The News-Herald - June 30
In the city of Taylor, there are three seasons relating to local elections - the primary season, the election season, and recall season. How do you tell them apart? Recall season is the longest!
That's the Point!
The Press & Guide - June 30
This time of year, we're offered "July 4th Firecracker Savings" by clothing and electronics retailers, we see dancing Washingtons and Lincolns in TV ads touting "Revolutionary Savings!" on furniture, and we focus our own Independence Day celebrations on backyard grilling and beer consumption. Most of us forget that Independence Day is the annual remembrance of the birth of a great and noble idea; and the courage of the men who boldly signed the declaration that made that idea reality. It's OK to grill a few brats this weekend, and it's even OK to take advantage of a sale or two, just pause sometime this Independence Day and raise a beer in honor of our freedom.
That's the Point!
The News-Herald - June 27
When tornadoes, electrical storms, flooding and power outages are routine as they are for Downriver residents, a little earthquake is hardly going to make us tremble!
That's the Point!
The News-Herald - June 23I love celebrating Cruisin' Downriver every year. Growing up Downriver in the 60s, my buddies and I all loved cars ... and car art. I spent hours with my friend Kurt Andrews, who lived in Southgate, drawing our versions of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth cars and dreaming about becoming great car customizers. This year I decided that in addition to celebrating Cruisin' Downriver, I'd also celebrate those terrific hours spent with Kurt, and the guy who inspired us.That's the Point!
The News-Herald - June 16
Some people call me a professional cynic (OK, I accept that!), but nonetheless, who wouldn't be just a little bit cynical of any utility company that wants to "help" us consumers? I mean, really ... most of the time these organizations are lobbying for household budget-busting rate hikes and then when people are struggling to pay in this tight economy, they want to help?! Don't fall for it, friends ... the government wants to "help" us too!
The Press & Guide - June 16Too many students and parents have been attending school closing "parties" that mark the sad occasion of the end of an era for staffs and institutions that have educated generations of children because of budget shortfalls. This was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the significant anniversary of a community school - AND to celebrate its ongoing role in educating the next generations of area children!That's the Point!
The News-Herald - June 13Sure, the storms and flooding of a week ago left yards and lawns Downriver a little to soggy to groom; but it was a great excuse for not having to fire up the mower and instead retreat to a shady spot with a cool beverage for the afternoon. Now we need to come up with a good excuse for next weekend ...That's the Point!
The News-Herald - June 9
In districts throughout the state - including Downriver - "school's out" has a melancholy feeling for many students whose schools are slated for closing. We've experienced that in our household and nothing dampens the excitement of getting out of school for the summer like realizing you can't ever go back to those familiar classrooms, teachers and friends. Life goes on, and changes like these offer their own learning experience, but it's a painful lesson nonetheless.That's the Point!
The Press & Guide - June 9A couple of weeks ago, I lampooned the often sensationalized reporting of weather on our local TV stations. OK ... given the magnitude of last week's flooding in Dearborn and surrounding areas, sometimes it IS as bad as reported from the "Storm Bunker" or where ever it is that TV weathercasters hunker down in bad weather to broadcast their reports.That's the Point!
Crain's Detroit Business - June 7For anyone who's spent hours waiting for a doctor's appointment in one of those medical offices where time is somehow suspended - at least for patients - the idea of the Vanguard Health and DMC having to wait - for lawyers! - to finalize the DMC acquisition is justice of sorts.That's the Point!
The News-Herald - June 6
Anytime a city can find a way to save tens of thousands of tax dollars on a municipal service, it's great news. When it's $20,000 shaved off the cost of trash collection in Southgate, due to a new contract, well - that's "trash talk" that every taxpayer in town loves to hear!That's the Point!
The News-Herald - June 2
The Press & Guide - June 2I was talking with Press & Guide Editor Tim Powers about a seasonal cartoon and learned that he and I share a frustration - the emergence of "scare weather reports." It doesn't matter the season. In the winter, every snowfall is a potential "blizzard of the century" and in the spring and summer, every cloud bank may conceal a tornado.Personally, I'm going to just going to appreciate the spring weather we're currently enjoying - and ignore its threat to my life!With News-Herald Editor, Karl Ziomek, I discussed our other favorite spring/summer frustration ... road construction. I know, I know - we've done this topic before; but - unfortunately - it never gets old (thanks to the ever-present orange barrels on our roadways). Now that I think about it, our traffic reports are as scary as our weather reports!That's the Point!
Crain's Detroit Business - May 31
When I read about this bill, the cartoon idea practically drew itself! Note to State Legislators: You can lend your advice to my hometown when you've balanced the State budget, proven that you can live within a budget, and you're all demonstrating common sense leadership.
That's the Point!
Off the Drawing Board: One of my alternative ideas for this week focused upon the order to return former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to jail last week. His sentencing coincided with the final episode of the TV series "Lost" and I couldn't help seeing the parallels in both "plots" - casting Kwame as a Hurley-type character to play off the comment on his sentence by John Locke.
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The News-Herald - June 30
The Press & Guide - June 30
