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 I thought the page was seriously outdated when I saw there was a Winter Storm Warning for Ontonangon.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.

Looking at Gas Prices the Week of 5/9/06

This week, the average price of one gallon of unleaded gasoline in Michigan is $2.818. Our local stations here in southwest Michigan are all around the $2.77 range. That is down a bit from last week when prices were around $2.84 per gallon. Read my quick note from last week - about gas prices supposedly peaking this month.

Tell Free Press Writer Where to Travel in Michigan

Susan Ager, a writer for the Detroit Free Press, is asking her fellow Michiganians to suggest places in Michigan for her to visit. Head over to Susan's blog to check out all of the ideas people have suggested. Even if you can't think of anything to suggest, you might find some of Michigan's hidden gems that you will want to pay a visit. Actually, I thought I would go over there and make some suggestions, but I got caught up in reading all of the great ideas. I'll try to think up something really unique to add to the ever growing list.

Why Should You Buy a Hot Tea Maker?

I was browsing the Meijer flyer this morning and found something that made me chuckle. Sunbeam is selling a Hot Tea Maker (looks like a smallish coffee maker) for only $29. Um, yeah, I have a hot tea maker already. It's called a teakettle. Are we so lazy (or ignorant) these days that we need a machine to boil the water and pass it through the tea for us? If you can boil water, you can make tea.

The big plus I guess is that you can make up to 28 ounces of tea at a time (about four cups of tea figuring six ounces per cup). I can make four cups of tea all at once, too. I boil water in a teakettle and put a teabag in each of four cups. Done.

Whew! Maybe Martha Stewart will have me on her show so I can teach America the intricacies of making tea using a teakettle.

P.S. Someone on Amazon.com commented that they have been doing the same thing using a coffee maker for years now. I guess that makes it even more foolish to run out and buy this Hot Tea Maker. :)

Smoke or Clouds? Nope, Just Swarms of Bugs

Recently, residents of Delta County in Michigan's Upper Peninsula have been spotting what appears to be black smoke or dark rain clouds. These "clouds" are made up of billions of Midges, a flying insect that hatches from water. Clouds of Midges will be seen throughout the summer, but the spring seems to be when the largest and most noticeable swarms occur. Thankfully, Midges do not have the ability to bite and draw blood like mosquitoes. The biggest problem with them is that when they die, their carcasses tend to pile up and smell like dead fish.

Check out the full article in today's Mining Journal.

Gas Prices to Peak This Month?

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that a report by the Michigan Public Service Commissions states that gas prices will hit their peak at the end of this month. I guess I will just believe it when I see it. Predictions = Guesses.