jerry Smith, Rotary District 6630 representative of the Rotary Foundation make the pitch in this interview to put an end to polio through Rotary's Polio Plus campaign.  Mike and Jerry are members of the Rotary Club of Cleveland.

Dick Russ Helps Hundreds In New Non-Profit Role

Dick Russ, the former TV news anchor and reporter, is now a Vice President for North Coast Community Homes.  He explains why he left television news almost a year ago, and how North Coast Community Homes is helping hundreds of people in Northeast Ohio.

A Preview of the 2014 NARI Home Improvement Show

The 2014 NARI Home Improvement Show runs from January 23rd to the 26th at the IX Center.  Bradley Stone Industries of Solon is one of the many local home improvement companies being represented at this year's show.  Sarah Binder, Marketing, Sales and Design Consultant for Bradley Stone talks to Jim about the 2014 NARI Home Improvement Show, including an appearance by HGTV's Kitchen Cousins on Satruday, January 25th.

Paramjit Singh Sings And is a Sikh Who Seeks Peace

Paramjit Singh is a Sikh who seeks peace.  The Cleveland-based consultant and engineer works with the Cleveland Coalition for Peace and Non-violence to make Cleveland a safe place to live. 

In this interview, Mr. Singh explains the basic tenants of Sikhism, the fifth-largest faith in the world with 20 million adherents worldwide. And he asks you to sign the cyber wall of non-violence, as a pledge for peace.  So far, more than 870 people have signed the wall.

 Listen to the end of the interview for his love song to Cleveland.  It turns out, Mr. Singh sings!

Cleveland Foundation Celebrates Centennial With Gifts

   

 The Cleveland Foundation is celebrating its centennial year not by receiving gifts for its 100th birthday, but by giving away "Cleveland Foundation Day" gifts to the community.

The Cleveland Foundation was the first and remains one of the largest community foundations, distributing $1.7 billion over the years. Executive Vice President Bob Eckardt explains in this interview that different gifts will be given away each month this year, beginning with free rides on all RTA buses and trains on Thursday, January 16.

Lauren Lanphear, Third Generation President of Forest City Tree Protection

Lauren Lanphear and Jim McIntyre

How has the brutal cold affected the plants and trees in your yard?  Lauren Lanphear, third generation owner of Forest City Tree Protection tells us what to look for as spring approaches.

Lauren also runs an Upward Sports youth basketball league for players from kindergarten age to sixth grade.  Based at the Church of the Savior, a Methodist Church in Cleveland Heights.

12-Year Old Author Writes and Publishes His First Book

Aiden Shugert with Jim McIntyre

12-year old Aiden Shugert of Broadview Heights figured it out. He self-published a book, a collection of short stories he has written and titled The Marvelous Misadventures of the Fab Five.

He explains the process, and promotes a writing workshop he is hosting Sunday, January 12, to teach aspiring writers ages 8-14 how to get the idea out of their heads.

Avoiding Hypothermia and Frostbite With A Cell Phone

Dr. Carol Cunningham is Medical Director of Ohio Emergency Medical Services.  She lives in the heart of the snow belt, Kirtland, Ohio and works for Akron General Health System.

With the coldest temperatures in years gripping Northeast Ohio, Dr. Cunningham offers advice on avoiding hypothermia and frostbite, and tips on how to treat cold weather-related maladies.  She advises everyone, especially the elderly to carry some kind of communication device outdoors, even when performing seemingly innocuous tasks.

With subzero temperatures, it takes no time at all to fall victim to the cold.

Helping The Homeless Find Shelter From the Cold

Why would anyone refuse shelter in record cold?  Brian Davis of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless answers that question early in this interview.

There is enough space for anyone who needs it in the 19 shelters in Cuyahoga County.

Roizen and Oz Add Videos To "You The Owner's Manual"

It was their first book project, and it has now been enhanced to include videos you can access on your smartphone.  Dr. Roizen says it's just the second book ever published with the interactive feature.

In this wide-ranging interview, Dr. Roizen discusses his real age (48) compared to his biological age (almost 67) and how you can determine your real age, why getting a flu shot can reduce your risk of death by 50%, and why size matters for only one organ of the body.

Think Baseball Like Mike Brandyberry Does...Every Day

Mike Brandyberry is a high school English teacher with a passion for baseball, specifically Cleveland Indians baseball.  He and several others who share his passion cover the Tribe on the website did the tribe win last night.com.

Mike has also developed a companion blog that follows the Indians' 1948 season, the last time they won the world series.  He and a couple of other writers send out tweets about each game during that season, as if they were covering it back then.

Sound complicated?  Mike explains it all in this interview. 

Nathan Putrich: Hope For the Future From A Home Schooled Student

Nathan Putrich is an extraordinary young man who graduated from high school last June, and is currently an intern with the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. It is just one of many extracurricular youth activities Nathan has been involved with, as he explains in this interview.  It's one of my favorite interviews of 2013.

Nathan plans to attend a bible college for a semester in Hungary next year, and plans to major in Political Economy and Business when he returns to the U. S. He hopes to be a U. S. Senator someday, and when you listen to this interview, you won't doubt he can do it.

Hugh Hewitt Writes About Having The Happiest Life

Hugh Hewitt/Photo credit: Salem Communications

The Happiest Life is the name of Hugh Hewitt's new book.  Subtitled  Seven Gifts, Seven Givers, and the Secret to Genuine Success, Hugh identifies seven qualities that help define one's life, and the seven relationships in our lives that inform those qualities.

In this interview with Jim, Hugh discusses the book and his northeast Ohio roots. And he names three geniuses he has known in his life, names you know but may surprise you.