Court orders state to tighten 'factory farm' regulations - mlive.com: "The 200 concentrated animal feeding operations in Michigan, known as CAFOs, collectively generate more than 4 billion pounds of manure annually, according to state data. Nearly all of that manure is spread, untreated, on farm fields. The practice can pollute nearby streams with harmful bacteria.
There are at least 16 CAFOs in West Michigan. Several of the massive livestock operations, including den Dulk Dairy Farms in Ravenna and Ryzebol Dairy in Bailey, have been cited by the state in recent years for pollution violations"
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Divided council rejects lake taxing board - mlive.com
Divided council rejects lake taxing board - mlive.com: "A divided Norton Shores City Council rejected creation of a Mona Lake taxing district Wednesday -- shocking supporters who said the health of the lake and the channel to Lake Michigan will suffer without stable funding."
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Deal afoot to alter Klamath for users - OregonLive.com
Deal afoot to alter Klamath for users - OregonLive.com: "A unique gathering of government agencies, Native Americans, farmers and fishermen Tuesday proposed removing four dams on the Klamath River, with a cornucopia of benefits running to river users ranging from $80 million to tribes to guaranteed irrigation water for farmers.
Yet the linchpin of the historic deal -- an agreement from Portland-based PacifiCorp to remove its four dams -- is missing.
Also absent are agreements from Oregon, California and Congress to pay nearly $1 billion in costs."
Yet the linchpin of the historic deal -- an agreement from Portland-based PacifiCorp to remove its four dams -- is missing.
Also absent are agreements from Oregon, California and Congress to pay nearly $1 billion in costs."
Men's 'sexually harassing' hairy chests get under gals' skin - Mainichi Daily News
Men's 'sexually harassing' hairy chests get under gals' skin - Mainichi Daily News: "Once a symbol of virility, hairy chests now gross out enough Japanese to see their exposure judged as a form of sexual harassment, according to Sunday Mainichi (1/27).
Earlier this month, East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) banned the display of a poster advertising the 1,000-year-old Somin Festival because it featured a photo of a loincloth-clad man with a bare but hairy chest.
JR East said it couldn't let festival organizers display the poster because it was sexually harassing in that many women were likely to find it offensive."
Earlier this month, East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) banned the display of a poster advertising the 1,000-year-old Somin Festival because it featured a photo of a loincloth-clad man with a bare but hairy chest.
JR East said it couldn't let festival organizers display the poster because it was sexually harassing in that many women were likely to find it offensive."
Jackson Hole energy pigs report consumption
Jackson Hole energy pigs report consumption: "He and his family talk about the energy question and his teenage son is part of the Jackson Hole Middle School Global Warming Hero League, a group of students raising awareness about climate change and its causes.
He said how energy impacts the environment is “something our family talks about a lot.”
As a member of the generation that helped build the valley economy and as a person who relied on petroleum to power his American Dream, Leeds now feels what some call “carbon guilt.”
“I have quite a bit of guilt as a member of a particular age group that is looking at passing on this sorry situation to these middle schoolers,” Leeds said."
He said how energy impacts the environment is “something our family talks about a lot.”
As a member of the generation that helped build the valley economy and as a person who relied on petroleum to power his American Dream, Leeds now feels what some call “carbon guilt.”
“I have quite a bit of guilt as a member of a particular age group that is looking at passing on this sorry situation to these middle schoolers,” Leeds said."
Jackson Hole energy pigs report consumption
Jackson Hole energy pigs report consumption: "Lower Valley customers who don’t buy green power may find it difficult to determine the source of their electrons. The company buys electricity from Bonneville Power Administration, which generates energy with nuclear plants and dams centered around the Snake and Columbia river drainages. In one sense, when valley residents toast bread in the morning they generate nuclear waste and impede salmon runs."
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
'just when I had given up'
The Columbus Dispatch : Passer-by rescues motorist 'just when I had given up': "'I've got to turn around and at least go check,' Brown told himself."
Obama-Farrakhan connection?
The Volokh Conspiracy : "Barack Obama is a member of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ. Its minister, and Obama's spiritual adviser, is the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. In 1982, the church launched Trumpet Newsmagazine; Wright's daughters serve as publisher and executive editor. Every year, the magazine makes awards in various categories. Last year, it gave the Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Trumpeter Award to a man it said 'truly epitomized greatness.' That man is Louis Farrakhan."
"I.D.?" "We don't need no stinkin' ID!"
So much for "photo ID" necessary to vote in the Michigan primary.
