So Long to the Old Blue License Plates?

There is a bill currently in the State House that would effectively replace our familiar "Old Blue" license plates with lighter-colored plates similar to the other plates currently being sold. The new plates would have a reflective background which makes it easier to see the plate numbers at night. The frontrunner design for the replacement plate would have the white/light-colored reflective background with blue lettering. If the bill were to go into effect, the next time you had to renew your license tabs you would be issued the new plate at no charge. Another benefit to switching plates is to make those with expired or forged blue plates to purchase the new plate and get their vehicles registered. This could mean approximately $15 million in additional revenue.

My wife would be happy if we were forced to switch to a new plate. I kept my first ever license plate and had it transferred to our new vehicle a few years ago. The plate has some chips and rust which, according to my wife, just looks junky. I am not partial to the old style, I just liked knowing one of our vehicles license plate numbers. I still don't have my truck's license plate number memorized and I have had it for five years. :)

For a neat photo that shows what our state's license plates have looked like over the years, view this past post - Wall of Michigan License Plates.

TVs at Secretary of State Broadcasting Ads

A pilot program has begun at 11 Secretary of State branches across the state using 42-inch flat screen tvs to keep waiting customers from becoming bored. Hey! That sounds great! Unfortunately, when I looked into this a bit further it did not look so great. Instead of getting to watch CNN, I Love Lucy reruns, or ESPN, the televisions are broadcasting some artwork from a Detroit artist (cool) and messages from the Secretary of State that tout their various services (ads?).

Wait a minute. You know, this smells like advertising here. Messages from Secretary of State = ads for their services. Who are they kidding? Luckily for us taxpayers, the screens are courtesy of an Ann Arbor company called Digital 10 and we are not footing the bill. Nothing comes free of course. For “allowing” the Secretary of State offices to use the tvs Digital 10 can sell advertising that is then broadcast on these “free” tvs.

I don't understand the claims that this is not advertising. There is talk of national sponsors (sounds like advertising) who will show information on the services they offer (again, this sounds like ads to me). They are calling it “narrowcasting” (narrowed and targeted advertising) because the “data” (this is what they are calling these ads – unbelievable) is shown to a narrow audience.

The thing they are not mentioning is that this “data” is not only being shown to a narrow audience, but to a captive audience as well. To me this is no different than sitting through commercials when you go to the movies. It is not right and it is not fair.

Even worse, you are subjecting paying customers to crummy ads when they are already not happy to be at the Secretary of State and have to wait for so long. Personally, I handle everything I can with the Secretary of State through the internet. When I do have to go (grudgingly) I bring a book.

So, the state had closed numerous branches of the Secretary of State to save money. This means longer lines and wait times for customers. To “help” the customers not get bored they have now decided that subjecting them to ads while they wait would be a real treat.

What do you think? Does this sound good to you? Read the article from the Lansing State Journal.

Weekend Events 3/10-3/12

Enjoy what looks to be a balmy weekend with some of these great events across our state! Cabin Fever Flea Market - Jackson County Fairgrounds Thousands of New & Used Items, buy-sell-trade. Jackson's largest flea market/garage sale event of the year will be held on March 10-11, 2006 at the Events Center within the Jackson Fairgrounds. You can get more details by calling (517) 784-7750.

Home & Garden Show at Ford Field - Ford Field Ford Field is the site for the Annual Ford Field Home & Garden Show on March 10-12, 2006. Over 500 booths filled with new homebuilders, kitchen & bath re-modelers, landscapers, garden centers, seminars and more. You're sure to find something new and some great ideas for your home. Call for more details at (800) 328-6550.

The Michigan Golf Show - Novi Chamber of Commerce The Michigan Golf Show kicks off the season highlighting over 400 exhibitors with great deals on every aspect of the golf game! Retailers! Resorts! Travel Destinations! Over 100 Michigan Golf Courses! And a variety of hands-on activities will get you started for this season. Phone (248) 348-6942

West Michigan Women's Expo, 2006 - DeVos Place DeVos Place is a shopping extravaganza with exhibits relating to natural health remedies and prevention, finance, educational opportunities, family vacations and more on March 10-12, 2006. Call (616) 532-8833 for more details.

3rd Annual Sault Downtown Outhouse Race The 3rd annual Sault downtown outhouse race and cardboard race on Portage Ave. in downtown Sault Ste. Marie from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. Do you have what it takes to be the Big Stinker Champion? Race your outhouse to win the elusive two-holder outhouse trophies! Registration form is on-line. For more information call (906) 635-6973.

Beware of the Coast Guard's Big Guns

Due to its absorption into the Department of Homeland Security the U.S. Coast Guard has additional responsibilities these days. No longer just involved in search and rescue missions or ice-breaking duties, the Coast Guard must now protect our water-lined borders from terrorists and drug/migrant smuggling. To enforce their position the Coast Guard has added M240 mounted machine guns that are capable of firing 600 rounds per minute. Read all about it in the Traverse City Record Eagle.

Current Statewide Gas Price - $2.47

Did you know we are paying over $.40 more per gallon this year than at the same point last year? The price of gas statewide has increased an average of about $.25 in the past two weeks. I filled up my truck two weeks ago for $2.07 for regular unleaded so the increase over here is more like $.40 in the last two weeks. The current prices I have seen all hover around $2.43 per gallon in southwest Michigan. The AAA Fuel Gage Report states that Michigan's average as of today, March 9, 2008, is $2.476. These price trends don't give Michigan's tourism groups much optimism.

It won't be long and the costlier "summer-grade" gasoline will be at the pumps. The "summer-grade" fuel is manufactured to help with pollution problems with the higher summer temps. I don't want to be a pessimist, but I doubt we will see fuel prices below $2.50 this summer here in Michigan.