Wednesday For messages about today's picture, see Cam Notes. This area is for other friendly conversation. Please read our Acceptable Use Policy.

Some other links of recent interest to Pasty Cam watchers:
• Ancestors 2006  • New Arrivals 2006
•Progress Report: The Hut and Pasty Central Express
Eight years ago on the Pasty Cam: 5/3/98^{Printed on Recycled Internet}

The Calumet Hockey Team receiving accolades from then Governor John Engler, on this day in May of '98...

Whoa! We just got rocked by some rolling thunder here in Eagle River this morning. I thought it was a jet breaking the sound barrier out over the lake, because I haven't seen any lightning. Looks like we're in for a downpour. Last night on TV-6 news, Karl Bohnak said we might even get some snow in the next couple of days.

Heading over to Ironwood later today, to meet with some of our newest Pasty.NET DSL members. Also Edie is making an award presentation from Daughters of the American Revolution. Never a dull moment here in the U.P.

Look closely...

Morning!

Wow - that's quite a picture, Charlie!

That last pic looks almost like it does here when I look out our French doors, without the lightning so far.

Hejssan from Härmä!

Few nice picture from Suomi around year;

http://www.naisnetti.com/kuvakirjasto/kirjasto_kevat.htm

Mornin where's everyone? it's not a weekend. Sun is shining here in Gwinn. We're heading up north later today. Hope it clears up by the time we get there. Have a great day.

Mornin'

Good morning everyone :) Dang, morning sure does come fast, when you go to sleep at 5am and wake up at 10am. Yawn...stretch...yawn... where's the coffee? Oh well, at least the sun is out today ;)

Hello Japei, I really enjoyed the pictures you sent today. The flowers are just beautiful! They remind me of Michigan. Thanks

Japei--

Gorgeous flowers. Is it an early Spring in
Suomi too?

japei

enjoy your links as you provide them. thanks
very much

for ms. katie
Mr. Deb!!!!!!!??? I should be indignant, but it gave me a great laugh on an otherwise going bad Monday. Thanks for the well wishes.

Deb's husband, aka Mr. Deb

Mikie, Here's one that I think will bring a chuckle to your son, who is in law enforcement.

First of all, I am constantly comparing how much better trained Michigan law enforcement officers are in the law...than even Indiana judges are, in the Indiana law.

During a phone conference, with DC last week, I muttered my famous phrase, "God, I wish I were back in Michigan...because they understand the laws, better than Indiana does."

The Appropriations and Transportation Project manager for the senator took offense to my comment and fired back, "So you think Michigan is better than Indiana? It's no better."

Battle lines were drawn: Michigan VS Indiana.

I started with a very simple question, and fired off an email to the Indiana DOT: "Who in the state of Indiana, is responsible for upholding Federal DOT laws?"

This question obviously stumped Indiana's DOT office...because they forwarded my email/question, onto the Federal DOT office, in DC. Even the Federal DOT office was stumped, because they sent me an email today, stating, "we are unable to locate the appropriate person..."

Point proven. So ask your son, do I let the feds and Indiana try and locate this 'one person responsible for upholding federal DOT laws,' or do I email them the Michigan answer? Dang, that was too easy.

Sur5er is there any simple way to describe what the whole problem is about? For a simple-minded citizen? I gather it's regarding some screw-up of safety regulations about OTR trucks in different states? Remember I said "simple". I'm interested especially as my first born baby boy (now age 48) hauls from Il. to Texas and also east. Thanks for whatever you can do. :-)

Love the lightning picture!

Ms. Katie, Did you see that my husband is indignant? He is so funny. Wish you guys could meet him. He keeps me in stitches!

