Too much negative crap

[peelingchrome]

I'm starting this thread to give us something positive to think about. There's been so much negativity and arguing lately that (for a while) I thought about just leaving the board for a month or three, but I don't want to give up that easily. Please feel free to reference anything positive, be it the stock market or a friendly neighbor. Here, I'll even give everyone a start:

The real America is run by citizens not bureaucrats

State government said it would take 2 years and $4 million to fix; citizen volunteers fix it in 8 days:

Polihale State Park has been closed since severe flooding destroyed an access road to the park and damaged facilities in December.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources had estimated that the damage would cost $4 million to fix, money the agency doesn't have, according to a news release from department Chairwoman Laura Thielen.

...

"They said it would probably take two years. And with the way they are cutting funds, we felt like they'd never get the money to fix it."

And if the repairs weren't made, some business owners faced the possibility of having to shut down.

Ivan Slack, co-owner of Napali Kayak, said his company relies solely on revenue from kayak tours and needs the state park to be open to operate.

...

"If the park is not open, it would be extreme for us, to say the least," he said. "Bankruptcy would be imminent. How many years can you be expected to continue operating, owning 15-passenger vans, $2 million in insurance and a staff? For us, it was crucial, and our survival was dependent on it. That park is the key to the sheer survival of the business."

So Slack, other business owners and residents made the decision not to sit on their hands and wait for state money that many expected would never come. Instead, they pulled together machinery and manpower and hit the ground running March 23.

And after only eight days, all of the repairs were done, Pleas said. It was a shockingly quick fix to a problem that may have taken much longer if they waited for state money to funnel in.

"We can wait around for the state or federal government to make this move, or we can go out and do our part," Slack said. "Just like everyone's sitting around waiting for a stimulus check, we were waiting for this but decided we couldn't wait anymore."

...

"We shouldn't have to do this, but when it gets to a state level, it just gets so bureaucratic, something that took us eight days would have taken them years," said Troy Martin of Martin Steel, who donated machinery and steel for the repairs. "So we got together -- the community -- and we got it done."

We need fewer lawyers and corporate execs and more small business owners running the country. Of course small business owners are too busy minding their own business to be interested in minding other folks' business like our busy-body bureaucrats and politicians.

Found out that this is in Hawaii. Glad to see that some people are willing to get their hands dirty and do their own work instead of whining to the government for handouts. I'm also glad to see people putting in work to help maintain a state park (even if it's for their bottom line). Bravo! I just hope they don't get sued over some stupid environmental issue...

Edited April 10, 2009 by peelingchrome

[prick]

I'm starting this thread to give us something positive to think about. There's been so much negativity and arguing lately that (for a while) I thought about just leaving the board for a month or three, but I don't want to give up that easily. Please feel free to reference anything positive, be it the stock market or a friendly neighbor. Here, I'll even give everyone a start:

Found out that this is in Hawaii. Glad to see that some people are willing to get their hands dirty and do their own work instead of whining to the government for handouts. I'm also glad to see people putting in work to help maintain a state park (even if it's for their bottom line). Bravo! I just hope they don't get sued over some stupid environmental issue...

Thanks PC for giving us some positive thinking.

[peelingchrome]

Here's another from a local (SE Michigan) blog:

Pay it Forward

April 1, 2009

Passing by a local dry-cleaner last night while walking the dog, a sign in the window caught my eye. It read (more or less):

If you need your suit cleaned/pressed for an upcoming job interview, we’ll do it for free.

In light of Michigan’s 12% unemployment rate, I thought that was really cool. Community isn’t dead. Not yet, at least.

Has anyone seen this place or anything similar? I think it'd be great to have stuff like this posted somewhere centralized to help all of those in need.

Edited April 10, 2009 by peelingchrome

[Troy Spiral (13)]

The Medium Is The Message, unfortunately. Good job on trying to focus on some non-sensationalized info.

[dragonluv]

Greetings,

This is an article from Detroit Free Press and was written by Mitch Albom. Albom talks about how GM announced that due to current money problems, they will have to give up sponsoring the fountain on Opening Day of Tigers. Albom shares with readers that this fountain is big money advertisement. Albom also states how Mike Ilitch let GM, Ford and Chrysler advertised for free on Tigers Opening Day. Article reflects on how Mike Ilitch rejected other business offers for the fountain, to help out the Big 3 of Detroit. To me this story is beyond powerful and very motivating. If I could speak to Mike Illitch, I would thank him for this awesome act of kindness.

Here the link of the article if anyone want to check it out:

http://www.freep.com/article/20090405/COL0...+in+centerfield

[TitsMcGee]

Burned Iraqi boy to receive surgery in Michigan

by Kathy Barks Hoffman | The Associated Press

Thursday April 09, 2009, 4:41 PM

LANSING -- A badly burned Iraqi boy has arrived in Lansing with the National Guard physician's assistant who brought him to Michigan for medical treatment.

Major David Howell and the 12-year-old, Mohammed, were honored Thursday with a welcome ceremony at the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

The boy was an infant when he was badly burned along the left side of his face, head and body by an exploding oil lamp. He also lost movement in his left hand.

Howell, who was serving his second tour in Iraq with a Flint-based regiment, met Mohammed and the boy's mother last November while on duty in Ramadi.

Michigan State University surgeon Edward Lanigan is offering his services at no cost and will lead the medical care at Lansing's Sparrow Hospital.

The other feel good thing I can offer is that I'm madly in love...but I don't think that what you wanted.

Edit to add:

Oh! here's another one that's got a good ending.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/ind...tops_abduc.html

Edited April 12, 2009 by TitsMcGee

[peelingchrome]

Thanks for pitching in, everyone! Let's keep this good momentum going!

[prick]

The Detroit Public Libraries are willing to take any books back and dropping any late fees.

[TitsMcGee]

The Detroit Public Libraries are willing to take any books back and dropping any late fees.

Libraries up here do that ever year around Christmas.