I just voted and told the nice octogenarian lady that I had no photo ID.
"No problem, sir. Just fill out this form"
I only had to fill out a small form with "my" name, "my" address and "my" date of birth.
I then signed "my" name attesting that I had was "not in possession of" picture ID.
It was in my car.
"GordoM"-vote-early-and-often
Muskegon Heights endorses taxing board for Mona Lake
Norton Shores is going to get in bed with these same "water crooks" again?
And check out who will sit on the board that will spend the money!
City endorses taxing board for Mona Lake: "The Muskegon Heights City Council Monday voted unanimously to support efforts to create a board that would levy taxes for environmental improvements to Mona Lake.
The council still needs to schedule a public hearing before the new taxing district could be formed. The Norton Shores City Council has also endorsed formation of the lake board and set a public hearing for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Norton Shores Public Library, 705 Seminole."
The Mona Lake Watershed Council and the Mona Lake Improvement Association have been studying the issue for a year. Their proposal would raise about $90,000 annually over five years for weed reduction, dredging and other improvements. Most of the 500 affected property owners and those with lakefront lots would pay $200 annually under the proposal. An estimated 95 property owners with deeded access but no frontage would pay 25 to 50 percent of that.
The new Mona Lake Board would be composed of representatives from Norton Shores, Muskegon Heights, the county drain commissioner's office and the Muskegon County Board of Commissioners, and a resident.
And check out who will sit on the board that will spend the money!
City endorses taxing board for Mona Lake: "The Muskegon Heights City Council Monday voted unanimously to support efforts to create a board that would levy taxes for environmental improvements to Mona Lake.
The council still needs to schedule a public hearing before the new taxing district could be formed. The Norton Shores City Council has also endorsed formation of the lake board and set a public hearing for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Norton Shores Public Library, 705 Seminole."
The Mona Lake Watershed Council and the Mona Lake Improvement Association have been studying the issue for a year. Their proposal would raise about $90,000 annually over five years for weed reduction, dredging and other improvements. Most of the 500 affected property owners and those with lakefront lots would pay $200 annually under the proposal. An estimated 95 property owners with deeded access but no frontage would pay 25 to 50 percent of that.
The new Mona Lake Board would be composed of representatives from Norton Shores, Muskegon Heights, the county drain commissioner's office and the Muskegon County Board of Commissioners, and a resident.
Should Michigan Really Matter to Candidates?
Newsmax.com - Should Michigan Really Matter to Candidates?: "While America mostly prospered from 2000 until 2007, Michigan lost 400,000 jobs and stands to lose another 51,000 in 2008, according to University of Michigan economists.
The reason why Michigan “artificially had a recession,” former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Sunday, is “because its government is so bad, its taxes are so high, its unionized work rules are so destructive . . .”"
The reason why Michigan “artificially had a recession,” former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Sunday, is “because its government is so bad, its taxes are so high, its unionized work rules are so destructive . . .”"
Michigan can't fix Michigan?
Detroit Free Press tells us it's not our fault, there's nothing we can do to make our state better.
ELECTION 2008: STEPHEN HENDERSON: The next president must pay attention to our problems: "But the payoff for Michigan won't come until there's a president who 'gets it' on the troubles facing U.S. manufacturing in general and the auto industry in particular, and is willing to focus on those issues, something Washington has barely done for eight years."
STEPHEN HENDERSON is the deputy editor of the Free Press editorial page.
ELECTION 2008: STEPHEN HENDERSON: The next president must pay attention to our problems: "But the payoff for Michigan won't come until there's a president who 'gets it' on the troubles facing U.S. manufacturing in general and the auto industry in particular, and is willing to focus on those issues, something Washington has barely done for eight years."
STEPHEN HENDERSON is the deputy editor of the Free Press editorial page.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Thank God!
Do our children really need another school that denigrates reading, writing and arithmetic?
Please, let us just educate our children!
World school response remains flat - mlive.com: "A lack of public input is threatening plans to establish a bilingual 'International School' in Muskegon that officials believe could give students a competitive advantage."
Please, let us just educate our children!
World school response remains flat - mlive.com: "A lack of public input is threatening plans to establish a bilingual 'International School' in Muskegon that officials believe could give students a competitive advantage."
Dang!
Imagine if this was an "urban" format station?
We'd have national news AND national stars right here in Muskegon!
AM radio station WMHG, 'Timeless Favorites,' silenced - mlive.com: "WMHG was an automated, satellite-feed station. Its music format, from the ABC Radio Network, broadcast a middle-of-the-road oldies format that featured hits of such artists as Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. The format began as 'Stardust' in 1998 and in 2007 became known as 'Timeless Favorites.'"