Ms Katie, Happy to explain. We have state laws and federal laws. Federal laws are the law of the land, and must be upheld by every state and no state may ever issue a law that overrides / supercedes Federal laws. DOT laws, for truck drivers, are federal laws...and it is thus the responsibilty for each state to enforce and uphold DOT laws.
In the instance of Indiana truck drivers, who are court ordered to pay child support, the support order must adhere to two standards: 1) Indiana state child support laws; and 2) Federal DOT laws.
The current case that I am arguing with Indiana state legislators and the federal government, is that Indiana courts are illegally issuing support orders to truck drivers, which supercede Federal DOT laws....when the Indiana state courts are supposed to uphold Federal DOT laws.
For instance, in the support orders that I have pulled for Indiana truck drivers, the courts here have court ordered them to drive between 100-6000 hours a week, while Federal law states that a truck driver may only log 60 hours a week. Clearly a violation of federal DOT laws, and a dangerous situation for motorists who share the highway with these truck drivers.
Federal DOT laws insure the safety of truck drivers on the road...and the safety of every motorist on the road. The state of Indiana does not have a right to not adhere to, or not enforce these federal laws...as they are currently doing.
When a state...such as, ahem, Indiana, refuses to adhere/uphold federal laws, then at that point it is up to the federal government to step in.
I know, clear as mud, eh. Simple version: a state/ state court can never court order a person do to something that a federal law prohibits.

Deb S. sounds like you're a lucky gal to have "Mr Deb" I wish I could meet both of you. I'm going to try my darndest to get to the pasty fest this year. Looking forward to putting faces to the names I'm learning to be friends. Probably it will be like meeting radio personalities, they don't look anything like you picture them :o>

Sur5er thanks so much. You did well. I can't believe they are getting away with that! No wonder people like me are getting to be such cynics.If the authorities start out well-meaning and honest, they sure do get contaminated eventually. It's abusing the system we should be following.

Ms. Katie, How I wish I could be at the pastyfest this year. When you work at the bank, the biggest time of the year is around the 4th and I was told 3 months ago to not ask for any time off then. I had already asked so I took my name off the board. Bummer! I so want to meet all of you. I haven't been chatting long, but I feel like I know most of you. Hey, maybe next year it'll be in August and we can all bring a pink flamingo. Sounds like a winner to me.

Usedtobeayooper, Don't worry, it looks like you won't be the only Pasty Cammer who will not be able to make the Pasty Fest. Perhaps it should be a federal law, that Pasty Cammers cannot be made to work during Pasty Fest ;)

Ms.Katie, No matter how bleak it may look at times, I always like to believe that the system still works. Look at it this way: this Indiana case fell into my lap for a reason...and perhaps that reason is that it will take a Michigan gal to fix it, eh ;) Ya gotta believe, eh. :)

Sur5er, Wow! The state of Indiana is going down hill so fast it isn't funny. I know that those(most) who get into office think they can do no wrong. Have you heard the story of Roseland, IN. It's a little place just north of South Bend and south of the MI stateline. They have a 3 memeber town board that has a man and wife on it. Talk about a mess. They throw who ever they want out of meetings and pretty much think they own the place. The only good thing to happen is the wife ran for the state legislature and got beat really bad yesterday at the polls. She won't be running in Roseland either. Well, that's what she said before yesterday. Tomorrow she may run. Maybe I'll have to move up to Decatur near my son to get out of this crazy state.

Thanks for all you do to make it better for all of us.

Sur5er, You go Michigan girl! If anybody can do it, I truly believe you can. One day at a time. Isn't that what they say? Like I told Kosk, it only takes one and maybe you're that one. Geez, isn't it funny that you both hail from Michigan? Coinkcidink, I think not!

Charlotte, Wow..I hate to say this, but from what I have seen in Indiana, I don't find that hard to believe...and think that is probably status quo in Indiana, eh.
When I first moved from Michigan to Indiana, I remember sitting in on a court case for the first time, and thinking, "Okay, this is Candid Camera, yes?" because of all the shenanagins I witnessed.
I soon found out that this behavior of officials believing they can do as they want, in Indiana, is due to there being no accountability, and no obligation to do what is right. Just the complete opposite of Michigan...and how I was trained and educated.

Usedtobeayooper, Thank you ;) And yes, it definately is a cowinkiedink.

Looks like I can't make it to Pasty Fest either.
Our school year ends on June 30th, so though
I'll be in the Yoop by the evening of July 1st, I
won't be able to make it to Calumet in time.
Grr... Maybe next year. I would like to meet
everyone too.