From the Only Peripherally Having to do with Michigan Department, Mainichi Newspapers of Japan reports that it would cost every American man, woman and child $145,000 to pay the tab for the long-term promises the U.S. government has made to creditors, retirees, veterans and the poor. Beyond the recitation of the usual mind-numbing figures (savings have plummeted to just 1.8% in 2004 and nearly to zero in the last few months) are polls reflecting our attitudes about debt and and a look at what the rest of the world is thinking. For example: China's decided last month to uncouple the value of the yuan from the dollar.

Alternative Fuel Legislation Proposed
The AP (via the TC Record Eagle) reports that with gas prices closing in on $3 per gallon, Democrats in the Michigan House unveiled legislation Tuesday that would eventually require all gasoline sold in Michigan to be mixed with fuel made mostly of corn. Democrats say their proposal will benefit Michigan farmers who grow soybeans and corn and also want to require that biodiesel (made from soybeans) make up 5% of diesel fuel beginning Dec. 31, 2006.

Dave Bing Working to Change Detroit
The Detroit Free Press has feature on the efforts of Dave Bing, Piston legend and owner of the Bing Group, to transform Detroit's North End. He has built 40 middle-income, brick homes in the area and has joined the Skillman Foundation and Plymouth-based Thompson Foundation who are seeking to charter 15 high schools for a second school district, New Schools of Detroit. (thought-provoking)
Also see Skillman, Thompson foundations to propose 15 Detroit charter schools in Crain's Detroit
Bing Group web site

Campaign for a Healthier Michigan
WILX TV (Lansing) reports that in announcing the Healthy Businesses campaign, Michigan Surgeon General Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom said Michigan's unhealthy lifestyle choices lead to poor quality of life and for businesses it can mean low productivity and higher healthcare costs. Michigan is #1 in heart disease death, #2 in obesity and diabetes, #6 in number of smokers and #1 in prescription drug use.
Michigan Surgeon General web site (has a good beat and you can dance to it)

As Gas Prices Rise, So Does Carpooling
The Detroit Free Press reports that high gas prices appear to have more Detroit-area commuters searching for something they've historically shunned -- car pools. The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), an organization that connects metro riders with the private MichiVan pool program says applications are up over 800% from last year. The 2000 U.S. census showed that about 200,000 people in metro Detroit use some form of ride sharing to get to work.

Motion Filed to Reconsider Beach Walking Ruling
The Detroit Free Press reported that the attorney for waterfront landowners Richard & Kathleen Goeckel asked the Michigan Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling that the public has a right to walk along all the state's Great Lakes beaches. The motion contends that the court's decision was based on faulty legal reasoning and allows unconstitutional seizure of private land for public use.

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