Congrats to the Lansing-built Cadillac CTS as 'Car of the Year'

A hearty congratulations is in order to the proud workers of Lansing's GM Plant where they roll out the Cadillac CTS, which today will be named Motor Trend's 'Car of the Year'. From the LSJ -

The award, to be announced today, is significant because it shows Detroit-area automakers are back in the car business after years of focusing on sport utility vehicles and trucks, said magazine Editor-in-Chief Angus MacKenzie. The car's appearance, fit and finish, quality of materials and performance rival that of its German and Japanese competitors, MacKenzie said.

"There's really not a lot of difference at all between BMW, Mercedes and Cadillac," he said Monday.

"This is obviously a really great thing," said Kelley White, spokeswoman for the Lansing Grand River plant, which also makes the Cadillac STS sedan and SRX crossover vehicle.

"It means a lot to our team members."

Rightly so. It's a cause for Lansing, our state and our entire country to have more pride in our products, and more reason to hope that Michigan's automakers can successfully enter the Green Age of automotive production - producing more stylish, functional cars that are significantly less-harmful to the environment.

There maybe bad news all around us, and the doom and gloom from the economic forecasters seems almost inescapable, but this latest boost for both Lansing, our proud unions, and our state is one that should outshine all of that!

Fantastic photos from Maine and my new job

Happy Election Day!

This is just a teaser from the two photo albums you can view from my trip to Maine. The first has the bulk of the photos.

I was lucky to stand atop Cadillac Mountain twice, once to watch the sunset and another to see it rise. The clouds that were present for the sun's setting, were gone for the magnificent sunrise. Talk about a view I'll never forget! You can view the photo album of the sunrise.

While I was in Maine, I had some delicious seafood, saw some beautiful sights, breathed in the wonderful Atlantic air, stayed clear of politics and the Internet, and most importantly got rested up.

Part of my timing has to do with a small announcement that I'm pleased to share with you today. I have hung up my consulting hat and now am the Online Campaign Coordinator for Progress Michigan, a non-profit communications team that serves the entire progressive community. My first order of business is to put together an incredible website that I look forward to sharing with you and the rest of the state soon. You can visit our sister organization in Colorado, Progress Now and Progress Now Action, to get a bit of a preview.

I know you'll all be voting today, so I won't bother reminding you, but feel free to stop by MichLib and throw in your support for your favorite candidate or ballot issue at our special Election Day Coffee Talk. Have a happy Election Day!

Some Bright Ideas (and savings)

Ladies and gents, start your engines, scooters, bike, or just lace up the ol' tennis shoes and start heading down to your Mid-Michigan Ace Hardware store.

No, this isn't a paid endorsement for the chain, and I'm not getting a discount on my next snow shovel, but it is an endorsement for a cleaner tomorrow, starting in your own home.

My house already has several Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) installed, and while Edison himself probably wouldn't recognize them, they are light years ahead in terms of keeping the Earth clean and your energy bill down.

As reported by a late article today in the Lansing State Journal -

A kickoff event for the "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign was held at Lansing City Hall this morning. Invited guests included Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh, Michigan Public Service Commission Member Monica Martinez and Lansing Board of Water & Light General Manager J. Peter Lark.

The Environmental Protection Agency says Energy Star-rated CFLs use 75 percent less energy than incandescent light bulbs and last six to 10 times longer. They save $30 or more in electricity costs over the bulb's life and prevent more than 400 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

As part of the national campaign sponsored by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy, CFLs will be on sale throughout October and November at area Ace Hardware stores for 99 cents each, $2 below the normal price.

There are participating Ace Hardware stores in Eaton Rapids, Grand Ledge, Holt, Laingsburg, Lansing, Mason and Okemos.

You can learn more about CFLs from Energy Star here. Check out this little factoid

If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.

So head on down, grab your new bulbs, and start lighting a brighter future today.

Back Yard = Pure Michigan

No matter how many times I watch these, I get the goosebumps.



I just love my state.

Good News for Pure Michigan Fun

There's nothing like a quick dip in the lake or pool to cool off in this hot summer heat. It's refreshing and relaxing and swimming is fantastic exercise.

Here in Mid-Michigan, you don't have any excuse not too.

