Monday, April 30, 2018

The North Korean Summit. Teamwork makes the Dream work!!!




By Bob Resch: Purple Walrus Press.


With the impending summit meeting in the near future, we are all about
to find out if North Korea has finally come to it's senses, and how
Donald Trump plans on handling it.

Almost 70 years after the birth of the UNITED NATIONS, the United
States remains the hegemon of this global group. But, Mr. Trump,
having helped to lead North and South Korea to the peace table, should
be careful not to overplay his chest pounding.

In my opinion, the US should remain a team member with the UN at this
proposed summit with North Korea.  The real issue here is the
denuclearization of North Korea on the pathway to a peaceful Korean
peninsula.  NO WAY SHOULD POTUS GO IT ALONE.

It appears to me to be self-serving for Mr. Trump to think that it's
HIS obligation to the World to bring about a peaceful agreement.  The
reality is that it will be up to NATO inspectors to inspect and verify
that all North Korean nuclear systems have been made inactive and
disposed of.  It will be up to UN representatives, not just Donald
Trump, to broker this summit meeting and impose rules and regulations
with the prospects of building a pathway to peace.  Everyone must bear
in mind that this agreement may last only as long as it takes for the
"Rocket Man's" next temper tantrum when he realizes that North Korea
still won't be a recognized member of the UN.  It remains to be seen
if that can and will ever happen.

A peaceful Korean peninsula could be a huge victory for the World.  My
only concern is that if Trump allows his self-centered ego to get in
the way,
he may just find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Eastern Michigan University appoints Kenneth Lord as dean of College of Business.



By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.


Eastern Michigan University has named Kenneth Lord as dean of the university's College of Business. Lord was appointed by the school on April 27, 2018, according to EMU.

Between 2013 and 2017, Lord served as dean of  the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics.

According to a statement from EMU Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Student Affairs Rhonda Longworth released by EMU Friday, “Dr. Lord has an outstanding background in academic business leadership,” said Rhonda Longworth, Eastern Michigan Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. “His leadership in strengthening and developing relationships with external constituencies and in accreditation make him an ideal individual to lead our College of Business.”

Friday, April 27, 2018

On the Flint Water Crisis: Activist Melissa Mays.



Contributed to PWP by Melissa Mays of Flint.

So I'm sitting in the middle seat on my flight back from DC (waiting for my head to explode because apparently my new filling doesn't like flying) and I am mulling over the insanity of the past week... month... 4 years. Adam Mays, during his speech at the 4 year commemoration of our poisoning said:
"Heroes have heart and are not bought."
This was one of the clearest and simplest statements because there's a lot of money flowing around our disaster but it's not making it to the residents' actual overall and livesaving needs. I'm angry because:
*$200,000 could get us about 74 semi trucks full of bottled water.
*$2 million could replace a lot of water heaters
*$200,000 could get us a lot of bacterial testing for our water
*$2 million could get Flint residents' water turned back on and so on...
THESE are the things I'm angry about and stewing over on the flight. But as I talk to a wonderful lady to my left about the MI State corruption and complete disregard for human life in Flint, the lady to my right asks if she can join in the conversation. She gives us her name and she is HERO ACTIVIST Claudia Barlow who has been fight sex trafficking for DECADES!!!!
So we turn the conversation to how the actual people doing the fighting and living in the disaster are the true experts but take the most abuse. We share stories of the threats, lies and terror brought down on those of us for standing up and refusing to quit or be bought. Claudia was all but erased from existence and was threatened by several governmental agencies, including the IRS for over a decade. This lady has been throught absolute HELL and is not afraid of a damn thing... THAT is totally inspiring.
I got off the plane no longer feeling angry towards people getting awarded for not helping us, but realizing that the true Flint residents are really setting the example for how we will not back down. People are seeing our work and our fight, whether we realize it or not. We will not be bought, and that is the reason why we are still fighting with heart, even though our bodies are being poisoned. But we WILL NOT STOP. Hopefully those institutions, foundations and groups will wake up and break their cycle of supporting everyone BUT impacted residents. And even if not, we will CONTINUE to do it without them. OUR WAY.

