October is Change a Light Month in Michigan

Well, I won't even comment on the big news of the day coming out of Michigan. I'm sure you have had your fill of that already (I know I have). For anyone interested in how their state legislator voted, check out this article at the Detroit Free Press. Now, back to something that will SAVE you money (instead of the tax increase which will help our state government have more money to spend) that is sponsored by the Michigan Public Service Commission. October has been designated Change a Light Month here in Michigan.

From this article in the Detroit Free Press -

“If every household in Michigan switches only one light bulb to an energy-efficient model, Michigan would save more than $19 million in energy costs annually and prevent 310 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions,” - Monica Martinez, MPSC Commissioner

I have been steadily replacing our incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs. The newer bulbs are the same size or smaller as incandescents with the same nice soft light as an incandescent but at a fraction of the cost to run them.

I put together a helpful page that provides a comparison with incandescent bulbs, how to properly dispose of CFLs, and shows you some good deals on CFLs.

Check it out - Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

Anxious for fall colors? Go north and enjoy!

The wonderful myriad of color will be reaching its peak on trees in portions of the U.P. in the next couple of weeks. The Mining Journal is reporting that an early hard frost is beneficial to fall color. So those of us waiting on the color to begin can always head up north for some beautiful scenery.

Bill Cook, district forester with the Michigan State University Extension forestry research station in Escanaba, said a hard frost about a week ago will likely result in brilliant colors.

“The earlier the frost comes the more sugars are trapped in the leaves and that’s what causes the brilliance and intensity of the colors,” Cook said.

For weekly updates on the fall color situation in Michigan be sure to check out the update put together at Michigan's Travel site - Michigan.org.

Entire Michigan legislature should be recalled if we have a Government Shutdown

I do everything I can to promote the state of Michigan. I have avoided commenting on this whole state budget crisis up to this point, but I can't take it anymore. If on October 1, the state of Michigan does indeed have to shutdown our government due to a lack of a workable budget we should recall the entire legislature from the Governor on down the line. Is it or is it not their jobs to avoid a situation such as this?

Did they not know this has been coming for the last several months?

Michigan is on the cusp of becoming a national laughingstock if our elected officials stick their collective heads in the sand and our government is forced to shutdown. In addition to becoming the butt of jokes across the country there are essential services that could possibly stop along with the shutdown.

Need to renew your license at the Secretary of State? Spend a weekend camping at a state park? A shutdown could potentially close numerous departments that will affect a lot of Michigan residents.

We need better answers than simply saying that a tax increase will make things better. What about in a couple of years when property tax revenue goes in the tank due to lower assessment values in the real estate sector because of Michigan's slumping housing market and mass exodus from the state? Another tax increase?

If our elected officials cannot run the state, why should they keep their jobs? A lot of good hard workers in this state continue to lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Why should we employ legislators who do not do theirs?

I have contacted my state senator regarding this matter, perhaps we all should.

See the article on the Detroit News, Senate Spars over budget

Watch present day downtown Constantine morph into the mural

Yesterday I posted pictures of the new mural painted in downtown Constantine. Since then I have put together a little (only 5 seconds) animation showing present day downtown Constantine morph into the older downtown depicted in the mural. I think it's kind of neat.

Watch it here if the video player does not appear.