Saturday, March 31, 2012

$25 million for 'Pure Michigan' ad campaign worth every penny

$25 million for 'Pure Michigan' ad campaign worth every penny (editorial with poll) | MLive.com
There is such an ad campaign.
It costs $25 million.
It's worth the money, and your state lawmakers should spend it.

Oakridge teachers 'lose confidence' with superintendent, board fires back

Oakridge teachers 'lose confidence' with superintendent, board fires back | MLive.com
“As a board we are frustrated with the whole situation,” Roomsburg said.
“We’re going on almost two years trying to get the contract settled.
 There’s frustration on both sides.”
Among the issues the employees have are privatization of staff, the refusal to deduct union members’ dues from their paychecks, not awarding “professional advancement” to union members and pursuing fact-finding in stalled contract negotiations.
The board noted in its own press release that state law prevents schools from deducting union dues and from allowing step salary increases due to professional advancement.

.....The latest proposal from the Oakridge administration, from November, includes a 10 percent pay cut.
A proposal from the union on Jan. 19 includes a wage freeze, and sets financial conditions for reopening wage and benefits talks.
The Oakridge school board has pledged not to allow its fund balance to drop below 5 percent of its general fund spending.
That likely will require cuts next year, Livezey said.

Muskegon Heights school review team to meet on emergency manager recommendation

Muskegon Heights school review team to meet on emergency manager recommendation | MLive.com
The team agreed at its last meeting that Muskegon Heights' finances had deteriorated to a point where it needed the powers of an emergency manager to turn around the district.
An emergency manager would be able to nullify contracts and will take control of the district from the school board.

Readers support Norton Shores bike paths, but some want road work done first

Readers support Norton Shores bike paths, but some want road work done first | MLive.com
Reader rivertown was excited for the project:
Make this happen Norton Shores!....Ottawa County has miles of trails mostly funded by grants.

Commenter patio54 liked the idea, but said road work should have a higher priority:
Here's an idea, fix the frigg#n' roads !!
Most of Norton Shores main roads resemble a war zone.
Maybe that will be an asset.
Bike path is a great idea that could follow .
Norton Shores City Council member Jerry Wiersma got into the comment thread to address patio54's concerns:
We have to wait until the state decides when they are going to pitch in for the main roads in the form of a grant.
Norton will be done this year and next, a section of getty will also be done this spring and we are hoping they approve Grand Haven Rd south of Pontaluna soon.
We are doing all that we can, believe me.

Try this public policy: 'You don't work, you don't eat'

Steve Gunn: Try this public policy: 'You don't work, you don't eat' | MLive.com#incart_mce
"You don't work, you don't eat," he told the shocked young lady.
That should be public policy for all able-bodied adults in the United States of America.

Turkey crashes through plate glass window into Roosevelt Park living room

Turkey crashes through plate glass window into Roosevelt Park living room | MLive.com
Monica Merrill was sitting in a recliner about a foot from the window.
“All of a sudden I saw this big black flying blob and before you could distinguish what it was, the window exploded,” she said.

A group of Muskegon citizens plan to force rezoning of Sappi site

A group of Muskegon citizens plan to force rezoning of Sappi site | MLive.com
“It is our understanding legally, (Melching) would still retain their rights to the old zoning,” Brubaker-Clarke said of initial discussions of the legal ramifications of a zone change.
But make no mistake of Page’s intentions.

Michigan voters would have to show photo ID to pick up an absentee ballot under House-approved bill

Michigan voters would have to show photo ID to pick up an absentee ballot under House-approved bill | MLive.com
Rep. Woodrow Stanley, D-Flint, said the legislation will suppress the vote, especially among those who are less likely to have a photo ID, such as elderly or low-income residents.
“Back in another era this would have been called a poll tax, because there is a cost item associated with receiving ID,” he said.
“You’re generally talking about folks who are in some kind of fixed-income situation anyway.”

Muskegon school district finalizing school closure, reorganization plan

Muskegon school district finalizing school closure, reorganization plan | MLive.com
The district is facing a potential $5 million deficit next year and Felske has said he hopes school reorganization can save $2 million.

