We don't know where Toivo is this morning, roaming around somewhere up in Alaska by now. Meanwhile, here in the U.P. some news to report. Governor Jennifer Granholm was in the Keweenaw yesterday, touring Mainstreet Calumet and meeting with constituents during office hours at Michigan Tech. Our thanks to Matthew Monte for grabbing a shot at the Smart Zone dedication ceremony. Today the Governor is scheduled for stops at Ontonagon and the Gogebic area.

If you're in the Minneapolis area today, the Minnesota State Fair gets underway, where you can find Pasty Central treats at Grandma's booth.

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the "Smart Zone"

We just had the Indiana State Fair here, our "speciality " was the deep fried twinkie. We prefered the cheese cake on a stick it was good, but I bet the fudge on a stick has got to be even better. Sorry we have to miss the Minnesota state fair but we'll be in the UP (god's country) in 22 days and counting for 2 weeks of heaven.

Could someone ask her if the computers at the Secretary of State are up yet? The whole system was out yesterday.

How about bringing back pictures of Lake Superior, scenery, history of our great area. cr

Later that same day she ran with those scissors. Then ate a cookie before dinner!

I hope she didn't go swimming right after dinner ;)

This was taken right after lunch, she still has a milk moustache.

She shouldn't be running with those scissors, that's setting a bad example for the kids!

Notice how all the men are carefully, but politely, standing well away from her as she wields those monstrous scissors...

Is there a hint of the "Green Eyed Monster" lurking in some of the above comments? ;)

NL,
To find out about the Smart Zone, Go back to August 15, 2003 Pastycam, page down about half way and Charlie makes a post with the photo from the bridge cam. He says that the Smart Zone is where the powerhouse building is by the bridge and makes reference to a web site for them which is still under construction, but the link is provided.

The smart zone can be summed up in 2 words...
CORPORATE WELFARE
The sad part is that our great state has to offer these incentives to attract business, because if we don't, other states will to lure these business'.
And the saddest thing is the common worker suffers thru layoff's, no salary increases, etc.
But the fatcats in the corporate boardrooms recieve their pay increases, perks, etc...
Sound familier?
It's very similar to what our gov, Jenny Babe, and the Legislature is currently in the process of doing to all the classified state employees...

Please do not encourage the political types to discover the UP. Don't make their stay pleasant or they may want to return. Keep very quiet and hunkered down and wait for them to return to the promised land of Lansing and downstate and pray that they forget the beauty of our UP. The last thing anyone north of the bridge needs is more control and dominion from Lansing. Sorry....one guy's opinion...........

Let's just hope she waited 45 minutes before going into the water after eating that cookie. As for the running with scissors, Jenn was prolly off to a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the deck of the Eddy Fitz... Cut her some lack, she's Canadian... And speaking of non-native born politicians, the US Constitution provides for the fact that all presidents must be American-born. Thus far, the only exception has been Andrew Jackson... who was born on a ship coming over from
the old country.

It appears to me, if nothing else, Michigan has a better looking governor than the other states with fat bald men running 'em.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE FROM MICHIGAN IF:

1. You've never met any celebrities.

2. "Vacation" means going to Cedar Point!

3. At least 1 member of your family disowns you the week of the Michigan/Michigan State game.

4. Half the change in your pocket is Canadian....eh?

5. You drive 86 mph on the highway and pass on the right.

6. Your idea of a traffic jam is 40 cars waiting to pass an orange barrel.

7. You know how to play (and pronounce) Euchre.

8. It's easy to get VERNOR'S ginger ale and SANDERS hot fudge sauce, and Faygo pop.

9. You know how to pronounce "Mackinac".

10. You've had to switch on the "heat" and the "A/C" in the same day.

11. You bake with SODA and drink POP.

12. The movie "Escanaba in Da Moonlight" wasn't funny. You consider it a documentary.

13. Your little league game was snowed out.

14. The word "thumb" has geographical, rather than anatomical significance.

15. You show people where you grew up by pointing to a spot on your right hand.

16. Traveling coast-to-coast means driving from Port Huron to Muskegon.

17. You measure distance in minutes.

18. When giving directions, you refer to "A Michigan Left."

19. You know that Kalamazoo not only exists, but isn't far from Hell.

20. Your year has 2 seasons: Winter and Construction.

21. Home Depot on any Saturday is busier than toy stores at Christmas.

22. You know when it has rained because of the smell of worms.

23. Owning a Japanese car was a hangin' offense in your hometown.

24. You believe that "down south" means Toledo.

25. YOU ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THESE JOKES!

The list sounds like some more Troll humor. I always thought that Down South was Green Bay.

Alex, you were correct on all counts, especially using your hands to tell people where you are going. Will be up in the Keweenaw for two weeks in Sept. People want to know where it is located, so I just stick out my hand and point.

Wonder if Jenny would like to contribute some of the million bucks she's spending on renovating her govenors home to spruce up Fifth street and Sixth Street in Calumet, or Hecla in Laurium? Don't think so. Probably didnt even know were Keeweenaw was until some aide showed her.

Does that mean that Arnold (running for governor of CA) won't be able to run for President? Oh, I knew that you had to be a native-born to run...but just wanted to throw in the remark. I have been trying to figure out they plan to get around that loophole.

About Governor Granholm in Michigan, since I no longer live there, I didn't even know you had a woman governor. Republican or Democrat? How long since she left Canada? My sister who still lives there has never even mentioned her. Pshaw! I don't know if that means she is doing a good job or bad. :-)

TO "K" AND "STEVE THE TROLL"

WELL SAID.