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Congresswoman Dingell disturbed that Pruitt Can't answer questions about EPA toxic pollution rollback on public health.

Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

According to the Debbie Dingell office, today during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, U.S. Congresswoman Dingell (MI-12) questioned Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt about the agency’s recent rollback of a critical longstanding policy that limits toxic air pollution from factories and industrial operations. Dingell asked Pruitt whether EPA had conducted any assessment of the impact of this decision on public health or the magnitude of increased air pollution nationally.

According to Dingell. “It is disturbing and unacceptable that Administrator Pruitt could not answer significant questions on the real impact of EPA’s recent decision to rollback limits on toxic air pollutants, including many that cause cancer such as mercury, arsenic and lead,” said Dingell. “This is likely to have devastating consequences for people in communities across the country, yet Administrator Pruitt could not tell me whether EPA analyzed how this decision could impact the health of children, babies, pregnant women, older Americans or those with chronic health problems, or minority and low-income communities. He could only tell me that it provided an incentive to companies.

“This should bother all of us. It is the responsibility of EPA to protect human health and the environment against potential harms, not subject the public to more hazards in order to increase industry profits. We know that this decision will increase emissions of toxic pollutants that are the worst of the worst, and Mr. Pruitt needs to be transparent immediately on whether public health was considered in this decision-making process. If we find that public health was not considered at all, this is just another reason why this flawed rollback should be reversed.”

Friday, April 20, 2018

On The Flint Water Crisis: Activist Melissa Mays of Flint.



By Purple Walrus Press contributor Melissa Mays.

AND as the weather gets warmer and construction resumes to remove the pipes, heavy metals, bacteria and other contaminants can be released. Governor Rick Snyder, the MDEQ and Rich Baird KNOW THIS but felt Flint's safety and well-being is not worth spending the money on. I mean, THEY are the ones who chose to switch our water source, refuse tp treat it and ignore the RESIDENT'S cries for help & test results. I guess we should not be surprised that yhey ignore us now and put profit over people. They COULD pull from the Rainy Day fund because it's pouring in Flint, but that would affect the bond rating and we wouldn't want the investors on Wall Street to lose any money... they obviously are more important than the Flint residents the State repeatedly victimizes.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

On having no power for three days in Ypsi Town.



By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

A funny thing about having no power in your home for three full days...yeah, its rough, its cold, its dark, but its also enlightening. When the lights fluttered, flickered and finally went out early Sunday morn, it was kinda cool. You know...I went and found the small box I years ago stuffed with old matches, bic lighters, half burned and used candles and crappy little candle stick holders, and a bunch of flashlights, most of which didn't work. This would suffice...I thought.

 How long could the outage last? A couple hours, maybe? Well, a couple hours soon became a whole bunch of hours...and it was getting colder outside Sunday night. Oh yeah, it was also my birthday. I naively continued to think that at any moment the lights and heat would pop back on. Nope.

Sunday afternoon my wife and kids actually convinced me to play a board game. I don't typically enjoy board games but they all wanted me to play Beatles trivial pursuit, and as a true Beatles fanatic I agreed to play. Naturally, I creamed them all. Hmm. Still no lights.

Sunday evening it was dinner with friends at Los Amigos. Surely by the time we got home the power would be back, but you guessed it, no.

After dinner our friends stocked us with a REAL  survival stuff.. chargers, emergency candles, little censor light things, stuff like that..and blankets. Put my piddly box of candles and matches to shame!

Yep, Sunday night was cold!! Monday my wife headed out of town on a long time planned trip with a family member. Hey, I was thrilled for her..pretty much.

Listen, by Monday morning the novelty had already worn off... No coffee, no toaster, no oven, no refrigerator, no microwave, no shower. as for my two kids, they were mercilessly cut off from their computer games, video games, TV, and PS4. How would they survive, they wondered. Ok, they didn't actually say that but I could read their little minds. As for me, I'm a total news junkie...No CNN?! What would I do?! And the house was becoming an ice box, for cripes sake, but I had a plan.

