Set your clocks forward one hour this weekend

Don't forget to set your clocks forward (Spring ahead, remember?) one hour this weekend. Effective at 2 a.m. EST on March 11 we begin the new (not sure about improved) longer period of daylight savings. We are shifting one hour of our morning daylight to the evening. Some of your electronic devices such as your VCR and computer might not automatically change their clocks for you since this is the first year for the earlier and longer period of daylight savings. Normally your software would handle this for you, but if you haven't bought a new PC with Windows Vista or perform the Microsoft Automatic Updates you will need to make the change to the clock manually.

Mac users should also make sure they have the most up to date versions of their software.

Happy Friday!

March Madness is coming

March is a time for changing our clocks, changing seasons from winter to spring, and watching lots of college basketball. The 2007 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (aka March Madness) kicks off with a "play in" game on Monday, March 12. The real action starts on March 15 (Beware the Ides of March) with more games than there is time to watch them. Hopefully we'll see Tom Izzo and the MSU Spartans make it into the "Big Dance." It would be nice to have at least one team from Michigan make it in.

For all kinds of tournament information, video highlights from the 2006 tournament, tips on how to fill out your brackets, and the lowdown on how to watch the first 56 tournament games live on the internet for free head over to www.squidoo.com/March-Madness-Basketball/.

Looking gloomy to save even a part of Tiger Stadium

The idealistic hopes of saving the dugouts, playing field, some seats, and one entrance to Tiger Stadium have run up against red tape and the usual deal killer - lack of money. The plans for the stadium property to be developed into residential units and shops is still on target. Plans for saving even a small portion of the stadium are not looking so good. The city of Detroit is still trying to remain on track to auction off seats and other assorted memorabilia this spring. The plan hope is to demolish Tiger Stadium this fall.

The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy is being asked to come up with the money necessary to keep a portion of the old stadium as well as a viable plan of doing so that will keep in compliance with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) regulations. Thoughts of moving the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame to the Tiger Stadium site have a ballpark (no pun intended) price tag of $7 to $10 million.

Read the Detroit Free Press article.

Granholm faces angry audience at Southfield town hall meeting

In case you didn't know, Jennifer Granholm is touring the state this week holding town hall meetings so she can find out what Michigan residents are saying and thinking about our state's economy. Just as she is kicking off the town hall meeting week Comerica announces that they are moving their headquarters out of Michigan and down to Texas. Ouch. Talk about unlucky timing.

Well, it is no surprise that Granholm faced some angry (and justifiably so) folks in Southfield. She can expect plenty more of those at all of her other stops across the state.

Here are some of the comments dealt to her (via the Detroit Free Press):

"Why don't you use your emergency powers to declare a state of economic disaster?" asked Jerry Goldberg, 56, a Detroiter who belongs to an activist group that wants the state to step in to stop foreclosures, utility shutoffs and other bad news for residents.

Leticia Hall, a 30-year-old mother of two from Detroit who said she has been out of work for six months, said she wants a job or at least some help when her unemployment checks end next month.

It is also no surprise that most people are not happy about Governor Granholm's proposal of fixing Michigan's budget crisis - raising taxes. Who wants more taken out of their pocket when they are already feeling pinched?

Don't forget that you can vent your frustrations and place your vote on Jennifer Granholm's job performance as Governor of Michigan at www.squidoo.com/bestofmichigan/. So far a few votes have been cast and the overwhelming majority is "Throw her out before things get worse."

Michigan gas prices rising faster than the temperature

Gas prices across Michigan are averaging $2.52 as of today, March 5. This is up $.33 from the average price of $2.19 just one month ago. We are currently $.11 higher than the average price of one year ago - $2.41. The lowest reported price in Michigan from MichiganGasPrices.com is $2.35 at the Admiral station in Swartz Creek at Miller Rd. and Second. The highest gas price is $2.74 at the Shell station in Paradise.

Fuel price data courtesy of AAA's Fuel Gauge Report.

Read the Detroit Free Press article on the highest Michigan gas prices in 5 months.