Michigan

Last Updated: February 24. 2010 12:07PM
DPS privatizing bus service
Plan saves financially strapped school district $50 million; 289 drivers to lose jobs
Tom Greenwood and Oralandar Brand-Williams / The Detroit News
http://detnews.com/article/20100224/SCHOOLS/2240342/1026/DPS-privatizing...
Detroit -- Detroit Public Schools' move to privatize bus service for thousands of students will mean nearly 300 drivers will lose their jobs with the district, but savings of about $50 million over five years.

Releasing a man who raped two 8 year old girls in 1998! What in the hell are they thinking? What other inmates will be free to hurt others again? This is just sick. I can think of other ways to save on the prison budget.. think cable tv, internet, and other luxurys many of us law abiders dont have...
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100224/NEWS02/10...

This interview happened last month and caused a controversy when Shepard Smith said he would burn down the Detroit Public Schools if he was a parent there. Watch the whole segment and you will see where Shepard Smith's outrage is justified, yet this situation occurs here in Toledo. There are still some schools which are failures and continue to be so, yet we have administration and board members who never want to hold these schools accountable. And you know TPS does not want to do anything about problems, the Dan Burns situation indicates they have no clue problems exists and contrary to board members and administration officials wanting to put this behind their back saying things are fixed, they are not and won't be without creating a new proactive system to identify and deal with problems as they come up whether it is academic performance or employees stealing money. Urban schools suffer from a serious case of accountability. If TPS wanted to prove they are going to be proactive in dealing with problems, quickly addressing problem schools is a great place to start because at least they are well documented and known. Our community cannot wait one week more for schools to continually fail.
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Tea Party protesters march outside Cobo

By KATHLEEN GRAY
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
http://www.freep.com/article/20100111/BUSINESS03/100111023/1002/business...
About two dozen Tea Party protesters were demonstrating outside the auto show at Cobo this morning.They showed up to protest the government bailout of General Motors and Chrysler.
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/a-spot-of-tea-vs-a-plea-for-m...

-- Seven months into the massive federal stimulus program, the vast majority of government grants, contracts and loans in Michigan so far have created or retained virtually no jobs, a Free Press analysis shows.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091115/NEWS15/31115000...

50 ideas to fix Michigan
Make state worker compensation average
http://detnews.com/article/20090928/OPINION01/909280302/Make-state-worke...
The Detroit News is highlighting ideas from various groups to promote discussion on reform, restructuring government and the economy.
Make state worker compensation average

Idea 6: Reduce state employee compensation to the average compensation of state workers in the nation or the average of Michigan private-sector workers.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Thousands attend three Michigan tea parties
Delores Flynn and Valerie Olander / The Detroit News
http://detnews.com/article/20090909/POLITICS02/909090352/Thousands-atten...
Troy -- Neither rain nor delays could dampen the spirits of thousands who thronged Tuesday for Tea Party Express rallies in Troy, Brighton and Jackson against big government and national health care reform.

Another doosie of a story on Drudge...kinda makes you wonder what is really in that kool-aide that these people are drinking! And we think that Carty is nuts...Sen Stabenow can feel global warming while flying!?!?

Members of Local 723 United Auto Workers employed at Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance Dundee will hold a "Buy it Here, Build it Here" rally starting at 9 am Thursday in downtown Monroe. Location: St. Mary's Park, 195 W. Elm Ave, Monroe Michigan. Call 734.385.6364

This is one of the smartest books of the decade! It is thoughtful, entertaining and enlightening. Written by an investment industry “insider”, the author reveals industry weaknesses and hidden secrets,-notably how they pile on fee after fee, effectively lowering investor’s returns by up to 80%. I can warmly recommend this book to any person interested in improving the return on his or her investment portfolio performance. Kneisley’s thoughts are in line with academic research.

It's about time these MENTAL RETARDS are finally letting the only sensible option to happen.

U.S. Hopes to Ease G.M. to Bankruptcy
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/01/business/01bankruptcy.html

Now if only we could get all those golden parachutes canceled along with the stupid labor contracts. I had heard that Wagoner's OBSCENE retirement package of $23M would be greatly whittled down in a bankruptcy. That alone makes me happy.

One of the nation's best writers has his say about Detroit, much of it applicable to the Toledo area as well:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/the_bonus/01/07/detroit/in...

This is a politics-free post. It's a distraction from the carnage. :-)

As many of you know, I've been blogging in NW Ohio for many years (since mid-2002).

My most recent blog-based project is a 4 episode video series that chronicles a 1000 mile motorcycle trip through NW Ohio and Lower Michigan.

Day 3 is my favorite. If you don't watch any others, at least watch Day 3.

It took quite a bit of time to edit, but I'm proud of it.

Check it out, and let me know what you think!

DETROIT - General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC have held preliminary talks about a merger or an acquisition of Chrysler by GM, according to published reports.

DEARBORN, Mich. — AAA Michigan says gasoline prices have fallen about 28 cents a gallon over the past week to a statewide average of $3.89.

Gas prices had risen quickly across the country with Hurricane Ike leaving refineries and pipelines idled and destroying offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. But prices eased amid the hurricane cleanup.

It's here, animal lovers! Care2 is proud to announce America's Favorite Animal Shelter contest! Help your favorite animal shelter or rescue group win $10,000 by helping them get the most votes in our new contest!

How the contest works:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Michigan’s image as the world’s automotive capital can be restored under a John McCain presidency, he said yesterday at a campaign rally with running mate Sarah Palin.

Mr. McCain, who visited a Detroit-area General Motors Corp. plant earlier in the day, pledged his support for a loan package for domestic automakers he’d previously looked at with a skeptical eye.

If you did not already see:
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Driving on I-75 will never be the same for Diane and Colleen Grassley of Monroe.

The mother-daughter pair helped television star Ty Pennington Saturday night when he was stranded in Newport near the Swan Creek exit.

He ran out of gas and the Grassleys saved the day.

http://monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080916/NEWS01/109169982