Lessons learned from innovative Yooper recycler

The Mining Journal has a neat article on a couple from Harvey that are in their mid-80s and are really into recycling. Some of this younger generation might think that recycling is a new thing that folks have come up with to treat the environment in a kinder, gentler fashion. Believe it or not, but your grandparents and great-grandparents could probably teach you a few things about recycling. The generation that lived through the Great Depression didn't recycle to "save the earth" - they recycled because there was no other way to survive.

Betty and Charlie Shirtz learned their recycling lessons in the Great Depression and continue to recycle today - not because they can't afford new things, but because they wish to use less energy and give new life to "old" things. What a great concept to see someone continuing to practice into their mid-80s.

Do yourself a favor and read the article :)

Detroit Tigers home opener!

Play Ball! The Detroit Tigers open the 2008 season this afternoon at Comerica Park for a 1:00pm tilt against the Kansas City Royals. Whether or not they make it to the World Series this year I think it will be a fun time listening/watching the Tigers. They have one of the best lineups in baseball and some of the best fans.

Bill over at The Detroit Tiger Weblog has all of the information you will need whether you're going to the game or catching it on the radio or television. It's a fun place to chat with other Tigers fans before, during, and after games.

As I did last year, here is the way legendary broadcaster Ernie Harwell would open each and every Detroit Tigers season -

For, lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; The time of the singing of birds is come, And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.

Play Ball!

Amusing notes from the Escanaba police log

I have been a big fan of police logs since the time I was attending Western Michigan University. There are multiple instances of hiliarity on a college campus every week. Once a week or so (usually on Mondays) I take a look at the postings from the Escanaba police log as printed by the Daily Press. You can usually find all sorts of interesting happenings in a police log and today's was no exception.

Here are the ones that stood out:

10:50 a.m. Altered script, 2500 block of 1st Avenue North - Was the fancy lettering on a sign altered? Perhaps script was shorthand for prescription which would make sense.

1:03 p.m. Unwanted text massages, 200 block of North 12th Street - Now, I don't claim to know everything about technology, but I never realized you could receive a text massage.

1:47 p.m. E-mail threat, 400 block of 1st Avenue South - We can call the cops when we receive spam? Who knew? ;)

11:30 p.m. Man trying to get hit by car, 1900 block of 5th Avenue South - To increase your odds of winning a game of chicken with a motorized vehicle it is wise to make sure that you, too, are in a motorized vehicle.

In preparation of March Madness

The clock is ticking towards the first tipoff today at 12:20 when Xavier takes on Georgia. 32 games of college basketball await over the next two days. I'll be cheering on Michigan State since my beloved Western Michigan Broncos lost in the MAC tournament and didn't get the automatic bid to the Big Dance. Get ready for all of the excitement at my March Madness page via Squidoo. You can watch highlights of last year's tournament, get last minute tips on filling out your bracket, and find tickets to some of the upcoming games (Detroit is home to one of the regionals this year).

Let the madness begin!

For St. Patrick's Day - The Muppets sing Danny Boy

I saw this posted over at boingboing.net today and I laughed so hard I nearly cried. Animal, the Swedish Chef, and Beaker sing (well, I guess you could call it that) Danny Boy. It's two minutes of hilarity.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The U.P. was named one of the top 50 vacation getaways

Shoot! The secret is out. Our wonderful and unique U.P. was named in the top 50 vacation getaways by Disney Family Travel. The title for the U.P. description at www.family.com/travel is - "Wilderness and Waterfalls Are the Ultimate Escape." You can sort out a travel itinerary by age such as babies, toddlers, school-age, and pre-teens/teens. They have information on a ton of great U.P. destinations with the idea that you spread out your vacation over three days (what!? only three days).

Anyway, it's great to see Michigan's U.P. get the recognition it deserves. I love vacationing up there so much that I try to head up there at least once a year.

Also receiving a mention - Mackinac Island (ranked #27 on the list), and Traverse City (#41).

See the entire Top 50