Guest Contributor

Paul Ruschman

Paul Ruschman, Co-Owner Blue Lion Media, LLC (DumpTerryMcauli)

Welcome to my corner of the online world!

I'm a researcher, writer, and editor with 30 years' professional experience. I graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in American Studies, and went from there to the University of Michigan Law School. I've been a member of the Michigan Bar since 1976, and make my home in the Ann Arbor area.

As you might expect, most of my work involves legal issues. I specialize in tracking legislation and preparing analyses of the law on specific topics--for instance, state lemon laws and auto franchise statutes. Many of these analyses cover all 50 states. My audience usually consists of executives and professionals from fields other than law, so I have to "translate" the language of judges and lawyers into plain, comprehensible English.

My research and writing covers a broad range of topics, including "spam", "junk faxes", the auto industry, vehicle and traffic safety, regulation of professional and amateur sports, and consumer lending practices.

As the owner of a consulting business, I've provided services to a variety of organizations: trade associations representing the Big Three automakers and the international auto industry; the University of Michigan; the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Trade Commission; the American Bar Association; and the State of Michigan's court system.

I am the author of seven "Point/Counterpoint" books for Chelsea House Publishers. The books deal with the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana, mandatory military service, the war on terror, regulating indecency, tort reform, media bias, and Miranda rights. Next up: eminent domain and land-use restrictions.

When I am not writing or busy with projects for clients, I travel, attend cultural events, watch college football and major league baseball, read as many books as I can get my hands on.

For most of my life, I've taken a keen interest in politics. In the weeks leading up to the 2004 election, the Detroit News invited me to take part in its political weblog. More recently, I've been keeping a political diary on DailyKos.com, and I am a front-page contributor to MichiganLiberal.com.

Two of my favorite pleasures are visiting new places and sampling great beer. In 2001, I launched BeerFestivals.org, an online calendar of beer tasting events with dozens of beer-related feature articles. And for the last four years, I've written a regular column celebrating the rich lore of beer and the famous places where it's brewed and enjoyed. I'm also the travel editor at All About Beer magazine.

Which brings me to my latest project: a book called "Michigan Breweries, which will be published by Stackpole Books. With me on the book is the world's greatest co-author--my wife, Maryanne Nasiatka. Our editor tells us that the book will hit the shelves any day now.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you take a look around, and I invite you to come back often!

Read Archived Posts by Paul Ruschman

Posted by Guest Contributor at September 5, 2004 04:45 PM