From the LSJ -

Area health and environmental experts have deemed mid-Michigan lakes safe for swimming. A recent study by the Natural Resources Defense Council raised questions about bacterial contamination at ocean and fresh water beaches. No local swimming areas made the list.

Andy Bunnell, a health inspector for Ingham County who has conducted beach inspections, said the foam Zhus encountered likely was harmless. Probably nothing more than water stirring up or decaying organisms in the lake.

"If there are any problems with the water, it's not necessarily something you can touch, smell or taste," said Bunnell, adding that's why the health department requires testing of the county's four beaches once a week.

Bunnell said the water quality for swimming in Ingham County is "exceptional," attributing it to the lakes being somewhat isolated, which makes them less likely to experience severe storm water runoff.

This is in contrast to the high number of beaches and lakes across the country that are experiencing increased levels of contamination due to a variety of factors. Growing up the Metro Detroit area, it seems as if Metro Beach was closed more than it was opened.

For a state that prides itself on its lakes, rivers and streams, this is a serious threat to not just our ecological system, but also our tourism industry.

For instance, take a walk over to Michigan.org, home of those fantastic Pure Michigan commercials that send chills up my spine each time I hear one. Look at the number of destinations that are highlighted around water.

We need to take care of our environment, we need to protect our natural resources, and without a doubt, it can be done all the while growing and bolstering our state's economy. It's not rocket science, it's green and life science technology, all things Gov. Granholm and the Democrats have been working hard on.

So while you head down to one of Mid-Michigan's pristine beaches, or head north or west to enjoy our Great Lakes, remember Michigan, and think about how you can help make our Pure Michigan becoming a winning factor here in the state.

Postcard from Paradise

Dear Friend,

Summer is going great, the weather is beautiful, the lakes deep and clean, and the sunsets to kill for.

Wish you were here.



Love,

LL

Northern Reflections from Home

I made it. There and back. In this weather, well, at times it was nothing short of a small feat.

Arrived back to Lansing this evening, glad to be home, but sorry the trip was at an end.

While I was there I managed to add a new word to my vocabulary - DownState.

I'm assuming it refers to anywhere below Clare/Mt. Pleasant and/or the 45th Parallel, which I crossed, by the way. I'm told that the folks up there use it like we say Up North. Hmmm, seems fair I suppose. :-)

While I was bit worried about how the LucyMobile would do, I'm pleased to report that all's well, and with the exception of my window washer level being quite low, she did fine.

Several roads gave me a couple scares here and there, and I'm convinced that on a select few, there's locals who sit and laugh as us DownState folks are put thru a vigorous cardiac workout. There were some hills that are so high and so steep, that I would consider them exhilarating even without being completely snow-covered. I discovered that some stop signs are really only able to be followed when there is not snow on the ground. Best you can do is honk and let 'em know you're coming. :-)

Tonight as I gaze out my window at a beautifully-lit Capitol Dome, I know I'll miss the sheer beauty and tranquility of the North. How lucky are we to live in a state where you can go from the icy shore to the bustling city in just a few short hours?

No matter where on the Mitten we call ours, we are all blessed to call Michigan home.

A Green Lesson from Northern Michigan

As the icy wind blows, the cold bites, and the boots are the only suitable footwear, I fall in love with Northern Michigan, again.

It's been a while since I've been to the North in the winter, and I realize how "stuck" in the Mid/Southern portion of the state that I've been. Growing up in the Metro Detroit Area, and living in Lansing for a good part of the last decade, trips to the North have been few and far between, and usually require packing the swimsuit and flip-flops.

I was granted the opportunity to grow my passion for our state. After spending several days here, I realize once again how incredible this portion of our state is, and how precious it is. My visit here has renewed my dedication to continue to fight to keep Michigan environmentally great, because it is a delicate ecosystem that hangs in the balance.

Climbing a frozen sandy beach to view the icy shore of the Great Lakes and having my breath taken away equally by the cold and the view, I was struck with a sudden sense of being incredibly humbled. Michigan is not about our cars, our sports, or our schools.

Michigan started with and continues to stand out against the other 49 states by our environment. Unlike any other state, Michigan is known for its two peninsulas, our massive shoreline, and the extraordinary beauty that lines our land from Houghton to Pigeon and everywhere in between.