After picking my kids up at school Monday and a brief stop at home, the three of us went to my fav Ann Arbor restaurant the Original Cottage Inn on Williams. It was a great time! Kids pasta for my daughter, chicken Marsala for me, and cheese bread for my son. Ok, I tossed back a couple Miller Lites...What?! There was no way in hell that we could hang out at home in a frigid house Monday night so it was off to game stop and then Barns and Noble. Coolness!

By 9:00 pm we came home to a dark, frigid and ccccold house. The previous night word from DTE was that the estimated time of power restoration was 11:30 pm April 18! Oy! It was late, it was dark, it was cold, but my daughter and I decided to play Stratego, an old favorite game of mine when I was a kid, by candle light at the dining room table.

The three of us, myself, and my young kids went to bed burying ourselves under thick protective layers of blankets, several of which loaned to us by the same neighborhood friends who had the for real survival stuff! My kids and I talked about what life must have been like over a century go before we had electricity in the United States.

Oh, let me tell ya, Monday night was a mean, nasty, dark, and bone chilling kind of a night! But, we would survive, I knew it!

Tuesday morning the thermostat was at a very brisk 46 and my 9 year old daughter was not happy...and she was quite concerned about the current state of mind of our cat Sirius Black. "Dad, Sirius is scared. His head is totally flat, his ears are sticking up and there are tears in his eyes." I weakly say, "Oh, he's ok."

Miraculously, on day 3 of no power, DTE trucks arrived to our little section of Ypsilanti, and by the time the kids and I arrived home after picking them up at school, (glory be!), the power was back on! Holy cripes!

No sooner than the lights and heat go back on, my daughter says, "Dad, I kind of miss the family bonding we had when the power was out."




Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Fire in bathroom Pattengill Elementary in Ann Arbor Wednesday morning: Students evacuated & school closed for remainder of day.



By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

At 10:03 am Wednesday a voice message was sent out to all Pattengill Elementary families that this morning there was a fire in a bathroom at the school which is located at 2100 Crestland Drive in Ann Arbor. According to the email  message sent out at 9:55 am, the school immediately contacted emergency firefighters and that they arrived to the school within minutes. According to the email from Pattengill Elementary all students were being relocated to their emergency safe location. All students were safely evacuated from the building, according to the school email message. As of 10:45 this morning, students are gathered at Temple Beth Emeth/St Claire Episcopal Church located at 2309 Packard Street in Ann Arbor. Parents who are able to pick up children are to come to Temple Beth Emeth and enter through the circle drive off of Eastover Place where children are being signed out, according to the email from the school.

Actually, my daughter attends Pattengil Elementary, and I have to say that when I arrived at the Temple to pick up my slightly shaken daughter it was immediately clear the entire staff and administration was doing an incredibly fabulous job of handling the disconcerting ordeal. The children were calm, and enjoying a movie when I arrived.

At this time there are no details about the fire or how it started. I did drive past the school after retrieving my daughter and I saw no visible signs of damage from the outside.

Stay tuned for updates.

Photo Purple Walrus Press.

Parents arrive at Temple Beth Emeth in Ann Arbor Wed to pick up their children at safe location.



Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Parola Perspective: On partisanship.

By PWP contributor Brooks Parola, formerly of Flint Town.

I’ve argued for some time, that the extreme partisanship we have today lies at the feet of the Republican Party. Proof of that is the continuing support of moderate Republicans of their Trump enabling party.
Throughout history, politicians changing parties was not unusual. Today you can’t even get conservative pundits willing to consider that. This, while the far left insists the Democrats aren’t progressive enough

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Demonstrators Brave elements and March For Science in Ypsilanti Saturday

Photo Purple Walrus Press.


By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.


Approximately 30 demonstrators braved the rather nasty weather conditions Saturday and participated in a rally and March For Science in Ypsilanti. Marchers gathered in front of the Mark Jefferson Science building on the campus of Eastern Michigan University. Several speakers, including Ypsilanti Mayor Amanda Edmonds, and Midwest Regional Chair for NOBCCHE and Minority Affairs Michele Williams Harry, addressed the chilly march participants before marching to Ypsilanti's Riverside Park.