We'd have national news AND national stars right here in Muskegon!
AM radio station WMHG, 'Timeless Favorites,' silenced - mlive.com: "WMHG was an automated, satellite-feed station. Its music format, from the ABC Radio Network, broadcast a middle-of-the-road oldies format that featured hits of such artists as Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. The format began as 'Stardust' in 1998 and in 2007 became known as 'Timeless Favorites.'"
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Hypocrite alert!
Survey shows eco-warriors are worst polluters:
A survey of travel habits has revealed that the most environmentally conscious people are also the biggest polluters.
'Green' consumers have some of the biggest carbon footprints because they are still hooked on flying abroad or driving their cars while their adherence to the green cause is mostly limited to small gestures."
A survey of travel habits has revealed that the most environmentally conscious people are also the biggest polluters.
'Green' consumers have some of the biggest carbon footprints because they are still hooked on flying abroad or driving their cars while their adherence to the green cause is mostly limited to small gestures."
See the GOP candidates!
What, no demos in our state?
MI GOP Presidential Primary Events Calendar: "The Michigan Republican Presidential Primary is Tuesday, Jan. 15.
"Is Sak bored or brain dead?"
Custody fights extend to the family pet - Muskegon Chronicle - MLive.com: "Okay, maybe it's just me, but this strikes me as worse than useless and silly,' Plymouth attorney James P. Ryan, former chair of the State Bar's family law section, wrote on an Internet listserv that goes to some 800 lawyers and judges. 'Part-time legislature, anyone? P.S.: Remember to have your clients count all the fish.'"
......the Grand Rapids Democrat introduced a bill dictating how custody of dogs, cats, gerbils and other pets is to be decided.
That touched off a flurry of comments from other family law specialists including this one from Marshall attorney Lisa McNiff: "Is Sak bored or brain dead?"
Disputes over pets arise "very, very rarely," Kent County Circuit Judge Nanaruth Carpenter said, and, when they do, the parties usually work it out.
"I'm not saying pets are unimportant by any means," Kent County Circuit Judge Mark Trusock said, but "the last thing I want to do is take up the court's time for the custody of a dog. We need to make things simpler, not more complex."
Besides, he said, "There are so many issues I think our legislators could be dealing with," such as balancing the state budget and stopping the loss of jobs.
Sak, speaker pro tem of the House, responded: "We have and will continue to address those issues. Maybe we'll revisit the issue of judicial salaries and pensions," he said, then added, "I'm being humorous."
Before introducing the bill, he did not check with lawyers and judges who handle divorces, Sak said, but he added, "I'm going to vet it through our court system," apparently not intending a pun.
......the Grand Rapids Democrat introduced a bill dictating how custody of dogs, cats, gerbils and other pets is to be decided.
That touched off a flurry of comments from other family law specialists including this one from Marshall attorney Lisa McNiff: "Is Sak bored or brain dead?"
Disputes over pets arise "very, very rarely," Kent County Circuit Judge Nanaruth Carpenter said, and, when they do, the parties usually work it out.
"I'm not saying pets are unimportant by any means," Kent County Circuit Judge Mark Trusock said, but "the last thing I want to do is take up the court's time for the custody of a dog. We need to make things simpler, not more complex."
Besides, he said, "There are so many issues I think our legislators could be dealing with," such as balancing the state budget and stopping the loss of jobs.
Sak, speaker pro tem of the House, responded: "We have and will continue to address those issues. Maybe we'll revisit the issue of judicial salaries and pensions," he said, then added, "I'm being humorous."
Before introducing the bill, he did not check with lawyers and judges who handle divorces, Sak said, but he added, "I'm going to vet it through our court system," apparently not intending a pun.
Air force Thunder Birds to return to Battle Creek air show
T-Birds to return to Battle Creek air show: "BATTLE CREEK -- A U.S. Air Force flight group will return to Battle Creek this summer.
The Thunderbirds will appear at this year's Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival July 2-6."
The Thunderbirds will appear at this year's Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival July 2-6."
WZZM13 - A primary primer
WZZM13 - A primary primer: "You want to vote for Hillary Clinton, Mike Gravel or Dennis Kucinich."
Geezer blog
The Life of Riley: "OLIVE’S FIFTY FOURTH POST
For those who don’t know our marvelous super-centenarian, Olive Riley,
(a super centenarian is someone over 105. Olive is well her way to 109)
here is Olive singing her most cheerful song."
