Detroit Tigers clinch playoff spot for the first time since '87

Hey, I know this isn't a sports blog, but the Detroit Tigers make the playoffs an average of once very 15-20 years so this IS big news in Michigan. Yesterday the Tigers clinched a playoff spot with their 11-4 win over the Kansas City Royals. The last time the Tigers made the playoffs was in 1987 where they lost to the Twins. Oh yeah, that was also the year they traded away John Smoltz for Doyle Alexander. Until this year, the Tigers had pretty much been a baseball laughingstock.

In honor of this historic win I am posting a video of a song Jeff Daniels wrote called "Lifelong Tiger Fan Blues." It's about 5 1/2 minutes long

If the above YouTube player does not work, simply view this video at YouTube here.

Moose on the loose at Northern Michigan University

A moose with the thirst for knowledge paid a visit to the campus of Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan Tuesday evening. The moose was believed to be a young bull moose. The young bull moose wandered onto the campus and even knocked out a ground floor window at Mager's Hall. Officers managed to chase the moose off of campus before any further damage was done (to the campus as well as the moose). The DNR was not surprised to hear about a moose doing such strange things as it is mating season right now.

Just another case of being dumb and in love, I guess.

Read the full story at The Mining Journal.

Expect to see extra State Police patrols this weekend

The Michigan State Police will be out in extra strength for the last holiday weekend of summer (where did summer go?). The drunk driving campaign, "You Drink & Drive. You Lose" will be run by combined efforts of the Michigan State Police and over 500 local law enforcement agencies. Have a fun Labor Day weekend. Be smart and be safe.

State of Michigan website is tops in the country

Well, it has been said here before, but now it is official. Michigan's state website, www.Michigan.gov, was voted as the nation's best by the Center for Digital Government. If you have never checked out Michigan's state website, do yourself a favor and check it out. You will be amazed at the more than 200 services available to you online.

Via WWMT News Channel 3

Introducing a new Michigan web gem

I don't know if any of you have heard of Squidoo or not. Squidoo is a site that lets you build a web page (for free) that focuses on a singular topic (i.e. Michigan). I have created one about Michigan (of course). It can be found at www.squidoo.com/bestofmichigan/.

I currently have a poll up asking this question - "Have you ever been to Michigan's Upper Peninsula?" It never ceases to amaze me the number of folks who live in Michigan and have never visited Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Head on over and place your vote here.

For Instance - When I was at Western Michigan University I was talking with someone about going up to "the bridge" Labor Day weekend. They looked at me like I came from another planet and asked, "what bridge?" Well, I was talking about the Mackinac Bridge and just assumed that anyone from Michigan would know what I was talking about.

Feel free to rate the Squidoo page. In the upper lefthand corner there are 5 stars and you can give it a vote by clicking on any one of the 5 stars. I'll be updating it and filling it with more information on a weekly (or so) basis.

Click here: www.squidoo.com/bestofmichigan/

Ford Motor Company might go private

In order to lick their wounds and circle the wagons, Ford Motor Company is considering going private according to the Detroit Free Press. Apparently this is one of the many scenarios the Ford Family is looking into as a means of making Ford better. Ford has been having financial difficulties ever since they hitched their pony up to the truck and SUV market while neglecting their sedans and small cars. Gas prices skyrocketed and people decided they wanted to get more than 18 mpg. Unfortunately, Ford had not done anything revolutionary with their line of cars and the public spoke with their wallets.

Ford Motor Company stock is currently trading at $7.88 (up $.12). Check the current price at Yahoo Finance. Five years ago Ford stock was trading around $20 per share. I know my father-in-law (and every other Ford employee who took stock options over the years) has taken a hit over the years with his Ford stock.