GRANHOLM’S APPEAL IS so widespread that conservative commentator George Will proposed changing the Constitution to allow foreign-born American citizens to become president. Granholm, who was born in Canada, laughs off the suggestion. She doesn’t mind the constitutional impediment—at least for now. “It’s kind of a relief that I don’t have to worry about that. It’s nice not to have to be a threat to people.”
Director of Special Projects, Alexis Gelber, joined us for a Live Talk to discuss those selected and what's ahead in 2003. Read the transcript.

The November election returns weren’t even in when the presidential contenders came calling. Michigan is a key battleground state, and having a Democratic governor could make the difference in 2004. Michigan voters like independent, no-nonsense candidates, attributes that Granholm displayed as attorney general before making her bid for governor. A compelling mix of tough-minded prosecutor and down-to-earth mom, she cracked down on gas gougers after the 9-11 terrorist attacks, staged a sting on retailers who sold adult-rated video-games to minors and pressured Abercrombie & Fitch to stop selling its sexually explicit catalog to minors in Michigan. “I’m not a prude,” she told NEWSWEEK. “But I am someone who cares about the messages the next generation receives.”

In a Democratic Party searching for new leaders, Granholm, 43, is positioned for stardom. She is smart, a graduate of Berkeley and Harvard Law, well grounded as a wife and mother of three, and loaded with charisma. The presidency remains a boy’s club, but it’s no accident that Granholm and other women are getting attention among Democrats. “We have our feet on the ground,” says Granholm, who campaigned on practical, nonideological solutions to problems. She told voters she wouldn’t raise taxes. But running a state with a billion-dollar-plus deficit, she’ll have to cut programs and postpone keeping the promises that got her elected, like reducing class sizes.
To manage expectations in a state that hasn’t had a Democratic governor in more than a decade, she plans to take the show on the road and gin up Ross Perot-like charts to illustrate the economic crisis she faces. She thinks that by being brutally candid, she can buy herself some time. Cupping her hands as though shouting to the masses, she says loudly, “Give me a year and a half—please.”
Politics is performance art, and Granholm instinctively gets it. She initially pursued a career in Hollywood, and once appeared on “The Dating Game.” She has stage presence and intellectual panache, talents she will need to survive politically. As the only Democratic state officeholder in Michigan, she faces a Republican legislature looking for a fight—and an ongoing FBI investigation of al-legations that the local Democratic machine, which gave rise to Granholm, illegally diverted county employees and county resources such as computers and fax machines for fund-raising and other political purposes.
Granholm has no illusions about what’s ahead. She expects her honeymoon to be short and her poll numbers to dip. Yet she’s optimistic. Grabbing “The Plan,” her 79-page blueprint for Michigan’s future, she says, “By gum, we’re going to get this stuff done if it kills me.” Then, adds Michigan’s first woman governor, “I’m one tough broad.” She’ll have to be, for herself and her party.

To "INFO if needed".... Why does the expression "this has been a paid political announcement" suddenly leap into my mind? Steve the Troll is right. Lawyers and politicians.....everytime their lips move...and now the Pasty-cam has become they're free political poster board.

To froggy.....well said.
SIGH

Ooops. Sorry about the wording. Meant "their".

froggy,

I agree, was just trying to answer a question from, Alice, Ventura CA...not paid for advertisement though...it was just an extract from a news article...hope you didn't read it all...I was going to place a "disclaimer" telling folks that they really didn't have to read unless they were interested in the information...but figured most folks would have enough sense not to read something unless it intrested them...sorry, I myself did not realize Michigan had this new representative...so tried some friendly information sharing.

I like the sight without the politics...but on this particular post it appears the door was already wide open...hope all is well with you froggy.

Granholm has not done .... She has cut many jobs by canceling all road projects in the state. Oh ya, there is those Benton Harbor riots that she said she was going to stop by providing more jobs. The last I looked, the unemployment rate went up even more last month not only in Benton Harbor, but around the state. Enough of your political jargon, Froggy!

"INFO if needed" whoever you are, whereever you are--- No need to apologize for the article. As you said, someone asked and it is this page topic. I thought the article was reasonable and well done background on Ms. Granholm. At least it was straightforward, optimistic and positive! This "political annoucement" thing works both ways. Several out here did and have in the past stated their disgruntled negative political opinions, granted often unfortunately correct or credible as they may be, but are also political "announcements" of opinions. (Equal time?) I don't think Charlie would allow this forum to become a political poster board. I think most of us out here and Charlie (?)wouldn't mind now and then if something like INFOs" report was interjected if the page topic pertains and if it didn't get too involved. If some one jumped in with a "political annoucement" right in the middle of a page that was about outdoor scenery activitys, and other usual fine interesting otherwise topics regards the UP, I would say that would be out of line!
"JEN BABE" is a unique and neat politician at this point and I only hope she will (and can) live up to her claims and convictions. Lets just see! In the meantime-- lighten up folks!

Governor Granholm received my vote and will garner my continued support and admiration. Our previous governor left the State of Michigan in a huge fiscal mess, ignored the U.P., and was certainly not a friend to State employess. Granholm is a breath of fresh air and the same old litany of tired rhetoric of "Probably didn't even know where the Keweenaw was....", etc. is nonsense! Froggy might at least spell Keweenaw correctly.

T.W. Thanks for the spelling lesson! Time will tell, time will tell. I'm sure we all wish her well. I certainly respect the governor, but I'll reserve admiration until the outcome of her deeds warrant.

First, I'd like to mention that the Governor's trip to our community received publicity across the state--exposure that helps bring tourism money to our area. Michele Anderson has written a nice article about the Governor's visit, which you can see here: Governor Jennifer Granholm tours Calumet's "Main Street".

Second, I'd like to point out that the SmartZone is an incubator for small businesses starting up. The idea is to encourage the formation of high-tech companies that will grow and provide good-paying jobs for members of our community. Because of the SmartZone, Some local young people will be able to find (or create) good jobs here instead of moving to a large city.