It's easy to laugh and dismiss the Tree-Huggers in their stereotypical Birkenstocks and hybrid cars, but you open to your eyes to the real Michigan, and you realize they are right. Everything in Michigan revolves around our environment one way or another. If we take care of our land and our lakes, our economy will follow.

In our environmental stewardship, we will continue to grow and develop technologies to protect and preserve this great land. Isn't it ironic that our state's greatest manufacturing accomplishment, the automobile industry, is now one of the most harmful components of our society? The Big Three's race for survival has turned into the Green competition. First one to the finish line has the most environmentally-friendly vehicles. I don't think it's just a coincidence.

I get by each day believing that everything happens for a reason. In Michigan's economy, it is the industries and people who are going green that are succeeding. With a growing mountain of evidence from our universities, businesses, and our government, is it really that surprising that green is the way to go for the sake of our health, our pocketbooks and our lives?

We need to keep fighting the good fight, the right fight. We keep our government and legislators, our businesses and our own hearts on the right track, protecting the most precious of assets, our environment. I'm convinced that everything else will follow.

Living in our beautiful state comes with a price, and that's keeping it great and green.

See the Truth Movie Party - East Lansing

See the Truth Movie Party

On Saturday, December 16, 2006 thousands of us are going to get together in living rooms around the country, watch the blockbuster documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," and press Congress to take action to solve our climate crisis.

If you haven't seen the movie, you have to. If you have, you can help raise awareness and push Washington to take action on the biggest crisis facing our planet. In America, political will is a renewable resource and together we can build the will to do what has to be done. ---Moveon.org

Join local residents/activitists Bob Alexander and Heather Ricketts as they sponsor this very important film.

Saturday, December 16th
9:30 A.M.
Hannah Center - Rm. 235
819 Abbott Road (corner of Abbott and Burcham)
East Lansing

click here to RSVP.

You owe it to yourself to see this film. If you do not, and you have grandchildren, you should explain to them why you decided not to. - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Just Say NO to Dick and YES to Jen - Reason #11

Michiganders already know how Tricky Dick has dumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into groups who support destroying Michigan's precious environment.
We're fiercely proud of being part of such a beautiful state.
They don't call us the Great Lakes State for nothing...
So why would we ever elect a man who is out to destroy it?






11. Dick DeVos will cut needed environmental funding.
DeVos called for the elimination of the Single Business Tax and refuses to explain what will replace the nearly $2 billion in state revenue. DeVos said he "wants to focus on tax and regulatory policies" with agencies such as the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. (The Grand Rapids Press, March 17, 2006)






11. Governor Granholm has successfully funded vital environmental projects. Jennifer Granholm fought for funding and accomplished many projects including

• Protecting more than 270,000 acres of forests.
• Safeguarded more than 60,000 additional acres of farmland, wetlands, and wildlife habitat on private land.
• Protecting more than 6,000 acres of shoreline along the Great Lakes.(Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality)
  

Just Say NO to Dick and YES to Jen - Reason #17

Michigan is an incredible state with abundant natural beauty, particularly our Great Lakes.
Our Great Lakes are a priceless asset.
To destroy our Great Lakes through drilling and pollution would be irresponsible and catastrophic.

Tricky Dick says "As governor, I will protect MichiganÂ’s environment from pollution and abuse."(Michigan Turnaround Plan pg 31)

But if there's one thing that Michigan voters have learned...

Amway Guy says one thing, and his money does another.

Just Say NO to Dick because...
17. Dick DeVos supports drilling of the Great Lakes.
Dick DeVos contributed over $100,000 to the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, an extreme right wing think tank. The Mackinac Center opposes water restrictions aimed at protecting ground water and supports drilling in the Great Lakes, it once said, the "“threat of oil spills off the Great Lakes is a phantom menace." (Detroit Free Press, January 21, 2004; Oil and Gas Journal, September 26, 2005)

Just Say YES to Jen because...
17. Governor Granholm has worked hard to protect our Great Lakes from drilling and other harmful measures. Governor Granholm signed legislation that for the first time protects Michigan waters from large-scale diversions and withdrawals. The landmark legislation fulfills a commitment Michigan made more than 20 years ago to join with other states and Canada to protect and preserve the waters of the Great Lakes Basin. (Michigan Water Legacy Act of 2006)