After the rally, hearty demonstrators marched briskly to Riverside Park holding signs which said, Truth in Science, No Science No Life, and Science Without Censorship Leadership Without Cronyism.

After arriving to the park, demonstrators gathered in the gazebo as mayoral candidate and Ypsianti city council member Beth Bashert, Research Technician Toya Ewing, Dave Strenski of Solar Ypsi, and others addressed protesters.

Saturday's March For Science was, as advertised, family friendly, peaceful and highly informative.

Stayed tuned... Word is there will be another March For Science in September!


Photos Purple Walrus Press.

Ypsilanti Mayor Amanda Edmonds speaks in front Mark Jefferson building EMU.
Ypsilanti Mayoral candidate Beth Bashert speaks in Riverside Park gazebo.


Friday, April 13, 2018

United States military strikes underway in Syria.



By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

At approximately 9:00 pm Friday evening President Trump announced that a U.S. military attack against Syria is underway. France and the United Kingdom are also taking part in the military strikes. The military strike is in response to the suspected chemical weapons attack on Damascus by the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime.

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Ypsilanti March For Science Saturday, April 14: Come on out and March For Science & your community!



By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

Once again Ypsilanti will be hosting The March For Science event on Saturday, April 14. This important and extremely necessary event will gather in front of the Mark Jefferson Science Complex at 2:45 on the campus of Eastern Michigan University. The event is organized by a diverse group of local organizations and residents who are committed to public policies that support a healthy, sustainable society and view science as a key to creating a healthy community and society.

After gathering at the Mark Jefferson building for a brief program, the march will head to Riverside Park for a closing program.

Guest speakers, including Ypsilanti Mayor Amanda Edmonds , will talk about issues currently faced in the community and the impact and importance science has on the environment.

Organizers would like to invite you all to this important and wonderful event. So come on out and March for Science and for your community!

The family-friendly event will end at 5:15.

Communities are encouraged to apply for grants for lead control service.




By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued a Request for Proposal for community organizations to provide residential lead hazard control services to Medicaid-enrolled residents. This according to a statement from the MDHHS released April 10.

According to the organization, grants up to $1.5 million are available for qualifying cities, counties, consortiums or non-profit organizations to provide lead hazard control services. The Healthy Homes Section of MDHHS hopes to fund up to two grantees to provide these services in Michigan communities.

Services available for funding under this initiative include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Creation and maintenance of an Enrollee Engagement Plan, including targeted outreach and promotion of covered services to prioritized Medicaid-enrolled residents.
  • Preparation, lead inspection, risk assessment and/or elevated blood lead investigation and lab sampling analysis activities to determine the presence of lead hazards.
  • Abatement or interim controls, where necessary, of lead-based paint and lead dust hazards from an eligible residence.
  • Removal or covering of soil lead hazards up to the eligible residence property line.
  • Lead in water sampling and plumbing abatement per MDHHS Residential Lead Hazard Control-Lead in Water Protocol.
  • Minimal rehabilitation to the extent the work will extend the life of lead abatement work.
  • Temporary relocation of residents during lead abatement activities, when appropriate.
  • Building local workforce capacity to safely and effectively abate lead hazards.  
As stated by the MDHHS, grant applications must be submitted electronically through the MI E-Grants program by May 15, 2018 at 3 p.m. The program period begins Oct. 1, 2018 and ends Sept. 30, 2019.  
For more information or to apply, visit the MI E-Grants website and select "About EGrAMS" link in the left panel to access the "Competitive Application Instructions" training manuel. The complete RFP can be accessed under the "Current Grants" section under the "Public Health Administration" link and selecting the "LHCD-2019" grant program.

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Parola Perspective: Oh, and btw, my hometown of Flint is still without clean water.




