Guns & young men... Over the past decade, some reoccurring community concerns and thoughts that have come to mind. To me, it seems like we need to have some community reevaluation, rethinking, and changes. What say you?
Guns & the media... I
agreed with your Random Thoughts column, re: violence in USA and gun
control. Our perceptions are so ingrained about how safe we are here and
how dangerous it is in foreign countries.
Slamming MLK Day... It’s too bad that Traverse City’s homosexual community continues their attempt to ride on the coat tails of black history. The majority of the black community do not support homosexuality or gay marriage, and are sick and tired of the sham that the gays and their allies continue to perpetrate on our citizens.
Snyder’s lack of jobs... Will Governor Snyder run again? Total Michigan employment declined by 11,000 in December; however, the number of unemployed was little changed, edging upward by 1,000. The net impact was a 10,000 worker reduction in the state’s labor force over the month.
A better supreme court... We ask Governor Snyder to give serious consideration to the recommendation of the state’s bipartisan commission on Michigan Supreme Court elections.
Rigging the vote... Gerrymandering is the redrawing of congressional district lines to give one party advantage over the other in elections. Even though Democratic congressional candidates won the popular vote by over a million votes in the 2012 election, it was the Republicans who won the US House and both houses of our Michigan legislature due in large part to gerrymandering.
We caught up with a few of the headliners of this week’s Traverse City Winter Comedy Arts Festival and got their thoughts on comedy, coming to Traverse City and some of their future projects.
Sugar buzz in our schools: Too much sugar is bad. Too much of the alternative is worse.
Because my kid’s public school (Glen Lake) doesn’t allow sodas, I naively thought most schools followed that trend. Unfortunately, while attending a district finals basketball game at Traverse City Central I was a bit surprised to find a bank of soda machines in the school cafeteria. Surprise turned to concern when I noticed they contained only diet sodas, water and sports drinks. Pepsi Next, which boasts 60% less sugar, quickly caught my attention. Guess what’s in it...
Wolves & free-thinkers: Your article (“Confessions of a Save the Wolves Petitioner”) hit home about the lack of citizenship in America where apathy, selfishness, frustration and lack of care is rampant in a government that serves the people...
New war on marijuana: We
pride ourselves on how we take care of the sick in this country. We
have the best hospitals in the world, as well as the finest doctors. You
would think that America totally supports people getting better with
whatever resources are available.
But wait just one minute. If you choose to medicate with cannabis, (aka: marijuana), not only are you NOT supported by most of the medical industry (which won’t treat you if you have THC in your system), but you may find yourself in a jail cell for growing and using it...
Scott Weiland rocked: I have been a big fan of Northern Express for many years. I have never felt compelled to write a letter to the Express or any other publication in the past. However, the recent article by Rick Coates where he trashes Scott Weiland’s performance at Ground Zero leaves me so compelled...
Ordinance clears way for demolishing junk building: On February 19, the Benzie County Board of Commissioners approved Ordinance number 2013-001, adopting the International Property Maintenance Code, provided by the International Code Council.
Approved, adopted and provided by who? The people of Benzie County didn’t know anything about this until it became enforceable law on February 27, when it was published in the Record-Patriot...
Helmets & motorcycles Properly worn motorcycle helmets, particularly full-face helmets, are quite effective in preventing head injuries during a crash. Like Jim Lumley (featured in the April 29 issue), I always wear a helmet and am fully covered (i.e. jacket/pants/ boots/gloves) while riding, even when the temperature exceeds 90 degrees...
Fear-mongering lobby Today’s NRA is not the same proud organization my father belonged to. The NRA today has become a fear-mongering lobby for the gun manufacturers...
Don’t blame others Regarding Pete VanBerlo’s letter (May 6) it seems to me that he has fallen hook, line and sinker for the tactic legislators want us to fall for: blaming each other for our problems and not addressing the real issue...
Taxed by Snyder Wait a minute Pete (re: May 6 letter). Entitlement attitude. What makes you think that you somehow support us retired people who collect Social Security?
Dear Beloved Michigan He is one tough NERD. Never. Ending. Rights/Resource. Destroyer. Yes, look out Pure Michigan...
Corrections
-- Credit for the photo in last week's story on Serenity Wellness is due to Lisa Newhouse of Cherry City Consulting.
-- George Colburn (“Eisenhower's Secret War:”) was a councilman in East Lansing, not Lansing. Also, it was a former Eisenhower staffer who asked him to create documentaries, rather than a fellow filmmaker. Additionally, Bob Elliott is not a translator, but the “voice” mouthing translations of Russian, German and French commentators.
Public gets the bill Re: “Helmets and Motorcycles,” Letters 5/13. Six words to Matt Woodruff...
The price of ‘liberty’ Mr. Woodruff omitted one potential outcome when a rider chooses not to wear a helmet (re: Letters 5/13)...
Marijuana, the vulgar drug Thousands of Americans die every year from Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. That is why the federal government set up a bureau to regulate these products a century ago, but they still are legal to possess and use...
Kalkaska’s killjoys Every time I use the Kalkaska public library I think, “Wow, this place is BUSY... and TINY!” Now, no thanks to Tom Backers and Citizens 4 Better Government (whoever you are), it looks like Kalkaska won’t be updating its inadequate, crumbling library...
Found our rag... I recently had the great luck to pick up the May 6 issue in Elberta. I was very impressed with the quality of the writing and the topics. That issue contained some important information about fracking, including the editorial, “Increasingly, Your Vote is Just a Joke in Lansing.” My frustration is that my husband and I live in the UP, Cedarville area, and it seems the nearest place to pick up a copy would be in Mackinaw City...
The tax on seniors We people in the middle class sure are paying a very big price and will continue to pay as long as Gov. Snyder is in office. He sure has hit the poor old folks hard...
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