Bills restricting food stamps for Michigan lottery winners head to Governor's desk

Bills restricting food stamps for Michigan lottery winners head to Governor's desk | MLive.com
The Michigan League for Human Services contends the legislation is unnecessary since the federal government does not require an asset test.
The state operates the federally funded program and shares administrative costs with the federal government.

Image : Alcoa’s eagle cam is up and running

Image : Alcoa’s eagle cam is up and running

Must see!

Muskegon prison picketers protest end of 24-hour perimeter patrols, other cuts

Muskegon prison picketers protest end of 24-hour perimeter patrols, other cuts
Michigan Department of Corrections officials say the end of 24-hour perimeter patrols will save more than $13 million per year, partly by eliminating jobs.
They say the constant patrols are no longer necessary because of technological improvements in recent years with lighting, cameras, motion sensors and electrified fences.

Is Conservatism Our Default Ideology?

Is Conservatism Our Default Ideology? - Miller-McCune
Newly published research proposes a somewhat different, and quite provocative, answer.
................If we don’t have the time or energy to give a matter sufficient thought, we tend to accept the conservative argument.
“When effortful, deliberate responding is disrupted or disengaged, thought processes become quick and efficient,” the researchers write in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
“These conditions promote conservative ideology.”

The definitive proof, settled science!
Plus they "describe four studies that provide evidence backing up their thesis".

Friday, March 30, 2012

Motorcycle helmet repeal receives opposition from Muskegon County lawmakers

Motorcycle helmet repeal receives opposition from Muskegon County lawmakers | MLive.com
State Sen. Goeff Hansen, R-Hart, and state Reps. Marcia Hovey-Wright, D-Muskegon, and Holly Hughes, R-White River Township, opposed the repeal of the long-standing requirement, pointing to safety concerns and the projected increase in cost from injuries.

Violence-Plagued McDonald's Agrees to Step Up Security

Violence-Plagued McDonald's Agrees to Step Up Security | NBC New York
The restaurant will hire a paid detail and make the area safer, according to Brad Hoylman, chair of the local community board.

The "restaurant" will make the area safer?!!!

Why New CDC Numbers on Autism May Not Add Up

Why New CDC Numbers on Autism May Not Add Up - The Daily Beast
What the CDC study doesn’t necessarily show, says Milham, is an increase in actual cases of autism. Rather, it’s possible that “it’s more about our ability to detect new cases.”

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Parents of murdered British students criticise Barack Obama

Parents of murdered British students criticise Barack Obama - Telegraph
His failure to respond to three letters sent to the White House was because there was no "political value" and not worthy of a few minutes of his time.

Obama is acting as if he was a racist hypocrite.
Is he?

WaPo: This Rush Limbaugh boycott has pretty much fizzled, huh?

WaPo: This Rush Limbaugh boycott has pretty much fizzled, huh? « Hot Ai
Limbaugh’s advertising losses may have been less than media accounts suggested.
While more than 100 advertisers told Premiere that they didn’t want to be associated with “controversial” radio programs of any kind in the wake of the flap, some of these companies weren’t regular Limbaugh sponsors in the first place.
Carusone said most of the advertiser exodus over the past month appeared to be among companies whose ads aired only in regional or local markets, he said.
Fewer than five” nationwide sponsors of the program actually pulled out, he said…

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Two decades ago tonight, John Calipari and Rick Pitino had an NCAA battle in Philly few remember

Two decades ago tonight, John Calipari and Rick Pitino had an NCAA battle in Philly few remember | PennLive.com
Calipari, a man who's made a business of staying one step ahead of the NCAA enforcement posse while recruiting every primo sneaker camp phenom he desires.
Two teams at other schools he directed to previous Final Fours (Massachusetts, 1996; Memphis, 2008) have had their achievements stripped and stricken from the record books by the national governing board of college athletics.

Great Lakes residents clash over water levels

Great Lakes residents clash over water levels | MLive.com
Now, U.S. and Canadian officials are considering an audacious and costly effort to control the freshwater seas' ups and downs in a way they never have before.

This ought to scare EVERYONE in W. Michigan!