By Purple Walrus Press contributor Brooks Parola formerly of Flint.
Oh, and btw, my hometown of Flint is STILL without clean water, and the state is shutting down free distribution of bottled water. The state, which created the Flint water crisis is claiming the water is now safe, despite tests showing that it's not...gee, where have we heard that before?
The Nestle situation is nothing more than a microcosm of what is wrong with American government today: The takeover of government by corporations who work in the interests of those businesses, against the will, and at the expense of the people...80K+ people.

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

On the Flint Water Crisis: Activist Melissa Mays.



By PWP contributor Melissa Mays of Flint

My fellow Flint residents,
I know we are in a State-created panic since yesterday when they casually dropped a massive bomb on us on a Friday, again. The State just took away bottled water because they put dollars over our safety, again. This is nothing new to us. But should we give up? NO. It's time to get a game plan together. Call Snyder's office. Call the DEQ. Call Rich Baird. Call AG Schuette. Call Lt. Gov Brian Calley. Let's get on a bus to Lansing. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. But most importantly, let's take care of one another and UNITE. We will force the State to do right by us like we always do. ALSO, let's disprove their lies. Everyone needs to go to City Hall Mon-Fri and pick up a water test kit from the wonderful Carma Lewis and the CORE team. If you do not have transportation, you can call CORE at 810-238-6700 and they will deliver and pick it up. Post photos of rashes and discolored water since the State keeps saying lead is our only contaminant. Take videos. Invite people over to shower in our poison or just to smell the chemical showers we are forced to use. SPEAK UP and share with the world that the State of Michigan continues to try to sweep its victims and the disaster THEY force us to live in under the rug. But we will NOT let them. WE deserve better. WE are better. WE ARE FLINT. DON'T FORGET THAT. So let's stand together and speak the truth and let these criminals hear it.
People to call and/or email:
Governor Snyder: 517-373-3400 governorsoffice@michigan.gov
Ari Adler, Gov Spokesman: 517-335-6397 AdlerA@michigan.gov
MDEQ: Heidi Grether, Head: 517-284-6700, 517-284-6544 GretherH@michigan.gov
Tiffany Brown, MDEQ Spokesman: 517-242-1376 BrownT22@michigan.gov
Rich Baird: bairdr@michigan.gov
AG Schuette: 517-373-1110 miag@michigan.gov
Lt Gov Calley: 517-373-6800 brian.calley@michigan.gov.
This is just a start. Call, email or write and let them know how you feel. Then let's go visit since they will not come to us!!
Share with the world!!


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Monday, April 9, 2018

Congresswoman Dingell encourages students to participate in 2018 Congressional Art Competition.



By Editor & Publisher Jeff Brown.

 Last week, U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) reminded all high school students who live or attend school in Michigan’s 12thCongressional District to participate in the 2018 Congressional Art Competition. The winning artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. for one year alongside other first place winners from across the country. This according to Dingell's office.

According to Dingell, “The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity for students around the 12th District to showcase their artistic talent and represent their communities in the halls of Congress,” said Dingell. “The talent we see each year in this competition is truly impressive, and I look forward to seeing the inspiring and creative works submitted for 2018. When young people have the opportunity to tap into their creativity, new doors are opened and new paths are discovered, which is why these programs are so important.”

The Congressional Art Competition is a nationwide annual event that allows high school students from all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and territories to showcase their artistic ability. The winning artwork from each Congressional district is displayed in an eleven-month exhibit in the United States Capitol. The winner and his or her family members are invited to Washington, D.C. for the unveiling of the artwork. The second and third place submissions will be displayed in Dingell’s Dearborn office for the next year.

Dingell will host the Michigan 12th District competition on Saturday, May 5, 2018 from 2-4 p.m. at Wayne County Community College Downriver Campus in Taylor, with a reception following for students, teachers, families and friends.

Each framed artwork must be two-dimensional and no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. No framed piece should weigh more than 15 pounds. 

All submissions must follow the art competition guidelines and be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. Artwork can be dropped off at Dingell’s Dearborn Office at 19855 West Outer Drive, Suite 103-E in Dearborn or participants may call the office at 313-278-2936 to arrange for pickup. 

Interested applicants may direct any questions to Donyale Martin at 313-278-2936 or via email at Donyale.Martin@mail.house.gov.