Michigan Fun for Kids

Did you know that there is a huge amount of fun stuff for kids to do at the www.michigan.gov website? Your kids can learn about Michigan history, outdoors, government, and the many great places to visit across our state. All under the pretense of fun. Isn't it great when kids don't realize they are learning something? The next time there is a rainy day and your kids are bored fire up your computer and head over to www.michigan.gov/mikids/ to find a plethora of information about Michigan for kids. Michigan's DNR also has a great kids website at www.midnr.com/edu/flash/DNRKids/KidsMain.html. Below is a screen shot of their site.

The site contains - coloring pages, jokes, games, as well as links for parents and teachers. Have fun!

Celebrate Michigan Week 5/20 - 5/26

I remember Michigan Week when I was in elementary school. It was the one week out of the school year when all things related to Michigan were crammed into those five days. We learned the state motto, state bird, state tree, etc. I don't know if that is still the case these days. We can still celebrate our great state with some great kickoff events happening across the state this weekend. From the Jonesville Riverfest to the big parade in downtown Lansing you won't be lacking for Michigan celebrations.

A real treat for us in southwest Michigan takes place at the Three Rivers Public Library this Sunday. Gene Scott will be discussing his book, "Michigan Shadow Towns: A Study of Vanishing and Vibrant Villages." I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I will be checking it out on my next visit to the library. The book studies 128 towns across the state of Michigan and their struggle to survive and thrive or to fade into a shadow of their former selves.

Anyway, there are lots of great events taking place around Michigan. For a complete listing of events head over to www.michigan.gov.

P.S. - Does anyone remember that catchy jingle Michigan used in the state advertising campaign - Yes! Michigan! I remember it went something like - Yes, Michigan forever, then I draw a blank. Oh well, thinking of Michigan week brought that little snippet of useless information into my head.

U.P. Paper to be Delivered by USPS

The Ironwood Daily Globe is shifting from traditional paper carriers to the U.S. Postal Service for delivery of the newspaper. The Globe cited troubles with delays and a shortage of carriers which caused people to miss the paper sometimes as the driving force behind the decision. I am writing about this because the only paper I ever received in the mail was the Wall Street Journal and I had not heard of smaller localized papers doing this for their immediate customers. I know you can have other major newspapers delivered through the mail, but the concept of dropping all of your local delivery struck me as interesting.

The upside to this is that the efficient post offices in Michigan's Upper Peninsula stated that they have all mail delivered by 4 pm. Some subscribers wouldn't receive their paper until the evening before this switch was made.

Rising gas prices were making it more and more difficult for the independent contractors who use their own vehicles. The newspaper is paying the carriers a bonus if they continue their route through June 19. Part-time jobs created by the change in the paper's production will be offered to the carriers first out of consideration for their positions being eliminated.

Now, if only my Beaners coffee and Sweetwaters donuts could be delivered in the mail every morning. Man, that would be great! :)

Michigan Flavored Online Auction

Check out www.mlive.com/ebid/ for a wide range of auction items from local Michigan businesses. The Grand Rapids Press, Kalamazoo Gazette, and Muskegon Chronicle are all offering up items from their respective areas. Hurry up and bid now because the auction ends on May 23. From vacation packages to restaurant deals and just about everything in between you are sure to find something that will make you want to place a bid. The items I looked at appear to have a reserve price that seems to hover around 50% of the item's actual value (or regular price). I don't believe anything goes for under $200 so don't think you will pick up anything on the cheap.

Check out the Improved Michigan.gov Website

Michigan.gov has updated their site once again and added numerous new features. Podcasts, blogs, and the ability to view the website on your PDA or cell phone are just a few of the changes that were made. I have visited a lot of other state's websites when I was going to be passing through or visiting that state and I have to say that Michigan's website has always been the best. The "Alerts" page contains everything from weather to Amber alerts. I thought the page was seriously outdated when I saw there was a Winter Storm Warning for Ontonangon. I checked the link and the date is indeed for today, May 10. They could get up to half a foot of snow up there. Sheesh!

I have to say that the blogs and podcasts are quite limited. The only podcast updated with any regularity is the Governor's weekly radio address. I could only find one blog which makes me wonder why the link is entitled "Blogs."

The one blog they have appears to be for the Dept. of Environmental Quality. I have to admit, that is pretty boring. Oh well, less competition for All Things Michigan I guess.

One last cool thing I like about the new content is a Michigan Photo Gallery that allows anyone to submit a photo and have it appear in the gallery on the Michigan.gov website. Again, the amount of content is a bit lacking. There are three photos and one of them is of the Mackinac Bridge and was taken by the MDOT photo lab staff.

Lots of promise with the site and as always there is still a bevy of information there on a number of different topics.

Detroit Zoo Funding Approved

The Detroit News is reporting that the Michigan House approved the $4 million in funding to help run the Detroit Zoo. Since the House made some changes to the bill (it was previously approved by the Senate) it will have to go back to the Senate.