realism4u2's Blog

As you know, there is an issue on the upcoming August 5th ballot to ask taxpayers in the tri-county area to help raise funding for the Detroit Zoo. The Detroit Zoo truly is a jewel, an institution, and one of the finest family venues in our area. The Detroit Zoo needs our help.

Did you know the Detroit Zoo is one of the top accredited zoos in the nation?

It is also home to more than 3,000 animals and hosts over 127,000 schoolchildren and teachers on field trips each year. Last year alone, the Zoo welcomed over one million visitors (500,000 children). It plays an important cultural, educational and economic role in our community.

And these accomplishments have not come easily in recent years, as the Zoo lost substantial funding when responsibility for its management passed from the City of Detroit to the Detroit Zoological Society in 2006.

Now it is our turn to help.

On August 5, it will be up to us to help close the funding gap and keep the Zoo open and thriving. There will be a proposal on the August 5 ballot in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties that will levy .10 mill on all taxable property for a period of 10 years. This levy will only cost the average tri-county household about $10 per year.

Several opinion polls have taken place on this topic over the past year. Voters in all three counties overwhelmingly support the millage. But as great as it is to have positive opinion on your side, it is no substitute for action.

My friends, I am asking you to join me in taking action on August 5. It is up to us now to keep our Zoo.

Please get out on August 5 and vote “Yes” on the Zoo.

Because our Zoo is Worth Keeping.

Thanks in advance for your support.

 

Well, the state Senate passed a bill to ban smoking in all Michigan bars, restaurants and workplaces. This bill is different from the version that passed the House in that it does does exclude casinos, bingo halls, and even cigar bars. Now the bill will go back to the House for final consideration.

Now, I'm an ex-smoker, but I think that this is a little extreme.  What I would have preferred is that any establishment that wants to include a smoking area be required to have it separated by a full wall (floor-to-ceiling) with a door.

There's a coffee shop I go to quite often that does this. When you walk in the place, you would never know that people are smoking in there. The smokers are in a separate room with a closed door.

I just think the lawmakers went too far on this one.

Knowing what we know now, what would the differences be?

PART I

The first time Kwame Kilpatrick ran for Mayor back in 2001, his opponent was Gil Hill.

Looking back, if Gil Hill had won that election, would Detroit be -

A) In better shape

B) In worse shape

C) About the same


PART II

In 2005, Freeman Hendrix ran opposite Kwame Kilpatrick for mayor. Looking back, if Freeman Hendrix had won that election, would Detroit be -

A) In better shape

B) In worse shape

C) About the same


What do YOU think?

If you ever find yourself in need of an Emergency Room, DO NOT go to St. John Macomb/Oakland Hospital on 12 mile and Hoover.

My neighbor injured his hand at his workbench on Friday night. He called me and asked if I could drive him to the hospital for stitches. We went to St. John Macomb/Oakland Hospital Emergency Room because it was closest and the place was pure chaos! Granted, there were a lot of people who came in, but what I witnessed just chilled my blood and I will never go there again.

After sitting in the ER waiting room for over an hour, we saw a man bring his wife in by wheelchair. He went to the window and told the nurse that his wife was having chest pains and breathing trouble. The nurse told him to sign in and have a seat, there were a lot of people ahead of him. He sat with his wife when suddenly she was grabbing her chest and really struggling to breathe. The man ran up to the window and called out "She's not breathing! Oh my God, please help her!"

The nurse behind the glass told him to sit down. He yelled again, "No, you didn't hear me...SHE'S NOT BREATHING! She needs HELP!"

The nurse said, "Sir, do not raise your voice at me!" and walked away. Looking at the man, I have never seen anyone look so hopeless and abandoned in my life.

My neighbor and I decided to go to Henry Ford after that. As we were leaving, the man was trying to get his wife breathing and NO ONE from the Emergency Department would even come out to help. I'm wondering if she is okay or if she died that night.

If I ever have to go to an Emergency Room, I refuse to go to St. John Macomb/Oakland Hospital. It was frightening to see Emergency Room personnel behave so poorly for a sick person.

So, we had a light dusting of snow today in the Detroit area, and judging by the traffic jams, apparently everyone forgot how to drive in the white stuff! It took an hour and a half to go a mere 15 miles in this morning's commute - about 6 minutes per mile. I don't think my speedometer read over 10 mph the whole way...in fact, most of the time it read 0 since traffic stopped still.

On top of that, the news media was all aghast at the idea that SNOW would fall on our roadways...traffic updates, weather trackers, live reports throughout the area showing flakes falling, etc.

EVERYONE PANIC AND GATHER TOGETHER EMERGENCY SUPPLIES...IT MIGHT SNOW!!!!!!

For crying out loud, it's MICHIGAN! The fact that it might snow in December is not breaking news. It's ridiculous the way the news media sensationalize anything these days.

I just saw a news clip covering the Writer's Strike in Hollywood.  There were a group of writers walking a picket line while carrying signs that read "On Strike."
 

Um, excuse me but...you are WRITERS!  You couldn't come up with something more creative than that?