Detroit Wonk's Thoughts About Tiger Stadium

Chris over at the Detroit Wonk blog has an interesting post asking Could Tiger Stadium Have Been Saved? Here's my previous post regarding my thoughts about the possible demolition of Tiger Stadium

MiPC Program Gives Michigan Residents Computer Deals

The MiPC (pronounced My-PC, how cute) program is intended to get more Michigan residents up to speed in computer usage. The program is accepting bids and will announce the pricing and packages in May or June. No state funding is involved in creating the reduced prices. As Michigan struggles to become technology focused, Governor Granholm's administration has created MiPC to make it possible to place computers in more Michigan households. Most jobs in the future will require some form of computer knowledge and Michigan residents need to develop an edge in that arena. I like the theory behind this program and especially the fact that taxpayer dollars are not being used to finance the computer discounts. The discounts depend on the bids that the state has sent out.

On Tap for the Weekend - 3/24-3/26

Here are some select events taking place this weekend. There are many things happening around Michigan and these are just a few. Have a great weekend! Listening to the Past - Michigan Historical Museum Hear fun stories from the past from people who were there, learn games from the past and play with the toys that were used 150 years ago, try foods from the past and tour the museum. $5 per child, no charge for chaperons. Hours 10am - 3pm. Phone (517) 241-4060.

Native Americans on the Great Lakes Day - Michigan Maritime Museum, South Haven Explore Native American traditions through song, dance, and stories. Free to the public. Boat Shed and Museum campus from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. Family program. No admission. For more information, call (800) 747-3810.

Annual Ann Arbor Pow Wow - Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor A Native American celebration of spring featuring dancers, drum groups and food and craft vendors. 10,000 spectators from all over the US and Canada. All are welcome. Phone for more detail (734) 647-6999

Kalamazoo Antique Show - Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds A great collection of true antiques will be on display on March 25-26, 2006 with dealers from all over Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan selling their prize items. Show hours are from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday and 9 am to 3 pm on Sunday. For more details, Please call (517) 784-4608.

Klondike Canoe Race - Oscoda Hardy paddlers set out in the kickoff race of the Michigan Canoe Racing Association season on March 25-26, 2006. Call (989) 739-9231 for more details.

Getting Sappy Makes me Happy

I love maple syrup. My pancakes become rafts floating in a carmel colored pool of sweet sticky goodness. You can keep your jams and other fruit-flavored syrups. I'll take mine with maple, thank-you. Call me old-fashioned or plain. I don't mind. To me, nothing tastes as good on pancakes as pure Michigan Maple Syrup. Yum!

Another breakfast use for maple syrup that I enjoy is putting it on my oatmeal with a little brown sugar. You can probably call me old-fashioned for eating regular oatmeal, too.

Did you know maple syrup was the sweetener of choice for Michigan's Native Americans? They had figured out how to boil it down and concentrate the sweetness. It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup. So, in case you thought you could go out in your yard and tap a couple of your maples to save some money, you better think again. You need a large grove of sugar maple trees (called a sugar bush) to collect enough sap for making maple syrup.

Here are some maple syrup facts courtesy of the Michigan Maple Syrup Producers Association:

• Michigan produces about 80,000 gallons of maple syrup each year
• Michigan ranks 6th in the nation in maple syrup production
• Maple syrup is one of the few agricultural products where demand exceeds supply
• When trees bud out the sap becomes bitter, this is what makes production cease
• Pure Michigan maple syrup has 50 calories per tablespoon and is fat-free

Hartwick Pines is holding their annual Maple Syrup Day this Saturday, March 25. Read about it in the Traverse City Record-Eagle.

Read about a Milford family that makes their own maple syrup in a suburban setting.

Looking to Buy State Land?

Our state Senate voted to allow our Legislature to oversee any proposals for selling state land and state parks. The DNR has been holding meetings trying to figure out what land to sell, what to keep, and even what to buy. Somebody has to watch what is going on here. Otherwise we have a situation where the fox is guarding the chicken house. I previously wrote about my thoughts on Michigan selling off state parks so I won't go into that again. I am glad that any proposals to sell off state land or state parks must face a public hearing. Although, perhaps the public hearing won't have much bearing on the outcome. Maybe it is just the Legislature throwing us a bone.

Information courtesy of the Lansing State Journal