For those who don’t know our marvelous super-centenarian, Olive Riley,
(a super centenarian is someone over 105. Olive is well her way to 109)
here is Olive singing her most cheerful song."
NYT lies about our troops AGAIN!
Winds of Change.NET: The Media Does It Again: "Damn, is it that hard for reporters and their editors to provide a little bit of context so we can make sense of the anecdotes? It's not in Part 1 of the article. And I'll bet it won't be in the future articles, either.
Because it's not part of the narrative of how our soldiers are either depraved or damaged."
Because it's not part of the narrative of how our soldiers are either depraved or damaged."
Capitalism, not government, the real 'agent of change' |
Capitalism, not government, the real 'agent of change' : "In 2006 EMI, the world's fourth-biggest recorded-music company, invited some teenagers into its headquarters in London to talk to its top managers about their listening habits. At the end of the session the EMI bosses thanked them for their comments and told them to help themselves to a big pile of CDs sitting on a table. But none of the teens took any of the CDs, even though they were free.'"
Anti-war Soros funded Iraq study
Anti-war Soros funded Iraq study- Times Online: "A STUDY that claimed 650,000 people were killed as a result of the invasion of Iraq was partly funded by the antiwar billionaire George Soros.
Soros, 77, provided almost half the £50,000 cost of the research, which appeared in The Lancet, the medical journal. Its claim was 10 times higher than consensus estimates of the number of war dead.
Soros, 77, provided almost half the £50,000 cost of the research, which appeared in The Lancet, the medical journal. Its claim was 10 times higher than consensus estimates of the number of war dead.
Romney leads McCain in Michigan poll
Romney leads McCain in Michigan poll: "Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who badly needs to win Tuesday's Michgian primary, has an 8-point lead over Sen. John McCain of Arizona in a McClatchy/MSNBC poll of Michigan voters to be released Sunday.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
ABC News: The Rezko Connection: Obama's Achilles Heel?
ABC News: The Rezko Connection: Obama's Achilles Heel?: "In sharp contrast to his tough talk about ethics reform in government, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., approached a well-known Illinois political fixer under active federal investigation, Antoin 'Tony' Rezko, for 'advice' as he sought to find a way to buy a house shortly after being elected to the United States Senate."
A Spot Check of Global Warming - TierneyLab - Science - New York Times Blog
A Spot Check of Global Warming - TierneyLab - Science - New York Times Blog: "Dr. Pielke calls it “a feast for cherrypickers.” In the Prometheus blog, where you can read the details of his computations, he writes: “One can arrive at whatever conclusion one wants with respect to the IPCC predictions. Want the temperature record to be consistent with IPCC? OK, then you like NASA. How about inconsistent? Well, then you are a fan of RSS. On the fence? Well, UAH and UKMET serve that purpose pretty well.”"
Big Sale!
Brooks Brothers?
Brooks Brothers Black Fleece Classic Wool Jacket: "Classic Wool Jacket
Strong, closely-woven plain weave fabric, usually made from cotton, linen or hemp. Originally used to make sails.
Boiled wool. Full canvas construction. 3-button, double back vent. Locker loop at back neck. Sterling silver buttons. Fully lined with signature stripe lining. Made in Italy. Dry clean only. Cover all buttons before cleaning.
Reg. $2500.00 Sale: $1250.00"
GordoM-would-get-one-but-it's-dry-clean-only
Brooks Brothers Black Fleece Classic Wool Jacket: "Classic Wool Jacket
Strong, closely-woven plain weave fabric, usually made from cotton, linen or hemp. Originally used to make sails.
Boiled wool. Full canvas construction. 3-button, double back vent. Locker loop at back neck. Sterling silver buttons. Fully lined with signature stripe lining. Made in Italy. Dry clean only. Cover all buttons before cleaning.
Reg. $2500.00 Sale: $1250.00"
GordoM-would-get-one-but-it's-dry-clean-only
Progressive Blogmeister To His Troops: Vote for Mitt! | Threat Level from Wired.com
Progressive Blogmeister To His Troops: Vote for Mitt! Threat Level from Wired.com: "Superstar blogger and progressive political activist Markos Moulitsas Zuniga on Thursday urged his netroots compatriots in Michigan to vote for Mitt Romney next Tuesday."
Public channel TV viewers will need to convert - mlive.com
Public channel TV viewers will need to convert - mlive.com: "People have to state they want it for public education/government channels,' she said."
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